《The Villainess Lives Twice》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Trantor: Gold ¡°You¡¯re an evil, cruel bitch!¡± The Countess Phillies screamed furiously. Artizea, the Marchioness Rosan, heard her words vaguely as she was being pulled by both arms. On her way here, she was hit in the face several times with metal gloves. Her mouth was torn, broken, and swollen, making it difficult for her to speak. Even though she tried to walk at her own pace, the knights were forcibly carrying her. Then, at one point, she injured her ankle. She didn¡¯t know if it was broken or sprained, but it hurt anyway. She could no longer walk, so now she had no choice but to be dragged. Her broken arm hurt, too. The wrist that the knight twisted was swollen. When the knights threw her to the floor, Artizea rolled on the cold floor. ¡°How could you kill Abe!¡± The Countess Phillies screamed so loudly, she could vomit blood. After shaking the arm of the maid who was holding her, she ran up to Artizea and pped her on the cheek. Needless to say, the pain was unbearable because her mouth was so badly treated. Artizea rolled back onto the floor, feeling her gaze fade. ¡°What did Abe do to deserve that?! How could you kill your own nephew?! You¡¯re a bitch, you must suffer the same fate!¡± Artizea looked at the Countess Phillies with a blurred vision. The Countess Phillies sobbing ran out the other side of the room. She intended to stab Artizea with anything she could find, whether it was a knife or a candlestick. Emperor Lawrence, who had been watching the situation closely, approached her. He grabbed her lovingly by the shoulder and said. ¡°Calm down, Emma.¡± ¡°How can I be calm? She killed my child! How can Your Majesty be so calm? Abe is your son too!¡± ¡°Tia is my sister, Emma. There must be a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get revenge! I¡¯m going to avenge my son!¡± The Countess Phillies fell to her knees and began to cry loudly. ¡®I see, Abe has been murdered.¡¯ Artizea now knew what was going on. She looked at Lawrence. He looked sad and downcast, However, Artizea noticed a small sense of triumph in his eyes. It was clear that a conspiracy had been prepared against her. ¡®First, I will be med for murdering your son, making me a criminal. And then a series of usations will follow one after another.¡¯ In fact, she had actuallymitted many crimes, and Lawrence knew most of them. So there was no need for him to create false usations against her. Clearly, the person who hatched this conspiracy was Emperor Lawrence himself. The Emperor said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe youmitted such a crime, Tia. Did you really kill Abe?¡± One could hear a certain joy in his voice. Artizea tried to speak. But before she could open his mouth, the Countess Phillies screamed loudly. ¡°After that bitch¡¯s maid went to visit him, Abe suddenly vomited ck blood and died!¡± Lawrence raised his hand and the knights brought in another woman. She was Artizea¡¯s maid. The maid knelt down in silence, and Lawrence asked her. ¡°Is it true that the Marchioness Rosan ordered you to poison Abe?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The maid answered politely. ¡°The n of the Marchioness Rosan was to kill Abe first, and then to kill His Majesty. That way, she would be able to take control of the empire. Everyone in this room buzzed with shock. Lawrence asked with a sad expression. ¡°Do you have anything to say about this?¡± Artizea showed a dry smile. What the hell was he thinking? She had no intention of denying that she was evil. But being treated like a dumb person made herugh. ¡°His Majesty the Emperor, you know what kind of person I am, don¡¯t you? If I had wanted to take over the empire, I would have killed His Majesty, not Abe.¡± What good would it do to kill Abe in such a careless way as to make everyone realize if Lawrence were still on the throne? It would only make him more careful. If she hade up with a n, she would have killed Lawrence first without anyone knowing. ¡°Tia, such words are useless. You¡¯ll have to clear up what happened.¡± What good are excuses and exnations at this point? Lawrence had already decided to kill me. It was toote, no matter what I did, I had no way of surviving, since the emperor himself had decided to kill me for treason. ¡°I cannot believe it. Tia, how could you do such a thing?¡± ¡°Your Majesty the Emperor, you are the only authority in this Empire.¡± Said Artizea. Her mouth was full of blood, and her tongue was ripped apart by her teeth. Still, if she could bear the pain, she could say a few more words. ¡°You now carry the empire on your shoulders, so you should kick the habit of ming others for everything. That¡¯s myst piece of advice.¡± ¡°Insolence!¡± The knight hit her in the face again. ¡°Take the traitor away from here and lock her up!¡± She eximed. Artizea looked at Lawrence with her puffy eyes. However, he did not interfere. Artizea did not clearly remember what happened after that. She was tortured and forced to sign some documents. She was then taken to court, which was attended only by the emperor, a handful of nobles and officials. The users and witnesses presented one set of evidence after another. Some were truly evil actsmitted by Artizea. Others were fabricated scandals, with horrible and perverse stories. Artizea had a sharp mind and a strong will. However, she did not have the physical strength to ovee torture. When she was tried, instead of defending herself, she did nothing, she was half-conscious and dazed. By the time the trial was over, she had be the worst viin in history, who had made a pact with the devil, in an attempt to rule the empire. Lawrencemented with a false sigh. ¡°Even though you are my sister, the crimes you havemitted are too great to be forgiven.¡± ¡°You have harmed our country with your words, your tongue will be cut out so that you do notmit the same crimes again, and your hands stained with innocent blood will also be cut out as an example to others. But I will spare your life.¡± As a result, Artizea was taken to the dungeon. The punishment executed was more severe than the established ones. Instead of being locked up in her house with her tongue and hands cut off, all her limbs were cut off and she was shackled in a deep, unfamiliar dungeon. *** ¡¸ If your brother¡¯s doing well, you¡¯ll do well too.¡¹ That¡¯s what Artizea Rosan had been hearing all her life. Her mother was the Marchioness Mira Rosan, and her father was Marquis Michael. Mira was the lover of Emperor Gregor. All the aristocrats knew this. The imperialws were against polygamy and required that chastity be maintained before marriage. Married men and women were forbidden to have love affairs with unmarried men and women. The Emperor was a man who was exposed to everyone¡¯s gaze. That said, it would be strange if such a powerful man was really a strict defender of monogamy. It was simply impossible for him to hide the fact that he had a rtionship with the Marchioness Mira Rosan. Michael Rosan was in a sorry state, old and dying. He had decided to exchange his own wife with the Emperor for a sapphire mine. The Marchioness Mira became the Emperor¡¯s mistress and gave birth to a son. That was Lawrence. Everyone knew he was the Emperor¡¯s son. However, no one called him a prince, but neither did they call him the son of the Marquis Rosan. Mira loved him, and so did Emperor Gregor. On the other hand, given the time of the rtionship, it was clear that Artizea was not the emperor¡¯s daughter. Artizea did not resemble the emperor, nor even Mira. Interestingly enough, she looked very much like Marquis Michael in his youth. ¡¸ Be good to your brother. It¡¯s all thanks to him that you¡¯re still alive. ¡¹ Mira also told her. ¡¸ How could we continue to live as the Marquisate Family if not for your brother? Since you were born, unpleasant rumors have spread about you being the daughter of Marquis Rosan. ¡¹ Mira¡¯s words always ended like this. ¡¸ You must live for your brother. We can only survive if your brother bes the emperor. Do you think your brother will treat you badly once he ascends the throne? Your brother¡¯s sess is the way our family will be happy. ¡¹ Artizea could not remember being loved by Mira. Nor did she remember being happy. Artizea was only praised when she did something that benefited her brother Lawrence. From something trivial, like when Lawrence said the tea she made tasted good, to something bigger, like when Marquis Rosan¡¯s wealth was beneficial to Lawrence. Artizea was no fool. She knew that her mother¡¯s kindness would never be to her. But the desire to be loved that had been nted in her since her childhood was hard to control. She found it easy to invent reasons to justify it. Lawrence, Mira, and Artizea were linked by blood ties. If Lawrence lost, they would all die. There has never been a case where someone, after winning the fight for the throne, left the family of his rivals alive. To survive. With that in mind, Artizea did anything. She had a talent for evil acts and conspiracies. She had falsely framed loyal subjects to provoke their death and ruined the state policy of the empire. She was also the one who made the citizens suffer and massacred countless people. Shemitted many more evil and trivial acts in the pce, including a series of murders. She was also the one who used the Saintess Licia, who was the hope of the people of the country, the hope of the empire, besides Artizea was guilty of her death. It was all for the sake of Lawrence so that he could ascend the throne. Even though she knew it was an excuse, shemitted many crimes with ease. And so, atst, Lawrence was able to wear the emperor¡¯s crown. ¡®I knew this day woulde.¡¯ Artizea thought vaguely. Although she was the one who contributed most to making Lawrence the Emperor, she stood by in silence, expecting nothing. The reason, she was afraid. That¡¯s why she also dissolved the intelligence organization she had spent so much time and money on. She felt that after all she had done for Lawrence, at least he would let her live in peace. But Artizea knew too much. She hadmitted many crimes for him. So Lawrence cut out her tongue so she couldn¡¯t speak and he cut off her hands so she couldn¡¯t leave any records. That¡¯s how I must die for all the crimes I¡¯vemitted. When the hunt is over, the dog is boiled. Artizea was Lawrence¡¯s dog and this prison was her saucepan. ¡°Hn¡­¡± After all, this is what I deserve. What other ending could I expect? Considering everything I¡¯ve done so far, I shouldn¡¯t hold Lawrence or Mira responsible for my actions. Artizeaughed. Even without my tongue, I can stillugh. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:-https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 2 Chapter 2. Trantor: Gold Artizea was well aware of her evil acts. Therefore, she did not think about being recognized as a good person or being forgiven. But just once, she asked the Saintess Licia. ¡¸ don¡¯t you resent me? ¡¹ It was a question she asked thinking that Licia naturally resented her. However, Licia smiled brightly with her gaunt face. ¡¸ Would you feel better if I resented you? Would that make you feel less guilty? ¡¹ ¡¸¡­¡¹ ¡¸ What can I do? I¡¯ve already forgiven you. ¡¹ Said the Saintess Licia with her pale white lips. Artizea had threatened her and forced her to marry Lawrence, because the saint¡¯s influence and symbolism were necessary topensate for Lawrence¡¯sck of legitimacy. The whole nation rejoiced to hear that the saintess would be the Crown Princess. Sometimeter, during Lawrence¡¯s coronation, the flowers offered by the citizens to the empress piled up like mountains around the pce walls. The empire covered her body with gold and furs, and spread silk under her feet. A woman born in a poor barony on the northern borders became a person capable of possessing all the luxuries of the world. However, she looked pitiful inparison to when she attended events in social circles without a single jewel, or when she travelled through endemic regions with infectious diseases, wearing worn out clothes that could not stop the cold wind. Her beautiful tinum-blond hair had lost its shine and was dry, and her light but lively skin was dimmed. Her thick red lips became pale and cracked. Lawrence had always been a person with abusive tendencies. In addition, he was now sensitive to the issue of his legitimacy to the throne. Thebination of the two caused him to feel inferior and hate the acimed empress. Artizea tried to protect Licia from Lawrence. She was the one who dragged her into this hell, so at least she wanted to protect her. And she swore to herself that she would. However, at best, Artizea was only able to stop him from assaulting her in front of her. But she couldn¡¯t stop what was happening in the bedroom. Licia was wilting, isted and abused in a prison decorated with gold pieces from the south. Licia¡¯s sacred power was powerful enough to save a dying person from death. But she was useless against her own disease. Still, Licia smiled at Artizea as she looked at her. ¡¸Tia, I¡¯m a much, much stronger person than you think. ¡¹ ¡¸Your Majesty¡­¡¹ ¡¸Despite everything you¡¯ve done to me or the reason you did; in the end it was me who decided to marry His Majesty Lawrence. So it¡¯s not your fault I¡¯m here, but mine. ¡¹ Licia said quietly. ¡¸I know how hard it¡¯s been for you to survive so far. While that doesn¡¯t justify you hurting others¡­ I¡¯ve decided to forgive you. ¡¹ ¡¸¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸So you can take my weight off the big load you carry on your shoulders, Tia. ¡¹ It was Licia who was dying. However, it seemed more like Licia wasforting Artizea, she raised her hand and touched her cheek. ¡¸Thanks foring to see me. You¡¯re the only one who really cared about me in this pce, except for the maids and thedies-in-waiting. ¡¹ ¡¸That is not true. Even now, countless citizens are outside the pce praying on their knees. ¡¹ ¡¸Those people only know the Saintess Empress, not me. ¡¹ After Licia said that, she asked hesitantly. ¡¸Tia, can you hold my hand? ¡¹ ¡¸Yes¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸I thought I¡¯d be terrified when the time came for me to die. But I¡¯m better than I thought. Is it because I¡¯m going to be in God¡¯s arms? ¡¹ ¡¸Soon you¡¯ll be able to get up. ¡¹ Even though she knew that wouldn¡¯t happen, Artizea couldn¡¯t tell her. Licia said with a smile. ¡¸Can I ask you a favor? ¡¹ ¡¸Even if you ask me to bring you the heart of an ice dragon, I¡¯ll get it. ¡¹ ¡¸Not exactly. Although¡­ I hope this doesn¡¯t happen either, if you should ever meet Cedric¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸Yes¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸Tell him that Licia lived and died without regrets. ¡¹ ¡¸I will, I promise. ¡¹ Artizea promised her. So, Licia held her hand tight. ¡¸I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t save you¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸I¡­ someone like me¡­ ¡¹ ¡¸If there is another world to live again, I would like you to just call me Licia. ¡¹ Those were herst words. Tap, tap. Hearing the sound of footstepsing down the stone steps, Artizea came to her senses. She couldn¡¯t tell clearly if she had been dreaming or if she had just been thinking about Licia. ¡®How long has it been since I was locked up in this dungeon?¡¯ There were no side windows with bars. So she couldn¡¯t even see when the sun rise and set. Artizea had almost lost track of time. Once a day a jailer would bring her food. However, after a few days it was difficult to determine how much time had passed. At first, she was half unconscious because of the wounds from the torture. Now, the bleeding stopped and the wounds healed a bit, but the pain was terrible because of the aftermath. Her shoulders felt like they were about to tear, and the lower portion of her bloody body was covered in bruises. She was cold, but she did not know if it was because the prison was cold or because her blood was not circting properly in her body. ¡°You deserve it. You evil bitch.¡± ¡°Uggh¡­¡± Instead of making an effort to talk, Artizea remained silent. There was more than one person in the world who would want to see Artizea destroyed and dead. Among them, Venia would be able to sell her soul to the devil if she could stand in the front row. Venia was Licia¡¯s maid. It was Artizea who devastated the vige where Venia¡¯s family lived. An epidemic broke out in that area. It was Licia who saved Venia from death, after she lost her whole family. From then on, Venia dedicated her life to serving Licia. All Venia¡¯s loved ones died because of Artizea. It is natural for Venia to hate her. When she saw that Artizea was staring at her in silence, Venia gritted her teeth and spat. ¡°Yes, I know you don¡¯t have a tongue. Now you can¡¯t spread your poison with your words.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just as you are now, who could imagine that you were once the emperor¡¯s great conspirator.¡± p! Venia pped Artizea with all her might. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that they have cut off all your limbs and your tongue, now I have nothing to cut.¡± p! ¡°You¡¯re a scum. Now you look at me with pity eyes?¡± Artizea closed her eyes. Venia was right. Artizea did not deserve to be pitied. Venia was always loyal to Licia, even after her death. After Licia¡¯s death, she ttered the new empress and endured all sorts of things in order to remain in the imperial pce, with the sole aim of taking revenge on Artizea and Lawrence one day. Venia pped her on the cheeks a few more times. Now, Artizea only had a few teeth left. Also, blood was spilling from her mouth because of the many wounds she had. Venia pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off her hand. Then she untied Artizea from the fetters that were binding her. ¡®Why did you¡­?¡¯ Artizea thought it was strange. Venia said calmly. ¡°These are Cedric¡¯s orders, although I wouldn¡¯t be content to tear you to pieces here a thousand times. He probably wants to execute you with his own hands as revenge for the people you¡¯ve killed.¡± ¡®It can¡¯t be.¡¯ Artizea knew the Grand Duke Cedric Evron much better than Venia. He was an honest and fair man, no matter what the reason, he would not go so far as to finish off a woman who had already fallen and been tortured. Besides, if she escaped from the dungeon, Venia could not return. The Imperial Pce was not such a simple ce. It would soon be discovered that it was Venia who came down with the key and took her away. Venia was a subordinate and spy for Cedric Evron who served the empress. There is no way he would waste a chess piece as important as this. At least not on Artizea. Maybe Cedric Evron gave this order for another reason. Probably not because he wanted to publicly execute a tongue-less conspirator, but because he wanted to save the maid who belonged to his beloved Licia. Venia would not be willing to leave this ce voluntarily without a reason. However, Venia didn¡¯t think that far ahead. After freeing Artizea, she took off her cloak and covered it up. After months of torture and the loss of her limbs, Venia could easily lift and carry her body by herself alone. Artizea was taken from the imperial pce in aundry cart and then transported in a wagon. The constant shaking caused the fever to rise in her already weakened body. Halfway through, her consciousness became cloudy again. Artizea knew she was being transported, but she didn¡¯t know how. When she regained consciousness, she was in a tent. Her severed limbs had been wrapped with a clean bandage. The face of the old man who was caring for her looked familiar. He was Grand Duke Evron¡¯s butler. ¡°You have awakened.¡± Despite being the enemy, the butler spoke politely to her. ¡°You¡¯d better eat something, if you can.¡± Artizea blinked and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The doctor also said you probably wouldn¡¯t want to eat because of the state you¡¯re in. I¡¯ll make you some strong tea.¡± Then the butler got up and left the tent. Artizea turned her head and looked around. There was nothing special about the tent. There was only a pot of boiling water, the bed where she was lying, and an oilmp. The butler did not return alone. The cloth at the entrance to the tent opened and Cedric Evron entered. Artizea looked at him in shock. She hadn¡¯t seen him in years, but he hadn¡¯t changed. Only his vivid ck eyes seemed deeper than before. ¡°It has been a long time since west saw each other, Marchioness Rosan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I heard they cut out your tongue.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The person who was once the greatest conspirator in the whole empire seems to have been unable to save herself, right?¡± Artizea closed her eyes. Shemented the stupidity of havingmitted all those crimes for Lawrence, knowing she would be betrayed. But she didn¡¯t feel guilty. All the humans in the world are evil. Even more so those whoe close to power. That was Artizea¡¯s firm belief. But in front of two people in the world, Cedric Evron and Saintess Licia, she was not able to say that. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:-https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 3 Chapter 3. Trantor: Gold Artizea once destroyed the Ava River embankment to frame Cedric. At that time, Cedric was returning from controlling the situation on the western border of the empire by order of Emperor Gregor. The emperor notified him through an imperial emissary to return themand and control of themander-in-chief of the army and to hurry back to the capital alone. It was then that Artizea destroyed the embankment. Several cities and viges were swept away. The number of people directly affected was estimated to be only about 30,000 at most. The paddy fields were also damaged, but since this was a good harvest year, there was no danger that the whole country would be plunged into famine. In any case, the most beneficial thing for him would have been to leave the Ava River and return to the capital under the emperor¡¯s orders. But Cedric did not. He chose to use the army to minimise the flood damage. However, since he did not return, but acted asmander-in-chief of the army, this aroused the suspicion of the Emperor. Artizea did this because she knew that Cedric was this kind of person. The same thing happened when Artizea discovered and med a vige for being rebels in the territory of Grand Duke Evron, or when he devised a n to get rid of Grand Duke Roygar, and even when the epidemic spread. Even knowing what might happen to him, in the end he always chose to save the people. This cost him his position and he ended up bing a fugitive. ¡°Please have some tea.¡± The butler spoke politely and gave Cedric an iron cup. Then he sat next to Artizea and he brought a cup of strong tea, full of sugar and milk, to her mouth. Cedric sat down in front of Artizea, while he drank the tea. As if it was tea time. Artizea looked at him nkly, thinking of Licia¡¯s will. ¡¸If you ever meet Cedric, please tell him that Licia lived and died without regrets.¡¹ Deep down, Licia did not want Artizea and Cedric to meet again, as that would mean that he was finally defeated and taken back to the capital. But now the situation was exactly the opposite of what she thought at the time. Today, yearster, Cedric and his forces were still alive. It was Artizea who fell. Artizea was taken to Cedric¡¯s camp and was now face to face with him. Under these circumstances, Licia would have wanted her to convey the message. But Artizea could not keep the promise she had made to Licia. Because she was not able to speak. Cedric stood up when the butler finished pouring all the tea into Artizea¡¯s mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go out.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Artizea awoke from her thoughts and looked at him incredulously. Cedric approached her and gently lifted her up. Artizea struggled to free himself from his grip, unlike with Venia. This time she was embarrassed. But she couldn¡¯t resist the strength of Cedric¡¯s arms. He picked her up in his arms and as he left the tent, knights in military uniforms rushed up to her. The knights were all dirty from their constant running away. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Grand Duke.¡± Where does he take the wicked woman?¡± ¡°I have unfinished business.¡± ¡°We will transport her.¡± The knights held out their hands. Cedric turned to the side, avoiding their hands. ¡°Do not speak of people as if they were objects.¡± ¡°What is he saying? Your Grace is being too kind to the devil.¡± ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll go alone.¡± ¡°No way.¡± The knights were scared. ¡°The Marchioness Rosan, she has no arms or legs, she could not harm me.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be so sure of that!¡± ¡°That witch is capable of causing a disaster with her tongue alone.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, the Marchioness Rosan doesn¡¯t have a tongue either.¡± Said Cedric, clicking his tongue. He strode across the military camp. Then he mounted Artizea on the horse and he climbed behind. Because she did not have her limbs intact, he could not ride her in the back, so this was the easiest way to carry her. Artizea shuddered. She¡¯s never been this close to a man before. The heat from her chest against her back caused her body temperature to rise. Cedric rode out of the camp. It was drizzling. Looking at the mountains and the streams, Artizea realized that this was the Barquee region belonging to the Grand Duke Roygar. Barquee was the granary of the eastern part of the Empire. It could not bepared with the vast ins of the western, but the abundance of water and the mild climate, allowed all kinds of cereals and fruits to be grown here. The best wine in the Empire was also produced here. But now there was no trace of it left. Smoke rose from the charred ground. While he was riding she could only see the remains of houses. There were corpses everywhere, the vast majority being the bodies of men. The city was also destroyed. Only the rubble of the walls remained, and the survivors, crouched beneath the walls of their destroyed homes, looked up at the two of them with a glint in their eyes. Artizea stared at the scene in a daze, not understanding what had happened. What had happened while she was in prison. There should have been no war in Barquee. ¡°This happened because a native of Barquee was found to have nned an assassination attempt against Lawrence with the Grand Duke Roygar 12 years ago.¡± Artizea was breathless, his heartbeat elerated. This was an unnecessary massacre. Lawrence was already emperor and had the imperial army at his disposal. The imperial power was solid and stronger than ever. It was Artizea who made this possible. Lawrence had to keep himself clean. So such things had always been Artizea¡¯s responsibility. That was the task Milera imposed on Artizea and she faithfully carried out her duty. So now, without her, Lawrence could have be the perfect emperor. Do you find that surprising and shocking? This is what you used to do too, Marchioness Rosan.¡± Cedric said quietly. ¡°This was either necessary or unnecessary. I know that¡¯s what you think to execute your schemes. Perhaps this is something that Lawrence considered necessary.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Or do you believe, Marchioness Rosan, that your judgment is absolute and Lawrence¡¯s is not?¡± Artizea was speechless. ¡°If so, no wonder you¡¯ve been expelled.¡± Cedric said, with a change in his tone. *** Then Cedric formed a small, separate troop and moved from ce to ce. Artizea was taken on the butler¡¯s horse and moved with the small troop. There were many other ces that had suffered a terrible fate. No one took care of the gues of locusts, the aftermath of the civil wars, or the restoration of the embankments. Nor did the granary exist. Every road was overflowing with wandering people and infested with contagious diseases. Carcasses that had not been collected were scattered everywhere. The politics of the empire were not just a disaster in thest year or two. Emperor Gregor was self-centered and selfish, a man who put his authority ahead of the lives of his people. The struggle for session ended up ruining the country, Artizea took the initiative to make that happen. Artizea thought that once Lawrence became emperor, he would be able to restore the empire. There was hope for the Empire when Licia was Empress. Even after her death, there was an effort on Artizea¡¯s part to do something to change the situation while she was at Lawrence¡¯s side. But now the imperial family seemed to have abandoned everything. Artizea had already understood what Cedric was trying to tell her. Instead of condemning her with his mouth as Venia did, he seemed to want to show her the consequences of what she had done. ¡°Mira is dead. I heard that she was still scolding Lawrence on the subject of women.¡± The day they arrived at the vige of the rebels on the other side of the northern ridge, he broke the news. Artizea was too exhausted to be surprised by the news. In the vige of the rebels, only the graves remained, with thousands of shadows cast by the wooden crosses. This vige was not really a rebel vige. It was the ce where people fled when Emperor Gregor killed Cedric¡¯s parents, using them of treason. Later, the truth came out and the empire recognised it. The wanted list of those who fled was also lifted. Still, they did not leave the vige where they lived, trusting and supporting each other. Licia was also from this vige, and Venia¡¯s family also lived in hiding here. Cedric, who had no other blood rtives, foundfort among the vigers. Artizea knew this. This was a terrible thing. Artizea had just learned about the construction of these tombs. ¡®Did Cedric make all these tombs himself? Did he bring me here with the intention of making me reflect?¡¯ Artizea thought. After standing silently for a long time on the hill overlooking the whole vige, Cedric took her back to the military camp with him. ¡°I don¡¯t think you ever imagined that Lawrence would end up like this, Marchioness Rosan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I knew he was very bad and perverse. But if I had started fighting for the throne, I was convinced that defeat would have been worse than death.¡± Artizea was anxious about another matter. ¡®Why doesn¡¯t he ask about Licia? Why doesn¡¯t he ask how the Saintess died, who tried to protect him at all costs?¡¯ So much so that Mira was killed because of the women¡¯s issue. Cedric should know by now how Lawrence treated women. Therefore, it would be logical that he me Artizea for taking Licia away from him and forcing her to marry Lawrence. But he didn¡¯t. His stiff face looked like a public statue erected in a town square. ¡°But I did not expect to see such tyranny. Why the hell is he doing this? Now that the Crates Empire belongs to him. Has he no desire to protect his people, to save and make this ce great?¡± In any case, Artizea could not answer because she had no tongue. She looked down. She just wanted to know. Why was Lawrence like that? ¡°Devise a n.¡± Then she raised her head in astonishment at Cedric¡¯s words. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:-https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 4 Chapter 4. Trantor: Gold ¡°We have to take Lawrence down somehow. However, the power gap is too big. My subordinates and I only know about military affairs, we have no idea how to narrow that gap.¡± Artizea stared at him nkly. Cedric¡¯s face, which she had thought was like a statue, had be a zing sun. He didn¡¯t raise his voice. Yet for Artizea it was as if he had roared. ¡°I know you¡¯re a very intelligent woman.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have the insight to choose correctly who to serve, but I think you were blinded by affection for your family. Though you made many horrible schemes, I know it was for Lawrence.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The only person who can reverse this situation is you. Marchioness Rosan, I need your help.¡± Cedric bowed his head. But as if he didn¡¯t think that was enough, he got down on his knees, put his hands on the floor and bent his back until his forehead almost touched the ground. Artizea was startled. She shook her limbs. If it wasn¡¯t for the butler who held her, she would have fallen, as she could barely sit up straight. Cedric raised his head. His ck pupils were like burning coals. ¡°You no longer have Lawrence¡¯s affection or that of your family. When you look around the empire, don¡¯t you regret how it fell into ruins?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I know you were just a schemer following orders, not a devil. Unlike Lawrence. Didn¡¯t you ever think to do anything good with the power you had?¡± Artizea shook her head. She thought she had no right to regret it. People were right. If there was a witch who had made a pact with the devil, that would be her. Even if she had changed her mind, she had no tongue to speak and no hands to write. She couldn¡¯t even think straight with her tired and aching body. ¡°Marchioness Rosan, you still have a brilliant mind. You can write by holding a pen in your mouth, or you can point to the words with the help of another person. As long as you live, you can aplish anything if you have the determination and will to do so. I need you.¡± Artizea looked at him for a while, her vision blurred. It was funny. She had never heard Lawrence, the person she had dedicated her life to, say he needed her. She knew Cedric. As an enemy, she knew him better than anyone else in the world. The resentment in his heart should be hotter than a valley ofva. The people around him would expect him to kill her fiercely. But he was kneeling before her. All for a good cause. However, Artizea could only shake her head again. She was only good at persuading others to do her favors, to plot, to murder, and to scheme. She did not master tactical strategies. Artizea couldn¡¯t aplish something Cedric wasn¡¯t capable of. Even if she were a truly brilliant strategist, there was no way to ovee the current imbnce of power. ¡°I see.¡± Cedric seemed to understand quickly why Artizea shook her head. ¡°Even you can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± He said grimly. Tears fell from Artizea¡¯s eyes. She had decided from the first time her hands were stained with blood, that she would regret nothing until the day she died. All the things she had done, cannot be forgiven just because she regrets themter. Even if the dead held some resentment against her, she thought that what they must resent is the fate of having been born into this world. No one is innocent in the world after being born. No. Even a newborn baby is a sinner for being born. Just like her. And so is Lawrence. Still, she regretted it. In fact, the regrets umted deep in her heart came together like a huge rock that struck his heart. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I was reckless with my words.¡± Cedric stood up. ¡°I can¡¯t give you better amodation because of the poor conditions in the military camp, but I¡¯ll soon send you to the countryside with some of my men. I hope you can live in peace for the rest of your life.¡± Artizea looked at him, unable to say anything and shedding tears. That night she was huddled in the tent, thinking to herself, of a way to fix everything. In the current situation, there was no way. But the truth was that Artizea had a method. She crawled slowly and sat down. She didn¡¯t want to use this method. Because she was a sinner. Artizea didn¡¯t believe that Lawrence was to me for her sins. She just wanted to die and rot, embracing all the evil she had done for Lawrence. But¡­ ¡®There is no n, but there is a method.¡¯ If the bnce of power was too tilted to be reversed, then she must only turn back time before the bnce of power tipped. Artizea bit off what was left of her tongue, then started drawing a magic circle with the blood. Magic has long since disappeared from this world. However, the method of using magic is still passed on. Precise magic circles drawn in blood, and human sacrifices. In fact, the main reason for the disappearance of magic was not due to human sacrifices, but the fact that there were few people who could urately draw a magic circle. The characters of the magic circles are written in an ancientnguage. Even if someone could copy them, no one could activate them at will. But Artizea could. She was one of the few people who could easily write the ancient characters of that deadnguage. She had studied the magic circles to use them in evil acts. Although the bleeding did not stop, Artizea bit her tongue many times and also bit the inside of her mouth to bleed even more. She had to draw a magic circle of considerable size with the spilled blood. She drew the magic circle all night long. There would be no second chances, so she had to draw it correctly on this one asion. Halfway through, her vision became blurred, and she had to bite her tongue harder to stay awake. Before dawn she finally managed to finish, and copsed on the magic circle due to great blood loss. ¡®It¡¯s a proper human sacrifice.¡¯ Artizea closed his eyes helplessly. The magic circle that would take her life began to glow blue. Cedric, who realized that something strange was happening in the tent, rushed in and looked at her in amazement. But the magic circle had already begun to work and required no further sacrifice. There was a sh of light that prevented him from approaching. ¡®I hope that your wishes wille true in your next life.¡¯ That was Artizea¡¯sst thought. The magic soon became a pir of light that extended to the ends of the sky and illuminated the night sky. *** When she opened her eyes, it was almost dawn. Artizea moved her feet under the nket and then moved her hands. Finally, she touched her tongue with a finger. She tried to speak out loud. Her voice came out loud and clear. ¡°Did I make a mistake in the magic?¡± The ancient characters written on the magic circle meant < In return for Artizea Rosan¡¯s life, time will return, turn back time. > For that reason, Artizea thought she was going to die. But now she was alive. There were no wounds or pain in her body. However, the huge rock formed by her regrets continued to strike at her heart. Feeling strange, she raised her hand. The moonlight filtered through the window and dyed her nails blue. Artizea looked at her nails in silence, took off her sheets and got off the bed. Then she lit themp and went out to look at herself in the mirror. ¡°I have returned.¡± In the mirror was a girl with bright blond hair and turquoise eyes. She touched her cheek with her fingertips. She felt that her own face was not hers. ¡®Did my face look like this?¡¯ She realized that she had never cared for herself. She had only seen herself a few times in the mirror. Because she hated that her face was different from Lawrence and Mira¡¯s. Mira often said she was so ugly that she didn¡¯t even want to look at her. Lawrence rarely looked at her directly. However, between siblings it was normal not to notice each other¡¯s appearance. Although Artizea was obliged to do so since she was in charge of Lawrance¡¯s image for social events. Artizea turned around and went back to her bedroom. She had no ns to return herself. Her goal was to give Cedric another chance. Without her, Lawrence¡¯s power would be greatly weakened. Mira had an exceptional ability to manipte the emperor, but she possessed an impulsive personality. No matter how much effort she put into her schemes, she would always leave some trace. From the beginning, Lawrence was not the kind of person to conspire. Besides, he was originally the only one who distrusted Cedric. Back then, as he was the emperor¡¯s nephew and had not yet excelled, Artizea kept him under control by tying his hands and feet. If she had done nothing, Cedric could have preserved his power until the decisive moment. Even after all the damage she did to him, he survived to the end and resisted Lawrence. ¡®The important thing is that I have returned.¡¯ Whether it was a magic circle glitch or some other problem, there must be a reason why she has survived. ¡¸ I need your help.¡¹ Artizea remembered the moment when Cedric had bowed his head to her. She felt a weight on her chest and gently ced her hand on her left breast. ¡®In return for kneeling before the devil, you got the devil to get his hands dirty for you.¡¯ It was like a promise. Artizea went to his desk. At the bottom of the desk drawer was his diary. She took it out and opened the diary on thest page. < June 2nd, 482 in the Imperial Calendar > Eight days ago, Artizea turned 18. It was almost two years before her 20th birthday, when she would inherit the title of Marchioness Rosan. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 5 Chapter 5. First Meeting (1) Trantor: Gold They were on the table during breakfast as usual. Lawrence was sitting at the head of the table, and Mira was sitting next to him. Despite the presence of the servants, Mira attended Lawrence personally. She spoke sweetly to him as he buttered the bread or cut the fish. ¡°It was a bit hotst night, did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yes. The temperature drops as it gets dark.¡± ¡°But as soon as the sunes up, it starts to get hot. If you don¡¯t have an appetite, let me know. I¡¯ll talk to the chef to prepare your favorite food, winter melon soup.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡± With one graceful move, Lawrence shoved the cut fish into his mouth. Since she was a child, Artizea had envied Mira¡¯s attentions to her brother. Because she did not receive the same love from her mother. So, wanting to get a little closer to both of them, she sat as close to them as possible. And in Mira¡¯s absence, she looked after Lawrence, thinking it was her duty. Even after she realized it wasn¡¯t her duty, she convinced herself to do it. Lawrence was someone of value, who would be able to be the emperor. Lawrence was also the one who would make Mira an honorable and distinguished person in the future. So, of course, he would be treasured. Artizea was not in the same position. But now, she had no interest in either of them. During her torture, her lingering feelings for Lawrence disappeared. Her attachment to Mira had disappeared before that. She knew that her existence was like a tumor to Mira. Simr to thete Marquis Rosan. Artizea finished breakfast, she only ate the bread and sd. She didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. Besides, she wanted to get out quickly to check the current situation. The Salmon Meuni¨¨re, which had been prepared as the main dish for breakfast, was not even ced in front of her. As she wiped her mouth and stood up, Mira said abruptly. ¡°Your brother hasn¡¯t finished half his meal yet, but are you getting up already?¡± Only then did Mira realize that Artizea was not sitting next to her as usual, but she was sitting in a distant seat. Her beautiful brown eyes rounded. In the past, Artizea would have apologized, but not now. ¡°I don¡¯t have much of an appetite. Besides, you always told me I had to lose some weight.¡± Artizea said calmly. In her childhood before she was ten, she was chubby. Mira always told her she was too fat and ate too much. That she should eat little like birds to maintain her figure. Because of that, Artizea developed an eating disorder at that time. If she didn¡¯t eat anything, she would only have bones, so Mira shouldn¡¯t tell her to lose weight. However, Mira used to tell her all the time that she had to lose weight. Mira got angry. ¡°But you must keep your table manners¡­¡± ¡°Today I¡¯d like to visit the temple outside the city. Is that okay, brother?¡± She asked Lawrence for permission to go out, as she was sure that Mira would not give it to her. That way, Artizea would also avoid hearing her reproaches. The only thing that Lawrence cared about Artizea was her ability to serve. He didn¡¯t care for her as a younger sister. Mira was about to explode, but she stopped when Lawrence slowly opened his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can go.¡± ¡°Thank you, brother.¡± Said Artizea, making Mira rethink the words she would say. Then Mira said in a radiant voice. ¡°How can you be so considerate? You even think about your sister¡­¡± Artizea had a lot of things to do and she couldn¡¯t worry about that. When she came out, Alice, a maid close to her, approached her quickly. ¡°Mydy, didn¡¯t you eat well again? Why did you leave so soon? Usually you¡­¡± ¡°Alice.¡± Artizea stared at Alice. She felt a little nostalgic. Alice was her first personal maid. She was perceptive and loyal, but because of that, she was poisoned instead of Artizea. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What is the matter, mydy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Not knowing what to say, Artizea just turned her head. At that time, Artizea tried to take care of Alice¡¯s family members for the rest of their lives, because she was always loyal to her. What happened to Alice¡¯s family after she was incarcerated? Not only with Alice¡¯s family, but also with the other families of those who died for Artizea. Artizea had designed a structure to ensure that financial support would continue to be given no matter what happened to her. She was also in charge of hiding the money and its link to that, in case something bad happened. Considering that she was being more careful after she had eliminated all her political enemies, she had probably been suspicious of Lawrence long before she was falsely used. ¡°Mydy, are youughing?¡± ¡°Did Iugh?¡± ¡°Yes. In this way.¡± Aliceughed, mimicking her expression. Artizea did not even show the faintest smile and turned around instead. Even if it was an encounter after 20 years, her personality did not allow her to rejoice and embrace the other person with joy. ¡°I¡¯m going out. I¡¯m going to the Temple.¡± ¡°Yes, mydy.¡± ¡°Alice,e.¡± Artizea gestured for her toe closer. Alice leaned down and brought her ear to Artizea¡¯s lips. Artizea whispered to her what she had to do. When Alice straightened up, she said. ¡°So, go to the kitchen and prepare a lunch box with sandwiches stuffed with plenty of meat.¡± ¡°Oh, mydy. Have you finally decided to stop dieting?¡± ¡°I think I need to strengthen my body.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. You need to eat more.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ufortable to eat alone. So prepare and pack at least 5 more portions. Also, pack a pic tea set.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Alice was confused. But she had never questioned Artizea¡¯s decisions. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time, so do it quickly. Sophie will get me dressed.¡± ¡°Yes, mydy.¡± Alice left quickly. Artizea went slowly to her room. After breakfast, Artizea usually changed into her afternoon dress. That¡¯s why Sophie was already in front of her boudoir. ¡°Which dress do you wish to wear?¡± ¡°Beige¡­ no, better green.¡± Said Artizea, thinking it would be annoying if the dress got dirty. Artizea didn¡¯t have many clothes. Unlike Mira who had four dressing rooms full of clothes, Artizea had a boudoir with almost nothing. When Mira was getting dressed there were about 20 maids around her serving her. On the other hand, Artizea only had Sophie to serve her. Just by saying ¡®green¡¯, Sophie knew which dress she was talking about and ran quickly to the closet. However, it was a long time since she wore formal dresses. Mira did not like going out with Artizea, and she did not like the idea of Artizea having contact with outsiders. She always told her that it was embarrassing that her horrible daughter was out and about. Artizea didn¡¯tpletely believe her words. From Mira¡¯s perspective, Artizea was proof that she had betrayed the emperor, so she did not want to show her in public. However, she could not yet look directly into the mirror and appreciate her face. Sophie took off Artizea¡¯s outer garment and she sat down in front of the dressing table. Then she asked Artizea, although she knew that she didn¡¯t care. ¡°How would you like your hair done?¡± ¡°Neatly¡­ no.¡± Artizea took a deep breath and said something she had never said in her life. ¡°Make it pretty.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± Sophie was surprised but immediately smiled brightly. ¡°Well, I guess you¡¯re at that age too.¡± ¡°What age?¡± ¡°You want to look pretty and date handsome guys.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. I¡¯ll just go to the temple.¡± ¡°You could meet someone at the temple. Maybe it¡¯s a charming knight or someone like that.¡± ¡°Who would put me in their eyes?¡± This was the first time she said anything like that. The appearance was important. Thinking about what she was going to do today, it would actually be good to look pretty. However, it was not significant to her. Because her real value wasn¡¯t in looks. However, it seemed as if she really wanted to look pretty. She knew she couldn¡¯t and shouldn¡¯t have that kind of rtionship with the person she was meeting today. Sophie opened her eyes wide and smiled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you expect?¡± ¡°Sophie.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll just make sure any man you meet is interested in you.¡± Sophie said cheerfully, as she curled Artizea¡¯s hair. ¡°Mydy, you can be the number one beauty in high society because you are naturally very beautiful. You just need to gain some weight and get some more sleep.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°You know you¡¯re Mira¡¯s daughter. To be honest, considering her age, now the jewel of high society is¡­ jeez!¡± Sophie quickly fell silent when the door opened. It was Mira. Lawrence seemed to have finished eating. Mira looked around the boudoir. And when she saw that Artizea was beingbed, she said scornfully. ¡°You don¡¯t intend to seduce men with that ugly face and that pitiful appearance. Do you?¡± Sophie said nothing and concentrated on what she was doing. Artizea spoke calmly. ¡°I¡¯m going to the temple. What would I do by seducing the priest, mother?¡± ¡°Then why is she curling your hair? Like an old woman?¡± Artizea looked at Mira through the mirror. Mira plopped down on a sofa in the boudoir . ¡°Didn¡¯t my brother say he was going out today?¡± ¡°He already left.¡± Mira sighed,menting. Chapter 6 Chapter 6. First Meeting (2) Trantor: Gold Artizea nodded. There was no other reason why Mira could be in such a bad mood. Lawrence was already 22 years old. Even the most spoiled son, at this age, would like to be away from his mother and have more freedom. This is especially true for someone raised, like Lawrence, to be self-centered about everything. ¡°Did he say where he was going?¡± At this point, Sophie realized that Mira¡¯s attention had turned to another subject, so she continued to do Artizea¡¯s hair. Mira only sighed at Artizea¡¯s question. Artizea then consoled Mira with her words, as she used to do. ¡°Lawrence has many friends, and many things to do¡­ so it can¡¯t be helped.¡± ¡°Yes. I know. Your brother is a wonderful man, so many people are behind him.¡± Miramented. ¡°I hope he¡¯s not captivated by some bitch.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My brother is a intelligent man.¡± ¡°But the problem with women is different. No matter how great a man is, if a woman decides to seduce him, he will eventually sumb to her. Because sexual desire is a male instinct.¡± Mira used to say that all the time. Artizea always wondered if that was wisdom or prejudice based on her own experience. Anyway, Artizea already knew what she had to answer. Mira wanted to hear something that wasforting to her. ¡°How could my brother do that? Mother has raised my brother with great dedication. He is not that kind of person.¡± When Artizea was much younger, she used to pay attention to Mira¡¯s words. But now, she knew that Mira only cared about her own interests. Mira nodded at her words. ¡°That¡¯s right, your brother is different from other men. Still, I am worried about him. After all, when a man falls in love with a woman, he forgets about his mother. You won¡¯t, will you?¡± ¡°Of course not, Mother. I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± Artizea said politely and Mira smiled with satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s obvious. You¡¯re my daughter.¡± While they were talking about it, Sophie finished curling all of Artizea¡¯s hair. Sophie had a good technique for making hairstyles, but she exaggerated and her curls were too short. Mira seemed satisfied with the hairstyle. ¡°Have a nice day. Remember to donate some money and try to freshen up. You should always pay attention to the temple.¡± ¡°Yes, mother.¡± Artizea responded obediently. When Artizea was 15 she had the idea of creating an informationwork, so she suggested donating to the temples and distributing money to the priests. Also, buy maids and servants from the imperial pce. Mira had tried several times to do simr things before. However, she failed on every asion, becausepared to therge amount of money she spent, she did not have very good results. In the end, she seeded after putting Artizea¡¯s words into practice. Even so, Mira acted as if she had nned everything herself and that Artizea was only the errand person. However, Artizea was not upset. In a month at most, everything would change. She didn¡¯t want to argue or be beaten up over such a trivial matter, so she acted as before, as if she knew nothing. ¡°Mydy, are you all right?¡± Once Mira left, Sophie asked her with concern. Artizea nodded her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing new, is it?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ but still¡­¡± ¡°Put my dress on.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Sophie hurried. Artizea wasn¡¯t wearing a corset. As a child, Mira would force her to wear a little corset to make her look a little better. However, when Artizea¡¯s body began to look like a grown woman¡¯s, she prevented her from wearing any tight clothing, saying it would make the men think dirty thoughts. Sophie put a bustle on her and dressed her in a dark green striped dress. Finally, Sophie sat her down on a chair and put her hands in Artizea¡¯s hair. Then, while massaging her scalp, she extended the curls she had previously curled for a perfect hairstyle. The curls were extended to the right level. Artizea¡¯s hair had a nice color, so she looked beautiful with her hairstyle. Artizea looked awkwardly in the mirror and fiddled with the tips of her hair. ¡°What do you think? You do not have to worry, by the time you return you will have your hair down. In any case, just spraying water can remove it.¡± Sophie said cheerfully. Artizea didn¡¯t know how to react. She had never paid attention to her appearance. However, it was the first time that a maid had broken the dress code, with the intention of making her look pretty. When she was satisfied, she would give a silver coin to the maids as a token of her appreciation for their work. ¡®Is it okay that I look pretty in the first ce?¡¯ Artizea had always had an obsessive anxiety about whether it was right for her to do something for herself. ¡®I have to get away from my mother as soon as possible.¡¯ She made a firm decision. ¡°You do not like?¡± Sophie asked with an anxious look. Artizea shook her head, opened the dresser drawer, took out a silver coin and gave it to Sophie. ¡°On the contrary, you did a good job today.¡± ¡°Wow! Thank you very much!¡± Sophie epted the silver coin with both hands and bowed her head. At that moment, you could hear the sound of the door opening. Alice came in after finishing what Artizea had ordered, and was surprised to see Artizea. ¡°Mydy, you are very beautiful today!¡± Sophie secretly made the V sign behind Artizea. Artizea noticed and fixed her gaze on Sophie. Sophie hummed and shrugged her shoulders. Alice, who was livelier than Sophie, said cheerfully. ¡°You look really pretty! It would be great if you always looked like this.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good with words. You won¡¯t get anything out of ttery. Did you do everything I asked?¡± ¡°Yes, I also packed the lunch boxes properly and put them in the carriage.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Artizea also gave Alice a silver coin. Sophie finally gave her a little hat decorated with a couple of flowers. Artizea took her beige umbre that had a green line on the end to match the dress and went out with Alice. The change of the future had just begun. *** At that time, Grand Duke Cedric was in a barracks outside the capital. Cedric was the emperor¡¯s nephew. His mother was the Emperor¡¯s sister. Shortly after the death of the previous emperor and the ascension of the current emperor to the throne, Cedric¡¯s parents were falsely used of being conspirators and were killed. At that time, almost the entire imperial family died, except for the children of the current emperor. However, Cedric, who was a baby, and Roygar, who was 12 years old, survived the political purge. The emperor had three children with the Empress, besides Lawrence with Mira. However, all of them died before their 10th birthday due to some illness or ident. It was rumored that the emperor was cursed for killing a close rtive. There were even rumors that the ghost of thete Empress Dowager haunted the graves of the innocent Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Evron, shedding tears of blood. The emperor caught and executed all the people who spread such rumors. But his violent personality decreased as he aged. Moreover, the sessive deaths of his children also left a strong impression on him. The emperor eventually restored the Evron Family to its original position. Cedric was disappointed with the power. So, although his family was reinstated, he remained silent protecting the Grand Duchy Evron without thinking of entering the political arena. But when Cedric¡¯s reputation rose, the emperor summoned him by force from the north, and put the Imperial Western Army under hismand to restore order to the western region, which was gued by monsters. In the west, there were waves of monsters. This meant that the monsters, which had gradually increased in number over the years, were attacking the habitat of the humans. When the situation became grave, more than half of the western ins were devastated by the monster attacks and food was as scarce as in times of famine, and even rumors were spread about the practice of cannibalism. Human trafficking was alsomon. Ordinary people lost their homes and wandered around. Industries, including agriculture, were destroyed. However, the Crates Empire, which had lost its foundations, could not even intervene in the western region. Cedric had to start with rebuilding the Western Army. Then, after a long expedition, they conquered arge area outside the borders and established a fort. For a while, they would not have to fight the growing poption of monsters. It was a great victory. However, the emperor had not yet given the approval for the ceremony of the triumphant return. For that reason, Cedric stayed for two months in some barracks outside the city. ¡°Now is not the time to be stubborn.¡± His lieutenant, Freyl,mented. ¡°Let¡¯s dissolve. The ceremony is not important. It is enough for you, Your Grace, to enter first, bow to the Emperor and say, ¡®The army is well, all has been made possible by His Majesty.''¡± ¡°Freyl.¡± ¡°Then His Majesty will thank us for the hard work, offer us some benefits and a feast. That¡¯s what everybody does, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°These soldiers who have suffered for over a year without replenishing their troops and without supplies deserve to receive such an honor.¡± Cedric said firmly. It would not be difficult for him to enter and bow to the Emperor. But it would not be right. ¡°There¡¯s no need for a grand ceremony, but we have to enter the capital officially. Rewards for battle merit cannot be based on money alone.¡± Cedric seemed serious. ¡°And we cannot dissolve, Freyl. Although we achieved a great victory, after a few years, the same thing will happen again. What do you think will happen? ¡°In that case, His Majesty will have to act quietly and meet with the Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°If the West copses, the whole empire will be in danger.¡± However, Cedric couldn¡¯t help but sigh slightly. ¡°I know what you¡¯re talking about, Freyl. We can¡¯t stay like this forever.¡± ¡°So, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I thought I¡¯d ask the Archbishop to intercede as a mediator.¡± Freyl showed a doubtful expression. The emperor was not on good terms with the temple. ¡°Well, will that work?¡± ¡°I have to try. Anyway, I was nning to go to the temple because I had a disturbing dream.¡± ¡°A dream?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric nodded. In his dream a woman appeared who he had never seen before. It was a woman with tinum-blond hair, she was crying incessantly without saying a word, so much so that her face was soaked with tears. In a way, this could even be considered a nightmare. But instead of feeling fear, for some reason he felt sorry for her. He felt desperate and suffocated, as if his chest was being squeezed. It was a dream that left a bitter taste in him in many ways. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 7 Chapter 7. First Meeting (3) Trantor: Gold The temple where the Archbishop was located was on the outskirts of the capital, at a considerable distance from it. This was partly due to the doctrine that advocated the need to distance oneself from the secr world, and partly for practical reasons to try to establish a certain distance from the Emperor¡¯s sphere of influence. In the capital there were several small temples that were frequented bymoners. However, when the nobles had time they would visit this temple, which also had beautiful and picturesquendscapes. Even the Imperial Family had toe here for some important sacraments. This was also one of the ways to confirm the authority of the temple. Cedric went into the forest with several knights under hismand to go to the temple. A carriage was at a strange angle in the middle of the road. ¡°Woah!¡± Freyl, who was in the lead, tugged on his horse¡¯s reins to stop. Cedric also stopped after him. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Freyl asked. The coachman took off his hat and bowed his head in shame. ¡°Forgive me, knights. The wheel of our carriage hase off.¡± ¡°The wheel came off?¡± Freyl looked at Cedric and when he nodded, Freyl got off his horse. They were riding horses, so they could perfectly well stray from the path and pass by. But neither Cedric nor the knights were that kind of person. Nor did they have a reason to hurry. Cedric watched the situation for a moment. The bracket connecting the axle to the wheel hade loose for some reason, causing the wheel toe off. ¡°This is unusual. How were you handling the carriage?¡± Freyl chided the coachman vigorously. The nervous coachman wiped his forehead with his hand. ¡°I was driving carefully, I don¡¯t know how it happened.¡± ¡°Can you fix it?¡± Cedric got off his horse and went over to Freyl. ¡°It¡¯s not that hard. You just need to mount the wheel and put the bracket back. That takes a bit of strength, but it looks like the people inside the carriage were women, so they couldn¡¯t fix it.¡± Freyl reported and Cedric nodded his head. A girl standing in the shade of a tree a short distance away approached him with her maid. She seemed to be the owner of the carriage. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°You are wee.¡± Cedric responded and turned to look at her. In that instant, he was stunned. She had the same face he had seen in his dream. She was younger, much prettier, but certainly still the same woman. The girl said quietly. ¡°I was worried about having to walk from this ce to the temple.¡± ¡°How could a beautifuldy walk from here to the temple? Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll fix it right away.¡± Freyl intervened, beating his chest. Cedric looked down on him, this is not something he could guarantee. It was a bad habit of Freyl to show off in front of pretty women. The girl smiled softly. It seemed like a bitter smile and at the same time it seemed that she was trying to contain herughter. A crying face was superimposed. Cedric looked away from her face, feeling disconcerted. The carriage was quickly repaired. The girl thanked the knights one by one, and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have disturbed you.¡± ¡°You do not have to apologize. It is our duty to help those who need it. You are a beautifuldy, it is dangerous for you to go out without an escort.¡± Again, Freyl spoke in Cedric¡¯s ce. The girl answered. ¡°It¡¯s just a midday trip to the temple. We¡¯re in the middle of the road so it¡¯s not convenient now, but when we get to the temple I¡¯ll thank you properly.¡± ¡°No, you do not have to.¡± Freyl responded, but Cedric nodded in agreement. Then he opened the carriage door himself, Artizea seemed embarrassed. ¡°Please get on.¡± He spoke briefly and extended his hand. Artizea hesitated and her cheeks turned red, but she finally took his hand and got into the carriage. Cedric¡¯s party on horseback split in two. Some were a little ahead of the carriage and others a little behind it. Artizea realized that it was because they intended to serve as escorts. When the doors of the temple were in sight, Cedric¡¯s party elerated and moved away. They were not going directly to the temple, but nned to visit the personal residence of the Archbishop. Once Artizea¡¯s carriage stopped at the main entrance of the temple, the priest ran out to receive her. ¡°Wee, Lady Rosan.¡± ¡°Thank you foring to receive me despite my unexpected visit.¡± Artizea ordered Alice to take out a small box she had brought. ¡°I have brought scented wax candles. I would like to offer them to the statue of the Son of God.¡± ¡°Follow me, please. I¡¯m sure the Son of God will be very pleased by your great devotion, Lady Rosan.¡± The priest was delighted. The scented candles inside were negligible, but the box was a valuable item with a ruby iy in the center, after being molded in gold and covered with satin. This was much better than making a direct donation. Although the temple had been secrized a long time ago, they still wanted to pretend to be poor and honest. Artizea slowly followed the priest with the box. The priest did not take it to the main hall, but to a small chapel with the statue of the Son of God. Artizea approached the statue and knelt down respectfully. She opened the box and took out three candles. Then she ced them in front of the statue of the Son of God, lit them, and put her hands together. As a child, she prayed a lot, but she never prayed sincerely to God again since she turned 16. But now she wanted to do it with all her heart. ¡®I used magic and sacrificed my body for it, but please forgive me. Though he is serving the foolish and the wicked, Grand Duke Evron, he is a just man, please take care of him. Finally, protect your Saintess daughter, Licia.¡¯ For every candle, she made a petition. When she stood up after a short prayer, the priest asked her politely. ¡°Would you like to see the Archbishop?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll just have tea and rest before I go back.¡± ¡°Then I prepared the gazebo for you.¡± ¡°And one more thing, please.¡± Artizea winked at Alice. Alice quickly took a silver coin out of her pocket and gave it to the priest. The priest grabbed the coin casually and tucked it into his sleeve. ¡°Some knights helped us to repair the wheel of our carriage on our way to the temple. I¡¯d like to thank them properly, so would you please guide my maid to them?¡± ¡°If it was knights, it must have been the party under His Grace, the Grand Duke Evron.¡± The priest called a server and asked him to lead Alice. Then he himself led Artizea to the gazebo. Artizea followed the priest slowly through the temple. Because the temple was located in a beautiful ce, many of the people who came also took advantage of it to rest. In addition, some nobledies who were deeply religious lived nearby and came to the temple daily. For this reason, several gazebos were built on the extensive grounds of the temple, so that visitors could enjoy the beautiful natural scenery without interruption from others. Artizea waited a while alone, sitting in the gazebo where the priest had guided her. The stream that flowed by the side of the gazebo produced a harmonious sound. It was about half an hour before Alice returned with the server. The server was holding a tea kettle of hot water and a wicker hamper, while Alice was holding a box of tea set. ¡°Mydy, I handed out the lunch boxes as you instructed. They liked it.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± The food served at the temple does not include meat products. So, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for the knights. Artizea had nned this from the beginning, so she had packed a lot of food. ¡°I also invited the Grand Duke as you ordered. Mydy, you should also eat something.¡± While Alice was talking, she opened the tea set box she had brought and took out the things that were in the wicker hamper. Artizea didn¡¯t have much of an appetite. But she had to set the table because she had invited him. Alice put some tes on the table, with small slices of sandwiches, scones and jams. Meanwhile, Artizea prepared the tea herself. A refreshing citrus scent drifted through the air. When Artizea poured the tea into her teacup, Cedric finally reached her gazebo. Artizea got up from her seat. Her heart was pounding, she had never felt this way before. She was not sure if it was due to tension. ¡°I greet you again, Your Grace, Grand Duke Evron. I am Artizea Rosan.¡± She bowed her head respectfully. Cedric added a few words to confirm what she had just said. ¡°The Marchioness Rosan¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her daughter.¡± ¡°If you knew I was the Grand Duke Evron, and nned all this to establish a connection with me, you should also know that the Marchioness Rosan is not to my liking. Is that not so?¡± ¡°You realized that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that stupid. How could the wheel of a perfectly good carriage have fallen off like that?¡± Cedric continued. ¡°You even had lunch boxes prepared, as if you¡¯d nned it all from the start.¡± Artizea was a little embarrassed. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you. If I hadn¡¯t made that little connection, you would have turned around as soon as you knew I was Mira Rosan¡¯s daughter.¡± Cedric looked at her silently. In spite of everything, he wouldn¡¯t have given it much importance, if it hadn¡¯t been for the terrible dream he hadst night. Artizea looked him straight in the eye. Cedric thought her turquoise eyes were like precious stones. Unlike the sad look he had seen in the dream, her eyes shone warmly. So he sat down. ¡°I hope what you have to say to me is valuable and you¡¯re not wasting my time.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea bowed her head again respectfully. As Artizea poured the hot tea into his teacup, Cedric hesitated for a moment. He didn¡¯t really feelfortable. He knew that Artizea was trying to do something, even though he thought that in the worst case, it was a bad joke, he also could not ignore that she was the daughter of the Marchioness Rosan. Nevertheless, he decided to at least drink his cup of tea. He could get up and leave at any time. ¡°Please propose to me.¡± ¡°C-Cough!¡± He choked on the hot tea. . Chapter 8 Chapter 8. First Meeting (4) Trantor: Gold Cedric covered his mouth with his hand and coughed for a while, wincing. He had burned the inside of his mouth with the hot tea. ¡°Oh my goodness. I never thought I would hear that from a youngdy I just met today.¡± Artizea offered him a handkerchief with a blushing face. Cedric took it, and wiped his mouth and hands. Artizea wasn¡¯t talking about a real marriage proposal. Even if she had changed, Cedric didn¡¯t know it. So she thought that by telling him about the proposal, he would take it as a scheme. She never imagined that he would misinterpret it as a real marriage between a man and a woman. Artizea admitted that she herself had made a mistake. At this moment, Cedric was not only unaware that she had changed, but he didn¡¯t even know her. No wonder he misinterpreted her words. She spoke, pressing her blushed cheeks with her closed hands. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to marry me for real. I say it as a way of solving the problems Your Grace has been struggling with.¡± ¡°What problems are you talking about?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t entered the capital for thest two months because of the ceremony of the triumphant return, have you? I know Your Grace is concerned that the soldiers will not be treated as they deserve, as this could lead to the copse not only of the Western Army but also of the Southern Army.¡± The treatment of the local troops by the Imperial Family was not new. However, the discontent that had been building up in the army was slowly exploding, because they had not been recognized despite risking their lives to make contributions. The soldiers were beginning to desert from the Southern and Eastern Armies. In contrast, the Western Army had not had many problems under Cedric¡¯s leadership. ¡°The longer Your Grace persists, the less willing His Majesty the Emperor will be to recognise the army¡¯s military merit. He hates losing to others and losing face more than anything else. Perhaps Your Grace is here to ask the Archbishop to act as mediator?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The Emperor has an inferiorityplex about the Archbishop. That is not a wise choice.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°If the Archbishop intercedes, even if he seeds in having the ceremony of the triumphant return, there will be reprisals in the future. Not only is he likely to block any possibility of Your Grace bing involved in the Western Army, but key Western Army personnel who are helping Your Grace could be expelled or purged. Still, you should be d that there is only a dy in the replenishment of troops and supplies.¡± Artizea said this because she knew perfectly well what had happened in the future. The Western Army became weaker and weaker. And seven yearster, when the wave of monsters came, the western region of the country became a real hell. Because of the loss of the cereal fields other regions suffered from famine. Cedric¡¯s face darkened. He knew it too. But still, he could not bow and yield to the Emperor. It¡¯s not just supply that constitutes an army. If pride and military discipline disappeared, then the organisation he managed to rebuild would disintegrate. ¡°His Majesty cares for my brother Lawrence. But at present my brother Lawrence has no military support. It is clear that this will be a great weakness in the future for him, when the fight for the throne begins. His Majesty is worried about this.¡± She continued to speak. ¡°Though of course, His Majesty has no intention of sharing his power.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°So Your Grace is the right person. You are in the line of session to the throne, you can strengthen my brother Lawrence¡¯s legitimacy, and also give him the military support he needs.¡± Artizea took a sip of tea and said. ¡°If Your Grace will leave open the possibility of supporting my brother Lawrence, His Majesty the Emperor would be willing to bestow the appropriate honours on the Western Army and organise a ceremony of the triumphant return to match the achievements made.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean,dy. But it is impossible for that to happen. I will not collude with the Marchioness Rosan, that ispletely out of the question. Much less marry her daughter.¡± Cedric said firmly. ¡°Lady, the only reason I¡¯ve listened to you so far is because you seemed intelligent, but you¡¯re still young. Also, probably because you don¡¯t know me very well, when you listened to your mother and brother hatch that scheme, you thought it would be feasible.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry with you,dy. I hope you will excuse me for leaving in the middle of the conversation, but I do not share your ideas.¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea grabbed him by the sleeve as he stood up. ¡°I¡¯m not done talking. And I¡¯m not asking you to actually support my brother Lawrence.¡± Cedric looked down at her. Artizea said quickly. ¡°By showing His Majesty the Emperor the ¡®possibility¡¯, it is enough.¡± ¡°Lady.¡± ¡°Your Grace may or may not support Lawrence, leaving this uncertain will allow the Western Army to receive the treatment it deserves. And yet you will throw it all away for personal reasons?¡± ¡°I have no intention of begging for the recognition that soldiers deserve for their military merits.¡± ¡°So, what about the ¡®Vige of the Rebels¡¯ in the Grand Duchy Evron? Cedric frowned and looked at Artizea with fierce eyes. ¡°Are you trying to ckmail me,dy?¡± ¡°No, I am offering my advice with all sincerity. The fact that I know this, means that others may find out too, Your Grace.¡± ¡°I deduce that at least the Marchioness Rosan and Lawrence must know.¡± ¡°My mother and brother are not very good at such delicate work. You needn¡¯t worry. Right now, I¡¯m the only one who knows.¡± ¡°They are not guilty.¡± ¡°I know, too. But this is a problem that could trigger a serious situation at any time.¡± Artizea now knew he couldn¡¯t leave. This allowed her to rx and pour herself another cup of tea. ¡®I¡¯m thirsty.¡¯ Cedric sat down again when she finished talking. Then he asked her in a low voice. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Your Grace should pursue a more practical benefit.¡± ¡°Is that practical benefit in joining hands with the unjust to bring about the ceremony of the triumphant return of the Western Army?¡± ¡°Your Grace, you must set aside your honor, so that you may gain the honor of the Western Army and protect the Grand Duchy Evron.¡± Artizea said. ¡°Neither my mother nor my brother knows of this meeting. I did not damage the carriage so that Your Grace would think that our meeting had happened by ident. I did it to deceive the others.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It is quitemon that after an idental encounter between a man and a woman they develop feelings for each other.¡± Artizea spoke calmly. ¡°So, announce that you will stop fighting the Emperor¡¯s will and enter the capital because you have fallen in love with me. Then propose to me. There won¡¯t be many people who will question it.¡± She was Mira Rosan¡¯s daughter. People would misunderstand the whole situation. Except Mira and Lawrence, who would know it wouldn¡¯t be a political marriage. Therefore, no marriage alliance would be established. After saying these words, Artizea straightened his back and looked directly at Cedric. ¡°On the surface, it will seem that Your Grace has abandoned the honour of the Western Army for a woman. But in reality, His Majesty the Emperor will calcte the benefits that Lawrence could obtain when I marry Your Grace. And then, he will allow the ceremony of the triumphant return of the Western Army to take ce.¡± Cedric was silent. ¡°Besides, you will also get the favor of the Grand Duke Roygar, Lawrence¡¯s greatest adversary. Your Grace can benefit from both sides.¡± Artizea emptied the cold tea from his teacup, and poured out new tea. Then Cedric finally asked. ¡°I know that Lawrence will try to get me on his side. But the Grand Duke Roygar is Lawrence¡¯s adversary, what do you mean if I marry you, I¡¯ll get his favour?¡± ¡°You want to marry me because you fell madly in love, not to form a marriage alliance in support of Lawrence.¡± ¡°So far, Your Grace, the Grand Duke Evron, has been sensible and fair in all that you have done. But what will the Grand Duke Roygar think when he learns that you entered the capital not to bow to His Majesty the Emperor, but for a woman? Well, he may think you¡¯ve given up your pride to get something in return, so he¡¯ll try to persuade you to take his side. ¡°You mean I can influence both sides.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric was never a man without power of influence. The Grand Duchy Evron was the shield of the empire in the north. And Cedric was the man who had earned the most merit in the Empire. He also helped rebuild the Western Army and stopped the waves of monsters. There were also many people who admired him in the Central, Eastern and Southern Armies. At the same time, he cemented his reputation by not bowing down to anyone or forming a party faction. In the end, that made the Emperor end up hating him. He didn¡¯t have enough power to threaten the Emperor, but he had enough influence to make him feel ufortable. ¡°If you marry me, the Emperor will not be as displeased with your presence as before.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What His Majesty the Emperor hates most is having his power ignored. And the struggles for session are what affect that power the most. Consider why he does not support his son Lawrence unterally, but puts his brother, the Grand Duke Roygar, on the table as well.¡± ¡°I see what you mean. His Majesty is a cautious man, and is deliberately weakening both sides by creating a factional struggle. Therefore, even if someone were to behead me, His Majesty would consider it a simple political dispute and treat it as a minor matter.¡± Cedric muttered to himself, deep in thought. ¡°Is this how she intends to protect me?¡± Artizea quietly waited for him to finish thinking. She ran out of tea, so she called her maid to bring her more hot water. Cedric remained silent while Artizea poured the hot water into the teapot and turned the hourss. ¡°Lady, if it is not to force me to side with Lawrence through a marriage alliance, then what would you gain from this marriage?¡± She had no choice but to lie about this, Cedric had no reason to trust her yet. ¡°I just want to inherit the Marquisate Rosanpletely and be independent.¡± ¡°Lady, you will inherit the Marquisate Rosan anyway.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait until then.¡± What Artizea said wasn¡¯t entirely untrue. ¡°I¡¯m currently 18 years old. I can only inherit the title when I turn 20. My mother, who is my guardian, has until the next two years the authority to dispose of the estate of the Marquisate Rosan as my guardian.¡± Despite the fact that the Marquisate Rosan hadpletely lost his political influence, it still had arge fortune. The power that Lawrence could exercise just for these reasons was enormous. And there wasn¡¯t much Artizea could do while she was under Mira¡¯s control. For now, her first priority was to distance herselfpletely from her. ¡°But you can marry with your guardian¡¯s permission. And after you marry, you will be recognized as an adult.¡± ¡°Yes, but just because I choose someone, doesn¡¯t mean my mother will let me go. Even when I be an adult it will be the same. Mother would find a way to kill my future husband before letting me marry him.¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°In that sense, Your Grace, the Grand Duke, is the best candidate I can choose. I am sure His Majesty will be pleased with Your Grace¡¯s proposal of marriage, and my brother Lawrence will not refuse it.¡± ¡°Are you thinking of betraying your mother and brother?¡± ¡°I am only a tool. If a tool falls into the hands of another person it cannot be considered treason.¡± Artizea said bitterly. That didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t consider others to be tools. In that sense, maybe she was too much like Mira. ¡°Please remain formally married to me for only two years and protect me, Your Grace. If you do, then I will make Your Grace the Emperor.¡± Cedric¡¯s eyes grewrger at her unexpected words. ¡°You must do it. If you want the people of the Crates Empire to live in peace. Lawrence is cruel and Roygar is greedy. If either of them ascend to the throne, the Empire will be a living hell.¡± Artizea said firmly. Chapter 9 Chapter 9. Trantor: Gold Cedric¡¯splexion changed. He put down his cup of tea and looked at Artizea angrily. ¡°Do you want to sow conspiratorial ideas in me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the session, how could that be a conspiracy? His Majesty has not yet chosen the Crown Prince.¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°If the Grand Duke Roygar is entitled to the session to the throne, Your Grace is also entitled. Your mother was the Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s elder sister, a legitimate princess of the empire, and Your Grace is thete emperor¡¯s grandson, born of a legitimate marriage.¡± *Thud.* Cedric punched the table and rose abruptly from his seat. ¡°I can¡¯t listen to you talk about this anymore.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± He turned and left quickly. Alice, who was watching them from afar, ran up to Artizea in surprise. ¡°Mydy, are you all right?¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ He left angrily.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I expected.¡± Artizea quietly poured more tea into her cup of tea and drank it. On the contrary, she would have been disappointed if he hadn¡¯t shown his rejection. The position of the Crown Prince was not something that could be discussed lightly. And much less about an alleged ¡®conspiracy¡¯. Even just by mentioning this, even if he had a right to session, could cause him to be treated as a conspirator. Cedric knew that better than anyone. Because his parents were framed and killed for conspiracy. Besides, Artizea was Lawrence¡¯s half-sister. Rather, it would have been odd if he didn¡¯t doubt her intentions. ¡®He¡¯ll need time to think about it.¡¯ Cedric¡¯s previous foray into politics came after the fall of Roygar and after Lawrence became the Crown Prince. However, while Roygar was in the fight for the throne, he always stayed away from these matters. The illegitimate son of the emperor or the legitimate son of the emperor¡¯s sister? Favouritism or bloodlines? That fact alone had caused the confrontation to intensify, but no one had considered the emperor¡¯s nephew as his sessor. Cedric had never shown the ambition of the Grand Duke Roygar. Everyone thought he hated politics and power, and that he only wanted to protect the Grand Duchy Evron. Even when he began to confront Lawrence. He did it to survive, not out of any interest in political power. But had Cedric himself once thought about it? Artizea thought not. No, she was sure he hadn¡¯t. She had been watching Cedric for almost 20 years. Artizea had been cautious about him even before he stood out. She couldn¡¯t say that she understood him, nor that she sympathized with him. But she knew him better than anyone else. He was a man of strong convictions. When someone has to step forward to face adverse situations, he is the first to take that step. ¡®Making a decision before the scales tip could be a much better start.¡¯ Pushing Cedric¡¯s back wouldn¡¯t be a difficult task. Even bringing up one of the tragedies that the power struggle between the two would cause, Cedric would feel responsible. Until now, he had probably ignored the issue, vaguely thinking that Lawrence or Roygar could do it right. However, when he discovered that this would not be the case, he would feel the need to confront them. But Artizea decided not to do that. She considered Cedric her master. Therefore, a close aide should strive to fulfill the will of her master. It was out of the question to conspire to influence her master¡¯s actions and thoughts. Of course, she had to be his aide first. The first decision had to be made by Cedric. Time was a valuable resource, but the worrying process of thought and resolution was also important. And if after that worrying process he came to the conclusion that Artizea was not necessary, then she would do something else. ¡°Mydy, eat something. The only thing you ate today when you woke up was a small portion of sd.¡± ¡°Ah. I¡¯m sorry, I forgot.¡± Artizea finally took a small slice of sandwich and put it in her mouth. Then she offered Alice. Anyway, there were so many that she couldn¡¯t eat them all by herself. ¡°Mydy, will youe home now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± ¡°Why? The Grand Duke Evron has already left.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s just wait. We¡¯re in no hurry to get home early anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Alice sighed. However, there was no need to wait any longer. ¡­ After an hour, one of the knights who helped her repair the carriage arrived at the gazebo. ¡°I am Benjamin Corner of the Western Army.¡± The knight introduced himself with a military salute. ¡°I havee by order of His Grace, the Grand Duke Evron, to escort you,dy, to the home of the Marquisate Rosan.¡± Earlier, he had shown himself to be angry with her, but now he was sending this man to escort her, leaving one possibility open. If he was really angry with Artizea because he considered her words uneptable, he would not have sent anyone to escort her. Now she was looking forward to their next meeting. ¡°Thank you for your kindness. I would also like you to convey my thanks separately to His Grace.¡± Artizea said politely. Alice quickly put everything in the wicker hamper and the tea set box respectively. Benjamin helped her carry the heavy box of the tea set. Artizea followed them, walking slowly along the beautiful temple path, carrying her umbre. *** When she was on her way back to the Marquisate Rosan, the sun was setting. When the manor could be seen in the distance, the way was blocked. The Imperial Guard was on alert and they raised their hands as the carriage approached. The coachman was used to this, so he stopped the carriage calmly. Benjamin knocked hastily at the door of the carriage. Artizea opened the curtain on the carriage window and looked out. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ah, sorry for bothering you. There seems to be an inspection. I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on and¡­ ¡± It was then that one of the Knights of the Imperial Guard approached him and asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Western Army uniform? What¡¯s a Western Army knight doing here?¡± ¡°Ah! I am Benjamin Corner, Knight of the Fourth Western Army Corps! I am escorting thedy home on the orders of His Grace, the Grand Duke Evron.¡± Benjamin responded with a tense voice. One might think that the Knights of the Western Army, the Knights of the Central Army and the Knights of the Imperial Guard possessed the same status, but in reality, there were notable differences between them. In particr, the Knights of the Imperial Guard not only had ess to the Imperial Pce, but could also meet with the Emperor at any time and wield a weapon near him. They were treated simrly to an Earl. The Emperor was no fool. He did not select the knights who guarded him by status or lineage, but chose them personally from among the elite Knights of the Central Army. Even ordinary people could be knights just by military achievement. In an empire constantly threatened by monsters and pirates, the way was open for those with the necessary abilities. In fact, the Imperial Guard was also the highest position to which an ordinary person could rise. The Knight of the Imperial Guard asked in surprise. ¡°His Grace the Grand Duke Evron?¡± When Artizea heard the voice, she opened the carriage door. Then the Knight of the Imperial Guard approached the carriage. This middle-aged man named Henry Kishore was one of the Six Commanders of the Imperial Guard. And also, he was one of the Emperor¡¯s trusted men. There was nothing wrong with being close to him. ¡°Hello, Sir Kishore.¡± ¡°Where are youing from sote? Lady Artizea.¡± Kishore asked with a stern expression. ¡°I was returning from the temple, but I had a mishap.¡± He had been a close aide to the Emperor since the time of Artizea¡¯s birth. And he often went to the Marquisate Rosan to visit Mira on the Emperor¡¯s orders. So sometimes he acted as a protective uncle to Artizea. ¡°I see. But why are you with a soldier of the Western Army¡­?¡± ¡°The Grand Duke Evron helped me repair the carriage when I was stranded on the road. He was surprised I was without an escort, so he asked Sir Connor to apany me home.¡± Artizea deliberately blushed. The Emperor trusted Kishore because he was an honest and selfless man. He was also a non-partisan figure loyal to the Emperor and unconnected to the noble families. Mielle was a year younger than Artizea. For that reason, Kishore was kind to Artizea. He was the perfect person to make her meeting with Cedric todaye to the Emperor¡¯s ears in a natural and favorable tone. This meeting with Kishore was not nned by her. But Artizea thought it was the best thing that could have happened. ¡°You¡¯ve grown up, you are no longer a child, you¡¯ve be a woman, Artizea.¡± He said that with a warm smile on his face. Artizea blushed again, but this time she wasn¡¯t acting. Even her ears turned red and her body temperature rose. ¡°Oh, this is no time to talk about this. I¡¯ll escort you home.¡± ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll leave now.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve escorted me here. If you like, you cane with us and have a teacup before you go.¡± ¡°No. The Grand Duke gave me the order to escort you home safely. But from now on, the safest thing is for the Knight of the Imperial Guard to escort you. I have already done my duty, so I will return.¡± ¡°All right, thank you.¡± Artizea said with a smile. Kishore tapped him on the shoulder and said, ¡°Good job.¡± Benjamin stiffened, he said goodbye to Kishore with a military salute, and left quickly as if he were running away. Artizeaughed internally. Although Benjamin was respectful and courteous, he must have felt quite nervous. After all, he was a young Knight of the Western Army, who had met a Commander of the Imperial Guard. Kishore closed the door of the carriage and Artizea said out the window. ¡°Ah, today I received a prayer candle after praying to the statue of the Son of God in the temple. It is blessed and I would like to give it to Miss Mielle.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± Kishore said it with sincerity. ¡°I hope someday, when Miss Mielle¡¯s health improves, we can go on a pic.¡± ¡°Mielle will be d when I tell her.¡± ¡°Sir Kishore, you wille with us, too.¡± Artizea spoke with a smile, and Kishore covered his face with his palms. ¡°That child, she¡¯s been bothering metely¡­¡± She was a 17-year-old girl, so no wonder. Whether she liked her father or not, she would not want to be with him all her life. Artizeaughed. ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s not her intention. By the way, if you¡¯re here, that means His Majesty the Emperor is also in the Marquisate Rosan, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Artizea took a deep breath. She couldn¡¯t remember all the details of the events that were to ur. However, she remembered the date of the Emperor¡¯s first visit, after she had turned 18. Because ¡®something¡¯ happened that day that allowed Artizea to realize how she could help Lawrence. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 10 Chapter 10. Trantor: Gold When they arrived at the manor of the Marquisate Rosan, Artizea handed Kishore the prayer candle that was blessed and then she went inside. The employees of the Marquisate Rosan were doing their work quietly, without worrying about the Emperor¡¯s visit. The Emperor asionally visited the Marquisate Rosan to surprise and please Mira. ¡°Hand out the gift pouches that have been prepared.¡± ¡°You will use almost all the ones you have.¡± Alice whispered in bewilderment. Artizea had made dozens of small silk pouches containing a few gold coins and kept them in her personal wooden box. It was to facilitate the handing over of bribes called gifts or tips. Before returning to the past, she had taught Alice how to manage the informationwork. ¡¸The higher one¡¯s status, the more people in one¡¯s service. And if someone is from the Imperial Family, there will be dozens of people following him from room to room to serve him. The number of people who clean, tidy the rooms, prepare and carry the food is countless.¡¹ ¡¸It is true.¡¹ ¡¸But most of the employees who work for these nobles are not even recognized as human beings. For that reason, they can obtain a lot of valuable information by acting as spies.¡¹ ¡¸Well, I understand what you mean, but if they have valuable information, don¡¯t they usually sell it? Isn¡¯t it better to pay them at that time?¡¹ Alice said, bowing her head. A lot of employees knew they could make money selling information. So they used to remember everything that the people they served talked about and did, to sell that information when the time was right or to achieve their own ambitions. ¡¸If I do this regrly, won¡¯t theye talk to me first when I have valuable information?¡¹ ¡¸Ah, you are buying priority.¡¹ ¡¸Especially trust, they will think that I am willing to buy any valuable information and also that I have the ability to pay no matter what it costs. It must be shown that regrly.¡¹ Artizea also bribed those in unimportant positions. She could not buy their hearts by spending money only when it suited her. ¡¸You should know this. If you give money without asking for any favors, they will feel indebted. This is very important. When you give money and ask for something in return, the rtionship will end immediately. But when you don¡¯t ask for anything in return, the rtionship will never end. They will always think they have to do something for you.¡¹ This applied not only to the poor, but also to those in better positions. With the gold coins that Artizea gave them, they could live quietly for months and educate their children. So, naturally, they were grateful. If she had had an inferior status, the recipients of the money would have seen it as a bribe and ignored it. But she was the real Marchioness Rosan. The money she gave was a bribe for the future, but the recipients did not feel that they were being bought, but that they were being favored by their superior. And for them, loyalty was the way to pay for their superior¡¯s grace. ¡¸Talk to them every time you hand over the money. They should know that I am willing to buy any information, even some that they did not sell because they thought it was not valuable. As my overall reputation rises and I gain their trust, people who have never been given money before wille to sell their information.¡¹ Although Artizea might have an idea of the overall picture, it was important to be able to get a lot of information. On the other hand, the quality of the information did not depend on the length of the message, but on whether it came from a reliable source. Knowing that Artizea had prepared gift pouches for this reason, Alice spoke anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s almost half of the budget you can spend this year.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right.¡± Anyway, if she married Cedric, the wealth of the Marquisate Rosan would be in her hands. At that time, she would no longer have to worry about money. Alice did not used to be insistent, so she did not ask again. She bowed her head politely as a sign of understanding, and hurried to Artizea¡¯s room. After Alice left, Artizea went to Mira¡¯s boudoir. She was going to greet the emperor. Mira did not like it when she appeared before the Emperor. But now she had no reason to be considerate of Mira. She couldn¡¯t miss the opportunity to make a strong impression on the Emperor. The knights of the Imperial Guard and the servants bowed to her in silence. Artizea also bowed and told the servant at the door. ¡°Please let His Majesty the Emperor know that Mira¡¯s daughter, Artizea, wishes to greet him.¡± Then she took a small silk pouch from her pocket and gave it to the servant. It was the same as the pouches she had ordered Alice to hand out. Artizea always had some pouches on her for anything. The servant, who had received several of these pouches in the past, nodded with a friendly smile. Then he opened the door and went in. From outside, one could hear voices mixed with Mira¡¯sughter. The cheerful conversation seemed to stop for a moment, and then the door opened wide. ¡°Come in, Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Thank you. By the way, if any visitorse while I¡¯m inside, could you let me know first? I would like to take care of it so that it does not interfere with the time that His Majesty and my mother spend together. ¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Artizea entered with cautious steps. The emperor was sittingfortably on the sofa. Mira was dressed only in a petticoat. The maids were to one side, arranging the dress she was to put on. Emperor Gregor was a cold, selfish man. He was more interested in securing his own power than in ruling the country. He was suspicious, vile and greedy. However, his love for Mira was the only thing that was genuine. He was involved with countless women, but Mira was the only one he kept by his side for 25 years. Although Mira had given birth to another man¡¯s daughter, they were only separated by a year at most. He was kind to Artizea because she was Mira¡¯s daughter. But she never knew what true love was. There was a time when she was curious about love. But now she didn¡¯t care. The important thing was that he loved Mira and would never leave her. Artizea knelt down on one knee and bowed to the Emperor. ¡°May the sun of the empire descend upon its citizens. Artizea, the daughter of Mira, greets Your Majesty the Emperor. Long live the Emperor.¡± ¡°It has been a long time since Ist saw you. You have grown up in the blink of an eye.¡± Said the Emperor. He smiled like a snake and looked at Artizea from top to bottom. It was a critical look. ¡°If you looked like your mother, you would be much more beautiful.¡± ¡°I know I¡¯m beautiful.¡± Said Mira. Then, she walked up with soft steps and sat on the Emperor¡¯s thigh, grumbling. ¡°What can I do? Even her face is ugly, but she¡¯s my daughter, so I have to live with her.¡± ¡°Why? Although Tia doesn¡¯t look like you, she has the features of a beautiful woman. If she gains a little weight and her body matures more, she¡¯ll look pretty in no time.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already grown up and remains the same. If you say those things, she might actually believe it, honey.¡± Speaking lovingly, Mira caressed his cheek. The Emperor smiled. ¡°I meant it. Did you think it was a joke too, Tia?¡± Artizea looked down politely. When Artizea was a child, Mira hated her and beat her because she didn¡¯t look like her. ¡¸¡±If you were at least a little like me, wouldn¡¯t His Majesty the Emperor have treated you like his own daughter?¡±¡¹ Artizea truly believed in her words and cried. Even some nights, she dreamed that she had also been born as the Emperor¡¯s daughter, and that she received the love of her parents, just like Lawrence. But now that she thought about it again, that was foolish. If she had resembled Mira, she would no doubt have been dragged into the Emperor¡¯s bedroom as soon as she turned sixteen. She had been fortunate enough to have a face that didn¡¯t look like her beautiful mother¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear it. Your Majesty loves my mother and thinks I¡¯m beautiful. What could make me feel more honoured?¡± ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°I recently turned 18 years old.¡± ¡°You have really grown up. I need to find a suitable husband for you.¡± ¡°No, she is just an 18 year old child. What kind of marriage would that be?¡± Mira said bluntly. The Emperorughed, grabbed Mira¡¯s wrist and kissed her hand lovingly. ¡°I know you want your daughter to be by your side forever, but she should be engaged before she turns 20.¡± ¡°Mm, but still¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get her a suitable husband. She¡¯s not going to live with her brother forever, right?¡± The Emperor smiled. By suitable husband, he meant not a good marriage for Artizea, but a political marriage that would only help Lawrence. But Mira did not understand and grunted with disapproval. Although she was upset, the Emperor still found her cute. Artizea bowed politely. Mira rose angrily, to put on her dress. She had not put on the dress she had previously decided upon, because she wanted to show her figure to the Emperor. A beautiful green satin dress, with a sweetheart neckline on her chest and a straight neckline on her back. At that moment, the servant entered and said politely. ¡°A visitor hase to see you, Lady Artizea.¡± Artizea said hastily. ¡°Forgive me. I must leave.¡± The emperor gestured, giving her permission to leave, and Mira nced at her. Artizea turned around and left the boudoir. The servant followed her and said in a low voice. ¡°Countess Eunice is now in the foyer making a fuss. She wants to see His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Did you know the Countess Eunice wasing?¡± ¡°Yes, I supposed to.¡± Artizea hadn¡¯t gathered this information beforehand, she just remembered it. However, the servant didn¡¯t know, so he said with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°His Majesty is in a very good mood for the first time in a long time. If the Countess had disturbed him, I¡¯m sure we would all have been harmed.¡± ¡°It is natural for me to wee visitors. Besides, it is not yet known. If I don¡¯t manage to appease the Countess, she¡¯s sure to make a big fuss.¡± Having said that, Artizea headed for the foyer. The sound of Countess Eunice¡¯s screams reached the second floor. ¡°You mean His Majesty won¡¯t even see me, his own daughter, because of that dirty bitch?¡± The butler was nervous and stooped. Artizea walked down the stairs at a snail¡¯s pace. ¡°Hello, Countess Eunice. What brings you here¡­¡± *p* Suddenly, the Countess Eunice raised her hand and pped Artizea hard on the cheek. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 11 Chapter 11. Trantor: Gold Countess Eunice pped Artizea on the cheek so hard that her head swung. Artizea could not help but wince and cover her cheek with her hand. The employees and servants of the Marquisate Rosan, who were watching, were surprised and tried to approach. Even one of the knights guarding the foyer came running up in bewilderment. The Countess¡¯ maid turned pale and had no idea what to do. ¡°Nothing happens.¡± Artizea shook her head slowly. Her mouth was torn and bleeding, so she pulled out a handkerchief and wiped herself. Then she stared at Countess Eunice. The Countess Charlotte Eunice was one of the Emperor¡¯s two illegitimate daughters. Her mother was not a beloved lover like Mira, but a maid who had been dragged into bed for a night. It was to keep the empress under control that he had a child with his maid, not because she was a beloved lover. That wasn¡¯t even a secret. The Emperor was not interested in Charlotte¡¯s mother. However, he loved his daughters like gold and jade. Countess Eunice had memories of being loved by the Emperor until she was about ten. Although she had no power or love now, her pride as the emperor¡¯s daughter was stronger than anything else. So she couldn¡¯t bear to be defeated by Mira. At best, isn¡¯t she just his lover? She knew it was inevitable to lose to his son, Lawrence, but being his daughter, she couldn¡¯t bear to be behind his lover. That¡¯s why she hated his lover¡¯s daughter, Artizea, like an insect. From Artizea¡¯s point of view, both were born denied. However, the Emperor¡¯s blood that flowed through her veins seemed to make that not important to her. Countess Eunice looked down on Artizea. It was a look of superiority. ¡°Countess Eunice you have no idea what you have done.¡± ¡°Tell your mother toe here.¡± ¡°What do you think will happen if I copse here and start crying?¡± Artizea said quietly. ¡°The servants and knights of the Emperor¡¯s Imperial Guard saw how you suddenly pped me on the cheek.¡± ¡°Mmm, so what?¡± ¡°His Majesty detests noisy people. Besides, what man would want his daughter to visit him during his secret meeting with his lover? You are no longer a five or six year old girl, on the contrary, you are already married and even have children.¡± Countess Eunice¡¯s face turned pale. Artizea spoke coldly. ¡°If I make a big fuss at this moment, crying out in humiliation and pain, I¡¯m sure His Majesty the Emperor wille. And my mother would not let this opportunity pass, so she would cry with me, and tell the Emperor that his daughter despises and insults us in this way. What do you think will happen then?¡± ¡°He, he¡­¡± ¡°The more you try hard to deal with my mother, the more sympathy His Majesty the Emperor will have for her. Do you want to check?¡± Said Artizea and stepped forward. Countess Eunice felt so pressured by her overwhelming presence that she almost fell backwards. The maid rushed to hold her. Artizea pulled the hem of her dress. Then she said quietly. ¡°My mother and my brother Lawrence are the only ones who would benefit from this. So go home today.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? If you¡¯re really so confident, why don¡¯t you try?¡± Countess Eunice spoke with an air of dignity, but her voice trembled. Artizea smiled bitterly. She didn¡¯t have to try to find out. Because, in the past, she really had. She was used to being pped by Mira, so she didn¡¯t really find it painful. However, back then she acted as if it hurt, copsed on the floor and cried. The astonished servants and knights approached her to help her. Mira, who was resourceful in this, quickly realized Artizea¡¯s intentions and acted. With tears in her eyes, sheined to the Emperor that she and her daughter did not deserve to be treated this way. She then resigned herself to leaving her bedroom, and wept pitifully for almost ten days. The Emperor, broken by the tears of his beloved woman, rebuked Countess Eunice. He also gave Mira a great constion gift and organized a morous party for her. Mira arrived at the party hugging proudly the Emperor¡¯s arm and became the star of the party. It was the first time that Artizea was recognized by Lawrence and Mira as ¡®something useful¡¯. ¡°Countess Eunice, you should notpete with your father¡¯s beloved woman. You who are his beloved daughter, if you want to push my mother aside, you have to ept to be loved in a different way.¡± Countess Eunice looked at her in puzzlement. She couldn¡¯t understand why Artizea said this as if she wanted to take his mother down. ¡°His Majesty truly cared for you as his daughter, and there was a time when he loved you very much. Bring back those memories. Tomorrow go with your children to visit His Majesty. And be loved as a daughter. You shouldn¡¯t criticize his rtionship with women, you¡¯ll only make His Majesty hate you. That does not benefit you in any way.¡± ¡°What the hell are you saying¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pretend nothing happened today. Now, go away. No father in the world wants his children to see him with his lover.¡± Artizea said this and looked back at the knight of the Imperial Guard. The young knight became nervous at Artizea¡¯s gaze. Artizea smiled sweetly at him. ¡°Countess Eunice is going to retire, would you please escort her out?¡± ¡°Is that all right with you?¡± The knight looked at her sadly. Artizea spoke. ¡°We should not interrupt His Majesty¡¯s time of rest. Countess Eunice, please mark my words and go home. Don¡¯t forget what filial piety really is.¡± Countess Eunice didn¡¯t seem to understand your words. However, when the knight urged her to leave, she did so obediently. Artizea released the hem of her dress. The love one person could feel for another had a limit. Even more so for an egocentric person like Emperor Gregor. Love for a woman is different from love for a child, but neither can be poured out infinitely. As Countess Eunice recovers the Emperor¡¯s love, Mira will eventually be pulled out of his heart. Artizea was not like before, when she ndered and schemed against others to sow doubt in the Emperor¡¯s mind. In the past, she used to destroy people who wanted to get close to His Majesty, so that all his love would go to Mira. But now, she had to drive Mira out of the Emperor¡¯s heart and fill it with other people. At the same time, she had to prevent the emergence of anyone who had enough influence to rece Mira. Shortly after Countess Eunice left the foyer, the Emperor and Mira appeared. The servant nced furtively at Artizea with an apologetic expression. ¡°I heard that Charlotte was here.¡± The Emperor looked down at the foyer. He saw Artizea holding a bloody handkerchief with a swollen cheek. The side of her lips, which had scratch marks caused by fingernails, was torn and still bleeding. That alone gave him a general idea of what had happened. He knew perfectly well Countess Eunice¡¯s temperament, and he also knew that she hated Artizea. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Said the emperor in a low, muffled voice. The shame for his daughter¡¯s foolish behaviour was evident in his voice. Artizea knelt solemnly on one knee and responded. ¡°Nothing happened.¡± ¡°Charlotte seems to have been hard on you.¡± ¡°Countess Eunice made a small mistake because she misses her father, I could not harbour any resentment against Your Majesty or the Countess for that alone.¡± After Artizea said this, Mira¡¯s face turnedpletely red and she exploded in anger. ¡°No matter the reason, she came to my home and pped my daughter on the cheek, how dare she despise us like this? You too! You should have called me when that happened!¡± ¡°How could I, a fatherless daughter, not understand Countess Eunice¡¯s feelings?¡± Artizea said, addressing the Emperor, not Mira. ¡°She probably did this because she misses her father very much, and is jealous of me. Besides, as master of the Marquisate Rosan, the most important thing is that Your Majesty should feelfortable in this ce. Should I have made a big fuss over such a small matter?¡± The Emperor smiled. ¡°You have amendable heart.¡± Artizea bowed her head respectfully. ¡°But it¡¯s my fault for not disciplining Charlotte. She¡¯s very pretty, but also very violent because of her upbringing. Now that she has three children, she should improve her temper a bit. I¡¯m a little embarrassed because she hurt a youngdy¡¯s face. Ask me anything you want. Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t even given you a birthday present.¡± Although the Emperor said that, he had never cared about Artizea¡¯s birthday. Artizea was surprised by this windfall. However, she wouldn¡¯t make the mistake of asking for a gift at this point. Instead, she said. ¡°Then, with all due respect, I would like you to ept the gift I have prepared.¡± ¡°Gift? For me?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. In fact, it¡¯s a gift I had prepared to give to my mother on my birthday as a thank you for giving birth to me, but it¡¯s an essory thates in pairs for parents.¡± Artizea bowed her head with deep regret. ¡°But I had no one to ept the other pair. Even so, when I prepared it I thought of Your Majesty, but I could not even give it to my mother because I was not sure. If you would ept it, I would be very happy.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± The Emperorughed cheerfully. ¡°If it is a essory for parents, does that not mean that it is an essory for a couple after all? How could I refuse to use an essory for couples with Mira? Bring it forth.¡± Artizea winked at Alice, who was now in a corner of the foyer, observing the situation. Alice hade to report after she had finished distributing the bribe to the servants, but she was watching from afar when she came across this incident. Alice hurried to Artizea¡¯s room to bring a gift box that had been prepared. Meanwhile, the Emperor finisheding down the stairs and sat downfortably on a sofa in the foyer. Artizea took the gift box that Alice had brought and held it carefully in front of the Emperor. Inside were a pair ofrge amber brooches. The Emperor took the woman¡¯s brooch and ced it on the top of Mira¡¯s dress. Then he put the man¡¯s brooch on himself. He smiled at Artizea. ¡°Don¡¯t be so careful. You¡¯re Mira¡¯s daughter, so you¡¯re like a daughter to me.¡± ¡°I am honored.¡± Artizea said politely. In the past, she really wanted to hear those words. She wanted to be part of the ¡®family¡¯ of Mira and Lawrence. But in the end, the family she had imagined was just a sweet illusion. Lawrence had killed Mira. There was no family to trust, love and support each other. ¡°So, shall we head off to the opera now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mira coldly looked at Artizea as she stood up, holding the Emperor¡¯s hand. However, he seemed to like the brooch, he had a satisfied face. Artizea knelt down and bowed her head, waiting for the two of them to leave. Now with this, the Emperor will feel indebted to her for today¡¯s events, not to Mira. Even if it was a momentary feeling, it was a big gain. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 12 Chapter 12. Trantor: Gold Cedric couldn¡¯t fall asleep that night. ¡¸Then I will make Your Grace the Emperor.¡¹ The face of the graceful girl who said these words constantly appeared in his mind. He didn¡¯t wonder if she could really make him Emperor. ¡®Do I want to be Emperor?¡¯ This thought persisted in his mind. If he said that he had never considered it, he would be lying. Artizea wasn¡¯t the only person who had told him that he should be Emperor. On various asions, people in positions more trustworthy than hers, secretly visited him for the same thing. Cedric had never heard them. ¡¸You must be the Emperor to survive. Be the Emperor to avenge the death of your parents.¡¹ Those who mentioned that he should ascend the throne always told him these two things. It has been almost twenty years since his mother and father were executed after being falsely used of treason. Most people in the empire had already forgotten. His family¡¯s position in power was restored, and he seeded the Grand Duchy Evron. But he never forgot that he was standing on a thin line. Perhaps Emperor Gregor didn¡¯t kill him because he regretted killing his younger sister, or because he knew Cedric had no power to threaten him. But as sessor to the throne, the story was different. Cedric¡¯s lineage was too deep to be ignored. His subjects were determined that if Cedric faced the same danger as the previous Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, then that was when they would truly raise their troops and show the true power of the Grand Duchy Evron. Cedric had always dissuaded them. Just as they protected Cedric, Cedric stood aside to protect them. He stayed away from the central political arena and acted as if he abhorred power. The Grand Duke Evron increasingly became the shield of the Empire. But eventually, unless he gave up his position as Grand Duke Evron and lived as a hermit, the only real way he could survive was by bing the Emperor. However, he could not abandon his position as Grand Duke, let alone the Grand Duchy Evron. It was his family. Yet, to this day, he did not even think of pronouncing the words ¡®session¡¯ or ¡®imperial throne¡¯, because he did not want to get his hands dirty to survive. Cedric would rather die honourably. Would his parents be happy if he ascended the throne staining their hands with the blood of revenge? He didn¡¯t think so. He couldn¡¯t even remember his mother¡¯s face. Besides, he was a good and just man, the people of the Grand Duchy Evron praised him for that, it was unlikely that Cedric would want revenge. However, Artizea did not want him to be Emperor for his survival or to seek revenge, but for the welfare of the people of the Crates Empire. Cedric was shocked. Until now, he had considered the Grand Duchy Evron his only responsibility. He had worked hard to protect his home and his precious people. But can he turn a blind eye to the Crates Empire itself? Of course not. He was the shield of the empire. He did not possess a shred of loyalty to the Imperial Family, but protecting the people of the empire was always on his mind. Cedric could not share this concern with anyone. His aides were willing to give their lives for him. If Cedric said that he would participate in the fight for session, everyone would be happy and would act. He wanted to talk to Artizea again. He had the feeling that she would be able to point him in the right direction, even in the midst of the fog. All night long, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep once. When the sun came up, he realized that his mind was pointing in one direction. ¡°You could not sleep wellst night?¡± Asked Ansgar, Grand Duke Evron¡¯s butler, who arrived at the barracks this morning. Cedric had already gotten up and was shaving himself. His face was haggard, and under his eyes there were dark circles. Ansgar followed Cedric to the battlefield to serve him. Cedric didn¡¯t need much of his attention. On the contrary, it was more exhausting to worry that nothing bad would happen to the old butler. But he was not able to tell him to stay and rest in thefortable manor. Because he knew that after the tragic loss of his previous masters, Ansgar feared and worried that he might even lose him in that way. ¡°I tossed and turned in bed a little.¡± Ansgar didn¡¯t ask why. He couldn¡¯t get involved in such matters. The only thing he could do for his master, who was dealing with his official duties, was to attend to him in any way he could. ¡°Please sit down, Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedric sat quietly in the chair. Ansgar grabbed a cushion and ced it behind his neck so he could lie downfortably. Then he put a warm towel over his face. ¡°I think I might even fall asleep.¡± ¡°Would you like to get some sleep?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t have enough time to sleep. I¡¯m going to the imperial pce today.¡± After Cedric said that. Ansgar looked for his robe instead of his military uniform. Cedric changed his clothes and headed to the capital with two escorts. *** Cedric arrived at the Imperial Pce around 10 a. m. The Emperor used to spend the morning attending small audiences and receiving personal guests. Cedric chose that time because he didn¡¯t want to have lunch with him. When he arrived, Countess Charlotte Eunice was already meeting the Emperor with her two daughters. The Countess Eunice had followed Artizea¡¯s advice. She was now 36, and her eldest daughter was 15 this year. Countess Eunice was at an age when she could not be considered pretty or charming, so it was no use for her to act arrogantly. If she wanted to gain the love of her father, the Emperor, she had to know how to recognize his mood and please him. For the sake of her daughters, too. The Emperor was not the kind of man to take care of his children, and neither did he have the need to do so. He only did it when he wanted to. As a result, Countess Eunice had entered a phase of rebelliousness, and after Lawrence was born, they had much less time to spend together, as father and daughter. But that didn¡¯t mean that he suddenly hated the daughter he loved so much. He just put her aside, because every encounter with his daughter ended up making his mood worse. Countess Eunice made a surprise visit to the Emperor to enter his heart again. Of course, the Emperor was not aware of her true intentions. He thought that perhaps she felt guilty for disturbing his tranquility yesterday and was trying to obtain his forgiveness in some way. Whatever the reason, for the first time in a long time, it seemed that his daughter had decided to change her mind and be a filial daughter. He was enjoying a good time. The Emperor was also pleased with the amber brooch that Artizea had given him. He had always epted Artizea as an essory to Mira. Of course, he had never thought of her as a daughter, nor had he felt any family feeling towards her. But Artizea had never done anything wrong to hate her either. Although he had no sexual desire for her, he felt good knowing that this beautiful girl wanted to be loved by him. If Artizea had cried in yesterday¡¯s incident and Mira hadined, the Emperor would have felt very bad. It was admirable that a girl of her age, prone to anger, did notin despite being pped on the cheek, and tried wisely to appease the Emperor¡¯s heart. Besides, now that his rebellious daughter was looking at him with love, he felt that he had gained much without having to do anything. The Emperor was old now. Unlike his younger days, he now enjoyed the tenderness of his children and grandchildren as much as his seductive lover. That¡¯s when he was informed of Cedric¡¯s visit. The Emperor dly requested that Cedric be allowed in. ¡°Let him in. I¡¯m just taking a rest.¡± Cedric hesitated as he was about to enter the Emperor¡¯s living room under the guidance of the chief attendant. He had been surprised because he had been led into the living room, not the study or the or the audience chamber. Also, there was Countess Eunice with her daughters, inplete privacy. ¡°Thank you for receiving me. If I had known Countess Eunice was here, I would not have bothered you.¡± That was the first thing Cedric said after making a formal greeting. The Emperorughed. ¡°Why are you behaving so formally? Charlotte is my daughter, you¡¯re my nephew, so you two are cousins. We¡¯re all family.¡± The Emperor said andughed. He acted as if he didn¡¯t know Cedric hadn¡¯t entered the capital until now because of the Western Army issue. Sometimes, Cedric even thought the Emperor might have forgotten that he¡¯d killed his parents. Of course, that couldn¡¯t be true. Because if it were, there was no reason for the Emperor to try to bend him whenever he had the chance. Cedric nodded politely. The Emperor said cheerfully. ¡°You two haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time, have you? Although you¡¯re cousins, considering Cedric has no brothers, you should behave like a real sister to him. I felt a bit bad because he often came to visit me, but he¡¯d been in the barracks outside the capital and wouldn¡¯t evene in.¡± The Emperor said. Cedric thought it was ridiculous. If he really felt bad, he could have told Cedric to have a private audience with him, leaving theplicated situation aside. Or he could have tried to listen to his reasons. But the Emperor didn¡¯t. He had ordered Cedric to return to the capital alone and bow to him, abandoning the Western Army. The Emperor said. ¡°And you should also be closer to Tia.¡± ¡°Father. How could the Lady Artizea meet Cedric, who is always away on military business?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? When two people are destined to meet, it can happen at any time, right? Besides, is not Tia the sister of Lawrence? Although she doesn¡¯t have my blood.¡± ¡°You mean the Lady Artizea¡­?¡± Cedric asked in surprise. It was because he didn¡¯t expect the name toe out of the Emperor¡¯s mouth first. ¡°I hear you sent a knight yesterday to escort Tia to her home.¡± The story had been told by Kishore to the Emperor. ¡°It was no big deal, but you know that. We met casually at the temple and she had no escort, so I sent one of my men to escort her home.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been circling outside the capital all this time and suddenly you decide to visit me. This has nothing to do with the Lady Artizea?¡± Cedric couldn¡¯t deny it right away, as he wasn¡¯t used to lying. The Emperorughed merrily. ¡°Sometimes you are also very old-fashioned. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be d you¡¯re visiting her today.¡± ¡°I did note to the Imperial Pce for the Lady Artizea. Your Majesty, it is about the Western Army¡­¡± ¡°Heavens! Don¡¯t you understand why I brought you into my living room?¡± The Emperor roared, looking angry. And then he smiled softly. ¡°We should not talk about such things when we are gathered as a family. Let¡¯s talk about it again in three days. Did you think I would forget what the Western Army has achieved this time?¡± Said the Emperor, pouring him a cup of tea. Cedric took the cup of tea to his mouth, hesitantly. Only then did he realise that the news of his meeting with Artizea had already changed the Emperor¡¯s attitude. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 13 Chapter 13. Trantor: Gold Cedric retired after drinking a cup of tea with the Emperor. He then went to the manor of the Marquisate Rosan as originally nned. The butler was extremely surprised by the visit of the Grand Duke Evron. And he was even more surprised by the fact that the person he hade to visit was not Lawrence nor Mira, but Artizea. ¡°The Lady went out.¡± ¡°Where did she go?¡± The butler got nervous at his question. Cedric finally realised how badly Artizea¡¯s position was in this house. Artizea was the sole heir of the Marquess Rosan, so she would seed the title in two years. But even so, the butler didn¡¯t even know where she¡¯d gone. The butler begged him repeatedly to wait a moment before approaching the maids. Cedric stayed in the foyer and waited. He was angry. This was inconceivable in the Grand Duchy Evron. Cedric had lost his parents tragically during his childhood, but his vassals cared for him as if he were their own son or grandson. Even the day he returned from the funeral, his house was still his home. The day he felt oppressed by the Emperor, the day he thought he could do nothing, even the day he simply wanted to surrender, and seekfort with his broken heart, his house was still his home. It was a ce where he could rest peacefully, and a ce where he felt protected. His butler and servants were not just employees to him. Cedric regarded them as his family, they took the ce of histe parents. They cared for Cedric as if he were their own son, their grandson, or even their brother. As Cedric waited standing, the butler of the Marquisate Rosan panicked and did not know what else to do. Artizea¡¯s trusted maids would not reveal where she went lightly. In the end, Cedric had to wait almost an hour before he received an answer. ¡°Forgive me, Your Grace. I was informed that Lady Artizea has gone to the ball at Count Enda¡¯s estate. If you wait a little longer, I will ensure that she returns immediately.¡± ¡°Are you in a superior position to Lady Artizea in this house?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± The butler blinked his eyes. Cedric spoke coldly. ¡°As far as I know, Lady Artizea is the sessor of the Marquisate Rosan. Can you, a butler, tell her when toe and go?¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± The butler quickly bowed his head and made up an excuse. ¡°I wanted to tell you that the young master Lawrence will soon return, Your Grace can converse with the young master. In the meantime, I will escort Lady Artizea back¡­¡± The excuse made Cedric even angrier. ¡°I must have been mistaken.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°I thought I was talking with the butler of the Marquisate Rosan, but you seem to be Lord Lawrence¡¯s butler.¡± When Cedric said it, the butler¡¯s face turned pale. The butler had forgotten it because no one had pointed it out, but the master of the Marquisate Rosan was really Artizea. Although he was one of Mira¡¯s henchmen, it was true that as the butler of the Marquisate Rosan, he had said some things he should not have. ¡°I apologize.¡± The butler bowed politely. Among the fussy and inflexible nobles of high society, there were those who were obsessed with etiquette and formalities, no matter who the person with the real power was. On top of that, Cedric hated Mira. The butler felt cornered. And he thought the only way out of this situation was to apologize. He never imagined that Cedric would defend Artizea. He didn¡¯t even understand why he hade to see her. Artizea had had some good ideastely, earning Mira¡¯s praise. However, in the butler¡¯s mind, Artizea was just Mira¡¯s punching bag. ¡°I will tell Lady Artizea about this.¡± Because it was not his own house, Cedric said these words and left the Marquisate Rosan. ¡¸I just want to inherit the Marquisate Rosanpletely and be independent¡­. Please remain formally married to me for only two years and protect me, Your Grace.¡¹ That¡¯s what Artizea had told him. Cedric seemed to understand what she meant by ¡®protect me¡¯. *** Artizea, who attended the ball on Count Enda¡¯s estate, stood aside as if it were an adornment. A ball like this, held at noon, was not a ce to enjoy. It was a ce for young men and women to socialize healthily under the supervision of adults. Of course, this was with the ultimate goal that they could find a good marriage partner. Still, most marriages were still decided by the heads of the families, taking into ount the status and wealth of both families. However, meetings between energetic young people were not something that could be avoided. So parents preferred that these meetings be held in a controlled and supervised environment. Thanks to this, noble young people of marriageable age could make their own choice, even if their decision did not carry much weight. In addition to building social rtionships between people of the same sex and sharing exciting moments with the opposite sex, they were able to experience social events. Also, through these meetings, they could determine whether a family could lead to chaos, whether there was a family with which a connection should be established by any means necessary, or whether a family should be ignored, all as appropriate. Artizea was one of the least popr girls in this type of ball. Considering her position as sessor of the Marquisate Rosan, she should have been the center of attention at these social meetings. But Artizea was Mira¡¯s daughter. Those who despised or hated Mira naturally avoided her. And those sycophants who clung to Mira ignored and mistreated Artizea in the same way that Mira did. Because if they treated Artizea well, they feared that Mira would lose her temper and be angry with them. ¡®And at this age, appearance is power.¡¯ Artizea thought as she took a ss of apricot juice from the table and sipped it. After all, they were boys and girls under 20 years old. Few of them could notice the enormous wealth of the Marquisate Rosan behind Artizea. And even those who did, would still think that a beautiful appearance and a sweet personality were of greater value than wealth. Certainly a sweet personality is worth much more. Artizea thought so. Even if one possessed ten times the wealth of the Marquisate Rosan, it could notpare with the good heart of Licia. Artizea would wish to have a heart at least half as noble as that of Licia, even if she had to give up all the wealth of the Marquisate Rosan. ¡°Hello, Lady Artizea.¡± Artizea wanted the time to pass quickly to leave, preferably in silence and without exchanging greetings with anyone. However, it was not strange that things were not as she wanted. It was the beautiful Lady Atiyah who greeted her. ¡°Why do you look so depressed? You are early, but you have not yet danced to a single song.¡± ¡°Someone has to stand still to decorate the walls.¡± ¡°Oh, my. I¡¯m sorry to hear that. All the men who havee to this ball are discourteous and heartless. I can¡¯t believe they haven¡¯t asked you to dance with them, not even a single song.¡± As she said this, Lady Atiyah lowered her long eyshes. ¡°However, Lady Artizea you are also to me. This is the fourth time you¡¯ve worn the same dress, how could true gentlemen tell if they¡¯ve danced with you today or if that happened at thest ball?¡± The young men around herughed as their shoulders shook. Artizea showed a smile. Before, she used to be so unsure of her appearance and was so ashamed of her old clothes that she could not even lift her head when she heard these words. But now that she thought about it, she wondered if Lady Atiyah was in a position to say that. No matter how beautiful the flower of the ball was, Artizea was the sessor of the Marquisate Rosan. The Count and Countess Atiyah were too insignificant to ignore her. They were nowhere near Mira. Artizea said with a smirk. ¡°With my ugly face wouldn¡¯t it be a waste if I wore a dress priced at hundreds of thousands of gold coins? Especially that dress¡­ As far as I can see, it¡¯s an embroidered velvet dress from the Southern Kingdom Eon, right? A dress as precious as this must be worn by a beautifuldy like you, that would be the most rewarding thing for the designer who worked on it.¡± ¡°Oh, so you have a good eye.¡± ¡°But is that all right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Eon¡¯s embroidered velvet is so expensive, that using that unreserved fabric to make such a splendid dress would cost over ten thousand gold coins in that material alone. And it seems this is the fourth dress of this type you have worn, so Count Atiyah must have invested almost half of his County¡¯s annual ie in Lady Atiyah¡¯s dresses alone.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Ah, the Count and Countess Atiyah love you so much they didn¡¯t tell you anything, right? The marble mine, the County¡¯s main source of ie, will probably be closed in a year or two, due to its low profitability. Even now, their ie must have dropped drastically already. I know they¡¯re on the verge of bankruptcy.¡± Lady Atiyah¡¯s face turned blue. ¡°Well, it¡¯s too much money to spend that way, but it¡¯s not much if it¡¯s a big investment for the future of the family. Lady Atiyah, you are beautiful, so I am sure you can definitely meet your parents¡¯ expectations. Artizea said with a smile. ¡°Are you saying my parents are thinking of selling me?!¡± Lady Atiyah shouted loudly, forgetting the looks of the people. At the same time, there was a littlemotion at the entrance, apparently because of the arrival of a new guest. Everyone looked in that direction. Cedric removed the long sword he carried and handed it to a servant. The people even stopped whispering, and only the sound of music could be heard in the quiet hall. ¡°Your Grace, what brings you to this ce so suddenly?¡± Said Countess Enda, bowing politely. Cedric Evron was a man who ignited the hearts of countless girls with his handsome appearance and manly attitude, but he had never had a dance partner. He did not attend balls or parties at all, unless it was a ball at the Imperial Pce that he was obliged to attend. But he had appeared here, at a social meeting of young men and women. ¡®What effect would his participation in this ball have?¡¯ She was thinking about that. ¡°I need to meet someone, and I was told that person is here. I apologize foring without an invitation. May Ie in?¡± ¡°Of course, there is no ce in the high society of the Crates Empire where Your Grace cannot enter.¡± Said the Countess Enda. Despite theplex and critical political situation in which he found himself, Cedric was one of the best candidates for a husband. He was young and had already inherited the title of Grand Duke. He was also rich and a military hero on his own merits. Cedric Evron could be a kingmaker. If he chose to swear an oath of loyalty to Lawrence or Roygar, the current scenario for session to the throne could changepletely. ¡®Who has hee to meet?¡¯ ¡®It can¡¯t be a woman, can it?¡¯ Such questions ran through the minds of those present. But Cedric seemedpletely unaware of it, crossed the hall and headed straight for Artizea. Chapter 14 Chapter 14. Trantor: Gold The youngdies who were around Artizea were astonished and began to whisper. Even Lady Atiyah, who had been angry a moment ago, blushed with shame. [Who did hee to see?] [I have heard that the Grand Duke Evron does not like women.] [Is there anyone close to His Grace in this ce?] The youngdies looked around, but none of them thought it was Artizea that Cedric hade to see. Artizea held her breath. From the moment she realized Cedric was here, she naturally thought he hade for her. At the same time, she found it unrealistic to see him approach her directly. Her gaze was focused on Cedric. She had never imagined that her field of vision could be so narrow, but she was looking at him so intently that she had not even noticed the astonishment of the people around her, including Lady Atiyah. And when Cedric reached out for her right hand, she didn¡¯t even hear the murmurs around her. The youngdies were so astonished that they even looked at her and Cedric with their mouths open, forgetting to care for their facial expressions. Everyone present, both young and adult, was unconsciously paying maximum attention to this. ¡°How are you, Lady Artizea?¡± ¡°What¡­ brings you here, Your Grace?¡± Artizea, unable to hide her embarrassment, hesitated and put her hand on his. At that moment, several short screams arose around her. Cedric frowned. Without caring about the atmosphere in the hall, he extended his left hand and grabbed her chin, with his right hand still holding Artizea¡¯s. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Your cheek is swollen. Also, you have scratches caused by fingernails, and one side of your lips is also torn.¡± Cedric scrutinized her face to the point of appearing disrespectful. It was hard to tell at first nce, because she was well covered with makeup, but she definitely had traces of being pped. Probably over time, blue bruises would form on her face. ¡®What the hell happened to her? Besides, with her face in this state, how could Mira let her out?¡¯ The same applied to the employees of the Marquisate Rosan. This was a private meeting, a ball she didn¡¯t need to attend. Artizea didn¡¯t really want toe. At a meeting like this, you couldn¡¯t get any useful information. But she had no choice but to attend because Mira would be furious if she did not attend the meeting as she had ordered. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Artizea grabbed his wrist with a face of embarrassment. Cedric stared at her and whispered softly. ¡°Did Countess Eunice do this to you?¡± *** Before he left the Imperial Pce, Countess Eunice stopped him. Cedric looked at her warily. Although they were cousins, they had never been close. ¡¸Are you going to meet Lady Artizea?¡¹ ¡¸Is that any of your business?¡¹ ¡¸No, but there is one thing I would ask of you.¡¹ ¡¸I can¡¯t guarantee anything, but go ahead, I¡¯m listening.¡¹ ¡¸Please tell Lady Artizea that I regret what happened yesterday.¡¹ Said Countess Eunice clutching the skirt of her dress. ¡¸If you have something to apologize for, why don¡¯t you do it personally?¡¹ ¡¸Of course I¡¯ll visit her in person and apologize for it at the appropriate time. But right now I think a mediator is needed. Just tell her that, ¡®I¡¯m sorry, and I appreciate her advice¡¯.¡¹ Cedric didn¡¯t know why, but he nodded his head and left. *** He never imagined it was because of this. ¡°The Countess Eunice¡­¡± ¡°Please, do not say anything more. If you continue, you¡¯ll put me in a difficult situation.¡± Artizea pressed his wrist slightly. Cedric, impotent, released her chin. Then he spoke sternly, containing his anger. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Artizea felt strange. Alice was the only person in her past life who had ever cared about her. After Alice¡¯s death, no one noticed her injuries. In her youth it was even worse. When Mira was in a bad mood, she used to vent her anger on her. No one in the Marquisate Rosan cared that she was pped on the cheek. However, now Cedric was angry about it. Of all people, Cedric. Somehow, with tears in her eyes, Artizea lowered her head and said stiffly. ¡°Alright.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be good for her to leave the ballroom under these circumstances. But Artizea wasn¡¯t here to find a good marriage partner anyway. Nor was there anyone in this ce who wanted to be her friend. Her reputation had already hit rock bottom and so far it didn¡¯t look like it would get any better. Cedric took a step back and extended his arm to escort her. Just then, Lady Atiyah casually made eye contact with him. Lady Atiyah who had been staring nkly at the two of them, realized that this was her chance. She quickly grabbed the skirt of her dress, bowed and smiled as beautifully as possible. ¡°I apologize for my sudden greeting, Your Grace, Grand Duke Evron. My name is La, I am the daughter of Count Atiyah. I did not know that you knew the Lady Artizea. ¡°Pleased to meet you. Lady, are you a friend of Lady Artizea?¡± ¡°Pardon? Ah, yes!¡± Lady La said that, thinking she could make a good impression on Cedric. Then, with a smile in her eyes, she continued. ¡°It¡¯s not like a gentleman toe to a ball and leave without having danced. Even more so when there are youngdies present who have not danced to a single song.¡± All the warmth in Cedric¡¯s eyes faded away. ¡°The true duty of a gentleman is to care for a woman in an ufortable situation. Lady La, are you really friends with Lady Artizea?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If you are her friend you should be concerned about her, but you seem to be more focused on me.¡± Cedric said coldly. Lady La¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. Artizea tugged slightly at his sleeve. From her point of view, there was no reason for Cedric to be angry with Lady La. So, she thought that his displeasure was due to Lady La having lied, saying that she was her friend. However, Cedric was truly indignant. From their first meeting, he had not stopped thinking of Artizea. He had decided to ept Artizea¡¯s proposal because she had mentioned a good cause. But beyond that, he felt the desire to protect this girl. ¡®She¡¯s too thin.¡¯ He knew Mira had a daughter, but he never thought she would be such a thin, pale girl. Artizea was a beautiful young woman with an elegant physique and snow-white skin, contrary to what he had imagined. But her face, which had never been cared for, was haggard, her body too thin, and her cheeks sunken. Her wrists that protruded from her long-sleeved dress were so skinny that one could only see bones. On the other hand, she wore the same dark green striped dress she had worn yesterday. It was a normal dress, suitable for a walk, but it could not be considered a party dress at all. Even Cedric, who was not familiar with the atmosphere of the ballrooms, could realize that Artizea was being excluded. Although she was the heir to the Marquess Rosan and the sister of a potential candidate to be the next emperor, the youngdy, despised by her family, was not wee anywhere. Artizea herself seemed to ept it as normal. Even that, made Cedric ufortable, because it seemed that she was giving up the rights she was supposed to enjoy as a daughter and as a human being. ¡°Then, Lady Artizea.¡± Cedric reached out to Artizea. ¡°What?¡± ¡°May I have this dance?¡± Lady La¡¯s face was distorted by the humiliation she felt. It was far from Cedric¡¯s usual personality to do anything that would draw attention in a ballroom like this. But now he wanted to do it. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to draw too much attention.¡± Artizea whispered quietly. Cedric responded. ¡°I know. It¡¯s all right, Lady Artizea. The Grand Duke Evron makes for an idealplement.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Artizea didn¡¯t respond. Because Cedric seemed to have noticed that her outfit was unsuitable for this ball and that she was being ignored. She seemed to be indifferent to such things. This time, however, she was embarrassed. ¡°Come on.¡± Cedric urged. The fact that a man asked her to dance was strange to Artizea. And even more so because on this asion, that man was Cedric. She had to summon up some courage to take his hand. Artizea didn¡¯t know why she was so nervous. ¡°I could step on your feet. I¡¯m not very good at dancing.¡± ¡°Then even if we step on each other¡¯s feet, let¡¯s be understanding and pretend not to notice. I can¡¯t dance well either.¡± Cedric said and tugged on her hand. When he wrapped his arm around her waist, Artizea became extremely tense. Although he said he wasn¡¯t good at dancing, Cedric guided the dance to the rhythm of the music, like a duck to water, and headed towards the centre of the ballroom. Whispers exploded everywhere. Some couples stepped aside, and others stopped dancing altogether to watch them. As she danced, Artizea felt that the hall was empty. Chapter 15 Chapter 15. Trantor: Gold In fact, the waltz was a good way to speak alone in a ce with many people present. It was not only for whispering sweet words in each other¡¯s ears, but also for secret conversation. She had only waltzed with Cedric once for that reason. It was at Lawrence and Licia¡¯s wedding reception. That wedding served to turn Lawrence from an illegitimate son, who could not even be called Prince, into the Crown Prince. No one thought Cedric would be present. Not only did he attend the wedding, but also the wedding reception. And he asked Artizea to dance with him. Perhaps it was the strangest event that had urred in high society back then. ¡¸I had never seen you dance before, I assumed you didn¡¯t know.¡¹ ¡¸Your Grace, weren¡¯t you the one who didn¡¯t know how to dance?¡¹ Then Cedric stared at her. ¡¸Marchioness, do you know why I wanted to dance with you on this asion?¡¹ ¡¸I have no idea.¡¹ ¡¸Is there anything the Marchioness cannot guess?¡¹ ¡¸I am not a saint who passes on oracles from the future, nor am I a sage capable of looking through the heavens. So how can I guess? There are many things I don¡¯t know.¡¹ That day they went around in circles, holding hands, just like they were doing now. However, Cedric kept a perfect distance from Artizea, as if he didn¡¯t want to touch the bottom of her dress. She felt such a stifling tension, her skin crawled. Artizea was so exhausted that she almost copsed when the waltz¡¯s melody was about to end. She didn¡¯t want to look weak in front of Cedric, so she struggled to stay on her feet without losing herposure, that memory was still alive in her mind. ¡¸I did it, because I have a favor to ask of you Marchioness, but I didn¡¯t want others to hear and misinterpret my words. It¡¯s not rted to politics, I wanted to tell you face to face, looking you in the eye.¡¹ ¡¸Go ahead. Your Grace¡¯s words will not be misinterpreted. ¡¹ ¡¸If the Marchioness says so, then perhaps it is true.¡¹ ¡¸If I wanted to do so, to speak face to face with Your Grace or not, it would make no difference.¡¹ Cedricughed quietly. Hisughter resounded in Artizea¡¯s ears and shook her chest. The words that are spoken looking directly into each other¡¯s eyes are more meaningful than the rest. Artizea could no longer look at him directly, and lowered her head. But as if she had been drawn in, she quickly looked him in the eye again. From her perspective, his ck eyes reflected her ugly face. ¡¸Yes. I know that. Truth and honesty mean nothing to you, all you care about is getting the results you want.¡¹ ¡¸I¡¯m sorry.¡¹ ¡¸Please look after Licia. That¡¯s what I wanted to tell you.¡¹ Cedric said. Artizea looked at him in surprise. She was better at reading people¡¯s minds than anyone else, but she never expected Cedric to say that. ¡¸Why are you telling me? You should tell His Highness the Crown Prince.¡¹ ¡¸I can¡¯t trust Lawrence.¡¹ ¡¸But do you trust me?¡¹ ¡¸Marchioness, I know that you employed all sorts of tricks to get Licia to marry Lawrence, even manipting the oracle. So you, as Lawrence¡¯s schemer, should naturally take care of her. Besides, being a Saintess is already a big burden.¡¹ ¡¸¡­¡¹ ¡¸Regardless of the motives, the final decision was taken by Licia. So there¡¯s nothing more I can say about it. But she¡¯s like a younger sister to me, so I can¡¯t help but worry about her. I just hope you protect Licia and the Empire for a long time.¡¹ Artizea didn¡¯t lower her head, but even then, she lowered her gaze. ¡¸How could I ignore Your Grace¡¯s words? I will do everything I can to protect her and the Empire.¡¹ But she could not keep her promise. And now that she was dancing with Cedric, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about that moment. Unlike then, Cedric had a calm look on his face. His hand around her waist moved smoothly, facilitating the harmony of the dance. ¡®Because he doesn¡¯t know anything about it.¡¯ Artizea felt her heart squeeze, as she thought about it. The deep pain in her chest was because she could not keep her promise. Or so she thought. As she returned to the past, the consequences of her evil acts disappeared. But for her, that doesn¡¯t mean that her evil acts were erased. This time I will keep my promise. I will protect and care for Licia so that she can be a true Empress. While thinking about this, she couldn¡¯t help but lose her concentration. Artizea never had a good athletic ability. She was not used to dancing, so she had to focus on her steps. The moment Artizea stumbled and was about to step on Cedric¡¯s foot, he lifted her slightly, with his arm around her waist. Then, as if he had originally intended to do so, he made a half turn and lowered her. His steps were impable. Artizea suddenly returned to reality, her face blushingpletely. Cedric smiled. ¡°Apparently, my dancing skills are a little better than Lady Artizea¡¯s.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too cruel to me byparing my movements with those of Your Grace, a renowned warrior?¡± Artizea replied seriously. At herment, Cedricughed. Artizea stared nkly at Cedric, it was the first time she had seen himugh from so close. *** The dance music was over. Cedric escorted her out. Artizea¡¯s carriage was waiting outside the main gate. Cedric helped Artizea into the carriage, and then he got into it too. This was the best way to strike up a conversation. Cedric closed the door, and soon the carriage began to move. Then Artizea spoke. ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°For dancing with me.¡± ¡°I only did the duty of a gentleman.¡± ¡°I know you did it to defend my honour in front of Lady La.¡± ¡°It was no big deal.¡± Cedric shook his head. Artizea smiled slightly. ¡°May I ask you another favor?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I want to visit a ce before I go home, would you like to apany me?¡± ¡°Of course. I have no objection to apanying you.¡± When Cedric answered, Artizea instructed the coachman to go to Reve Street. Cedric asked, puzzled. ¡°What are you going to do in Reve Street?¡± Reve was a slum, where nobles like Lady Artizea should not go. Even burly men were reluctant to visit. ¡°There¡¯s someone I need to meet. I had no one to escort me to that ce safely, so I didn¡¯t know what to do. It¡¯s a bit far, but we have a lot to talk about, so I think it¡¯ll be fine. Is that all right with you?¡± ¡°Yes. Anyway, I came here for you. I don¡¯t care if we have our conversation in the carriage or in afortable tearoom.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea bowed her head. Cedric looked at her with interest. ¡°By the way, I think you know why I¡¯vee to meet you.¡± ¡°You went to the Imperial Pce today, didn¡¯t you?¡± Cedric was silent for a moment. Then he spoke slowly. ¡°Is it possible to enter the capital in secret? Besides, it would not be right for me to visit His Majesty, after having talked to you.¡± ¡°I thought of it because you mentioned the Countess Eunice in the hall.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°Your Grace is not so close to the Countess Eunice as to meet her alone, so you probably met by chance. The Countess Eunice must also have visited His Majesty today.¡± ¡¸Just tell her that, ¡®I¡¯m sorry, and I appreciate her advice¡¯.¡¹ Cedric recalled the words Countess Eunice asked him to convey to Artizea. ¡°Did you advise the Countess Eunice to visit His Majesty today?¡± ¡°She did not necessarily have to do so today. I only told her that if she wanted to get my mother out of His Majesty¡¯s heart, it would be best for her to behave like a lovely daughter, instead of being angry,peting with Mira and criticising His Majesty.¡± Said Artizea. Cedric looked again at Artizea¡¯s swollen cheek. Artizea had an upright posture and a serene expression. Cedric could not help ovepping on her face the expression of despair, pain and tears that he saw in his dream. He did not know how to exin what he was feeling. That was an unbearable dream of just thinking about wanting to wipe her tears and not being able to do it. Artizea spoke calmly, not knowing what was going on in Cedric¡¯s mind. ¡°So, how did it go at the Imperial Pce?¡± ¡°His Majesty knew we met for the first time yesterday. Lady Artizea, did you tell him?¡± ¡°He found out, but I didn¡¯t mean to. When I returned home yesterday, His Majesty was at the manor of the Marquisate Rosan.¡± ¡°Knight Benjamin informed me of your meeting with Sir Kishore.¡± ¡°Yes. So I told him what happened. Sir Kishore has always been very kind to me.¡± Cedric said with a bitter smile. ¡°You don¡¯t have to keep pretending that it¡¯s all a coincidence, Lady Artizea. His Majesty¡¯s attitude has already changed, although we only met yesterday for the first time.¡± ¡°Yes, it was to be expected. His Majesty sees much further than my mother and brother.¡± ¡°It was the first time in years that His Majesty told me I was part of his family. He even mentioned that he wouldn¡¯t forget the achievements of the Western Army, although he didn¡¯t want to talk about it and put it off for another day, he seems to be considering it positively. And that¡¯s because of the possible rtionship between us.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure of that.¡± ¡°I did not expect His Majesty to speak in a kind and open manner. Lady Artizea seem to be a person capable of seeing the future.¡± Artizea was embarrassed. ¡°It is also partly thanks to Countess Eunice that His Majesty was in a good mood.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it the Countess Eunice who did that to you?¡± Cedric pointed again at Artizea¡¯s cheek. Artizea involuntarily put her hand over the wound. ¡°This is no big deal.¡± ¡°Would you at least be willing to exin what happened to you to a person who cares about you?¡± ¡°Simply, Countess Eunice waved her hand in a fit of anger, and unfortunately pped me.¡± ¡°How is that not a big deal?¡± ¡°Because I let her p me. She was very angry at the time, and if she hadn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t have calmed down enough to hear my words.¡± Artizea answered his question, and then she said. ¡°So, have you made a decision about my offer?¡± ¡°Before I give you an answer, I would like to ask you a question.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Why do you want a divorce in two years?¡± Chapter 16 Gold Chapter 16. Trantor: Gold ¡°If your only goal is to inherit the Marquisate Rosan, then you might choose someone who is in a safer position than mine.¡± Cedric said. ¡°You are Marquisate Rosan¡¯s master. Even legally, the only descendant of Marquess Rosan are you.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°This inheritance is protected by God and the Temple. Not even His Majesty can act arbitrarily. ¡°Yes. Besides, just because he loves my mother, His Majesty will not put me under too much political pressure.¡± ¡°So Lady Artizea, what you need is a husband who has the proper social status to protect you from trouble. For that reason, it is too risky to choose me as a partner.¡± Cedric said. ¡°If it is not power and glory you desire, there is no reason for you to marry me and enter the battle for the session to the imperial throne. I don¡¯t know if you want to be the Empress, but I don¡¯t understand why you want a divorce in two years. Artizea gave a long sigh. To tell the truth, it was because of Licia that she wanted a divorce in two years. Licia was still young. However, in two years, she would be as beautiful as a rose in all its splendour. And on her 20th birthday, she received an oracle. ¡ªTake care of the weak and disadvantaged in my name. That was the oracle that originally descended to the Temple. It was the first time in almost 100 years that an oracle descended. Licia became a Saintess at the same time she received the oracle. The faithful rejoiced with tears in their eyes, and even those who did not believe in God were amazed. She lived as a Saintess with every fiber of her being. She extended her hand to all who needed her, saving even the dying. When the flood damage from the Ava River caused an epidemic, she just took some of her assistants and ran to the center of it, purifying the contaminated wells and treating the people. She was also the one who gave hope to the people when the wave of monsters turned the Western Region into hell. She saved countless lives and gave hope to many more. She was able to heal anyone in need with her sacred power. But she probably healed more hearts than diseases or wounds. The wishes of the people were gathered in the Saintess. She never got involved in politics. She didn¡¯t even appear in social circles, and was rarely in the capital. Among the nobles, Cedric was the only one who protected and helped her. For the people, it was the Saintess who would guide them, not the Emperor or the Archbishop of the Temple. The faith of the people is the will of God. So Artizea took advantage of this and fabricated a new oracle. ¡ªThe Saintess would be the Empress. In the face of this fact, the people were deeply pleased. The authority of the Imperial Family and the Temple would be restored to its original position once and for all. The Imperial Family would gain its lost legitimacy through the Saintess, and the Temple could interfere with the power of the secr world. Until that moment, the struggle for session had remained at an impasse. Although Lawrence was the Emperor¡¯s favored child, he could do nothing on his own against Roygar. On the other hand, the Grand Duke Roygar could not overwhelm the Emperor¡¯s favored child with his power either. In that situation, the lie spread by Artizea made the struggle between the two take a different direction. By indicating that a woman would be an Empress, it meant that her husband would be an Emperor. Emperor Gregor, Lawrence and Grand Duke Roygar believed in the power they had in their hands rather than superstitions, like an oracle. Probably, although Artizea did not reveal it, the emperor also knew that the oracle had been fabricated. However, people all over the country believed that the beautiful and good-hearted Saintess would be the Empress, so no one could betray that belief. The marriage to Licia became the final piece toplete Lawrence¡¯s legitimacy. And now, she would do the same for Cedric. Besides, Licia and Cedric were originally in love with each other. If she let things take their course, they would fall in love again and get married. At least that¡¯s what Artizea thought, so she wanted to divorce him before that. Before the oracle descended. Before Licia became a Saintess and Cedric helped her. She wanted to divorce before they developed feelings of love for each other. Cedric was a man of integrity. She was sure that if she asked him to divorce her so that he could marry Licia after the oracle descended, he would not do it. Artizea also did not want the man she served to be branded as someone who had divorced his wife just because he wanted to be with the Saintess. She couldn¡¯t tell Cedric about this situation right now. Artizea hesitated. Cedric realized this and said. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to trick you, Your Grace. It is just that I do not want to be the Empress, although I consider it best for the empire that no one but Your Grace bes the Emperor. Besides, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m suitable for that position. You may think it¡¯s for a greater good.¡± ¡°Lady Artizea, you seem determined to sacrifice yourself for the good of the empire.¡± Artizea shook her head. ¡°I am the least appropriate person to receive such words.¡± As the conversation continued, the carriage came to Reve Street and stopped. The coachman touched the carriage window to find out exactly where she wanted to go. Artizea in response, tapped the window three times to indicate to the coachman and her maid that here was good. Then she looked Cedric in the face. Cedric said. ¡°I think it¡¯s too early to talk about the imperial throne.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°However, I gratefully epted her offer to ovee the situation of the Western army. As long as we hold hands, I will protect Lady Artizea with all my might. And you will do your best for the welfare of the Grand Duchy Evron and for me. Do you agree with that?¡± ¡°Yes. And the divorce¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s think about it in two years¡¯ time.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean. Until a rtionship of full trust is established, it is best to secure what can be given and received.¡± Said Artizea. Cedric looked at Artizea, feeling a pressure on his heart. ¡°I have one condition.¡± When Cedric said this, Artizea got nervous. She wondered what to do if it was one condition she couldn¡¯t fulfill. Would it be better to lie, or to equivocate? She thought he would demand honesty, not scheming, or something like that. But Cedric said. ¡°I hate that people around me get hurt. If you want to be by my side, then you must remember that.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°Lady Artizea, you don¡¯t seem to know. What I mean is that you yourself must not be hurt either. Please don¡¯t let that happen again.¡± Cedric said, pointing to her cheek. ¡°I¡¯d rather have you hit them.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t help butugh. Cedric smiled too. ¡°I¡¯d rather be hit, so I can sue and spread rumours to crush the other person¡¯s reputation, rather than be the one to do it.¡± ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to get hurt.¡± ¡°Yes, all right. Thank you for your concern, Your Grace.¡± She responded with a smile on her face. Cedric showed a full smile, thinking that her smiling face looked much better than her serious face. ¡°Well, I have one condition too.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°There is a jewel called Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart, the heirloom of the Fischer Viscounty. Give it to me as a marriage proposal gift.¡± Cedric was surprised because he never expected Artizea to ask him for jewelry or anything else. ¡°The family heirloom of the Fischer Viscounty¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. That will make it easier for you to understand what kind of person I am.¡± Artizea said quietly. ¡°If you don¡¯t change your mind after getting Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart, propose to me so magnificently that everyone will talk about it.¡± Cedric nodded his head without asking any more questions. Artizea tried to open the carriage door. Cedric gently blocked her hand, and smiled at Artizea, who was surprised. Then he opened the door and went out first. After getting out, he extended his hand to Artizea. Artizea hesitated and put her hand on his. Then Cedric raised it and lowered it. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°It is not proper for ady to get off the carriage first.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ that¡¯s right.¡± Artizea blushed a little. She felt like a little fish was swimming in her chest. The path was narrow and muddy. A crowd of children, like mosquitoes, crowded around her and spread their hands. ¡°Give me a penny!¡± ¡°Have mercy, beautifuldy!¡± ¡°The more sustenance you give to the poor, God will prepare a better ce in heaven for you.¡± Alice hastily took out a ck cloak and put it on Artizea. Artizea lowered the hood of her cloak deeply. ¡°Do you always have that cloak ready beforehand? I don¡¯t think you would have nned toe to this ce today.¡± ¡°Yes, because the color of my hair usually draws attention.¡± Artizea responded. The coachman shouted and chased away the crowd. Artizea quickly left the main path, escorted only by Cedric. Walking through the alleys of Revi Street with one or two ordinary men was a great adventure. But Cedric was no ordinary man. He was the Shield of the Empire and the greatest warrior in the Empire. Although Artizea was covered in a ck cloak, she could not hide the silhouette of her dress, which clearly showed that she was a noblewoman. It was clear that herpanion was also a nobleman. In this scenario, it would not be surprising if they were assaulted in less than five minutes. However, due to Cedric¡¯s overwhelming presence, no one showed up. Artizea did not notice, but Cedric could feel some of them around him, tense and holding their breath. ¡°Who are you going to meet?¡± ¡°With the butler who had been serving Marquisate Rosan for generations and who was dismissed shortly after the death of the previous Marquess Rosan.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°I have no one I can trust. He probably holds a grudge against my mother and me, but his family has been loyal to Marquisate Rosan for generations, so I¡¯m sure that will make him at least listen to me.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cedric looked around again. He couldn¡¯t believe that a butler who had served a wealthy, noble family for generations would be in a ce like this. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 17 Chapter 17. Trantor: Gold The ce where Marcus Hanson, the old Rosan Family butler, lived was a ramshackle tavern on a corner of Reve Street. He did odd jobs during the day and served customers at night, living in a small room attached to the tavern. Marcus had many children and grandchildren, but the family had split up a long time ago. Artizea had never met Marcus Hanson in her past life. In the past, his granddaughter, Lise Hanson, hade in as Artizea¡¯s maid, concealing her name with the intention of getting revenge. Lise Hanson had thought that she hadpletely concealed her identity. However, at that time, Artizea already had many enemies. She had to be careful even with her new maids. After checking Lise¡¯s background, Artizea had thought that her ambition and temperament would fit in well with her work. In that way, she had secured the position that Marcus Hanson had held. Having taken her grandfather hostage, Lise had no choice but to remain loyal to the end. However, in reality, she had done nothing to Marcus. She had not even met him in person. But when she entered the tavern, she could tell at a nce who Marcus was. Marcus was a 78-year-old man, but he stood erect and firm. Even though the old-fashioned suit he was wearing was worn out, it looked clean, even his cuffs were white. He asked, without losing hisposure, while the other man who worked with him was overwhelmed by Cedric¡¯s sword and his splendid clothes. ¡°Dear nobles, what brings you to a ce like this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can you give us a moment of your time, Mr. Hanson?¡± Marcus was silent for a moment. But he soon told the other employee. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°A-Are you sure, old man?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t think they want to kill me.¡± He said that and turned around, walked away. Artizea followed him, along with Cedric. Marcus led them to a vacant lot behind the tavern, where they used to put the garbage. ¡°This is not a nice ce, but I work here, so it¡¯s hard to get them to a clean ce. Grand Duke Evron, why did youe to visit a man like me?¡± He recognised Cedric and asked him. Eighteen years ago, when Marcus was forced to leave the Marquisate Rosan, Cedric was a child who was not yet ten years old. However, Cedric looked like his father, his predecessor, the Grand Duke Evron. As the former chief butler of the Rosan Family, Marcus knew the faces, personalities and history of all the high nobility. For that reason, it was not surprising that he knew who Cedric was. ¡°Although our family has been kicked out, we have served the Rosan Family for generations. There is nothing I can tell you.¡± Marcus thought the reason for Cedric¡¯s visit was to unearth the Rosan Family¡¯s weaknesses. But Cedric shook his head. ¡°I am simply her escort.¡± Cedric pointed to Artizea. Artizea slowly took off the hood. Her tinum-blond hair slid over her shoulders. Even in the vacant lot resembling a rubbish dump, the sun shone, with Artizea¡¯s hair glittering intensely. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Greetings, Mr. Marcus Hanson. I am Artizea Rosan.¡± Artizea looked up. Marcus stared at her for a moment without saying a word. pent-up anger, grudge, longing, and sorrow welled up inside him, making the old man¡¯s wrinkled face contort. Marcus did not know what to say. ¡®Mira¡¯s daughter?¡¯ ¡®The person who had caused the destruction of my family and the extermination of the Rosan Family?¡¯ But he finally spoke in a trembling voice. ¡°You certainly look a lot like Lord Michael. Heir apparent.¡± Eighteen years had cleared away the grudge inside him. Old age had exhausted his body to the point where he didn¡¯t have the strength to vent his pent-up anger. The longing called forth sorrow. The most intense feeling in Marcus was sorrow. And sorrow is a feeling that one wants the other person to understand. One wants to be heard, to beprehended and to be embraced. That was the only remedy. Marcus still missed the Marquisate Rosan. The Hanson Family had served as butlers to the Marquisate Rosan for generations. Although they were not aristocrats, they prided themselves on being different from ordinary people. Marcus was born in Marquess Rosan¡¯s estate, and as a child he became a ymate of the Marquess¡¯ children. Since he grew up, he learned to work as Michael Rosan¡¯s attendant. After some experience, he started working as a butler under the orders of his grandfather, the head butler. His children and grandchildren were also born at Marquess Rosan¡¯s estate. His sons and daughters followed in his footsteps, serving the Rosan Family. He couldn¡¯t help but get nostalgic. The more he remembered his family, the more he remembered the good times and the more he missed the Marquisate Rosan. He wanted someone to help him with this pain, this sorrow. Artizea could see it in Marcus¡¯ face and trembling eyes. It was the same feeling she had sensed in Lise Hanson, who had wanted to kill her in the past. ¡°Mr. Hanson, you are the first person to address me as heir apparent.¡± Artizea said in a soft voice. Marcus spoke firmly. ¡°Heir apparent, does your mother know¡­ that you havee to this ce?¡± ¡°She should not. If she knew, she wouldn¡¯t have let mee.¡± Said Artizea, then she put her hand on her chest and bowed deeply. It was a polite bow, as if she were bowing to a priest. ¡°Mr. Hanson. I have many things to say to you, but first I must apologize.¡± ¡°Do you know what your mother did?¡± ¡°Yes. My mother poisoned all the direct descendants of the Marquess Rosan and framed the Hanson Family. In order to make me the sole heir to the Marquisate Rosan.¡± The poisoning incident took ce during Michael Rosan¡¯s mourning period. It urred when Artizea was six months old. Michael¡¯s oldest daughter, who was to seed him, was in shock when she learned that Mira¡¯s daughter looked incredibly like Michael. But there was no way Artizea could be the daughter of the dying Michael. Perhaps one of Michael¡¯s young grandchildren had yed with fire, sleeping with Mira. For that reason, she had decided to recognize Artizea as her sister, because she preferred that, instead of hearing that her son had impregnated the one who was like his grandmother. Thus Artizea became a legitimate daughter of the Marquess Rosan. But Mira, who had lost the Emperor¡¯s favor by bing pregnant with Artizea, was not satisfied with that. She needed more reliable safeguard. She saw the funeral as an opportunity. She poisoned the dinner table, where all of Michael¡¯s direct descendants had gathered. Marcus tried to prove that Mira was lying and that she was the real culprit. However, his intelligent daughter, seeing him shaking with fear, gave her opinion. ¡¸You should give up on that idea, Father. You¡¯re putting our lives at risk.¡¹ ¡¸But I have proof.¡¹ ¡¸What¡¯s the use of all that? Nothing¡¯s going to change for a while. Even if Mira¡¯s guilt is proven, we¡¯ll probably be dead before that happens. She¡¯s the only one who deserved it.¡¹ ¡¸His daughter continued in tears.¡¹ ¡¸Anyway, the inheritance belongs to the only surviving descendant, Miss Artizea. If you manage to reveal the truth, do you think she¡¯ll be grateful? Father, you¡¯d be the enemy of her mother!¡¹ He knew his daughter was right. ¡¸Father, please give up. Our family and the Rosan Family are finished.¡¹ If another heir to the Marquess Rosan had survived, he would have fought loyally to the end. However, the only direct descendant of the Marquess Rosan who had survived was Artizea. In any case, Mira would not leave the Hanson Family alone, even if she took control of the Marquisate Rosan. Finally, Marcus asked his children and grandchildren to escape before anything bad happened to them. He told them to conceal their identity and forget about the Hanson Family and the Marquisate Rosan. As long as his descendants could still be alive, it would be fine for Marcus. However, he himself could not give up his name. Even though the Hanson Family, which he considered honorable disappeared, he was still Marcus Hanson. ¡®Anyway, I¡¯m an old man. If one day Mira finds me and kills me, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ That¡¯s what he thought. Mira¡¯s malicious scheme had not been properly nned and executed, leaving loose ends. She had no useful advisor, no trusted employee. Marcus had managed to go into hiding. Then something more frightening happened than his daughter had anticipated. The Emperor intervened. The Emperor was furious about Mira¡¯s infidelity. But in the end, he prevented Mira from being executed. The huge bribes and power covered up the truth. The Emperor opened his bedroom door again to Mira. Like a bird, Mira flew into the Emperor¡¯s arms and embraced him. After all, nothing could be found, despite the search for the poisoner. Marcus couldn¡¯t show his face to the world again. That¡¯s why he¡¯d been leading a hard life in this tavern on Reve Street. ¡°I do not intend to excuse my mother¡¯s actions. I¡¯m not doing this in her name.¡± Marcus was staring at her. Artizeria straightened her back, looked at him and said. ¡°As thest descendant of the Marquess Rosan, I apologize for not protecting my retainers.¡± ¡°Heir apparent¡­¡± ¡°I am sorry.¡± She bowed her head again. Marcus¡¯ eyes got wet. Artizea approached him and offered him a handkerchief. Marcus epted the handkerchief. Cedric was watching the scene from a short distance. Some of his retainers cherished him more than his family, and as someone who wanted to protect them, he could not help but have mixed feelings. Also, Cedric felt a relief in his heart, because he thought that Marcus would be the first person to take care of Artizea, who was isted in the Marquisate Rosan. *** At that time, Bill, the butler of the Marquisate Rosan, was telling Mira about Cedric¡¯s visit. ?Crash! Mira stood up abruptly and waved her hands, upset. A ss vase that was almost a work of art broke when it fell on the floor. The ss shards spread out and shone on the leopard-skin rug. Bill knelt quickly in front of Mira, not caring about the ss that was scattered on the floor. Then, politely, he gave the slippers to her. Mira, who was barefoot and only wore a thin robe over her underwear, slipped her feet through the slippers and sat back down on the sofa with a thud. ¡°Tell me again.¡± ¡°His Grace the Grand Duke Evron asked me why I was loyal to you and not to Miss Artizea.¡± Bill said, interpreting Cedric¡¯s words to his convenience. Mira was burning like fire. Chapter 18 Gold Chapter 18. Trantor: Gold ¡°What? Who is he to say that?¡± ¡°He said Lady Artizea is the master of the Marquisate Rosan, so he would tell her about what happened.¡± Mira stood up once more. ¡°Tia is the master? You just stood there listening to him?¡± ¡°It was the Grand Duke Evron. How could I dare to answer him? He could have slit my throat at that very moment.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Mira felt her throat burn and reached out her hand. Bill quickly offered her a ss of cold water. Mira drank the ss of water, sighed and sat back down on the couch. ¡®It¡¯s strange. Where did she meet the Grand Duke Evron?¡¯ She had a hunch. When it came to rtionships between a man and a woman, Mira¡¯s hunches had always been right. Rationally, she thought there was no way an unattractive girl like Artizea could catch the Grand Duke Evron. There was no way they could have met anywhere. But her hunch told her otherwise. Somehow she felt a little unpleasant, no, she was really in a bad mood. Artizea was an ugly girl. Mira thought that from the bottom of her heart. ¡®Artizea doesn¡¯t resemble me at all. She¡¯s 18 years old, but she doesn¡¯t have any feminine traits, not even a charm. She could only live with me, because I¡¯m her mother. She has no chance of getting married, right?¡¯ That¡¯s what she thought, but not the Grand Duke Evron. However, Mira also believed that all girls were the same. Even with the odds against them, they would find a way to seduce men. ¡®Maybe I¡¯m overthinking it.¡¯ At that point. A servant knocked hastily at the door. Bill offered a small apology to Mira, and went to open the door. ¡°Head Butler, Grand Duke Evron¡¯s squire is here.¡± ¡°His squire? What for?¡± ¡°Apparently, after attending the ball at Count Enda¡¯s estate, the Grand Duke and Miss Artizea went somewhere in her carriage. His Grace asked the squire to wait for him here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Bill nced sidelong at Mira, her face was turning fierce. Just then Lawrence appeared. He had just returned home after going out for some fresh air. He was frowning, like he was upset about something. ¡°Young Master, did you enjoy your outing?¡± Bill bowed his head politely. The servant knelt quickly on one knee. Lawrence used to stare at Bill, the Head Butler, when he was in a bad mood. And now, it seemed to be the case. ¡°Bill. Grand Duke Evron¡¯s squire is out there. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh, that is¡­¡± ¡°Lawrence, my prince, wee home.¡± Mira left her room with a bright smile, wearing a coat over her thin robe. Lawrence looked at his mother with an annoyed expression. ¡°Did any trouble happen with the Grand Duke Evron?¡± ¡°No. How could I have a problem with the Grand Duke? He is a warrior who goes from one battlefield to another. He only came to visit Tia this afternoon.¡± Mira grumbled. Lawrence¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Are you angry about something?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been disrespectful to the Grand Duke Evron, right?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t even seen him. When the butler informed him that Tia had gone to the ball at Count Enda¡¯s estate, he went over there.¡± ¡°I understand. If hees back, don¡¯t interfere. Stay out of it. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Mother, Grand Duke Evron is a man of integrity. It¡¯s been a while since Tia did anything useful, but if someone like you interferes, it¡¯ll all be ruined.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mira reacted startled. Lawrence said coldly. ¡°Mother, the Grand Duke despises you. You talk as if you don¡¯t know that. And unfortunately, he despises me, too. For that very reason, my father has not been able to trust me with the seat of the Crown Prince.¡± The hidden meaning in his words was obvious. Mira¡¯s face turned pale. However, she did nothing. With Artizea, she acted like the greatest tyrant in the world. But with her son, she was an understanding and submissive mother. *** Marcus hesitated bitterly for a long time when she asked him to return to the Marquisate Rosan and help her. Although he had epted Artizea as the heir apparent, returning to the Marquisate Rosan was another matter. ¡¸I will marry soon, and I will retrieve the Marquisate Rosan from my mother¡¯s clutches. I¡¯ll need Mr. Hanson then.¡¹ It had been almost 18 years since he hadst been to the Marquisate Rosan. Currently, all employees of the Marquisate Rosan in relevant positions, serve Mira. the estate of the Marquisate Rosan wasrge and its wealth enormous. It would be difficult to fight them all at once. ¡¸I want to prevent the Rosan Family¡¯s assets from being stolen and get it all back. Mr. Hanson, you know all about the Marquisate Rosan. Besides, you know most of the former employees, right?¡¹ ¡¸Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡¹ ¡¸So I don¡¯t think it¡¯s difficult for you to understand and control the situation. It would be even better if the entire Hanson Family coulde and help. Please, return to your rightful position and help me.¡¹ ¡¸But my family has been used of poisoning the direct descendants of the Marquess Rosan, so how can we return?¡¹ ¡¸It was 18 years ago. Right now, poisoning has be a thing of the past. His Majesty intervened to rify the situation, but the real culprit could not be identified.¡¹ Artizea continued. ¡¸My mother tried to incriminate the Hanson Family, but not only did she have no evidence, but no one believed her. So she thought, it would be better to leave it at that.¡¹ ¡¸Heir apparent¡­¡¹ ¡¸Anyway, I¡¯ll make sure that incident doesn¡¯t affect you.¡¹ It was a great incident, since it had caused the Rosan Family to be exterminated. The fact that the perpetrator had not been identified was very burdensome for the Emperor. ¡¸In case this incidentes out again, this time, as the sessor, I will be by your side, so let¡¯s fight together until the end. If you are still worried, you can change your name and hide your identity until everything is resolved.¡¹ ¡¸I lived in the manor house of the Marquisate Rosan for 60 years, of which 45 years I served at master Michael¡¯s side. Not only employees, but many of the aristocrats know about it.¡¹ ¡¸Why not do the same thing my mother did? It was because everyone was blindfolded that she managed not to be convicted of the poisoning incident.¡¹ Artizea spoke with dignity. ¡¸I will be the Marchioness Rosan, Mr. Hanson. As sole heir, I can handle matters rting to the Marquisate Rosan at my discretion. As long as Mr. Hanson is willing to return, I will take care of the rest of the problems.¡¹ However, Marcus could not immediately nod his head. The wound was too deep. But he didn¡¯t shake his head either. Back in the carriage, Cedric was the first to speak. ¡°I am amazed, Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The best way to reach a person¡¯s heart is to move it, right? Lady Artizea, although you are still young, you seem to know this very well. ¡°I did not intend to move Mr. Hanson. I was just trying to give him a valid excuse.¡± ¡°An excuse?¡± ¡°Mr. Hanson is struggling to make ends meet. He also has his 14-year-old granddaughter in his care. I¡¯m sure he must have wanted to get out of Reve Street for a while now. But without a suitable excuse, he would not take my hand.¡± Said Artizea. And she apologized for that. Cedric chuckled. Artizea blushed slightly. ¡°Why are you chuckling?¡± ¡°Lady Artizea seems to consider herself as a viiness.¡± ¡°¡­Because it¡¯s true.¡± For Artizea, that was as true as the morning sunrise. ¡°Anyone who remembers honorable moments would want to escape disgrace. And that can only be determined by oneself. Lady Artizea, you did not give Hanson an excuse, you only made him remember honorable moments. So he will return for you.¡± ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yes. Because he loves the Marquisate Rosan, and you are the only heir.¡± ¡°However, I am not Michael¡¯s biological daughter.¡± ¡°He used to be the head butler, so he probably knows who your biological father is. You are a direct descendant of the Marquess Rosan. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have epted you.¡± ¡°I see. I never thought of it that way.¡± Cedric asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious to know who your father is?¡± ¡°No, there¡¯s no point in knowing. Whoever my biological father is, at first nce, is an immoral person whomitted adultery with the wife of the Marquess Rosan. But more than that, he¡¯s an idiot who slept with the Emperor¡¯s concubine.¡± Artizea said, biting her lips. When the wheels of the carriage began to move, the vibrations of the rattle were transmitted to their bodies. Then Artizea was silent, and Cedric said nothing either.There was only silence inside the carriage until it reached the front of the manor house of the Marquisate Rosan. Once again, Cedric got out first and helped Artizea. Artizea bowed her head to him. ¡°Your Grace, thank you for escorting me. If it were not for you, Mr. Hanson would not have trusted me. He would have thought that Mira¡¯s daughter had gone to plot against him.¡± ¡°You are wee. I understand well the importance of today¡¯s meeting, for Lady Artizea and the Marquisate Rosan. I am grateful that you have invited me and allowed me to be present. If you need anything else, please don¡¯t hesitate to let me know.¡± ¡°If you say that, I¡¯ll really feel free to ask him for anything. Even though I have no power, no wealth, no people right now.¡± ¡°But you have this, right?¡± Cedric tapped his temple with his index finger. Artizea smiled. ¡°From now on I¡¯ll have to show you whether it¡¯s really useful or not.¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on it.¡± That¡¯s when Cedric¡¯s squire appeared, leading a horse by the reins. Bill was following the squire in a hurry. He had left by order of Lawrence. ¡°Wee, Your Grace. How was your outing, miss?¡± Artizea tilted her head and looked at Bill. Bill had spoken nervously. He didn¡¯t think Cedric would listen to him, since he¡¯d made him angry earlier. However, Lawrence was strict when he gave an order, so he had no choice but to convey his message. ¡°Your Grace, young master Lawrence has told me that he would like to invite you to dinner.¡± Cedric narrowed his eyes as he looked at Bill, putting on the riding gloves his squire had given him. He wanted to rebuke him again, but in the end he decided not to. ¡°It will be another time. Unless, Lady Artizea invites me.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°As an unmarried woman, I am a little reluctant to invite a man who is not a rtive into my home at this hour.¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d say that. Then I apologize. Next time I¡¯ll visit you with Olga¡¯s Heart.¡± Cedric bade farewell with a deep bow. Artizea also bowed politely to him. As Cedric mounted his horse to leave, Artizea called out to him when a sudden thought crossed her mind. ¡°Oh, now that I think about it, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Why do you act so formally with me? The other day, you weren¡¯t acting that way.¡± Artizea gazed up at Cedric. Cedric thought her turquoise eyes were bright and deep, rich in colour. ¡°I must respect you, not because you are Mira¡¯s daughter, but because you will be my future wife.¡± Cedric said and turned on his horse. Artizea lowered her head, feeling her whole face blush. Chapter 19 Chapter 19. Trantor: Gold Which rtionship is more distant, a rtionship with a stranger or a rtionship with a senior? Artizea thought about this every time she had a chance to have a conversation with Lawrence. Her rtionship with Mira was like a rtionship between strangers. And her rtionship with Lawrence was like a rtionship with a senior. From childhood, the rtionship between the two had been formed by Artizea¡¯s one-sided desire. By the time Artizea began to understand the world, Lawrence was already the happiest and highest status child in the Empire. He still knew nothing about issues such as illegitimate children, inheritance or session. He also didn¡¯t care about the people around him. Even once, he sat on the Emperor¡¯sp and yed a joke on him by taking away his crown. In Artizea¡¯s eyes, Lawrence was the most enviable person in the world. She did not yet know the difference between her and her brother. So, she thought that if her brother was loved, it was as if she was loved too. And she loved Lawrence like her mother did. ¡¸If your brother¡¯s doing well, you¡¯ll do well too.¡¹ Back then, she really believed in those words. Even when she grew up, she kept using those words as a guide in her life. She convinced herself of it, justifying it with the fact that being the sister of the next Emperor would be beneficial. And that because they were rted by blood, she had to make Lawrence the next Emperor anyway to survive. But it wasn¡¯t the same. As a little girl, she genuinely believed in those words. She thought that love was mutual. However, Lawrence never cared for Artizea. Now that she thought about it, it was only natural. Why would he care about her? Mira¡¯s love and attention was only for her son. Besides, she didn¡¯t teach him to be a real older brother either. In childhood, Lawrence acted like Artizea didn¡¯t exist. As they grew older, they sometimes ate or drank tea together, but only had formal conversations. The times Mira would beat Artizea, he would calmly observe. asionally, he would offer her words offort while she cried. ¡¸Mother doesn¡¯t do it because she hates you.¡¹ ¡®What would it be like if I were a stranger?¡¯ While she was thinking about it, Artizea went to see Lawrence. After Cedric left, Lawrence sent for her and she didn¡¯t have time to change her clothes. Artizea adjusted the dress she was about to take off, then with her hair pulled up in a hai and slippers, she headed to Lawrence¡¯s study. Lawrence was impatient, so she had to rush. ¡°Wee, Tia.¡± Lawrence greeted her coldly. More than angry with Artizea, he didn¡¯t seem to be in a very good mood. Artizea greeted him politely and asked him, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°I heard you went out with the Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. You probably heard it from the butler. We met at Count Enda¡¯s estate, and then went for a little walk together.¡± A family that really cared about an 18-year-old girl would have to question the fact that she went out alone with a strange man without saying where she was going. However, Lawrence didn¡¯t care what Artizea did with her personal life. He wasn¡¯t cautious of her either. The current Lawrence, did not know the true face of Artizea. The incident with Countess Eunice, the reason she had been considered ¡®something useful¡¯ in her past life, had not developed in the same way this time. Instead of being used as a tool to carry out schemes, this time she could be used as a tool in a marriage of convenience. Although she thought and nned to do so, Artizea got goosebumps from Lawrence¡¯s soulless look at her. She smiled bitterly in her mind. In the past, 18-year-old Artizea would jump for joy when Lawrence looked at her that way. She thought she was being praised. She felt she was being useful. But now she had a different idea. ¡®If one looks at one¡¯s subordinates in that way, one will not get their loyalty.¡¯ Unless one was a slow person and unable to read people¡¯s expressions, who would be loyal to someone who doesn¡¯t value one? There are many reasons why a person follows someone. Money, power, hope, rtionships and many more. Lawrence had almost all of them. Most of his followers sought to be worthy subjects of the next Emperor and receive rewards for it. Also the enemies of the Grand Duke Roygar, supported Lawrence, with the purpose of preventing the Grand Duke Roygar from bing the Emperor. Of course, in a sense, they expected something in return. Only a few people followed him without expecting something in return. However, they did not do it for him, those were people loyal to Emperor Gregor, who understood the Emperor¡¯s wishes and took care of his favorite son. ¡®Even me.¡¯ Artizea had been no exception. She also expected something in return. She expected the love of her family. But, for someone to be a true monarch, more than that was needed. It was necessary to have at least some loyal subjects, who were willing to give their lives selflessly. Only they could act in critical moments without regard to consequences. And such loyalty could not be obtained by those who considered others merely a tool. In case one wanted to share one¡¯s true feelings, one should at least hide one¡¯s contempt for the other person. Lawrence did neither. In that sense, Roygar was much better. Artizea could not help but smile. Lawrence spoke, without even imagining what she was thinking. ¡°I would have liked you to invite him home.¡± ¡°I have heard that he is in a military camp outside the capital. It is difficult to cross the forest paths when the sun setspletely, so I thought it would be better if he returned as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lawrence seemed to think for a moment. ¡°Are you going to meet him again?¡± ¡°¡­Can¡¯t I?¡± Artizea deliberately asked carefully. From Lawrence¡¯s attitude, it seemed that someone had already advised him on the benefits of a marriage of convenience between her and Cedric. Lawrence disliked Cedric. However, probably because of the benefits he could get, he had wanted to invite him home. Lawrence shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do. You¡¯re 18 now.¡± ¡°Thank you, brother. ¡± ¡°You should invite him home next time. Grand Duke Evron rarely stays in the capital, and even when he stays, he doesn¡¯t usually attend social events, so we haven¡¯t had a chance to get acquainted.¡± ¡°Yes, brother.¡± Lawrence nodded his head when Artizea responded obediently. Then, he gestured for her to leave. Artizea said cautiously. ¡°Before I leave, I have a favor to ask you, brother.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± Lawrence spoke with indifference. ¡°I would like to hire some servants and maids. To take care of me personally. It¡¯s a little ufortable for me to be away from home, since I only have one person at the moment.¡± ¡°One?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± For the first time, Lawrence showed a puzzled face. Artizea smiled. Lawrence was not rted to that, so it was not strange that he did not know. ¡°I will talk to my mother.¡± ¡°Do you need our mother¡¯s help for this? Besides, brother, you know¡­ her too. Our mother is busy.¡± Lawrence understood perfectly what she meant by Mira being ¡®busy¡¯. And he nodded his head. ¡°You are right. Take care of it yourself. And if my mother says anything, let me know.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you, brother.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s my duty as a older brother.¡± Although the resources of the Marquisate Rosan were used to hire the employees, Lawrence had spoken without shame, as if he were being condescending. ¡°Argh!¡± At that moment, Mira could be heard screaming in the distance. Artizea was startled. Seeing this, Lawrence said coldly. ¡°She is hysterical. It¡¯s not a day or two thing. You don¡¯t need to concern yourself with that.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be convenient if Grand Duke Evron noticed a bruise on your face or somewhere else.¡± ¡°I understand¡­¡± After that, Artizea retired. She then went to Mira¡¯s room. Mira kept screaming loudly, unable to control her anger. One could also hear the sound of something breaking and the wailing of a maid being beaten. Mira would asionally get angry in this way, beating people and destroying the rooms. In the past, Artizea tried to calm Mira in these moments. The anger was not good for health. She wanted to hug Mira. She thought that by doing so, Mira would calm down a bit. However, the only thing she got was for Mira to beat her worse than usual. Artizea stopped for a moment in front of the door. The other maids looked at Artizea, holding their breath. Once Artizea entered the room, Mira would direct your attention to her and she would not see anyone else. Therefore, the maids begged wholeheartedly for this to happen. However, Artizea turned around. A maid stopped her. ¡°Miss, aren¡¯t you going in?¡± ¡°Do you think I should go in and be beaten instead?¡± ¡°Oh, no, I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± ¡°You better get that girl out of there before the situation gets worse.¡± ¡°B-But, miss. If I do that¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the only maid here, right? If you all take the beating, your injuries won¡¯t be as serious. I will cover the medical expenses and give you generouspensation. I will even let you take a break from your work until you recover. After that, tell that girl toe and see me.¡± The maids gulped. This time, they knew that Artizea would not be the scapegoat. Artizea suddenly remembered what Cedric had told her in the past. ¡¸Mira is dead. I heard that she was still scolding Lawrence on the subject of women.¡¹ Was Mira resentful of Lawrence when she died? Had she ever imagined that Lawrence would kill her? Did she still love him despite his actions? Or had she simply turned a blind eye to reality until the end? Had she repented at the time of her death, even a little, having mistreated Artizea? Artizea had tried to protect her to the end. Had she regretted losing that shield? Or had she even considered it? Now it was irrelevant that she still thought about it. That was in the past. Artizea again turned around and left. Even in blood rtions, as between mother and daughter, there were limits. Besides, Mira had never taken her hand before. Artizea now realized that she could really leave her mother. For any errors and issues contact me through discord:- https://discord.gg/Q3dStgu Chapter 20 Chapter 20. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (1) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª¨C After returning to the camp, changing clothes and having dinner, Cedric called Ansgar. Ansgar prepared the tea and entered Cedric¡¯s barrack. ¡°Did you enjoy your outing today?¡± Ansgar had no idea where Cedric had been. However, in the morning he had seen him emaciated fromck of sleep and stress, only to discover that now, on his return, he even had a small smile. Cedric asked Ansgar as he drank his tea, ¡°What do you know about Viscount Fischer¡¯s Family?¡± ¡°Why do you want to know about the Fischer Family?¡± It was unusual for Ansgar to answer a question from Cedric with another question. Cedric looked at him strangely. Then Ansgar answered calmly. ¡°The Fischer Family copsed 18 years ago. The Viscount and Viscountessmitted suicide by poisoning themselves, and their rtives, including their children, disappeared. It is virtually destroyed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Cedric became surprised andid down his cup of tea. Taken aback, he changed his posture, no longer restingfortably in the chair. Ansgar then said, ¡°At the time of their destruction, Viscountess Fischer was Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting. She was also a childhood friend of the Empress. Because of her low status, she could not be the headdy-in-waiting, but she was Her Majesty¡¯s most trusted person. ¡°So, why did shemit suicide?¡± ¡°She assumed responsibility for the death of the two princes. Because she was in charge of taking care of them.¡± Cedric gulped. He had not thought deeply about it until he had returned. Although he felt there must have been some reason for Artizea to make this request, he had thought that after meeting Viscount Fischer and buying the jewel, that would be the end of it. ¡°Didn¡¯t one of the princes die of smallpox?¡± ¡°Yes, that is true. But someone needed to take responsibility. The princess was the first to die, and a yearter, both princes died. Then, as you know, rumors began to spread that it was a curse¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I know that.¡± Although this was an incident that had urred during his childhood, Cedric also remembered it because at that time his family was reinstated to its original position. ¡°Did Her Majesty force her tomit suicide?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. But there must have been pressure.¡± Ansgar said. ¡°Everyone knows that the Empress must have been very resentful of the Emperor for what happened.¡± ¡°Do you mean that the Empress was so resentful of losing her children, that the Emperor kept her under control for fear that she would pose a threat? Come to think of it, not long after that, Her Majesty¡¯s Family fell.¡± ¡°There is no evidence that this was the Emperor¡¯s doing. It was only a rumor that was circting at the time.¡± Ansgar continued. ¡°But there was a harsh criticism that someone had to take responsibility. But no one could hold the Emperor responsible, nor attack the Empress directly. So, perhaps to protect Her Majesty, Viscountess Fischer gave her life.¡± ¡°But it is strange that the whole family has dispersed and disappeared, even though no crime had been proven.¡± ¡°Yes, there are other suspicions.¡± It could have been a murder. Or it could be arger plot than Cedric could ever imagine. Cedric, who had met with Marcus Hanson today, could not help but sigh deeply. He wondered if this was the reason why the Emperor had pardoned Mira. With the death of all the Empress¡¯ children, the Emperor had lost his rightful sessors to the throne. He only had his illegitimate children left. The mothers of his two daughters had too low a status. And then there was Lawrence, whom the Emperor loved more than anyone else. The loss of his children could have made him feel lonely and depressed, causing him to lean on Mira again. ¡°Is there any possibility of finding a descendant of the Fischer Family?¡± Cedric asked, reclining on his chair again and intecing his fingers. Ansgar hesitated. ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but we can try.¡± ¡°I think we could ask around.¡± ¡®Maybe this is what Artizea wanted me to do,¡¯ thought Cedric. Ansgar then stated, ¡°My duty is to serve you, but why the sudden interest in the Fischer Family?¡± ¡°I heard that the heirloom of the Viscounty Fischer is a jewel called Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I need it. But with the Fischer Family in that situation, I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll get it.¡± Cedric sighed. He had told Artizea that he would give her Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart at their next meeting, but now he didn¡¯t know when he could see her again. He realized that he was already looking forward to the next meeting. At that point, he sighed again. ¡°You should go and check it out, after all, it¡¯s a jewel.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a jewel you¡¯re looking for, wouldn¡¯t it be quicker to ask a jeweler? Eighteen years have passed. It¡¯s very likely that it¡¯s currently on the market. Also, rumor has it that most of the Fischer Family¡¯s assets were sold back then to finance the escape.¡± ¡°I see.¡± As soon as Cedric got up from his chair, Ansgarughed. ¡°It is midnight, Lord Cedric. You don¡¯t n to go to the jewelry store in the capital at this hour, do you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Cedric, who had risen slightly from his chair when he felt inexplicably excited, sat down again. Ansgar smiled and took Cedric¡¯s empty teacup. ¡°By the way, Ansgar.¡± Cedric asked. ¡°How can I present garments as a gift to ady?¡± However, Ansgar could not help butugh slightly. Cedric said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s not what you¡¯re imagining.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Despite Ansgar¡¯s answer, Cedric stamped his foot in difort. *** After that day, the Marquisate Rosan was enveloped in a dark atmosphere. Mira, who had wrecked her room, beaten her maids and made a fuss all night felt so weak that she did not have the strength to go out the next day and remained lying in her bed. Her temperature had risen, and her throat had be inmed from screaming too loudly. Like an obedient daughter, Artizea sat beside her, giving her hot lemon tea with a spoon. Then, Mira spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°Now that you¡¯re grown up, would you rather pretend thatst night you didn¡¯t notice your mother angry?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. My brother called me and we talked for a while.¡± Artizea responded obediently. ¡°I would never turn a blind eye to mother¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. When I grow old, the only person I will be able to trust will be my daughter. I live for you.¡± Mira hugged Artizea with a smile, as she sometimes did when she was in a good mood. ¡°If you are not feeling very well, why don¡¯t you go with His Majesty to the detached pce?¡± Detached pce? ¡°It has been very hottely. Maybe it¡¯s the best time to go to the Detached Pce. Moreover, the sea is right beside it.¡± Mira¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°We should go on vacation. Do you think Lawrence would have time?¡± ¡°If my brother is busy, you two should go alone. That way, you would have a more intimate trip. Even if Lawrence didn¡¯t go, it was a trip with the Emperor, so it wouldn¡¯t be really intimate. However, these words seemed to improve Mira¡¯s mood, and she giggled even with her sore throat. The Emperor dly epted Mira¡¯s request. The trip was organized, and the ns was executed with unprecedented speed. Artizea thought that the Emperor was doing this to stall for time. And she was right. At this point, the Emperor was probably contemting on whether or not to allow the ceremony of the triumphant return of the Western Army. He had been postponing the issue of the Western Army for a long time. He had refused, giving one excuse after another, but if he were to give his consent now for the sake of Lawrence, it would be somewhat embarrassing. Now that Cedric had entered the capital, he could no longer postpone his decision. In this situation, Mira¡¯s request represented the perfect excuse to stall for time. The Emperor would spend the next few weeks observing Cedric¡¯s attitude beforeing to a decision. Although this would allow him to continue dying his decision, he could be used of neglecting his responsibilities. On the other hand, if the demands made were not met, criticism would fall on the government. In any case, public opinion would be directed in that direction. This was also a good thing for Artizea and Cedric. Artizea now had a few weeks to do what she wanted. And in the afternoon of the first day. Three loaded carriages arrived at the manor house. Countless garments, mannequins and boxes were being unloaded. Butler Bill¡¯s eyes were opened wide. This was not unusual. It always happened when Mira bought clothes. However, now Mira was not here. Emily, the owner of a renowned boutique, smiled happily at Bill as she got out of the carriage. She was the dressmaker who made the most stylish, exclusive and expensive dresses in the capital. And Mira was a regr customer. ¡°Hello, Mr. Butler.¡± ¡°What brings you to this ce? Madam went on vacation with His Majesty to the Detached Pce. I thought you knew, Emily.¡± ¡°I am not here today for madam, but for her daughter.¡± ¡°You mean Miss Artizea?¡± ¡°Yes. His Grace the Grand Duke Evron sent me. Oh, by the way, the times I¡¯ve seen her I¡¯ve noticed her outfit, and I¡¯ve always regretted not being able to do anything to make her look better, only with that she would be as beautiful as her mother. However, today I am here to enhance her beauty, he told me that I could do ¡®whatever I wanted¡¯.¡± Emilyughed out loud. She knew Artizea¡¯s situation very well. Even if it was only a change of weather, Mira was buying dozens of clothes. There were some things the Emperor gave her, but there were also many things she bought herself. From silver and gold embroidery, to Eon embroidery which was the most expensive. She bought the most precious materials in the whole empire, and she had to have all the new designs to be satisfied. Perhaps not even the Empress could match her in terms of clothing. But during Mira¡¯s shopping sprees, Emily never once saw her buy even a single ribbon for Artizea. Holding a good eye, Emily had noticed that the price of a dress from Artizea was equivalent to only one of Mira¡¯s scarves. Her dresses probably didn¡¯t fit her short, because at her age one didn¡¯t grow that much anymore. Bill¡¯s eyes were still wide open. Chapter 21 Chapter 21. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (2) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª¨C Bill panicked. If Mira had been here, she would not have allowed these people to enter the manor house. And Artizea would have been punished for receiving gifts from a man without her permission. But now Mira had gone on vacation, and Bill was a simple butler. He had always oppressed and belittled Artizea, but he had done so in ordance with Mira¡¯s will. That doesn¡¯t mean Bill didn¡¯t enjoy doing it. He fully enjoyed the twisted sense of superiority that came from trampling on the sessor to the Marquisate Rosan, and the pleasure of mistreating a young girl. But strictly speaking, Mira was the mastermind behind it all. Bill had a wonderful talent for understanding Mira¡¯s thoughts and acting ordingly. While he wondered if he should stop her, Emily entered the foyer without hesitation. Her employees followed her with different garments and mannequins. It was then that Bill decided to stop Emily, but when he saw thest man who entered, he shuddered and kept his mouth shut. At first nce, one could tell he was a knight. Not even his clothes could hide his great physique and well-developed muscles. The clothes he wore were rugged and simple. But he emanated dignity andposure. Moreover, he wore a sword on his waist. The four squires who followed him were also armed. Bill belonged to the lower ss. He would not dare to pounce on an armed man, especially if he was a knight. He was more afraid of the knights who were used to killing than of the nobles who opposed Mira. ¡°Wee!¡± Alice came cheerfully running to greet Emily. When the head maid saw Alice weing Emily, ignoring both her and the butler, sheshed out at her. ¡°Alice!¡± However, the shouts that should have continued did not arrive. Artizea appeared on the stairs and looked down. Emily smiled, gripped her skirt and greeted her politely. ¡°Greetings, Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Wee, Madam Emily. I don¡¯t recall calling you, what brings you here?¡± ¡°His Grace the Grand Duke Evron sent me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Artizea responded after a brief silence. ¡°Sophie, apany madam to my boudoir.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss!¡± Entranced, Sophie, who was standing behind Artizea, ran down the stairs. Sophie gently took Emily by the arm and guided her to the second floor, as if she were an aunt she hadn¡¯t seen in 30 years. Her employees also went up behind her. The maids whispered as they watched the scene. This time, Artizea turned her attention to the knight, who was also standing in the foyer. The knight put his fist to the side of his chest and bowed his head politely. Artizea went down to the foyer and stood in front of the knight. Then the knight knelt on one knee and greeted her. ¡°I am knight Alphonse Luen. I was knighted by Grand Duke Evron and have served in the Grand Duchy¡¯s Guard until now. It is an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I am Artizea Rosan. You may rise.¡± When she extended her hand, Alphonse respectfully kissed the back of it and then stood up. ¡°Only if you allow, I will escort you from today onwards on orders from His Grace.¡± ¡°I will be grateful. I hope you can feelfortable in the Marquisate Rosan.¡± Artizea calmly expressed. However, inside she felt strange. Alphonse was one of the Grand Duke Evron¡¯s most capable and reliable knights. He was honest and without a doubt loyal. He had the strong spirit of the Grand Duchy Evron. The fact that Cedric ced this man as her escort made Artizea feel ufortable. If he had chosen Knight Freyl or any other knight of simr rank, she would not have felt that way. With any other escort, she would have thought he hade to observe and evaluate whether or not this marriage would really be useful. And that would be the norm. But that he sent Alphonse proved otherwise. To have sent him meant that Cedric was only thinking of protecting Artizea. That made her feel strange. In the past, Cedric had entrusted Alphonse with the role of protecting Licia. Alphonse did his duty to the end. He had died at the hands of Lawrence. There was no need to think about it now. Artizea shook her head faintly to clear her mind. Then she looked carefully at the people standing behind Alphonse. Among those people, there was a familiar face ¨C a woman dressed in maid¡¯s clothes, her head bowed behind the squires. It was Lise Hanson. Marcus¡¯ granddaughter. ¡°Sir Alphonse, did His Grace mention anything else?¡± ¡°I have been His Grace¡¯s sword until now, but he had asked me to be Lady Artizea¡¯s shield henceforth.¡± Alphonse slowly dered. A shield is a weapon that protects the inside from the outside, but at the same time attacks the outside from the inside. It can be used not only as a support weapon for the attack, but also as a decent offensive weapon within a limited range. Moreover, weapons do not think for themselves. Alphonse would follow the wielder¡¯s orders. Artizea fully understood the implications of this. Cedric must have thought of all this. Moreover, the arrival of Lise Hanson meant that Marcus had made up his mind. In that case, there was no need to hesitate. She called Bill, who was watching her. ¡°Bill.¡± Bill lowered his head hurriedly. Artizea told him. ¡°Prepare a room for Sir Alphonse. I would like him to be in the same corridor as my room, and for the squires, it will be better to prepare rooms for two people, in an annex. You can let Alice take care of the maid.¡± ¡°A small space where they cany down is sufficient. These guys can sleep well in a stable.¡± Alphonse said. Artizea smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are still plenty of rooms avable. Even if it¡¯s not for long, I hope you¡¯ll feelfortable in a strange house.¡± Bill didn¡¯t seem to think so. He smiled and said, with a troubled face. ¡°But miss, preparing rooms without the permission of madam or the young master would be problematic¡­¡± ¡°Bill.¡± She knew Bill would say that. For that reason, she took the opportunity to speak in front of people. Artizea deliberately lowered her voice, making it further sound frigid. Bill was even more surprised to see that Alphonse had a more severe expression than Artizea. The boutique employees also looked at the scene with rigid faces. Even Emily turned around and looked at the scene, instead of going to the boudoir. An icy atmosphere descended on the foyer. Artizea asked in a deliberately soft voice. ¡°Bill, can you tell me who I am?¡± ¡°Well, miss¡­¡± Bill sounded embarrassed. The servants and maids of this estate were under his control. However, without Mira¡¯s instructions he could not physically coerce her daughter. Even more so in front of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s knight and Madam Emily, a woman with many connections. ¡°There is no need to make a scene, let¡¯s go inside and talk. This is a private matter, right?¡± Bill was trying to calm Artizea and extended his hand to pull her arm. Just then, Alphonse hit him with his sheathed sword in his arm. ¡°Ow!¡± He screamed and took a step back as he felt a terrible pain in his arm. When the knight stepped forward, two of his squires also came forward and twisted Bill¡¯s arms to hold him. ¡°On your knees!¡± Alice shouted fiercely. Bill was stunned as he knelt on the ground. Artizea bent one knee in a graceful movement to meet his eyes. ¡°Bill, this is the second time the Marquisate Rosan has been disgraced by its useless butler in front of Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°Miss¡­¡± ¡°Once can be overlooked. That can happen to anyone. If one neglects his work, one may not even know their master¡¯s whereabouts. But to be useless twice is a disgrace to the family. Sir Alphonse acts as the eyes of His Grace. It is incredulous that you have behaved this way in his presence.¡± Bill rolled his eyes. Cold sweat began to form on his back. Artizea asked again. ¡°Bill, can you tell me who I am? ¡°Miss¡­¡± *p!* Alice pped him hard on the cheek. ¡°Miss! If madam finds out about this, Argh!¡± Alice pped him again. His eyes turned red, not from the pain, but from the shock. He had never imagined that something like this could happen. The situation might seem ridiculous, of course, from the perspective of Mira and her followers. But the person in front of Bill was the future Marchioness Rosan, and he was no more than amoner. Besides, Mira was not present, nor was Lawrence. And they would not return for the time being. Bill realized that Artizea had enough time to deal with him. Alice pped him on the cheek once more. ¡°What of it if madam finds out?¡± Do you mean to say that our miss will be beaten this way? It depended on Mira¡¯s mood, however, that was probably what would happen. But Lawrence was different. He took honor very seriously, and he would not tolerate that Artizea had made a scene in front of the knight of the Grand Duke Evron, no matter what punishment Mira imposed on her. And even if Mirater became angry with Artizea, it did not mean that Bill was safe at this time. Finally, he responded by shivering. ¡°H-heir apparent¡­¡± Artizea smiled. Her smile lookedpletely different than before. The squires released Bill¡¯s arms. ¡°Bill, prepare amodations for Sir Alphonse and the squires. When you have finished,e to my room with the key and the ount books.¡± ¡°Eh, the key?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you understood? I mean the key to the safe. Jacob.¡± Artizea called Jacob, the dejected assistant butler, whose shoulder was hunched in the corner. ¡°Go to Bill and help me with that.¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± ¡°Do you really understand the meaning of Lady Artizea¡¯s words?¡± Alice inquired sharply. Although Jacob was tired of being treated like a nobody, he nodded obediently. Then, when he turned around, his shoulders rose as high as possible. If she were to take the key away from Bill, then Jacob, as assistant butler, could be left in charge. And from his attitude, he seemed to have realized this opportunity. Artizea then ordered Alice, ¡°Alice, go and help that young maid.¡± ¡°I want to see your new garments too¡­ ¡± ¡°Who else could I trust but you?¡± Alice stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°All right, I will.¡± Then sheughed. When Artizea turned around, Emily and her employees dispersed quickly as if they had not been looking. Alphonse followed her silently. Stopping at the door of the morous boudoir, her expressionpletely different from that of a few moments ago, Artizea stated, ¡°My apologies. You saw a horrible image of me as soon as you arrived.¡± ¡°No.¡± Alphonse responded with courtesy. ¡°Lady, you don¡¯t have to worry about your image in my presence. His Grace has told us that you are in a veryplicated position within this family, and that although you seem to be acting iprehensibly, there must be a reason for it, so we must not doubt you.¡± ¡°His Grace¡­¡± Artizea said, feeling strange. Even Lawrence, to whom she had been loyal all her past life, had never trusted her in this way. More than garments, he sent her confidence and strength. Now she could take the next step. Chapter 22 Chapter 22. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (3) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª¨C At that very moment, Cedric had taken Ansgar¡¯s advice and was visiting Odorov¡¯s jewelry store. ¡°Your Grace, I am honored that you havee to visit my store.¡± Cedric had been led into a reception room withfortable sofas. Sipping the tea that the jeweler had given him beforehand, he calmly inquired, ¡°I was told that I shoulde to this ce if I wanted to know about a jewel and of who its current owner is.¡± ¡°Are you interested in a particr jewel?¡± The jeweler asked curiously. ¡°I am looking for a jewel called ¡®Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart¡¯.¡± ¡°You mean the diamond that was the heirloom of the Viscounty Fischer?¡± So it was a diamond. It was something Cedric had just found out. At first, he had thought it had been a ruby, as it was referred to as a ¡®Heart¡¯. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m looking for the heirloom of the Viscounty of Fischer.¡± The jeweler looked like he had been put in an awkward situation. Cedric, noticing his expression, asked him assertively. ¡°Is it that you don¡¯t you know anything about it, or just something difficult to divulge?¡± Jewels were used as a means of doing secret business and umting wealth. Compared to diamonds and sapphires, gold was the mostmon means for these types of transactions as it was easier to hide its origin. However, historical and renowned jewels were also very useful means. Especially if it was a question of bribes. This was because historical jewels have a value beyond mere wealth. Moreover, this jewel came from a family that had been destroyed when the Viscountess and the Viscount decided tomit suicide for the Empress¡¯ sake. Some would like to have their belongings as trophies, and others would like to keep the belongings of theirrades. On the other hand, even if a jewel was not obtained for a wicked purpose, it could have been obtained illegally. Especially if it was a jewel considered an heirloom. ¡°I¡¯m not making inquiries; I just want to buy it.¡± Hearing this, the jeweler gave a small sigh. ¡°I understand. For now, I will write a letter to the person who owns the jewel. This could be a good thing. A man like Your Grace has taken an interest.¡± The jeweler stood up, asking him to wait for a moment. Cedric stood up and looked around the jewelry store while the jeweler wrote the letter of introduction. The reception room to which he was led was the ce where distinguished guests were received. A part of Odorov¡¯s store collection of jewels was on disy as decoration. On a wall shelf, Cedric saw a pair of cufflinks and a gold watch. Although he didn¡¯t know much about jewelry, a diamond ne and bracelet that looked very expensive caught his eye. On impulse, Cedric lifted the bracelet. The bracelet looked very unusual. The bracelet, made of two strips of small diamonds, as if it were a simple beaded bracelet, glimmered under the light in five different colors. The jeweler soon returned with a wax-sealed envelope. Cedric ced the bracelet on the table with a firmer face than usual. ¡°Now that you have provided me with the information, you must ept that I buy at least one item.¡± ¡°Ah! You mean this one? Thank you very much.¡± The jeweler, who was not expecting it, quickly bowed his head, his eyes beaming. Freyl, who until then had been waiting for his master to finish this matter, stood by the door in silence, with a bored expression. Cedric knew, but pretended not to. *** The jeweler told him to go to the house of a man named White. A man who had owned a small jewelry store. ¡¸He was a trustworthy man who had a good eye. If things had gone well, he would have been a renowned jeweler today¡­¡¹ ¡¸Did he leave it?¡¹ ¡¸In business, sometimes certain investments can seem like a gamble.¡¹ ¡¸That¡¯s true, because the risks and the benefits are proportional to each other.¡¹ ¡¸Yes, but when the risk is greater than expected, no matter how prepared one is to face it, it is not possible to ovee it. What White experienced was like being in a barn doing fire prevention maneuvers, only to end up being hit by a tsunami.¡¹ Odorov told him nothing else. Thinking he was close to solving a riddle, Cedric headed to White¡¯s house along with Freyl. Freyl grumbled, ¡°This is too much.¡± ¡°Is it too much to ask that youe with me?¡± ¡°Your Grace, have you really decided to marry Mira¡¯s daughter?¡± Cedric looked at him seriously and answered, ¡°I thought you agreed with me.¡± ¡°No, I know you are doing this for the Western Army.¡± ¡°But didn¡¯t you say it was a good strategy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because I don¡¯t think it will work. I just wonder if it¡¯s worth sacrificing your happiness for.¡± Freyl chose his words correctly. Cedric ignored him and waved the reins so his horse would go faster. However, Freyl quickly caught up with him on his horse. Then he stated in all seriousness, ¡°Your Grace, in any case she is Mira¡¯s daughter, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little strange? ¡°Are you questioning my judgment?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°You are implying that I am not capable of judging clearly whether Lady Artizea is a different person from Mira or not.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Cedric said this even though he knew Freyl didn¡¯t think that way. Then Freyl shook his head, ¡°It is not that. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± ¡°Lady Artizea pointed out that it would only be for two years. I don¡¯t think a two-year marriage of convenience is a price that cannot be paid by the Western Army.¡± ¡°Your Grace, divorcing Mira¡¯s daughter after a marriage of convenience would be a stain on her honor.¡± Cedric suddenly remembered Artizea¡¯s words and smiled. ¡¸Your Grace, you must set aside your honor, so that you may gain the honor of the Western Army and protect the Grand Duchy Evron¡­ And yet you will throw it all away for personal reasons?¡¹ If Artizea had not said that, he would have considered the offer an insult and would have been furious. ¡°Soldiers must receive the treatment they deserve, and I will not avoid it for fear that my honor will be stained.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s what Lady Artizea made me understand.¡± Freyl said nothing else, and remained silent, wearing a strange expression. ¡®Just because of that?¡¯ He was tempted to ask him that question. Besides, if it were a simple marriage of convenience¡­ He could have sent her just a wedding dress. It would have been a good way to make it look like a love marriage and make the Emperor let his guard down. With this in mind, was it really necessary to buy her a jewel? ¡®I don¡¯t think so. However, he doesn¡¯t seem to be aware of it at all¡­ Will I have to tell him so that he realizes it?¡¯ Freyl became distraught. Could Cedric understand this concern? Honestly, he was worried about having to serve Mira¡¯s daughter as the Grand Duchess for the rest of his life. As he thought about this, they arrived at the address that the jeweler Odorov had given Cedric. Cedric had doubts as he got off his horse. A ck cloth was hanging over the front door. It was a sign of mourning. ¡°Oh no¡­¡± Hearing hisment, Freyl said. ¡°I understand your concern, but we should go inside. It¡¯s not like we can take the time toe back another time, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Cedric sighed deeply. Freyl knocked on the door. Out of the gloomy house, carefully opening the door was a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties. ¡°You look like important people, why have youe to this ce? My father has died.¡± The girl said with a face of suspicion and exhaustion. There were dark rings around her eyes. Freyl quickly took out the letter of introduction Cedric had given him and handed it to the girl. The girl opened the seal on the spot and read the contents. Then, she looked at Cedric puzzled. Soon after, and in a hurry, she knelt on one knee, ¡°I am honored to meet Your Grace.¡± ¡°No. Please do not kneel. There is no need for you to act with such courtesy¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness.¡± The girl spoke with a polite but tired voice, and then stood up. She led them into the living room. It was already night, so the house was dark. The girl lit a candle to illuminate the ce. Then she appeared carrying a tray with three cups of tea, sat down and put it on the table. ¡°I apologize for theck of hospitality. We don¡¯t even have good tea leaves in our house. But since my father¡¯s soul has not yet left this house, let me give you some tea, so that my father may feel honored and rest in peace.¡± ¡°It is us who should apologize for havinge at a difficult time.¡± Cedric was not very thirsty, but he drank the tea slowly until the cup was empty. Freyl did the same. ¡°Thank you very much. I¡¯m sure my father will be very happy.¡± The girl bowed her head and said, ¡°Your Grace, Mr. Odorov¡¯s letter of introduction mentions that you are looking for a jewel. My father passed away, but the ledgers from his days as a jeweler are still intact, so I will try to help you in any way I can.¡± ¡°I apologize in advance for the inconvenience caused during your mourning. I am looking for a diamond called Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. Mr. Odorov told me that your father has ownership of that jewel.¡± *Clink-clink* The woman¡¯s hands trembled. This caused the cup of tea she was holding to shake and make a noise as it hit the saucer. Cedric carefully took the cup of tea from her hand and ced it on the table. The girl stared at him with a pale face. She held not just an angry expression, but also one of disgust and hatred. He just wanted to buy that jewel. But the girl¡¯s face clearly showed that there was a story behind that jewel. ¡°That jewel is not in our house.¡± ¡°Who was it sold to?¡± After thinking about it for a moment, the girl got up and went to the study. Her behavior was so unusual that Cedric and Freyl looked at each other. The girl soon returned to the living room with a document envelope. ¡°Here is the contract for the transfer of ownership of Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart.¡± She handed the contract to Cedric. The name of the buyer of the jewel in the contract was Baron Yetz. ¡°This is a promissory note issued by the Baron when the contract was drawn up.¡± She also handed him the promissory note. The date on the promissory note indicated that it was made seven years ago. ¡°The rest are responses to letters my father sent him to pay for the promissory note. My father had been writing letters to him for seven years, but he only received about 10 replies. In all of them, he requested a dy in payment.¡± The girl gritted her teeth, then said, ¡°In thest letter the Baron wrote, ¡®I will pay when I have to. Don¡¯t you trust me?''¡± It was clear what had happened. The nobleman had deliberately dyed payment; he was purposely ignoring then. Baron Yetz had practically stolen the diamond by means of a piece of paper signed with his identity. In fact, this was not unusual. After reviewing the contract, Freyl remarked, ¡°ording to this contract, ownership of the diamond will only be transferred when the promissory note has been paid.¡± ¡°Yes, that condition was put in ce to prevent any fraud .¡± ¡°If you had sued, you could have won.¡± The girl sobbed. ¡°How could we have done that? That diamond has been given as a present to the Marchioness Camellia.¡± Cedric and Freyl looked at each other again. The Marchioness Camellia was the sister-inw of the Grand Duke Roygar. Chapter 23 Chapter 23. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (4) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª Everyone knew that the Grand Duchess Roygar obeyed her older sister, the Marchioness Camellia, as if she were her mother. Marchioness Camellia was also the staunchest supporter of the Grand Duchy Roygar. Neither Cedric nor Freyl imagined that her name would be involved in this matter. The girl lowered her head, bursting into tears. ¡°My father invested almost all his assets for the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. He never thought of economic benefit. Just studying a historical jewel represents a great experience for a jeweler¡¯s career. But in the end, all that was left was a discolored piece of paper.¡± Although White had the signed a contract and a promissory note, he would never have taken this case to court. What judge would dare rule against the Marchioness Camellia in favor of amoner? ¡°Because of this, my father went bankrupt. He had to work so hard to the degree that he copsed and died suddenly. Those people killed my father.¡± Sheined, however she did not expect Cedric to do anything about it. Which person would fight a high-status noble for someone they had just met? Even more so a noble for the sake of amoner. She had told him this story because she just wanted to pour her feelings out to someone. All this time, she had felt so deste and helpless. Cedric understood her feelings. For that reason, he waited without saying anything, until she stopped crying. Then, he gave her the money for the face value of the promissory note plus interest and a little morepensation. ¡°Now, it¡¯s nothing more than just a piece of paper. We chose not to burn it because my father never gave up hope.¡± ¡°Understandably, Mr. White did not want to do that.¡± But Cedric was in a different position. No court would dare to deny or doubt the document in his possession. The girl signed the sales contract with her eyes full of tears. With this, the ownership of Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart was transferred to him. After a few words offort, the two left White¡¯s house. *** Cedric first returned to the Evron Mansion in the capital as it was toote to return to the military camp. He took off his overcoat and gave it to the servant, then he leaned back on the armchair. He felt like having a drink. As if he had noticed, Freyl took a bottle of brandy and one ss from the shelf. Shortly after, he poured the drink. Cedric epted Freyl¡¯s ss of brandy. ¡°It¡¯s intriguing.¡± Those were Freyl¡¯s first words. ¡°Intriguing?¡± ¡°At first I had thought that Lady Artizea only wanted a precious jewel as a proposal gift. I never imagined that this was rted to Grand Duke Roygar. Now I can understand why you said she and Mira are different.¡± A few hours ago, he had called her Mira¡¯s daughter, but now he seemed to have changed his mind. ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought about it.¡± ¡°What should we do? Lady Artizea gave Your Grace a pretext to fight against the Marchioness Camellia. If we sue for the return of the diamond, we could damage the reputation of the Marquisate Camellia.¡± Cedric looked at Freyl with a subtle expression on his face. Freyl spoke excitedly. ¡°An honest merchant went bankrupt and died after being conned into selling a jewel, leaving his daughters alone. This would be a great scandal. Even more so if it emerged while Your Grace was looking for a proposal gift.¡± ¡°I do not intend to expose the White Family to the public just to tarnish the reputation of Marchioness Camellia. What is the point of waging a dispute that may affect his daughters?¡± Not only Marchioness Camellia, but Artizea, as well as Mr. White¡¯s daughters would get dragged into the scandal. Many would sympathize with Mr. White¡¯s daughters. However, they would still get hurt. A scandal like this was not something that could be handled by ordinary people. Even Artizea would be harshly criticized;ments would circte that Mira¡¯s daughter was greedy because she had wanted a very ostentatious diamond. ¡°If that happens, I¡¯d rather not get that diamond.¡± ¡°But Your Grace-¡± ¡°Any other precious gift will do. At least, that¡¯s what I thought you would say.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different now. Not only is it a jewel that is a family heirloom, but also an heirloom from a family that became extinct after Viscountess Fischer, the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting,mitted suicide. If Marchioness Camellia was not rted to this, she would have already boasted about it to the point that there would be no one in high society who would not know about it.¡± Moreover, the jeweler Odorov had not known that Marchioness Camellia possessed the jewel. And even if he had known, it was not a public fact, so he would not have risked talking about it. In other words, the Marchioness was hiding the jewel. ¡°If not a gift, then it must be a bribe.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°What would change whether it is a gift or a bribe? Uncle Roygar loves money and is not ashamed to covet wealth. It is no secret that Uncle Roygar epts bribes, and that everyone around him does too. Would Uncle Roygar turn his back on Marchioness Camellia just because she epted a bribe? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°So, the Baron is a crooked man.¡± Freyl spoke with conviction. ¡°¡­¡± Cedric waved the ss in his hand and was silent for a moment. His mind was in utter chaos. If he wanted to get the jewel back, he could simply sue. After suing, they would then negotiate behind the scenes. Most likely, after weighing the costs and benefits between the two parties, an agreement could be reached for the diamond. But was that really what Artizea wanted him to do? Had she not mentioned the name of Marchioness Camellia because she did not know who had the diamond she wanted? He didn¡¯t believe so. ¡¸ Yes. That will make it easier for you to understand what kind of person I am¡­ If you don¡¯t change your mind after getting Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart, propose to me so magnificently that everyone will talk about it.¡¹ Although Artizea said that, for Cedric it was the opposite. He thought Artizea was testing him. She seemed to be trying to pose a difficult problem for him to see how he would handle it. ¡°It reminds me of an old tale.¡± ¡°An old tale?¡± ¡°A tale about a beautiful princess from the East who demanded to solve three riddles for whoever wanted to marry her.¡± ¡°Ah, that. Where hundreds of people failed.¡± ¡°In the end, a young wanderer uses his wits to solve the riddles and marry the princess, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember it.¡± Cedric wanted this to be the only riddle. ¡®On second thought, Lady Artizea¡¯s words were not entirely false. At least I could recognize that she is a veryplex-minded person. Moreover, despite being at the bottom of the Marquisate Rosan, she is a person capable of gathering valuable information.¡¯ ¡°Let¡¯s recapitte. Lady Artizea asked for Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. Officially, the diamond is now in the hands of Baron Yetz. Let¡¯s find out a little about Baron Yetz.¡± Freylmented. Cedric became lost in thought, shaking his ss while Freyl had the butler bring him the registry for the aristocrats. Artizea¡¯s real purpose was not the jewel. Was it a strategic move for the future? But creating a scandal to discredit the Marchioness Camellia had no practical effect. It would be logical if he had a personal grudge against the Marchioness, or if the objective was to create a power struggle in high society. However, it was not enough to strike a blow against the forces of Grand Duke Roygar. Besides, it was still too early for Cedric to fight the Grand Duke Roygar. What was currently more important was to make his presence felt in the central political arena. While he continued to be absorbed in his thoughts, Freyl checked the registry for the aristocrats and spoke, ¡°Here it is, Baron Yetz. The original title was Baron Rand. He inherited the family when he married the Baron¡¯s sessor, and then changed the surname to his own. In fact, you could say he bought the title.¡± ¡°He must be very rich.¡± In the Crates Empire, technically, you couldn¡¯t buy or sell titles. However, by marrying the heir of a fallen family, it was possible for the spouse to get the title. And after a few years, if the spouse divorced the heir by paying arge sum ofpensation, the family¡¯s master would then change. It was a convenient way to trade titles. ¡°Baron Yetz?¡± One of the knights of the guard, who until then had stood in front of the two men without saying anything, asked, his eyes wide open. ¡°Why? Danny, do you know something?¡± ¡°Baron Yetz, who married Baron Rand¡¯s daughter, is a casino owner. He has arge casino on Fontin Street, and about four others just in the capital.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing that a nobleman is directly involved in the casino business.¡± Freyl tilted his head and stared at the knight. ¡°Danny, how do you know so much about this? You haven¡¯t been gambling, have you? ¡°Of course not!¡± Danny quickly shook his head. ¡°Absolutely not. My younger brother is a bit of an idiot, so he¡¯s been indebted to Yetz¡¯s Casino a couple of times. I found out about it because I helped him pay it off on those asions. If it was only an illegal casino, I would have tried to dismantle it.¡± ¡°Or you tried, but the person backing it was more powerful than you thought.¡± Freyl stated coolly, as he looked at Danny suspiciously. ¡°You didn¡¯t use Grand Duke Evron¡¯s name in the process, did you?¡± ¡°How could you think that about me?¡± Danny seemed offended, but he must have used the Grand Duke¡¯s name to some extent. Cedric shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s all right. The important thing is that Baron Yetz is the owner of a casino. I think I just understood where the issue might be. It¡¯s probably one of Uncle Roygar¡¯s constant sources of ie.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°What do you think I¡¯m going to do?¡± Freyl said after a moment of reflection. ¡°A good citizen has been swindled by a casino owner and died. If Your Grace had not known about it, you could not have done anything, but now that you do, you are not the kind of man who would let such an incident go unnoticed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I can¡¯t let it stay that way.¡± Cedric stood up. He still had no clear idea what Artizea wanted. So he nned to act his way, rather than try to give her an exemry response. He was curious to see how it would all end. Standing next to Cedric, Freyl then asked, ¡°Do you want to go now?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this the best time to go to a casino?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Freyl smiled faintly. ¡°I will prepare the knights.¡± Then he stepped forward. Cedric drank the ss of brandy slowly, before leaving. He could not stop himself from thinking about Artizea. Chapter 24 Chapter 24. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (5) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª Baron Yetz¡¯s casino on Fontai Street was the most splendid, yet at the same time, the most vulgar ce in the capital. The pirs of the entrance were wrapped in gold leaves, while entrancing works of art were arranged in the main hall in no particr order. The carpet that stretched across the floor was made of a very expensive fabric imported from the South. The crystal chandelier reflected the candlelight, shining brilliantly even in the middle of the night. This was Baron Yetz¡¯s strategy, to spend money, even to the point of seeming gaudy. Anyway, no matter how extravagantly decorated the interior was, the only impression one would pick out was how a small-timemoner had bought his title with money. In that case, it was better for him to boast about the overwhelming amount of money he had. The sound of masked guests cheering as they yed their cards or rolled the dice could be heard. Half-naked men and women with golden cups slid like fish through the noise. Baron Yetz was happy with today¡¯s fine wind. Business was booming. When he sessfully finished his patrol and turned to leave, the secretary suddenly approached him in a panic. Everyone present looked at the secretary, wondering what was going on. ¡°What did I tell you, fool? If you barge into the main hall like this, the customers guests can¡¯t concentrate on their games¡­¡± ¡°This is no time to worry about that! We¡¯re in trouble!¡± ¡°In trouble?¡± ¡°The Grand Duke Evron is here. Bringing with him the ownership document of Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart!¡± Of course, it was impossible for Baron Yetz to not know who the Grand Duke Evron was. However, he became puzzled, and for a moment, he could not understand what his secretary wanted to tell him. He had never once thought that Grand Duke Evron himself would evere to his casino. In addition, the matter of Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart had happened so long ago that it took him a while to understand the meaning behind the secretary¡¯s words. But soon after, he understood the situation and hastily went to his office. Frigid air swept through the office like a sharp de. Baron Yetz hesitated as he entered. Seven knights had taken control of the office. Grand Duke Evron¡¯s knights had strict military discipline and great vigor. They were all young, so they could have been carried away by the boisterous and profligate atmosphere of the casino, but instead, they all kept theirposure. Sitting in an armchair, the Grand Duke Evron and looked visibly upset. ¡°Greetings, Grand Duke Evron, to what do we owe the honor that Your Grace has even taken the time toe to this shabby and humble ce?¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± Cedric said firmly. He didn¡¯t like the atmosphere in the casino. Therefore, him exercising power without regard to due process could not be considered inappropriate. ¡¸Your Grace must exercise your power. You can point in any direction you want. This is just a drop in the bucket of all that Baron Yetz has done so far.¡¹ Freyl had expressed with a snort. Baron Yetz sat down with his legs together carefully. Cedric threw the document. Cedric waited for Baron Yetz to verify the document with his trembling hands and then spoke, ¡°I have acquired ownership of the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. Since you haven¡¯t paid for seven years, I don¡¯t think you have any right to make any ims about it.¡± ¡°T-that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I will search the ce to find it and also take the opportunity to check your ledgers.¡± Cedric dered imposingly. ¡°Pardon?¡± Baron Yetz asked reflexively. But the knights did not wait to act. As soon as Cedric made a gesture with his hand, they began to search the office in perfect order. Baron Yetz became startled and tried to stand up. However, before he knew it, one of the knights behind him put his hand on his shoulders and forced him to sit back down. A scream was suddenly heard outside. The seven knights in the office were not the only ones Cedric had brought. Dozens of knights upied the administrative area of the casino at the same time. Baron Yetz¡¯s guards tried to respond but found themselves quickly overpowered. Of course, there was no way mere thugs could resist real knights. The space in which the guests were located had not been brought under control, but it was impossible for themotion to not have been transmitted outside. The frightened guests rushed out of the casino. One of the employees rushed to the office to report the situation, but the knights caught him and brought him to his knees. ¡°Even Your Grace has no right to do this in my ce of business!¡± Baron Yetz shouted in a tearful voice. Cedric then asserted without changing his expression, ¡°The Office of Public Security will not object to my search on the office of a casino that appears to havemitted illegalities. Or perhaps, is there no need to do this for you to hand over the jewel?¡± Cedric asked even though he knew Baron Yetz didn¡¯t possess it. Will he mention Marchioness Camellia? In that case, Cedric would do whatever was necessary for the Baron to apany him to a meeting with Marchioness Camellia. However, the probability that Baron Yetz would name her was extremely low. Beads of sweat formed on Baron Yetz¡¯s face. As expected, he tried to excuse himself. ¡°¡­ Well, if you wait for a moment, I shall bring it to you.¡± ¡°Knights present can bring it right away; you just have to say where it is.¡± ¡°Give me time until tomorrow.¡± ¡°How can I trust you? People who take someone else¡¯s possessions and don¡¯t pay for seven years don¡¯t have any credibility, don¡¯t you think?¡± Cedric said coolly. ¡°If you yourself have used your power to swindle a good merchant, and have gotten hold of the diamond in which he had invested most of his assets, you¡¯ve most certainly done other simr things. I will prove it.¡± ¡°Uhh¡­¡± ¡°If you have anyints, tell me where the diamond is.¡± Cedric demanded politely, but it was aplete threat. Baron Yetz couldn¡¯t say anything. He had no way out of this situation. Grand Duke Evron had too high a status for him to ignore or oppose him. If he were an insignificant low-status noble, he would have used the reputation of the Marchioness Camellia to his advantage. However, Marchioness Camellia would not tolerate Baron Yetz using her name against the Grand Duke Evron. His other option was to pretend that Mr. White¡¯s document was no longer valid, but there was too great a risk. In one of the hidden file archives, there was a manipted document. However, he could not open these file archives in front of others. Long ago, he had stored the document with other fake documents, not knowing this would happen. In addition, the Grand Duke Evron had the original document in his possession, so he would have no problem discrediting the authenticity of the manipted document. The court would also side with Grand Duke Evron unconditionally. It could even, in some way, provoke the wrath of the Marchioness Camellia for causing her an inconvenience. The knights turned the office upside down. They had taken out both the file boxes that were hidden and the safe. Baron Yetz¡¯s frightened secretary handed over the key. With the key, there was now no need to break the lock of the safe. Baron Yetz tried hisst resort with his head down. ¡°Your Grace, I have a blue diamond that is even more grandiose and magnificent. I can give it to you instead¡­¡± ¡°What a pity. I really need the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. Thedy specifically asked me for it as a present. I shouldn¡¯t give her another jewel, should I?¡± Baron Yetz¡¯s face turned pale. He had realized that the onlydy with sufficient status to receive the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart as a present from Grand Duke Evron was the Empress. He was in a real bind. He couldn¡¯t think of a way out no matter how hard he tried. And if they found out what was in the basement¡­ Cedric turned his gaze away from Baron Yetz. Baron Yetz was a scum. Destroying this man¡¯s office was not something to feel guilty about. Besides, he had promised Freyl he would ignore due process. However, Cedric did not like to use pretexts in order to oppress others with his power. Just when he was thinking that- One of the knights rushed up and knelt down before him. ¡°Your Grace, there is a dungeon in the basement, I think you shoulde see for yourself.¡± ¡°What about it?¡± Cedric asked, puzzled. Most aristocratic manor houses had at least one small dungeon. It would be strange if there wasn¡¯t a dungeon in this casino with thugs within it. However, the knight¡¯s attitude was unusual. Cedric stood up and followed the knight into the basement. When he arrived at the ce, he held his breath. What was there was not a small dungeon that could hold three or four people, but a prison camp that could hold more than a hundred. Inside, dozens of naked boys and girls were locked in chains. Human trafficking. *** ¡°Although imperialws now just nominally exist, this does not mean that there is no rule ofw.¡± Artizea said quietly, holding his cup of tea. The tea had a wonderful aroma. However, it was a little heavy for Artizea to drink in the middle of the night because it contained a little bit of betel nut that did not fit her fragile constitution. But she could not refuse it since it had been given by Marchioness Camellia. She had no choice but to drink the tea. ¡°Though the Emperor does what he wants, he still fears to arouse the anger of the people, even though he does not openly say so. He is quite obsessed with legitimacy and power.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I read somewhere that what a crown prince experiences can influence his entire government, and I think that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°What do you mean, Lady Artizea?¡± ¡°Gambling is eptable. Drugs are eptable. Bribes are eptable. Even violence is eptable. The public doesn¡¯t care, because for them, that¡¯s the typical behavior of nobles.¡± Artizea continued, ¡°But hurting young children will provoke the people¡¯s anger. His Majesty will also be furious. Even if it is just pretense to be furious in order to keep public sentiment under control.¡± ¡°Are you trying to threaten me, Lady?¡± ¡°I am only telling you, it is in your interest to sever that connection, for the sake of the Grand Duke Roygar. Marchioness Camellia.¡± Artizea stared at her with her turquoise eyes. Chapter 25 Chapter 25. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart (6) Trantor: Gold / Editor: Kassy ¡ª Marchioness Camellia slowly raised her teacup to hide her expression. Judging by the time that passed before she spoke her next words, it was clear that many things went through her mind. However, Marchioness Camellia did not lose herposure. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about. Do you think Grand Duke Roygar is somehow rted to Baron Yetz, Lady?¡± She spoke in a graceful tone. But her mind was still in disarray. Baron Yetz was one of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s most important sources of funding. Although this did not mean that he yed an important role in the Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction. He simply gaverge amounts of money in exchange for certain benefits. Because the Director of Public Security and the Minister of Finance were men of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction, as well as key officials. It was not a rtionship created by loyalty, so it did not matter if it ended. Certainly, it would be best to sever all connection with Baron Yetz. Especially if it was true that Cedric had taken his ledgers. Now that Cedric was involved, there was no chance that things would be quietly get resolved through behind-the-scene negotiations or political agreements. Since Mr. White¡¯s daughters and the jewel were rted to this issue, the newspapers would make a lot of noise about it. The emperor would use scapegoats rather than risk appeasing the people¡¯s anger by force. Baron Yetz would not be enough to appease the people¡¯s anger, so he would have to offer a piece of higher status. She had to avoid bing that target. Anyway, all Baron Yetz had to offer was money. It was a lot of money, but not something indispensable. It was not the time to feel pity for it. But she could not simply ept Artizea¡¯s words. She wondered how far she should believe what she was saying. Cedric Evron hated politics behind closed doors. Marchioness Camellia had also heard the rumour that he had fallen in love with Lady Artizea. Is he the kind of man who gave up what he has to do at the behest of the woman he was in love with? It was a mystery. Cedric was a young man, and several men only truly showed their genuine nature after falling in love. Although there was no guarantee Artizea could sever the connection between Grand Duke Roygar and Baron Yetz¡¯s business, there was also no guarantee she could not. Artizea put down her teacup and looked at her. ¡°Baron Yetz is a vulgar man. He offers bribes to anyone who can benefit him. I am sure he has given gifts to many influential figures, all to gain protection at times like this. However, it is not wise to receive a gift from such a person.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°Ady of your standing would never have imagined that the jewel the Baron gave you as a present had been acquired by swindling a good person.¡± Marchioness Camellia slipped her fingertips over the edge of the teacup. Artizea put the teacup back on her lips. Marchioness Camellia watched Artizea carefully. The corners of Artizea¡¯s mouth were gently curved. Her eyes shone, as if she were in a pleasant situation. Her every movement was elegant and calm. She wore a frilly dress, but it did not stand out. It looked cheap and shabby from so much washing, and moreover, its sleeves were short. Although she was still young, she acted like one of those old sly foxes within high society. Until now, she never gave Artizea any importance. Mira¡¯s daughter, a poor girl. That was what she thought of Artizea until now. Although she was the sessor to the Marquisate Rosan, she didn¡¯t have it in her own hands. She was Lawrence¡¯s sister, but she would not be useful, even for a political marriage. She would be devoured by Mira like a parasite for the rest of her life, and Lawrence would try to gain his freedom by feeding his obsessive mother to her sister. Marchioness Camellia took pride in knowing human nature well. Mira would never give up her daughter. Many parents considered their children as their alter ego¡­ or rather, their possessions. Many people found pleasure in tormenting, controlling, and abusing others. But there was a clear difference between beating a servant and abusing a child. Nothing satisfies one¡¯s desire for power and possession more than the pleasure one felt when one beats their own child to death, and then starts to hear their cries, longing for your embrace and affection. To give up such a well-tamed possession was meaningless. Therefore, they would not be someone to worry about. But now the girl in front of her was not the poor girl Marchioness Camellia had always thought she was, but a genuinedy. In the eyes of the Marchioness Camellia, there seemed to be a turquoise fire burning inside Artizea. ¡®It is a pity we did not meet sooner.¡¯ The Marchioness thought. Sometimes friendships can be more intense than romance, but her daughter was far from being able to gain this girl¡¯s trust. What about her son? Her son would have been suitable, but Cedric had already met her first. Standing up from her seat, she asked Aritzea to wait for a moment. Then she returned with a velvet jewelry box. Inside, there was a diamond ne. Artizea could recognize that the jewel embedded in the center was the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. ¡°This ne was designed especially for the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart. Please take it as it is.¡± ¡°Then I will pay you for the rest of the ne.¡± ¡°Lady Artizea, that won¡¯t be necessary. As you know, you have already paid a reasonable price. Besides, I think I can imagine who you want this jewel for.¡± Marchioness Camellia spoke in a soft and gentle voice about her memories. ¡°In the past, when I was not recognized as the daughter of Marquess Kwaimar, and was not even acknowledged as a noble¡¯s daughter, the most honorabledy in high society used to attend the same ballroom as me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea responded cautiously, so as not to reveal her emotions. ¡°Now it is different, my husband cares about me, and Her Grace the Grand Duchess Roygar recognizes me as her older sister, she submits to me. Now, even the other nobles look up to me. ¡± The Marchioness Camellia continued. ¡°At that time, I couldn¡¯t imagine greeting Her Majesty nor anything close. I was so envious when she treated her friend with affection and praised her family¡¯s precious jewel, that I could not forget it. ¡± Artizea knew the reason why the Marchioness Camellia spoke this way. ¡®Acting as if this were a gift for the Empress, it gave the impression that the jewel was not being taken away from her. Thus denying her rtionship with Baron Yetz while maintaining a pleasant atmosphere. In reality, she could not ept that such a precious jewel was in the hands of such a vulgar man, who was not even a true noble.¡¯ ¡°So after having this memory of my youth in my hands, I felt the need to exalt its beauty. This is a temporary measure because the Statue of the Saintess Olga has disappeared and we have not been able to find it, so the gem was temporarily ced in this ne.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea spoke naturally. Of course, the words of the Marchioness Camellia were not credible. She was not the kind of person who would consider this a memory. But if she were truly telling the truth regarding her admiration and memories of the Empress, she would have already presented this diamond to Her Majesty. Artizea thought this was probably a trophy for the Marchioness Camellia. A reward for her youth, wherein she felt slighted and inferior to Viscountess Fischer. Now, she had in her hands the proof that she was in a much higher position than Viscountess Fischer, with an influence that not even the Empress could afford to ignore. But for Artizea, Viscountess Fischer¡¯s life had been much fullerpared to that of the Marchioness Camellia. Because she was able to meet her master, the person to whom she wanted to dedicate her life; she earned her trust and died for her. Then Marchioness Camellia smiled before finally expressing, ¡°I trust that you will convey my feelings properly to Her Majesty.¡± ¡°I will bear that in mind.¡± Artizea took the jewelry box and stood up. ¡°I apologize for havinge at this time of night. May the hands of the goddess of the night allow you to have a pleasant dream.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think we can be good friends? Come visit me often in the future.¡± Artizea just smiled. Although that was not a bad idea, she and the Marchioness Camellia were not destined to be friends. Marchioness Camellia wanted to turn Grand Duke Roygar into the Emperor, or so it seemed. Yet conversely, Artizea would one day bring down Grand Duke Roygar. *** When Artizea left Camellia¡¯s estate, the moon was already tilting towards the west and a morning star was rising in the sky towards the east. Everything was in motion, and now nothing could stop it. She did not go to the main entrance of the Marquisate Rosan¡¯s mansion, but got out of the carriage near the rear entrance. She didn¡¯t want anyone to know about tonight¡¯s departure. She had left in an unmarked carriage. The night breeze was cold. Alphonse put a cape on her shoulders. ¡°Lice.¡± Artizea called one of the two maids who followed her. Lice Hanson, who had arrived in the Marquisate Rosan yesterday and did not yet know what role she would y, bowed slightly and replied, ¡°Yes mdy.¡± ¡°Your grandfather is staying in the Grand Duchy of Evron at the moment, right? Are your other rtives there too?¡± ¡°No, but my uncle is staying in the capital.¡± That was the answer Marcus had told her to say in case Artizea asked. ¡°I see.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Perhaps it meant that instead of Marcus, his eldest son had the means to contact his rtives. She pulled a letter from her chest. ¡°Then go to your uncle and give him this letter. That will be best.¡± Sending a letter to the Grand Duchy of Evronte at night would be risky, so this was the best course of action at the moment. The return of the Hanson Family to the Marquisate Rosan still had to be prepared behind the scenes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. All you have to do is give it to him. Your grandfather and your uncle will decide the important things.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Get in this carriage. It¡¯s toote for you to get another one. After you hand over the letter, you can visit your grandfather on the way back. Just try not to attract the attention of the other maids.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± After receiving the letter, she kept it in her chest and bowed politely to Artizea. Soon the carriage was gone. Artizea went inside the mansion. She had finally finished the preparations to take control of the Marquisate Rosan. Chapter 26 Trantor: effefille It was during the next morning that Cedric visited the mansion of Marquisate Rosan. Marquisate¡¯s Rosan¡¯s atmosphere was quite different from thest visit. It was unsettling rather than a bad one. The Marquisate¡¯s servants were frightened or tried to avoid Grand Duke Evron who hade as a guest. This is because Bill had the safe key and ledger taken the day before. Bill has not yet been kicked out, but he was copying the old books Artizea had given to him from his room. Most of the current employees of the Marquisate Rosan¡¯s mansion were those who actively lined up with Bill. The servants and maids, who couldn¡¯t have any impact on these fights were also the ones who splitted their sry bit by bit and at the end of the year, bought a bottle of alcohol and offered it as a bribe. However, that wasn¡¯t the case when asked if they werepletely on Bill¡¯s side. Most of them are people who have been working for Marquisate Rosan for a long time. If they were to be kicked out, they would have no ce to go and nothing to do, so they cried out to Bill. If the rightful sessor said he would exercise that right, of course, Bill wanted to kneel in front of him. So he can¡¯t help but be confused. The world turned upside down in one morning? Or, will they be back in ce when Mira and Lawrence return? Will there be a fight? Should Artizea be the Master now? In terms of reason, it was right to follow Artizea, but for many years, there were many people who were prejudiced that thedy was nothing in the mansion. Even Jacob, who temporarily held the keys to the vault, had not yet understood the situation. In the meantime, Grand Duke Evron visited. The employees who thought he was the cause of this cataclysm were cautious, not knowing what to do with the Grand Duke. However, the tide has already changed. A few maids from Artizea¡¯s side actively wandered around. ¡°Wee, Your Grace. Mydy told me to take you to the Tuvalet room.¡± Sophie greeted Cedric in a very happy mood and said so. ¡°Tuvalet Room?¡± ¡°Yes. Madame Emily is here.¡± Cedric hesitated. Tuvalet room. If it¡¯s not an intimate rtionship like a family, isn¡¯t it a ce to invite lovers or to be attracted to each other? Sophieughed lightly. Cedric realized toote that he was a man presenting himself for a marriage preparation. His face turned red. Artizea¡¯s Tuvalet room was overflowing with fabrics and props and flowed out into the hallway. Cedric stumbled once more in front of an open door. Loud voices came from inside. ¡°Oh my God! You look so good!¡± ¡°Since your skin is as white as snow, it fits any color you wear!¡± ¡°How about this pink color? You always try to wear dark colors. Sometimes you have to wear cute clothes too!¡± ¡°Oh, this is good too. Well, if you have this hair color and your eyes, you look good in everything. Okay. Pick this one as well. It¡¯s perfect for making a dress for a pic.¡± ¡°This too!¡± Cedric didn¡¯t have the courage to step in. But Sophie, who guided him, yelled out without hesitation. ¡°His Highness, The Grand Duke Evron hase.¡± The Tuvalet Room became quiet for a very short time. Emily and her staff knelt on one knee and politely bowed. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Your Highness Evron.¡± Emily¡¯s voice was half a tone higher than usual. Cedric flinched. If this was a momentum fight, it was Cedric¡¯s side that was defeated. Emilyughed when she saw him embarrassed. It is notmon for something to be so pleasant like this. The man who bought the whole wardrobe and spent it, and the girl who will be beautiful from now on, it¡¯s going to be the most interesting moment. ¡°Stop it.¡± Artizea called attention with a soft voice. Cedric breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Excuse me early in the morning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been more than two hours since I had breakfast. It¡¯s toote for early morning.¡± ¡°You wake up early.¡± Cedric said so. He was a militarymander and knight, so getting up early was a habit. However, most of the nobles, especially those without a position, enjoy parties until dawn the day before, and only get upte until after lunch. Artizea smiled. ¡°Sit down. It¡¯s right to wee you by the parlor, but the only room in this house that I can say for sure is the Tuvalet room, except for my bedroom. I hope you don¡¯t think it¡¯s rude.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry toe to you early in the morning without an appointment.¡± Cedric sat in an awkward position. Artizea called Sophie. ¡°Sophie, give His Grace a cup of warm mint tea. Give me a cup of tea too.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°First, take a breather. You look tired. Let¡¯s talk next.¡± When Artizea beckoned, Emily and the staff began to organize the fabrics and samples of trinkets that had been scattered all over the ce. Looking at it, Cedric said casually. ¡°By the way, Madame Emily is here early.¡± ¡°Because there are so many clothes to make.¡± Artizea had very few clothes. First, she¡¯ll need a party dress, perhaps an engagement dress. And she could afford to get almost everything new, from outing dresses and teatime dresses, to everyday clothes and room clothes. Of course, it wasn¡¯t something that could be done in one day. Cedric nodded. It was he who told her to do however she pleases. He couldn¡¯t even guess how many clothes would actually be made. As soon as he showed interest, Emily threw away the fabrics and trinkets she had been arranging. There was an ultramarine cloth in her hand. The fabric, endlessly embroidered with fine patterns of silver, looked expensive to Cedric, who knew nothing. ¡°What do you think of this fabric, Your Grace?¡± Even after asking for his opinion, Cedric had nothing to say. Emily unfolded the cloth and put it on Artizea¡¯s shoulder. The color goes well with Artizea¡¯s bright tinum hair, and her white face looked even whiter. ¡°It¡¯s the finest Ianz embroidery. Only one roll came in. I think this fabric will go well with the dark blue color of the Grand Duke of Evron.¡± Artizea then said. ¡°It¡¯s too much. If you make a dress with Ianz embroidery, you¡¯ll pay for at least one vi. It¡¯s enough to attach it at the ends.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s follow Madame¡¯s rmendations.¡± Cedric intervened. He didn¡¯t know about dresses or fabrics, but he could add a word for the money issue. ¡°Madame knows the best, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Even if it is expensive, this kind of embroidery is for the works. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for someone who looks good to wear it?¡± ¡°The person that suits you is the Lady! There are only a few people who can pull off this kind of fabric.¡± Artizea rebuffs such praise. It¡¯s a merchant¡¯s praise anyway. What can¡¯t they say to sell? When Artizea had a grim face, Emily had a burning face. She finally closed her eyes and said. ¡°I will only take the fabric price.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to get it.¡± ¡°Instead, when the Lady gets married, please leave your wedding dress and the first party dress you will wear after the wedding to me.¡± Artizea thought for a moment. Honestly, she wasn¡¯t trying to cut down the price. However, she couldn¡¯t help but be swayed if it was cut down to such an extent. It was not Artizea, but Cedric who answered. ¡°Please do that.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about price when getting ady a gift.¡± Artizea looked at him with a subtle look and nodded. The simplest and best way to spread gossip between man and woman is to spend money. It was strange that Cedric knew that. Well, she knew he sent Emily because he knew so. ¡°Thank you. Then, I will proceed.¡± Emily said thanks with a bright face. This job will add the best line to her career. The two have not yet set a date for their marriage, but the chances are very high. If she had the opportunity to make a wedding dress for the Great Duke of Evron, it was worth the considerable amount of loss. How bitter it was that she wasn¡¯t able to make Roygar¡¯s dress. Artizea has elegant bones and fair skin. She rarely dressed to suit her beautiful appearance, but she was born with elegance anddylikeness. She wasn¡¯t as passionate a beauty as her mother, Mira. Shecked the charming attitude and adorableughter that people demanded of girls this age, nor she had sweet looks and flushed cheeks. However, a person with such a beautiful and undisturbed frame shines with age. Emily had the ability to see beyond a person¡¯s appearance and see through the real temperament in it. Emily wasn¡¯t saying this because she was a big guest, but it was a really good material. A great model, the best fabric, and thevish wares, this was a seamstress¡¯ joy. ¡°I¡¯ve been interfering for too long. Then, I think I¡¯ll proceed as it is, and I wille back.¡± Emily bowed, speaking politely. The employees bowed behind her, designed it, and arranged the samples, and left out like a low tide. There were only them two left behind among the previous piles of fabrics andces, and all sorts of things that dizzy the eye. Cedric became very awkward. Soon Sophie came and put down the tea with a refreshing scent on the table. Alphonse guards the door outside. Cedric took a sip of tea and sighs. ¡°I think I¡¯ll get some. I couldn¡¯t sleep muchst night.¡± ¡°It seems like you are more tired of dealing with Emily than staying up all night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not used to it.¡± Cedric said with a straight face. ¡°Last night, various things happened. I apologize to the Lady for that, and I want to confirm something.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°The next time we meet, I told you that I will bring Saintess Olga¡¯s heart, but it has be difficult to keep that promise. Artizea was not surprised or disappointed. ¡°You know everything.¡± Cedric sighed. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami After witnessing the scene of human trafficking at Baron Yetz casino yesterday, he had been feeling slightly conflicted.. It was because he couldn¡¯t figure out how far it would go. As the case escted, it became uncertain whether he¡¯ll be able to get the jewel back in time. The surest way to get the jewel back was to hold onto the information about trafficking and bribery to negotiate with Marchioness Camellia. However, what conflicted him the most was the guilt he felt for not being able to keep his promise to Artizea. Although it was a pressing matter, there wasn¡¯t really time to worry. ¡°I couldn¡¯t use this issue as a negotiating tool, even if it meant breaking my promise to the Lady. And I think the Lady would understand why I couldn¡¯t..¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit embarrassed, Your Grace. You¡¯ve probably already guessed that I didn¡¯t ask for Saintess Olga¡¯s heart because I actually wanted the gem. ¡°I know. The Lady probably wanted me to get involved in this situation through a more natural process. Because if this was truly just about dealing with the human trafficking that was ocurring, you would have instead just conferred with Sir Keshore.¡± But she didn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t even tell Cedric the story of Baron Yetz directly. If she had, Cedric would have been simply concerned with the procedural question of whether he should leave it to the security office,despite knowing that the corrupt security office will try to reduce the case. The situation, instead, involved him meeting a jeweler to obtain a proposal gift and after hearing about the injustice that happened to the innocent jeweler, he pressed the matter against Baron Yetz at the casino house. As a result of the confrontation, he became furious at the discovery of the illegal trafficking that was urring incognito. And maybe in the future, his fury towards injustice can involve him into more of this kind of work. As such, he will quickly rise as a true nobleman who cares for the people, and not just as a hero of a distant border. Cedric understood that purposest night. He knew from the beginning that she didn¡¯t just want him to find the jewel. He didn¡¯t think Artizea would never have found the jewel. Nevertheless, he wanted toe to apologize. There was a kind of romantic notion to the word ¡®proposal gift¡¯. He seemed to care about it more than he had thought he would.. ¡°Because a promise is a promise.¡± Then Artizea bowed her head. ¡°It is actually myself who should apologize to His Grace.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I have already secured the jewel.¡± Artizea said and proceeded to retrieve something from the bedroom. She put the jewelry box down in front of the puzzled Cedric and opened the lid. ¡°This diamond is the Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart.¡± The ne sparkled a brilliant light. Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart, the central jewel, was great, and the jewels that adorned its surroundings were small but notcking. Cedric had no artistic eye, but he could see how carefully the ne was made. ¡°This, when ¡­¡­?¡± ¡°I went to Marchioness Camellia at dawn.¡± Artizea replied. Cedric looked at her in surprise. No amount of y was enough against her. ¡°You¡¯re very quick with information. I think I went to the casino after 10 o¡¯clockst night.¡± ¡°No one truly follows a man like Baron Yetz. Although there are people who work with him, they are all simply connected by money. It just so happens that employees are easily discarded. There are plenty of people who will provide information for just a few pennies.¡± ¡°So, knowing that I went to the casinost night, you went straight to the Marchioness Camellia.¡± Artizea carefully looked at Cedric. ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± Artizea looked up and looked directly at Cedric¡¯s eyes. When she spoke to Lawrence, her eyes were always down. But that was so he wouldn¡¯t get angry.. But when you talk to Cedric, you have to keep your eyes on him. Cedric was a person who wanted to understand and could understand. Speaking to Lawrence was like giving a presentation to a wall, while Cedric was actually engaged enough in the conversation to actually respond. He could never guess how much it made her tremble. Cedric asked back in surprise. ¡°Why would I be disappointed?¡± ¡°Because I deceived you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Didn¡¯t the Lady make it clear from the beginning that the gem was just a means? I¡¯m going to need to get to know you a little better.¡± Feeling the heat rising inside his chest, he said firmly, ¡°But I am angry. Not because the Lady did something wrong, but because you didn¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°I understand that the Lady asked to marry me as a means to work together towards a better future. And although we didn¡¯t begin our rtionship with love, shouldn¡¯t my partner trust me to carry out the same goals?¡± ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± Artizea stood up from her seat. It was because she didn¡¯t want the waves tidaling in her heart to be evident. ¡°I told you about the political marriage, but it¡¯s only a means. If I weren¡¯t 20 years old and Lawrence¡¯s sister, I would have knelt down and sworn allegiance instead of making such a request.¡± ¡°Even more so, the Lady should have believed in me, because everything you do will be my responsibility,¡± Cedric said quietly. Artizea shook her head. ¡°I know that Your Grace hates authority and schemes. Perhaps you understand my reasons, but deep down, you are ufortable with being tricked into using your power for the sake of the victims of human trafficking.¡± ¡°A family is a family. I know that the Lady is trying topensate for my shorings.¡± Cedric stared at her. ¡°The Lady has been telling me things from the beginning till the end and you didn¡¯t realize it yourself?¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea turned to him. ¡°For the future, you are telling me to give up my honor and justice for now, and to simply take the disgrace. From the day we first met to the present day, I understood the way thedy works.¡±¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a straight path, but it was the right thing to do,¡± Cedric said calmly. ¡°One of my lieutenants is a guy named Freil.. He asked me to give up procedural legitimacy to do the right thing. I also led the knights to Baron Yetz casino to get White¡¯s revenge. I¡¯m not exactly the most righteous person.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know you can¡¯t get to the throne on a straight road alone. So tell me everything. No, I¡¯m not good at lying, so you can tell me after all if necessary. However, I feel that I should also bear the burden of all this. ¡° Artizea couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Answer me,¡± Cedric said firmly. ¡°¡­ Yes. I will ept Your Grace¡¯s wishes.¡± Even if he decided to ept Artizea, he was still infinitely in the right. Artizea wouldn¡¯t dare shake her head, saying she couldn¡¯t. However, even though she answered the way she did, Artizea did not intend to keep her word. Until now, she nned to disclose only the parts he could understand. ¡®And because it¡¯s something you shouldn¡¯t be responsible for.¡¯ As she did for Lawrence, any time she devised one of her schemes, she made sure it was clean. Still, she was very grateful for his words.. She smiled bitterly. ¡°Do you know why I like you, Your Grace?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Cedric flinched at her sudden words. ¡°Your Majesty was born with a noble status and suffered in his childhood. He was in a position where he could ignore his subordinates and not even consider them as human beings, or he could be buried in his own world and sympathize only with himself. But your heart always moves in the same direction as mine.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­¡± Cedric exhaled a long sigh from his lungs, which was momentarily startled and tense. So it was that kind of story? Cedric turned his gaze because it felt awkward for no reason. He didn¡¯t see himself as such a great person. He didn¡¯t even think Artizea understood him at all. They have been together for less than a month after all. But Artizea¡¯s words had a strange persuasive power. She seemed to have faith that Cedric could change the world for the better. He hoped to never betray that belief. They drank tea without a word for a while. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to Chancellor Lin soon,¡± Cedric said when the teapot was empty. ¡°Yes, Chancellor Lin is a fair and honorable man. You made a good decision. Your Grace is a military figure who has nothing to do with politics, and you don¡¯t have to give up that image yet. Sometimes it would be appropriate to check the progress of things once in a while.¡± Artizea said so. Cedric asked again. ¡°What are you going to do with Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to give it to Her Majesty the Empress. It¡¯s a keepsake from a dear friend of hers, so it¡¯s only right that she keeps it.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not upset, are you?¡± Artizea asked carefully. ¡°I thought you¡¯d n to do that from the time I heard Pescher¡¯s story. What do I have to be upset about?¡± The truth was that he felt sad. So Cedric sighed a little. ¡°It¡¯s just that I couldn¡¯t retrieve the gift, so it¡¯s difficult to make a splendid proposal.¡± Artizea shut her mouth, unsure of how to respond. Cedric took a small velvet pouch from his chest pocket. Then, he opened the pouch and revealed a diamond bracelet over his palm. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Artizea¡¯s face flushed red. She would not have felt this way if he had brought a jewel as big as Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart in a precious box. However, the diamond bracelet had neither history, political value, nor features worthy of attention. It was too simple to use as a gift for Grand Duke Evron¡¯s proposal. For that reason, it made Artizea feel even more embarrassed. Did he buy the bracelet himself? Cedric carefully put the bracelet on her wrist. ¡°I¡¯ll use this as a recement proposal gift. Please marry me.¡± This was only a formality. Cedric only chose to recite the traditional proposal words. The real meaning behind his words was instead, ¡®I will ept you as my servant and fellow¡¯. Artizea thought so. Cedric, however, thought differently. This diamond bracelet, not Saintess Olga¡¯s heart, was chosen by him for Artizea. So rather, it was a much more meaningful moment for him. Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Politics or marriage Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami For some time, since the human trafficking scandal, the empire has been very noisy. In no time, the expos¨¦ was known all around. The people couldn¡¯t help but talk about it! It was something the salondy would chat about, schrs seated at a cafe would discuss, and evenmoners made visits to each other¡¯s homes with cookie jars in tow just to talk about the news. Each time the whole story of the incident was revealed, the people were immensely excited. When it was revealed that most of the trafficking in the casino house was children, parents who had lost their children mored and flocked to the security office. There were also parents who sold their children themselves, but after hearing the news, they stopped working from far away and came to look for their missing child. When it was revealed that a considerable number of them were sold as sex ves, fires of anger swept across the capital. A rally was held calling for the public execution of those involved. Some people hopped up the podium in the park and made a resentful speech. Newspapers poured out criticism about the lives of the fallen nobles. The citizens were outraged and were on the verge of starting a riot when it was uncovered that Count Eisen had continuously supplied children under the age of 10 and thenter killed and buried. Dry firewood was piled up around the security office building and oil was poured out. The magistrate responded by calling a gun squadron there and aiming guns. Eventually, the popr Chancellor Lin, came out to apologize, and promised to direct the investigation himself and make the criminals pay. Even so, the anger of the citizens did not subside. The assembly was disbanded until Cedric stepped forward and made earnest promises. The news reached the annex where Emperor Gregor was in less than a day. The emperor responded to the first human trafficking case with appropriately disguised anger. But when he learned that Lawrence was involved in Count Eisen¡¯s case, he turned his desk upside down in anger. The information revealed to the public was that Count Eisen was a pedophile who regrly had dealings with Baron Yetz. However, the report received by the emperor contained much more detailed news. ording to what was written there, Count Eison not only personally killed the children, but also bought 30 children at once at half-year intervals and used them for hunting. The hunting game was renowned for being stimting and exciting among the young and prodigal nobles. And the biggest problem was that Lawrence got involved in the game several times. ¡°Are you crazy!¡± The emperor shouted and threw the inkwell at Lawrence. The attendants fell on the floor and shivered. As he dared not avoid it, Lawrence waspletely struck. The ss did not break. However, the lid was open, so the coveted hair and white face were stained ck with the dripping ink. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°I knew you were going wild. I thought that a young man might do that. It¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. So no matter how you y around, I understand you. But you hunt people and bury them in the dark? Are you ying with the guy who stripped them and released them in the forest?¡± ¡°Father, I-.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± Not listening to Lawrence¡¯s excuse, the emperor threw the report to his head this time. Lawrence closed his eyes tightly, enduring the humiliation. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know Count Eisen is a friend of yours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a personal rtionship. Didn¡¯t Father have a rtionship with Count Eisen¡¯s predecessor?¡± ¡°You mean you don¡¯t have the ability to judge what kind of guy he is? You¡¯re that far off? Oh, you¡¯re so ipetent that you don¡¯t even have a head around you to even think that you¡¯d be in big trouble if you got caught?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not anything else, it¡¯s human trafficking! It¡¯s killing a child! Do you not even know what the foundation of the empire is? Do you know that the people of the Empire are under the protection of the emperor and can only be disposed of by the Imperial Law?¡± The emperor pulled out a letter from the report and shouted while shaking it. ¡°Ced said that it would be okay to handle the bribery case at my disposal, so that only the trafficking side would be dealt with. Do you know what this means? The case is serious enough that a stubborn guy like that says that it is okay to cover this whole-scale bribery case. It means that even if I tried to stop him, he won¡¯t stay still. But, because you¡¯re involved, I can¡¯t raise my face to Ced!¡± Lawrence wanted to ask. No matter what he says, the emperor will not listen. However, his lips trembled with anger. It was then. The door opened wide and Mira came in. Lawrence nced at her. Mira stared at him once with anxious eyes, and approached the emperor with a gentle walk. The emperor did not scold her foring in. Then Mira approached the emperor¡¯s side, sweeping the nape of his neck with her hands. ¡°Don¡¯t be so angry,¡± she said, tenderly. ¡°Are you here because you were worried about your son again? What the hell is he? I clearly said not to let people in.¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about you too. Don¡¯t be angry, huh? It¡¯s been a while since the doctor said that getting too excited is bad for the heart.¡± Mira whispered in a sweet voice. ¡°Well, it¡¯s because you¡¯re this way that he can¡¯t get himself together at his age. When I was that age, I grabbed the crown prince¡¯s seat with my hand.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because your Majesty is too excellent?¡± Mira rubbed the Emperor¡¯s neck, then loosened his tie. Then, she folded his cor and carefully massaged the ce with both hands. The perfume that had been applied to the hand in advance made the scent of flowers waft around the emperor. It was an obvious move, but it worked. The emperor sighed once and then rxed his body. Mira massaged his shoulders in an earnest, reassuring way. ¡°Don¡¯t worry me too much. If you get angry, it¡¯s not good for your health. Look at this. It¡¯s tense here again.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll tell the masseur to do a massageter. You said your finger hurts every morning.¡± The emperor said, taking her hand, kissing her knuckles. Then he waved to Lawrence. ¡°Cut ties with Eisen quickly. I¡¯ll take care of the rest. Consider yourself lucky! Ced may be an uptight fellow, but he won¡¯t condemn you for Tia¡¯s sake!¡± ¡°What are you talking about¡­.?¡± Mira was about to ask. This is because the emperor¡¯s anger could not be defused any more. The emperor sighed and shook his head. ¡°Go back and think about how you can get closer to Ced.¡± ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Think carefully. I may be your father, but I don¡¯t intend to choose you as my sessor unconditionally. I can¡¯t. Ced is the Grand Duke of Evron. And he has awork that you don¡¯t have. Just put Ced in your hands. Then I will do the rest.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Lawrence replied in a humiliated voice. ¡°Go back. I¡¯m tired.¡± Said the emperor with his eyes closed. Lawrence stepped back and wiped the ink dripping from his forehead into his cuffs. The emperor then ordered Archduke Roygar to send a copy of the bribe. Until then, Mira, silently rubbed the emperor¡¯s shoulder. The emperor had written up all the names to be sent to the capital¡¯s Chancellor Lin, and then pulled Mira to sit on the armrest. Then he leaned against her soft body and sighed. ¡°I have to get ready to go back to the capital.¡± ¡°Yes, as Your Majesty wants¡­..¡± She gently slid her hand around his chest, bowing her head and kissing his forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it that much, but Lawrence has to get his head on straight.¡± ¡°I say father a lion, a son cannot be a dog. Don¡¯t worry too much. A boy grows up with a lot of idents. It¡¯s because he has a lot of bugs that stick to him because he¡¯s of noble descent.¡± (T/N: Father a lion, son cannot be a dog means that with a distinguished father, the son is sure to do well.) ¡°I wish Lawrence was as half as good as you,¡± the emperor said with his eyes closed. ¡°If he had tried to be loved by the empress, he would have already been the Crown Prince.¡± Mira¡¯s hand paused for a moment. The emperor raised one eyelid and looked at her and smiled. ¡°Why? Are you going to be jealous again?¡± ¡°If I do, will you listen?¡± Mira said in a sulky voice. ¡°You know that I can¡¯t help it. Lawrence too. He should have built up his own power and merit like Ced.¡± ¡°.¡­ Still, he is Your Majesty¡¯s son. ¡° ¡°Yes. My only son.¡± The emperor muttered so and buried his face in Mira¡¯s chest with a weary attitude. *** It was the very next day that a messenger came running with an envelope bearing the imperial order. ¡°His Majesty has given permission,¡± Chancellor Lin said as he opened the envelope. In short, it meant covering up the bribery case and thoroughly digging into Count Eisen¡¯s case. ¡°I see,¡± Cedric replied. He knew this would happen, but he still felt bitter. ¡°Do you feel bad?¡± ¡°Yes. I think the person who turns a blind eye to the money is no different from the main culprit. If it were a junior official who patrolled the gambling house they would have known most of the high-ranking positions. Aren¡¯t these people more evil than the main culprit?¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t touch it right now. There are too many people who have been bribed. It is very likely that nobles and officials wille together to cover each other and resist, and the case will be overshadowed.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°If His Majesty makes a strong decision, I would not know again. It¡¯s not a conspiracy, it¡¯s a simple crime, so you wouldn¡¯t want to bear that political burden.¡± ¡°I think that Baron Yetz is pretty smart. Not only the high-ranking aristocrats, but the treasury and tax departments, as well as the junior officials of the police, are all intertwined. How can we handle it without being prepared to cut the Imperial Government itself? ¡° Cedric sighed. ¡°In the first ce, His Majesty doesn¡¯t take this as important, and I¡¯m sure he¡¯s probably thinking of just keeping the bribe ledger. My fianc¨¦e said that weaknesses are the most powerful weapons when hidden.¡± A gun is scary when aimed, and a newly sharpened knife is the sharpest before use. ¡°His Majesty is a relentless one. Whether a million or a thousand die at his feet, unless the throne tilts, it¡¯s like stealing wheat from a warehouse for him. He may be angry, but it¡¯s not a big deal that His Majesty himself can make up his mind while taking on something.¡± Artizea said so. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°That¡¯s right. Do you often talk about that with your fianc¨¦e?¡± Cedric looked at Lin with an embarrassed face. She had already been exposed to the outside world too much. Newspapers had made noise that Cedric had found the trafficking site in the midst of looking for a proposal gift for her. As the case progressed, the words seemed to fade for a while, but as soon as Count Eisen¡¯s affairs were revealed, her name began to reappear. Artizea didn¡¯t seem to mind. However, contrary to the request to strictly protect the White family, she isted herself. Cedric hated it. Apart from trusting Lin personally and as a servant of the empire, he did not want to be sloppy. However, when Lin asked, it was impossible not to answer. ¡°It¡¯s not like this has nothing to do with her.¡± ¡°I know that the Lady Rosan is still young, but she has great insight. Well, the Marchioness Rosan is also smart in certain areas if you take away her hysterical temper. Instinctively, she knows how to get what she wants.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± It was about Artizea¡¯s parents, so Cedric refused to talk. ¡°Do you feel skeptical about politics?¡± Lin asked gently. ¡°A little bit.¡± Cedric responded bluntly. He didn¡¯t know it before, but the fact that this incident was nothing to the emperor gave Cedric an unfamiliar realization of futility. When Cedric himself was in check, he did not realize it was his problem. It was a dangerousw for those who hold military power. In addition, he was the child of parents rted to royalty, who died tragically for usations of treason. However, in this case there was no object to be held in check. It seemed like apletely idental incident, thanks to the circumstances Artizea had made. Lin is only a servant of the emperor and is only tasked with dealing with the trafficking case. If he had to keep it in check, it would be Cedric again, but Cedric has never been involved in domestic politics up until now. Therefore, this was a purely public issue. Nevertheless, the emperor seemed to be thinking of only using Cedric¡¯s work to strengthen his own power. ¡°But that¡¯s the politics of Krates. We are not doing the right thing to cover up disputes, not using the finances efficiently, but we are running away from the people¡¯s will by weighing in the wishes of the emperor.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Chancellor feel skeptical about it?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t feel that way.¡± ¡°So why do you ask me if I feel skeptical?¡± Lin kept his mouth shut. There was a moment of silence. Lin changed the topic. ¡°It is rather fortunate that the Grand Duke was able to cover up the bribe case.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Cedric asked back. Lin replied. ¡°As far as we know from the inside story, Lord Lawrence and Grand Duke Roygar were also hit by this incident. Grand Duke Roygar not only lost an important source of funding, but was also weakened by His Majesty the Emperor. He was favored by his Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°The blow that Lord Lawrence suffered because of Count Eisen is not to mention great as well. Not only did he gain a bad reputation, he must have hated His Majesty. Considering that Count Eisen was rejected, he probably also suffered a blow to his fund line.¡± ¡°I would assume so.¡± ¡°If the bribery case was made big, there will be many people who think that the Grand Duke has dug this up for Lord Lawrence. But since we¡¯ve covered up the bribery case, Lord Lawrence is the only one left. It¡¯s a shame, but the emperor punished Lord Lawrence instead and cut off his power.¡± And at the same time, rumors spread that he was engaged to Artizea. People will now never say that the engagement was a marriage alliance between Lawrence and Cedric. It worked out as she promised. Cedric was brought to central politics by imprinting important figures of the Lawrence faction. But it started out by ident, so Lawrence would not see him as an enemy. Did Artizea predict this far? It¡¯s a mystery. ¡°Isn¡¯t your fianc¨¦e sad?¡± ¡°Yes. She told me to follow the path that I thought was right. She knows what I need to do now more than anyone else.¡± ¡°Your fianc¨¦e has good sense. Do not let go of that hand, Your Grace. It is rare for a person in your position to find genuine affection and trust, not politics.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± There was a stifled sigh in Cedric¡¯s heart as he answered. It was when this began to escte, and Freil said the same thing for apletely different reason. [You must not lose the Lady Rosan, Your Grace. I feel it is too dangerous to pass her onto others. Honestly, it¡¯s creepy to think that Lady used to be Lawrence¡¯s support.] Cedric agreed rationally to the remark. But the sentiment was opposed. Whenever he thought of Artizea, Cedric was caught in a strange mood. His heart seemed to be pounding and he felt excited. She is only 18 years old now. She was still young. It was the age to be protected. Looking at those pale and slender wrists, he thought it would be right not to talk about the situation and ask for advice, but to wrap her into a warm flower nket and put her on a sofa on a sunny day. He wanted to take care of her. Although he needed her advice, she wasn¡¯t a tool to be used. But more than anyone else, Artizea treated herself that way. It was frustrating, but he felt upset because he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. **** Scratch scratch The sound of the quills scratching the rough paper was irritating. Bill groaned and looked at the original again, drawing a stroke as if he were sewing stitch by stitch. ¡°Shiiiiiit¡­¡­.¡± He had been stuck in a narrow closet for nearly a month, copying an unreadable ancient text book he was given by Artizea. He felt like his wrists and fingers were going toe off. His eyes hurt, too, and he felt like he would vomit just by smelling paper and ink. It could have been fortunate if it had ended there. Having been trapped here, he could hardly grasp how the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s mansion was doing. However, he could tell that there were a lot of people. Most of the servants, perhaps Bill¡¯s closest associates, had disappeared. Instead, it seemed that the old employees he had put in the corner of the former Marquis¡¯ estate or vi were asked to return. The maids have also changed quite a bit. In particr, a lot of maids who do chores such as cleaning andundry have changed, and more and more maids wore luxurious clothing. Most of the high-ranking maids would have followed Mira to the annexes, and all of them would be newly hired maids to serve Artizea. Jacob, who had been shrugging his shoulders for a while, could not be seen from some point. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she was such a scary girl.¡± As she muttered to herself, Alice, who had just opened the door and came in, snorted. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s wrong to guess the master funnyly.¡± ¡°Alice you¡­!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why she told me to give you afternoon tea.¡± Alice was in a merry mood. Rize, who came behind her, pushed the papers piled up on the narrow desk with her hands, threw them on the floor, and set the tea tray. Bill jumped up. ¡°Hey you!¡± ¡°Who is this man?¡± Rize raised her eyes and looked at Bill. Bill rolled his feet. However, he couldn¡¯t reach out and just cursed. ¡°Wow, now you¡¯re ignoring me? Hey, Alice, are you still standing with this?¡± ¡°Why? It¡¯s better than the usual hustle and bustle. Are you a nobleman? Did you hire me? If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t drink it.¡± As soon as Alice said so, Rize picked up the tray. ¡°Hey!¡± Bill shouted again. ¡°No, no. I was wrong. I¡¯m sorry, so put it down.¡± ¡°Rize.¡± ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t understand why we are taking care of a criminal.¡± Rize said inly. Alice sighed. Bill changed his expression and called Alice with an earnest voice. ¡°Let me see thedy.¡± ¡°What are you going to say after seeing mydy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll apologize for doing something wrong.¡± ¡°Tell me 10 things that you¡¯ve done wrong, starting with the worst offenses.¡± Bill bit his lips. And made a careful choice. ¡°Ignoring thedy¡­?¡± ¡°Wrong.¡± ¡°Then¡­ I misunderstood thedy¡­.?¡± ¡°It looks like it will be about the third. Think carefully. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± ¡°This!¡± Bill handed out a four-folded paper to Alice who was about to go back. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Self-reflection.¡± Rizeughed outright, but Bill spoke with a straight face. ¡°Please tell her that I really mean it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Alice epted it with a puzzled look. **** Artizea, who received the reflection, smiled. ¡°Even though he has a bad temper, he worked as the Marquis Rosan¡¯s general butler for several years. There¡¯s one thing he¡¯s good at.¡± ¡°Rubbing his hands?¡± ¡°My mother is capricious. Matching her personality for more than 10 years is a talent if you call it a gift.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a talent that is only harmful in everything.¡± Alice grumbled. ¡°Will you just let him go? Can¡¯t he be fired?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just leave him until the day I leave this house. If I leave only the chief maid and the butler, my mother won¡¯t care. I¡¯m just preparing for it now.¡± ¡°But even if thedy took the ledger and the key and made a copy of the book like that, it would be a big blow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re supposed to close your eyes, right? And it¡¯s still useless for Bill.¡± As Artizea said so, she turned over the papers that Bill had copied the day before. The ancient script is difficult to master. Bill wouldn¡¯t know what he wrote even if he spent a year on it. Of the papers, she picked the most usible ones. Bill will think that what he was copying is an old book. He would believe Artizea brought that book with these intricate texts to harass him. Of course, Artizea wasn¡¯t doing it because of her petty revenge. The purpose of this work was to prevent Bill from doing anything else. Rather, it was to make a book so that the handwriting would not be revealed. It wouldn¡¯t even be Bill¡¯s handwriting. Because Bill is not writing letters, but drawing pictures. And just in time today, the pages she wanted were gathered. Artizea hand-tied it and entrusted it to Rize. ¡°Take this and put it in the library. The east corner is good.¡± ¡°This one?¡± Rize tilted her head. Alice then said. ¡°When thedy speaks, you don¡¯t have to wonder why. Because she tells you everything you need to know.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rize responded obediently and went outside with the book. Alice said again. ¡°You have to hurry now. It¡¯s afternoon tea time.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Really, a day like this ising. Mydy is going to greet guests at tea time. Come on. You have to change clothes.¡± Alice rejoiced as she put her fluttering hands together. Artizea nodded grimly and looked out the window. It was sunny. Perfect for holding a tea party in the garden. It was a very good day to get the job done. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami Artizea stopped by the Tuvalet room for a while before going to the terrace where the tea party was prepared. Now, her Tuvalet room was overflowing with flowers and gifts. Sophie greeted Artizea. ¡°Wee, Miss. Are you going to change your clothes?¡± ¡°No. I just came to check. Are all of these flowers gifts?¡± ¡°Yes. I brought the ones from the Grand Duke of Evron to the bedroom, and I wrote down exactly who sent the gifts. Among the rest of the gifts, flowers andce from the women were decorated on the terrace today.¡± ¡°And? ¡° ¡°It was discussed with the butler to separate the gifts received from men over the age of 40 years old. Additionally, expensive gifts such as jewelry or those from unmarried young men were all returned.¡± Sophie responded nervously, unsure of whether she may have acted out of line. ¡°For the wedding, I have made a list of items in need of attention and put it in the warehouse for you to check and decide at ater time.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Artizea replied lightly. Sophie rxed andughed. Sophie was hired as the chore maid of the Marquess Rosan, but was assigned to Artizea¡¯s maid for her interest in dressing up. It was one of the few asions that Bill treated Artizea as thedy of the house. Even if she was a maid serving ady, the sry she received was no different from that of a servant maid. When there was short of work, she was called to theundry room that everyone hates. It was not a treatment for the maid who aids thedy that was going to be the sessor. Sophie liked Artizea, so she wasn¡¯t dissatisfied with how poorly she had been treated.. But Artizea had often been ignored and only had shabby clothing in her possession, so Sophie always felt sorry for her. The situation then turned over within a month, Bill was kicked out and his employer changed. The rude ones were expelled, and all important positions were filled with people who were polite to Artizea. Most of them were from the Hanson family, who changed their name, and former employees who were close to them. Invitations and flowers arrived like a mountain every day to the youngdy. It was rewarding to have served thedy through tough times, because both Sophie and Alice were recognized as Artizea¡¯s closest aids. She was also in charge of the full wardrobe, jewelry, and Tuvalet room that overflowed with flowers and gifts. Some people used the gifts as a bribe for Artizea asking to deliver letters to Cedric. It seemed that the heavens and earth had opened up. At first, she also felt anxious. She was afraid that Mira and Lawrence woulde back anytime and overturn everything. But now she was just proud. As far as Sophie, who is only a maid, knows, Artizea is now a celebrity in the social world. Politics and public opinion were infested with the case of Baron Yetz, but it was not the only topic in the social world. Grand Duke Evron¡¯s engagement couldn¡¯t help but make headlines. Cedric has always worked in the interest of the people as he grew up and eventually taken over the title. Who will be Grand Duke Evron¡¯s rtive? Who will upy the shield of the North and the hero of the West. Refreshingly, few people talked about Cedric himself in that engagement. The part to be interested in Cedric was the fame and influence he gained from this incident rather than the engagement. On the other hand, Artizea suddenly became a socialite celebrity as much despite herck of involvement. Whether Cedric decides to join hands with Lawrence, and what will happen to the Duke¡¯s wealth? Even with that alone, the nobles could debate all night long. As such, Artizea¡¯s name was mentioned a lot. People wanted to know what she was like. The women told more romantic stories than what existed. There was no one who did not wonder how she became connected with Cedric. It was all wonderful. From meeting by chance due to a damaged carriage in a suburban temple; to Cedric and Artizea dancing at a Duke¡¯s ball; a proposal gift that sparked the case of Baron Yetz; and a year¡¯s worth of dresses from Emily¡¯s boutique. Even the young men of marriageable age showed interest as if they had found a pearl on the beach. Some men asked Artizea for a date or sent gifts. Artizea dismissed such interest. Sophie thought it was terribly strange. She¡¯s known for a long time that Artizea doesn¡¯t show her feelings much. But still, it wasn¡¯t really stupid. Sophie used to think that Artizea was just a young, immature girl. But one day, Artizea suddenly became really calm. Though she had experienced a lot throughout her childhood, it seemed as if all of that disappeared. Even the beautiful gifts that would have made her heart flutter in the past were no different from a cobblestone on the side of the road. It was a pity for Sophie. ¡°I¡¯ll do you a new hairstyle, mydy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s just a light tea time.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s your first time hosting a tea party like this.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°It¡¯s amon thing for the guests.¡± ¡°Then wait a minute.¡± Sophie rearranged her dress again. Artizea flinched when Sophie slightly pulled up her sleeves to reveal her bracelet. ¡°These days, the shorter sleeves are in style.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s gotten a lot hotter. It will be summer soon.¡± Artizea did not answer. But her cheeks were a little red. Sophie became satisfied. The bracelet was fine, and it was good that the Lady was engaged to a nice man. And more than that, it was good that Artizea¡¯s face changed like a girl when she talked about it. *** Guests had already arrived on the terrace. Among them, Artizea and Miel, the daughter of Keshore, were the only ones that were really acquainted. Artizea was the first to greet her among the other four guests. ¡°Wee, Lady Miel.¡± ¡°Hello, Lady Artizea. I¡¯m d you invited me here.¡± Miel smiled brightly, greeted and held Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°How are you today?¡± ¡°Maybe because of the good weather, I¡¯m in great shape. I can even ept Lady Artizea¡¯s invitation like this. I used the bath product that you gave mest time. Once I put it in the water, afterwards, my hands and feet were so nice and warm. I was able to walk for a long time.¡± ¡°Even in the hot weather, I feel much better after some warm water.¡± ¡°Thank you for always taking care of me. I don¡¯t know if my father fully conveyed my gratitude. Oh, this is my cousin Hazel.¡± The girl who was waiting next to Miel greeted her with a reddish face. ¡°Hello, Lady Rosan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. I am Artizea Rosan.¡± Artizea bowed politely, bending slowly at the waist. ¡°Thank you for inviting me. I really wanted to meet you.¡± Hazel greeted her as if she was seeing a childhood friend whom she hasn¡¯t seen in years. Neither Miel nor Artizea knew much of the guests because they were hardly socializing. The other guests who were invited this time were introduced by Hazel, as the two people had a small social range. All were girls of marriageable age. Of course, they weren¡¯t really unknown to Artizea. She knew most of the socialites, so she had basic information about all the guests. Some of these people didn¡¯t have any special biographies, but some would be a nobledy in the future. Artizea was particrly interested in Hazel. Hazel was intelligent, had a good memory, and was sociable. And was rather snobbish. She knew that Hazel would show off her personal connections without being offensive, and she was also a yer in spreading news. She wasn¡¯t a bad person to get close to. Artizea and the guests sat down. All the guests looked at her outfit and the mansion with twinkling eyes. Although Artizea¡¯s dress looked modest, it was made of luxurious cotton fabric. The undecorated design looked rather ssy, ??and the diamond bracelet over her slender wrist was rather emphasized. The eyes of some of the guests quietly passed through the bracelet. It seemed to be the bracelet that was widely rumored to be given by Cedric as an engagement gift. As news of their engagement came out in a newspaper article, two-line diamond bracelets became popr as a gesture for love in thest month. Wasn¡¯t it a gem whose name circted as the Saintess Olga¡¯s heart, that started the incident? It was not just diamond bracelets, a second line of crystal bracelets that were being sold at amoner¡¯s price was also being used as a gift for marriage proposals and was thus being sold inrge quantities. ¡°So it turns out that Sir Alphonse isn¡¯t here. I heard that he¡¯s always around.¡± Someone asked with curiosity. It was also a famous story that Cedric sent the strongest and most reliable man among the Knights of Evron to Artizea. ¡°Yes. He¡¯s not here today because he¡¯s on urgent business.¡± It was then. A maid came running to her. ¡°Lady! Lady!¡± ¡°What are you making such a fuss about? Can¡¯t you see the guests?¡± Artizea rebuked the maid. But the maid said urgently, turning pale. ¡°The Madam is back!¡± There was a loud noise from outside. She heard Bill yelling and someone screaming. Artizea stood up from her seat at a slow pace. It was because she didn¡¯t want to look strange to others. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll be away for a moment.¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± Miel had a pale face, not knowing what to do. It was when Artizea had just opened the terrace door. Mira was right there. ¡°Mother.¡± Mira looked at Artizea with an angry face. From behind, a maid was clinging onto the hem of Mira¡¯s dress after repeatedly informing her that Artizea was entertaining guests. Artizeaid her eyes down with a calm face. Mira¡¯s gaze nced from head to toe. After that, she saw the flowers andce on the terrace. ¡°There are rumors that you caught a man and you¡¯ve been very spoiled.¡± Mira said sharply. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami Mira didn¡¯te a long way with the intention of being angry from the beginning. Originally, she intended to coax Artizea. She was worried that Lawrence¡¯s situation was not very good, and she was worried that Artizea¡¯s stupid engagement would go well. All her life, Mira had tried to prevent Artizea from encountering men. Artizea was a girl with nothing to offer. She intended for Artizea to live without getting married or ever leaving the mansion. There was enough money to spend until her death. So, it was best to just live with housework and embroidery. But isn¡¯t it important for Lawrence? However, she was going to soothe Artizea well, and get her to ask Cedric to speak well with Lawrence. She knew that Cedric was a man of principle, but he was still a man. The man before knowing a girl and the man after knowing a girl are twopletely different people. Even Mira knew that Cedric despised her. But look. Don¡¯t you fall in love with my daughter? It was impossible to know what would happen to the rtionship between man and woman. But Mira didn¡¯t think it wouldst long. By now, he must have been obssessed by her daughter¡¯s charm like a man possessed. And that kind of love doesn¡¯tst long. In Mira¡¯s experience, this especially applied to young men. So, she was going to allow it. If necessary, she was going to teach her how to seduce a man and how to keep his love for a long time. If you want to do well, you must do it right. Artizea could be the Grand Duchess. Mira herself gave birth to her and raised her not as an illegitimate child but as the Marquis¡¯ daughter. Grand Duchess Evron, didn¡¯t it just sound cool? As the emperor said, it will be of great help to Lawrence. She came all the way here with that mindset. But when she saw the mansionpletely changed, her eyes turned upside down. Artizea was different as if she had transformed into a butterfly. Mira¡¯s eyes weren¡¯t good enough to recognize that the seeds in it were the same. All she saw was that her daughter, who had not long ago been docile and sloppy, was buried among the flowers sent by a man, while changing into the clothes a man bought her one morning. ¡°Mad girl!¡± Mira¡¯s eyes turned red as she screamed and grabbed Artizea¡¯s hair. ¡°Aaahh!¡± The guests screamed in horror and stood up from their seats. Even the man who was watching with his eyes shining for something exciting would happen, was astonished by the excessive violence and did not know what to do. ¡°What did I say? Didn¡¯t I say that a stupid and ugly bitch like yourself should just sit in the corner of the house and live while breathing and embroidering!¡± The silver pins on her head were scattered on the floor. Artizea couldn¡¯t scream and closed her eyes tightly. Then Mira pulled and dragged her away. She has never resisted since she was very young. When she resisted, Mira was more heinous. The abuse would only grow longer. As the front of her eyes became dark, her legs loosened. She didn¡¯t know what it would be like to fight like a crazy person, but she had never tried. Getting used to it was a scary thing itself. She was a viin of the world who had thousands and tens of thousands of deaths on her hands. However, in front of her mother, it was no different from when she was two years old when she pinched her skin till it peeled off and then reached out for a hug. ¡°You should know how to be grateful for me for giving birth to you! But now that you have a man caught in the middle of your eyes, you decide to stab your mother in the back?!¡± ¡°Please be patient, Madam!¡± ¡°Patient? Should I be patient? Should I be patient with my daughter?!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Mira shouted and smacked the maid who held her arm. The maid sat down on the floor and grabbed Mira¡¯s leg. ¡°Madam, madam!¡± Miel cried mournfully to stop, but it did not go into Mira¡¯s ear. Miel, who was inherently weak and frail in character, was so surprised that she couldn¡¯t breathe properly and copsed. Hazel was surprised and supported Miel. ¡°Doctor! Call the doctor! Miel, Miel?¡± ¡°Madam Rosan, stop!¡± Even among the startled guests, a person intervened and tried to stop them. Mira pushed with her hand and pulled Artizea off the terrace. And threw her to the lobby. ¡°What did I say!? I told you not to be a bitch! Crazy bitch, this stupid bitch!¡± Mira squeezed Artizea¡¯s head, and hit her face. And she shook Artizea¡¯s head again. ¡°Do you think you can live infort because you¡¯re a girl?! Get clothes from a man, get a bouquet, get a gift of jewelry, do you think you are something? Huh?¡± Hit! The sound of a kick rang in the lobby. All of the employees fled, trembling. The only ones left in the lobby was Mira and Artizea. The maid that was hit had also run away. ¡°Who gave birth to you and gave your life?! You dare to smack the back of my head like this?! You can¡¯t go anywhere! If you want to run away, give back the life I gave you!¡± ¡°Lady!¡± Alice, who arrivedte, shielded the crouching Artizea. Artizea pushed Alice away even in such a state. Mira quickly struck Alice with a basket, pulled her out and pushed her back. Even in that situation, Alice didn¡¯t raise her hand. Because if she identally scratched Mira¡¯s body, it was the same as asking the emperor to kill her. At that time, the front door opened up. ¡°Quickly!¡± Rize, who hurried in, stopped breathing at what was happening in the lobby. Cedric, who hastily followed her, opened his eyes wide. Rize was quick-witted. As soon as she heard that Mira hade, without thinking twice, she went to ask for the Grand Duke Evron¡¯s help. And just in time, she ran into Cedric who was at home. ¡°Lady!¡± Rize reacted before the frozen Cedric. She ran and hugged Alice. Alice cried out loud. ¡°Please save her!¡± Mira grabbed Artizea¡¯s arm and dragged her. Cedric stepped up and grabbed Mira¡¯s wrist. ¡°Let go of this hand.¡± ¡°Who invited you to enter someone else¡¯s house?! Get out! Get out now!¡± Mira screamed in a shrill voice. ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°I told you to let go of this hand.¡± Cedric said in a voice repressed with anger. Mira spoke to him in a hateful voice as if spitting at him. ¡°Why would anyone interfere when a mother is teaching her daughter a lesson?¡± ¡°What education is this?¡± ¡°Or what else!? Whatever I do with my daughter is up to me! Ahhhh!¡± Cedric gave his hand some strength. Mira screamed in pain as if her arm were breaking. Artizea¡¯s arm fell down as the strength from Mira¡¯s hand loosened. Cedric pushed away Mira. ¡°¡­ No.¡° Artizea whispered through a breathless sound, as if trying to endure the pain. ¡°If my mother gets hurt, you¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Cedric took off the cloak he was wearing and covered her head first. Her hair was ripped off, and her face was left with a red mark. The dress was torn, too, and her shoulders and arms were covered with blood. He opened his cloak and hid Artizea¡¯s body. There was a difference in height, so even a cloak that came near his calf was enough to fit Artizea¡¯s body. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Stay still.¡± Then Cedric carried Artizea. He already knew from feeling it when she danced, but her skinny body was lighter than it looked. Mira blocked his path. ¡°Put her down. It¡¯s my daughter.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Cedric tried to move away from her without even responding. Mira grabbed him and shouted out. ¡°It¡¯s mine whether I decide to kill her or let her live!¡± ¡°Not anymore.¡± Cedric replied in a low growl. Then he pushed her hand roughly and made his way out. In the background, came the shouts of Mira¡¯s raucous roar. Cedric walked quickly out of the estate. The knights who followed him politely bowed their heads. Cedric ordered. ¡°The Lady will move in from today. Take control of the Rosan mansion. Keep every single employee in custody so that the Lady may dispose of them herselfter.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was concern that the emperor would intervene. However, Freil didn¡¯t dare to say anything. As long as Cedric was determined. Anyway, now that Lawrence had a major ident, even the emperor would not be able to recklessly protect Mira. After hearing Freil¡¯s answer, Cedric climbed onto the horse holding her as he didn¡¯t want to use a carriage if it came from this mansion. Artizea panted and struggled hard to say. ¡°Alice, Alice¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Freil will take good care of her.¡± ¡°At home, there were guests. Lady Miel is weak¡­¡± ¡°Freil will also take care of that for you.¡± Cedric bit his lips. ¡°You should worry about yourself.¡± In his arms, Artizea was straining for a while. But it wasn¡¯t long before she resigned. He felt relieved when he saw her lose consciousness. Cedric looked into her face, curled up in his cloak. In some areas, the skin was broken and the flesh had fallen off from the long nails that tore through her. The bruises and blood made her appear badly beaten, and her unconscious face was pale with a new blue color. Artizea said that she could not wait until she inherited the title of Rosan nor could she choose a suitable man. Cedric felt that he really understood it now. If it wasn¡¯t for him who held her hand right now, Artizea probably knew she would have been killed. Not because of wealth or position, but simply because of the mad mother¡¯s anger. It¡¯s foolish to ask why she didn¡¯t fight back. She must have been terrified. From birth, she must have been treated like this. Beating the trauma from childhood was difficult. There are things that can¡¯t be done no matter how wise and noble people are. Cedric believed in the power of the will, but he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to believe that it would solve everything. Artizea needed him. The bottom of his chest seemed to be twisting and cracking. Still, his heart shook with that fact. Something rattled down his throat. Cedric wanted to spit it out, but he still didn¡¯t know exactly what it was. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami Artizea opened her eyes faintly. She was buried in a cozy duvet in an unfamiliar room. There was a white one-piece pajamas on her body. There was a fire in the firece. She heard the sound of firewood burning. Heating in this weather was unusual, but it was good enough for Artizea¡¯s body who was in the middle of a cold. Artizea wriggled her hands and feet while lying still. Her knees and shins hurt, and her arms and shoulders stung. So did her face. Artizea tried to graze the wound on her mouth that she got from having been pped in the face. What was different from other times she was beaten, was that her eyes were not sore. It looked like someone had wiped her face. She slowly sat up. It wasn¡¯t just certain parts of her body, but the muscles and joints of her shoulders and limbs also hurt. It seemed that her body was under even more pressure because of how nervous she was feeling. And she thinks she fainted. Herst memory was of Cedric grabbing Mira¡¯s arm. She doesn¡¯t think she passed out right after that though. Even so, she never lost her memory in this way. It wasn¡¯t really that big of a deal, but could the situation really have been so nerve wracking that it caused her to faint? She had broken up an embankment, spread a gue, dealt with the Pirate King of the South Sea over the southern city of the Empire. Even at that time, there had never been a situation where she fainted. Artizea carefully got out of bed. Then she stroked her face once with her palm. Her cheekbones hurt. ¡°Phew¡­.¡± She sighed. She wanted to see the mirror, but she didn¡¯t actually want to see it. She was certain it must be terrible. To think that such a face was seen by Cedric. She felt an unfamiliar mncholy. She had no memory, so there was no way to know for certain. Artizea sighed. The memory that seemed to be overloaded is probably because of theplexity in her head. But that was the end for today. It was then, the sound of a knock on the door was heard. She didn¡¯t answer, but the other person opened the door silently as if it was just a formality. It was Ansgar. When he saw Artizea standing up, he put the wash basin and towel he brought in on the table near the door, and politely bowed. ¡°I am Ansgar, the butler of the Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea replied, suppressing the soaring feelings into her throat. But she couldn¡¯t stand it all, so she said it again in a tone full of emotions. ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. Ced has told us of how nice it would be for the Lady Heiress to stay here until the situation is settled.¡± ¡°Yes, I am grateful.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding. The mansion is still a little cluttered. Normally, it¡¯s a space where only soldierse and go. We started cleaning it onlyst month.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll serve you during your stay here. If you have any needs, you can tell me anything.¡± As Ansgar said so, he approached Artizea with a towel soaked in warm water. Instead of leaving her face to Ansgar, Artizea epted the towel. ¡°The doctor said that you were too traumatized and lost consciousness. Most of the wounds on the body are partial traumas, so you¡¯ll be able to recover in no time. I will bring a hand mirror.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s okay¡­¡­. I don¡¯t want to see it.¡± ¡°Yes. It is said that it will leave no scar. So you don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Artizea replied vaguely. It¡¯s not that easy to be beaten to death by one¡¯s bare hand. More so with a woman¡¯s hands. Mira was stronger than Artizea, but she was still just ady. The heaviest of the things that hand could have held would be, at best, the emperor¡¯s coat. It was notmon to get hit like yesterday. But it certainly wasn¡¯t her first time. Artizea carefully wiped her face with the warm, wet towel. The front and corners of her eyes, and the stinging areas on her forehead and cheeks were also gently wiped. ¡°The Lady¡¯s maids are also in this mansion. They might be unpacking now. Would you like me to call for them?¡± Ansgar asked, gently. The reason Ansgar dared to ask was because Artisea¡¯s condition seemed very bad. Many decent nobles hated to show such vulnerability. And this youngdy must have been more noble than her mother or brother. Ansgar noticed that she swallowed her emotions down her throat on several asions, but he hid his sorry feelings. The person in front of him is Cedric¡¯s fianc¨¨e, who will soon be the Duchess. So, as the butler, he was not qualified to show sympathy. ¡°What about Alice?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about the maid who is close to the Lady. I heard that her injury was just a sprained wrist. She said she wanted to stand by you, but she looked very tired so I told her to go and rest.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you for the consideration.¡± Artizea now replied with apletely calm and contemtive face. ¡°What is Marcus doing? I know that he was entrusted with the mansion by the Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°Sir Marcus Hanson is now working to sort out some affairs for the Lady. Ced left the Knights behind.¡± ¡°The Knights are too much¡­ ¡° Artizea muttered. But now, she was very exhausted, that her thoughts flowed out of her head like it was someone else¡¯s work. Even if it is something you know and are familiar with, she never adapted to the physical abuse and the pain. Neither did her mind. ying an instrument or learning a sword would result in calluses to your hand, but Artizea thought that it would never happen to her mind as well. Anyway, the work at the Marquis¡¯s mansion wasn¡¯t an important issue right now. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you a simple meal. Eat a little something and think about what you¡¯re going to do today.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I want to eat that much now. More than a meal¡­ can you make a cup of tea?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Ansgar quietly stepped back. Artizea realized she has a dazed face. Ansgar quietly doused her towel with water again. Artizea took it and buried her face in it. She felt much better because of it. ¡°Thank you, Ansgar.¡± She returned the towel from her face to Ansgar. Then she acknowledged Cedric, who was standing at the door. ¡°It¡¯s okay for Your Grace toe in. Unless you¡¯re afraid of my face for being too ugly.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about that.¡± Cedric said, stuttering. ¡°I already know that you don¡¯t care about other people¡¯s looks.¡± Artizea smiled. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care about it at all. Originally, her face wasn¡¯t very pretty, but she got bruised and even scabs. On top of it, it was filled with tears, so she will surely not be able to see him with eyes wide open. But strangely, her heart was cool. After returning to the past, it seemed that arge boulder that had been ced on the edge of her chest had rolled and disappeared. But this wasn¡¯t wrong. She was going in the right direction. Be with the right people. Ansgar¡¯s tea vour informed her of it. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± ¡°Yes I¡¯m fine. ¡° ¡°Thank God.¡± Cedric was restless. Still, he could not settle his gaze on her, and the tips of his ears were red. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. Sit down.¡± Artizea offered him a seat. Cedric hesitated, then turned the chair next to the table and sat away from Artizea. Ansgar stepped back and walked out of the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for opening the door so recklessly. I was worried, so I stopped by before I left.¡± ¡°Thank you. Yesterday¡­..¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°Thank you foring to help. I never thought you woulde in person.¡± ¡°When Rize came to call for someone, I happened to be in front of the mansion and ran into her.¡± As he answered so, Cedric realized. She never thought he¡¯de in person. Conversely, it means that she was thinking that anyone woulde. And this means that Artizea¡¯s ¡®thinking¡¯ waspletely different from the way other people think. ¡°Tia, as expected¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°This situation, did you n this?¡± The young man who was shy and couldn¡¯t make eye contact with the girl disappeared, and Grand Duke Evron became present. Although it was intense, as if looking into the abyss, his ck eyes stared at Artizea. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami Cedric¡¯s tone was stern. ¡°I thought it was weird yesterday. I apologized to Lady Keshore and the other guests and sent them home. I asked why Alphonse wasn¡¯t next to you¡­ and that¡¯s when a thought came to mind. How would you, the clever Aritzea, not know that Madam Rosan would appear.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I told Alphonse to stay by your side. I know that it has a symbolic meaning that shows to others that I am always by your side and am protecting you even when I¡¯m not physically there.¡± Artizea turned away from his sharp gaze. She couldn¡¯t figure out why he was upset. ¡°But I couldn¡¯t get it out of my mind why you asked Alphonse to leave the house the day you invited guests. You knew that Madam Rosan wasing back that day? Did you?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I don¡¯t know everything¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the answer. Is this one of your schemes or not?¡±¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Artizea hesitated to answer. It was possible to make things up without telling him. However, it was disloyal to tell a lie when asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea replied and nced at Cedric. It wasn¡¯t something that she couldn¡¯t talk about. What she noticed was that Cedric was very angry. ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was to ¡®add more fire¡¯. I was simply inviting guests to match the day my mother woulde back. And it was necessary.¡± Artizea sighed a little, but she spoke honestly. Because she promised she would talk about itter when she was up to something. ¡°I wanted to make sure that I had an opportunity topletely cut off my rtionship with the Madam of Rosan,¡± Artizea said. Anyone who didn¡¯t know how much Mira hated Artizea would know now. Anyone who saw her at the ball would also know that she was being treated poorly by the Marquis of Rosan¡¯s Madam. Nevertheless, however, people valued family ties. Anyone who didn¡¯t know her in person, or people outside the social circle, will say that no matter the situation is behind closed doors, one shouldn¡¯t treat their mother that way. Even those who knew, would think that the mother and daughter rtionship could not easily be torn apart. ¡°And if there was no trigger, I couldn¡¯t get the title of Rosan right away. I took the keys and ledger from Bill, but the moveable property in the mansion¡¯s vault is only a small fraction.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°In the case of business management, estates, and other property in other areas, all of them are entrusted to the representatives, and the representatives are those chosen by His Majesty, the Emperor. Even if I get married and inherit the title, my mother would not give it up easily.¡± However, as things havee to this end, neither the Emperor nor Lawrence will be able to take Mira¡¯s side because of her actions. Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know and give your daughter her legitimate rights. Until now, in front of the emperor, she acted more and more like a gentle filial daughter. Now the time hase to reap the fruit. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯ve lost my dignity as someone to be the Great Duchess of Evron, but my reputation would have been broken anyway. It¡¯s better for me to be a poor girl than to do something like a court battle and ssh muddy water to the Evron name.¡± A battle for property between mother and daughter was also a battle against the emperor¡¯s government and its arms. Even the flowers that Mira had on her head would be a topic of interest- enough for newspapers to write sensational articles about it. Artizea could not be left that way. Not for herself, but for the Grand Duchess of Evron. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°The fortune of the Marquis of Rosan is by no means small. It will be of great help to Your Grace in the future. Conversely, it is too big to keep in the hands of Brother Lawrence.¡± Cedric covered his face with his palm. ¡°So you¡¯re saying that it was necessary for you to get beaten?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Artizea said so without any hesitation. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t scared, but because it was necessary, she was willing to make the sacrifice. She¡¯s only put a little trick on what¡¯s about to happen. Then things went as they pleased, and she had to endure. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it since I went into bedst night about how I wouldn¡¯t be mad at you. I even opened my eyes this morning and reminded myself of that, but you¡¯re not making this easy.¡± But Cedric was really angry. Artizea could not understand it. ¡°Why are you upset? I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t tell you in advance, but this was something that could really benefit you from a little effort. I didn¡¯t feel that it was worth talking about. No one was injured. I heard that Alice sprained her hand, but there wouldn¡¯t be any big injury.¡± It was Mira who hit her, and the guests saw it. The only person that was unjustly harmed was Alice, who shielded her and was also badly beaten. In this matter, there was nothing that could vite Cedric¡¯s morality. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hurt?¡± Cedric said in a repressed voice. It was an unexpected remark. Artizea blinked a few times. ¡°Tia, I¡¯m not angry because I thought there would be no reason for what you did. I¡¯m angry because you put yourself at risk.¡± ¡°Well, I, it wasn¡¯t very dangerous, because I knew my mother would never have killed me,¡± Artizea replied in a stutter. ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You shouldn¡¯t use yourself as a tool. If you continue calcting in this way and things go ording to n, you¡¯ll end up giving your life someday. This is not how a person should be treated, even if it is your body,¡± Cedric said in a low tone. Artizea couldn¡¯t say anything and looked at him. Because it really was so. She thought that she wouldn¡¯t waste the rest of her life this time. A life without limbs and no tongue, it would be meaningless to spend a few more years even with the help of someone. So, she wanted to use this life a little more usefully. Until now, Artizea had only perceived that her body was a cheap resource with little cost. No need for money to buy it, no effort to buy loyalty. She also priced loyalty. It was difficult to obtain a loyal person, and once consumed, that was the end. In addition, there was a limit to a person¡¯s willpower, so if you constantly ask for hard work, they¡¯ll cut you off. So you should buy loyalty, but carefully choose where to use it. Compared to that, her body was too simple. There was noint or fear of betrayal. So she was embarrassed. She¡¯s never heard such a thing before. Health, yes, everyone was concerned about health. She knew that Alice was always worried, and Sophie also kept notes. After establishing herself as the heir of the Marquis of Rosan, they were her employees. The ttering crowd was only concerned about her health with exaggerated remarks. Even Lawrence sent medicine. Because she was a difficult resource to rece. When she was very young, even Mira took care of her when she was sick. But now, when she said ¡°it¡¯s necessary¡± everyone would follow suit. Even Alice said, ¡°If so, it can¡¯t be helped. ¡° And she would just take care of her with a sad face. It was the first time she was angry. Someone said that her body shouldn¡¯t be used as a tool. Someone said she was a person. ¡°I said clearly at first. If you want to join hands with me, you shouldn¡¯t hurt yourself either.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± It was funny when she heard it, but she had never really taken it in mind. So Artizea sighed briefly. Cedric red at her. ¡°Were you not even thinking about it?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Cedric moved and approached the bed. Artizea bowed her head. ¡°Sorry.¡± Cedric grabbed her hand, which was lying on the nket, casually. Then he wrapped it warmly with both hands. ¡°There¡¯s another thing you¡¯ve done wrong.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea said in a crawling voice. Now there was no excuse. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t behave like you caused me trouble.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve caused you any trouble. I¡¯m grateful for you. I didn¡¯t even think you¡¯de directly¡­ ¡°But actually, did you think I would send a few people without going directly myself after hearing the news? ¡° Artizea looked at him with a subtle look. She didn¡¯t think that way. Anyway, her ns included helping from the Grand Duke of Evron. It was the result of considering Rize¡¯s quick-minded personality and that Marcus Hanson was trusted by Evron. But she didn¡¯t think Cedric woulde. She didn¡¯t predict who wasing, who wasn¡¯ting, no specific case. ¡°I did what I had to do. I know that you take this engagement as just in name, and you don¡¯t ept me as a real fianc¨¦. If so, consider me as apanion.¡± ¡°I am a body that has decided to serve your Grace as my master. Why would you say that¡­.¡± ¡°So, why don¡¯t you want my protection? It may be your role to think and move, but it is my role to protect you.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Artizea bit her lower lip. ¡°Now, do you know what to say to me?¡± It was a little confusing. Artizea hesitated. She was good at seeing through people¡¯s minds and was always ready to get the results she wanted. But now what Cedric wants her to say was ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ or ¡®thank you¡¯. Eventually, she said with a new reddish face, ¡°I was happy you came to save me.¡± It was a shameful thing for her to say to others. Cedric¡¯s face turned red just like her. But he didn¡¯t let go of her hand. Rather, he gave it strength to hold it tighter. Artizea lowered her head. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Trantor: effefille Proofreader: xoxomonami The incident in the Marquisate of Rosan became rumored not only in social circles, but in some media. The main character of the story was Mira and not anyone else. The emperor¡¯s lover abused her daughter and refused to have her married to maintain her wealth. The story is a mixture of three scandals: beauty, wealth, and violence. It couldn¡¯t be boring because there was even a little romance and politics sprinkled on it. The rumors red up as the papers published a story from a man who worked as an employee in Marquisate of Rosan. This made Cedric a hero who saved people on two different asions. One of them was saving his poor lover. And that girl would now be the Marchioness of Rosan and also marry him. People also paid attention to how the emperor would respond. Neither side was convinced that this would diminish Mira¡¯s favor. The emperor¡¯s attitude of Mira was simr to caring for a mean cat where it would sometimes get angry or act terribly. However, no matter what she did, he did not get angry for long. He would smile bitterly, hug her and say, ¡®it can¡¯t be helped because she¡¯s a foolish woman.¡¯ But Artizea had a different problem. Many people spected that Artizea made a disturbance by causing a scandal with Mira. The emperor didn¡¯t. He simply responded to Cedric¡¯s petition letter in a civil manner. The petition letter was about Cedric¡¯s request for permission to be the guardian for Lady Rosan as her fianc¨¦. The letter didn¡¯t even mention Mira a bit. There was no story about the fight between Mira and Artizea. Originally, it was the parents who represented the legal authority of the young sessor before marriage. So, originally, it was impossible for him to be his fianc¨¦e¡¯s guardian while her mother was alive. However, the emperor stamped a seal on the document that allowed the guardianship without saying anything. And in a personal position, he spoke with an air of pity on Artizea. ¡°Tia is a kind and timid child. She¡¯s very filial. If Mira gave her a little sweetness, she would have paid her back ten or twenty times. It¡¯s totally different from the kids I¡¯ve been hoping for these days. How could you not be shocked to treat that little girl like that? Mira did too much.¡± And this is what he said about Mira. ¡°Mira has a hot temper, so if she gets angry, she can¡¯t see what¡¯s in front of her. But, it¡¯s all my fault. If I really treated Tia like a daughter, she wouldn¡¯t have gone so far. Even though she said that there was no need for that, I guess the misunderstanding between the mother and the daughter has led to this.¡± This wasn¡¯t a reaction he had in public, but an intimate thought that he confessed while with his daughter, Countess Eunice. [Lady Rosan, When Father said that the Lady was weak, I almost said no. However, I did that because it would be a favor for the Lady who didn¡¯t say anything. I believe this has been a reward for yourst advice. Father said that the Lady is still young, but one day she will be able to understand the sincerity of Madame Rosan¡¯s feelings. He pitied both of them, and was rather angry with Lawrence. He failed to mediate between Lady and the Madame and allowed the situation to escte. There is something I would like to add to that as well, but I will save it for the day when I meet the Lady someday. Anyway, Madame Rosan did something stupid. Had this not happened, Cedric would not have advocated to manage the estate and property of the Marquisate of Rosan. After being scolded for Count Eisen¡¯s troubles, Lawrence has been out of sight for a while. Did he go back to the capital? After scolding Lawrence, Father has shown me and my children a deeper and more genuine affection than ever before. If I hadn¡¯te to the separate pce because I didn¡¯t like Madame Rosan, I wouldn¡¯t have had the opportunity to do so. A few days ago, my husband even gave me the permission to fish, which I have been really wanting to do. I was very surprised and happy because I had not been allowed to do so for three years. Next week, we will follow His Majesty¡¯s direction and return to the capital. At that time, I believe that there will be time for quiet, long hours for us to build a proper friendship. We¡¯ll soon be cousins. May peace be endless until the day we meet again. Charlotte Eunice.] Artizea showed the letter to Cedric. ¡°I thought Charlotte hated me. I understand that she¡¯s trying to get along with you, but I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d put the word cousin there,¡± Cedric said with a subtle face. ¡°It¡¯s my mother and Lawrence that Countess Eunice hated, not Your Grace Cedric,¡± Artizea said with a smile. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t have to worry about Your Grace¡¯s problem anyway with this. I want to finish the issue of the Marquisate of Rosan before he changes his mind.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it untilte at night. They said you looked at the papers until the candles were all gonest night. Rize told me.¡± ¡°She now has a habit of informing Your Grace when the smallest things happen.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that because I¡¯m worried about you? You need to gain some weight above all else. You¡¯ve only eaten two pieces.¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± Artizea, embarrassed, took out a bite-sized crispy roll of wheat bread from a snack te and put it in her mouth. As the crispy skin broke, the hot filling seeped out. Artizea closed her mouth with her hand in case the fillings spill. ¡°It¡¯s not just that, Ansgar and Marcus are very worried because you always leave your meals. I¡¯ve been ordered to give you the snacks today. It¡¯s not tasteless isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°Do you know how much you eat?¡± Artizea shook her head. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t eating because she was full. ¡°Looking at you these days, it seems like you keep forgetting to eat even if you have snacks next to you.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ because I¡¯m not used to it.¡± ¡°How much can you eat?¡± Cedric pointed to the te. Artizea pointed at about half on the plentiful te after contemting. Then Cedric split that up, grabbed the rest in a handful and poured it in his mouth. ¡°Now, you can just empty everything else and reassure the cook.¡± ¡°Do you eat it all at once?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a snack anyway?¡± Artizea opened her mouth slightly and looked at it. Then sheughed a little and put one in her mouth. Cedric refilled her teacup with herbal tea. ¡°So it turns out, where and what is Lawrence doing?¡± ¡°Today he returned to the mansion of the Marquis of Rosan.¡± Artizea replied. Cedric was a little surprised. ¡°You know what¡¯s going on. Did you let them in?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the house he used to live in. I can¡¯t keep him froming in. My mother is there too¡­¡­. They¡¯ll continue to do so. I¡¯ll just take the safe and my belongings, and keep the mansion as it is. So are the employees. I can¡¯t keep my family out.¡± ¡°Tia, I don¡¯t think there is a need for that. Lawrence has enough wealth¡­..¡± ¡°They have to stay where they are now.¡± Artizea prevented Cedric from evenmenting. With her index finger on his lips, she lifted the corner of her mouth andughed. ¡°I think I know now that when youugh like that, it¡¯s when you¡¯re having scary thoughts.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°You can¡¯t overdo it. You understand?¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°If something happens or is likely to happen, please discuss it with me.¡± ¡°I know that too.¡± Artizea replied with a smile. Then the maid knocked on the door and carefully raised her head. ¡°Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Master Lawrence hase. He¡¯s waiting in the parlor.¡± The maid¡¯s face was pale. Cedric stood up. Artizea grabbed his sleeve. ¡°I want to meet him alone.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯ll shout if something happens.¡± Cedric looked at her with an anxious face. Artizea smiled. She left Cedric and stepped outside. Alice, who was waiting after leaving the room, hurriedly followed. ¡°Lady, what are you going to do? Master Lawrence is here¡­¡± ¡°I expected we¡¯d meet. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Look at the mirror, Mdy. I¡¯ll fix your makeup.¡± Artizea hesitated for a moment. She had light makeup on her face. It was to make the scars and bruises look lighter. ¡°Don¡¯t do that, bring a wet towel.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have to wipe the makeup off.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alice replied with a tight, nervous face, and hastily left the hall. Artizea returned to her room with slow steps. Soon Alice brought a bowl of hot water and a towel. Alice soaked a towel in water and handed it over to Artizea. Artizea covered her face with the towel. She wiped it off once and then again, working hard to wash her face. And again, looking in the mirror, she meticulously wiped the makeup. There was no girl with a spring face in the mirror. In the past, the appearance of her in her mind was simr to a skinny witch with white hair. The bones on the back of her hands were ugly and herplexion was pale. She looked like death. Returning to the past, she learned that for the first time that she had red cheeks. Sometimes she looked in the mirror and she was surprised by how beautiful she looked. The goddess of the underworld said she put on her youth by putting on makeup, so she believed that to be true. However, she was nowpletely back in the past. Artizea smiled at the familiar person in the mirror. After all, it must be this face she wears when facing Lawrence. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Proofreader: xoxomonami In order to prevent others from eavesdropping, Artizea only had her people around the parlor. It was not that she didn¡¯t believe in the people of the Grand Duke of Evron, but it was better to be careful. Even information spilled thoughtlessly could be dangerous. On the other hand, there was no opportunity to look inside. Artizea decided to discuss the matter with Ansgar today. At the very least, she had to install a sound collector and an eye hole with a lens. That would be ater project anyway. Artizea took a small breath and opened the door to the parlor. ¡°¡­..¡± Lawrence sat cross-legged on the parlor sofa with his eyes closed. Unlike Artizea, he emitted an aura that resembled Mira¡¯s. His fascinating appearance was as sweet as a prince dreamed of by all girls and his cheeks were bright like a person who had been dancing somewhere all night long. However, Artizea could see that he had struggled to contain his anger, which could burst at any moment and struggled to put a lid on it. That¡¯s why he closed his eyes as if he couldn¡¯t hear it, even though he came in while showing off his poprity. In the past, Artizea had evaluated Lawrence this way. ¡°Brother Lawrence isn¡¯t a foolish person. He has a sense for politics and a sense of judgment. However, he inherited his arrogance from His Majesty, the Emperor, and from his mother who had an unpredictable temperament.¡± Both of them easily trampled on his reason and often made him vicious. Whatever great qualities he had, it was a serious problem that would be offset by his ws. A mad emperor or a selfish and greedy emperor. Measuring Lawrence and Roygar determines that. In the past, it was natural that Chancellor Lin did not choose and ultimately quit. Nevertheless, Artizea thought that Lawrence would be able to ovee his shorings. In other words, this was Artizea¡¯s w. It was a judgment that was clouded by blood ties. Eventually, Lawrence ceased to bepletely in control of himself when no one was oppressing him. But not at this point. He still had a control called the emperor. So he won¡¯t be able to pour out that anger on Artizea. Now that she was Cedric¡¯s fianc¨¦e. Lawrence knows that politics is a delicate andplex affair. Even though the emperor¡¯s seat seemed to be of absolute power, he understood that it was a position ced on a bnce of powers. So no matter how dissatisfied he may be, he will behave with a soft voice at the presence of the Grand Duke of Evron. It wasn¡¯t only the emperor¡¯s loyal subjects, but the emperor, himself, told Lawrence to bring Cedric in. Artizea knew it. However, in a voice that seemed unaware of anything like that, Artizea cautiously called Lawrence. ¡°You are here, brother?¡± Still, it is good to be considered a helpless girl. Lawrence opened his eyes. Artizea bowed politely to him. Instead of greeting each other, he still looked at Artizea¡¯s face. There was a bruise on the eyebrows, and the scratches on her temple and chin had turned purple. There was a hit mark on her wrist that was exposed from under one of her fluffy sleeves. There would be more scars in the parts that could not be easily seen. Artizea did not turn her head, nor cover her wounds. Lawrence finally sighed when he saw Artizea¡¯s paleplexion. ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea avoided the main seat and sat across from Lawrence. ¡°I heard that you haven¡¯t been in the annex.¡± ¡°I went out to get some air.¡± ¡°Have you heard the news? Have you been home?¡± ¡°Yes. You¡¯ve organized your belongings.¡± ¡°Yes, Grand Duke Evron said it would be better to stay at the residence before the wedding.¡± ¡°I see.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be right to start living together before marriage. Moreover, Artizea is still only 18 years old. But Lawrence didn¡¯t say a word about it. Cedric couldn¡¯t stand still when he saw a woman¡¯s face like that. Well, much more against his fianc¨¦e. This had already left Lawrence¡¯s hands. ¡°How¡¯s mother doing?¡± ¡°Listen, she¡¯s down with hysteria.¡± Artizea knew all the steps contained in that single sentence. The mansion will be draped like an evacuation procession, and the maids will roam silently, terrified. Mira was now in bed, fluttering in depression. Anger is a matter of using energy. She once burst into anger and beat Artizea, but then became exhausted and treated her tenderly the next day. With a sad or sorry face, she acted like a person about to die. ¡¸It¡¯s because I can only rely on you.¡¹ Saying so. Lawrence asked as Artizea lowered her head. ¡°If you¡¯re able to,e see her for a moment.¡± ¡°No. I don¡¯t want to see my mother for the time being. I think this would be a good opportunity. I¡¯m thinking taking this opportunity to sever ties with my mother.¡± Lawrence asked back in amazement. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Tia. This is not something you should decide in haste. Didn¡¯t you love your mother?¡± ¡°I love her,¡± Artizea said with a groan. Of all the words she¡¯s exchanged with Lawrence so far, that was the only sentence she said with sincerity. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I want to dedicate my whole life to her. I want to be happy with Cedric. This kind of luck may note to me ever again, so I want to do my best. Even if I couldn¡¯t make it as an honorable Grand Duchess, I want to be recognized as Cedric¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t be like that in the name of Mira¡¯s daughter. Whatever I do, I¡¯ll only be condemned by the world. You know that right?¡± What Cedric saw was a big deal, but Artizea did not. It wasn¡¯t the first time it happened, and it wasn¡¯t going to be much worse than the other times. However, Artizea¡¯s determination seemed firm. Lawrence didn¡¯t even know she had that kind of will. Artizea dropped her head. ¡°And I don¡¯t want to be this miserable in front of Cedric again.¡± ¡°Yes, if that¡¯s what you want.¡± Lawrence nodded effortlessly. After all, the rights of the Marquisate of Rosan belonged to Artizea. If she marries, she will also inherit the title. It¡¯s not a matter for Lawrence to argue about here. Unlike Mira from the start, Lawrence didn¡¯t have any regrets about the Marquis of Rosan¡¯s estate. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then what would you do with the mansion? I have a few mansions, but I think it will take some time for me to organize them and move.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to leave the mansion to my mother. I¡¯m going to give you the maintenance of the mansion and a pension that¡¯s not less than what you¡¯ve been spending so far. You and mother can continue to remain there.¡± ¡°Yes. Okay. It¡¯s a little early, but congrattions on your wedding. I wish you had informed me of your engagement in advance.¡± Lawrence only said then. Artizea felt bitter in her heart, but smiled without showing it. ¡°If things didn¡¯t go fast like this, you would have made an engagement announcement when I returned from the annex.¡± ¡°¡­. yes. I suppose so.¡± Lawrence was then caught up in some strange intuition. Did anything happen? Was Artizea a kid like this? He felt ufortable. As soon as he returned to the Marquisate of Rosan, he remembered how Bill hadined. [Even before then, Miss Tia was a little weird. It¡¯s not just because your mother hurt her face. She must have devised a scheme.] Lawrence didn¡¯t think Artizea knew how to do that. In the first ce, Bill isn¡¯t a credible guy. He was only good at catering up to Mira, so he just let it go. However, it was true that everything was going on at a fast pace, as if the situation had just been lying in wait to unfold. This was also the case when Artizea decided to change the employees before this even happened. Thanks to this, the fortune and ownership was already being transferred. With the emperor¡¯s approval, it would be finished. It couldn¡¯t be done if she didn¡¯t prepare in advance. ¡®Tia did¡­ ?¡¯ The Artizea Lawrence knew has always been helpless and intimidated. He knew she wasn¡¯t a bad kid. And that she always looked around and yearned for affection. Artizea in front of him now looked like that. Her words were careful, and her attitude was the same as before. The face with the traces of being beaten was haggard. As if she was determined to be strong, she was sping the two hands on her knees so tightly that her knuckles turned white. It was a lot from her point of view to say that she would cut off her rtionship with Mira with such determination. Nevertheless, she looked pale and cold. The pupils under the lowered eyelids were deep like the deep sea. It seemed that blue blood was spinning in the veins under her thin skin. He knew such a person. Sitting in the shade of the conference room and touching the map with a dry hand¡­. ¡°What are you going to do, brother?¡± Artizea spoke as if to cut off that thought. Lawrence was very nervous. The looming image had already disappeared. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea raised the curtain that had been down until then. And she said again. ¡°How long will you be tied to mother?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Probably no one will be able to say this, but this is a testimony that I can give because I am my mother¡¯s real daughter and my brother¡¯s real sister.¡± Artizea chose the words on purpose. Instead of advice, she called it a testimony. ¡°There¡¯s no one else who needs to cut off their ties with my mother more than my brother.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°My mother is certainly receiving the favor of His Majesty, the Emperor, but it is not a favor that my brother needs. Because you are His Majesty¡¯s son even without his favor for mother.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°What you need to be a crown prince is not your Majesty¡¯s favor, but a legitimate right.¡± Lawrence¡¯splexion changed a little. He always felt disgusted to hear that he was born as an illegitimate child. Artizea spoke once more before he got angry. ¡°The only one who can give that to brother is Her Majesty, the Empress. The only way for a person outside of marriage to be recognized for the right to inherit is to be adopted by the spouse.¡± From her words, Artizea raised her head. Chapter 36.1 Chapter 36 Proofreader: xoxomonami No matter how powerful aristocrats were, they werepelled to follow the temple for three things: baptism, weddings, and funerals. The temple strictly forbade the inheritance of illegitimate children as witnesses of the sacred marriage vows and guardianship. Property is only transferable while alive. Some of the titles were transferable. However, the title belonging to the family itself was non-transferable. The illegitimate child could never inherit. Even if there were hundreds of children, if there were no offspring to inherit the family, the title of the family and the apanying property were returned to the imperial family. The only way to avoid it is for the spouse to adopt them. It was also the most powerful right for a spouse who had no children to protect themselves. ¡°His Majesty hasn¡¯t said anything?¡± Artizea asked in a quiet voice. The current session quarrel is, in fact, the seed sown during the reign of the emperor. The previous Emperor had not had children for a long time while with the first empress. So, he made one of the extramarital affairs into the Crown Prince and made him as the Empress¡¯ adopted son. That is now Emperor Gregor. However, when the Empress died in herter years, the previous Emperor remarried with a young woman as young as his daughter. The firstborn was Cedric¡¯s mother, and the second was Grand Duke Roygar, who was now a candidate to be next emperor. The imperial politics was greatly shaken. However, it was toote to overturn the position of the prince which had already been established. The grown-up prince was already building up his power, and the emperor was already over fifty years old. On the other hand, Emperor Gregor was carrying his own family after the deceased emperor. Even so, Emperor Gregor suffered a problem of legitimacy in the early days of his throne. Thus, the imperial power was strengthened by purging Cedric¡¯s parents for treason. However, the legitimacy question raised at that time still lingered. If Emperor Gregor had an offspring, the session structure would not have beenplicated. Because he was already the emperor. However, there are no children of the Empress line in the Imperial Family. Byw, Gregor¡¯s closest rtive is Grand Duke Roygar. The temple tried to prevent the marriage vows from being neutralized for two generations. Grand Duke Roygar remained the enemy of the Emperor. This session right is, in fact, powerful enough to quarrel with Emperor Gregor. So, if Lawrence wants the Crown Prince¡¯s seat, the fastest and surest way is to be the Empress¡¯s adopted son. To avoid that, there was no other choice but to create legitimacy in a different way. Just as Artizea had married him to a saintess in the past. This is all true. Poison is the scariest thing when it is true. This is because no matter how much the poisoned person looks at it, they logically reach the same conclusion. Lawrence was wise enough to understand what Artizea meant. At the same time, he was foolish enough not to realize that Artizea¡¯s words were never fair. ¡®My brother is arrogant and selfish,¡¯ Artizea thought so, looking at Lawrence. It was Lawrence¡¯s arrogance to think that the fickle favor of the emperor¡¯s was solely his own. In addition to Lawrence, the emperor had a few more illegitimate offsprings. However, the reason why the emperor chooses and favors Lawrence is not because Lawrence is a son or because of the high status of his birth mother. This is because the emperor loved Mira and decided to create a family with Mira. If the family game cracks, the emperor¡¯s favor will disappear like a summer frost. The emperor wasn¡¯t very responsible enough to cling to his broken family, and there were a lot of people trying to drive a crack into it. Even Mira knew, but Lawrence didn¡¯t. The things that Mira had done so far to stop the emperor¡¯s wrath and attract his love and favor to Lawrence will not remain in his mind. Because his mother¡¯s love and devotion were natural to him. Artizea whispered one more word as if breathing poisonous breath as he watched the gloomy thoughts sway within Lawrence. ¡°Maybe, I don¡¯t know if my mother is deliberately preventing me from saying it. My mother is obsessed with brother.¡± ¡°¡­.. Tia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so nervous. Since His Majesty loves you, everyone considers you to be the future crown prince, but if something happens tomorrow, it¡¯s Grand Duke Roygar who will seed him.¡± ¡°Tia, don¡¯t talk ominously. Just saying that can be a treason.¡± ¡°Yes¡­.. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so anxious.¡± Lawrence said with eyes slightly reddened with anxiety. ¡°Because I¡¯m brother¡¯s younger sister. Brother¡¯s safety is directly rted to my safety.¡± Artizea bowed her head. These words gave him hope that he would be able to easily win the favor of Grand Duke of Evron. At the same time, it gave him anxiety and worries from Artizea. Lawrence was silent for a moment, then said furiously. ¡°How can you say that you are ending your rtionship with your mother so easily?¡± He asked again. ¡°But what you say does make sense.¡± He nodded. ¡®Done.¡¯ Artizea felt relief in her heart. The poison went into ce. Splitting the power by alienation was a basic strategy used by the weak to deal with the powerful. In order to beat Lawrence, she first had to remove Mira. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry for saying something so ominous,¡± Artizea said passively. Lawrence stood up from his seat. Artizea stood up as she followed him. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe. The butler will see me off.¡± ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you again with a clean face. By then, Grand Duke Evron will be with you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea bowed her head to him. Lawrence patted her shoulder once and stepped outside. Voices of greetinge from afar. Artizea sat on the couch for a while, feeling tired. With this, Lawrence will prevent Mira from attending the wedding. Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door. It was Marcus who opened the door, politely holding a letter on a silver tray. Artizea smiled embarrassingly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this errand yourself.¡± ¡°This is the news you¡¯ve been waiting for. I brought it myself because I was worried that Master Lawrence might notice something happening.¡± Heid out the tray. On top of it was a letter that was sealed with a gold seal of a sea dragon. It was an invitation from the empress. ¡°Finally.¡± As she threw herself out in front of the guests, the final object she expected had arrived. Artizea smiled contentedly. **** Lawrence had a cluttered mind and didn¡¯t even know he had arrived at home until the carriage door opened. [I am your father, and I don¡¯t intend to make you my sessor unconditionally. I can¡¯t do that.] The emperor¡¯s words came to mind again. [Just put Ced in your hands. Then I will do the rest.] At that time, he was filled with pent up anger and didn¡¯t take it, but when he thinks about it now, it was a word that meant enough. Amelia Harper, one of the emperor¡¯s loyal subjects, once advised him. It was when the first words about Artizea and Cedric appeared. [The Grand Duke Evron is of the imperial enemy line. If you can receive his loyalty, that alone greatlyplements Master Lawrence¡¯s legitimacy.] It was a word that touched Lawrence¡¯splex. As he did not hide his displeasure, Harper said coldly. [The emperor is the only authority of this empire. Master Lawrence wants to be the emperor, but you are not confident of getting Grand Duke Evron in your favor?] He should have listened to Harper more carefully. Maybe the emperor was already arranging several things for Lawrence. And he was obligated to meet the expectations. With that thought, Lawrence stepped into the chilly mansion of the Marquis of Rosan. Mira hurried to meet him to the mansion lobby. How much has she cried for her face to be so swollen? ¡°Lawrence, Lawrence, you¡¯re here? What did Tia say? Is sheing back?¡± ¡°From my mother¡¯s perspective, who grabbed and abused Tia in front of her fianc¨¦ and guests, do you really think she woulde back?¡± ¡°That girl¡¯s house is here. Of course she has toe back!¡± ¡°Duke Evron won¡¯t let that happen.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. What did he say? She¡¯s my daughter! Besides she¡¯s still young, isn¡¯t she? What does Grand Duke Evron have to do with my own daughter? I didn¡¯t approve of this marriage!¡± Mira shouted, clinging to Lawrence. It was a rare attitude for Mira, who would never show a bad appearance to Lawrence. That¡¯s how desperate she was. But Lawrence pushed her away with a cold manner. ¡°Mother, are you determined to ruin my future?¡± At Lawrence¡¯s words, Mira huped and bit her mouth shut as if scared. ¡°Wh, what do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard of Father saying that Tia is fortunate to have a rtionship with Grand Duke Evron. But why are you doing this?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­.. that¡¯s not it. How can Tia do this to me anyway? I didn¡¯t mean to hurt Tia. You know that, don¡¯t you? How did I give birth to such a girl?¡± ¡°I know. Right.¡± Lawrence looked at her with a grim gaze with no warmth. ¡°You had a hard time giving birth. This is the second time, right?¡± ¡°Wha, what¡¯s the second¡­¡± ¡°My mother is blocking my way. You gave birth to Tia, and now you¡¯ve done this. Mother, do you want to kill me?¡± Lawrence said softly as he touched the scarf around Mira¡¯s neck to correct it. Mira shrugged her neck in fear. ¡°Wha, what do you mean? Why do I want to kill you?¡± ¡°Die or be emperor, there can only be one thing to do of the two. Mother, please do not do anything useless and stay still.¡± Lawrence clenched his teeth. ¡°Anyway, my mother couldn¡¯t have the ability to dethrone the empress, nor could she make me the prince.¡± ¡°Lawrence, you know? The empress¡­¡± Mira mumbled with a miserable face. Lawrence turned around. ¡°No, no. Lawrence, Mom will never disappoint you.I will never again. I will never disappoint you again. Lawrence, Lawrence!¡± Mira, hurriedly followed him, grabbed his arm. Lawrence shook her hand roughly and once again stepped out. Mira sat down and sobbed. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Proofreader: xoxomonami As Artizea entered, the mansion of Duke Evron began to change. For Cedric, ¡®house¡¯ meant the people of the Grand Duchy. He seldom stayed in the mansion itself. By nature, he did not pay close attention to the atmosphere of the mansion. Ansgar, who had to take care of the mansion, always followed Cedric to and from the camp. No one stayed at home, so the house was naturally deste. The Grand Duke¡¯s residence in the capital was close to a space where Cedric and his knights could only sleep for a month or two of the year. Artizea renewed the atmosphere. ¡°Thanks to the Lady Heiress, the whole house is full of life.¡± The butler and the head maid¡¯s face bloomed. For the Grand Duke of Evron, for the first time in nearly two decades, he finally felt like a homeowner. A new maid was hired, and flowers were decorated. In the dining room, fine new cutleries was ced to rece the old silverware. The wardrobe was filled and the bedroom was lively. The servants opened the door of the empty room and polished the old furniture. Simple construction was also done in several ces, including the living room and bedroom. The real purpose of the construction was to decorate the house with needed equipment such as installing a sound collector and a secret passage. But on the outside, it seemed like they were simply installing ornaments or changing wallpaper. Cedric replied happily to Artizea asking for permission. ¡°Do whatever you want. You can use the budget of the mansion as you like. Don¡¯t just think about what you need for your work, but make sure you have whatever you need to befortable.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°If you need me, feel free to tell me. I¡¯m not very useful for this, but I will do my best,¡± he added, a little awkwardly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it also going to be your home now?¡± Artizea wanted to say thank you for his care, but somehow the words couldn¡¯te out smoothly on her tongue. ¡®Your home¡¯. She never thought so. For Artizea, moving to his residence was part of the n. But Cedric says this will really be her home. Even though it was only a two-year contract, it was as if it was a real marriage. Her face heated up. The marriage was nothing. She only intended to naturally stick to Cedric¡¯s side and influence the Grand Duke. However, every time he said things like this, she didn¡¯t know why her face became hot and why her heart shook. Seeing Artizea¡¯s face, Cedric made an awkward face. He looked at Artizea several times as if he had something else to say, then coughed and just left the room. Artizea bowed behind him and rubbed her hand on her cheek. She was worried that she might have had a strange attitude. ¡ª¨C The maid, Loa, breathed in a deep and tense breath in front of Artizea¡¯s study. ¡°Lady Heiress, This is Loa.¡± Artizea rarely called in her employees directly for work. What would it be? Artizea was a generous master. Routine chores, such as washing or cleaning, may not have been touched because they are not yet married. However, she seldom interfered with the things she was holding in the bedroom. There were no attempts to win over the mansion¡¯s maid. She was not directly involved in hiring a new maid, and she did not even try to pick someone she liked. At first, Loa was worried that Cedric¡¯s fianc¨¦e was thedy of Marquisate of Rosan. She had imagined her to be discerning and extravagant. The same would be true even if she was not of the Marquisate of Rosan, but instead another central noble. But Artizea didn¡¯t show that at all. She was generous to the maid and left most of the work to herself. Rather, Loa became uneasy. She had never had such a mistress. Not to interfere. So maybe she did too much work on her own? After being called to the study, she became more anxious. When she knocked on the door, the door of the study opened. ¡°Come in.¡± Alice greeted Loa with a grin and a smile. Then Loa went inside carefully. Artizea satfortably on the sofa in the study. Loa politely bowed to her. Artizea beckoned to Alice. Alice opened the box in front of Artizea and gave the pouch inside to Loa. ¡°Use it to rece curtains and bedding.¡± ¡°Too, too much.¡± Loa was surprised to learn that what was in the pocket was gold, not silver. ¡°Half of this is enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving it to you generously on purpose.¡± If you were an employee of another noble family, you would know the meaning of a generous budget and handle it well. However, the employees of the Grand Duke of Evron had no such experience. Artizea said softly. ¡°I have a lot of work to do, but wouldn¡¯t it take a lot of time to talk through the butler? If necessary, hire a person temporarily with this money and share the money with the working people.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s still too much though. I didn¡¯t even use all the money that you gave the maids to get all new clothes and shoes.¡± Loa said in a trembling voice. Artizea also knew. And she already knew that the Loa didn¡¯t take a separate share of the money. ¡°Then, how about hiring more people or buying decent tea for your breaks?¡± ¡°But ¡­..¡± ¡°I took money out for my employees, and it¡¯s impossible for that money to go back into the vault.¡± Having said this, Loa could not dare to refuse again as an employee. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Since I¡¯m young and I¡¯m still not good at the circumstances of the Grand Duchy, I will continue to rely on you a lot.¡± Loa was thrilled with this trust. Then she carefully packed the pocket of gold coins and went out. After the door closed, Alice exhaled a breath. Then she tilted his head and asked. ¡°Do you need to test again?¡± ¡°Why do you think it¡¯s a test?¡± Artizea asked with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re going to see what she¡¯s going to do after receiving undeserved authority.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t put any in her pocket, so you need to know better. What kind of values does she have?¡± ¡°She could be just an honest woman.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s rather good because I can leave all of the work. I don¡¯t have time to manage a maid or a servant. It¡¯s easier to give them a lot of authority and correct it quickly if something went wrong.¡± ¡°But yes. How hard it must be for you to return to the Rosan Estate. It¡¯s such a waste.¡± Alice grumbled. Artizea could not help but smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Money is just used as tools. It¡¯s also a small amount of money anyway.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s any talk between the maids, let me know.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry! That¡¯s my role.¡± Alice said cheerfully. She had already bribed nearly half of the Grand Duke¡¯s maids. That was what Artizea told Alice to do first. It was also necessary to collect rumors among the employees of the Grand Duke. However, rather than that, it was because she had to find out how far the Duke worked. ¡°I have to prepare to go out.¡± ¡°Oh, yes! I¡¯ll talk to Sophie soon!¡± Alice jumped up and went outside. Artizea spent a leisurely time sipping tea for a while. Now it was time to greet the second guest. Knock, knock The person who she had been waiting for had finally arrived. ¡°Come in.¡± Artizea replied calmly. It was Freil who opened the door and entered. He politely bowed to Artizea and spoke in a firm voice. ¡°This is Freil, the lieutenant of Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Sir Freil. This is the first time we¡¯ve met since I saw you at the mansion of Marquis Rosan, right?¡± ¡°You remember it even though it was a bad time.¡± As a sign of gratitude, Freil bowed down a little. ¡°Of course. I saw you at the temple as well.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw you back then too.¡± And Artizea knew him much better than he imagined. It was Artizea who assassinated Freil in a previous life. Freil didn¡¯t have an outstanding talent in terms of strategy or conspiracy. However, his vision was wide and he was alert. When Artizea plots something against Cedric, the first person to notice was Freil. It was one of the reasons why the people of the Grand Duke of Evron cursed and hated her so badly. Conversely, he was a man who could be a very powerful ally. In addition to Cedric¡¯s support, Artizea needed anotherrade who could move with her to support the Grand Duke of Evron. A person who keeps a secret and can risk his life together for Cedric regardless of profit. And if it was Freil, he was the one who could do that. Artizea felt a little excitement. But she couldn¡¯t tell Freil that she was happy to be able to talk to him alive. As she closed her eyes, Freil¡¯s observant gaze came. ¡°I heard that you appointed me as an attendant while you went out today.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do anything that I can confidently say for myself, but my skills are inferior to the other knights of the Grand Duke of Evron. Of course I can¡¯tpare to Alphonse.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to apany me in case there¡¯s a danger in the capital. It¡¯s a bit inappropriate to be apanied by Sir Alphonse.¡± Artizea raised her eyes. ¡°You may want to know what kind of person I am. That¡¯s why you responded to the request right away.¡± ¡°The Lady has made the choice. I do not dare to judge.¡± As she made eye contact, this time Freil lowered it down. And he said as if he had read inside Artizea¡¯s mind. ¡°What I know is exactly what the Grand Duke knows.¡± Freil euphemistically expressed that she shouldn¡¯t tell him what to hide from Cedric, but Artizea smiled. ¡°Make that decision after we finish our work.¡± Freil bowed his head silently. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Proofreader: xoxomonami Artizea went out quietly without being noticed by the people of the mansion. The clothes were of the nobility and were moremonly worn in times of mourning. There was nothing special about the characteristic of such a dress. The striking white blonde was wrapped in a finely woven of fine brown thread. A ck veil was attached to the brim of the hat, covering all the way to her lips. That was the biggest reason for choosing a mourning dress in the first ce. Freil removed his epaulettes. (T/N: Epaulette is the ornamental shoulder piece on military uniforms.) It seemed that Artizea knew why Alphonse was inadequate to apany her. Alphonse was an overly picturesque knight, so even wearing rags, he was sure to still look good. Except for Freil, one coachman was the only attendant. Alice didn¡¯te along either. ¡°Do you often go out like this?¡± Freil asked in surprise ¡°Until now, I didn¡¯t have much to go out for this kind of thing, but yes. Should there be asions where I¡¯ll need to go out unnoticed, I will have to operate this way.¡± Freil looked at the ck two wheeled carriage without a single crest. Nowhere, there were no special features anywhere. No one would be able to tell who Artizea is or what kind of person she was. There was nothing dangerous to do unless a fight broke out in the field. And such a thing could be avoided by having a strong coachman and moving carefully. Freil thought he didn¡¯t know what Artizea was like. He had known that she was clever from the time she proposed a contract marriage by tying up her own marriage and Western military affairs. When Saintess Olga¡¯s heart was linked to the Baron Yetz case, she even advised Cedric that he shouldn¡¯t miss it. But isn¡¯t this like an area of experience? Freil thought that even if he prepared for Cedric¡¯s secret affairs, he would not be able to do this thoroughly. Freil was wary of Artizea. Behind the Grand Duke of Evron were many simple, good-natured Northerners. At first, several people were shocked that the master was engaged to Mira¡¯s daughter. But everyone noticed that Artizea had suffered a great deal under Mira¡¯s hands and put their guard down. There was no one who did not sympathize with her, knowing how miserable she was in Rosan. When Artizea came to the mansion and showed a calm appearance, his good feelings grew. She was noble and kind. While entrusting great authority to her subordinates, she knew almost everything. It was the mistress that the people of the Grand Duke of Evron had longed for. However, Freil was convinced that the event with Mira was also made up by Artizea. The work that began with Saintess Olga¡¯s heart was not finished yet. In fact, Artizea received an invitation from the Empress because of this incident. It didn¡¯t seem like she had bad intentions. But it wasn¡¯t clear to Freil how far Artizea¡¯s work would be connected or what big picture she was drawing. It was dangerous to be that invisible. Freil thought that he should be alert and keep his head straight. The carriage passed the downtown area and entered the old street. This street has been inside the city gate since the early days of the establishment of the imperial capital, but due to itsck of geographical advantage, it was not incorporated into the center. However, a new building could not be built, nor could it create a strongmunity like a rural vige, so the slums were in progress. Most of the inhabitants were not citizens who had lived for a long time, but were thieves who came to the city. There was a bar in the middle. Artizea opened one of the doors and entered. Freil followed her. He was taken aback in his heart that Artizea knew a ce like this. Artizea did not hesitate to approach the bartender. And said,¡±Tell Rye Fidget that I¡¯m here to buy a bottle of barberry wine.¡± The bartender¡¯s face hardened. The other clerks panicked when they heard it and went inside. ¡°Where did you hear the name?¡± ¡°Rye? Because we know each other very well.¡± Artizea leaned against the back of the chair in a rxed manner. The breathless tension settled down in the store. Rye Fidget was a solver and an honest viin. He would do everything he could if you gave him money and kept his trust in the person who gave him the money first. ¡°You are the one who sold humanity for money. So you have to be loyal to money.¡± Artizea praised him for that point. She used money to grow Rye¡¯s organization. Because there were many things that needed ck hands. Under Artizea he bloomed as a trusted viin. From forgery of documents to intimidation, kidnapping, torture, and spreading bad rumors, it was a useful load. In fact, he matched Artizea very well. And in the end, he betrayed Artizea. Artizea remembered that he hade to court with forged documents and evidence of the assassination. [I¡¯m sorry, Marchioness. I am a man who sells humanity for money.] With a face that had lost one eye and broken nose from torture, Rye confessed. Artizea did not think she was betrayed. It wasn¡¯t a rtionship that was made with fidelity anyway. There was no need for conflict between the emperor and his former master, who have been used of treason. Why did he need to risk his life to protect her? Apart from that, of course, this time he felt the need to have some other safeguards, not money. It wasn¡¯t long before Rye came out to the store with a paleplexion. As if he came out of bed right away, his hair was shaky and his shirt was wrinkled. It was refreshing to see the young face after a long time. Artizea looked at him closely, so Rye felt embarrassed. ¡°Who are you?¡± Asking so, he tilted his head. Only his colleagues knew what his real name was. Because the name was so cute, he was often looked down on, so he changed his name to Watt when he came to the city. It was because of the mailing from his hometown that he gave out his name to his colleagues. There was no way anyone who knew his name woulde. Much less referring to the ¡®barberry wine¡¯. ¡®Barberry wine¡¯ was a ng word for murder in this area. ¡®Who is it? She looks young, but when you look at your gestures, it doesn¡¯t seem right. And the man beside her¡­.. Is he a knight?¡¯ ¡°Decide after hearing my suggestion, Rye. Right now, you won¡¯t even understand if you roll your head,¡± Artizea said briefly. Rye bit his lips gently and asked. ¡°How did you know my name?¡± ¡°Is that important?¡± Beyond the veil, thin lips smiled brightly ¡°I¡¯m here to buy barberry wine. And you¡¯ll sell whatever money can buy.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll connect you with someone who can sell.¡± ¡°I want you to take care of it yourself. Of course, it doesn¡¯t mean I want you to use your own hands.¡± This woman is dangerous. Rye trusted his intuition. He wondered how she knew his name. However, it was better not to get connected. It is true that he is a guy who sells anything for money. However, he did not sell his life or his family. Artizea gave Rye a small bunch wrapped in ck paper. Rye took it and weighed it by hand. Looking at the thickness and texture, it seemed like ten gold coins. If it was 10 golds, it was enough for amon people¡¯s family to eat and live for a month. It wasn¡¯t a small amount of money, but Rye pushed it away with his hand. Then Artizea presented a second bundle. Rye pushed it back again. Then came the third bundle. Rye flinched briefly this time. Artizea asked as she held out the fourth bundle. ¡°Is that enough to sell humanity yet?¡± ¡°Damn it, stop it.¡± Artizea added two more bundles to make a total of 60 gold. Rye rolled his eyes. He wondered how far the amount would go up. He said he wouldn¡¯t be bought, but it seemed that he could be sold depending on the amount. However, it wasn¡¯t a bunch of gold coins that came out as the seventh, but an envelope. Artizea silently put it on top of the stack of gold coins. Rye felt ominous and grabbed the envelope and opened it. [To brother Rye. The youngest is in very good condition thanks to the money and the doctor you sent us this time. I can even walk around. All that¡¯s left is to dry out firewood this winter. Thanks to you, I have a lot of room, so hopefully I can prepare a cloth to hang on the wall before winter. Thank you so much. But is it okay to send me such arge amount of money? You are not working dangerously, are you? Sending me a doctor from the capital must have cost you a lot of money. The youngest is also important, but the older brother is also important. Do not work too hard. And as far as I am concerned, I just want my brother to return to his hometown.] There was a longerment below, but it didn¡¯te into Rye¡¯s eyes. The hand holding the letter trembled. He had never sent money to a doctor, so this woman must have done it. And Rye wasn¡¯t so stupid that he couldn¡¯t know it was a ckmail. ¡°Ahhhhh! ¡° He screamed and jumped to his feet. Freil tried to block it. But Artizea shook her head and signaled Freil to stop. Rye reached out his fist at Artizea, but he dared not touch her. This woman is a noble. She also knows why Rye needs money. He couldn¡¯t figure out how far she knew, and how far she would have yed tricks. It was too dangerous. Artizea finally took out a small card and handed it to Rai. Rye read the card and sat down. And asked in a tone of resignation. ¡°Is this all I need to do? You don¡¯t have to look for me to deal with such a stupid guy. I¡¯ll just give it to a drunkard with a tenth of the money. It¡¯s a waste.¡± ¡°I want perfect results, and it¡¯s not a waste if I think I can get you on my side.¡± After saying so, Artizea took the card back and put it in her handbag. Rye stroked his head with his palms. And he sighed. ¡°Okay. You¡¯ll be able to hear the news the day after tomorrow. Lady Rosan.¡± By saying so, he revealed that he knew who Artizea was. But Artizea was not shaken. Inside the card was the name of the person to be dealt with. If he was stupid enough to see it and still not recognize who she was, then she wouldn¡¯t even make a deal with Rye. ¡°I don¡¯t mind if you don¡¯t give me separate news,¡± Artizea said so and stood up from her seat. ¡°What did you ask for?¡± Freil asked as they made their exit. ¡°To get rid of traces,¡± Artizea said as she got into the carriage. The next destination was a safe house. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Proofreader : xoxomonami The second destination was a restaurant in the downtown area. Such a sign was attached to a fairly elegant restaurant. Freil was a nobleman who had never heard of a name. Unless he was a poor male baron who was regretting the money to lend his name to such a signboard or a courtesan that seeded in marrying a noble. These restaurants were not intended for nobles. It is a ce used by the middle ss who are rich in their own way, but cannot interact with the nobility, the knight ss who cannot afford to hire a cook, and the noble ss who has no inherited title or property. It was not a ce for the Lady Heiress of Rosan¡¯s to visit Artizea got off without hesitation. Freil hesitated a little. Artizea is wearing a veil. Her identity won¡¯t be revealed. But there was now that anyone who knew her face would not be in the restaurant. ¡°Would you like to wear a mask?¡± Artizea asked. ¡°¡­ are you kidding?¡± She wasn¡¯t kidding. There was really a mask ready in her carriage. It was nothing more than a simple ck cloth with holes for the eyes. Freil could easily imagine her making it. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s no one who would recognize you, but if you¡¯re uneasy.¡± Artizea said so. Freil sighed. ¡°Because I¡¯m not Alphonse.¡± Artizea smiled as if she knew. Freil got off the carriage, feeling the misery of a man who had neither poprity nor fame. The two went through the back door of the restaurant. Unlike the main entrance, where a lot of people enter and exit, this door led them directly to the VIP room. ¡°Is this the Lady¡¯s shop?¡± ¡°Rather than the shop, it would be the entire building.¡± Freil rolled his eyes in disbelief. ¡°When did you buy it?¡± ¡°When I got the key to the safe in the mansion of Marquis Rosan,¡± Artizea answered calmly. Freil wondered how many buildings she would have in the capital. As far as he knows, there were eight mansions in the capital that were publicly owned by the Marquisate of Rosan. In addition to that, there will be a cottage ornd. He didn¡¯t know that they were also buying buildings in downtown areas. ¡°There¡¯s nothing bad about having a lot of buildings. I might need it for houses or for secret work, but buying real estate in the capital will never hurt you. As an investment.¡± Of course, Freil knew very well. He just couldn¡¯t buy any because he didn¡¯t have money. ¡°That advice, would you please give it to my Lord a little too? It¡¯s my Lord¡¯s side that you should decide to worry about.¡± The assets of the Marquis of Rosan were truly enormous. Originally, it would have been divided and inherited by several descendants. In other words, the Duke only gave it to Artizea. It was different from themon noble family with many blood rtives. There were many families that maintained an inheritance method of concentrating on one sessor and passing on property. Even so, it was rare that such a fortune was concentrated on one person. Three of thergest gold mines and six silver mines in the empire belonged to the Marquisate of Rosan. There was also a diamond mine. The iron and copper mines that Michael¡¯s brothers and sisters inherited were double digits. The highly profitable sapphire mine received in lieu of giving Mira, still made a huge ie. The property managers hired by the emperor on behalf of Mira have exerted enormous influence over the iron and copper smelting business in the process of growing their wealth. It was used in policies to increase the imperial control over the economy. It was natural that it could not be returned to Artizea as it was. The emperor absorbed the smelting business as belonging to the imperial family and returned the appropriate money to Artizea instead. The amount could not be taken into ount of it¡¯s possible impact on the imperial economy. Even so, it was true that Artizea was one of the richest nobles in the Empire. The funding power that could be mobilized immediately would have been more than the imperial family. Cedric was somewhat worried about it. [I don¡¯t intend to deal with the property of the Marquisate of Rosan, but is it good to leave it to Tia as it is? Anyway, she¡¯s 18 years old¡­] [Would the Evron do it well?] Freil said that with a half sarcastic feeling. Cedricughed in vain. [Yes. There¡¯s Marcus¡­] Except for the smelting business that the emperor was going to collect back, the family fortune of the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s was mostly from mines and forestry. And whilend-based businesses don¡¯t prosper very much, on the contrary, they don¡¯t buckle easily after decades. Like a loyal old general butler, Cedric said he would keep Artizea safe until she got used to it. Thinking about it now, he didn¡¯t know who to worry about whom. When they entered the VIP room, a simple refreshment was served. Looking at the number of sses, it seemed that the number of guests toe was three. Artizea sat down and said. ¡°I think I have some time left. If you have any questions, ask me.¡± Freil hesitated. There were a lot of questions. But he couldn¡¯t decide what to ask and how far to ask. The opponent was the master¡¯s fianc¨¨e, but he just couldn¡¯t ept it that way. For a person like Artizea, even a question bes a matter of handing over information. How can he be sure that she is not an enemy? ¡°Are you doing a lot of secret things?¡± Freil asked. ¡°Maybe the people of the Grand Duke of Evron are not familiar with such secrecy, but it will happen more frequently from now on.¡± ¡°Is it because the Lady intends to go out in earnest to society?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the social world, but if you¡¯re asking if I will create more secrets, the answer is yes, that¡¯s right. Until now, Grand Duke Evron has been overly honest. Someone has to be in charge of secrets.¡± ¡°Honesty is the right thing. The Grand Duke is a right man.¡± Artizea smiled inside the veil. ¡°I know. In fact, until now, Evron has not even had enough capacity to hide something. It is normal to have several factions split within Evron.¡± He couldn¡¯t deny it. ¡°The result is now. His Highness¡¯ words have trust, and the Evron has honor, but in fact, the Grand Duke is only in a position to be returned to the battlefield.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you thought so about His Highness.¡± ¡°The truth is, it always hurts. Sir Freil, do you think His Majesty the Emperor sent him to the Western Front in hopes that the Grand Duke would reap his military merits?¡± There were many things to say to Freil. However, the conversation could not continue. It was because the first guest had arrived. A little fuss came through the thick wooden door. Artizea lowered her hand under the table. Her mood had changed. Freil bit his lips. Because he knew that the original purpose ofing here had begun. The door burst open. It was a middle-aged man who jumped in. ¡°You can¡¯t be so rude like this, Sir Lexen.¡± ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m going to do something bad? I¡¯m just trying to talk to the madam first!¡± Two young men were dragging him by his arm, and were embarrassed to see Artizea. Artizea looked at the men expressionlessly. The young men quickly bowed and stepped back. Freil thought this was also staged. There was no way he could believe that those two men were the only ones working for Artizea. Besides, if they truly meant to keep him away, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to really stop a middle-aged man. Lexen straightened his cor and stood upright. And said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for meeting you like this, madam. Even though I keep saying that I should meet you in person, your representative has not listened to me, so I¡¯ve been rude.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t make any difference by meeting me first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you would have thought that the representative was of course a trustworthy person for the madam, but he doesn¡¯t seem to know anything important.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get excited and sit down, Sir Lexen. And take a sip of water.¡± Artizea reached out her hand and offered him a seat. Lexen sat down. He then realized that his attitude was rude and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Since the priest hasn¡¯te here yet, I¡¯ll listen to you until then,¡± Artizea said. ¡°Isn¡¯t it ridiculous to get a divorce in exchange for taking over the farnd?¡± Said Lexen. He tried to keep his cool as much as possible, but he couldn¡¯t do so and ended up with a fierce voice. Artizea looked at him with cold eyes. Even under the veil, Lexen could feel the gaze. ¡°You seem to have a misunderstanding. I have no interest in the Lexen family.¡± ¡°But my representative tells me to divorce and marry madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Sir Lexen.¡± Artizea interrupted him. ¡°You owe an an irreparable level of debt due to stupid investments you made over and over again. You surely have not forgotten the amount written on the loan?¡± Artizea said coldly. Lexen stuttered. ¡°So, didn¡¯t you tell me to tell my wife that I¡¯m going to hand over the farnd, the forest, and the grain stores? ¡°You don¡¯t really think that the western farnd has value, do you?¡± Artizea tapped the table. Lexen¡¯s face turned white. ¡°It¡¯s an operation that¡¯s well worth the investment. It¡¯s fertilend. This year, we¡¯ve harvested close to 10,000 pounds of wheat per hectare, and pastures are best suited for growing sheep nearby.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in doubt that thend is fertile,¡± Artizea said. ¡°This year¡¯s crop was good. I think it¡¯ll be okay next year. What about the next year? Could it be harvested?¡± Lexen¡¯splexion turned pale. ¡°Do you really think that there are people who buynd at such a high price that might be swept away by the monster wave, Sir Lexen? It¡¯s much safer to buy wheat and wool than to buynd with this money.¡± Even if the safe easternnd prices soar to the sky, the westernnd prices never move. This is because no one would know when the monster wave wille. Ironically, that is why farming, the foundation of the empire, was not maintained. Landlords and businessmen never boughtnd in the West. ¡°This money is the price to pay for your title. I thought you knew.¡± Artizea smiled under the veil. ¡°If you think that the amount is insufficient, you can destroy the contract even now. Because I have not signed any documents yet.¡± Lexen appealed with his sad face. ¡°Madam, even if the monster wave happens at short intervals, it takes more than 3 years. This business has enough potential¡­¡­..¡± ¡°If so, you can find an investor who believes in that possibility.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Madam a nobleman too? I believe you will be able to understand my situation a little. My wife is from amoner. If she divorces me, she will have no ce in the social world. I have been married for 35 years already¡­..¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Proofreader: xoxomonami Artizea cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m already being generous at the level of a phnthropist, Sir Lexen. What I¡¯m asking for is a marriage certificate that will give me the name of Mrs. Lexen, and to make sure this transaction is unknown, you hand over all your assets and move to the East to stay quiet. For that, I decided to rent a small manor for free.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­¡± ¡°After relocating to the East, you don¡¯t have to dere that you are legally divorced from your wife. If you don¡¯t want to enter the social world, there is no problem.That¡¯s it,¡° Artizea said. In general, the transaction of title is made through a sessor. Those who want to buy titles marry their sessors. Then, as a spouse of the sessor, they will inherit it, and the family¡¯s surname is changed. And it ends when the child takes over the position as a sessor. It is a transaction spanning three generations. In some cases, the sessor of the family who sold the title, but it was okay if not. This is because if the spouse¡¯s approval is given, inheritance is possible even if the child is out of marriage. So, it wasmon to divorce after granting inheritance rights. Artizea did not demand that far. Lexen knew Artizea as a rich businesswoman who wanted to establish herself in the Crates Empire. Therefore, instead of buying the title as it is, she is only trying to obtain the name of Mrs. Lexen. By marrying a sessor, inheriting an inheritance, and divorcing them, you can obtain the title, but you cannot obtain an imperial lineage. Even in the social world, a noble woman with an imperial husband is better than a foreigner who bought the title in many ways. Eventually, the words came up to Lexen¡¯s throat, asking if it was because of her own interests. But Artizea wasn¡¯t wrong. In the end, the eldest son of Lexen will inherit the Lexen family. The only thing lost is honor and wealth. The title remains intact. His descendants will have a chance toe back as nobles. However, his wife is in a different position. If Artizea was active in the capital¡¯s social circle under the name of Mrs. Lexen, rtives and acquaintances could not be unaware of the circumstances. It would be better if the divorce was real. However, if he signs another marriage certificate, then if he still lives with his current wife, she bes a mistress in an instant. A disgrace, but his wife will not be able to easily reach the temple. Lexen bowed his head deeply. ¡°I can¡¯t abandon my wife.¡± ¡°Then, you¡¯ll go bankrupt together. There will be a lot of hardships for the two of you until you die.¡± Artizea pointed at the door with her hand. It was an order to get out. Lexen¡¯splexion turned pale. She has said many things, but the one who was at a disadvantage was Lexen. Artizea chose him as the best trading partner for several reasons. As a low-ranking aristocrat in the western region, it is difficult enough to sell his title. At the same time, he had no strength, no fame, and he was an unobtrusive opponent even if he disappeared. However, Lexen is not the only poor noble of simr circumstances. It was more so considering that what Artizea needed was not the title of inheritance itself, but the marriage certificate. While Lexen sighed for a moment, a new guest arrived. The second guest was a priest. ¡°Oh. Madam, no matter how simple it is, it¡¯s a wedding, and you wore a ck veil.¡± The priest looked at Artizea and said so with augh. However, he was already a man who had already received arge bribe from Artizea. He knew well that this marriage was not a normal marriage. He didn¡¯t say anything else. Lexen sat silently. The secretary, who followed the priest,id down several documents in front of Lexen. Among them were divorce papers. The divorce papers already had Mrs. Lexen¡¯s signature. Artizea had already worked on it separately. Lexen realized it and trembled a little. But in the end all the papers were signed. The secretary handed out the divorce papers to the priest. The priest brought out the marriage vows. The secretary first brought it to Lexen. When Lexen signed, this time the papers came to Artizea. Freil nced over the papers. [Terry Ford] It was already signed that way. After Artizea checked it, the secretary brought it to the priest. There was no formal exchange of gifts. The priest smiled with a big smile and acted as a witness that made it all true. ¡°I hereby inform you that this marriage was formally established before God. Congrattions Sir Lexen, Mrs. Lexen.¡± Lexen¡¯s face turned gray. ¡°I want to give a gift to the priest as a sign of gratitude,¡± Artizea said. The secretary gave the box prepared in advance to the priest. The priestughed as if embarrassed. Artizea said softly. ¡°Inmemoration of this marriage, please use it for good things instead of us.¡± ¡°If so¡­¡± The priest stood up with the box. Artizea instructed the secretary to see him off. And looked at Lexen. ¡°You can go back now.¡± ¡°Is this¡­ the end?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. All your debts are cleared. Go back now. Your estate manager will clean up the rest of your financial ties and tell you where to go. I want you to spend your life quietly, happily with your wife, without much socializing.¡± Lexen wandered for a while while standing up. But in the end, he couldn¡¯t talk to Artizea again. He turned around and went out. Freil was confused. He was caught in a subtle and strange feeling. The signature on the marriage vows was Terry Ford. Of course, Artizea is not going to use her name directly. Making Lexen feel as if he was married to Artizea herself was an intentional illusion. This is to prevent him from knowing who his real opponent is. ¡®Whoever it is, it¡¯s the Heiress¡¯ henchman.¡¯ Freil thought so. ¡®A grain dealer¡­¡¯ Something caught his mind. Artizea¡¯s words were absolutely right. There was little value in western farnd. There are grain vendors in the west as well, but it meant nothing to big figures like the Marquisate of Rosan. It¡¯s probably cheaper to buy than the building in this capital where they sit now. ¡®Lending a manor in the east would actually be for surveince. ¡® And no matter where or how Mrs. Lexen appears, no doubts will arise. There was no gap at all. Artizea has natural intelligence, wisdom, determination, prudence and observation. She had a trusted figure named Marcus Hanson. Thanks to that, there were also trusted servants who asked Hanson for work. But Freil knew a little about Marcus. He and his children are far from conspiring. As soon as she acquired a huge wealth, she established a safe house, separated the assets that could be hidden, and invested in other ces under a new name. Freil knew about testing the employees of the Grand Duke¡¯s Residence. It looked like an attack but on the contrary, it seemed to be engaging in counterintelligence. Based on that behavior, she is probably forming an informationwork. Freil was able to bet about 100 gold in the fact that she would have started working on other mansions at the same time. Is all this really possible? For an 18-year-old girl who had just barely gone out of reach from her abusive mother¡¯s hands? Freil didn¡¯t take her lightly just because she was young. It was at that age that Emperor Gregor became the adopted son of the previous Empress and was engaged to the present empress who was from the Duchy of Riagan. Already by then he was a politician. Even now. He would not have been surprised if Lord Lawrence and Roygar had shown such insight at the age of 18. At the age of 18, they were already in the midst of a political struggle. But Artizea was different. Not long ago, she was in a situation where she had to wear a shortened dress with ayer of cloth. She wouldn¡¯t know how to deal with money. Mira herself, was the emperor¡¯s favorite mistress and social star, but her daughter was seldom seen out. It caught his mind. However, the reason was unclear. Artizea smiled and looked at Freil. Unlike Freil, she had all the information, so Artizea could read all the confused thoughts in his head. Knock, knock. Freil¡¯s thoughts stopped. It was because the third guest had arrived. ¡°This is Terry Ford, my Lady.¡± A woman in in brown clothes knelt on both knees as soon as the door opened. It was the symbol ofplete obedience. Terry Ford was not a name Artizea had known since her previous life. It means that her existence had not yed such an important role back then. Also, it never showed any kind of talent. But she reached out to Artizea herself. Terry was a senior maid of the Weave¡¯s own family. Viscount Weave was a rtive of the family of the Marquis of Luden, the father of Grand Duke Roygar and Marchioness Camellia. After being sent on errands, several trips to and from the Viscounty, she realized something. The cleaning maid was collecting small rumors from the master¡¯s family. It wasn¡¯t important information. That Marchioness Camellia hase to like light purple velvet these days, or the Marquis made a bet that took 1,000 gold to determine whether this year¡¯s vintage barque Wine would join the ranks of luxury goods at the gentleman¡¯s club. Perhaps such information is also useful somewhere. However, it was a waste of time to stop it. The maid whispered to her that the person giving her money was a reporter for a newspaper. He seems to be nning to dig up a scandal involving Marchioness Camellia. However, after watching the process closely for two months, Terry was convinced that it was a lie. The employer couldn¡¯t be a newspaper reporter. Terry wanted to meet the real master. The one holding theces of the money bag, the superior to serve, the precious noble who can¡¯t even tie their own shoces, and the kind of person who controls a person¡¯s life or death with a few fingers. Terry was smart. And she wanted to gamble. Big bets were needed for big rewards. She had a wish, and she was ready to risk her life for that wish. Terry backtracked the maid to reach the person who sent the gift directly from Alice. And she said she has important information that cannot be traded with something like silver coins. Artizea was interested in her. It¡¯s not because she thought Terry¡¯s information was great. This is because she was able toe to know Artizea¡¯s existence by herself. Of course, her intelligence organization was still poor. However, from the top, Alice was still clumsy. That¡¯s why she was asked to deal with small things like rumors or attires, not real information. But that didn¡¯t mean that a maid could find and dig up by herself alone. So Artizea met her. [¡°I heard that thedy is buying information.¡±] Terry said so. Herplexion was pale, but she was full of determination. Artizea asked slowly. [¡°What kind of great information did youe to me to sell?¡±] [¡°I want to sell my life.¡±] Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Proofreader : xoxomonami ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous. I think I can get rid of you of your neck enough with 2 gold. Even if you risk your life, it¡¯s nothing to me,¡± Artizea said. ¡°Anyone who has a vengeful spirit is helpful enough to not throw up anything even if they are set on fire.¡± Terry said so and tried to put her hand into the furnace to prove what she was saying. Alice caught her hurriedly. Artizeaughed bitterly. ¡°There is no need to do anything stupid to prove your determination. Wouldn¡¯t it rather be useless if you get a big burn?¡± ¡°Then will you listen to my request?¡± ¡°Even if I use you, I can¡¯t send you to the Roygar Grand Duchy as Marchioness Camellia¡¯s maid, Terry. She already knows almost everything about you. That means Marchioness Camellia can easily find out.¡± Artizea said so. ¡°And even if you¡¯re useful, I might not grant your wish.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re going to destroy Grand Duke Roygar and Marchioness Camellia, right?¡± Terry¡¯s father was a baron¡¯s second son. The title was not inherited, but the rank was at the end of the nobility. Her only sister caught the interest of Grand Duke Roygar. While Grand Duchess Roygar was dissatisfied with it. Nothing really happened. Terry¡¯s older sister wasn¡¯t foolish enough to pay attention to a man with a wife. Terry¡¯s older sister even took refuge in a rtive¡¯s house in the western region to avoid it. Nevertheless, Marchioness Camellia murdered Terry¡¯s older sister tofort her brother¡¯s heart. The murder was tricky. Terry¡¯s sister¡¯s murder was disguised as suicide. Terry¡¯s family did not believe shemitted suicide. But it was impossible to reveal the truth. Probably, even if revealed, it would not hurt Grand Duke Roygar or Marchioness Camellia. This was somon that it wasn¡¯t even worth paying attention to for long. Having left alone, she abandoned her status as the daughter of a knight. And went into Viscount Weave as a maid. That was eight years ago. For eight years she realized how insignificant her existence was. ¡°There can be no absolute power in the world. The youngdy is the fianc¨¦e of Grand Duke Evron and the sister of Lord Lawrence. For whoever it is, I know that one day thedy will fight Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Terry looked at Artizea with clear eyes. ¡°If you use me to increase your chances of winning, if you can destroy them by doing so, it will be my revenge in the end.¡± That couldn¡¯t be enough. However, as Terry, there was no other way to take revenge except to be part of the weapon Artizea would hold. Artizea knew some people with such determination. And, like Terry said, such a person was useful. ¡°Good. I will use you. If you¡¯re lucky, it might be part of the de that will slice Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s neck.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Terry was really pleased. It wasn¡¯t difficult to put Terry into what was going on anyway. Artizea intended to send someone to the Riagan Duchy in the south. She decided to put Terry in its ce. It is unclear whether there will be any future use. However, the spy must be sent from a time when they could not even think of the hostile rtionship before it bes useful. Thanks to Terry, Artizea was able toy a stone that ispletely separate from the information organization to be created in the future. It wasn¡¯t a n in the original blueprint, but it was a big point. ¡°Rise up, Terry.¡± Artizea took off her veil. It meant that Terry was one of her own. Terry¡¯s gaze touched Freil once. But soon fell politely. If Artizea thought he was a person she didn¡¯t care to know, she didn¡¯t care either. That¡¯s what loyalty is for. Artizea gave her the marriage certificate. Terry Ford became Lexen¡¯s wife, who didn¡¯t even know her face. ¡°You¡¯re going to go to the South Sea under the name of Mrs. Lexen. You can tell the maid of the Weaves that you¡¯ve be lucky to be the wife of a junior noble.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Since you said you had rtives of the Ford family in the south, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to get into the social world. On the way, you¡¯ll receive a letter of introduction from the Duchess of Riagan¡¯s maid.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°From there, you¡¯ll do what you can. If possible, try to earn the duchess¡¯ trust. If you can be a maid, it¡¯s better, and if not, you should at least be a friend of the maid.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get back to you when you¡¯re useful.¡± Artizea gave her an ebony box lined with gold. Instead of a wedding present, Terry took out the ring from the box and put it on. Then she stood up. With the ebony box in her arms, Terry knelt again. ¡°I¡¯ll pray to God for news.¡± ¡°The object you should be praying for is not God, but the devil.¡± ¡°Either way, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Good luck,¡± Artizea said. Terry went out. Artizea offered Freil a seat this time. Freil¡¯s mind was all confused. He walked a few steps away from Artizea¡¯s escort position. ¡°To send a spy to the Riagan Duchy, you buy the title of a western nobleman?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Artizea tilted the cooled teapot on her hand. ¡°The Duke of Riagan is not an independent power, but rather a servant who follows the orders of His Majesty the Emperor¡­ But in order to epass the empire, it is imperative to keep the southern powers in mind.¡± Suddenly, the scale of the story expanded enormously. Freil¡¯s mind woke up. ¡°Are you going to jump into the battle for session of the empire?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m not serious? Cedric¡¯s mother was His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s rtive. From the lineage, it¡¯s not an exaggeration to say that Cedric has the right to it in the first ce.¡± Artizea said inly. Freil replied sharply. ¡°Don¡¯t try to drag Grand Duke Evron into a pointless war.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve never thought of that before, Sir Freil. I couldn¡¯t have been the only one to suggest that.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°Power is something that has the nature to exclude others. This is something you have to do to survive.¡± If you do nothing, what¡¯s in front of Cedric is purging. The military authority who captured the hearts of the soldiers is dangerous. In addition, the people¡¯s hero is even more dangerous. If he has both of them at the same time and has an imperial lineage, he must be removed first, needless to say. Had Cedric been stupid or ipetent, he would have been fine. If so, Evron would be able to secure safety by giving their hand to one of the two sessors. But Cedric is too good. Even if Freil himself is a figure in Lawrence or Roygar¡¯s, he will surely try to get rid of him. ¡°I understood the words of the Lady. But how can I trust the Lady Heiress? Sir Lawrence is the real brother of the Lady.¡± ¡°It would be hard to believe even if I said that an unqualified person should not be emperor,¡± Artizea said. ¡°So, what if I tell you that I covet the position of Empress? Is that believable?¡± ¡°The Lady has proposed a two-year contract marriage.¡± Said Freil. If being the empress was the purpose, it would have been a proper marriage rather than a limited-time contract marriage. Artizea smiled. ¡°I did.¡± Freil bit his mouth in front of the smile. ¡°I want to prevent destruction. The only alternative was Cedric,¡± Artizea said softly. ¡°Lady Heiress.¡± ¡°The empire alreadycks the vitality of its founding. Thew has be obsolete, and there are more things that don¡¯t do its work properly,¡± she said. ¡°Now, the emperor is high and it is maintained. His Majesty is selfish and arrogant, but not ipetent, but can brother Lawrence or Grand Duke Roygar truly unite the empire like his Majesty Gregor? I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny it.¡± ¡°The north will be abandoned, the west will be destroyed by monster waves, the east will be independent, and the south will be devoured by the Eimmel kingdom. The empire will be torn to pieces.¡± Artizea closed her eyes and breathed a huge sigh. She struggled desperately to maintain the empire after Lawrence became prince. However, it would have been better to just leave it to pieces. If it was going to perish anyway, it was better for it to fight and open a new era rather than be destroyed in the hands of the mad emperor. If so, Cedric would have had a way to make a recovery. Artizea felt anguish and ced her hand on her chest. And she tried to control her mind. ¡°But in Cedric¡¯s way, he never holds power in imperial politics right now. In order to acquire power itself, a proper means is needed. Cedric¡¯s justice can only be realized after taking power.¡± Artizea knew her method might not be right, but it was effective. She already had a sessful experience. It wasn¡¯t a sessful life, but maybeter she got tossed out, but that had nothing to do with the process of raising Lawrence as emperor. Again, Artizea had confidence that she could do it. Her role is to give Cedric power. As with Lawrence, the work after that was not hers. ¡°So it¡¯s two years. To stand by His Grace, to do things that Evron couldn¡¯t do.¡± Freil said so and remained silent for a while. He was wise enough to understand the meaning of Artizea¡¯s words. His heart pounded. The future, the size of the determination, the firmness, and the coolness of an only 18-year-old girl, Freil felt ashamed of himself. ¡°I understand what you mean. You¡¯re right. I¡¯m not going to tell His Grace about this.¡± Freil breathed a small sigh. Cedric¡¯s loyalty and support alle from the fact that he was a just person. By harming it, Artizea¡¯s will cannot be fulfilled. But at the same time, she has to do something that his way cannot. Eventually Artizea will fall apart, doing what Evron cannot do. Freil knew he, himself, was the best person to help her. Because he knows how to doubt. He can doubt Artizea and doubt what she does. Conversely, he will be doubting any iing information. And it can be judged beyond Cedric¡¯s knowledge. What is needed for this kind of work is not loyalty. It is distrust and prudence. That¡¯s why she revealed everything to Freil even though she knew it could be a threat to her organization. He slowly knelt in front of Artizea. And, as in a pledge of allegiance, he bowed his head and kissed the back of her hand. ¡°You will need support, right? I will be with you.¡± Artizea gave a small nod. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Proofreader : xoxomonami The garden of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence was quite neglected. Like other ces in the mansion, it was inevitable because the owner did not take care of it. Horses and hunting dogs were grazing on the grounds, and idle servants were hiding. The old leaves and branches were also entangled in their own way, so it was a space that had nothing to do with aesthetics. Cedric was no exception if the ce stood out from others because he didn¡¯t care about appearances. The main gate was managed at least, but at best, it was enough to mow thewn and cut the branches on time. ¡°I have to make a new road.¡± The grass grew unruly. Recently, he hurriedly mowed the grass and made a trail, because a woman in fine clothes would not be able tofortably walk around. Cedric looked embarrassed. He thought that it wouldn¡¯t matter as long as support and defense were well maintained. He thought it didn¡¯t matter letting the horse and dogs loose. However, when walking with Artizea, there weren¡¯t one or two things that bothered her. ¡°This too. I feel like I¡¯m in the woods, not in the garden.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea said without thinking. Cedric covered his face with his palm. ¡°I have to call the gardener.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, Ansgar told me that he had brought in new employees. Until now, he said there were only two gardeners. This mansion isrge, so it would have been difficult for both people to manage.¡± ¡°Do you say that gardeners are called from far away?¡± ¡°Yes, from the Grand Duchy.¡± Cedric sighed briefly. ¡°Even if it takes some time, it¡¯s better to use someone you trust. The structure of the garden is particrly important for security.¡± ¡°I know, but¡­¡­¡­ But first, I have toy the base for a temporary road.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a waste.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know when it will be in order. Isn¡¯t it difficult for you to walk right now?¡± Cedric pointed to the grass getting under the dress. She just needs to put a piece of cloth there. It was a little difficult to walk with shoes. Artizea lifted the hem of her dress and crossed a clump of grass. ¡°It is sometimes. Won¡¯t it be like a change of mood?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be sometimes.¡± Artizea looked at him, tilting her head. ¡°Did the doctor not rmend it? Take a walk every day.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m paying attention.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not paying attention to the doctor¡¯s rmendation, are you? I was scolded by Ansgar today.¡± ¡°We eat breakfast together every day. That¡¯s enough for you to care for me.¡± ¡°Is it bothersome that I keep pushing my face in front of you?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Artizea looked at him with an embarrassed look. She never thought it was bothersome. However, she just thought he didn¡¯t have to do that for her. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s enough to just say what you needed to say.¡± It was. Artizea knew Cedric well, but Cedric did not know her very well. Even if it¡¯s a contract marriage, it¡¯s a marriage, and even if you¡¯re married, it¡¯s not that you¡¯re going to be separated and never know each other. Not only as a couple, but also between the master and ve, appropriate understanding and trust are needed. Artizea knew it well enough to die for it, so she nodded. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t tell you everything honestly.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes. Cedric asked curiously. ¡°Did it sound like I¡¯m ming you?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that¡­.¡± Artizea hesitated. It has been a long time since she gave up on being understood by others. Rather, it¡¯s okay for someone to have the kind of mindset like Freil. But she was hesitant to ask for human understanding apart from all that. Even if she was a vicious human, it was difficult to ask to believe that she was doing her best for the future. It was morefortable for Artizea to admit that she was a wicked person rather than to ask for understanding. Since she is a wicked person who will fall to hell, it was morefortable to fear and hate her so that she could move ording to her will. Cedric knew that she could be trusted, at least someone he could try to. Instead of taking the easy way to condemn her even in thest minute, he was a person who could bow his head to try and help the world. Therefore, even saying this requires great courage. ¡°Even if it looks like I¡¯m hiding something from Cedric, or even if I¡¯ve done something nasty, I¡¯m not going to do it with hostility¡­.¡± Artizea said carefully. ¡°If you want to know something, ask me the reasons why.¡± If he did that, she thought she would be happy to die even if she would lose her head and climb the gallows. ¡°¡­..¡± Cedric was silent for a moment. He wanted to ask why she said that, but strangely the words didn¡¯te out. Even if he didn¡¯t hear the answer, he felt like he knew it. Perhaps obviously, when that happens, she¡¯ll know why too. That¡¯s what he thought. He reached out his hand. This is because Artizea¡¯s lowered eyshes were glistening, and it looked like tears had formed. ¡°Cedric?¡± ¡°No, no, nothing.¡± He came to his senses and lowered his hand. Cedric thought he had a strange idea. Why is he thinking that she will do a rough job without his knowledge? And even so, he can understand it And then he even wanted to hug her. All three were strange ideas. Artizea promised to consult him before devising a scheme. It¡¯s natural she doesn¡¯t say everything. Cedric had nothing to interfere with the work in the Marquisate of Rosan. It wasn¡¯t strange at all trying to hide the shadow she had in her mind. Cedric reached out to her. Artizea hesitated. ¡°The road is rough. It is strange to say that inside the house.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea carefully ced her hand over Cedric¡¯s hand. Cedric grabbed her hand and let her put her arms around him. He still had the idea of ??wanting to hug her, but it was too early so he decided to be satisfied with this. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure toy the road properly sooner orter. If you¡¯re going to take a walk for exercise, that would be great.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric¡¯s hands and neck were warm. Artizea couldn¡¯t stop her face from blushing. As they walked side by side, it was all good that Cedric¡¯s face was not visible in the eyes of Artizea. The two walked a little longer without a word. ¡°So, is there anything I can do to help you prepare for the wedding? No, I should say I have to help¡­ it¡¯s my job,¡± Cedric asked. ¡°None.¡± Artizea replied immediately. Cedric turned to her with an embarrassed face. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say it so firmly, do you?¡± ¡°Did you fill out all the invitations?¡± ¡°Yes, I will write only what I will send to His Majesty and Grand Duke Roygar, and Ansgar will be responsible for the rest.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. You got the formal dress. I¡¯ll do the rest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because I only seem to be doing nothing. You look incredibly busy, and you have a lot to do.¡± She did. Marriage, the birth of a sessor, and funeral were the most important things in the noble family. Among them, there has never been more work to be done than marriage, where family unity takes ce. Artizea doesn¡¯t even have parents to do those things for her. She had to prepare for the wedding while preparing for the Marquisate of Rosan. Artizea¡¯s wedding arrangements include preparing wedding dresses and gifts or preparing wedding invitations. However, the priority was toy a stone for the future while adjusting various interests. However, there is a limit to the physical strength and mental strength that can be used per day. Artizea had to pay attention to the distribution as she did not have a very energetic body. In order to maintain a clear mental power, she had to take a break, so the problems that ordinary brides care about were forced to be pushed to the back. Cedric felt sorry for that. ¡°Aren¡¯t you so busy that you are barely preparing for yourself?¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t help it.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that, Tia. I¡¯ll be doing the chores, and you¡¯ll have to prepare for yourself.¡± ¡°Ansgar is in charge of the chores. The most important preparations are made without a hitch. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Artizea replied. Cedric sighed. His chest was stuffy, but he couldn¡¯t figure out exactly why. He thought he wished Artizea would be more concerned with this marriage. He didn¡¯t want to say that a wedding is more important than what she is trying to do, or that marriage is the most important thing in a woman¡¯s life. But marriage is marriage. Even if it is a contract marriage with a time limit, it is a marriage. And Artizea is a bride. And he thought it would be nice if Artizea made good memories at the wedding. It was even more so because she was a girl who had never been in the leading role before. He wanted to make her happy for a moment. ¡°This is our marriage.¡± The words he said were barely squeezed out because he wasn¡¯t good at speaking. The main thing in this wedding is neither a scheme nor a conspiracy. It is ¡®our marriage.¡¯ After his mouth said those words, his heart pounded. ¡°Do I look nervous?¡± ¡°A little.¡± Cedric thought about how to properly convey his feelings. ¡°When I got engaged to you, the Western military problem had already been resolved. Remember I first said that I¡¯m going to ept the contract for the Western Army?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Our purpose has been achieved in the first ce. I¡¯ve been granted the Western Army¡¯s victory ceremony, and you¡¯ve gotten out of Mira. So think slowly for now. At least until the wedding. There is a lot of time left for us to be together.¡± Cedric said, gently patting the back of her hand. Artizea lowered her eyes. It was to hide the fire rising to her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not forgetting it.¡± The word ¡®our marriage¡¯ tickled her ear strangely. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Proofreader: xoxomonami On the way back, the two added a little more about the wedding. ¡°Even if I want to ask Cedric for work, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m not trying to make youfortable, but it¡¯s because I can¡¯t believe you.¡± ¡°Am I so ipetent?¡± ¡°Because there are areas that suit people, and there are areas that don¡¯t. Can you understand why Countess Katasha and Countess Pae both wrote letters saying they woulde in tan dresses?¡± Cedric shook his head silently, as he couldn¡¯t even guess. ¡°The two arepeting with each other in the social world. They are having a war of nerves over the dress, saying the other person copied them. They¡¯re trying to gain the upper hand by telling me in advance.¡± ¡°Should I care about that?¡± ¡°If you care a little, you can prevent the trouble, but there is no reason not to.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­ maybe, if I have my subordinates do that, I guess they would follow the rules and then tell them to settle for themselves when a fight arises.¡± ¡°Would Cedric like that?¡± ¡°I prefer to prevent the disturbance in advance. I don¡¯t know how.¡± He looked at Artizea with a look of attention. Artizea smiled. ¡°They don¡¯t have to be seated at the same table, but you just have to sit them down with another person who needs to pay attention to.¡± Artizea gave him the right answer. Of course, it is a matter to think about where to actually ce them. Cedric finally shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry because Ansgar helps me well. I can¡¯t ask Cedric for such chores.¡± ¡°No matter what you think, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m useful in the entire capital. It¡¯s only that I saved you time to practice dancing.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s step on each other¡¯s feet and pretend not to know¡­.¡± On second thought, she felt cheated, so Artizea said so. As she thought about it, her cheeks turned red unknowingly. ¡°I know you don¡¯t attend social gatherings very much, but when did you practice dancing like that?¡± ¡°I think I have a sense of rhythm. I learned it easily when I was young. I have been praised by my dance teacher many times.¡± ¡°You knew you were a good dancer, didn¡¯t you?¡± Cedric¡¯s face also blushed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to make fun of you. I mean it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you were trying to make fun of me. Thank you. It was the first time I ever danced like that at a ball.¡± Then Cedric¡¯s face turned redder. Artizea answered inly. But when Cedric became awkward, she became very awkward, and bowed his head. The two returned to the mansion silently, staring at different ces. ¡°Lady! You¡¯rete!¡± Sophie hurried out, saw Cedric and was startled, stopping her steps. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry, Grand Duke.¡± ¡°No. Is there anything urgent?¡± ¡°Mydy, you really can¡¯t do this. Did you forget that today¡¯s the wedding dress fitting?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t forget. Is Madame Emily already here?¡± ¡°Yes. Honestly, you forgot yourst fitting, but you have to do it right today. You don¡¯t have enough time.¡± Artizea sighed a little. It was troublesome. Cedric was looking at her. Cedric opened his mouth, but he was stunned. Quite a long time. That¡¯s because it was a matter of determination. ¡°Shall we see it together?¡± ¡°The wedding dress fitting?¡± ¡°Well, first of all, I¡¯m the groom, right?¡± Artizea had a perplexed face. Awkward air flowed between the two. It ismon to invite a husband or fiance to the Tuvalet room. Even more, if it¡¯s a love marriage, they would have seen the wedding dress together. However, even though they lived in one house, the two were not close enough. Rather, they were able to talk positively without a wall when sharing about political opinions or discussing practical and serious discussions. However, when it came to a strangely personal situation, it was awkward and they couldn¡¯t even speak. Cedric hesitated when entering the Tuvalet room. Even Artizea couldn¡¯t tell him toe in either. Cedric said with a slightly reddened face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say something useless. I was afraid you might be embarrassed.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Artizea bowed her head. ¡°Then go in first. I have to go back out.¡± ¡°Yes. Go ahead!¡± Artizea greeted and turned around. Did Cedric have a schedule to go out? She searched her memories, but couldn¡¯t know for certain whether she just couldn¡¯t think of it or if she truly just didn¡¯t know. It was because her head was nk, as if it had turned white for a moment. Artizea took her mechanical steps to the Tuvalet room. She felt Cedric¡¯s gaze still standing behind her back. Even her left feet and right feet had cooled down, so she doubted that she was walking properly. Sophie followed Artizea¡¯s and whispered. ¡°Lady, why did you do that?¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± ¡°It would be nice to ask His Grace to look at it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like Cedric is going to change the design just by looking at it.¡± ¡°But still. I caught a glimpse at it, and it was really pretty. If you wear it, you will surely be like a princess.¡± ¡°I am not a child, and I do not want to be a princess.¡± Artizea said so. As she climbed up to the second floor, Emily greeted her with a bright face. ¡°Wee, Lady Heiress. His Grace didn¡¯te with you?¡± Artizea frowned slightly. ¡°I think I made a very nice dress in a short time. The Grand Duke will surely be satisfied.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯te with me.¡± Sophie noticed that Artizea didn¡¯t like it very much, while Emily looked visibly disappointed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you¡¯re more likely to rip off Cedric than me?¡± ¡°No, no way.¡± Emily fiercely denied. ¡°It¡¯s nothing but a wedding dress. It¡¯s my clothes. All I have to do is to be satisfied, I don¡¯t intend to cause trouble for Cedric.¡± ¡°How can you say that? And nothing else, it¡¯s a wedding dress.¡± Emily said as she took her sewing pins to fit Artizea¡¯s body. ¡°I understand that you¡¯re busy, but you can¡¯t be too uninterested. As a woman who makes clothes, I don¡¯t quite understand. Isn¡¯t the dress the alpha and omega of the wedding, from beginning to the end, and even the flower?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time. I have a lot of other things to do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s too tight. You have tomend me for doing this in as little as two months. It was fortunate that I was just bringing in many kinds of white cloth.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gained a little bit of weight on your arms and shoulders than when I measured it before. It looks much better. Your waist is a little better now too.¡± She said it looked so precarious so far, and Emily snapped her pin into her waist. Then Sophie intervened. ¡°The butler and the kitchen are united to this purpose and are also pressuring His Grace, so she¡¯ll be looking even better soon.¡± ¡°His Grace Evron?¡± ¡°Yes. He became the Lady¡¯s personal snack messenger.¡± Sophie put her nose up like it¡¯s her own story. ¡°Stop it. Cedric keeps bringing snacks because it¡¯s awkward.¡± ¡°I saw the butler serving midnight snacks in Cedric¡¯s hand.¡± ¡°Maybe. What¡¯s the big deal with talking about him to this person?¡± Artizea scolded Sophie. But it was a serious story for Emily. She asked anxiously. ¡°Would you like to gain a little more weight?¡± ¡°Would I have to gain such weight in a month or two?¡± ¡°It will look good if you gain a little more weight. That¡¯s right, but I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t fit after sealing it in this state.¡± Emily looked worried, and had a distressed face. ¡°If you get in trouble, I can just tighten the waist with a corset¡­ Now, look in the mirror.¡± Artizea turned to the mirror as Emily told her. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s well made.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Emily said. The dress was designed to fit snugly on the upper body, and has a thin fabric from the waist with fine folds that spread out. ¡°It¡¯s not thetest trendy style these days. The Lady¡¯s overall body is slim, so this neat design would be more suitable than emphasizing the curve of the body.¡± Artizea smiled bitterly, knowing that she twisted the words ¡®dried¡¯ so gracefully. ¡°If I had more time, I would have put on jewelry to make it shine properly, but I didn¡¯t have enough time to do that. I was still able to get the fabric embroidered with silk thread.¡± As Emily said so, she showed the fabric around Artizea¡¯s waist. It wasn¡¯t noticeable because it was embroidered on white fabric with white embroidery, but every time the light hit it, it shimmered. ¡°It¡¯s too simple as a wedding dress for someone who will be the Marchioness of Rosan and the Grand Duchess of Evron, but this is the best it can get.¡± ¡°Wow! But it¡¯s really pretty!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll look so good!¡± The maids burst into cheers. Emily¡¯s nose rose by a centimeter. Artizea smiled bitterly. ¡°Yes. Do it like this.¡± Artizea wasn¡¯t the main character of the wedding anyway. Now the whole society is listening to the wedding, how are the bride¡¯s clothes, how are the gifts. But what everyone really expects is a scandal. How will Miralia, who pped and trampled on her daughter, attend the wedding? What attitude will the emperor, who is showing a favorable attitude to this wedding, take on Miralia? What will the girl look like when she regains the Marquisate from her family¡¯s grip in an instant? Is it easy or not? Is it usable or not? Is the Grand Duke Evron corrupted or not? Those are the real interests. Anyway, the moment all attendees are revealed, the bride¡¯s wedding dress will be a passing topic. However, Artizea was captivated by the strange movement inside of her chest. She seemed to be anxious, and her heart was pounding with tension. Knock, knock. Then she heard a knock on the door of the Tuvalet room. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Proofreader: xoxomonami Even though she didn¡¯t answer toe in, the door opened. Alice came in, her cheeks hot with excitement. As if she had run, she was gasping for breath. ¡°Miss.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Artizea turned to her and asked calmly. Alice seemed toe to her senses when she saw the colorful room filled with dresses, jewelry and fabrics. Taking her breath, she strides towards Artizea. ¡°Kaah! You¡¯ll get dust on it!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t step on it!¡± Emily¡¯s employees made a fuss, but Alice didn¡¯t seem to be inclined to do so. ¡°Mydy, the news came from the Marquisate of Rosan.¡± Alice said quietly into Artizea¡¯s ear. Emily quickly noticed and distanced herself from Artizea. Sophie opened her eyes and tilted her head. ¡°Last night¡­ No, this dawn, they said Bill died.¡± ¡°I see.¡± It looks like Rye did the job right. ¡°Well done.¡± Artizea praised Alice. It¡¯s too trivial this time. However, it is important to hear the news even a little earlier than others. For Alice, the work of dealing with information was no different. She wasmendable. Alice grinned with delight. ¡°Yes. Nora came to deliver the news to me. She is a maid who worked in theundry room.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember.¡± This is all due to the effects of offering bribes in the name of gifts. She was told to let them know if there was any news, and she ran as soon as she knew that this incident had happened and delivered it to Alice. Sophie heard the name Nora and opened her ears. ¡°Who is Nora?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s¡­.¡± ¡°Bill is dead.¡± Alice looked at Artizea, wondering if she had to hide it. Artizea nodded her head in an attitude that was not in the slightest surprise or agitation. Mira¡¯s butler died. Anyway, the news would spread even after half a day. Articles will also appear in the newspaper this week. There was no reason to hide it. ¡°Oh my gosh!¡± Sophie was startled and stopped the scream with her hand. Emily shouted in surprise too. Since Mira had been to Emily¡¯s several times, most of her staff knew about Bill. Amazement and shock spread. ¡°Oh, how did that happen?¡± ¡°Last night the madam, s.¡± Alice stopped talking, and she quickly shut her mouth. It was noticeable that she had mentioned Mira. Artizea shook her head lightly and gave a sign that it didn¡¯t matter. Then Alice said with confidence. ¡°It looks like the Madam hit Bill in her hysteria, so he got angry and went out for a drink in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯te back until morning. The Madam got up in the morning and looked for Bill, but she was angry again because he wasn¡¯t there. So the servants went around all the nearby bars and looked for him, and they found him. He fell down on the street and died.¡± ¡°Oh my God. Was it a heart attack or something like that?¡± ¡°No, but someone hit him with a stone from the back and stole his wallet. It¡¯s a frequent crime in the neighborhood. Bill was unlucky to fall forward and hit his head wrongly and died in an instant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡± Sophie muttered to herself, Emily asked again. ¡°Did they find the culprit?¡± ¡°No. I reported it to the police, but there is no hope of finding the criminal.¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°I heard they will investigate but there¡¯s not much to say. I guess it¡¯s hard to say that it was done and disguised by someone with a grudge. They said Bill took out his wallet at the bar and sshed moneyst night.¡± Rye has never disappointed Artizea in this matter. Thispletely hides the source of the book copied by Bill. Artizea hid a satisfying smile. Emily asked in bewilderment. ¡°Why the hell did he do that?¡± ¡°He would have said he lived this miserable life to get this money. The butler is not like that once or twice.¡± Sophie answered in a small voice. But it was a tone ofpassion. ¡°I hated the butler more than the Madam, but to hear he¡¯s dead¡­¡± ¡°The Madam¡­ What did she say? He was her favorite butler.¡± ¡°I think she was shocked. She fainted.¡± At Alice¡¯s answer, Emily turned to Artizea. Artizea returned the gaze with an indifferent expression. Emily put her eyes down. ¡°I see.¡± Emily didn¡¯t even say her next words, but Artizea knew what she hade up with. She herself came here, and some time ago, Lawrence also left the house. Mira was left alone in that house. In such a situation, even the butler was killed. She must have wondered if it would be okay to just leave her alone. As Artizea looked at her silently, Emily hurriedly lowered her gaze. She is a renowned seamstress, so thedies are friendly, but she wasn¡¯t in a position to face Artizea and talk easily. It was a sin to dare toe up with advice. In addition, Emily knew about Artizea¡¯s inner situation. She was so sorry that she tried to show her sympathy for Mira. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady Heiress.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be sorry about?¡± Emily politely bowed her head. ¡°Alice, the maid named Nora is not gone yet?¡± ¡°Yes. I urgently told her to wait for a while to inform you of the news, and then came up. Maybe she wants to see you.¡± ¡°I want to, but I can¡¯t meet her because I¡¯m in this situation. You can treat her to a cup of tea in my ce.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Miss.¡± Alice bowed her head to say her greetings and ran out. This is because she knew that the word ¡®in my ce¡¯ means to give a reward instead. As for Alice, she was able to make her face big. Sophie hesitated and said. ¡°Miss, can I go out for a while?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you! I worked in theundry room before serving you, and I know Nora well. Thank you, I¡¯ll be here soon!¡± Sophie followed Alice. Emily continued to work silently for a while. When Sophie¡¯s fuss disappeared, the Tuvalet room became very cold. Artizea got bored and asked Emily. ¡°You¡¯re done with the wedding dress, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, but there were many things I wanted to show you¡­¡± Emily said with a fretful face as if it was unfortunate. With big guests like a bride preparing to get married, thebination of their demeanor, excitement, and ustomedness torge expenditures, creates a fearlessness to the world. However, Artizea was not as excited as she thought and the least she could do was save her face. She was the first to have such great fortune and didn¡¯t know how to use it. But she had one thing that would make Emily happy. She had lived a long time in the Marquisate of Rosan. The unit of money in the ounts book was far beyond the budget of a family. ¡°You¡¯ve already taken the dimensions, so do anything else on your own. You don¡¯t have to worry about the money.¡± Emily¡¯s cheeks rose brightly. ¡°When the Grand Duke said that, you said it was a waste.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not my money, but the money that Cedric uses.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous to call it a waste!¡± Emily said in a shrill voice, and at this time she was full of energy, causing Artizea to flinch. ¡°I know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Cedric¡¯s spending money on her also has functional value. It didn¡¯t matter much. Yet, she felt embarrassed for no reason. Maybe it was because she felt sorry for being treated as a bride even though it wasn¡¯t even a real marriage ¡¸This is ¡®our marriage¡¯.¡¹ The sound of her beating heart seemed to be spreading to her ear. Artizea rolled her eyes down and felt a strange heat rising from the corner of her heart. Cedric needs to be careful with his words. She knows he¡¯s not trying to seduce a woman, but his sincere face and sincere voice were overly powerful. Artizea knew that she understood what he wanted to say. In any case, the Artizea in his eyes is an 18-year-old who just got out of her mother¡¯s grasp. It must have seemed sad that she was focusing on conspiring rather than preparing for marriage. ¡®Don¡¯t be nervous, don¡¯t be pressured, but still, because it is a marriage, enjoy all that you can enjoy as a bride.¡¯ ¡®Because you are a kind person.¡¯ She¡¯s someone who didn¡¯t deserve such consideration. With that in mind, the heat moving in her chest cooled down. And her head was full of work to do. She couldn¡¯t think slowly, like Cedric said. If she has six hands, she would be moving all of them. There¡¯s nothing good about stalling time. It is better to drop Lawrence as soon as possible. Emily denied it when she found herself lost in thought. ¡°No. I don¡¯t think you know me at all.¡± ¡°Madam Emily.¡± ¡°A man on the verge of marriage is the time when he invests the most in a woman in his lifetime. The upper limit is no different from what he receives at this time. You should not lower that limit yourself!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m the Marchioness of Rosan.¡± Emily mumbled and bit her mouth. ¡°He¡¯s not going to have any financial difficulties¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say anything, just do your job well. Don¡¯t you know more about what you need for a cloth product? I don¡¯t have time to take care of each one.¡± ¡°Lady Heiress.¡± The happy marriage that Emily envisioned was not the concern of Artizea. It wasn¡¯t going to happen. It was Artizea herself that made the people around her mistake it for a love marriage, so she had nothing to say otherwise. ¡°It¡¯s Sophie who manages my wardrobe, so tell her. I¡¯ll pay a generous amount for herbor expenses.¡± Emily sighed. ¡°I thought you could see the light now¡­..¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t making and wearing beautiful clothes that change reality?¡± Artizea said that and finished her fitting, listening to Emily¡¯s sighs. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Proofreader: xoxomonami 7. Audience with the Empress The day hase to see the empress. Alice had been making a fuss since the morning. ¡°What should I do? Lady, is this pretty, or is this pretty?¡± ¡°Both are very bright colors.¡± Alice¡¯s hand held an ivory dress and a light blue dress. Artizea shook her head. ¡°I think the light blue suits you a lot better.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to wear a dark color. Put the clothes back. There¡¯s no reason to dress up.¡± ¡°But still it¡¯s your first time going to the pce as the ¡®Marchioness of Rosan¡¯. It¡¯s also the first time to greet the Empress as the fiancee of Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing like that, because I¡¯ming in quietly to the Empress.. What happened in Her Majesty¡¯s pce will not be spoken out and will not be seen by others.¡± Eighteen years ago, the empress lost all of her children. Shortly thereafter, her best friend, Viscountess Pescher,mitted suicide with her husband. However, the empress¡¯s misfortune did not end there. While she was grieving and turning away from the outside affairs, the emperor reorganized the power structure of the southern nobility. He was ready to hit the Duke of Riagan, the empress¡¯s father. By the time the empress came to her senses, she was already in a state where everything was irreversible. The Duke of Riagan and his wife died in an ident shortly thereafter. Whether it was a real ident was unknown. The empress walked away and locked the door of her pce. And for 18 years she never took off her mourning clothes. It was for her children, it was for her friends, and it was for her father and mother. Outwardly, she seemed to have given up on life. ¡®Nevertheless, the emperor is wary of her empress. That¡¯s the biggest indicator.¡¯ During the 18 years of the empress¡¯s despair and mourning, Emperor Gregor held Mira and Lawrence in his arms and yed a happy family game. Couldn¡¯t the anger and resentment umte in the heart of the empress? She is not a saint. At one time in her youth, there must have been a time when she trusted the emperor. Whether there was love in her trust or not is unknown to Artizea. It¡¯s true that with or without her love, she yed a great role in bringing Emperor Gregor to his present ce. Her power still remains. The emperor neither deposed the empress nor killed her. The Empress has a considerable stake on the throne of Emperor Gregor. Therefore, it is better to show herself as it is than to decorate as brightly as possible. Because a girl drunk in her romantic dreams is useless to the empress. Artizea made up her mind and refined her strategy. At an unexpected hour that day, Freil visited the Tuvalet room. ¡°It was so close to time.¡± Freil shrugged his shoulders. Artizea had just finished getting dressed. No matter how much he thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem like there was an urgent need for Freil to visit at this time. Freil brought out the box that he was holding. Alice tilted her head and epted the box. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s heavier than it looks, Sir Freil?¡± Alice brought the box to the dressing table in front of Artizea and opened the lid of the box. Sophie glimpsed and eximed. ¡°Wow, is it a jewel?¡± What was inside was a blue crystal the size of a forearm. It was a deep navy blue, reminiscent of the southern sea. Artisea smiled unintentionally when she saw the shape. ¡°This is the special salt of the South Sea. It would have been difficult to obtain such a beautiful andrge crystal.¡± ¡°Salt?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There is a lot of good salt in the South Sea. South Sea salt was used everywhere except in the underdeveloped area in the western and northern parts of the empire. The revenue generated by the resale of salt amounted to nearly 20% of the empire¡¯s finances. ¡°Most of the salt in the South Sea is made by boiling sea water, but in some beaches in the Riagan region, it is said that salt grows like this crystal on the floor. So, salt is not expensive.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s really pretty.¡± ¡°In the Riagan region, it¡¯s something thatmoners can bring and decorate if they want.¡± ¡°It was incredibly difficult to bring to the capital as well. Don¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think the Sir brought it, but a merchant did, right?¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Freil was grave. ¡°It wasn¡¯t normal to have them bring it.¡± ¡°Good job. But the deadline I mentioned was probably a monthter.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Freil had a frustrated face. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It¡¯s much better if I can take it today. I set a deadline a monthter because I thought it would be difficult to get such a vivid blue crystal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfair that I have to run here and there in a hurry.¡± ¡°The Sir has a habit of listening to one thing, but he¡¯s not careful. It¡¯s such a small thing. It doesn¡¯t matter. ¡°What kind of life is mine? The Lady Heiress doesn¡¯t care, when I¡¯m a big supporter of yours.¡± Artizeaughed. ¡°I¡¯m not kidding. Before you go somewhere to drink poison and regret it.¡± ¡°Who will poison a knight like me?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Artizea did not answer. It was then. ¡°You¡¯re talking about something nasty. Poisoning.¡± Cedric said. Then he stood there and knocked on the door. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to¡­. The door was open¡­¡± ¡°Oh, Your Grace.¡± Freil salutes him. Artizea stood up. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Are you ready to go?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was after Sophie had already put a small hat on Artizea¡¯s head and fixed it with a pin. ¡°I thought I heard something about poisons¡­.¡± ¡°It was a joke.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, it¡¯s a gift prepared by Sir Freil.¡± ¡°Freil prepared a gift?¡± Freil nced at Cedric¡¯s eyes. Cedric¡¯s countenance urred in his eye. He wasn¡¯t angry. He just fiddled with his eyebrows with his own hands. Artizea replied. ¡°Yes.¡± Frustrated Freil¡¯s brain cells sang. He couldn¡¯t tell if he knew but pretended not to know, or if he really didn¡¯t know. ¡°The Lady Heiress said she needed salt from the Riagan region so I got it for her. That¡¯s a hundred percent not a lie. Then, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Freil spoke quickly and floated away as if running away. Cedric looked away from behind him. ¡®I didn¡¯t say anything.¡¯ He stroked his forehead again with his index finger. ¡°Is this a gift prepared for Her Majesty?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± Artizea tilted her head and asked. Cedric grinned. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just thought it was a bit unexpected.¡± He extended his arm. Artizea put her hand on his arm. When Alice heard that, she closed the lid of the box and went out first to put it on her carriage. The two slowly came downstairster. Cedric escorted Artizea to her carriage. Artizea took a seat and asked when the carriage door closed. ¡°What kind of person is Her Majesty the Empress?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a littlete to talk about it now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just curious about Lord Cedric¡¯s impressions, not objective information. You said you woulde with me. You said you weren¡¯t one of them.¡± At first, Artizea was going to see the Empress alone. Because she was going with Cedric, it would be like just going to say hello to a rtive. Saintess Olga¡¯s heart can also be delivered through Cedric. The Empress will then give a reasonable appreciation for presenting a fine jewelry as a gift. But it shouldn¡¯t be. That¡¯s why they left the easy path and came back round. Everyone in the social world knows that she has won Saintess Olga¡¯s heart. She showed her involvement in the incident. In doing so, she revealed her desire and gaps. She created a probability that people thought she would want to take revenge on Mira. In doing so, she aroused the empress¡¯s interest. Letting her know that she is a worthy opponent for trading. And she finally received an invitation with her own name, Artizea Rosan. However, Cedric was opposed to her meeting the empress alone. ¡°Isn¡¯t that strange? You¡¯re going to say hello as my fianc¨¦e, but also leave me behind by going alone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not unusual for a noble girl to see Her Majesty alone. And, as I said, I¡¯m not just trying to say hello as a rtive, but I¡¯m going to make another request.¡± ¡°Are you worried about me knowing your tactics?¡± Artizea could not help but be embarrassed. It wasn¡¯t like that. It wasn¡¯t something she could do secretly without notifying Cedric. ¡°No. It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°If so, let¡¯s go together. I won¡¯t interfere with what you¡¯re trying to do.¡± Cedric said in a soft voice. ¡°Her Majesty The Empress is not easy, but until now, the gates of the Empress¡¯s Pce were closed. If you see her alone, it will surely catch the attention of the social world.¡± It was an undesirable thing. Artizea was forced to nod her head. Despite the fact that the most important figure for Lawrence to be the prince was the empress, Artizea did not have much information about the empress. Just mentioning the empress was the biggest reason why Mira was so angry. However it was also a problem that her pce was always closed. All the remaining employees in the pce are loyal ones who gave their lives to the Empress. The few guests who came and went were all of the empress¡¯s very close friends. There was no one who could be bought with money. It would have been possible to take the time to intimidate the family or create weaknesses with things like beauty. But instead of working so hard, Artizea solved it so easily. Under the emperor¡¯s acquiescence, she set fire to the empress¡¯s pce. It was after the saint¡¯s oracle came out. Now she had calcted that Lawrence could acquire his legitimacy even if she wasn¡¯t the empress. The empress died without leaving the pce. None of the assassins who waited for the Empress toe out alive, got blood on their knife. It wasn¡¯t until then that Artizea thought that the Empress might have been really ill. ¡®Cedric will not forgive.¡¯ Unlike killing a butler, she can¡¯t hide and do such a big thing. Artizea gazed gently at Cedric¡¯s face. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Proofreader: xoxomonami Cedric had a thoughtful face for a while and said. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress is not a benevolent person.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± ¡°Thest time I saw her was when I was 20 years old and took over the title of Grand Duke. Probably thest time His Majesty the Emperor met her too. I thought it was true that she was ill.¡± ¡°Since she is living such a life, she cannot possibly be healthy.¡± ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t have anything to say because I don¡¯t see her often.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t in a position to do that. It¡¯s not just a rtive. For Her Majesty the Empress, Cedric is someone under theirmand. You had to think about safety.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Cedric sighed with a light chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve only seen her for a short time, so it wouldn¡¯t be helpful to tell you with the impressions of that time. When I was younger¡­ when Pavel was alive, I sometimes went to y.¡± Pavel was the second son of the empress, who died 18 years ago. Cedric said, recalling his memory. ¡°Her Majesty was a cold person to Brother Pavel as well. As you know, I lost my mother early, so when I was a child, I had something like a fantasy about having a real mother, but I was surprised that Her Majesty was so cold.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°She must not have had a heart to love.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, she won¡¯t be in grief until now.¡± Artizea let out a small sigh. ¡°If Prince Pavel had been alive, he would have been the sessor to the Riagan Duchy, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Since Her Majesty was the only descendant of the Duke, she wrote a contract with His Majesty before marriage. Of the children born between them, the youngest of the children is to belong to the Riagan Duchy. She did it to avoid joining the royal family.¡± ¡°She was a noble person. Ambitious, and it is not easy to marry into the imperial family.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric replied, then bite his lips for a moment. When Artizea fell quiet at her thoughts, the inside of the carriage became quiet too. She thought about the situation when the empress was drawing up the contract. She probably chose to marry because at the time it was a conventional way to supplement his legitimacy while supporting Emperor Gregor. However, she had no intention of joining the Riagan Duchy to the imperial family. If so, the pride of the Riagan Duchy is still the biggest weight in the empress¡¯s heart. ¡°The salt crystals Lord Freil brought might y a more important role than I think.¡± ¡°¡­ are you and Freil close?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± At Cedric¡¯s unexpected question, Artizea tilted her head. Cedric stroked his mouth once. It was to hide his agitation. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing. Just because you look friendly ¡­¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re not close.¡± Artizea replied immediately. He showed his true color and trusted his ability. She could easily entrust the work without hiding it. But saying that she was friendly with him waspletely separate. Cedric¡¯s face turned a little red. He lowered his eyes. ¡°Yes, no, nothing. I asked you a strange question. Freil is a quick witted and reliable person.¡± ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± Artizea tilted her head. *** The carriage passed through a small wooded garden and stopped in front of the main gate of the Empress¡¯s Pce. Cedric got off the carriage first and helped Artizea.The Lady-in-waiting, Countess Martha, bowed politely. ¡°Wee, Grand Duke Evron, Lady Heiress of Rosan.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Countess Martha.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve be more good looking since thest time I¡¯ve seen you.¡± Count Martha said with a smile towards Cedric. And she politely bowed her head to Artizea. ¡°Even in the midst of Her Majesty¡¯s sickness, she waited very much for the day to meet the Lady Heiress.¡± ¡°It is an honor.¡± Artizea nced at Alice, who followed her. As Alice had been instructed in advance, she quickly lowered the jewelry box and she presented it to the Countess Martha. ¡°I had my maid bring something for Her Majesty the Empress. If it¡¯s okay, can you do me a favor?¡± ¡°Okay. Then, I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Countess Martha epted her box. ¡°Come in. She is waiting in the audience room.¡± Cedric reached out his arm. Artizea was escorted by him and headed inside. The ceiling was so high that the footsteps echoed. The floor was marble, and the pirs were decorated with gold studded embellishments. Even though it was bright because the curtains were open, it felt somehow dark. Perhaps this is because there was no signs of people. Upon arriving at the audience room, Countess Martha politely announced. ¡°Grand Duke Evron and Lady Heiress of Rosan have arrived.¡± The creaking door opened. The empress was sitting with her two maids. Today, she was also dressed in mourning. The jewel on the neck was a ck jet with no luster. This is a tomb that the empress made herself. It was a realistic figure. Cedric released Artizea¡¯s arm. And he first knelt in front of her empress. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. I¡¯m sorry for not visiting you often.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯re not in a veryfortable situation, and you can¡¯t even stay in the capital for a long time, so why should you feel sorry for not being able to greet often? I¡¯m grateful that you came without forgetting about me.¡± ¡°No, absolutely not.¡± ¡°You¡¯re Rosan¡¯s Lady Heiress, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, this is my fiancee.¡± Cedric stood up and introduced. Artizea slowly approached and knelt in front of the empress. Then she kissed the hem of the ck mourning gown. ¡°Rosan¡¯s Artizea greets the Moon of the Empire.¡± ¡°Raise your head.¡± Artizea raised her head. The empress looked down at her. ¡°You look like Marquis Michael.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes. ¡°I am also overwhelmed for this chance to meet you.¡± ¡°Although I¡¯m sick and quietly recuperating in the pce, wouldn¡¯t I even meet Cedric¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Still, I¡¯ve been hearing news from the outside.¡± ¡°I should have visited and said hello, but I didn¡¯t dare to see you until you call me.¡± ¡°A lot of things happened. Relocating a residence is no ordinary thing. Especially since it¡¯s a big deal to get a family home. Cedric may be very helpful, but what about the Lady Heiress of Rosan¡¯s family?¡± The empress said slowly. She seemed unwilling to hide that she was listening to all the social news with her ears open. Artizea said politely. ¡°Thankfully, His Majesty the Emperor has allowed my fianc¨¦e to be my guardian before marriage, and the old employees in the family have also returned. We are taking care of it well.¡± ¡°Good thing.¡± ¡°I am relieved as if all my worries were washed away, and Your Majesty¡¯s has also allowed me to see you. I have something I brought to the Empress as a sign of gratitude.¡± Countess Martha took the jewelry box brought by Artizea to the Empress. The empress opened the lid of the box. Arge diamond shone brightly in the morning sunlight. ¡°Thest time I saw it was a very long time ago, so I thought it would be different from my memory¡­ Even if it was made like this, it¡¯s still beautiful.¡± The empress could not hide her trembling voice for a moment. But soon the trembling subsided beneath the expressionless dignity. ¡°But I heard that Cedric gave it to the Lady Heiress as a proposal gift.¡± Instead of answering, Cedric looked at Artizea. Artizea bowed her head and said softly. ¡°After knowing the history of this gem, how can I just think of it as a diamond and hang it on my neck?¡± ¡°Does the Lady say so, knowing that the owner of this jewel hasmitted suicide for betraying the imperial family?¡± Cedric flinched at the empress¡¯s sharp question as if trying to intervene. But Artizea didn¡¯t even move, so he endured. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you consider a jewel only as a jewel. Such a great diamond is enough to use it as a wedding gift for the Marchioness of Rosan or as a treasure for the Grand Duke.¡± The empress questioned stronger. ¡°But you dedicate it to me while telling of its history, it¡¯s a disgrace to me. Did you think that I should keep a sinner¡¯s past, so the sinner is bound to me?¡± ¡°How can a will that has already been created disappear?¡± Artizea said in a calm manner. ¡°The history attached to the object does not disappear. Would thedy who had this jewel really regarded it as a precious diamond? Was the jewel when in the hands of others, not the Empress, to be forgotten by the people?¡± ¡°Lady Heiress. You dare.¡± ¡°The Pescher¡¯s heirloom is by no means just a jewel.¡± Artizea said so. Because that would be what the Empress wanted. The Empress needs someone to share her sufferings with herself. It will only be with someone she trusts enough to risk her life for herself. If such a person does not appear, she will not be able to open the door of the Imperial Pce. But Artizea couldn¡¯t give her that trust. The empress is not one to be cajoled by words in a short time. Instead, she decided to grasp her weaknesses. The Viscount and Viscountess of Pescher took responsibility for the death of the princes andmitted suicide. And it was the emperor, not the empress, who demanded responsibility. In other words, it was to deny what the emperor had done and praise the Peschers. It was also something she could do because she was convinced that the empress would not use that weakness. The empress, in her mourning dress, couldn¡¯t mention the sins of Viscountess Pescher again out of her mouth. Artizea said, holding her blue eyes straight. ¡°I know they took their life because of the suffering that they did not fully repay Her Majesty¡¯s trust.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°The Peschers were not executed as a traitor, but there were no descendants left.¡± The silence sank down breathtakingly. The Empress tapped the armrest several times and said. ¡°People who risk themselves will want that much reward. What is the reward for the Lady Heiress?¡± ¡°I only want to be closer to Her Majesty.¡± Artizea said with her head down. ¡°Please use me as with Viscountess Pescher.¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Proofreader: xoxomonami The most surprised one was Cedric. It was because he hadn¡¯t been told at all about this. ¡°Tia.¡± He reached out and grabbed Artizea¡¯s hand. Artizea gently shook his hand and looked at Cedric. ¡°Would you please bring me the box I left in the carriage? The one I got from Sir Freil.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric made a voice that seemed to try to appease Artizea. Artizea said again. ¡°It¡¯s something that can¡¯t be left in the hands of others. Even if it¡¯s called the Empress¡¯s Pce, there will be the eyes and ears of His Majesty the Emperor somewhere.¡± Artizea was right. Cedric stood up. Then he gave a little greeting to the empress and went out of the audience room. Artizea stood up and knelt again before the empress. The empress asked,nguishingly leaning on her back. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re suspicious of my pce.¡± ¡°Your Majesty is well aware that this is true.¡± A suspicious person like the emperor must have nted people in close proximity like the pce. The empress did not find any fault in her. ¡°So, you will be mydy-in-waiting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It seems that there was no discussion between you two.¡± The empress said so. ¡°It¡¯s my decision.¡± Artizea¡¯s face had no color. So, both eyes with strong will were deeper and a new blue light was shining. However, she couldn¡¯t fully understand the inside of it. ¡°Is your mother so shameful?¡± The empress asked to shake Artizea. The more noble she is, the less likely she will be ady-in-waiting. It was usually an unmarried sister or cousin who became thedy-in-waiting. If not, a niece or a guardian that¡¯s educated to be ady-in-waiting. Someone you can trust among the vassals. Thesedies aren¡¯t just women who take care of misceneous things and bepanions. It is a henchman. However, Artizea met the Empress for the first time today. It is not that the Marquisate of Rosan has had a rtionship with the Riagan Duchy in the past. As such, it is inappropriate to speak of loyalty or pledge. Even if she is the Marchioness of Rosan, what would she benefit from being the Queen¡¯sdy-in-waiting as the Grand Duchess Evron? She didn¡¯t know again when she was fighting for power in the middle of the imperial pce, but she had no reason to be beside the empress, who had been living in seclusion like now. ¡°If you follow me, it doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯ll be mydy-in-waiting. Did you darepare yourself with the Peschers and use me because you want to make your mother angry?¡± Artizea lowered her eyes down and said. ¡°The rtionship with my mother is already broken. I don¡¯t want to bring shame to the Grand Duchy of Evron. It¡¯s better to be the Lady-in-waiting as Grand Duchess of Evron rather than Mira¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll listen to that? Even when in public in an official position with Gregor?¡± The empress said, with a quiver. If it¡¯s her husband¡¯s nephew¡¯s wedding, she doesn¡¯t have to go out, but if it¡¯s herdy-in-waiting¡¯s wedding, she¡¯spelled to attend. That means she has to be in the same position as the emperor. And she couldn¡¯t pretend to not know each other while being in the same ce as the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty will ept my will, because she wants revenge.¡± ¡°How would it be revenge for me to harass your mother?¡± The empress said coldly. ¡°Yes, I hate Mira. No one likes the mistress with or without love for her husband.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°When my child died, Gregor hugged that bitch and her son and said that it was all for her. He gave what my child should have inherited to her son, killed my own family, tore up the family fortune and distributed it to those who ttered her.¡± The empress sharply gnashed her teeth. ¡°Nevertheless¡­, how could Mira be the object of my revenge? For Gregor, to love his mistress is nothing but entertainment. Isn¡¯t it really something he does for that bitch to beat someone who doesn¡¯t kneel in front of her as an excuse?¡± The Empress¡¯s anger echoed in her reception room. ¡°It is to split the power of the nobles in half by separating the tterers and those who don¡¯t, and to overthrow the servants by purging those who speak offensive things in advance!¡± ¡°Then, you are going to let His Majesty Emperor have his will for the descendants?¡± Despite being the daughter of that Mili, Artizea was not at all withdrawn or afraid. ¡°The Emperor is a greedy person. Power is not shared with his children. The Emperor will hold that power until the moment he stops breathing, and then he will pass it on to a child he loves enough to be considered his alter ego. Lawrence is most likely right now.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°But everything that he will inherit should have been brought to life by the Empress. Do you want His Majesty to do all of it at will? He was not alone in his own power to ascend the Emperor. How much stake does Her Majesty have on the throne?¡± The empress was silent for a while. Then in a split voice she said. ¡°You¡¯re excellent at stabbing people and encouraging anger.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± Artizea bowed her head deeply. Anger and desire move people easily. Fear and restraint are far more useful means of manipting a person. Even though the Empress noticed it, she said again. ¡°Gregor¡¯s throne clearly contains my share. Do you want that? Is it the empress¡¯s seat that you want?¡± ¡°What I want is to have the power to regain my rights and to have the power to not be so obsequious with others again.¡± The Empress would not believe that justice or the right path, or that she decided to follow it. It would be easier to understand if she says it was for ambition or vengeance. If she didn¡¯t know Cedric and Licia, Artizea would have done it herself. So Artizea replied that way. ¡°Because it will be the greatest revenge for those who despise me.¡± The empress shed augh afterwards. ¡°It¡¯s of no use to me. If I follow your will, what will you pay me back?¡± ¡°I will make His Majesty the most lonely and miserable person in the world.¡± Artizea answered so without hesitation. The empress lost her words. Even the empress¡¯s maids did not dare to open their mouths. The sharp air filled the audience room. Artizea was neither anxious nor worried. She would not know if it was to make someone happy, but she was confident if it was to make someone miserable. Even if he dies lying on a bed decorated with gold, nothing will remain in the hands of the emperor. ¡°Do you know that your words can sound like treason?¡± ¡°I can turn it around, but I know that¡¯s not what your Majesty wants to hear. I told you that I can do exactly what you want.¡± The empress changed herplexion. It was then. The door opened carefully and the attendant said politely. ¡°The Grand Duke Evron is back.¡± Cedric returned with a box. He noticed the tension in the audience room, but instead of letting go of the embarrassment, he came inside, pushing the air out in a calm and stable manner. Cedric¡¯s presence softened the atmosphere of the audience room with heavy pressure. He put the box down on the table. Cedric knew that while he had been away there was a serious and heavy conversation. But he didn¡¯t dare to ask on the spot or act without notice. Instead, he raised Artizea to support her and asked in a gentle voice. ¡°Why are you on your knees?¡± That alone loosened the tension. The empress looked at the box and asked. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°This is a gift that Tia has been preparing to give Her Majesty. Saintess Olga¡¯s heart cannot be a gift because it was what Her Majesty deserves.¡± Countess Martha approached. Cedric reached out and stopped the Countess from opening the box. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should open it now.¡± Artizea smiled as it seemed that Cedric looked through her and said it. She said, as the empress sighs at Cedric. ¡°How did you find a wife like this?¡± Cedric had an embarrassed face. He didn¡¯t know what kind of conversation went, but he had guessed what the empress wanted to say. ¡°I think she¡¯s great.¡± ¡°I heard rumors say you were in love.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± As the empress sighed, she exhaled a long sigh. ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean that she thinks immaturely because she¡¯s young, but¡­.¡± Nevertheless, there was a stir in his chest. There was no reason to trust. The only thing Artizea now has is the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s wealth and Cedric. However, despite the fact that Artizea knew nothing, she seeded in regaining the Marquisate of Rosan back. Her ability to deal with people was excellent and her goals were clear. There are rumors that she fell in love with Cedric, but the empress thought it would be a lie. The size of her ambition and the confident young attitude that Artizea revealed reminded the empress of her own youth. However, she contained in it her coldness and objectivity that the empress of her girlhood did not have. She doesn¡¯t believe that Artizea can persuade others with the greatness of her own ambitions and purposes; it¡¯s rare for people her age to do so. It wasn¡¯t something that she came up with like saying that she would pay in return. She is precisely aiming at the empress. Such a woman is not caught up in emotions and she does not go wrong. The Empress spoke to Artizea in a rxed voice. ¡°Most people aremitted to blood ties and families, but some people choose their own partner to be loyal to.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± Artizea bowed her head. The empress seemed to have seen through her and who she was willing to work for, beyond her ambitions and hatred. The empress said slowly. ¡°I know such a person, so I¡¯m not going to deny the Lady Heiress¡¯ desire.¡± And the empress beckoned. ¡°Martha, I want you to bring it from my bedroom.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­.¡± She knew what the empress was saying, and Countess Martha asked back in surprised. ¡°If I received a gift from the Lady Heiress, wouldn¡¯t it be customary for me to give a bigger gift than that. She¡¯s getting married, so I can¡¯t be neglectful anymore.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Countess Martha politely replied, and she withdrew. The Empress looked at Artizea with her tired face. All of her dignity that she had worn so far seemed to be worn out, exposing her original face. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°Have you ever seen the Saintess in itspleteness, Lady Heiress?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea replied in surprise. In her previous life, she heard several times about Saintess Olga¡¯s heart. The first that brought Saintess Olga¡¯s heart back to the social world was the Marchioness of Camellia. When the empress died and no one came to notice, she proudly hung the diamond around her neck. After the disappearance of the Marchioness of Camellia, Saintess Olga¡¯s heart fell into the hands of another nobleman. But it wasn¡¯t long before he went bankrupt. The curse of a couple who died unjustly was put on the jewel. Then, the price of diamonds soared even further. However, as far as Artizea knows, Saintess Olga¡¯s heart has never appeared again. Anecdotes about history and miracles were attached to the statue. Saintess Olga is a real person from 200 years ago. As she traveled throughout the empire, she performed sacraments. After Olga died, her lover sculpted the statue of her himself. It is said to have shed tears on the day the sculptor died. The tears of the Saintess had the power of healing. It is said that the pilgrims who fell asleep in front of the statue were all younger, and all the sick were healed in several nearby viges. Saintess Olga¡¯s statue worked a miracle of healing in the years that followed. But as the years passed, it cracked around the chest. Therge diamond was obtained by the Viscount which was said to have been cured by the sacred miracle and was put into the empty chest. It is such a treasure. If it had ever been circted on the ck market, a word would havee out as the Saintess Olga¡¯s heart shook the social world. However, there has never been a single line of rumors about the Saintess. So, she vaguely thought it had broken as the Peschers were ruined. ¡®Is she kept by the empress?¡¯ Perhaps she disappeared when the pce of the empress was on fire. Soon, Countess Martha pushed a handcart. The cart had a cloth-covered statue the size of a child. When the fabric was taken off, a bluish stone figure emerged. It could not be said that it was beautiful. It was not a work of an artist who had craved it in marble. This is because an ordinary man engraved the image of his lover on stone. There were two long streaks of stains like tear marks on its face. The empress handed over Saintess Olga¡¯s heart to her attendant. The attendant took the diamond from the ne and put it on the statue. The empress said. ¡°Lady Heiress of Rosan and future Grand Duchess of Evron, I will give you this statue as a wedding gift. Since I received Saintess Olga¡¯s heart, it is only right to gift you thepleted Saintess.¡± Artizea bowed her head deeply to express gratitude. The empress staggered and stood up from her ce. ¡°I¡¯m tired. You two go back now. Congrattions. You¡¯ll be busy with preparations, so it¡¯s okay, you don¡¯t have toe again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame we took so much of your time. Rosan will withdraw.¡± Artizea bowed to her. The empress first left her audience room. Countess Martha approached and said. ¡°I will send what the Empress has given to the Evron Grand Duchy. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Countess Martha.¡± ¡°Then goodbye. Congrattions on your wedding.¡± Artizea greeted her. Then she crossed arms with Cedric and stepped out. Cedric asked in a low voice. ¡°Are you okay, Tia? You look tired.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a little tired, because I paid a lot of attention.¡± ¡°Did everything you wante true?¡± Artizea pondered. She then concluded. ¡°Yes. I received all the answers I came for.¡± The empress did not give an immediate positive answer. But it would be foolish to answer right away for something so important. Artizea was not worried. The empress¡¯s heart was definitely inclined. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have given thepleted statue of Saintess Olga. Her dead friend¡¯s heirloom, in its imperfect condition, have until now been kept unknowingly in her own bedroom. What did the empress think as she saw the loss of it¡¯s heart every day before going to sleep? What else did she think about? Cedric sighed. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re taking on a tremendous responsibility. Restoring the Peschers. We can cancel it now.¡± ¡°You noticed it.¡± ¡°If the offspring of the Peschers was alive, she wouldn¡¯t have concealed the saint. I now understand why until now she closed the door of the Empress Pce and stayed quiet.¡± The Empress still had something to protect. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Is it a matter that I can decide?¡± Artizea asked. Cedric asked back. ¡°This is what you started.Of course you have to decide, right?¡± ¡°How about you, Cedric? I can tell you which one is advantageous and which one is profitable, but in the end, it will be the Grand Duchy of Evron that will restore the Peschers.¡± Cedric thought for a moment. But the answer was decided from the beginning. ¡°I don¡¯t want to turn away from the Pescher Viscounty. That¡¯s not a good idea. I was originally thinking of looking for a descendant.¡± Cedric sighed. He told Ansgar to look it up, but in the end he hasn¡¯t been actively investigating. He felt a sense of debt. That said, he couldn¡¯t ignore the risk. Anyway, the top priority he had to keep was Grand Duke Evron. ¡°Let¡¯s do it if you think it¡¯s better to postpone it after considering the priorities.¡± ¡°The problem of the Perscher Viscounty is only a small thing. Cedric is carrying a bunch of dangerous people anyway.¡± Artizea thought and talked about the vige of the rebels of the Evron Grand Duchy. He understood what she meant, and Cedric had an embarrassed face. Artizea smiled. ¡°Undoubtedly, I¡¯m sure the Emperor already knows about the Pescher artist, so don¡¯t worry too much. You can¡¯t get something done right now as much as protecting it. Taking up work from 18 years ago puts a political burden on Your Grace as well. It¡¯s even more so now that Lawrence is in line for the sessor.¡± On the surface, she seemingly has to do what the Empress asked for by taking charge of the statue. However in reality, it is on the empress¡¯s side that, if the exchange went down, the Empress would be anxious. The Empress had not done anything for 18 years and she had grown old. She must have also felt anxious that there was no one to take over. She has not found the character and power that deserves to be the guardian of the blood and flesh of her precious friend. So it was a rather hostage situation, for the empress had no choice. Artizea smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to ask me about something else?¡± ¡°You mean the salt?¡± Cedric said in a slightly troubled tone. ¡°It is true that the burden is high, but didn¡¯t you think it was necessary?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. I know that in order to bring in the southern provinces, we need to get the Riagan Duchy. The import of salt from the Riagan Duchy is also heavily involved in the finances.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°But I can¡¯t imagine that such a day wille ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Artizea said. How can I make you an emperor if I can¡¯t do that much? Artizea smiled and looked up at Cedric. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± Cedric nodded his head. And he walked alongside her and left the empress¡¯s pce. *** ¡°Martha, open the box.¡± The empress dressedfortably and sat up on her bed. Countess Martha opened the box she had brought from the audience room. When she opened the lid, the four sides of the wall of the box opened as if falling off. And in it, crystals of salt, like blue gemstones, came out. ¡°Your Majesty¡­.¡± Countess Martha called the empress with her trembling voice. The empress did not say anything for a while. These jewel-like salt crystalse only from one beach owned by the Riagan Duchy. The coat of arms of the Duke of Riagan also embodies the salt crystal. The Duke of Riagan lost all descendants, except for the Empress. The Empress gave up her title at the time of her marriage, so after the death of her parents she could not regain her title. The current Duke of Riagan was the one that served the emperor. It was the emperor who gave him a seat there. Considering that the foundation of the Duke of Riagan was derived from the salt of the South Sea, the meaning of Artizea¡¯s offering of this salt crystal was clear. Artizea had told the Empress that she would bring back the Riagan Duchy. ¡°Martha.¡± The empress said in a cracked voice. ¡°Is this possible?¡± ¡°¡­ How dare I make such judgement?¡± Countess Martha said with a biting voice. It is impossible to get the Riagan Duchy back. The only descendant is the Empress. And she had no children anymore. She had no close rtives. However, she had no intention of passing it on to one of her current kin. They are traitors who sumbed to the emperor and harmed the descendants, so they are all deserving of death. So, even if she drives out the current Duke of Riagan now, there is no way she can get back the future the Empress originally wanted. Still, Countess Martha couldn¡¯t say that. Knowing her suffering the Empress had been through for 18 years, she could not say that it was impossible. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s impossible.¡± The empress said so, and shey in bed. Countess Martha ced the salt crystal in the ce where the Saintess had been. It was in a position where the empress could see it by justying down on her side. ¡°Martha, I¡¯m¡­..¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I have never forgotten it.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°I thought it was impossible to stand up because I¡¯ve grown old, and have no strength left in my hands and feet. But I still haven¡¯t forgotten.¡± The empress said so. The empress began to doze after she was exhausted from weing guests after a long time. And she soon fell asleep. Countess Martha carefully covered her with a nket. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Proofreader : xoxomonami Ahead of the wedding, Artizea invited the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s rtives. ¡°Nothing is going to be different from what it has been.¡± That was the first thing Artizea said. All of the direct descendants of the Marquis of Rosan died. Despite doubts about her lineage, Artizea was forced to inherit as the only descendant. At that time, the number of people who rebelled against what Mira did was not small. However, at the time, no one had the legitimacy enough that Marcus believed and to serve as master. No one waspetent enough. The years have passed without any ess to the authority of the Marquisate of Rosan. Some lined up for Mira, but most were unsessful. After losing the Marquisate¡¯s glory, a significant number of them lost their family business and went bankrupt. After Rosan, somepletely cut off rtions with the Marquisate and nned a way to live. Some of them were quite financially sessful. However, no one returned to the society where Mira was. There were many people who expected something to change as Artizea became the Marchioness of Rosan after bing independent from Mira. [Even if she inherits the title, it is because of marriage. Isn¡¯t she a young girl who is only 18 years old? You¡¯ll need a guardian.] [To capture the heart of the Grand Duke Evron, as expected, the blood cannot be deceived¡­.. No, I¡¯m saying that because I think it¡¯s great.] [I heard that she fought and split with Mira, but if so, wouldn¡¯t she need a rtive to take care of her from now on? And even more so if she wants to do well as Grand Duchess Evron.] Such whispers spread among the rtives who gathered in the capital after a long time. Some of them tried to contact Artizea first. Until now, Artizea has ignored them all. Because she already knew that none of them could be useful. However, she thought she had to make sure at least once in order for them to be quiet in the future as well as in the weddings. So she invited them to the capital and to the wedding. And gathered them in one ce. Artizea appeared with Marcus and sat down at the head of the table. She spoke straightforwardly without even saying hello. ¡°Whoever objects my inheritance rights to the Marquisate of Rosan, tell me now.¡± Not one or two were dissatisfied with Artizea¡¯s arrogant attitude. [The little girl.] [She was only acknowledged as Michael¡¯s daughter because the previous Marquis wanted to prevent the scandal, but isn¡¯t she actually an illegitimate child whose father is unknown?] However, none of them could argue. No one knew who Artizea¡¯s biological father was. But there was no doubt that she was one of Michael¡¯s children. Artizea¡¯s face, and how the previous Marquis¡¯s attitude to hurry up and deal with the scandal proves it. And by the emperor¡¯s recognition, the right of inheritance became firm. Now, the powerless side could not dare to take on the inheritance right. Artizea looked over the crowd. They were those who could only give in in the past and in the future. ¡°The Marquisate of Rosan will not merge with the Grand Duke of Evron. I will be married as an individual, not as a family to family.¡± That was what she promised in case of her divorce. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t n to use ipetent individuals just because they¡¯re close to blood. So, like I said, there¡¯s no difference.¡± Artizea said expressionlessly. ¡°I know that the descendant line has been too indifferent so far. From now on, I will do my duty. I will give a pension to the house where it is difficult to live, and if only the elderly and children remain, I will take care of it.¡± Artizea said again. ¡°Marcus will take care of everything as my representative, so contact him if you need anything.¡± ¡°I would like to ask you one thing. What of the inheritance in case the Lady Heiress dies? Will all the children born be children of the Grand Duke Evron?¡± A middle-aged man asked aloud. It was rude. And it was also a fearless act. It was a far cry to bring up the issue of inheritance to a family head who was only 18 years old. Besides, it was the same thing to tell a little girl about her future child. But Artizea did not shake or blush. ¡°The firstborn will be the sessor to the Grand Duchy of Evron, and the second child will be the sessor to the Marquisate of Rosan.¡± It was so on the prenuptial contract. Of course, there was no chance of having a child. Artizea said dryly as if to recite the contract. The man who considered Artizea to be a little girl and tried to humiliate her, rather flushed at her calm response. Marcus red at him. ¡°Then I think I¡¯ve told you everything. You canfortably stay until the wedding and then go. I¡¯m busy, so I don¡¯t think I have time to greet everyone one by one.¡± Artizea stood up from her seat. Even though Artizea said she had no time to greet them, several hurriedly followed her. ¡°Lady Heiress, Lady Heiress, ah.¡± Marcus, blocked those trying to follow Artizea, standing in front of her. ¡°Go away. I need to talk with the Lady Heiress.The butler who abandoned the master and ran away¡­..¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I have to say.¡± Marcus said coldly. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten yet. What did the people here say when I said I¡¯ll use the poisoner?¡± He said with a big nce. ¡°If you bow down at that time, do so till the end. Unlike before, this time there will be no ws. The person you¡¯ll be bowing down this time is not the master¡¯s poisoner, but the rightful master.¡± No one was willing. This is because there were none left, but even if there were those who were left, they would not have forgotten the past and came here looking to see if there was anything to benefit from. Therefore, Marcus, like an old dog, showed his teeth to them without hesitation. *** The wedding took ce in one of the residences owned by Marquisate of Rosan in the capital, not in the Great Duchy of Evron. The main reason was that until then, the cleanup was not finished. The animals were still grazing in the middle of a ranch and the garden, and the cluttered troops came in and out. Internal repairs were not finished. It would have been better to use an empty mansion rather than creating a hall for the ceremony. This mansion of the Marquisate of Rosan was not usually a house to live in, but it was used at least once in a season for entertainment. It was better than the Evron mansion, which had only umted long years without ever changing the interior. Of course, Artizea wouldn¡¯t have brought arge number of people into the mansion, even if the Grand Duke¡¯s mansion was beautiful. The interior wasn¡¯t the problem, but the interior repair wasn¡¯t finished. It was no different to advertise that they were making secret passages, safe houses, and other new fixtures by inviting people now. It was the end of summer. To stop the sound of cicadas, boys hired separately ran around the garden carrying buckets of water. They couldn¡¯t get rid of them all, so at least they can try to get rid of the sound by dampening its wings. The door of the whole mansion was open to greet guests. Candles were ced all over the ce for the evening reception, and a golden ss of liquor was distributed to all guests. The archbishop, who was especially invited, also shared his virtues. The only door closed was the bride¡¯s Tuvalet room. The inside was true to its splendor. Emily decorated it with whitece and light pink silk. Thanks to the pink roses decorated in various ces, it was full of good scent. ¡°Oh my God. That¡¯s really nice.¡± As Countess Eunice came in, she made a fuss. ¡°I guess His Grace really cares about the Lady Heiress. Oh no, now you¡¯re the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°If you marry, you will inherit the title immediately. I¡¯m telling you, weddings should be like this.¡± ¡°I heard that Countess Eunice¡¯s wedding was also gorgeous and spectacr.¡± ¡°It was because of my father.¡± Artizea shook her head lightly. She thought these roses were a waste. There was no reason to cherish it, but there was no reason to decorate as well. The bride¡¯s Tuvalet room is a ce that is only open to her close friends. However, Artizea didn¡¯t have any rtives or friends to invite. She was expecting a visit from only one or two guests with political purposes. So, maybe the people below prepared the decorations to fit the illusion of a love marriage. Especially Sophie. Artizea couldn¡¯t even imagine that Cedric had picked and sent flowers himself. Countess Eunice asked. ¡°You said you¡¯re going on a honeymoon to the north?¡± ¡°Yes. Cedric has to man the Grand Duchy in the winter. It takes too much time to go to other regions and then return to the north.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still a honeymoon¡­. It¡¯s too bad to spend in the deste North. Grand Duke Evron is too much. A honeymoon doesn¡¯te twice.¡± ¡°Cedric hasn¡¯t been back to thend for three years. We can go somewhere else anytime we want.¡± Artizea smiled with a visible smile. ¡°Well, with a wonderful husband, is the North a great ce? Even buried in the snow, it would be hot.¡± Countess Eunice smiled. Artizea did not understand what she was trying to say. So she pretended not to know. ¡°I like to travel in spring and summer. There will be opportunities at some point.¡± Now is the best time to greet the vassals of the Grand Duke. They should also look at the situation in the north. Artizea only knew the Grand Duchy in writing. Its destend and tombs were all that she saw in her eyes of Grand Duchy Evron. That wasn¡¯t enough for her. This is a ce that Cedric values. To protect it properly, it was necessary to feel it with her body and confirm it with her eyes. ¡°Well the Lady Heiress is not an ordinary person. There must be something more important than enjoying your honeymoon.¡± Said Countess Eunice wriggling. Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door. Countess Euniceughed loudly. ¡°Has the impatient groome already?¡± Before opening the door, she heard a call outside. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.¡± Countess Eunice was frightened and stood up. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Proofreader: xoxomonami Countess Eunice forgot that the rouge on her lips got erased and covered her open mouth with one hand. Because she thought she wanted to scream. Artizea was not surprised. Because she knew she woulde. Sophie and Emily reached out to help Artizea stand up. The door opened. Thud. In fact, it is almost impossible to hear footsteps. But Countess Eunice felt the illusion of hearing such a sound. The Empress¡¯ presence was too great. It has been 18 years since the Empress came out of the pce. Countess Eunice knew the Empress. In her childhood, it was also the Empress who was the most feared person in the Imperial Pce. So she could recognize her right away. The Empress was old, but she was still cold and dignified. The Empress was wearing a ck dress again today. Since the interior was filled with ornaments for the bride all over, so her mourning ck dress was even more noticeable. ¡°Thank you foring, Your Majesty.¡± Artizea, supported by Sophie, kneeled politely. The hem of the new white dress was wrinkled. The Empress snorted. ¡°You must have already known that I wasing.¡± ¡°I was just thinking that if that happens, it will be a lifetime of glory.¡± ¡°Does it make sense that you know how to shake a person¡¯s heart so well and not know the consequences?¡± The Empress said so and reached out her hand. Artizea stood up, taking her hand carefully. The Empress looked around her and she said. ¡°Martha, this outfit is inappropriate for entering the wedding hall. Bring me some flowers.¡± Not taking off her mourning clothes meant that she did not yet believe everything Artizea said. However, she did not intend to do the sinister work of holding the bride¡¯s hand in mourning clothes. Emily hurried up and picked therger of the rose flowers that adorned the Tuvalet room and decorated it on the Empress¡¯s chest and hat. That alone brightened up the atmosphere. The Empress pulled Artizea¡¯s veil. Then she put a pure gold orb in thergest rose blossom in the center of her bouquet. Soon an errand boy came up from the wedding hall. It was to announce the beginning of the ceremony. *** Cedric¡¯s preparations ended much faster than Artizea. It was just about wearing a dark blue robe and wearing an insignia. The servants who helped him in his outfit wanted all his medals to be attached. However, he omitted most, because Cedric thought that the gold strings and epaulettes on his clothes were too much and just decorative. He did not have much preparation, but he had a lot of obligations. As the head of the Evron Grand Duchy, he had to wee his guests. Artizea was also the head of the Marquisate of Rosan, but since she was the bride, she was exempt from almost all duties. However, she did not waive her duty just because she is the bride on the day of the wedding. Most of the actual guests were Cedric¡¯s. The only guests of Artizea were the rtives of the Marquisate of Rosan. There was no personal guest due to the narrow social rtionships. On the other hand, there were endless people looking for Cedric. Congrattions flooded from the military¡¯s influential men, his men, his adoring knights, and his parents¡¯ old friends. ¡°There are not one or two people who send separate letters from the western fortress asking what¡¯s going on. I highly doubt it, but turns out you¡¯re not matchmade but got married by dating.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the West. The Grand Duchy is no joke. Everyone almost wanted to duel till everyone died to attend this wedding. I won, with the fastest and strongest horses.¡± Cedric sighed between the noisy knights. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that I would go there after the wedding anyway.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really wrong, Your Grace. What do you mean taking the Grand Duchess to the Grand Duchy for your honeymoon? You¡¯re going to get some kind of resentmentter on from the Grand Duchess.¡± There were exmations of agreement here and there. Cedric had nothing to say. In fact, he did ask if she would like to go somewhere else. Since she had been so busy so far he thought it would be okay to take a break at the resort for a month or two. However, Artizea shook her head. ¡°There is no time.¡± ¡°If there is a lot of work to do, why don¡¯t you remain in the capital?¡± ¡°Do you not want to take me as the Grand Duchess?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that, but the north is cold. There is nothing to see because it is so deste.¡± At that time, Cedric couldn¡¯t understand the strange and subtle expressions Artizea made. She looked at Cedric silently for a moment, and smiled sadly. ¡°I have someone I need to meet in the North.¡± Artizea probably knew no one in the Evron Grand Duchy. She has never left the capital on her own. ¡°Who is that?¡± Cedric asked, but Artizea was stubbornly silent As it came to his mind, his heart became a little heavy. He knew that Artizea wasn¡¯t telling him everything she did. Some of the things she shouldn¡¯t tell him about and some she doesn¡¯t want him to know. However he was so concerned about who was the ¡®someone I need to meet¡¯ that made her look like that. ¡°No. I¡¯ve been thinking, isn¡¯t the Grand Duke actually doing this with a terrifying trick?¡± At the words of Chancellor Lin, Cedric was dumbfounded and asked. ¡°A trick?¡± ¡°While you are in a rtionship, when do you go to a ball or go to a social gathering, or go on a pic. No matter how much you think about this, it is clear that His Grace hides the bride and does not want to show it to others. Such a man, Your Grace.¡± ¡°What nonsense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No matter how good it is, you shouldn¡¯t leave her at home.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that because you¡¯ve been in the same house before marriage, so you don¡¯t have to do anything like date?¡± There were also people who were unaware of who they were trying to make fun of. ¡°So what happened to Ansgar?¡± Asked Lin, looking around. ¡°I thought he would definitely be the most disheartened person. Isn¡¯t he the one person that raised the Grand Duke?¡± ¡°Even if he wasn¡¯t, he was so happy that he started to cryst night, and now his eyes are swollen, so he can¡¯te in front of the guests.¡± Freil replied. ¡°I thought the old man was going to go, and he went crazy upset in the morning.¡± ¡°What can he do without even attending the wedding ceremony.¡± While they were talking about that, a cry was heard from outside. ¡°The Pir of Crete, His Majesty Emperor Gregor Afanas Nestor, who became the Sun on the Earth, who received the royal scepter and orb from the gods.¡± The friendly atmosphere quickly disappeared. Cedric strengthened his mind and tightened his body. He never hesitated to rush into the enemy camp, with his horse and a spear alone. However, it was scary to face the Rmperor. Cedric knew very well that he was awkward with social fights and power struggles. So he should be a shield or something. Artizea pretended to be a spear for him. Then he himself had to be an imprable shield to protect her. Cedric took a few deep breaths and stepped outside. ¡°Oh, Cedric. Seeing you dressed up like that, I feel like you¡¯re getting married.¡± The Emperor caught him and hugged him before Cedric could even bow his knees and greet. His casual smile seemed to be truly happy. ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only traveled to the border, and you didn¡¯t even have a sign of having a woman, let alone have a family. It¡¯s something that the world has set together.¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s old.¡± Roygar, who followed the Emperor, said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s surprisingly not somon to meet the right mate at the right age, but it¡¯s really a strange couple that I¡¯ve never thought about.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± Cedric politely bowed his head. ¡°Tia is smart but timid, she needs protection, and you are a person who can take a step back and protect.¡± Said the Emperor. ¡°I used to think that you would like a woman who is wise and who doesn¡¯t like toe out, and this is who you meet.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric replied mechanically. The Emperor¡¯s words felt unfamiliar. Artizea is not that kind of person. Did Artizea hide herself so well in front of the Emperor? Or was his judgment blurred? The Emperor probably already knows that the Empress sent Artizea the Saintess Olga statue. If so, he might have doubted what kind of conversation that hade and gone with the Empress, what kind of deal was made. However, the Emperor did not show any signs of that. Cedric couldn¡¯t clearly tell if the judgment he said was what he really looked like, or if it was a warning to live quietly in the future. People surrounded Cedric and went out to the garden where the main ceremony was prepared. The weather was sunny and the temperature was just right. The garden was elegant and the decoration was gorgeous, frugality, which was unlike the wedding of the Grand Duchess of Evron, in other words, rustic. Round tables spread throughout were decorated with gold ornaments with their names engraved on them, which were given as gifts to those in attendance. Cedric took the Emperor and headed to the table where he would sit. To the right of the Emperor was the archbishop, and to the right of the archbishop was the seat for Lawrence. The left was empty. The seat was skipped and then the seat of Grand Duke Roygar. It seemed that Grand Duke Roygar had considered it strange. ¡°Why did you leave a room?¡± ¡°Is it weird, uncle?¡± ¡°So the Archbishop and I won¡¯t sit side by side.¡± Grand Duke Roygar made up his own answer. Cedric didn¡¯t answer. The owner of the seat is the Empress. However, until this moment, it was unclear whether the Empress would really attend the wedding. So they didn¡¯t put a name tag on it. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you choose to inherit the title of the Marquis? It would have been enough.¡± He was going to greet others, but Grand Duke Roygar followed and asked. ¡°If you were to join the family, you¡¯ll probably be in a stable position. Once you hold the title, no one will want to touch it.¡± ¡°Our families will not join. Tia is still young, and she has never had something of her own, so I intend to give everything back to her.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re honorable, so you don¡¯t want to be told that you coveted the Marquisate of Rosan.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t dare refute. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°I understand your mind, but now that you are a family man, the way you live in the world will be different from before, ¡± said Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If you have any difficulties, feel free to contact your uncle any time. Well, it seems that your bride is smarter than you are.¡± Grand Duke Roygarughed. ¡°You know Marchioness Camellia? These days, all she talks about is all about your bride. If youe back from your honeymoon, you cane to my house together.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even if you are rtives, you can¡¯t go in and out of the imperial family. And Lawrence, well, even if you¡¯re a nephew, right?¡± Roygar closed his mouth and stopped talking, and then changed to a smiling face. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about your bride. You understand? He can¡¯t be the same as the one who will seed the Marquisate of Rosan. Anyway, isn¡¯t that what families are for?¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Cedric replied heartlessly. Grand Duke Roygar and Cedric suffered simr hardships. The age difference was also small for uncle and nephew. However, they have never been close. They were also different in nature. Grand Duke Roygar established his own power by joining hands with aristocrats and subjects who could not hold the mainstream power in central politics. In the meantime, Cedric had to defend the North at an early age. After some stability, the emperor sent him to another battlefield. Since his life was different, there wasn¡¯t much to talk about even when they met asionally. It was just a casual talk with him as a mandatory greeting. Now he¡¯se and behaves like an irreceable family in the world. Even though Cedric knew the reason, he felt weird. ¡°Come to think of it ¡­¡­.¡± Grand Duke Roygar hesitated. He was wondering if Mira wasing, but it seemed inappropriate to ask Cedric about it now. Grand Duke Roygar nced at Lawrence. Lawrence was carrying the gold name tag with a calm face. A servant cautiously approached Lawrence and whispered. Then Lawrence stood up. Marchioness Camellia was also looking at the name tag in a subtle mood. ¡®There is no way that the Lady Heiress of Rosan identally made an empty seat.¡¯ What is the intention? When the case of Baron Yetz first broke out, Marchioness Camellia thought that she could take Artizea, and she could go further to Cedric. It was because they were the nobles of the Lawrence faction that suffered the most in the case of Baron Yetz. However, since then, Artizea has not taken favor toward either Marchioness Camellia or Grand Duchess Roygar. However, the rtionship with Mira seemed to have beenpletely widened. Did the empty ce on the name tag the ce for Mira? ¡°Sister, how about if we also go see the bride?¡± Grand Duchess Roygar covered her mouth with a fan, and asked Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia shook her head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even invited.¡± ¡°But Charlotte¡¯s gone. She knows I¡¯m a rtive.¡± ¡°Countess Eunice and the Lady Heiress had an exchange from the beginning, but you haven¡¯t met the Lady Heiress of Rosan yet¡± Marchioness Camellia gently soothed her. ¡°The Lady Heiress of Rosan sure has it great. It doesn¡¯t mean that I have aint with my husband, but I wanted to live with a handsome man once.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t carelessly say such a thing, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about it? How would it feel to kiss a guy like Cedric?¡± ¡°Your Highness Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Lawrence is also handsome. But I mean. I feel weird because he resembles Mira too much. And I like to look more at the manly ones rather than the delicate looking.¡± The Grand Duchess said without hesitation. She was the youngest daughter of the prestigious Marquis Luden, from the East. The Marquis Luden had more than ten children, but most of them were illegitimate children. Except for the Grand Duchess, the only direct descendant, his eldest child. So, as the only descendant, she has been very cherished from the time she was born for her future political marriage. She was only 6 years old when she was engaged to Grand Duke Roygar, who was fifteen years older. It was thergest investment Marquis Luden had made in his life. In short, the Grand Duchess¡¯s expense was the contract investment. It goes without saying that the contract was sessful for both sides. Grand Duke Roygar pampered his young wife with gold and silk and dotes on her like a treasure. She gave birth to three healthy children and strengthened his session Her words with a cheerful look like an innocent girl, only worried the Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Your Highness, stop saying the words that are likely to be misunderstood. Grand Duke Evron is His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s niece.¡± The Grand Duchess cried out what she was angry about. It was then. At the entrance to the mansion, cheers and amazement was heard. From there, the shock spread like waves. Grand Duchess Roygar tilted her head. ¡°Did the bridee out?¡± The question was because there was someone who was too curious to wee the bride. Cedric turned to Grand Duke Roygar in silence. Artizea took the empress¡¯s hand and passed through the rose arch. Like a daughtering out to the wedding hall holding her mother¡¯s hand. As she came with the bride, it was not necessary to call out loudly to inform who had arrived. But who she was quickly spread. ¡°Oh my God.¡± Marchioness Camellia jumped up in surprise. Not just the Marchioness Camellia, but many others. The whole wedding hall buzzed like waves. ¡°Thank you foring.¡± Instead of a long, formal greeting, Cedric said so sincerely. A bright smile hangs on his face. It is not because of the reassurance that Artizea¡¯s mind was right. Artizea said that even if the Empress doesn¡¯te, she¡¯s okay with the wedding itself. But isn¡¯t it too lonely for her to enter the wedding hall by herself, with no one to be part of her family. The Empress narrowed her eyes. Cedric swept his cheek. ¡°Did I say something weird?¡± ¡°No.¡± The Empress shook her head. ¡°Thest time you said wasn¡¯t a lie.¡± Artizea tilted her head. Because she didn¡¯t understand what she was saying. But Cedric noticed. His face flushed and avoided her gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me.¡± Then the Emperor came. There was a surprise in his eyes. ¡°Catherine.¡± The Empress hardened her face and threw a cold gaze at the Emperor. The Emperor feigned a calm attitude. ¡°Why are you walking outside the Imperial Pce? Is your health a little better?¡± ¡°Mydy-in-waiting is getting married, and my condition is not so bad that I cannote and visit for a while.¡± ¡°Lady-in-waiting?¡± The Emperor threw a calcting gaze at Artizea. Artizea didn¡¯t look at him and put her eyes down. The Empress said. ¡°You¡¯re not going toe to a wedding and tell the bride and groom to kneel are you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to.¡± The Emperor gave a hypocritical smile. ¡°I¡¯m just a little surprised. If you¡¯ve decided to go outside and get rid of the old things, it¡¯s weed. It¡¯s a wedding, so it¡¯s good to remember our old days.¡± Cedric and Artizea can see the Empress clenching her teeth. The Empress didn¡¯t dare to smile at the emperor. She just gave a cold reply. ¡°Okay. I ¡®m not saying I¡¯m going to be different. I thought I¡¯d rely on a good nephew and niece who could rx my heart as I live alone at this age.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good too. If you¡¯re thinking of a peaceful future.¡± The Emperor smiled. Then he unwrapped the diamond brooch from his own chest. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be Tia¡¯s mother, let me stand in as Cedric¡¯s father¡¯s. I¡¯m d they don¡¯t have to have a wedding without parents.¡± To a woman, her mother gives a pure gold orb, meaning to keep the shining heart as the day she got married. To a man, his father gives a new diamond that has never been used, meaning to keep a solid heart forever. And after the wedding, theybine it to create a memorial for the couple. That was the custom. The Emperor¡¯s brooch is not a new diamond, but since it was an Emperor¡¯s gift, it was not short of the new one. The Emperor attached the brooch to Cedric¡¯s chest. The band quickly noticed and began to y music. The attendant and the maids also stepped back a couple of steps to widen the distance. The Empress again took Artizea¡¯s hand. The Emperor came to Cedric¡¯s side and patted his shoulder again. The knights lined up on the left and right sides of the road made a silver roof with their swords. The flower girl, who took the lead, sprinkled flowers. The four slowly headed toward the altar. Upon reaching the altar, the Empress released Artizea¡¯s hand. And she changed the bouquet to the hand she had held so far. Then the Emperor reached out his hand to the Empress. ¡°Gregor.¡± The Empress looked at him with a puzzled face. Tension floated between the two. ¡°It¡¯s a wedding.¡± He said so, implying that there was nothing good to behave like an enemy in front of everyone else. Countless times the Empress put her hand on the Emperor¡¯s hands. She was unwilling, but this was one of the things Artizea asked for. This was the very purpose of why Artizea wanted to be herdy-in-waiting from the beginning. For the Empress to take the seat of Artizea¡¯s mother from Mira. No matter how arbitrary the Emperor is, he will not be able to act with Mira as her husband if the Empress attends. No, there was no way that Mira could dare to show her face at the wedding, in which the Empress was present. Just thinking of acting as a couple with the Emperor was creepy. However, the Empress has already been prepared. As she took his hand, the Emperor smiled at her. It was a triumphant smile, as if it had forced the Empress down. When the two stepped back, Cedric took Artizea¡¯s hand. The Archbishop gave a pleased smile. ¡°It¡¯s a wonderful couple that God will bless as well. Not only did the young two meet, but it also gave a chance for the couple who had been separated for a long time to reconcile. What could be better than this?¡± Artizea bowed her head. *** Mira, who watched the scene, gave a fit of yelling. ¡°How! How can you do this!¡± The servant held her arms as she tried to run. Lawrence sighed. ¡°Don¡¯te, I told you, mother.¡± ¡°Lawrence!¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you understand words like this?¡± ¡°I am Tia¡¯s mother!¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re going to ruin her wedding now?¡± Mira looked at him with her bloodshot eyes. ¡°How can you do this to me?¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Proofreader: xoxomonami Mira was about to go to the mansion. The dress was a calm purple and beige that was just right for the bride¡¯s mother to wear. Even her voluptuous bosom that she had always been proud of were not exposed today. Her hair was twisted gracefully and decorated with gold trinkets that did not shine excessively. It was beautiful enough though. Mira got these dresses and essories for today. It was toote when she thought she should. Most of the seamstresses showed a sense of embarrassment, saying that reservations were full. As usual, if she swayed and prevailed, there would be a ce to sumb. Mira didn¡¯t do that. Her clothes and jewelry were her pride, but what she needed this time was not the clothes to wear when she and the Emperor¡¯s arms joined, but the clothes to wear as the bride¡¯s mother. She did not want to w herself at the wedding. ¡®No matter what, isn¡¯t it my daughter¡¯s wedding?¡¯ That was the first thing she thought of aftering to her senses after being stuck in a room crying and angry for a few days. Every time she thought of Artizea¡¯s wedding, a hot fireball rose in her heart. Mira, lying in her bed, hit her chest several times. She howled and got mad. She was angry and she could not stand it. She felt sad and resentful just imagining it. Mira believed that her resentment was her anger towards Cedric. However, the wedding was allowed by the Emperor, so she couldn¡¯t help it. She couldn¡¯t have told Lawrence it was helpful too. ¡®Tia, how can that timid and stupid thing get married properly and start a new life without my help?¡¯ The reason she hasn¡¯t been contacted so far is because Artizea was encouraged by the people around her. There is no man who keeps a straight face and intentions. Perhaps she was virtually imprisoned by Cedric. As she thought so, her mind was a little at peace. Even Artizea couldn¡¯t contact her, so Artizea is sure to be anxious by now. They will be able to reconcile. Although Artizea rebelled andined this time, it won¡¯tst long. If Mira allowed her to marry, she would cry and thank her and she would ask for forgiveness. Like she always did. How happy will Artizea be when she knows that her mother cares so much? Mira had no invitations or contact. She only received a short letter from Lawrence saying not toe. Mira didn¡¯t believe that was what Artizea meant. This is what Cedric did. So she thought she just needed to get to the wedding hall. No matter how much Cedric wants to do as he pleases, there¡¯s no way he can ignore his mother-inw at the wedding. If the Emperor also sees the way Cedric treats her, he will listen to Mira. So she quietly came to the wedding hall. Artizea¡¯s maid was waiting outside and guided her directly to the mansion. Mira thought as she saw that. Artizea was also waiting for her. But Lawrence blocked her way. Mira said. [You were here.] [Go back. Mother. You¡¯re not to attend this wedding.] Lawrence said so. Just when he said that, Artizea came out of the mansion. Holding the Empress¡¯s hand. With a pure gold orb in her bouquet. Mira screamed in shock, but it was buried in the cheers of the guests and employees. Music yed by the band came from afar. At some point, the maid was gone. Mira was so angry that she tried to run to Artizea. Lawrence had his servant to stop her. ¡°How, how are you doing this? Are you Tia¡¯s brother? I¡¯m Tia¡¯s mother. Are you intending to make her a parentless child at her wedding?¡± ¡°It¡¯s mother who made Tia a parentless child.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You beat her in front of others, grabbed her hair and pulled her out. Tia left the house, and that¡¯s why she wanted to cut off her rtionship with mother.¡± ¡°You, are you saying you¡¯re okay with that?¡± ¡°I understand Tia. It was too bad for me to see as well.¡± Lawrence said coldly. ¡°And if you think about Tia¡¯s position, you wouldn¡¯t havee. Would she like to go into the wedding hall with her mother holding her hand? Knowing mother¡¯s situation?¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about! I¡¯m the Marchioness of Rosan! I¡¯m Tia¡¯s mom!¡± ¡°The other person is not someone else, and it¡¯s Grand Duke Evron. My mother herself is not honorable. What does the title or the name of the marriage vows mean?¡± Lawrence said pitifully. Mira looked at Lawrence with a shocked face. ¡°You, you, how could you say that to your mother¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not toe? There¡¯s nothing good for each other if youe.¡± Lawrence¡¯s face was apanied with irritation and annoyance. ¡°Tia is much smarter than mother. She knows what she really needs and she knows what to do.¡± Lawrence didn¡¯t know that the Empress would choose Artizea as herdy-in-waiting, he would not have thought it would be possible, even if she said she would. However, it was a perfect solution to Artizea¡¯s problem. Who would dare attack the woman who took Artizea¡¯s hand and brought her to the altar of her wedding for reasons of Mira¡¯s identity or bloodline, especially when it¡¯s the Empress. This wedding will be perfect for the Evron couple. Artizea has said she was fine without Mira. But Lawrence didn¡¯t know what she was going to do. He thought she was just saying she¡¯d stand the gossip. He didn¡¯t know she could convince the Empress. By the time theyst met, Lawrence¡¯s assessment on Artizea had already begun to change. And today it waspletely overturned. ¡®It¡¯s a little annoying that she didn¡¯t tell me in advance.¡¯ Still, Artizea is well worth it. She was enough to be the Grand Duchess Evron, she even became the Empress¡¯sdy-in-waiting, and that was enough for Lawrence. Artizea gave him the opportunity to make acquaintances with the Empress. At the same time, she even showed that it was possible for him to be adopted by the Empress. Now all he had to do was stop Mira. ¡°Doesn¡¯t my mother say you want me to be a prince?¡± ¡°What does this have to do with it?¡± ¡°Tia said that the only legal way I can be a prince is to be adopted by the Empress.¡± ¡°Well, do you think such a thing is possible? Don¡¯t you know the kind of rtionship I have with the Empress?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do right? Tia has be the Empress¡¯sdy-in-waiting. It means, at least because of mother, the Empress doesn¡¯t even consider your children like her enemies.¡± ¡°Thinking that it¡¯s possible, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re going to abandon your mom and hold Tia¡¯s hand now?¡± Mira¡¯s whole body trembled in anger. ¡°Did you leave the house with this intention? Even you? Saying that you¡¯re embarrassed and you don¡¯t need me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d throw you away. Why are you being so irrational?¡± Lawrence said annoyingly. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you to be quiet for a while. Befortable with Father and get along. Don¡¯tpete with the Empress or get angry.¡± ¡°Lawrence!¡± ¡°Then, how will me or Tia take care of it? Can¡¯t we dy satisfying my mother¡¯s pride after that? When I be the Emperor, my mother bes the Emperor¡¯s mother.¡± Mira¡¯s face blushed. She felt dizzy. ¡°You, you¡¯re telling me, I¡¯m getting in trouble for some useless pride¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still doing that right now, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lawrence said. ¡°When the Empress is in the bride¡¯s mother position, what are you going to do? Will you go and grab the Empress¡¯s hair and drag it? Or will you go next to Father and act as the mother of Grand Duke Evron?¡± ¡°Lawrence!¡± ¡°If motheres out, the wedding will be ruined. Nobody wants that. How is mother going to stand before the Empress? If Father is angry, how are you going to deal with it?¡± Meanwhile, the wedding continued over Lawrence¡¯s shoulder. The empress took Artizea¡¯s hand and headed in front of the altar. When she returned, the Empress took the Emperor¡¯s hand and came out. The two seats were prepared side by side at the table. A congrattory address from the archbishop was heard. Flowers sprinkled, and the sword fell. Young choir sang a hymn. Knights of Grand Duke Evron followed with a loud voice and buried the voices of the choir. Mira was weeping. She wiped her tears with her palm. The makeup smeared ck and red. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would do this to your mom.¡± ¡°Go back. I¡¯ll see you after the wedding.¡± Lawrence said with concern that the wedding would be over. The Empress will probably return immediately after the wedding. Since Artizea once pulled the Empress from her pce, it is possible that she will continue to meet the Empress. But there won¡¯t be many chances. Every minute, every second was precious. Mira knew Lawrence was ncing at the wedding. She also figured out why. She felt as if the world had turned around. ¡°What did Mom do to you.¡± ¡°Go back, mother.¡± ¡°What did mom do to you ¡­¡­. I only want you to be sessful¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So you have to help me do it well.¡± Lawrence said. Now, the way she spoke to him changed as if she could understand. ¡°Do you think this will work out?¡± Mira muttered in vain. ¡°The only thing in the world left to believe in is blood.¡± ¡°Yes, I believe in that too.¡± And for Lawrence, the Emperor is also his blood. Realizing that, Mira was out of her mind. Lawrence approached her and gently wrapped her shoulders. And he said so sweetly, ¡°First, go back and take a rest. After sleeping, your reason wille back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Mira snapped at Lawrence. Then she turned around. She felt as if her stomach felt empty. There was a small amount of despair. ¡°Madam!¡± The maid, who had been watching Mira about to fall, quickly supported her. Lawrence ordered his servant. ¡°Take mother home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Mira said in a split voice. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t keep an eye, I¡¯ll go back in peace.¡± She was confident that she knew men better than anyone else. The man with that voice had already ousted her from his heart to the point that he didn¡¯t even want to be pretentious. Even if he was her son. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Proofreader: xoxomonami The wedding came to an end. It was a wonderful and splendid wedding, worthy of the reputation of the Grand Duke Evron. The Empress held the bride¡¯s hand and the Emperor held the groom¡¯s hand. That alone is an iparably honorable wedding. About half of the guests would have had different thoughts. However, no one had any unpleasant thoughts about this marriage. Everyone congratted them with bright faces. The reception was magnificent. All the guests danced, ate and drank. The knights cheered, and the employees¡¯ feast was held separately. Ansgar, in the name of Grand Duke Evron and Marchioness Rosan, served the slums with plenty of alcohol and food. It went smoothly without anything ruined. The Empress left before the reception began. As she left, she said: [I¡¯ll watch you.] Artizea wasn¡¯t very worried. Because she was confident she would keep her promise. The Emperor left shortly after the Empress rose. At the reception, he danced a song with Artizea after Cedric. He said after congratting her. [Now, I shouldn¡¯t be calling you Tia carelessly.] [How would the Grand Duchess Evron im my name in front of His Majesty¡¯s glory? Since the Grand Duke is your Majesty¡¯s nephew, I will be honored if you treat me like your niece.] Then the Emperorughed. [Okay. I¡¯ll keep doing that. That would also be an honor to you.] [I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.] [Tia, I knew you were smart, but I didn¡¯t know you were so bold.] [I have never tried to deceive Your Majesty. Believe me.] [No, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m disappointed, I just realized refreshingly that even at this age, my eyes that see people aren¡¯t perfect.] [I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.] [Cedric is straightforward. Such a character is an advantage, but there is a side that does not suit the secr capital. He¡¯s a good man, so take care of him so that he doesn¡¯t get harmed.] [Yes.] [And.¡­ Don¡¯t hate her too much. That poor Mira.] The Emperor said so and left. He seemed to already know that Mira hade to the wedding and she was chased off by Lawrence. The Emperor was not the only one who noticed. Marchioness of Camellia and Grand Duke Roygar also approached and spoke about it in a quiet manner. [Because men are simple. They might think that it was because of Sir Lawrence that Her Majesty the Empress was present at the wedding instead of the Marchioness of Rosan. Not only did Sir Lawrence have a chance to see Her Majesty, they¡¯re going to think there¡¯s a potential for the brother and sister, as Her Majesty has made you herdy-in-waiting.] [¡­¡­] [But Her Majesty the Empress¡¯s cannot ept Sir Lawrence. Men often mistake a woman to love the child¡¯s father for life when a woman has children.] [What do you want to say?] [If anyone knows how important the Marquis of Rosan¡¯s role was ying this time, they will know the true meaning of what you have done¡­] [I do not know. I¡¯m not that proud of being separated from my mother.] [By the way, I¡¯m d that the present I gave you is worth it. Did you receive the statue of the Saintess for your wedding? Please show me when youe back from your honeymoon. I¡¯m very curious, so is Grand Duchess Roygar because she¡¯s never seen it before.] Grand Duchess Roygar was also sisters with the Marchioness Camellia. [Today, it was such an event, so she just greeted you for a while, but I will arrange a proper meeting next time. Congrattions on your wedding. Have fun on your honeymoon.] Marchioness Camelia greeted with a smile. Since then, she has been greeted and congratted with countless people. She had to dance a total of 5 songs with Cedric, and then Lawrence and then Grand Duke Roygar. By the time she left the reception with fatigue, she was exhausted. Artizea and Cedric left while the reception was in full swing. Then she simply changed clothes and got on the boat. It was to go to the port city, which can be called the entrance to the capital. In the port there was a mansion of the Grand Duke Evron. It was much more convenient and faster to travel by sea than throughnd to get to Evron Grand Duchy. That¡¯s why they had middle-of-the-road amodation. After sleeping there for one night, they were going to board the boat headed for the Grand Duchy. By the time they arrived at the mansion, it was already after sunset. Cedric was kidnapped by a group of knights celebrating the wedding the second time. Artizea was exhausted and headed to the room where she was led to. The maids prepared bath water and clothes to change. In the meantime, Artizea tried to rethink her wedding. There was no problem. All the desired objectives have been achieved. ¡®Now I just need to check the result.¡¯ Alice pulled the door open and called. ¡°Lady.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Oh no, no. You¡¯re the madame now? Oh, I love it. You¡¯re not thedy anymore, you¡¯re a madame.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°Is the bath ready?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, so is that. Sir Freil is here.¡± ¡°Let him in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Because of this, she was waiting without taking off her ufortable clothes. Freil came in. Seeing Artizea, he hesitated. ¡°Well, how should I greet you now? Grand Duchess? Lady Heiress?¡± ¡°Say as you feelfortable.¡± ¡°Then Grand Duchess¡­.¡± Freil politely bowed his head and greeted her lightly. And reported. ¡°Madam Rosan went home right away from the wedding hall. I¡¯ve checked it myself, and you don¡¯t have to worry about being noticed.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Since Bill was no more, there must have been no one toin to. ¡°His Majesty the Emperor also went straight from the wedding hall to the Rosan mansion. I came back after confirming that.¡± ¡°What about brother?¡± ¡°Sir Lawrence has returned to the house of Baroness Andeman, where he is living now.¡± Artizea sighed. Being rejected by Lawrence is like being denied by life itself. She must have had a tremendous shock. After the wedding, it would be nice for him to go to look for her. She was the one who made these calctive moves, but she didn¡¯t feel very good about it. Apart from that feeling, it was ultimately a good thing. Lawrence was not allowed to meet the Emperor in front of Mira crying to strengthen the family¡¯s affection. The Emperor knows the physiology of power and likes to indulge it. But at the same time, he must show himself as friendly to his son. Lawrence is no longer the age of joking around on his parents¡¯p. He is both a son and a sessor to the emperor. No matter what, his cute age has already passed by. By simply showing a desire for power, he may be like many other servants. So the right thing Lawrence had to do here was to tter the Empress in public, and when it¡¯s over, run straight to Mira. In front of the Emperor, he can show that he loves Mira andfort her with all his might. Then the Emperor would consider Lawrence¡¯s behavior right and be happy. Now the Emperor was seated with the Empress with a calm face, but then he got up early and went to Mira. Lawrence¡¯s thoughts don¡¯t get there. ¡®Well, you don¡¯t know your mother¡¯s role. You don¡¯t know much about His Majesty, too, brother.¡¯ It was enviable that he had lived while being loved so much to afford not to know. And she thought it was stupid. ¡°Shall I keep watching?¡± ¡°If there is any news from brother Lawrence, please let me know. There is no need to keep an eye on him.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°More than that, watch my mother. Did Alice tell you about the informant of the Rosan mansion?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Observe and keep an eye on the flow of the situation and record it. You don¡¯t need to do anything in advance. Leave it until I get back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to get in touch with Rye.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember it well.¡± Freil scratched his head. ¡°But, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re overworking me?¡± ¡°You have to use the talent you have.¡± Artizea smiled. Freil sighed. ¡°Anyway, please, Your Grace, take good care of my master. I am worried that something will happen because this is the first time I¡¯m not following His Grace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s in the north. I¡¯m sure Cedric knows much better than me. I¡¯m a stranger to strategy tactics.¡± ¡°Did you know that I didn¡¯t mean it that way?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too anxious anyway. I¡¯ll be right next to him to assist.¡± Freil had an ambiguous face. ¡°Well, how do I say it¡­. I¡¯m not saying that you have to serve His Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just talking about the real thing. So, is this the end of the story?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°I won¡¯t be able to see you for a while. In the meantime, stay healthy and work hard.¡± Artizea raised her body. Freil replied to her with a military salute. And he said in a polite manner. ¡°Congrattions on your wedding. I was relieved that Your Grace became the Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°Because you don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to ruin the Grand Duke Evron?¡± ¡°And I think you¡¯re going to ruin someone I don¡¯t like.¡± Artizea smiled. Then she greeted Freil in return and headed to the bathroom. And as Artizea came out of the bathroom, she encountered a terrifying reality. ¡°It¡¯s the first night.¡± Sophie, with her cheeks dyed red, came out with her pajamas shyly. Those pink pajamas were terribly lovely. It was shiny, but it didn¡¯t look too glossy or shiny. The body line and pale-colored undeyer were thin enough to be slightly reflected, but the undeyer was not visible explicitly. The sleeves were slightly inted and had frills. The hem of the skirt, which reaches the knee, naturally widens and spreads like a morning glory. One turn, it would be wrapped around the legs. The chest wasn¡¯t open. However, if only the ribbon tied over the chest was untied, the clothes would fall under her feet. ¡°Sophie, what the hell is this?¡± Sophie replied to Artizea¡¯s absurd question. ¡°It¡¯s pajamas. This is thetest fashion for bridal pajamas.¡± ¡°Did Emily say that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that it¡¯s thetest fashion. And it¡¯s perfect for a real bride¡¯s pajamas! Come on!¡± Artizea felt dizzy. Sophie didn¡¯t know, because she believed it was a love marriage, so she wouldn¡¯t even think that nothing would happen the first night. ¡°Bring other clothes.¡± ¡°Shall I bring the white one? There is also light blue.¡± Sophie said with excitement at Artizea¡¯s words. ¡°I think pink is good, but I think light blue will suit you too. The master will love whatever you wear. You will be cute and sexy!¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense, put this one on. And bring my pajamas.¡± ¡°No way, are you going to sleep in that old gray pajama? It¡¯s your first night!¡± ¡°¡­..It¡¯sfortable. It¡¯s warm.¡± Artizea hesitated for a moment. The pajamas she had been wearing were years old. As she grew tall, the sleeves and pants got shorter, so she sewed fabric to it. Besides, she wore it for so long that it got fluffy. Still, it was 100 times better than this pink pajamas. ¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense! And I don¡¯t even want to give it to you.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Who brings such pajamas on their honeymoon? What would the people of the Evron Grand Duchy think when they see the new mistress wearing such pajamas?¡± ¡°Sophie.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even put it out in theundry room. At first, even in the marquisate, do you know how hard it was because everyone felt sorry for the kind of clothes mydy wears?¡± She felt a sudden pain in her bone. Okay. Let¡¯s say so. She knew it was necessary to make new indoor clothes and pajamas. So, she has left Emily and Sophie to get everything they needed. But she never thought they would bring something like this. ¡°Bring something else. Couldn¡¯t you have an indoor dress or a gown?¡± ¡°I have already loaded all the clothes chests on the ship. I left only clothes for tomorrow morning and this.¡± It was a dilemma. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Me and Madam Emily worked so hard to make you look the best and pretty.¡± Sophie smiled wide. ¡°Obviously, the master will also fall in love with you.¡± Artizea felt dizzy. Desperately, she regretted that she had left Sophie to do it. Even if she had to spare her busy time, she should have checked. She should have seen Sophie pack up. ¡°Come on.¡± Sophie shook her arm and the pajamas. *** Eventually Artizea lost. It was because she didn¡¯t want to make a fuss of unloading her clothes from the ship near midnight or bringing other clothes from the capital¡¯s mansion. Soft pajamas wrapped around her legs, making Artizea feel strange. Even more to wear this pajama and enter the honeymoon room. The room was neatly decorated so that it was neither excessive nor insufficient. It was well ventted and a scented candle was burning, giving it a soft scent. There was a soft, yellow curtain on the window. And there was an oversized bed. Of course. Artizea had never thought seriously about her honeymoon room until this moment. No matter what you say out there, with or without a ceremony, this marriage is not a real marriage. She also trusted Cedric. He is a man who knows what kindness is. Therefore, she didn¡¯t even worry about the problem of going to the honeymoon room. Even Artizea stepped forward and said she would use the same cabin on the ship with Grand Duke Evron. Shouldn¡¯t it be that way? In other words, if a newlywed couple who is married in a love-marriage uses a different room on their honeymoon, what would the people outside think of them? In other words, she only considered external issues. It wasn¡¯t until after entering the room that Sophie, who smiled, and Alice who cheered for her pajamas, saying that it was too pretty, did Artizea realize an internal problem. ¡®Wear this on, lie down there and sleep together?¡¯ As she decided to do that, it sounded crazy. She couldn¡¯t sleep. Artizea knew why Cedric had such a strange face when she told him to share the cabin. ¡°Hoo.¡± Artizea looked around in her room. But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn¡¯t think of a way out. She had no idea what rumor would spread if the bride left her room on the first night and slept elsewhere. Everyone in this mansion would have had their mouths full. Instead, it will bring unwanted worries and concern to the people. It was obvious to see that it would be more problematic. It is also a futile idea. It was unlikely that Cedric would care about how she was dressed. ¡®If you wear rags, he may be sorry.¡¯ Still, Artizea pulled the nket out of the bed. Then she curled up on the sofa and covered herself with the nket. She was very tired, so Artizea quickly started to doze off. Even in her dreams, she was nervous. As a result, Artizea was surprised by the sound of the door opening and she jumped up. As Cedric came in, he said cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte. Isn¡¯t it past midnight right now? I couldn¡¯t get out¡­..¡± Cedric looked at Artizea instead of apologizing. And he stopped without repeating all his words. Cedric¡¯s nape and ears turned red. Artizea didn¡¯t know why he looked that way at first. Then she realized that she had dropped the nket, and she quickly picked it up. She made up her mind that it was just a little thin, and it was nothing. There is no exposure, nothing to be ashamed of. But that decision was of no use. She felt embarrassed to death. ¡°Well, well, because Sophie doesn¡¯t know anything. It looks like she made something called a bride¡¯s pajamas. Is it weird? I tried to find other clothes, but they said the clothes were on the ship, and I couldn¡¯t get them out during the night¡­¡­¡± Artizea fired up excuses like rapid fire. Cedric shook his hand not to do so. Then he stroked his face once with his palm. ¡°It¡¯s not strange. I think it¡¯s cute.¡± This time, Artizea turned red. On the other hand, her mind went nk. Cedric hesitated, then he approached Artizea. ¡°This, this is Madame Emily¡¯s¡­¡± Her mouth was going to make more excuses, but Cedric¡¯s outstretched hand slightly touched Artizea¡¯s scattered hair. Artizea was surprised and hugged the nket like a shield and sat down on the sofa. ¡°The bed is for Lord Cedric. I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± There was a moment of silence. Cedric breathed a little. He went to bed and sat down. Then he swept his face down once with his palm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have surprised you.¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Artizea replied with a slight trembling voice. She couldn¡¯t figure out what was going to happen a while ago. ¡°If you are ufortable using the same bed, I will sleep on the sofa.¡± ¡°No. I can¡¯t give up the nket. I¡¯ll give up the bed instead.¡± ¡°Use both the nket and the bed. It¡¯s not cold, so I don¡¯t need a nket.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. How can I put the master on the sofa and sleepfortably in bed?¡± ¡°But¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m a lot smaller. Lord Cedric, I don¡¯t think you can fold your legs in half to fit in the sofa. ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric called her. Artizea spoke first before he could speak again. ¡°Can you turn off the light?¡± ¡°¡­ Sure. If you¡¯refortable with it, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Artizea was relieved inside. Soon the bedroom got dark. Cedric¡¯s shadowy on the bed. Artizea was finally relieved from the fire up her neck and closed her eyes. But she did not think she¡¯ll fall asleep. Until a while ago, she was so tired that she fell asleep in no time. Artizea realized that she was counting both her exhtion and inhtion. And Cedric also noticed that he sighed asionally and made irregr breathing sounds. She had to do a post evaluation of today¡¯s wedding. Originally, before going to bed, she was going to check the results with Cedric and refine their future ns. But she couldn¡¯t. All she can see is a shadow, but why is she so nervous? After a while, Cedric jumped up and sat down. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We have to use the same room for a while anyway. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to get used to it? We can¡¯t sleep like this in the cabin.¡± Before Artizea replied, he came over. He then stretched out his arms and held Artizea over the nket. ¡°Ah! ¡° Artizea struggled in surprise. Cedric effortlessly took her to the bed andid her down. ¡°I didn¡¯t see it.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t understand for a moment what that meant. She btedly found out that it meant that she was wearing a duvet and he didn¡¯t see her body. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that.¡± Her words were sincere, but her voice trembled because of her shortness of breath. Cedric came into the nket. The temperature inside the nket has risen. Artizea recognizes the swaying of the bed, and she turns her back to him andys her back on the bed. The bed wasrge so they could sleep without sufficient contact. But Cedric¡¯s hand gently hugged her from behind. ¡°Get used to it. I will too.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea shuddered because his lowly voice seemed to dig into her mind. As her cold limbs warmed to Cedric¡¯s body temperature, it tickled her. Artizea couldn¡¯t move and held her breath. There was silence again. This time Artizea started counting her heartbeat, not her breath. The sound of Cedric¡¯s heartbeat reaching her ears was far stronger than her own. It wasn¡¯t until she focused on her regr beats that she fell asleep. Perhaps because of her long tense time, as her body rxed, Artizea was quickly dragged to the borders of her dreams. ¡°Tia, are you asleep?¡± Her answer didn¡¯te back. Cedric gently raised his head and looked at Artizea¡¯s face. There was a murmur of breathing sound. The color of her lips, which had been pale all day long as her body warmed, turned pink. Cedric carefully touched his lips to her temples. ¡®I thought my heart was going to sink.¡¯ He knew Artizea didn¡¯t see him as a man. Still, when he opened the door and saw her for the first time, he thought about her. Because she was so lovely. ¡®You should stop thinking about it.¡¯ She¡¯s trusting him to the point that she falls asleep so defenselessly. He always wanted to hug her. She was as thin and delicate as he had thought, like she could break and disappear. Her body temperature was warm. Cedric decided to be happy that he could keep her hands and feet warm. After chasing a mirage for a long time, he saw the illusion of holding her in his arms. When he woke up from his dream, he was afraid that it would all crumble in blood. Cedric sighed and lightly gripped Artizea¡¯s left wrist. Even though it was time to go to bed, she was still wearing her diamond bracelet. His heart beat wildly. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°It¡¯s spooky.¡± The Emperor said as he got off in front of the Rosan Mansion. After a while of neglect, the atmosphere of the mansion changed. The garden was not well maintained, and the cleaning condition was not good at a nce. ¡°The butler is dead. I heard he met a robber.¡± The attendant reminded him. The Emperor exhaled. ¡°That¡¯s understandable. Tia was in the Evron Grand Duchy, and Lawrence said he was staying in another house. I¡¯m sure she was lying with her head wrapped up.¡± The emperor gave a re to the attendant. ¡°What are you doing without paying attention?¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry. Lawrence didn¡¯t like anyone being involved in the work of Rosan¡¯s mansion¡­¡± ¡°That makes sense when he¡¯s at home.¡± The Emperor said disapprovingly. ¡°Find a guy. He¡¯s to be patient and good at work.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The attendant gave a deep bow. ¡°Isn¡¯t Lawrence still at the reception?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t send a single person?¡± As the Emperor said so, he walked up the stairs. A small number of employees were surprised and quickly knelt down on their knees. There weren¡¯t many employees left in the mansion because many of them followed Artizea. The Emperor went up to Mira¡¯s bedroom. Nora, the maid with a tray, was pacing at the door. Then she was surprised to see the emperor and the attendant. Nora was clumsy with her manners. She worked for a long time at the Rosan mansion. But she only worked in theundry room. It was her first time seeing the Emperor in person. She thought she had to get her knees down, she couldn¡¯t figure out what to do with the tray. As Nora quivered, the attendant quickly epted the tray instead. And then the attendant asked. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I, I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe. Oh, this is from Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Tia, what?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­ Lady Artizea said the Madam would be upset when shees back and she told me to prepare a soup made of pumpkin and lemon, that¡¯s¡­¡± Nora stumbled, and she started crying this time. It was yesterday that Artizea called her through Alice. [Tomorrow is my wedding.] [Yes. Congrattions.] [I didn¡¯t call you to congratte me on the wedding, but I have something for you to do. Talk to the kitchen tomorrow morning and ask them to make a pumpkin and lemon soup.] [What?] [And when my motheres back, bring it to her.] [Mydy, I¡¯m a maid in theundry room.] [Maybe my mother will be in a very bad mood and won¡¯t pay attention to you. She is much more likely to drink, and you don¡¯t really need to be in front of my mother.] Artizea said. [While snooping near the bedroom, when His Majestyes, tell him that I told you to prepare the soup. That¡¯s it. If His Majesty does note, you can take care of it yourself. To bring it or not.] Nora held her breath. [If I do that, will you write me a rmendation letter?] [Nora!] Alice shouted in an angry voice. Nora bowed down after she grabbed Nora with a strong arm. Artizea looked down at Nora with cold eyes. [You dare to make a deal with me?] [Ah, youngdy¡­ ] Nora wanted to get out of the Rosan mansion. Nora¡¯s eyes could see the Rosan mansion tilt. Not only was Mira not going to be the owner, but she was even cruel. Nora had no reason to be stuck here. The employees who had worked for generations had already moved to another mansion or business of the Marquisate of Rosan, using the connections of the Hanson family. However, maids who didn¡¯t have any connections, like Nora, couldn¡¯t easily change jobs. Because Bill, who is supposed to write her letter of rmendation, is dead. Mira grew increasingly violent. No one even wrote a letter of rmendation because they were afraid. So she grabbed Alice¡¯s outstretched hand like a rope. She¡¯d love it if Sophie could be the maid who praised her. She would have her write a letter of rmendation so she could go somewhere else if that was difficult. She wanted to get a definite answer on this asion, but it was a mistake. Artizea said. [It¡¯s just to check if you¡¯re useful and if you can carry out mymand properly.] [I¡¯m sorry,dy.] Alice bowed her head deeply. Artizea sighed a little. She decided to forgive Alice by looking at her face. She said again. [It is about meeting the Emperor in person and speaking with him. If you¡¯re as useful as you think of yourself, you don¡¯t even have to ask me for a reward.] And now, Nora finds herself useless. She just had to snoop around with the soup and tell the Emperor the truth, but she couldn¡¯t speak. When she thought she was in front of the Emperor, her head turned nk. The Emperor showed frustration at Nora. The attendant replied quickly. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯ll bring the soup, so you go back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with awe.¡± Nora bowed her head down. And as if running away, she left the scene. The Emperor sighed. ¡°But Tia is better.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t daughters¡¯ minds more delicate?¡± ¡°If there were only one child of mine like Tia, I would have long decided on a sessor.¡± ¡°Do you appreciate her that much?¡± The attendant asked in surprise. The emperormented. ¡°Tia knows how she should behave. She knows how to put her pride and feelings behind. I thought she was overly timid, but I saw what she did to the Empress this time. She has determination and is also bold.¡± The Emperor nced to open the door. When he opened the door of the bedroom, several empty liquor bottles were rolling around on the floor. Even the maid, close to Mira, was not standing by her side. The Emperor frowned. However, he once again sighed and rxed his expression. Mira was lying in bed in a drunken stupor. She felt a personing in, but she didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t even have the energy. Her tears didn¡¯t dry out and shed constantly. She was so stunned and sad that she wanted to die. [My mother herself is not honorable. What does the title or the name of the marriage vows mean?] Lawrence¡¯s words didn¡¯t leave her mind. Mira always carried her head up with a proud face. All the expensive and colorful objects in the world were wrapped around her body. She did not tolerate anyone who disobeyed her own words. Mira deliberately trampled on a person to see if the power in her hand was real. When thedies of the social world bent their knees and bowed to her, she was finally satisfied. She could beat an employee to death and cast them aside. But she knew more than anyone else that Mira herself was not honorable. Mira had never had a decent wedding. Her marriage was all about sitting face to face with an old man who couldn¡¯t even walk properly and signing the papers. There were no bouquets and no guests. There was no pure gold orb to receive from her mother. The priest, who came to notarize her marriage, looked at her with his eyes, as if seeing her as a dirty thing. And as soon as the signing was finished, he hurried to leave without giving a proper blessing. The Emperor dressed her in a white dress that night. However, the skirt of the wedding dress was all mesh, so the inside was transparent. It could not be as cherished as others. It was evidence of her favor, but not that she was proudly married. [What kind of wife is that woman who lives like a corpse at the Empress¡¯s Pce? You are my wife.] The Emperor often said so, seeing Mira with her lovable face. The Emperor gave her numerous things. Mira rode a carriage with the imperial crest. She even went to imperial ceremonies where she took the Emperor¡¯s hand and became his wife. The Emperor put her on hisp and at asions held the seal in her hand. She had even personally stamped the papers that govern the fate of the country. Mira was the only one who could freely enter the bedroom of the Emperor. However, only the Empress seat was not allowed to Mira. She is the Emperor¡¯s mistress, and she is not the empress. The Emperor gave Mira everything he could give her whenever she felt like it, but he did not give her a legitimate right to be protected in the name of God. While the Emperor is alive, it will be Mira who is in his bed. However, it would be the Empress who was buried in the same tomb as the Emperor and her name engraved on the tombstone. Lawrence is right. She was dishonorable. But she didn¡¯t know Lawrence would me her. Even though everyone in the world could me her for being dirty, Lawrence and Artizea alone shouldn¡¯t. ¡°How can they? To tell me¡­¡­. I raised them.¡± Mira murmured. The Emperor approached and sat down by the bed on which Mira was lying. The mattress dipped and her body tilted. Mira did not turn her head and buried her face on the pillow. The Emperor stroked Mira¡¯s hair with a gentle touch. ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°¡­.go.¡± Mira said in a cracked voice. ¡°I guess I should be seriously punishing Lawrence for making you so sad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°Are you still worried about Lawrence?¡± Mira replied in a sobbing voice. ¡°Did you know everything from the beginning?¡± ¡°Me? What?¡± ¡°Did you know that Tia became the Empress¡¯sdy-in waiting or why Lawrence told me not toe? So, you didn¡¯t even tell me to go to the wedding today¡­¡± ¡°No. No matter how bright my eyes and ears, how would I know what happened inside the Empress¡¯s pce?¡± The Emperor said with a sigh. ¡°I knew Tia went to the Empress¡¯s Pce and got a wedding present. But, it¡¯s natural for the groom Cedric to greet her. I never imagined she could have done such a great deal.¡± ¡°¡­..You¡¯re praising Tia.¡± The Emperor groaned at Mira¡¯s murmur. ¡°Everyone, how can you do this to me¡­ .¡± Her weeping got louder again. ¡°The Empress took it all from me. My son and my daughter. The only upper hand I had against her was them.¡± ¡°Rx, don¡¯t burden yourself. The kids are supposed to leave when they grow up anyway. I would do anything. What¡¯s so upsetting you?¡± The emperor pulled Mira. Mira was held in his arms without strength. ¡®Then can you make me an empress? Can you make me honorable?¡¯ Mira didn¡¯t say such stupid words. When she was young, she had spoken out a few times. But now Mira doesn¡¯t say that. She didn¡¯t even believe in the Emperor. A man is not to be trusted. Now he loves her. She is pretty. But as the years go by and her beauty fades, she will be thrown away. If she offends him, she will be thrown away. She will be thrown away if she fails to please him. [All that remains is blood.] It was sincere to say that to Artizea. But there was no blood left. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Proofreader: xoxomonami It took about a month and a half by sea from the capital to the Evron Grand Duchy. Bynd, it usually takes as little as 4 weeks. It was based on an experienced messenger continually changing horses and running. There was a way. However, on the way, you have to go through a vast barrennd. The Evron Grand Duchy was argend with a low poption of people. Wherever you go, no vige will appear. Homelessness continued when moving bynd, and it was cold and windy. It wasn¡¯t an easy way for ordinary people to go. So, from Spring to Autumn, most of them used sea routes for transporting goods and for people to travel. In Winter, the port of Evron Grand Duchy is mostly frozen. At that time, exchanges with the maind of the Empire declined. That was the reason why the people of the Empire called the Northern people distinctly as Northerners. ¡°Really, it seems a little scary. It¡¯s like a foreign country.¡± Alice said to Artizea. The two stood on a boat going back up the river. Artizea has crossed the sea in arge ship for over a month. And yesterday they changed into a sleek and fast ship that moved from the estuary to the main city. The scenery seen by the river was as exotic and unfamiliar as Alice said. There was arge river, so water was abundant and the in was wide, but there was no vige. They changed boats at the port and were moving fast for over a day, but she couldn¡¯t see any area where people live. Trees that stretched high into the sky formed forests. There were ice caps sitting in the mountain range that circled far away and surrounded thend as if to trap it. Drift ice could be seen from the sea. ¡°Oh, Madam, look over there! It¡¯s a deer!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get tired of seeing so much?¡± ¡°It¡¯s interesting. They don¡¯t run away even if they see people.¡± It was not easy to see wild animals in the capital. Though crossing the city boundaries, everyone lived in the area. There were mountains and forests. But it was all managed. This ce waspletely different. Artizea threw her gaze far away. The sound of the waves and the wind deafened her eyes. Wrapped in this sound the whole time, she was about to forget what it was like to be quiet now. ¡°What are you looking at in the blowing cold wind?¡± Cedric said, wrapping Artizea in a fur cape from behind. Artizea was surprised because she couldn¡¯t hear anything. ¡°Ah.¡± Fire burned to her cheek over nothing. She got used to this too. Funny enough, it was all thanks to motion sickness. The ship Cedric used to travel to and from Evron Grand Duchy was veryrge, stable, and luxurious. However, during the first 15 days, Artizea suffered from seasickness. As she lived with sugar water and chocte, the weight that she had been slightly attached with was about toe off again.. It was useless to worry about using the same cabin as Cedric. She didn¡¯t even have enough spirit to do that. By the time her body got used to the ship, the awkward and embarrassing memories of the first night were roughly covered in time. She got used to Cedric as she climbed up and down the deck to breathe fresh air. Artizea fiddled with the brooch that Cedric put on her cloak. With her head down, she didn¡¯t know what kind of face she was making. It took some time to pretend to be calm. ¡°Alice still seems to be fascinated by the strangendscape.¡± ¡°The atmosphere is different from the central region. ¡°Autumn is gone.¡± Unlike the mild Imperial capital, Evron Grand Duchy was a cold region. When the Great Duke¡¯s southern boundary, Elia Wall, was crossed, the air temperature changed from there. And the northern boundary line, the Thold Mountains, was also the northern limit line where humans could survive. It was aroundte Summer when she had their wedding. More than a month has passed since then, so now the capital will be in Autumn. But it was already Winter here. ¡°It¡¯s Autumn here. It¡¯s still a little better, but the wind is stronger when you go to the maind. It will get colder in the future.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°Your words are hard to trust. I would have liked you staying in the capital.¡± Artizeaughed at the criticism. ¡°It¡¯s kind of weird to hear that we¡¯re separated as soon as we get married. And it¡¯s better to stay away from the capital city.¡± Until the seeded conspiracies sprout and grow. And for a while she needed to rest her head. When she returns, she will be busy harvesting. ¡°This is the first time you have left the capital, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± Artizea looked far away. She did so in the past. Artizea never left the capital until Cedric showed her the fallen empire. She was the one sitting in her dark back room, moving the chess pieces and pulling the threads. There were times when what was happening in the Imperial Pce or in the social world needed to be done directly, but as the number of people increased and the scope of conspiracy widened, there was no direct movement. She had never seen the endless horizon of the West, or the beautiful hilly map of the East. The same was true of the North. When she thinks about it now, it was something she didn¡¯t need to do from the beginning. Seizing power and conspiring can be done in a room. But politics is about life. She should have known that living lives exist separately. If she had seen the world a little earlier, would she have done that? ¡°Tia, what are you thinking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about anything.¡± Artizea consciously emptied her head. Not yet. This was just the beginning. One¡¯s life shouldn¡¯t have been considered more than a number. For a moment she stood in the cold wind. Because Cedric was standing too close. Artizea corrected her consciousness to keep focusing on him. ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric called her again. For no reason, her body temperature rose. ¡°I see the maind!¡± Someone shouted the moment she was about to lose bnce and reveal her embarrassment. Artizea opened her eyes. As they went half way through a forest, she saw a majestic, but crude stone castle. ¡°Wow!¡± She heard Sophie cry when she came up. Cedric said. ¡°I hope you¡¯re not disappointed.¡± ¡°Why would anyone who knows the history of the Evron Grand Duchy be disappointed? This is the pride of the Evron Grand Duchy.¡± The history of Evron Grand Duchy was made up of endless wars. This is because a group of monsters called Karam regrly traveled south across the Thold Mountains. Foot traffic was not inconvenient here either. In fact, the resource-rich and densely popted areas were further South. Considering the smoothness of governance, it was right to build the maind a little further South. Considering the exchange with other regions, it should have been located close to a port that does not freeze. But the Evron Grand Duchy did not. Instead, they built a defensive fortress close to the border and built a nest there. When the defense line of the Thold Mountains fell, it was to protect the people who could not evacuate. If only enough food was stored, it couldst for several years. When the beacon rises when the defensive line has copsed, all the neighboringmon people gather by the fortress. And while the stronghold is holding the line, the Southerners were forced to evacuate under the second line of defense, the Elia Wall. In short, the fortress was a sign that the Grand Duchy was protecting the Thold Mountains, and it was also a symbol of the life they live for themon people. That is why Evron is called the Evron of the North, the Shield of the Empire. Cedric smiled awkwardly. He was pleased with the praise for the family and also ashamed to ept it as his own. ¡°Fortunately, we haven¡¯t actually used it yet. Anyway, it¡¯s certain that the interior is not as tacky as it looks. It¡¯s not a castle that was originally designed around thefort of life¡­¡± ¡°It will block the wind well.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s based on a familiarity standard¡­¡± Cedric groaned unsurely. Artizea wore her fur cape, and the maids were also wearing their own coats. However, Cedric and his knights and servants were all wearing thin clothes. Some of the sailors wore short sleeves. Artizea only smiled. The ship was soon connected to the dock that was connected to the maind. The knights first came down, and then Cedric escorted Artizea. All the guards and employees of the maind were lined up at the dock. ¡°Have you been well, Grand Duke?¡± A middle-aged couple dressed in ssy clothes came to the front and bowed. ¡°I¡¯m d you look healthy, Aaron, Margaret.¡± Cedric hugged the two lightly once. And he introduced them to Artizea. ¡°Tia, these two are Count and Countess Jordyn. They are responsible for the management of the estate while I am away.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Your Grace. We have been waiting for your arrival.¡± Count and Countess Jordyn knelt together. Artizea also gently nodded and greeted the two. And she said. ¡°You may rise. I¡¯m d to meet the trustworthy servants of Grand Duke Evron. I hope you will help me a lot in the future until I get used to the circumstances of the estate.¡± ¡°I will try my best to help.¡± The two answered together. ¡°Everyone is gathered to greet you two.¡± Aaron said. ¡°You came after the wedding ceremony, but you have to do the wedding here as well. How many people do you think have been waiting for you to get married?¡± ¡°Well, reception is a little¡­. What do you think?¡± Cedric turned to Artizea and asked. ¡°After three years, you came back safely from the Monster Wave. I fully understand the desire of wanting to have a feast.¡± ¡°Will you be okay?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you hate crowds?¡± Artizea was a little surprised. That¡¯s true. The reason she avoids balls is because her clothes are shabby, appearance wasplex, and because of her poor dancing skills. But overall, she didn¡¯t like crowds. Because she had a lot of thoughts, she got tired quickly in ces with many people. But she didn¡¯t know that Cedric knew that. It was then. A girl jumped out of the crowd and jumped into Cedric¡¯s arms. ¡°Your Majesty! You¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Cedric was startled. He held the leaping girl as if to prevent her from colliding with Artizea. Margaret hurriedly grabbed the girl¡¯s hand. ¡°Aubrey, what a rude thing to do!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I heard it toote when the ship wasing in. I¡¯m d you¡¯re back, Your Grace.¡± Aubrey blushed and looked up at Cedric with a shy face. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Proofreader: xoxomonami Aubrey was the youngest daughter of Count and Countess Jordyn. She was a 15-year-old girl who was still a child when shest met Cedric. And he had more vivid memories when she was 7 and 8 years old. ¡°Aubrey? You?¡± Cedric was startled. ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace. I¡¯m an adult now. I¡¯m 18 years old.¡± Aubrey looked up as she clung onto Cedric. Cedric gently shook his arms and pushed Aubrey off. When he was young, he loved her like a younger sister and she was cute, but this was the age that he shouldn¡¯t indulge such behavior. Aubrey was shocked. It was the first time he didn¡¯t hug her when she clung onto Cedric. Margaret quickly grabbed Aubrey¡¯s arm and dragged her to the side. And she lowered her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your Grace. I didn¡¯t raise my daughter very well.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s been a long time so she was excited to see me. Aubrey¡¯s already grown like this, I can¡¯t believe how long I¡¯ve been away.¡± ¡°Your Grace has changed a lot.¡± Aaron stepped in andughed to avoid making the mood awkward. Cedricughed too. ¡°Three years ago, I was a kid.¡± ¡°Your Grace, even when you were only twenty, you were not an ordinary child.¡± ¡°Does that mean I look older?¡± Cedric stroked his cheek. And he looked back at Artizea with a sneaky nce. Artizea tilted her head. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Cedric scratched his slightly red cheeks with his index finger. Then he reached out his hand to her with a soft face. ¡°First of all, go to the room. I¡¯ll give you a guide to the castle after warming up and resting. I¡¯ll think about it tomorrow whether to have a greeting or having a reception.¡± ¡°I heard It¡¯s still Autumn.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°Not me, but you. You¡¯ve been on the boat for over a month, that your lips have turned white.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so tired.¡± As Artizea said so, she put her hand on Cedric¡¯s hand. Then Cedric flipped his hand and grabbed Artizea¡¯s hand. Artizea flinched. Her embarrassed fingers flinched and scratched Cedric¡¯s palm. Cedric seeded in maintaining his normal expression, but his earlobes reddened. The people of the Grand Duchy who saw it silently nced at each other. The words they wanted to say, but no one took it out of their mouth. Alice, Sophie, and Rize smiled happily with satisfaction. Artizea turned her gaze to the wrong ce. Her hands were cold, and Cedric¡¯s hands were hot. Strangely, however, she had the illusion that even her own hands were hot. It was a lie that she got used to it. Rather, it was getting strange, so even touching his fingertips made her head white. For no reason, she was breathless. She kept reliving the memory of his embrace that she felt through her thin pajamas. It was not known when the memory would disappear from her skin. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Cedric whispered into Artizea¡¯s ear with a lower voice than usual. Artizea lowered her head. Cedric pulled her hand and she folded her arms. However, he did not let go of her hand. Aaron took the lead in a hurry. ¡°I¡¯ve cleaned up the Grand Duchess¡¯ room. I did it on my own, but there is a limit to what I can do here. I was worried about it being unsophisticated, so I did not decorate it. How about doing it yourself?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Artizea pretended to be calm on the outside, trying to press down her moring heart. She then suddenly felt a gaze and looked back. Aubrey was staring at Artizea without even thinking of hiding her roaring expression of hatred. ¡®This.¡¯ Artizea got embarrassed. This is difficult to handle. She couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t know, though. If Aubrey was trying to hide her emotions, then she would have never known. However, she carried an expression that tantly exposed her hatred. Leaving such a defiant distracts the family. Cedric shook her hand lightly to make her focus on him. Cedric smiled as she looked back at his gaze. *** Artizea¡¯s bedroom was next to Cedric¡¯s bedroom. It was said to be a space used as a bedroom for the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess from generation to generation. There was a door between the two rooms, so it was possible to go back and forth without going through the corridor. ¡°You can lock both sides. The keys on both sides are different, so if you lock on one side, you cannot open on the other side.¡± At Aaron¡¯s exnation, Artizeaughed. ¡°Is it for a couple¡¯s fight? So, to spread the distance and arrange a room¡­.. Oh, was the door for in case of an emergency.¡± ¡°The retreat is on the side of my room. I¡¯ll show you how to open itter.¡± Cedric said so. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a secret passage?¡± ¡°It¡¯s no secret how to go from inside to outside. It¡¯s prepared for emergencies. Since there¡¯s no one tomunicate with Karam, anyone knows the passages.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± There was a Tuvalet room and a small bathroom opposite Cedric¡¯s bedroom. There was also a space that could be used as a study next to the reception room. The bedroom wasn¡¯t big. Fur hung tightly on the walls everywhere. The floor was also covered with fluffy fur enough to cover the ankles. Artizea reached out her hand and touched the wall. ¡°All rooms are made small because if the space isrge, it gets cold quickly. There are many vacant rooms, so please tell us if you need more space.¡± ¡°Is this a bearskin?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. This is better than a tapestry, it blocks drafts better. If you don¡¯t like it, I¡¯ll buy something else.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not because I don¡¯t like it, but because it¡¯s too extravagant¡­¡± Artizea muttered. ¡°Even the predecessor¡¯s Grand Duchess wore fur in the living space. It¡¯s still okay, but when Winteres, it¡¯s difficult for people who are not from this ce to bear.¡± ¡°Yes. I see.¡± Artizea answered and turned to Cedric. Cedric nodded his head. ¡°The warmth seems to be enough. I¡¯m warming up without doing anything too much. The people below will do well, but¡­.. The only thing you can¡¯t do is take care of yourself.¡± ¡°I feel like a very ipetent person if you say that.¡± Cedricughed. ¡°First of all, take a break. I¡¯ll pick you up when it¡¯s time for dinner. I¡¯ll first take a look at the situation.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the evening about what to do tomorrow. There are many things I¡¯d like to ask for your opinion about.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric reached out his hand. Artizea was shocked and stiffened her body. Cedric¡¯s thumb gently swept through Artizea¡¯s eyes. ¡°Rest.¡± He spoke kindly and went out. Aaron and other vassals bowed their head to greet her and followed Cedric. ¡°Madam, have a seat.¡± Sophie took Artizea¡¯s cloak off. Artizea sat in the armchair. She wasn¡¯t aware of the cold, but she melted as she sat in front of the firece. She was bothered by the brooch that Cedric gave her. Artizea, caught in a subtle mood, fiddled with it in her hand mindlessly. The brooch was engraved with the crest of Evron Grand Duchy. She was busy in the capital, so she couldn¡¯t afford to think carefully. However, when she came here, she realized that she got the name of Cedric¡¯s wife anyway, even if it was only a formality. For the time being, the mistress of this stronghold is herself. Looking back at it, why didn¡¯t she ever think about getting married in her previous life? Artizea recalled the past. She never really thought that she hated political marriage. When she was young, her mother and her brother were everything in the world to her, but as she got older, she might have wanted to run away with marriage. It wasn¡¯t that there were no men who approached her at all. Even when she became Marchioness of Rosan, even after Lawrence stabilized his position as the Crown Prince, there were men approaching her for her position and her fortune. Artizea never paid attention to them. ¡®Is it because I can see right through them?¡® Even superficial tenderness must have shaken her heart. Like she did when Lawrence was good at times. Or maybe she did it because she knew that she would eventually be purged. ¡°Whew.¡± Artizea leaned her neck against the backrest, and she briefly closed her eyes and then opened it. ¡°Rize, go and call Margaret. Now I have to greet her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rize quickly went outside. Margaret was waiting outside with a butler, the chief maid, and several senior employees. When she was told that she was called by Artizea, she hurried in. After Artizea was greeted by the employees, she said: ¡°It¡¯s not a small thing to live in the stronghold, and it would be more so to someone who had stayed for a few months a year at the most. I want you to take care of it like you¡¯ve done so far. If you are a person Cedric trusts, I can trust you as well. .¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Most of my servants are the maids I brought. But the number will be insufficient, so if there is someone who is a good maid, you can choose a few people and send them to me. I hope my maid never fails to say what they have to say or do what they have to do.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That was the only thing she asked of the employees. After dismissing the butler and the chief maid, Artizea looked at Margaret. Margaret was very nervous. Margaret had no intention of disregarding Artizea as she is the newly married young mistress. She was the Grand Duchess that Cedric chose. That alone was enough reason to be loyal. But apart from that, Artizea carried a dignity she could not dare to rx and deal with. She was like apletely different person than when she was holding Cedric with her hand and blushing shyly. ¡°Margaret, as you know, I didn¡¯t bring anydy-in-waitings from my family. It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t have any rtives and no acquaintances.¡± Artizea said in a slow voice. Margaret responded politely. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thedy-in-waiting I¡¯m going to choose will be from among the Evron Grand Duchy and its closely rted family. I hope you will advise me on that.¡± Knowing what woulde next, Margaret took a breath. ¡°First, I wonder, how about Miss Aubrey? If it were the daughter of Count Jordyn, she would be fitting if I considered her status, her loyalty, and her age, which is simr to mine, so our conversation would be good. I believe she can help me adapt to life here.¡± Artizea said so. She had to sort out the ranks in advance. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Proofreader: xoxomonami Margaret didn¡¯t know what to do. As a vassal of the Grand Duke Evron, she ought to be pleased that the new Grand Duchess would only select herdy-in-waiting from within the Evron Grand Duchy. This is because it means that she will not attract the forces of her own family or create a new one. She also says she¡¯s going to take her own daughter as her firstdy-in-waiting. This is to show deep trust in Count Jordyn and strengthen their ties. It was also an honor. If the sessor was conceived in Artizea¡¯s body, it was even more important. A child born is bound to be intimate with the mother¡¯sdies-in-waiting, while they are under the mother¡¯s care. The nanny and the first tutor were also usually chosen among thedies-in-waiting. However, Margaret couldn¡¯t lift her head. ¡°Aubrey¡­ only appears grown up, but she is still an immature child. She has no manners, that I can¡¯t possibly let her serve the Grand Duchess.¡± Margaret knew Artizea¡¯s eyes were slowly scanning her. She would have been insecure even if Artizea hadn¡¯t met Aubrey, but she had already seen Aubrey. She also saw Aubrey tantly antagonizing her. She would already know why, too. In fact, Margaret thought Artizea would be angry. There was no excuse, so she would first apologize deeply and then scold Aubrey until she came to her senses. But she said she would make Aubrey herdy-in-waiting with such an elegant attitude. Margaret got goosebumps. Whether her act of conciliation was for the purpose of putting Aubrey under her hand, or to make sure she knows who is their superior. Either way, it wasn¡¯t something someone of Artizea¡¯s age would think of. Margaret admired the wiseness of her new mistress. Meanwhile, she was also afraid as the mother of her foolish daughter at the same age. Artizea said slowly. ¡°We¡¯re in the same castle anyway, and even if you hide her, will she be hidden?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± ¡°If she doesn¡¯t have an etiquette, then she should learn more etiquette. When I heard from His Grace that Count Jordyn was a trusted family, I wanted to invite thedy-in-waiting for the first time. It¡¯s embarrassing that you cannot give your daughter..¡± Margaret bowed her head deeply because she had nothing to say. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean that I doubt your loyalty to Evron.¡± ¡°No. Please take away those fearful words. Please don¡¯t say that as you are the Grand Duchess of Evron.¡± And she finally said. ¡°It is a great honor to hear that the Grand Duchess is going to take my foolish daughter. There will be many mistakes, so please guide us a lot.¡± Artizea slowly nodded her head. Contrary to Margaret¡¯s thoughts, she wasn¡¯t upset with Aubrey. It was because she wanted to crack down on Aubrey in advance. Artizea was the Marchioness of Rosan, and she held the empress¡¯s hand instead of her mother¡¯s at the wedding. Aubrey ran into Cedric¡¯s arms without any sign of being conscious in front of her. Until now, Cedric must have been so sweet. He originally is fond of children and regarded the people of the Grand Duchy as family members. He probably thought she was like his younger sister. However, he is allowed to do so because his subordinates did not forget their loyalty. If there is someone who doesn¡¯t know up and down like Aubrey, it will surely be a problem someday. It is for the sake of the Evron Grand Duchy that the buds are cut in advance. For the future when Lisia became the Grand Duchess. ¡®Really?¡¯ Such a question suddenly ran through the inside of her chest and stuck in her head. ¡®Aren¡¯t you angry? Really? It doesn¡¯t matter emotionally?¡¯ Artizea threw her gaze into the firece and quietly fell into her thoughts. She casually put her hand on her chest. Her heart was heavy as if a stone was on it. But Artizea did not check what was on her heart. It was because she instinctively realized that she shouldn¡¯t. *** Cedric, who was picking her up at dinner time, appeared earlier than expected. Behind him was a servant pushing a trolley with food. Alice, who opened the door carefully, was flustered. She didn¡¯t think the visitor would be Cedric. ¡°The madam is sleeping.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Cedric hesitated for a moment. If he had been in the capital, he would have said he woulde again and turn around. But Cedric didn¡¯t this time. They slept in the same cabin for more than a month. Besides, they were married externally, and it would be okay to not have gone that far. Alice also informed him, but she didn¡¯t stop him from entering. Cedric stepped into the warm bedroom. Artizea sat asleep in front of the firece. He thought she had a good rest on the ship. However, she seems to have been tired, as Cedric said. As her soles and knees warmed, her drowsiness came. It was said that the Evron Grand Duchy was cold, but this room was not. Rather, it was warmer than Artizea¡¯s bedroom in the Rosan mansion. This is thanks to the heated room. The fur skin was warm. Cedric approached her andid the te down on the table. Because of the heat, Artizea¡¯s cheeks were flushed nicely. ¡°¡­..¡± Would it be better not to wake her up? With that thought, Cedric approached Artizea¡¯s side. The servant left the trolley and went out silently. Alice followed and carefully closed the door. Cedric pulled the chair and sat next to Artizea, looking at her sleeping face for a while. But it would be right to wake her up too. Sleep was important, but a meal was also important. She barely gained weight after working hard for several months. Cedric quietly reached out his hand. It¡¯s good if she wakes up, and it¡¯s okay if she doesn¡¯t wake up. He thought about it and tried to cover her cheek slightly. ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea opened her eyes in amazement at the image of his palms almost touching her down on the cheek. Cedric, who couldn¡¯t even touch it, awkwardly lowered his hand. He openly clenched and opened his fist a few times. It would be an excuse to try to touch her because he was curious if her cheeks were warm. While she couldn¡¯t speak, Artizea blinked her eyes a few times and she said ¡°Ah,¡± again. It was an unknown face when Cedric tried to touch her cheek. ¡°I thought I was dreaming.¡± ¡°Am I in your dream?¡± ¡°¡­ I do not know.¡± A bitter smile formed on Artizea¡¯s lips. ¡°Was it a bad dream?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea replied briefly. It wasn¡¯t a dream, so the word bad dream was inappropriate. Rather, the way he was looking at her so tenderly now seemed like a vain dream. Artizea tried to get up. But after sleeping a little, then standing up after a little sleep, she felt heavier as if she had extra legs and arms. ¡°You should rest more.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it dinner time?¡± ¡°You were tired, so I didn¡¯t think it was necessary to go down to the dining hall, so I brought the food here instead.¡± ¡°But to greet the vassals ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I decided to skip it today. We¡¯re going to have a proper banquet the day after tomorrow. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Of course. ¡° Artizea sighed briefly and buried herself in the armchair. If she can take another day off, she was grateful. Cedric stood up. He pushed the trolley and came by the armchair. He opened the soup warmer lid and transferred the soup to a bowl. ¡°It smells delicious.¡± Until then, Artizea, who had been sitting nkly against the armchair, woke up. ¡°Don¡¯t get up, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°Oh, I have to. ¡­¡­¡± Cedric was one step faster. He already took the soup bowl and spoon it up before her body was raised. ¡°Sit in a warm seat and eat.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Thank you. ¡° Artizea awkwardly thanked him. Cedric skipped the soup on his own and piled meat and mushrooms on a te like a mountain. Then he poured melted cheese on it and put bread in a small space. Cedric sat down again when he returned with the te. Artizea inadvertently opened her eyes wide. Isn¡¯t it too much? Cedric raised a fork with a calm face. And he asked inly. ¡°Is the room okay?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s warm. The bathroom was also very warm.¡± ¡°I was worried that the rooms hadn¡¯t been used for long, but I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°Is this the room that Lord Cedric¡¯s mother used?¡± Artizea asked carefully. ¡°Since this is the room used by the Grand Duchess for generations. Since the joining with the Empire, the Grand Duchess have rarely been northerners, so we must pay a lot of attention. If the Grand Duchess that came from a political marriage got sick in the cold, the problem can spread greatly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± Artizea ate a spoon of hot soup. The soup, which was boiled with a thick bone broth, was different from what was usually eaten in the capital. Her stomach quickly became hot. ¡°Is there anything wrong with the Grand Duchy so far? Three years is not a short time¡­¡± ¡°Because we haven¡¯t received any reports in the meantime. And Evron Grand Duchy is not an area where there is much change, as long as there¡¯s no war with Karam.¡± ¡°I see. Thest war was five years ago. Lord Cedric was praised as a hero.¡± Cedric¡¯s face turned red. ¡°It¡¯s a vain praise.¡± ¡°You rebuilt the Western Army, which was almost destroyed, and stopped the monster wave. You proved that it was not vain.¡± Artizea smiled. However, Cedric looked serious. ¡°It¡¯s not because I did well, but because there was the Knights of Evron by my side.¡± And he sighed. ¡°The poption seldom increases, and in Winter, most of the trade stopped¡­ and the industry fell behind. Even if it wasn¡¯t a big battle, there were many small disputes at the Thold Gate. Everything we do in thisnd is to be prepared for war.¡± Cedric shook his head. ¡°So it¡¯s natural to be able to fight.¡± The Empire praised Evron by calling it Evron of the North. Grand Duke Evron officially held the rank after the emperor and empress. Except for the emperor, only Grand Duke Evron was able to take the knights and lead the knights. The sovereignty of the province was also fully guaranteed. Grand Duke Evron had the authority to collect taxes, convene troops, and draft supplies. Some of these powers were applied beyond the scope of the Grand Duke. But Cedric didn¡¯t think it was power or honor. All of that power was given to defend Karam. And too many sacrifices were made as a defense from Karam. It is not an honor to make such a sacrifice. There was no need for power that forced sacrifices. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Proofreader: xoxomonami ¡°Lord Cedric, you can have a little more pride in yourself.¡± Artizea said. ¡°What you create is not the authority that follows the title of Grand Duke Evron or the long honor that the Empire bore, but Lord Cedric himself.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°It is said that a ce makes a man, but just because everyone is in the same ce does not produce the same result.¡± If so, it wouldn¡¯t matter who became the emperor. Artizea thought of it and smiled a little. ¡°If you had forced them to sacrifice with power, the Western Army would not have followed Lord Cedric. You said there were many people who wanted to follow you? If Lord Cedric epted, the soldiers would have moved to barrennd with their families on their backs. Do you think that¡¯s something anyone can do?¡± ¡°You know that? Oh, Freil said that.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric was treated as a hero not because of the size of your authority, but because you were able to give such faith and hope.¡± If he only thought of Evron, he would be right to ept it. It was a way to solve the poption growth rate hitting the wall and the ever-threatening military power at once. But Cedric didn¡¯t. There was also an internal situation of Evron Grand Duchy. Rather, it was because he was concerned that civilians would see a lot of damage in the next monster wave by pulling out the trained troops from the west. ¡°There are as manymon people who believe in Lord Cedric as there are countless numbers of people in the armed forces. You have to trust yourself.¡± Cedric¡¯s face was brightly colored. Artizea twinkled. ¡°I¡¯m one of them.¡± Cedric turned away from Artizea. ¡°You sometimes embarrass me too much.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything that wasn¡¯t true.¡± ¡°I know.¡± There were many times he had heard sincere praise. However, Artizea¡¯s words were unusually swaying in his heart. His chest swelled, just like when listening to the cheers of the soldiers who survived after a tough fight. He was proud of himself, proud of his opponents, and more than anything else, he was happy. He was embarrassed. Cedric shook his head once to shake off his feelings. ¡°Now let¡¯s stop talking about this.The food will get cold.¡± Cedric broke a piece of bread in half. The white pastry was torn and the steam fluttered. ¡°Here.¡± He handed the bread to Artizea. ¡°Be careful because it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± Artizea epted it. Her neck was tickling. She knew that Cedric liked to eat simply without following the etiquette. Even in the capital¡¯s mansion, he often eats after bringing food to his study or living room. Even on the ship, he arranged all the food on a table in a narrow space and ate it in no order. However, this felt overly intimate as they were sitting side by side in front of the firece. When Artizea emptied all the soup, Cedric took the empty bowl and put it on the trolley. And this time he handed her a te and a fork with a little main dish. ¡°Eat it all. Try for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Artizea sighed. The soup was so thick that she felt like she was full. ¡°To keep your body warm, you have to eat well. You have to get into that habit from now on.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can take it well¡­..¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it tasteless?¡± ¡°Not like that.¡± Artizea knew best that it was because of a psychological reason. Even if she knew it, it was something she couldn¡¯t do. ¡°Try it a little.¡± Cedric watched her eat for a moment. And he ate slowly himself, in ord with the speed of her eating slowly. Then, at the end of Artizea¡¯s meal, he looked at the timing and opened his mouth. ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡­¡± ¡°I want to take a look at the financial situation of the estate tomorrow.¡± The two spoke almost simultaneously. Cedric flinched. Feeling as if she had intercepted his words, Artizea hesitated. ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯m going to the family tomb tomorrow. If you¡¯re okay, I was going to ask you toe with me.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea groaned briefly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s important, but I forgot it.¡± She wasn¡¯t even thinking about it. First of all, she was in the status of the Grand Duchess, so she was expected to pay a visit to the tomb. It was also out of courtesy to the vassals. ¡°Don¡¯t think so seriously. I don¡¯t mean to have a formal service. I came back after a long time, so at first I thought I¡¯d just go for a walk by myself.¡± Cedric stroked his cheek once to calm the heat in his face. It was for no special purpose, but he was simply saying to go out together. It took a lot of courage. ¡°I thought it would be better if we went together. It¡¯s not far away, so I think it will be a change of mood for you too¡­¡­. I want to show you something.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­¡± Artizea slowly nodded her head. ¡°Then, are you giving your permission?¡± ¡°An expression like permission is too grand. I have time, so I have no intention of rejecting Lord Cedric¡¯s rmendation.¡± Artizea replied. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll go to the family tomb in the morning and get a report together in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that¡± Then there was nothing to talk about, so the silence filled the room for a while. Cedric became terribly shy and awkward. His heels seemed to be stinging. He seemed to have something stuck in his throat. He had a lot to say, and he couldn¡¯t figure out what to say. Even when he returned from an extraordinary routine to his daily life, the world was still changed to him. When he returned to a familiar ce, he realized more and more that he had changed. Eventually he couldn¡¯t sit there and stood up, feeling impatient. Artizea stood up after him. Cedric removed all the bowls and put them on the trolley. ¡°Just leave it. The maids will do it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave it here.¡± Artizea came out to the door to see him off. Cedric sighed. He doesn¡¯t want to be nervous, but he seldom does. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Yes? What?¡± Unable to understand why Cedric was saying that, Artizea blinked. Then Cedricughed, making a sound in the wind. He still feels embarrassed. But after they talked, his mind was rather rxed, so he could have a natural face. ¡°There are many things. And for listening to my story.¡± His heart was soplicated that he couldn¡¯t put it all together. Cedric had never thought he would ever return with someone. He has never been alone. People like his family were always there. The vassals cherish him. Ansgar followed him to the battlefield. There were also many who risked his life to protect him. He was in a precarious line of fire, but a solid of trust created by people in the same situation supported his feet. A loving heart cannot be hidden or created by lies. Although he lost his parents at an age he couldn¡¯t even remember their face, Cedric grew up in love as much as his parents gave him. This entire Evron Grand Duchy was his home. That¡¯s why he never thought he hated Evron even when he was held hostage in the capital as a child, or when he became a boy and suddenly fell under the imperial shield. So he never thought he was lonely, but when he came back with Artizea like this, he realised he was. The fact that her presence alone filled his heart. It was only then that he realized that there was an empty space in his life. For Artizea, it was a marriage that was unavoidable because of necessity. Moreover, it is limited to two years. He will be just a contract partner. But for him it was more than that. Even if it wasn¡¯t Artizea, he would one day marry someone. He would have had children and had a family. However, Cedric thought that if he had done so, he would not have been as full as he is now. He may have respected and cared for the marriage partner. She may be someone who thinks he¡¯s attractive as a man. But he would not have shared the respect and admiration as he now does with Artizea. He wouldn¡¯t even have thought he was happy to be with that partner. Cedric took a deep breath. ¡°Thank you for choosing me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying weird things. You know from the beginning that it¡¯s beneficial to each other.¡± As Artizea turned her head a little and looked down at the floor, she said consciously coldly. ¡®Don¡¯t speak too kindly to me.¡¯ The words echoed in her mind in many ways. She herself was a person who did not deserve to hear such words. Even if he drew his sword and cut her neck right now. Cedric chose her, not herself. Cedric took her out of the dungeon. He got down on his knees and told her to make a n for the world. He said he needed her first. So she decided to be the one he needed. This time she herself got down on her knees and decided to make a n for him. That¡¯s it. Artizea wished Cedric could not hear the beating of her heart. Cedricughed. ¡°I did.¡± The voice sounded happy. So Artizea momentarily forgot what conversation they were having. She didn¡¯t understand what Cedric was saying. Cedric reached out and grabbed Artizea¡¯s hand. The temperature of the two hands were different, causing Artizea¡¯s fingers to melt ticklishly. She couldn¡¯t figure out what would be better. She couldn¡¯t think of anything. She was short of breath. ¡°Tia.¡± Artizea paused, then barely raised her eyes and looked up at him. She then froze. His deep and profound eyes approached. Artizea stopped breathing. And she stared nkly as his darkshes slither down, obscuring the sweet light in them. Something soft touched her lips. Artizea was astonished as if she had been beaten. Cedric grabbed her hand tightly. Artizea could not run away. It was the hand that was caught, but as if holding her whole body. She closed her eyes tight. Her whole body nerves be sensitive as if they were rushing to her lips. As her body heated up, she trembled with tension. The feeling of being held over her thin pajamas revived over her skin. The lips fell. Cedric gently patted her cheek. And he said sweetly. ¡°Good night.¡± Artizea nodded her head dumbly. Cedric opened the door and went out. Thump. The door closed. Artizea barely breathed in her breath that stopped. It seemed that her blood was circting in the veins all over her body. Her cheeks were burning hot. With her trembling legs, she stooped back and sat down on any chair. She couldn¡¯t figure out what had happened. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Proofreader: xoxomonami Aubrey clenched and opened her fists in front of the corridor leading to the room of the Grand Duchess. ¡°Who¡¯s going to admit a woman like that as the Grand Duchess?¡± She muttered to herself. Before sending Aubrey, Margaret said sternly. [Don¡¯t say false things in your mouth, don¡¯t think in vain, don¡¯t even dream about it. She is the Grand Duke¡¯s choice, the Marchioness of Rosan. Originally, our house, which is just a county in the region, is not worthy of serving her.] [Mom.] [Nevertheless, to make you her firstdy-in-waiting and to keep you close is to show her blessing in consideration of the fact that our family has been loyal to the Grand Duchy.] Margaret seemed to be worried about her. She felt like she did not want to let Aubrey go. However if she did not send Aubrey, it would have been more suspicious. She just hopes that Artizea has as muchpassion and understanding as she has wisdom. She wanted her to know that Aubrey was just a stupid kid, and that Jordyn was not disloyal. [The Grand Duchess is someone who you can tell is intelligent with just a few minutes of conversation. Aubrey, please don¡¯t mess with her with your immature behavior. Not only you will be in jeopardy, but it¡¯s also your family¡¯s honor.] Her eldest sister threatened to shave her head and send her to a convent if she did anything stupid. ¡®It¡¯s ridiculous to be the Grand Duchess. She¡¯s a prostitute¡¯s daughter.¡¯ Aubrey thought. She doesn¡¯t know what made Cedric marry that woman. She heard rumors of a love marriage, but Aubrey didn¡¯t believe it. ¡®She¡¯s not even pretty.¡¯ She was wondering how beautiful she was because she was the daughter of the mistress that the Emperor loved. However, by Aubrey¡¯s standard, Artizea fell short of her expectations. Her body was so thin that she couldn¡¯t find a healthy curve. Even considering that she had been on a ship for a long time, she looked shabby. Her skin was fair but it was as pale as if she were diseased. Cedric once said that he would marry someone worthy of Grand Duke Evron. And, in Aubrey¡¯s opinion, a sickly foreigner who couldn¡¯t get out of the room properly wasn¡¯t qualified to be the Grand Duchess. Either the Emperor¡¯s influence entered, or perhaps there is such a situation. She may have had some other insidious means. Her mother is the Emperor¡¯s mistress, so her daughter can do such a trick. But Cedric is a smart man. He may be obsessed by the fox-like trick now, but sooner orter he will wake up and escape. ¡®I¡¯m much better.¡¯ Aubrey thought so. She can often see Cedric when she is thedy in waiting of the Grand Duchess. That was one good thing. She may have a chance toe to him someday. She thought so, and from the morning she got dressed up and came out. Aubrey exhaled a big sigh, straightened her posture, and stretched her chest. She was thinking she was pretty today. With a confident walk, Aubrey headed to Artizea¡¯s Tuvalet room. No one responded when she knocked on the door. Aubrey opened the door slightly with her hand. ¡°Jordyn¡¯s Aubrey¡­¡± ¡°Try it on!¡± Aubrey¡¯s words were buried in the cheers bursting from the inside. ¡°It¡¯s the coat that the master sent you in the morning. It¡¯s a little long, but I think you can wear it if you just fold the cuffs!¡± Sophie said happily. Artizea was buried in the fur of pure white. Sophie shortened the sleeve by basting it briefly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this originally men¡¯s clothing?¡± ¡°What do you think? You look good. The sleeves are long, so I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have to wear gloves. Even if you wear gloves, this might be better because your hands won¡¯t get cold.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think even the Marquisate has such precious marten fur?¡± Aubrey was astonished. The sable coat was Cedric¡¯s. When three white martens with no fur of different color mixed together were found at once, the adults were making a fuss, saying it was auspicious. Cedric shot and caught them without a scratch. A simple celebration was also given. It was such a valuable item. After seeing Aubrey, Rize asked with a cold attitude. ¡°What are you doing, Miss Jordyn?¡± Aubrey was furious by the rude maid. But before she shouted, Artizea turned over. ¡°Stop it, Rize. Come in, Aubrey.¡± The voice was calm and dignified. The white face looked smaller because the coat she was wearing wasrge. Aubrey felt defeated and bit her lower lip. ¡°Greetings Your Grace Grand Duchess¡­.¡± Recalling Margaret¡¯s stern warning, Aubrey effortlessly bowed her head to greet Artizea. ¡°Yes, I think you must have heard from Margaret.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea turned her head back from the mirror to Aubrey. Originally she wanted to properly check Aubrey and give lessons. But now she didn¡¯t feel like it. She didn¡¯t even have that spirit. Last night she couldn¡¯t sleep until dawn. Yesterday¡¯s kiss didn¡¯t leave her mind. At best, he only touched her slightly. Rather, holding his hand to dance was a much deeper contact. However, the sense of that moment has revived. It is unlikely that any one of it will be forgotten in memory, including a friendly look, a rough hand, and a light trembling breath. It seemed that her body was floating in the air. Aubrey, who thought she had been ignored by Artizea, trembled. The mistress lost her mind to give a lesson to Aubrey, but the maids were different. Alice held a jewelry box in Aubrey¡¯s hand. ¡°What?¡± Thinking that the maid dared to pass her goods, Aubrey was angry. Alice smiled lightly. ¡°This is the original role of ady-in-waiting, Miss Aubrey. Until now, I was holding it because the Madam didn¡¯t havedy-in-waiting, but now Miss Aubrey has to do it.¡± There was nothing she could forgive, from the rudeness of calling her name to the cheeky expression. However, Aubrey could not overturn the Grand Duchess¡¯ jewelry box. Pa, the new maid, gathered Artizea¡¯s hair to one side and braided it. Artizea looked in the mirror. She wondered if the under eyes were too dim. It was the first time that she wondered if her cheeks were too slim and her cheekbones came out. She wanted to look pretty. Artizea recalled the early summer days. She returned from a long, dire future, and that¡¯s the day she went to see Cedric. For the first time then she looked straight in the mirror. Sophie would make her pretty, so she told her so. Thinking if he liked her hair¡­.. she felt some kind of anxiety and guilt. Perhaps at that time, she was already predicting the feelings of today. Knock, knock. They heard a knock on the door. ¡°Oh, he must havee!¡± Rize shouted with a voice twice as bright as usual and ran to open the door. Cedric made eye contact with Rize and smiled. ¡°What about Tia?¡± ¡°She is almost ready.¡± Rize blushed her face as if she was shy and cleared the way. Artizea nced through the mirror and she saw him. She took a deep breath and turned. She thought she wished she wasn¡¯t too shivering. She thought her cheeks shouldn¡¯t be red. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yes. I slept in a bed that does not shake after a long time.¡± The voice came out as calmly as she thought. ¡°Is the weather outside a lot colder? I have a winter coat, too¡­ They sent me Cedric¡¯s clothes. It must be very precious fur¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s precious, that¡¯s why you wear it. It¡¯s a waste to wear when I¡¯m active, so I can¡¯t wear it anyway. Even though I told Ansgar to save it, Ansgar made it as clothes, so it hasn¡¯t ever left the closet.¡± ¡°But it looks like I¡¯m covered in a nket¡­¡± Sophie and Alice both opened their mouths in surprise. Because there needs to be someone else who would say no. Cedric shook his head. ¡°It suits you very well as I thought.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Artizea bowed her head without saying a word. Pa consciously made a cheerful voice. ¡°It was time to choose a headdress.¡± Pa turned to Aubrey. Aubrey was startled. Cedric seemed to notice that Aubrey was there only then. ¡°Aha, you are Tia¡¯s firstdy-in-waiting.¡± ¡°Your, Your Grace.¡± Aubrey couldn¡¯t speak like before. Cedric¡¯s face was still sweet, but he felt like apletely different person. Aubrey didn¡¯t know this face. Even with the same soft face, the face of a man who treats a woman and the face of an adult who treats a child werepletely different in the color of the emotions in them. He never had a face like that when he took her young hand and took her to her mother. ¡°Tia¡¯s body is weak and she gets sensitive to cold, so please take good care of her. It¡¯s probably different from being around someone who¡¯s familiar with this ce.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± Aubrey called him in a trembling voice. Tears welled up. Cedric tilted his head strangely. It was because he hadn¡¯t noticed why she did that. ¡°Pa. Anything is fine.¡± Pa took a blue velvet ribbon and tied a knot at the end of her hair. Her shiny white blonde and the color of the ribbon dangling over her pure white coat were entuated. Cedric stroked the corner of his mouth once. He took a small sigh. Artizea looked up at Cedric gently. A smile soon returned to Cedric¡¯s face, after a brief resignation. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m ready.¡± Artizea replied. And she told Aubrey. ¡°Aubrey, I¡¯ll leave my jewel to you in the future. Alice, please tell Aubrey the original ce.¡± Aubrey hesitated and left. Cedric tapped her shoulder with his palm, as she seemed somewhat stiff. It was a constion. Aubrey became more angry and bowed her head. She felt like tears wereing. Cedric reached out to Artizea. Artizea hesitated, then she put her hand on his palm. The two slowly stepped outside. The maids who would note as they went out then greeted them from inside the Tuvalet room. When the listeners disappeared, Artizea asked. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you so much?¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you have a look on your face.¡± There was nothing to say. Was it Aubrey¡¯s fault? She thought for a moment, but she didn¡¯t think Cedric was giving Aubrey an eye. Cedric sighed a little. ¡°No big deal. I think you and Aubrey¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I remember you two being of simr age. I just realized it because it didn¡¯t feel that way at all.¡± Cedric turned his head to the other side. It was a shameless face. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Proofreader: xoxomonami The tomb of the Evron Grand Duchy was out in the stronghold. ¡°The building was built with the stronghold in mind. If there is something like the tomb of the family in the castle, there would be problems with the space, but there is one more ce to be protected in case of emergency.¡± ¡°If it was outside, it¡¯ll be even more fragile.¡± ¡°It is said that it was built outside the castle with the intent of giving it up quickly. If it is inside the castle, even if you say you don¡¯t have to protect it, you can¡¯t do that from the standpoint of your vassals.¡± That said, it cannot be built anywhere and left unattended. So, it was built on the mountain closest to the stronghold. Since the mountain was also a military hub, the Grand Duchy built a defensive facility there. And he put the military in ce. Cedric asked. ¡°But, isn¡¯t it cold?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cold.¡± Artizea shrugged her shoulders a little. It is still fall weather by the Evron standards, and if it were in the capital, it would be considered to be mild winter weather. It wasn¡¯t cold enough to wear a marten coat like this. Rather, because she was in Cedric¡¯s arms, she felt hot. She couldn¡¯t even tell if she was speaking properly. She was told that they were going out casually. But she didn¡¯t think he woulde out with a carriage. [You have to climb the mountain. There is no paved way for a carriage to go through. I thought you¡¯d know¡­] The butler said with a sorry expression on his face. During the time when the preceding Grand Duchess was alive, the dirt roads were nicely paved, but in the past twenty years or so, no one had to go in a carriage to the mausoleum. The road got rough. [Sorry. I didn¡¯t think much.] [No. We can ride a horse right?] Artizea asked. Both the butler and Cedric had ambiguous looks on their faces. The reason was found after a while. There were only huge horses in the stables, which were enormous in height and in their amount of hair. In the first ce, the horse breed is different from the passenger horse in the capital. [Are you good at riding horses?] Cedric asked. Artizea had no choice but to shake her head. Anyway, she was far from using her body. She knew how to ride a horse, but she was only able to sit on a gentle path and stroll. Cedric smiled with a somewhat pleasant face. [Let¡¯s ride together.] [What?] Artizea was confused. [Are you troubled?] [No, not that. No, but.] Soon, a ck horse that had been gentlybed came out. Cedric held Artizea and ced her on the horse. And he carefully climbed on its back. She¡¯s never ridden a horse like this before, but there was no time to be surprised or scared. It was because she was put in a position that had her held between his arms. The feeling of Cedric¡¯s touch on her back and hearing the sound of his heart beat, made Artizea hold her breath. There was a memory in this sense. ¡®Ah¡­.¡¯ It was when she was carried around the empire by Cedric on a horse after losing all her limbs. She had no idea at the time. Her ipetent body hurt without ceasing. Everything that came through the five senses put her mind in pain. Even then there was this warmth. She didn¡¯t feel the warmth, but it was definitely there. Being trapped in Cedric¡¯s arms was like a punishment. And now¡­ Artizea closed her eyes tightly and forced her to cut off her thoughts. A cold wind hit her face. As they ran the in for about 40 minutes, they entered the mountain trail. Cedric easily handled the horse and ran through the mountain path. It was stable, as if nothing took ce. As they climbed the mountain, they saw a fence blocking the road. Soldiers standing guard saw Cedric and quickly cleared the fence. The knight in charge of the defense facility came out and gave a military salute. ¡°Wee, Your Grace, Grand Duke. I have been waiting for your call in the morning.¡± ¡°I just came to visit, so don¡¯t worry and go back to your original duty.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The knight replied briefly and raised the salute again. Soldiers closed the fence from behind. Some soldiers whispered, but not enough to bother. The knights were wearing a happy smile. It was a good idea for the Grand Duchess to ride with Cedric¡¯s horse. If it weren¡¯t for their duty now, they would have rushed and surrounded. Artizea opened her eyes and looked around her. The first thing that caught her eye was the stone tower. Likewise, there were soldiers¡¯ quarters and arsenals built of solid bricks. ¡°What about the tomb?¡± ¡°This way.¡± Cedric paused in front of a building that looked like a small chapel. Cedric opened the bag on the saddle of his horse. Four flowers made of silk appeared as if prepared in advance. He handed it over to Artizea. And he himself lifted amp. Cedric took the lead and went to the chapel. The chapel had only arge stone staircase pierced below. It looked like a chapel, but it was actually a wall covering the stone steps. ¡°Is the tomb in the basement?¡± ¡°In case, the building is destroyed and the entrance is blocked. It is not an object to be protected first, but it is also a matter of not letting the tomb be dug.¡± ¡°If someone copses it right now, will we be buried alive?¡± Cedricughed out loud. ¡°It¡¯s a useless worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about it. Though I¡¯d like you to bring an attendant next time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a building that¡¯s exposed outside. It¡¯s in a military building.¡± ¡°Do you thoroughly believe in all the knights and soldiers in the military and even their families?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°No, of course, you believe because they are the citizens of the Grand Duchy ¡­¡­¡± Artizea sighed. ¡°People be betrayers for very unforeseen reasons. Until now, you¡¯ve only been as Grand Duke Evron, so it would have been okay.¡± ¡°The port and the Elia side are certainly not managed, but we can know and understand who goes to and from the military and stronghold.¡± ¡°I hope you understand my worries a little. Be careful in the future. It is enough to have someone you trust outside to guard.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedric made a bitter smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know if this will help you get rid of your anxiety, but it¡¯s only the head of the army that knows how to take this building down at once. And that friend lost one arm for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not suspicious of the Evron Knights. I was talking about the general theory.¡± ¡°I know. I don¡¯t misunderstand. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be careful in the future.¡± Cedric said so. Cedric¡¯s parents wereid side by side in the outermost room. Two sarcophagi were enshrined in a stone altar. In front of it, a carved te was ced to cover the deceased¡¯s coffin from being directly seen. And each was engraved on the te like this. <> <> Cedric moved and lit the candlesticks on the left and right of the altar. And he cleared the artificial flowers in front of the tombstone. The old silk flowers would have been originally white. But now it has turned yellow. It looked old enough to crumble. ¡°It¡¯s been 3 years.¡± As he made excuses, he received two new silk flowers from Artizea andid them down on the altar. Artizea was still behind him. She had never missed the dead, so she could not speak words of constion. She didn¡¯t think she could dare say constion. Cedric called her with his hand. ¡°I want you to give a flower too.¡± ¡°Can I do that?¡± Two silk flowers remained in Artizea¡¯s hand. She thought it was a flower for Cedric to dedicate to another tomb. ¡°I heard my mother liked flowers. She will be happy.¡± Artizea carefully approached the altar. She then got down on her knees and put the flowers down. ¡°The day wille when you will return.¡± Artizea said so in a whispering low voice. Cedric shook his head. ¡°I never thought I should take my mother to the capital. Because the dead are dead. She is gone, she will already be in peace.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°The important thing is on the living side. I know you can¡¯t live right if you have a grudge, Tia.¡± Cedric spoke as if confessing. ¡°I think I should live with that much value, even for those who threw their lives for me. And being obsessed with revenge for the deceased would not be living for a better world, if not meaningless.¡± Artizea looked at him in a strange mood. Artizea knows well that Cedric¡¯s words are sincere and true. However, whenever she saw his right mind like this, she couldn¡¯t help but get caught up in the feeling of seeing something unrealistic. Artizea did not know how to pay tribute. She couldn¡¯t imagine her willingness to stand up and face the future. She had already given up when Mira died. If there is a heart closest to her memory she felt it for Lysia. But when Lysia died, Artizea was in despair, foreshadowing a miserable end. It was then that she disbanded the intelligence organization and chose seclusion. She gave up the empire. *** After finishing the offering anding out of the tomb, Cedric led Artizea to the tower. ¡°It¡¯s a watchtower. If you climb to the top, you can see the gateway to the Thold Mountains.¡± Artizea rolled up the hem of her skirt and grabbed Cedric¡¯s hand and climbed the spiral staircase. The guard at the top of the tower was startled and gave a military salute. Cedric answered him and said. ¡°The telescope.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The watchman handed the telescope he had to Cedric. The wind blew like crazy. The wind broke through her coat, and Artizea shuddered. The tower was higher than she thought. The surrounding area was low and it was the only tower on top of the mountain. As Cedric said, she could see the surrounding terrain at a nce. Holding a telescope, Artizea looked around. Then she saw people plowing in a valley beyond the Thold Gate, the northern border. ¡°Lord Cedric, that¡¯s¡­.¡± Cedric nodded as Artizea mumbled in the exact direction. ¡°That¡¯s right. I was going to show you that.¡± ¡°Are they nomads? Why are they there¡­.¡± ¡°We are researching whether it is possible to grow Karam crops.¡± Artizea swallowed her breath. ¡°If the temple finds out, they will say that you are researching the devil¡¯s crop. They may say that you¡¯re colluding with Karam.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I¡¯m doing it beyond the Thold Gate.¡± Cedric replied. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Proofreader: xoxomonami On the way back, her mind wasplicated and she couldn¡¯t afford to worry about Cedric. As soon as Artizea returned to the stronghold, she went straight to Cedric¡¯s office. She then looked at the entire map of the Grand Duchy hanging in the office for a long time. On the map, not only was Evron Grand Duchy on there, but even beyond the Thold Mountains in detail. ¡°When did you start the research project?¡± ¡°Since I inherited the title. Even before that, some of the young people nted and harvested in small fields. However, they had never tried to nt and cultivate in arge field.¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯d like to tell you that it¡¯s time to stop. Just making a field beyond the Thold Gate is not enough of an excuse. Karam is an enemy of the country. The temple calls it a race of demons.¡± ¡°No one knows how terrifying Karam is better than Evron.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Lord Cedric.¡± Artizea said. ¡°This is not really a problem with Karam, it is a political problem within the Empire. If you get caught, there will definitely be a person who will frame you for having a rtionship with Karam.¡± ¡°But there are very few crops that could be food while still being able to grow in the middle of the winter on thisnd. For now, I think it¡¯s really the only possibility to solve the food problem.¡± Cedric said. The food self-sufficiency rate of the Evron Grand Duchy was less than 30%. That is why, in the past, Evron Grand Duchy was subjugated to the Krates Empire. They are relying heavily on supplies from the Imperial government. All of the problems of Evron Grand Duchye fromck of food. The poption cannot grow because ofck of food. Since the poption is small, the industry cannot develop. As the industry cannot develop, the standard of living of themon people fell behind. So, there was a vicious cycle in which productivity fell and food was scarce again. In addition, the Imperial family used food supplies as a bargaining chip to shake the Grand Duchy. The Evron Grand Duchy was not poor. There was honor, and there was wealth worthy of it. However, enriching the entire territory is quite different from wearing fine clothes and decorating furniture with gold leaf within a family. In case of emergency, even if you have money, it is of no use. Artizea looked at Cedric. ¡°If the problem is to receive food in a stable manner, how about buying farnd in the south?¡± ¡°Stable supply is, of course, an important issue. But Tia, rather than that, we need crops that can be grown by our people.¡± ¡°If Cedric bes the Emperor, it will all be solved. This task is very risky and inefficient. Even if the cultivation method is established, it will still be hidden and raised.¡± ¡°Thisnd also needs a future.¡± Cedric said so. ¡°If I really get to the position you¡¯re talking about, the supply problem will be solved, but if you get supply from the maind, then, in the end, military suppliese first.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t be rich with food rations forever. And after I die, what will happen?¡± Cedric looked at the map and said. ¡°Before bing a part of the empire, people in this region said that war itself was a business. Because there was no industry to make a living. What¡¯s the difference now? We are rationed food in exchange for war with Karam.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric ¡­.¡± ¡°We need to get rid of the situation of getting supplies. Only by raising food self-sufficiency and activating trade can we escape the situation.¡± ¡°¡­ would you rather give up part of the Grand Duchy?¡± Artizea asked, even though she knew he loved thend. It was also something she could say because she thought Cedric would not answer emotionally. Artizea marked the position by cing a pin halfway between the Grand Duchy. ¡°Honestly, the productivity of this area is too low. Even if the fortress of Thold Gate is maintained due to its topographical advantage, it is not necessary to form a town up to this point.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°If the poption is concentrated in the south, the density of the poption will increase and the productivity will increase ordingly. It will be advantageous to form an industry. And even better than that, it is to move all themon people to the south of the Elia Wall and abandon the north. Think about it.¡± Cedric smiled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re testing me again.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy in reality. I know.¡± Artizea said. ¡°But from a purely practical point of view, yes. If Lord Cedric takes over the Imperial family, the Grand Duchy will be virtually gone. No one can im the right to thisnd. The history of the Grand Duchy remains as a record. If you decide to wait, it¡¯s not impossible.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that. The history of the family is not a problem, but the possibility of peace with Karam disappears.¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea opened her eyes wide. Cedric gave a short nce. ¡°We¡¯ve been in a scuffle for over two hundred years. It¡¯s unimaginable for the people of the maind, but exchanges are happening in their own way. In fact, Evron Grand Duchy is geographically closer to Karam than to the maind of the Empire.¡± The north is barren. There are times when extreme cold strikes so that it is impossible to live exclusively. At that time, there were choices to exchange here and there. ¡°It has be possible tomunicate at a simple level. Rarely, there are mixed races. That¡¯s why the gap between wars is getting longer.¡± Cedric said. ¡°The day wille when the war will cease and Evron Grand Duchy can act as a buffer zone. I want to leave that possibility.¡± ¡°Is that what you want to do after Lord Cedric bes the Emperor?¡± ¡°Well, it is.¡± Cedric¡¯s face turned a little red. ¡°And so for Evron Grand Duchy. I want Evron to have the power to develop itself.¡± Having said that, he spoke as if making excuses. ¡°I couldn¡¯t take the first step, so I only had big dreams.¡± ¡°No¡­.. ¡° Artizea bit her lower lip and fell into thoughts. The future Cedric sees is much farther away than he is, and his vision is much higher. She realized it anew. Cedric said. ¡°I¡¯ve shown this to you, partly because I have nothing to hide from you, but also because I need advice. Tia, you said you were going to move for me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then please help me.¡± Artizea took a deep breath. It will soon be half a year since she¡¯s returned from the past and met him again. This was the first time Cedric asked for anything. It wasn¡¯t until the first contract, when she was out of Mira¡¯s hands and Cedric had his Western Army¡¯s ceremony that he had shown his will for. Artizea closed her eyes for a moment. The coordinator should fulfill the will of the master, and not try to fit the master into her frame. [Marchioness of Rosan, do you see your judgment as absolute and Lawrence¡¯s judgment not? If so, it would be natural that you were ousted.] Cedric had said that in the past. Cedric was right. She didn¡¯t believe much in Lawrence¡¯s judgment. She did everything for Lawrence, but Lawrence wasn¡¯t a reliable person. It is even doubtful whether there is a philosophy for governance from the beginning. But Cedric is different. ¡®Because you are looking up.¡¯ What he wants is not the seat of power itself, but what he can do on the spot. So just because it¡¯s her role to put Cedric in power, she shouldn¡¯t hurt his will. If this was what he wanted to do as an Emperor, then it was even more necessary. Her heart pounded. She was excited. It was the first time that there was a person in front of her who she couldpletely believe and follow. ¡°I wanted to see the Grand Duchy¡¯s financial situation to fill the warehouse.¡± ¡°It¡¯s important.¡± Cedric answered inly. Artizea said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll try to use my hand on grain prices.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric¡¯s voice was mixed with criticism. ¡°Supporting Grand Duke Roygar is the focus of all circles and the greatndowners of the fertile eastern region. They arergely involved in the requisition of supplies to the north.¡± By average, there was arge amount of grain produced in the vast ins of the western region. However, in the West, due to the monster wave, the annual yield varied greatly. Nobles andndlords preferred to ownnd in the east rather than in the west. The west was run mainly by self-employed people. The Imperial Family requisitioned the easternndlords topel grain. Supplies sent to the north are the cost to protect the empire from Karam. Nobody liked it. However, no one could reject it. Refusal was seen as a connection with Karam. ¡°If the price of the grain goes up, His Majesty will entrust the work to Grand Duke Roygar to facilitate the requisition, but Grand Duke Roygar is greedy, so it would be unfair to send the increased grain to the north for free.¡± So Artizea touched it. She had pirates pige trade ships that exported grain to the southern kingdoms over the years. At the same time, she freed the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s fortune and she bought arge amount of grain, and all the grain thus obtained was dumped into the sea. There were dozens of fires in the West. Grain prices skyrocketed. As expected, the Emperor entrusted Grand Duke Roygar with supplies to the north. Just in time, in the southern part of the Eimel Kingdom, in order to meet theck of wheat, they bribed Grand Duke Roygar and bought the requisitioned grain at a high price. This was because the calctions were well-established for Grand Duke Roygar. It was autumn. After a month or two, the empty warehouse could be refilled with freshly harvested wheat. He then thought that he could go and send supplies. But that year, Karam went South on a massive scale. Due to hunger, Evron was unable to protect the Thold Gate. Karam almost broke through to the Elia Wall. Indeed, it was the first time in a long time that the Empire was appalled. The war ended within the winter of that year thanks to the sess of Cedric, who defended his stronghold, and seeded in killing the king of Karam. However, Grand Duke Roygar took responsibility for the defeat. In the meantime, a secret agreement with the Eimel Kingdom was revealed. Artizea was involved in the proposal of the agreement in the Eimel Kingdom. The agreement had been in her hands from the beginning. Grand Duke Roygar was decapitated for treason. She intended to use the same trick. Because it was a proven method. But war had to be avoided. She already knew the year when the war would break out, so she could do that. In any case, a secret agreement is enough to cut the head of Grand Duke Roygar. And in order to prevent Evron Grand Duchy from starvation, she nned to fill the warehouse in advance. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Proofreader: xoxomonami Cedric said with a stiff face. ¡°I get your point. But there¡¯s no way you can do that. If you put your hands on the price of grain, it¡¯s not about the supply to the north, it¡¯s going to hurt the lives of the entire empire.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Artizea replied. ¡°To be honest, I think the priority is to bring down those who ruin people¡¯s livelihood.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°The Empire upies all the goodnds that people can live in. The productive power is enormous and the industry is developed. The reason that people¡¯s livelihood is impoverished is because the ruling ss is exploiting it. So even by cleaning them up, the Empire will soone back to life.¡± It is a country with such potential. So the faster you pull them down, the better. ¡°If you count people¡¯s lives as the total amount of happiness, my method is correct.¡± ¡°If you think so, then why do you ask me for an opinion?¡± ¡°When I look at Lord Cedric, I think it¡¯s wrong.¡± Artizea muttered. ¡°I¡¯m not a ruler. I¡¯m ashamed, because I just understand the moral rules with my head.¡± So she said. It didn¡¯t mean that Cedric wouldn¡¯t use it just because it¡¯s a method he hates. His ideals were so high that he was worried that he could realize this kind of work. And she was actually guessing the answer. She just needed conviction. ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric lowered his head and looked into her eyes. ¡°I understand your logic. I think it¡¯s a judgment you can make.¡± ¡°Yes¡­. ¡° ¡°But once you lose your morality, you cannot get it back. You can lose your honor, but you cannot lose your morality.¡± Cedric gave her a smile instead of being angry with her. Then, carefully reaching out his hand, he swept the strands of her hair that had flowed down into Artizea¡¯s ear. ¡°You are a smart person. You cane up with a better way than that.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t help but nod her head. It was then. Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Cedric stepped out of Artizea¡¯s side with light movements and went to the other seat. ¡°Excuse me. I don¡¯t know why you called me¡­¡± It was a middle-aged woman who opened the door. Artizea noticed that the woman was a little surprised to see her in the office. But she quickly realized who she was. The woman politely knelt down on one knee to greet Artizea. ¡°I¡¯m Hannah. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Hannah is in charge of the town north of Thold. I called this time to get a report.¡± Hannah couldn¡¯t hide her surprise at Cedric¡¯s words. The work on the Karam crop was the greatest secret of the Evron Great Duchy. But Cedric said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide anything from the Grand Duchess. Think of her in the same way you think of me and report on the Karam crop.¡± Hannah soon resolved her surprise. She then put down the documents she brought in front of Artizea. Artizea briefly turned the papers over without a word. ¡°The only thing I can tell for sure is that you need a proper drainage system. It can withstand the cold, but it can grow better in milder climates.¡± ¡°Yes. The harvest can be done once in early spring and autumn, and the harvest in the fall is quiterge. But it may be because of poor care during the winter. In winter it is almost impossible to dig frozen ground by manpower.¡± ¡°What about the plough?¡± ¡°It is said that horses are better than humans, but horses are also dangerous on a snowy or windy day. Only those who are mixed-race Karam can work little by little. If it is from the south of the Grand Duchy, it is easy to harvest twice a year.¡± Artizea read all the reports that were not many. And she covered it and looked at Cedric. ¡°I think it would be better to stop this once again. Again, the efficiency is too low.¡± Anyway, this research will fail anyway. If sessful, Artizea would have known. Perhaps the reason for the failure was that during that war, which decapitated Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s neck, Evron Grand Duchypletely lost its power to make new attempts. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to give up. Let¡¯s do it in a less dangerous way.¡± ¡°Is there a way?¡± Cedric¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Let¡¯s wash the source of the seeds first. We make it as crops found in the northwestern region.¡± Artizea pulled out all the pins on the map. Then she put a pin in another point. It is the end of the western border where the monster wave begins. ¡°The border line with the Evron Grand Duchy was blocked by Elia Wall, but the western end of the monster habitat is directly connected to the north, right? In this way, it is also connected with Karam.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a ce where people can live.¡± ¡°Yes, but when there is a monster wave, it often happens that the body of the monstering down therees with nts or insects.¡± Cedric leaned out his body with a positive attitude. ¡°I know a few people I can trust who are native of the West.¡± ¡°That¡¯s perfect.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°It would be much better to study farming methods there.¡± She shook the document. ¡°The seeds are kept strictly, but all of these records are burned. I hope we get rid of the town north of Thold as soon as possible.¡± ¡°You mean to remove the trace?¡± ¡°Yes,pletely.¡± Hannah swallowed. Artizea looked back at her. ¡°If there is any other reason not to get rid of the vige, tell me now.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve always been thinking that it would be better to do it in the south. It¡¯s just because there¡¯s no ce for mixed race people to go¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get Aaron to find them a suitable job. We can¡¯t ignore those who have worked so far.¡± Cedric said. ¡°Can you make sure the words don¡¯t flow out?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That¡¯s my job.¡± ¡°Then, this is all about doing things that didn¡¯t exist.¡± Artizea looked at Hannah once and then again at Cedric. ¡°Forget the name of the Karam croppletely. The new name will be given to the western farmers. And next year, when a new western harvest is made, I will put it on the altar of the Temple.¡± ¡°At the altar?¡± ¡°Yes, since the work of consecrating newly improved seeds is done every year. Once consecrated, then, even if it turns out that they are also in Karam, they will not be said that it is a devil¡¯s crop.¡± ¡°Is it possible? They don¡¯t just put anything on the altar of the Great Temple.¡± ¡°In the maind, there¡¯s nothing that money can¡¯t do.¡± Cedric stroked his chin, thinking. ¡°I think it¡¯s possible enough. It¡¯s an important job, so would you take care of it yourself?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°However, even if it receives the consecration of the temple, I am worried about how His Majesty will react.¡± Food is the most powerful weapon that controls Evron. There was no way the Emperor would like it. ¡°If it starts in the West, it¡¯s over in no time.There is no reason to reject the new crop that the farmer has found. Even His Majesty cannot deny the temple altar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true. It¡¯s also something we have to go through anyway.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s still possible, it¡¯s better to hide it until you¡¯re ready enough.¡± Artizea said, pondering. ¡°Let¡¯s make a grain merchant union in the West.¡± Cedric looked at her with her puzzled face. Artizea replied. ¡°In the summer, I bought a small and medium-sized grain dealer under a borrowed name. There are roughly 70 of them. This is enough to lead public opinion and make a union.¡± ¡°Tia, did you really intend to carry out the maniption of the grain?¡± ¡°Thanks to Cedric stopping the Monster Wavest year, there are no burnt warehouses, or farnd, and grain prices have stabilized. If you buy it, I just thought it was for now.¡± Artizea lied. ¡°That¡¯s why you make an excuse to bribe the temple and spread new crops. But if you simply have the upper ranks, you wouldn¡¯t know that if you make such a coalition and move, there is a lot of chance to get caught by His Majesty.¡± ¡°Even so, there will be no excuses to stop it. In case they can stop the transportation and take the warehouse, I think they will be rtively generous.¡± If the Emperor tries to stop it, he will face the top forces, led by Grand Duke Roygar. Something they hate most is when the aristocrats are prevented from expanding their business. ¡®It¡¯s okay to hold hands temporarily.¡¯ The n to dismiss Roygar with this waspletely gone. However, she can n other thingster. As Cedric said, she, herself, would have been able toe up with better strategies. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about military affairs, and I don¡¯t know much more about the Evron Grand Duchy. But I can support you so that you don¡¯t worry about your back. So do what Lord Cedric wanted to do as much as you can.¡± Luckily, the Marquisate of Rosan is wealthy, it wasn¡¯t enough to enrich Evron Grand Duchy, but it was enough to make a difference. She thought it was the best course of action. Cedric crept down the corners of his mouth. He was grateful, but he had no idea how to ept it. ¡°No. You¡¯ve only barely gotten the Marquisate back. You have to keep it. I¡¯ll be grateful for the intention. It¡¯s enough to lend your hand and wisdom.¡± ¡°If I were Count Jordyn, would you have objected to the idea of using his private property?¡± Cedric said perplexedly. ¡°It is different from that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same. What¡¯s different about using what I have for someone I¡¯ve decided to devote my whole life to?¡± Cedric¡¯s face hardened for a moment. Then, from his neck, a new red color began to appear, and his entire face finally turned red. Cedric eventually covered his face with his palm. Artizea hesitated, not understanding why he did that. Then, Hannah and her eyes met. She was smiling with a lukewarm face. Artizea looked back at the words that she had said. And her face turned red as she came to her senses. Cedric took her hand. ¡°I know that¡¯s not what you meant. I¡¯m not misunderstanding, so just sit down. Isn¡¯t the report not over yet?¡± He said so, but of course there were some who misunderstood. Hannah cleaned up the scattered documents. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to disturb you. I¡¯ll go back. Please call me anytime you need anything.¡± Then she left the office. The door is closed. Artizea felt like sitting on a thorny cushion. She said something without knowing what to do. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have caused you a strange misunderstanding¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not aplete misunderstanding.¡± Cedric said without letting go of her hand. Artizea pulled out her hand. She said, in a cracked voice, as she wrapped her left hand in the heat of her other hand. ¡°I¡¯ll talk about the restter. I¡¯m¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Cedric took her hand again. Artizea stumbled with dizziness. She let Cedric pull her hand and fall towards him. ¡°Stay still. You can¡¯t look at my face right now.¡± Artizea held her breath. Cedric hugged her with his arms and pressed his lips to the crown of her head. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Proofreader: xoxomonami That winter, it was the story of the empress that struck the social world. ¡°I heard there was a prophet who knew that Her Majesty would quit her seclusion and step outside the pce.¡± ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t say that kind of thing. What if they hear it at the temple?¡± The nobledies shouted and covered their mouths with fans. ¡°He¡¯s not a prophet, but a necromancer. I heard that he¡¯s from the slums¡­¡± ¡°He predicted that the doors of the Empress¡¯ Pce would open?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a prophecy. There was once a seance held at Grayson Viscounty, and the ghost that appeared there was that of a woman of the noblest status that decided the future emperor.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s what anyone can say. I don¡¯t know that Sir Lawrence¡¯s qualifications will depend primarily on Her Majesty¡¯s will.¡± ¡°But only then, no one could have imagined that Her Majesty would really open the doors of the Empress¡¯s Pce ande out.¡± ¡°Of course it will. Grand Duke Evron, of course, as a rtive of hers, he sometimes met Her Majesty. Her attendance at the wedding is amazing, even so¡­¡± The nobledies said that it was amazing to have used Mira¡¯s daughter as herdy-in-waiting and stood in as the mother. ¡°She also gave her a pure gold orb. It happens when ady-in-waiting doesn¡¯t have a mother, but¡­.¡± ¡°Do you understand a little about Her Majesty¡¯s feelings? Hasn¡¯t the Marchioness of Rosan boasted of her son?¡± ¡°The youngdies these days don¡¯t know, but before the Empress, she used to say that the mother who lost the Crown Prince and her children in a row doesn¡¯t deserve to live, so that she brought in Sir Lawrence with her.¡± ¡°By the way, her daughter has be Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting, and Lord Lawrence hase and gone through the threshold of the Empress¡¯ Pce these days¡­¡± ¡°But, isn¡¯t it a little too much to say Her Majesty has quit her seclusion? The Empress¡¯ Pce door is open, but she doesn¡¯t actually meet anyone.¡± ¡°At least, she has revealed that she is willing to be involved in the future affairs.¡± People were looking at the door of the Empress¡¯s Pce in a tense manner. Apart from that, the topic of the necromancer was very interesting. ¡°But I think that necromancer is the real deal.¡± Someone lowered their voice and said. ¡°Baroness Landon also found her son.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the son of Baroness Landon leave the house because of a maid that caught his eye two years ago?¡± ¡°Yeah. But without the son, the baroness is a little¡­ You know. Baron Landon was lying in his sickbed and didn¡¯t know how to get up, and he had the worst rtionship with his ex-wife¡¯s daughter. They haven¡¯t heard from him since he left the house but the necromancer told them where he is.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. The necromancer sometimes shows up, but I think this is the first time I¡¯ve heard stories about finding something or getting it right like this one.¡± ¡°By the way, it¡¯s a big deal for Baron Landon. Maybe he wouldn¡¯t ept the maid, right?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Someone said interestingly. *** The rumored necromancer was in the mansion of Henry Keyshore, the emperor¡¯s captain of the guard. It was invited by Keyshore¡¯s daughter Miel and her cousin Hazel. Miel hesitated terribly at first. Hazel urged her. ¡°It¡¯s just for fun. It¡¯s no different from watching coffee dots. You don¡¯t have to take it that seriously.¡± ¡°But if my father knows, I¡¯ll be scolded.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious? Why the hell is there so much sensation in the social world? Didn¡¯t you hear that? Not long ago, he guessed right when Sir Noah was going to sue Count Ati. Until then, no one had ever guessed the love Sir Noah has for Lady Ati.¡± Miel was tempted. Hazel said energetically. ¡°What if the necromanceres and only tells lies? There is nothing to lose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to write an article about it.¡± ¡°Really? Did your aunt allow it?¡± ¡°If the newspaper sells my article, my mother won¡¯t say anything anymore. Help me, Miel. I want to keep it a secret until I finish the article.¡± Miel was defeated. Miel provided the ce, and Hazel prepared everything else. Some of the nobledies, who were interested in the seance, immediately announced their intention to attend. The invited necromancer appeared wearing a purple hood over his eyes. ¡°A perfectly circr table, 9 people, red candles as many as the number of people, white tablecloths¡­ All right. You have everything you need.¡± The necromancer said seriously. Then he took the knife out of his arms. He stabbed his finger and drew his blood. With the blood, a magic circle was drawn in the center of the white tablecloth. Then the lights were turned off and the curtains were drawn to darken the room. Then there was a rather mysterious atmosphere. ¡°Everyone, please put your hands under the table and hold hands with the people on both sides. This is called the circle of life. It ys a role in keeping the spirit from going out.¡± The necromancer said with a serious face. ¡°Never let go of your hands. Even we don¡¯t know what good spirits would do if they go out of control. Above all, these holding hands serve to protect each other. Spirits seep into the palms of a living person, so make sure to hold the palm together.¡± Hazel giggled. It was because the words of the necromancer sounded too absurd. The necromancer mumbled and memorized an iprehensible spell. The guests were going to enjoy this funny game in their own way, but they couldn¡¯t do so when the blue sparks started sshing in the magic circle drawn by blood. Hazel, who was giggling, stoppedughing. There was tension in the room. sh! The magic circle spewed out a sh so that it couldn¡¯t be seen for a moment. ¡°Aackk!¡± Startled Miel screamed. A silent footstep ran from outside. Keyshore, who just came home, heard Miel¡¯s scream and ran. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Miel!¡± The door opened wide, and a light came in. The frightened guests hurried. Some screamed that if you let go of your hand, the spirit will escape. Keyshore pulled the glowing tablecloth and threw it off the floor. As the candles fell, the carpet caught fire. Keyshore struck it off with a tablecloth. Then Keyshore opened the curtains wide open. Then he nced at Miel, squeezing her chest in the chair, and turned his stunned face to Hazel. ¡°What¡¯s going on with this, Hazel?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s it. We just had a seance¡­.. Don¡¯t get mad, don¡¯t get mad, uncle. It was just for fun. Miel¡¯s yelling was just of surprise¡­¡± ¡°Seance? Is this the scammer who is famous these days?¡± He grabbed the cor of the necromancer. ¡°Hehehe¡­.¡± The necromancerughed awkwardly. Keyshore dragged the necromancer to the library. And he threw him to the floor. After taking his hood that was shaped and worn upside down. Inside, there was a young man with no mystery or anything. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Keyshore asked fiercely. The necromancer said. ¡°I am just a clown.¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯re not, I heard ridiculous rumors about you. Clown?¡± ¡°Well, what is it¡­. Gives a little fun to the rich who like that, and they give me a little reward¡­¡± ¡°I heard the words that you call a real soul and prophecy.¡± ¡°Ah, who seriously believes in such a thing? I¡¯ll tell you, I try to find out a little about the guests beforehand to make a realistic acting.¡± The necromancer groaned and rubbed his palm. ¡°It¡¯s just gathering rumors of social affairs and wrapping them in usible words. The Lady¡¯s marriage partner is the one who seems to hate the Lady now. He has charming eyes¡­. Something like this.¡± ¡°How did you create the light?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s where I picked up an ancient script and learned it. It means ¡®shine,¡¯ I draw it with blood, and it glows after a while.¡± Keyshore touched his forehead. It was absurd to say that this scammer is so rumored in the social world. He was almost ashamed of himself. ¡°Go away. Don¡¯t show up again.¡± He shouted loudly. The necromancer slipped and fell while striking his back with a shy, frightened face. Then he quickly turned around and ran out. Outside the study, Hazel and Miel snooped with frightened faces. Keyshore said in a harsh voice. ¡°Come in both of you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry, Father.¡± Miel bowed her head. So did Hazel. Keyshore sighed. ¡°You have to have something to be curious about. I thought you guys were smartdies, so I didn¡¯t say anything and just watched. So, what stupidity is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a y. I know it¡¯s a scam. I¡¯m curious about the trick¡­¡± ¡°Hazel!¡± Keyshore yelled. ¡°Does it make sense for children under 20 years old to attract scammers to their homes for fun? If it¡¯s a scam, it¡¯s a scam, it¡¯s a big deal! What would people think? What about the temple?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a trend here and there, that¡¯s¡­¡± Hazel flinched while trying to make an excuse. It was because Keyshore had a scary face. *** As the necromancer was expelled, he stretched out his shoulders and sighed as he stepped out of the Keyshore mansion. As he walked around one of the alleys, a ck carriage was waiting. The necromancermented as he climbed the carriage. ¡°Today is a really wild day.¡± ¡°Did something happen? Rye?¡± Asked Freil, who was riding in the carriage. ¡°Don¡¯t you say Rye, it¡¯s Watt. By the way, how long have you been calling me by my name?¡± The necromancer, Rye Fidgetined. Freilughed. Artizea called him Rye, so he just followed ordingly. ¡°What about Sir Keyshore?¡± ¡°I was thrown out after being treated as an absurd scammer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a ridiculous scammer, right?¡± ¡°The absurd conspiracy¡­.¡± While saying so, Rye saw Freil¡¯s sarcastic face and corrected his words. ¡°It¡¯s called ¡­.. a pawn.¡± Rye sighed. ¡°By the way, I did what I was told to do, but I didn¡¯t know that the wave would grow like this. It seems that Lord Keyshore already knew me.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t say your name, did you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know that disappearing with nothing but a fraudulent necromancer saved my life.¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Proofreader: xoxomonami Rye said. ¡°The seance was ruined, and I haven¡¯t gotten any money, but it doesn¡¯t affect me. He¡¯ll forget my face tomorrow.¡± ¡°Do you need more pay?¡± ¡°If you give it to me, I won¡¯t decline it.¡± ¡°Her Grace must have given you enough.¡± Even with a puzzled face, Freil took out a pocket of silver coins from his arms and gave it to Rye. Rye took it, put it in his inner pocket, and looked satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s important to get extra ie.¡± The second time Artizea visited Rye was about fifteen days before the wedding. [What brings you to such a ce when a precious marriage will be taking ce soon?] Rye asked,ining. [You have done very well thest time.] [If you were dissatisfied with that, my throat would have fallen already.] [Are you afraid to live?] Rye shook his head. But she wasn¡¯t that offended. Artizea has clearly indicated that she was his superior, but never cared about his disrespect. She wasfortable with that attitude. And not so long ago, his sister contacted him again. It was said that an old doctor who hade from the capital to heal the youngest settled in the vige. The doctor said he hired her to be a nurse. His other siblings and vige children were also taught letters and numbers for free. As the youngest¡¯s treatment expenses were reduced, there was room in his house. His mother also said that she started getting treatment for her wrist that¡¯s always been sore. He was honestly grateful. Instead of just throwing arge sum of money to take care of his own life, she was constantly taking care of his family so that they would not notice it. Even if she gave 10,000 gold at a time, his family will not be able to keep it well. He was worried about what kind of work she made him do. Artizea said as if she had read that thought. [If you die, you don¡¯t have to worry because your family will be taken care of forever.] [Oh my. Have you already pawned someone else¡¯s life?] [I have no intention of asking for your life yet.] Artizea smiled faintly. [I need a young man who has a good manner of speaking, can respond on his toes, has impable memory, shameless, and has an inconspicuous appearance. Of course, a heavy mouth is a necessary condition.] [With exception to my appearance, I meet those conditions. I¡¯m a little handsome¡­ ] Rye replied, searching the connections in his head for a moment. Artizea snorted at the retort about his appearance. [I chose you, including your appearance.] And what she asked him to do was to be a necromancer. [It¡¯s about getting into the center of the social world. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get a pretty good extra ie. But you shouldn¡¯t be shaken or excited. Don¡¯t forget that approaching your goal is the number one priority.] Rye told Keyshore that he gathered rumors of social affairs and told them in a usible package. But, in fact, all of the information he spoke of came from Artizea¡¯s hands. Artizea collected useful information from the information she remembered in advance andpiled them into a small booklet. And she left it to Freil. It wasn¡¯t important information. It was just simple information that would be interesting and forgotten in the social world. Most of them were things such as Viscount Moe having an affair, or where the jeweled fan that Viscountess Moe lost would be found. Then he will be esteemed as a remarkable fortune teller at the time. On the other hand, when ites to important topics, there will be more attention from people as insignificant as Keyshore. To raise interest and credibility, Artizea created a magic circle. The magic circle with the word ¡°Light¡± written on it was elegant to look at because of the ancient characters. However, the structure was very simple. When activated by a spell, a dazzling light is emitted for about 15 seconds and turns off automatically. Because it was such small magic, there was no need for human sacrifice. The life force from freshly shed blood was enough. Of course, Ryeined while memorizing difficult ancient scripts. [If I get caught in the temple by mistake, I¡¯ll be the one in trouble.] [So you have to pretend to be a scammer.] Necromancy and ancient magic are all prohibited in temples. If caught, they will be burned. However, there was always someone interested in divination, calling ghosts, or predicting through constetions. There have always been scammers. The temple couldn¡¯t be interested in these little things. Wouldn¡¯t it be more demeaning to be tricked by a scammer that acted like a real wizard? [If you are caught as a scammer, I will get you out with money, so don¡¯t worry.] [Really, I¡¯m uneasy.] [If you¡¯re uneasy, can¡¯t you just use it when it¡¯s absolutely necessary?] Artizea said that, but Rye couldn¡¯t. At first he didn¡¯t do it because he hated bleeding. However, it changed as the atmosphere rose and invitations from noble families began toe. Without realizing, his mouth fluttered magic really well and he used it to heighten mystery. Thanks to that, his fingers, arms, and other parts were full of wounds. Rye finally understood why Artizea was looking for someone who could approach the goal without getting too excited. He became so popr that he was invited to decent homes such as the Keyshore Mansion. As a result, even he got excited over the prospect of money despite his firm goal. If he were a normal man, he were more likely to forget his original goal and focus on the interests of the social world, and run wild. However, even Rye did not yet know what Artizea¡¯s final goal was. He was only told that if the goal was approaching, he would naturally know. The carriage started rolling. Rye received a booklet from Freil¡¯s hand and began memorizing the information he needed for the next seance. The reason why he didn¡¯t give the booklet at all was because there was a lot of information about the nobles and it was dangerous for Rye to keep. So, Freil had toe in person every time to have Rye memorize the booklet. ¡°The Marchioness seems to be running a separate information organization, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to dig too far.¡± Freil said briefly. But in fact, Freil was also curious. Freil ssified the information there into three categories. The first is information that can be found through investigation, and the second is new information that can be inferred from the collected information. However, the third could only be thought of as a prophecy. Most of all, it was amazing that this amount of information could be collected and written at once. Artizea began to form an informationwork in earnest around the time she met Cedric. Even considering the scale of the informationwork that was created now, that was perfect. Yet, with the size of the informationwork, it will not be possible to find out so much information at once. ¡®I¡¯m also interested in things that don¡¯t need to be too much digging.¡¯ Freil shook his head. If you don¡¯t want to believe it, you don¡¯t need to know, but if you choose to believe it, you don¡¯t have to think about anything else. Rye, who memorized all the necessary information, returned the booklet. The carriage arrived near Rye¡¯s amodation just in time. Rye jumped out of the carriage. Then he entered the ce, and ran back out of the road before Freil started the carriage. Freil was surprised and gestured to the coachman to wait. Rye jumped into the carriage. ¡°Here. This is the Marchioness¡¯ goal.¡± Rye handed out an envelope of an invitation. The envelope was stamped with the Marquisate of Rosan. It is only Artizea and Mira that can write from the Marquisate of Rosan. And since Artizea is not in the capital, this was Mira. ¡°It¡¯s terrible, even the Marchioness. With a pretty face. To be taking revenge so thoroughly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rmed. Watch your mouth.¡± Freil said lowly. He knew the goal. However, he did not know the final goal of Artizea¡¯s y. [My mother is always anxious.] As shepleted the booklet and gave it to him, Artizea said so. [But she can¡¯t lean on the temple. My mother¡¯s life itself vites the temple¡¯s teachings, but that doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t get out of that situation.] Artizeaughed in a self-helpful way. [Isn¡¯t the sincere dedication of the emperor¡¯s mistress to the temple itself a ridicule in the social world? She can give a bribe, but she can¡¯t pray.] [Yes.] [Then the only ce to rely on is superstition. If she sees a necromancer who is rumored to be clever, she will surely be interested.] Artizea also said. [The reason I chose a young man is because my mother believes the word of a man much better. If he were a young man, he would be a substitute for my brother.] [Aren¡¯t you putting too heavy a burden on Rye Fidget?] [Rye will do well. Because he¡¯s a man who is quick to act.] Artizea said so. [There is a high probability that I will not be in the capital, so you should advise Rye instead.] [Yes.] [He must not give the initiative of the rtionship to my mother. He doesn¡¯t really need to get close. He needs to thoroughly pretend to be a mysterious necromancer and focus on raising money.] [Yes.] [By attracting multiple people to the seance, reducing the number of meetings one-to-one, mainly by making predictions or giving information to other people, it is difficult. My mother will be anxious just because the seance is real, so it¡¯s okay.] [Would His Majesty the Emperor remain still?] [It is important for His Majesty to think that necromancy is just y. If he thinks she¡¯s indulged in a rather peculiar y, he¡¯ll fall for it. The most important thing is not to reveal Rye¡¯s identity.] [Yes.] [Don¡¯t worry too much about her because my mother never shows off her recourse to superstitions in front of His Majesty. I have also advised Countess Eunice.] [Yes.] [So I think the possibility is low, but if His Majesty intervenes while you can¡¯t contact me, or if there is any other urgent situation, protect Rye. Be prepared so that he can always give up everything and disappear.] [Okay. By the way, if you have enough trust before youe back, will you not proceed with the work in advance?] He could only guess what she was going to do. But if she¡¯s going to get Mira into a conspiracy, Freil asked if it wasn¡¯t good when neither Artizea nor Cedric were in the capital. [I think it¡¯s safer for you to control it yourself. It¡¯s something that can get me involved. It¡¯s okay if it¡¯s me alone, but it¡¯s difficult to stop the Grand Duke Evron from getting caught in it.] Artizea said with a cold face. However, she quickly erased her cold face and sighed with a somber face. Freil quietly stepped back without disturbing her any further. This is not revenge. That was the only thing he could know for sure. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Proofreader: xoxomonami Lysia Artizea picked up a fluffy rabbit fur doll. It has a round body the size of two fists and long ears lined in pink. The eyes are shiny zed ck stone. By itself, it looked just like a real rabbit. The soft, fine fur was swept on her palm. Artizea smiled without knowing it. ¡°Cute!¡± The maids admired. The treasurer Jaden, who brought the rabbit fur doll, sighed with relief. It was only a month ago that Artizea had Jaden do this. Artizea checked all the financial books of Evron Grand Duchy. Then she acknowledged that there is no way to deal with the grim situation of the Evron Grand Duchy. No matter what, as Cedric said, human resources were a problem. There were many resources. There were also a number of profitable mines, and projects that could be done by leaning against the vast coniferous forest were also avable on the spot. But they couldn¡¯t afford to develop it. All healthy and young men who could be the core of thebor force were enlisted. Otherwise, most of them were engaged in agriculture. This is because the man¡¯s strength was needed to plow the frozen ground. It is a difficult ce to raise livestock. It was inevitable to use human resources. Most of the other industries were women. Everyone was working without a hitch. Otherwise, it was difficult for the entire province to survive together. In addition, the same was true of growing mines or other industries. The maind of the Krates Empire is a fertilend full of vast and productive power. The products in remote areas like Evron Grand Duchy are notpetitive. There is even the cost of transportation. In some cases, it was difficult to profit from trade. It is also important to keep in mind that traffic is cut off in winter. For that reason, Evron didn¡¯t even have a merchant guild, let alone the business. Even if there was a business that could make money, they couldn¡¯t even invest heavily in it. This is because the food self-sufficiency rate that is still maintained will also fall. If this was not the Evron Grand Duchy, it could have been solved by growing other industries and purchasing food. People will flock where money goes, so poption problems can also be solved. But this is the Evron Grand Duchy. Even if food is purchased, transportation takes time. Moreover, the transport route was too limited. When it was peaceful, it could be resolved by purchasing it from the maind. But it always had to be thought about when it was impossible. If the imperial family blocks the supply even for a year, they will not be able to withstand it immediately. Like the maind, when food is scarce, it does not have the ability to withstand the next harvest. That reduced poption will never grow again. Therefore, they had to maintain the current production as much as possible. As a result, they were in a position to put agriculture first, even though they knew what apetitive business it was. Artizea turned to the fur and leather business. First of all, she thought it was important to increase the efficiency of the existing business and make room for finances. [The leather business is the main source of ie. We have to continue hunting anyway.] Aaron exined. [If we do not hunt, wild animals will invade human areas. It can also serve as military training, so the army is doing it in units.] [Most of the leather is handed over to the business as it is.] [Yes. I know it¡¯s a bargain price, but I don¡¯t have enough room to figure out the actual market price sold in the maind and distribute it directly there.] [Have you ever bargained?] Aaron had an embarrassed face. [Is it so severe?] Even Artizea didn¡¯t even know the wholesale price of leather, but it was clear from the record that it would be denting. She didn¡¯t rebuke Aaron because Artizea knew it would be anyway. Aaron is a soldier. He is only in charge of such a business as the manager of the estate due to the circumstances of the Grand Duchy, who has not developedmerce. Expecting great skill is too harsh. The same was true of the treasurers. They were sincere and meticulous. They were the ones who did what they had to do without mistakes. All were very loyal. In the past, even a lot of money couldn¡¯t make a traitor. Instead, there was no one with outstanding abilities. To be honest, she wondered if there was anyone under Cedric who was so capable. Perhaps it is because the Evron Grand Duchy itself isgging behind themercial industry. As Artizea knew, the vast majority of talented talents under Cedric were soldiers. Artizea took a new piece of paper and wrote thest year¡¯s price, and wrote the new price next to it. [Do not sell below this. I¡¯m sure they will be crying about the market price or the shipping cost, but don¡¯t listen. If you feel like your heart will be shaken, tell him toe to see me.] [Ah, I see.] [Speaking of the Evron leather, even I, who doesn¡¯t know much about this industry, has heard the name, so let¡¯s bargain with the idea that it doesn¡¯t matter if the deal is cut for about a year or so.] Artizea said coldly. [There¡¯s a problem with only three ces at the business and offering the same price. They must be doing something in collusion.] If caught, she won¡¯t let it go. It wasn¡¯t something to be done right away, so she left it only in memory, and Artizea finished the word. [Next is the fur.] [Ah, yes. This is pretty good. There are so many things that are used domestically, so the processing technology is good.] The treasurer in charge answered politely. [But it¡¯s not an item that¡¯s sold all year round and it¡¯s a luxury item. If too much is sent out, the price will fall, and the profits will decrease, so we are adjusting the supply.] [We need to increase demand significantly.] The treasurer looked at her with an embarrassed face. If that was possible, no one would have worried. [Let¡¯s reduce the distribution level. Sir Aaron, I don¡¯t think there are any merchants from Evron working in the capital¡­.] [Yes, there should be.] [Look for them. Someone you can trust.] [What are we going to do?] [Let¡¯s make stuffed animals and fur ornaments.] Artizea said so. [No matter how hard you try, we can¡¯t lead the trends like fashion, but anything that hasn¡¯t existed before is different. It would be nice if it was a product that could show the luxury of fur to the fullest.] At Artizea¡¯s words, the treasurers blinked. The first one to understand was Jaden, a junior treasurer. [Oh, I see. You can make something like a prop or a doll that is light enough to not be strange even if you bring it to a banquet and that looks valuable enough to show off to others, right? Using a lot of fur. Then it will continue to sell in the summer.] [You¡¯re quick to understand.] [Even if we start with high-end products at first, the trend will eventually go down to the middle ss, so the demand for fur leather itself may increase tremendously. Hopefully it will be a great deal. If you think that the Kingdom of Iants is rich even from selling only embroidery fabrics.] [Yes.] [But, Grand Duchess, fur leather is different from the Iants embroidery. No artistry, no monopoly. Fur leather would be produced in the maind as well.[ One of the treasurers refuted. [So, we should make it while thinking about its beauty and texture, not just a cold weather tool. There¡¯s no ce that can supply more quality fur leather than Evron. Even if it is behind in the final production, it is always beneficial if it is trendy. If it¡¯s an ornament, it can also be sold in the South where it doesn¡¯t require cold weather.] Instead of talking, Jaden eximed as if he realized it. [Hopefully you can sell it to the Southern Sea, can¡¯t you? If it¡¯s a trend in the capital social world?] Artizea pped twice. [You will be responsible for this job.] [Yes?! I¡¯m a junior official, are you serious?] [ A person who understands what they are trying to do should take over the job.] Artizea said so. That¡¯s how Jaden became in charge of this. [It¡¯s a product to be shown to the social world. Make it any way you like, whether it¡¯s jewelry or precious metal. Give the prototype to your wife and daughter.] Artizea said so. Aaron asked anxiously. [I understand what you mean. But would it be so easy to make it fashionable in the capital city?] [Don¡¯t worry. Whose daughter do you think I am?] Aaron and the treasurers bowed their heads with a sorry face, thinking of Mira. But at the same time, they also thought that it was possible. Her mother is the Emperor¡¯s mistress, who has dominated the Empire¡¯s social world for over 20 years. There will be plenty of experience in this kind of thing. And after several failures, these dolls were made in a month. ¡°Is the ck one fox fur?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not a ck fox, it¡¯s dyed.¡± Artizea lifted the elongated fur. It looked like a doll, but it was enough to wrap it around the neck and use it as a decoration. Even if she put it on her shoulder, it was pretty cool. ¡°The pupils are blue crystals.¡± ¡°I told you to use jewelry.¡± He said that he would give the prototype to his wife and daughter, so it would be nice to have the most expensive one. Jaden said with a sad face. ¡°For my wife, this jewel is expensive enough. How can I satisfy my own selfish desires when you have entrusted me with such an important task?¡± ¡°Is that what you think about or your wife?¡± ¡°My wife told me to say this.¡± Jaden confessed with a shameless face. Artizea made a small sound andughed. ¡°You have a wise wife, you¡¯ll be sessful in the future. Jaden only scratched his head. Artizea called Aubrey. ¡°Aubrey, go get my jewel box.¡± Aubrey, who had been standing behind Artizea the entire time, moved. Artizea stroked the fox fur in a satisfed mood. Knock, knock. Then she heard a knocking on the door. The maid ran and opened the door. Cedric walked in with a te of cookies and stopped when he saw Jaden. ¡°Oh, are you busy?¡± ¡°No. The business is almost over.¡± Artizea turned and said, the big hand gently approached. ¡°Ooph.¡± A bite-sized snack came in her mouth. Inadvertently, the scent of baked apple spread in her mouth as the crunchy outer pie material broke. Artizea covered her mouth with her hand, turning red. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Proofreader: xoxomonami & somnium She hurriedly mumbled, chewed, and swallowed the snack. Then, she could barely answer him. ¡°I¡¯ll eat itter.¡± ¡°Then I will wait until you finish eating.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that. I can eat after work.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for that too. If I don¡¯t keep the snack time, I¡¯ll be scolded by Ansgarter.¡± Cedric sat next to Artizea, stroking the fox fur ornament. ¡°Is this the fur product you mentioned before?¡± ¡°Yes, is it okay?¡± Artizea put it on her shoulder and showed it to him. ¡°It looks good, to be able to wear it like a gold decoration.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¡°It suits you.¡± Artizea lost words to answer. Cedric would casually say something like this. It seemed that he didn¡¯t know that Artizea¡¯s heart trembled every time. Artizea struggled to turn her head. And she beckoned to Aubrey, struggling to maintain a casual look. Aubrey came out with the jewelry box, saw Cedric and stopped walking. Artizea opened the lid of the box with her standing by her side. ¡°The fox¡¯s eyes look good with sapphire.¡± Artizea picked up two small sapphires of the same size. ¡°And for a rabbit, simple gemstones would be better, ga and amber. Sophie, go get a pouch to hold this.¡± Only then, realizing that Artizea was about to give him the jewel, Jaden struck his hand. ¡°It¡¯s too much, Grand Duchess. I really can¡¯t ept it.¡± ¡°Hold it for three days, then discuss it with your wife. Dispose of it on your own. It won¡¯t be a burden to have such a thing at home because it is a gift.¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡° Jaden knelt down on one of his knees and bowed. And with a thrilled face, he also thanked Cedric. Artizea said. ¡°Three fox furs and two more rabbit furs. Make the finest. I¡¯ll send them all to a valuable person, so they must be of different forms. Don¡¯t forget that this is the first product to be introduced.¡± ¡°Yes, I will do my best.¡± ¡°I will choose jewels that can be used as eyes or decorations and leave it to Margaret. Use it extravagantly.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± ¡°I wish I could see the results in a short time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made it once, so I¡¯ll be able to make the second faster. Thank you for trusting me.¡± Jaden politely bowed. Then he took the jewel bag from Sophie, put it in his arms, hugged the two dolls and went outside. ¡°Are you done with your work today?¡± Cedric asked, picking up the snack and holding it out. Artizea hesitated. ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea carefully took the snack from Cedric¡¯s hand. She was conscious of chewing something in front of his eyes, so she was very careful. She was also bothered that there was a crackling sound in her mouth. Cedric asked. ¡°Is the taste okay?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve never known that fruit is so delicious.¡± For the food situation, the diet consisted mainly of meat processed for storage. This is where even grain is scarce. All vegetables were pickled and stored. Fruits were only jam or dried. He was paying special attention to Artizea¡¯s meals in the kitchen, but there were limits. The scent of apples was precious. ¡°Eat more. I¡¯ll be here until the te is empty.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to bring it yourself like this. Even if you order it to a maid, she¡¯ll keep the snack time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m bringing it myself because I want toe.¡± Cedric revised it, as if he had forgotten what he said earlier that Ansgar would scold him if he didn¡¯t uphold the snack time. Then he picked up another snack and handed it to Artizea. ¡°If you keep doing this, I will get into a bad habit.¡± ¡°So it turns out that I didn¡¯t announce my new year goals?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything. What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making you spoiled.¡± Artizea covered her mouth with her hand andughed out loud. Because she truly thought it was a joke. However, Cedric simply smiled deeply and looked at her. Theughter died down. Maybe he wasn¡¯t kidding. Her mouth could hardly be opened, even though she had decided on what to say. Cedric called her name. ¡°Tia.¡± Artizea unintentionally turned her eyes, and she again caught him in her gaze. Cedric smiled lightly. His face was so close that his breath was mixed with Artizea¡¯s. Cedric lowered his head. Artizea closed her eyes unknowingly. But his lips touched her cheek, not her lips. Artizea exhaled a trembling breath to relieve her tension. She thought he was going to kiss her. Cedric said in a soft voice, sweeping lightly under her eyes. ¡°I told you to pay attention to the heating, the Grand Hall is still cold. Dress warmly.¡± ¡°Yes¡­.¡± ¡°See youter. ¡° Cedric stood up. ¡®Why are you doing this to me?¡¯ Every time she looked at his face, she was eager to ask. The emotions were high. But she doesn¡¯t really want to know his feelings. She doesn¡¯t even want the right answer. She just wanted permission to stay a little longer like this. She can¡¯t do that, but she keeps getting happy. She could not deny that she was attracted to Cedric. How could she not be attracted? To such a sweet, strong and upright person. She ended her life once. There was a time when she was sitting right below the emperor. She saw and evaluated a lot of people. She disturbed the world as if churning the bottom of the river, confirming the dirtiness at the bottom of men. It was also then. Cedric was the most straightforward and gorgeous man she knew. Even when his eyes were covered in mud named Family, she could still see his light shine through. She pulled him down to the bottom and saw nothing changed. She dared not to describe him like jewels. ¡®At that time¡­ .¡¯ At that time. She just pretended not to know, because it was something she shouldn¡¯t know. She came back to the past, and it still was something that couldn¡¯t and shouldn¡¯t be. So she tried to push her emotions deep into her stomach and ignore Cedric¡¯s hand. How dare she take the ce next to Cedric? She killed several people whom Cedric cherished. Lysia was also taken; Evron Grand Duchy was destroyed. Just because time is turned back doesn¡¯t mean that all the crime will disappear. At least it certainly remained in Artizea¡¯s memory. Even after more than half a year, she sometimes recalled Cedric, who bowed down in front of her. Every time she did that, it was so painful that it was difficult to even breathe, as if her chest was pierced with a spear. Artizea sometimes thought she would have been better to stay by Cedric¡¯s side, where she would have been able to help him to work off that punishment. She knows it¡¯s a selfish idea. She knows that it is much better to minimize the victims. But every time Cedric smiled with a friendly face, she felt so sore and painful in her heart that she couldn¡¯t help but think so. At that time, Cedric would not have smiled at her. Knowing everything, he wouldn¡¯t have been kind. She deserved it. Even being by his side as a servant is a sinful thing, how dare she want more than that. For Cedric as a monarch, it was fine. Because he has a vessel that can amodate evil people like her. Because he told her to make a n. But as a man, he is not his own. It was also a sin for him to be greedy. She knew he deserved to be refused. But when he smiled tenderly, her heart jumped. When he held her hand, her body heated up. When he reached out his hand, she could not escape. She wanted to be held in his arms. Her lips trembled, knowing the joy he touched. She wanted to walk a little more, not in reality, but stepping on these sweet dreams. The feeling left on the cheek was unlikely to disappear for a while. *** Aubrey stood far away with her jewelry box. She was in tears. It was like being an invisible person. Artizea did not particrly ignore her, but she did not treat her close as ady-in-waiting. The maids who followed Artizea hated her tantly. Thedies of the stronghold were not the same as before. If it were her old days, she was the most preciousdy in the stronghold. There were rarely any women in the Grand Duchy, so naturally the daughters of the Jordyn¡¯s received precious treatment. But now everyone knelt to Artizea. Aubrey was behind the scenes. She was only seen as Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting. But the saddest thing was Cedric¡¯s attitude. ¡®How can you not even look at me like that?¡¯ If he looks at her once, he¡¯ll notice this unfair situation. However, when Cedric was with Artizea, there was very little in him giving any attention to anything other than Artizea. The gentle gaze, friendly gestures, and kind consideration sometimes seemed sweet. Every time she saw it right in front of her eyes, Aubrey felt even more disastrous of her standing. Artizea kept Aubrey close and never let her sit. The subordinate cannot sit in the seat until the superior allows it. That is the court manner. Artizea offered to teach her. Aubrey had to stand by Artizea all day long. Even when the treasurer or the maid is sitting. That said, she didn¡¯t have anything to be proud of. All that was left to Aubrey was a jewel box. It was important. Nody entrusts a jewelry box to someone she doesn¡¯t trust. But Aubrey thought she was just like a foot on a jewelry box. Artizea sometimes had her bring the jewelry box so that she could look at it and put it right next to her for an hour to pick. She can¡¯t believe she was being treated like this. She is the daughter of Count Jordyn, who can be called the first vassal of the Grand Duke, and she is the firstdy-in-waiting. Sophie came out of the bathroom to prepare clothes for the banquet. She saw Aubrey standing until then, and so she said cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s hard, right? My madam called, and she told me I need to clean up the jewelry box. So, sit back and rx. Since the madam is a gentle person, Miss Aubrey just ¡­..¡± ¡°Shut up! Do you sympathize with me when you¡¯re the maid?¡± ¡°Aahh!¡± Aubrey threw the jewelry box at her. Sophie, who was beaten by the heavy gold box, fell to the floor. The jewels scattered on the floor and sparkled brilliantly. Blood ran from one side of Sophie¡¯s head. Aubrey was startled. Because she didn¡¯t intend to hurt Sophie. But she soon clenched her lips. It¡¯s all because of Artizea. As such, it was not a problem for a maid brought from Artizea¡¯s family. Aubrey knew very well that this was Artizea trying to discourage her. ¡®I wonder who will give in.¡¯ She was the daughter of the Jordyn family, and was the vassal of the Grand Duke Evron. She wasn¡¯t a knight, but she was confident that she wasn¡¯t the same as the weak capitaldies. ¡®I¡¯m not someone to be treated like this!¡¯ Aubrey ran out. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Proofreader: somnium When Artizea came out of the bathroom, the Tuvalet room was inplete silence. Sophie roughly wrapped up the wounds on her head. She couldn¡¯t find a physician and was helped by another maid to stop the bleeding. It was because she had toe back before Artizea left the bathroom. Thanks to that, the bandages wrapped were poor. The blood oozes out a new red color, and it starts to unravel. Artizea looked at Sophie quietly. Cold air settled in the Tuvalet room. The maids bowed their heads in fear, even though it wasn¡¯t their fault. Artizea was a master with very little expression of her emotions. Even though she was angry, she would be quietly and fiercely angry. But they didn¡¯t expect her to show such cold anger without moving an eyebrow. Sophie gave a hard smile and said. ¡°Madam, please change your clothes first. You need to prepare for the banquet.¡± ¡°You go and show the wound to the physician. Pa, take Sophie to the physician.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± Pa crossed Sophie¡¯s arms and led her out in a hurry. ¡°Rize, bring me the jewelry box.¡± Rize handed over the jewelry box she was holding to Artizea. There was a crack as the box made of agate and gold fell to the floor. There was also blood on the corner. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. Even though Aubrey doesn¡¯t show me the respect I deserve, I never thought she would throw my jewelry box on the floor to destroy it. She even beat the maid I brought from home.¡± Artizea¡¯s voice rang coldly. ¡°Go find Aubrey and bring her here.¡± ¡°Ma¡­ madam, please dress up¡­¡± ¡°How can I be dressed up after being insulted by my owndy-in-waiting?¡± Artizea said so. The maids were terrified and panicked. An older maid took the lead and offered a bow to Artizea. Then, she rushed the other maids out. ¡°You go and tell Margaret what just happened. The rest of you go and quickly look for Aubrey. If anyone finds her, go inform Margaret first before bringing her here.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the first thing to do is toe and ask for forgiveness?¡± ¡°You know Miss Aubrey¡¯s temperament. Soon after, if there is a real big deal, it¡¯ll only be a mess. And how worried would Margaret be?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Anyway, find her before it¡¯s toote.¡± After the discussion, the maids scattered. *** Margaret was in the Grand Hall. Artizea has given her full authority over the life of the stronghold. So it was Margaret¡¯s job to prepare the event for the New Year¡¯s banquet. She cared for heating more than anything else. Charcoal with less smoke was spread here and there, and tapestry was hanged inyers where drafts could prate. However, if the venttion is poor, the smoke may build up. She had to pay attention to keep the warmth flowing without the cold wind hitting the seat of the Grand Duke and Duchess. Artizea was an easy mistress. She did notpare the deste Grand Duchy to the Capital. She didn¡¯t get fussy with what to wear and sleep on, and didn¡¯t even try to press down on people below her. When Cedric said that he was marrying Mira¡¯s daughter, she was worried in so many ways. But now that worry haspletely disappeared. Her behavior was decent and calm. She was generous to everybody, but she had an air of superiority. The number of people who voluntarily stepped over increased. Many of them were treasurers. The economic situation in the province, which seemed to have been stagnating forever, began to move with vitality. Recently, she has also had a good reputation with the maids. It was a w that she wasn¡¯t eating well. She had to try hard so she wasn¡¯t cold. Still, there was nothing difficult about it. Margaret once served Cedric¡¯s mother. In fact, it was much harder then. Cedric¡¯s mother was kind and good, but she was too young. She got homesick and she was always sick. She made the people around her feel sorry. Compared to her, Artizea did not feel young, even though her age was simr. She¡¯s not a young mistress to look after, rather she was a supervisor you could count on. It was the Grand Duke¡¯s wishes. No, it¡¯s more than that. She was the one who suited Cedric andplimented his shorings. ¡®You two good luck, so you can give me some good news next spring¡­¡± Aaron was already looking ahead. Margaret pinched the back of his hand for those nonsense. [Because the Grand Duchess is not so healthy. Before that, she will need supplements and a lot of nutrition, gain some weight, and exercise to stay strong. She¡¯s still young, and it¡¯s better to stay in a warm ce.] So Margaret also said some nonsense that the next spring is just perfect. Anyway, the only concern now was Aubrey. ¡°Aunt Margaret.¡± While she picked up a candlestick and checked the ebb and flow of the wind, she heard a voice calling. A beautiful girl wearing a cozy fur coat was entering the grand hall. The roughly loosened red hair was scattered by the wind and got disheveled. Her lively cheeks and a small nose were dyed red, as if struck by the cold breeze. The girl was wearing furry leather pants and boots that reached her thighs. She wore a short sword and a gunpowder container on her waist. She seemed to be dancing to the air with a brisk gait. Her red lips were lush, and her green eyes were clear like a forest. If she had only a bow and a quiver on her shoulder, it would look like the goddess of hunting had just popped out of the picture. Margaret was startled, she asked. ¡°Lysia, did youe on a horse?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, aunt. The banquet dress will be arriving soon. I just came a little early because I was frustrated.¡± ¡°What do you mean early? Everyone was here a few days ago, but only you arete. Today is the banquet, but you just came now.¡± ¡°Because I was a little worried. You know. Our vige situation. I hesitated until the end.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± said Margaret, and she sighed. The name of the vige where Lysia lives was the vige of rebels. The rebel vige did not have an official name because it was a vige that was not disyed on the map. When the predecessor Grand Dukes were killed for treason, all the vassals, knights, and employees in the capital were also killed. The vige of rebels is the vige where their families lived in hiding. The vige waspletely hidden. Because if it was revealed that he had hidden the rebels all this time time, it would be a blow to Grand Duke Evron. So they decided to live in silence to the end. It was also possible because the years of living whileforting each other with the same pain were not short, and they had already be onemunity. Only young people were carefully stepping out one by one, reiming the family name and starting to find new homes. That is why she has long thought about whether or not toe to greet Artizea. Margaretughed. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Because Her Grace already knows about the northern town of Thold.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw you wrote it down on thest letter. I guess His Grace really trusts her.¡± ¡°Well. At first, I was worried about this and that, too. But he¡¯s really a perfect match to the Grand Duchess. No, it¡¯s much better than that. It should be said that she fits perfectly with the insufficiency of the Grand Duke¡­¡± ¡°What a relief. ¡° ¡°It was the best because the Grand Duke is more than anything else.¡± Margaretughed. ¡°You¡¯ll be surprised to see him too. He didn¡¯t look as bright as he does now.¡± ¡°He was a bit blunt in my memory, even though he was serious and sweet.¡± ¡°Yes, he has such a sweet face, and I only knew it for the first time. For that alone, I, Aaron, and everyone else are all grateful to the Grand Duchess.¡± Then Margaret sighed, thinking of Aubrey. Aubrey is too immature. She treated Cedric so familiarly three years ago, and that was eptabled because she was still young. She is now 18 years old, so she deserves to know up and down. Even Lysia, a few months younger than Aubrey, knows what¡¯s right. Margaret shook her head and looked at Lysia. ¡°Anyway, I was relieved because you came here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s an issue that has something to do with you. You know that Grand Duchess said that she would choose herdy-in-waiting from among the Grand Duchy?¡± ¡°Yes, because you wrote it in the letter.¡± ¡°Aubrey, she became the firstdy-in-waiting of Her Grace.¡± Margaret was about toment. Just then, one of the maids ran in haste. ¡°Margaret, we¡¯re in trouble!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°That¡­.¡± The maid lowered her voice and exined to Margaret about what Aubrey had done. Margaret became lost in thought. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to the Grand Duchess. Lysia, do you know where your ce is?¡± ¡°Yes. I can go alone, so don¡¯t worry.¡± Margaret hurriedly left the Grand Hall. She was going to see Artizea. Lysia looked around the banquet hall with a moved feeling for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s nice to be warm.¡± In the absence of Cedric, the stronghold¡¯s New Year¡¯s banquet was a small banquet where only those who had time gathered. Remembering when Cedric was there, it wasn¡¯t very beautiful. Although there were many people gathered, the atmosphere was somber and it was always like a memorial service. But today it was different. The decoration is also bright and the band is practicing dance songs. Lysia smiled, saying that it was a good idea to bring her only banquet dress. What kind of person is the Grand Duchess? Her heart was thrilled. *** Artizea sat in her armchair, silently waiting for Sophie to return. Alice asked carefully. ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t very angry.¡± However, it seemed clear to her that it wasn¡¯t true. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know Aubrey would do something like this.¡± The best thing was for Aubrey to realize her position first. However, she did not seem to admit that she was only in the position of the servant. It was better to make sure if she wanted to rebel. She even thought Aubrey would one day. But she didn¡¯t think Aubrey would hurt Sophie. She thought Aubrey was immature, but she didn¡¯t know it was this much. Sophie returned after the bleeding stopped. The bandages still smudged by a little blood, but herplexion looked much better. Sophie said with an anxious face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Madam. I shouldn¡¯t have aroused Aubrey¡¯s temper¡­¡± ¡°It was going to explode anytime soon. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sophie said in a crawling voice. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Proofreader: somnium Artizea asked. ¡°How is your wound?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s just a slight tear on the skin. It¡¯s not bleeding anymore.¡± ¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not going to be any. It¡¯s nothing. If I just scratched my arm or something, it would have bled too. I have worried you for no reason.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear.¡± Artizea finally smiled. ¡°Would you please help me with changing my clothes? Normally, you always do it all by yourself, so it¡¯s actually morefortable.¡± ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± When Aubrey was first hitting her with the jewelry box, Sophie was sad and angry with tears. But she quickly brushed it off. It was better to forget. Aubrey herself was just Count¡¯s Young Lady, but Count Jordyn was different. It is the second family of Evron Grand Duchy. And Aaron and Margaret are the pirs that the Grand Duke¡¯s people rely heavily on. It is natural that the hearts of the people of the stronghold are tilted to their daughter. It was not umon for the master¡¯s wife or herdy-in-waiting to beat a maid. Like Mira. There was never a day for the bruises to fade on the maid¡¯s body. Sophie wasn¡¯t foolish enough to forget her position because Artizea said she would treat her kindly. Artizea never beat her either. She was rather angry and she was worried. That was enough for Sophie. She wished that she wouldn¡¯t be the cause of her precious Madam not getting along with Count Jordyn. Sophie sighed to hide it from Artizea. She brightened her mood and brought a dress. What she prepared was a velvet dress lined with a soft, fine fur leather. ¡°Madam Emily is definitely great. She doesn¡¯t know how cold it will be in the north, so she went and got the help of a local person who told her to make enough cold weather suits inside.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I actually thought it might be a little big, but it fit perfectly because I sewed thin fur leather inside.¡± The outer material was pale orange with low saturation, and the fur visible on the sleeves and cor was bright barley. ¡°It¡¯s a New Year¡¯s banquet, so I chose a light color. Your hair is pretty and your skin is white, so you¡¯ll look good in all colors. I feel relieved when a maid like me has to dress you up.¡± ¡°You¡¯re doing well, Sophie.¡± ¡°Someone like me was originally just a maid in theundry room.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sophie? If you weren¡¯t good, wouldn¡¯t Madame Emily have been angry already? Our Madam likes you, so she brought you here.¡± Alice said, helping trim Artizea¡¯s hem. Sophie blushed her face. Artizea looked at the mirror and nodded her head. It was a pretty dress that looked bright and warm. She lifted the shawl on the dressing table. Because it was for winter, there was fur on the part that touched her neck. The ribbon was silk. Sophie wrapped it on Artizea¡¯s neck once around her throat, and she took it off as it didn¡¯t fit. ¡°Sophie.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Artizea put it around Sophie¡¯s neck. Then she took out one of her gold rings and she fixed the shawl with it. ¡°I like the clothes today. I¡¯ll give you a prize.¡± That was an excuse. Sophie knows that it¡¯s not because of the clothes, but because of her injury. Artizea did not justify herself. It was strictly because Artizea herself that Sophie got hurt. She knew it for sure. In the end, this is just an act topensate Sophie¡¯s wounds. It is to replenish wasted loyalty with money. She will not retaliate for Sophie. She will throw Aubrey out. But that¡¯s because that was the goal from the start. Not for Sophie. Regardless of how they felt, Count Jordyn took precedence over Sophie. Had it been necessary to have Aubrey by her side, she would not have shown any anger at all. All people are just numbers. Therefore, this person was just a resource. That was right. So Artisea didn¡¯t say anything else. But Sophie already understood everything. Her eyes turned red. ¡°Well, I¡¯m really okay.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I like the clothes?¡± ¡°Oh, yes, you did.¡± Instead of wiping away her tears, Artizea gently moved the shawl to fix it properly. And she turned away as if nothing had happened. It was then that Margaret arrived. ¡°Grand Duchess, this is Margaret.¡± At the sound of the polite call, Alice opened the door. Margaret came in and knelt on one of her knees instead of saying her usual greetings. Artizea nced down at her with only her eyes moving. Margaret was nervous as she saw Sophie wiping her tears through her sleeve. Thinking that she is a maid that is not to be ignored. She is one of the most beloved maids brought from Artizea¡¯s family. Aubrey didn¡¯t just hurt her, she threw a jewelry box. Even the jewelry box was left to Aubrey¡¯s care by Artizea. In other words, she threw the mission entrusted by her mistress. In Evron, this was really unforgivable. ¡°I heard that Aubrey hasmitted a sin. The sin of raising a daughter incorrectly; I know that nothing can absolve that.¡± Margaret deeply bowed her head and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She only hoped that by her own apology, Artizea would relieve Aubrey¡¯s sin by releasing her mind a little. Artizea spoke coldly to her without even giving her a gaze. ¡°Did you find Aubrey?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m looking for her right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you know that Aubrey has been disrespectful to me.¡± ¡°I have no excuse. Even though Your Grace gave me several opportunities, my child was stupid and immature, so shemitted a crime.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not up to me to raise a child. I¡¯m not going to scold you. I¡¯m not even questioning the faithfulness of Count Jordyn.¡± Margaret only bowed her head. Although Artizea said so, she did not allow her to stand up. It meant that Aubrey¡¯s sins were not forgiven. ¡°Alice, take the box and give it to Margaret.¡± Alice took the ruined jewelry box on the dressing table and gave it to Margaret. ¡°Please make sure you get it fixed. As if there was no crack in the first ce. If you do that, I will forget it all.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Margaret¡¯s hand trembled a little. What Artizea was talking about was a box, but it was obvious that it wasn¡¯t just a box. It meant to punish Aubrey on her own so that there was no crack between the Grand Duke and Count Jordyn. And she will forget about it. ¡°Thank you for your generosity.¡± Margaret bowed her head deeply again before stepping back. And she hurriedly called a maid. ¡°I¡¯m ordering everyone to find Aubrey. Tell them that I ordered it, and held her even if she must be tied up by a rope.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If she ever enters the banquet hall, make sure that there is nothing noticeable to the Grand Duchess, you must stop her. Let the guards know.¡± ¡°Hah, but, Lady Margaret, then rumors mighte out¡­.¡± ¡°She has sinned against Her Grace, the Grand Duchess. Is a rumor a problem now? I¡¯ll have to go for a while. If something happens while I¡¯m preparing for the banquet, I¡¯ll send someone.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Margaret curled up her hem and headed out in a hurry. ¡®Stupid think.¡¯ Bing thedy-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess was Artizea giving Aubrey a chance. She kicked the opportunity and she proved herself disrespectful. Now Aubrey would never again be able to rise to a high position within Evron Grand Duchy. *** Emotionally, Aubrey¡¯s work itself was a trivial matter for Artizea. The long dragging of Count Jordyn was over. What was left was the New Year¡¯s banquet. Artizea was escorted by Cedric and headed to the Grand Hall. Even though it was arge banquet hall with high ceilings, it was warmly heated. Expensive white charcoal furnaces were ced everywhere. There were so many candlesticks ced everywhere that they would brighten up even the darkest of night if lit. To reflect the light, about a hundred sses were ced close to each other. To hide the dark tapestry and create a bright atmosphere, the long hanging purple and white silk fabrics were lined here and there. It is iparable to the splendid banquet in the capital, but it was magnificent and luxurious enough. As the two entered, the attendees stood up and bowed. Cedric led Artizea to the top of the table and made a light greeting with his servants. The servants diligently carried the sses. Bubble wine produced in the East was served in long-necked sses and distributed to everyone. Artizea also received a ss. Cedric whispered in a small voice. ¡°If you can¡¯t drink it, you don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. ¡° Artizea didn¡¯t enjoy alcohol and was weak, but she could drink at least a ss of wine. Cedric said while standing. ¡°I¡¯m d to see this new year with everyone for the first time in 3 years. Thank you for protecting Evron in the meantime. I don¡¯t know how many times I¡¯ve been saying the same greeting, but I¡¯m saying it again.¡± A littleughter spread like a wave. ¡°A lot of things will change in the future. But I hope that next year, we can all celebrate the new year together, staying the same as we do now.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m going to marry too!¡± One of the knights shouted. But he was beaten and sunk down, as the people asked him what the hell he was talking about. So this time Cedricughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, because it¡¯s always wee to expand your family. Now, then.¡± Cedric raised the ss. ¡°For a life of honor!¡± ¡°For the glory of Evron!¡± Following Cedric¡¯s call, the attendees shouted in unison. ¡°For the Grand Duchess!¡± The guy who wanted to stand out, once again shouted a different cheer by himself, and was beaten and sank again. Cedric justughed because it was a yearly event. Then he turned to Artizea, struck his cup lightly against hers, and he emptied it. Artizea emptied her ss and sat down. The hearth under her chair was warm and made her feelfortable. Aaron came up first and offered a tribute. ¡°Congrattions on the new year. I wish there will be better news this year.¡± ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s all thanks to you. But what about Margaret?¡± Aaron being alone, made Cedric puzzledly asked. Aaron sneaked a nce at Artizea. Artizea said calmly, as she had no intention of ming Aaron and Margaret. ¡°Something happened a while ago, so she said she¡¯d be leaving. She can greet uster.¡± Cedric nodded his head. Then he realized that Aubrey wasn¡¯t there either. He passed it by, thinking that Artizea had entrusted her to do something and let it go. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Proofreader: somnium Subsequently, the vassals lined up and saluted. Those who met Artizea for the first time congratted their wedding and even gave gifts. Words of blessing andughter bloomed. Artizea was enjoying it, smiling in a slightly unfamiliar mood. She seemed to understand why Cedric considered Evron Grand Duchy as his home and his vassals and the people as his family. The Imperial Pce¡¯s New Year¡¯s banquet is an extension of the political and social world. It would have been the same for Mira and Lawrence. Surrounded by countless people, she was struggling to read the true intentions of people who wereing and going. Mira, drunk with alcohol, woke up in the evening on the first day of the year. Lawrence was more often buried in a second feast of debauchery in a woman¡¯s house. So, there was no such a thing as a New Year¡¯s banquet in the Marquisate of Rosan. This is because there was no one to share good words and wishes. This was probably a family-like atmosphere. It was strange and unfamiliar to Artizea that she was naturally involved in it, because she never thought it was eptable to her. It¡¯s not really hers. But it wasn¡¯t something she wasn¡¯t allowed to participate. Because she will be a part of this even if she divorces and sits down in the seat of the servant. As she thought so, she felt happy and heartbroken. It was then. She felt the air in the banquet hall changing. Artizea looked around. Lysia was just entering the banquet hall. As if she had been running in a hurry, she was holding the hem of her skirt together. Her clothes were a simple but fine violet-colored dress. Maybe she hadn¡¯t had time to do her hair, she just braided her hair aside. There was no makeup on her face. But she was more beautiful than anyone in this ce. An overflowing light shimmered around her. Lysia¡¯s beauty was different from that of Mira. It was hard to say where she was pretty. It can be said that the light from her heart and the lively movement are beautiful. ¡®Lysia¡­¡­¡¯ As Artizea held her breath, she thought nkly. Lysia immediately approached the two. She politely knelt down on one knee. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte, Your Grace. I am relieved that you are in constant health.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Lysia. You¡¯ve grown a lot. But are you alone? What about Baron Morten?¡± ¡°My father is refraining from going out because his legs are ufortable in winter. This winter, I decided toe as the vige representative instead.¡± ¡°I see. Are you now eighteen?¡± ¡°Yes, I had my birthdayst month.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re eighteen, you¡¯re old enough.¡± Cedric said so in aplicated mood. And he looked back and gently introduced her to Artizea. ¡°Lysia is the daughter of the Morten family. She is from the vige you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lysia of Baron Morten. It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess. And, although it¡¯ste, congrattions on your marriage.¡± Lysia stood up and she turned her body towards Artizea. And she again knelt on her knees in front of Artizea politely. Lysia¡¯s lips touched over the ring of the Grand Duchess she was wearing. It was a sign of loyalty and obedience. Artizea knows that her heart has been crushed, so she can¡¯t answer for a while. Her ring felt as hot as if burning. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Lysia.¡± The tip of her tongue became heavy calling her name. [If there is a next world and I can live once more, then I hope you can call me Lysia by then.] It really did. But what kind of rtionship did Lysia hope for at that time? Artizea stood up, grabbed Lysia¡¯s hand and raised it up. She shouldn¡¯t have had to kneel to her. ¡°Bring a chair.¡± The servant who was waiting near her heard that, and quickly brought a chair. She ced it next to Artizea. Lysia was embarrassed. ¡°Thank you, Grand Duchess. But I can¡¯t sit in a seat like this¡­.¡± ¡°Sit down. It¡¯s okay. I need someone to talk to.¡± Artizea said so with a soft, calm voice. It was difficult to talk to Lysia as if she were treating a subordinate, but she shouldn¡¯t look strange to others. Lysia¡¯s cheek redded with joy. ¡°Thank you, Grand Duchess.¡± She felt guilty. In her previous life, she was unable to protect Lysia. Cedric asked her the first andst time, but she couldn¡¯t do anything. She couldn¡¯t even tell Cedric Lysia¡¯sst word. Lysia forgave her, but Artizea could not forgive herself. What did she think when she came back to the past and opened her eyes? As she offered a candle to the saint, what did she wish for? She will protect her this time. She thought so. She thought of giving her all that she had stolen. She tried to give her back what she deserves. She intended to make her the empress. She actually wanted to meet her earlier. She ought to go and apologize for her mistake. This was not possible because the ce where Lysia lived was the vige of the rebels. She told Cedric that she knew about this ce from the start. But she couldn¡¯t find it easily. It was the most sensitive area in Evron, which is closed to outsiders. It was better to wait to meet naturally and bring her to her side. It was a rational conclusion. Apart from that, however, Artizea knew that her own heart waspletely unjust. One day, two days, she dyed meeting Lysia. She could have asked Margaret to call her toe naturally. She has already said that she will choose herdy-in-waiting among the vassals of the Grand Duchy. She also knew that Margaret had made her own list of girls Artizea¡¯s age. So, she could choose Lysia among them and ask Margaret to bring her here. But she didn¡¯t. Artizea newly realized her own inferiority. She just wished that she would be allowed to be by Cedric¡¯s side a little longer. She must have been slowing down with such an unscrupulous mind. She knew for herself that she did. She couldn¡¯t control her mind and she was obsessed with Cedric. She felt foolish and she couldn¡¯t stand it. Her heart was sore and painful. She originally felt like the world was getting darker just by thinking that she would lose the affection, even if it wasn¡¯t hers. However, it¡¯s not up to her to decide. She knew this wasn¡¯t the ce where she would sit. It was Lysia¡¯s seat. It¡¯s only for 2 years, she only needs to sit for a while before she has to give it back. She knew. She then felt as if the time she had with him would go on forever. She hoped so. Then her thoughts of Lysia finally stopped. The band began to y dance songs. Cedric stood up and reached out to Artizea. Artizea looked at the hand in a feeling of hopelessness. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Everyone was looking at them. It was customary for the first dance to be held by the host or the top person. She ced her trembling hand on Cedric¡¯s. Cedric held her hand and led her with a soft, natural touch. This was the fourth dance. Once at Lysia¡¯s wedding, once at Count Enda¡¯s ball, and once at the wedding. All three times, Cedric kept the distance respectfully. They had a conversation and came close enough to see the shade on theshes. However, he kept to all the manners he had to obey. There was never a force in his hand that held her. The only thing that supported Artizea¡¯s body was his arm. While leading Artizea, who was not good at dancing, he never touched her body even though she made a mistake. But today it was different. His hand on Artizea¡¯s back came deeper than it was. Instead of politely touching her back to support her, he naturally wrapped her waist around him. When Artizea put her arm on his shoulder, it was as if it were in his arms. And Artizea waspelled to admit that, just as she was ustomed to be in his embrace, her own body was already used to leaning against his arm. But she couldn¡¯t dare dance like this in front of Lysia¡¯s eyes. Cedric, who misunderstood the reason Artizea hesitated, said in a smiling voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you make a mistake, I¡¯ll cover it up. You know I¡¯m good at dancing, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that.¡± Artizea muttered in a split voice. ¡°I will make you the most beautiful dancer in the world.¡± Cedric assured her. Then he led Artizea and slipped into the middle of the banquet hall. *** Aubrey was near the banquet hall. Eventually, Margaret failed to find Aubrey first. Aubrey is also someone that has lived in the stronghold since birth. It wasn¡¯t just a day or two where she ran to hide after a scuffle with her mother. Aubrey went home and hurriedly, getting mad at her close maid and changed into the most gorgeous dress she had. It was a dress that had gold thread embroidered Iantz embroidery around the hem of the rich skirt, and spread around the chest. Margaret said she hated the clothes because it overflowed. It was made by designers from the capital and it cost quite a bit. Aaron thought that his youngest daughter was cute so he gave anything to her and was able to make the dress. She wore it, ran through her mother¡¯s jewelry and wore the most expensive ruby ??ne of Count Jordyn. In her opinion, today¡¯s self was pretty. And it was mature. At this point, she thought she would be able to draw attention of the banquet hall. But Aubrey couldn¡¯t even get into the banquet hall. ¡°There was an order from Countess Jordyn that you could not enter the banquet hall.¡± The guard did not know the details. Aubrey had always had a small incident, so he only thought it would be like that this time. ¡°Please wait here for a minute, Miss Aubrey.¡± Through the blocked door, Aubrey saw Artizea dancing her waltz in Cedric¡¯s arms. The hem of the heavy skirt spreads out like a flower and goes round and round with the fur inside. ¡®Damn it.. Damn it, damn it, damn it!¡¯ Aubrey clenched her teeth. It felt as if Artizea had taken her ce. She turned around and ran out. ¡°Oh, Miss Aubrey!¡± The guard shouted. There was amand to catch Aubrey, but the guards thought it was the usual mother-daughter fight. In Evron, there was always a problem with Karam and the maind of the Empire, but there was never a problem with the people in the castle Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Proofreader: somnium Artizea danced two songs and then returned to her seat. There seemed to be something like a butterfly in her chest. Whenever the hem of her skirt spread out like a flower petal, she felt a fluttering in her heart, and it was painful. Artizea turned away from it. ¡®I can do well.¡¯ Because she has confidence in being patient. Don¡¯t let your heart flutter. So that he can¡¯t hear the pounding sound of her heart. She will be able to do well. As she stood up, Cedric asked, holding her hand. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get some fresh air.¡± Artizea consciously pressed her face and replied. She took her hand out of Cedric¡¯s hand. When she was held, it felt as if she couldn¡¯t get out. But when she tried to pull out her hand with strength, his entangled hand had no strength. She slipped out easily. Cedric stood up after her. ¡°The air is not good.¡± ¡°You stay here. The master must not leave.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everyone is enjoying themselves.¡± The atmosphere was happily bustling. Unimaginable numbers of bottles of alcohol had been emptied in Artizea¡¯s honor. People danced in the hall to the cheerful dancing music and enjoyed it. It wasn¡¯t elegant, but it was a pleasant banquet. Even if Cedric is away for a while, the atmosphere won¡¯t go away. But Artizea got embarrassed. She went out on the excuse of getting a fresh air, but she was thinking of going back. ¡°Rather, how about dancing with thedy here?¡± Lysia stood up in confusion. ¡°If the Grand Duchess allows, I¡¯ll take the Grand Duke on board.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible to leave the banquet hall without dancing once. Did you go out even after receiving a dance request because of me?¡± Artizea said so with her smile. Lysia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not good at dancing, and I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better. He makes people like me dance quite nicely, so take this opportunity to learn.¡± Artizea said so and went outside. Alice, who was waiting behind her, quickly put a fur cape on her shoulder. ¡°Madam, why are you doing that?¡± ¡°What did I do?¡± Alice couldn¡¯t answer because she hesitated. It feels like Artizea is leaving Cedric to Lysia, but when she thinks about it, perhaps she said it because she was right next to her. Cedric, who had been stunned for a moment, rushed to her way. ¡°Tia.¡± At the call, Artizea stopped her pace. Cedric came by. ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°Do I look angry?¡± Artizea asked in a calm voice. Cedric could not answer. She didn¡¯t appear to be angry. She looked sad. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a little tired. Why would I be angry when nothing happened?¡± ¡°Are you all right?¡± Cedric reached out. Artizea took a half step back. Cedric paused his hand and then lowered it. Artizea said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s already past midnight, and now I want to rest.¡± It was the same attitude and tone as usual. Cedric didn¡¯t want to stop her because she wanted to rest. She had celebrated and danced. At other times, she would be tired, so he would have told her to go back and rest. But she was different now. He realized that something was wrong. However, he couldn¡¯t even guess what the problem was. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to your room.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Go back. If both of us are missing, the people will be anxious.¡± Artizea said so and she turned her back. Alice bowed her head as if sorry to Cedric, and quickly followed Artizea. Cedric watched until her back disappeared. Artizea never looked back at him and went all the way to the end of the hallway and climbed the stairs. Cedric sighed and turned back to the banquet hall, where Lysia appeared. ¡°Did Her Grace leave? Is she okay?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Cedric sighed again. Lysia approached him, she asked. ¡°Did I make a mistake?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. You have nothing to worry about. If you had done something wrong, she would have definitely rebuked it.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t she angry?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know that either. She¡¯s a person who doesn¡¯t show her heart. Anyway, it¡¯s not your problem.¡± Cedric wiped his face once. If he did something wrong¡­.. But even when he looked back, he couldn¡¯t guess what he had done wrong. Lysia smiled. ¡°I guess you really like her.¡± Cedric blushed his face a little. Lysiaughed out loud. ¡°Actually, my father was worried a lot. He heard rumors about dating or something like that, but he still didn¡¯t believe it. He thought it would be an arranged marriage.¡± ¡°Well. ¡° ¡°There were many people unsettled by Her Grace¡¯s mother. My father was very concerned about your situation. ¡°Because Baron Morten thinks it¡¯s better for me not to be involved in central politics.¡± ¡°Yes, I thought you were trying to get involved in the fight for the session to the throne.¡± ¡°Did youe to check that?¡± ¡°What am I supposed to confirm? I just thought that if you were to be in Lord Lawrence¡¯s faction, we¡¯d better hide deeper in our vige. I¡¯m still young and I¡¯m a girl of her age, so I came because I thought it wouldn¡¯t be obvious. I didn¡¯t know you had already told her everything.¡± ¡°When ites to your vige, Tia knew even if I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Lysia swallowed her breath. ¡°If the vigers know, it will be a big deal.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. Even if it¡¯s known, I¡¯m trying to get my head in politics so that it doesn¡¯t matter when it¡¯s known.¡± Cedric said. ¡°What do you think rather than that?¡± ¡°About the Grand Duchess? Or, about Your Grace getting into politics? ¡°Both.¡± ¡°What does someone like me know?¡± Cedric smiled. And he beckoned Lysia to follow him this way. This is because it was inappropriate to stand at the door of the banquet hall and have a conversation. Lysia came to his side with a quick pace. The two walked towards the corridor for a while. ¡°Because your intuition is good since you were very young. You are wise beyond your age.¡± Lysia¡¯s wisdom was a different kind from Artizea¡¯s acuity. She looked through lies as if she had the eyes of truth. Even for things that seem to be shifting and not clear at first nce, she pointed out the right direction intuitively, rather than logically. Lysia said. ¡°Not getting involved is a different way of getting involved in politics. Even the Evron Grand Duchy can¡¯t help but be influenced by what the next emperor is like. If that¡¯s the case, would it be better to choose the right person and support him?¡± It was much lesspared to Artizea¡¯s judgment that even if she chose someone else to join the faction, she would eventually have to keep him in check. Cedric thought Artizea¡¯s judgment was right. However, Lysia¡¯s words were also worth listening to. This is what she said without knowing anything about the central politics. This would be one of the thoughts of the rebel vigers. For Cedric, that was also an important issue. Lysia said. ¡°And you¡¯re not married for it anyway. Your Majesty has been with someone you like, so I think that¡¯s enough.¡± Cedric coughed for nothing. Lysia asked in amazement. ¡°Isn¡¯t it so from the perspective of Your Grace? ¡°I didn¡¯t get married for political gain like what the Baron Morten or you thought, but as the rumor goes¡­ I married because I fell in love.¡± He knew this marriage was mutually beneficial. He was also dependent on her resourcefulness. However, one of the reasons he initially epted the contract marriage was that he thought he would protect her until she reached adulthood. The right to inherit the throne as Artizea said is just ater thing. He didn¡¯t take it seriously. And two yearster, he knew that Artizea would divorce and end up with a separation. Cedric sighed. Lysia looked at him curiously. ¡°You like her now. Wasn¡¯t that enough? Is Her Grace¡¯s heart different?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Tia is still young.¡± ¡°The age difference, it isn¡¯t that much? The age difference between my parents will be twice that between Your Graces.¡± ¡°But Tia is still 18.¡± Cedric has already epted in his heart. But age is not just a number. It also marks the stage of life that a person must ovee. And the 18-year-old girl did not stand on the same stairs as Cedric. It is separate from the difference in numbers. Artizea finally escaped from her cruel house and began to live her own life. She had a sharp reason and keen judgment. She looked through the heart of a person, and looked deeper and wider into the world with a vision that no one else had ever thought of. But she was clumsy with her own feelings. She only knew how to put up with it. So he thought he had to be careful. Approaching her as a man, needs to wait after a little more time¡­ This is what Artizea could do after experiencing life some more. Now, he just has to settle for giving her a friendly heart. But Cedric keeps forgetting it these days. Until now, he had considered himself a self-controlled person. And he realized that he had overestimated himself. ¡°Your Grace stood at the front line of the Thold Gate as the Master of Evron for the first time when you were 16, and by 18 you are already a warrior. Your Grace is already doing your job as the master and the Grand Duke. And I¡¯m embarrassed to say it myself, but I am still here as a representative of Morten and the vige.¡± ¡°Because I wish you hadn¡¯t grown up so fast, for you and Tia even more so.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t look at the Grand Duchess as a child at all, right?¡± ¡°I have nothing to say.¡± ¡°Then what can I do, you already like her.¡± Cedric again covered his eyes with his hands. His earlobes are red. ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me.¡± Lysiaughed. ¡°Please take care of Tia. She seems to like you. Tia doesn¡¯t have any friends, and she doesn¡¯t have any chance to get along with her peers.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor for me to be called by her side.¡± Cedric smiled and patted her hair lightly. It was the same attitude as when he was younger. ¡°Thank you.¡± And he went back to the banquet hall first. Lysia paused in thought for a moment, then she slowly turned around. Then, Aubrey, who had red eyes, made eye contact. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Proofreader: somnium Lysia swept her chest down. ¡°Oh, you surprised me, sister Aubrey. What are you doing there?¡± (T/N: Lysia calls Aubrey as ¡®older sister¡¯ or ¡®??¡¯) Lysia and Aubrey were cousins. Even if she did not live nearby, there was a degree of exchange. When Lysia was young, they were closer. Because she grew up in the stronghold, left to Margaret¡¯s hands to learn the manners and culture of the nobility. However, even though they were the same age, the two were never close. Lysia said. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you in the banquet hall. I heard that you became ady-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess¡­¡± Aubrey came out to the ce where the light of thentern was reaching. Lysia frowned at her. Aubrey¡¯s clothes and makeup were excessively luxurious. Artizea¡¯s was elegant and luxurious, but not excessive, so the difference was even more noticeable. It¡¯s okay if Aubrey herself is the main character, but this was a New Year¡¯s banquet. If Aubrey had entered the banquet hall as is, she would have be thedy-in-waiting who has more colorful clothes than her mistress. Aubrey said sharply. ¡°That woman stopped me from entering the banquet hall.¡± Lysia couldn¡¯t understand who Aubrey was talking about. It was because she never thought she would call the Grand Duchess in words like ¡®that woman¡¯. Not in the mood to ask who and what had happened, she said as if evading. ¡°¡­. Aunt Margaret was looking for you.¡± ¡°What did you talk to His Grace?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t talk much. I just listened to his story a little because it seemed that the Grand Duke had a problem.¡± ¡°Why to you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably because I was nearby at the moment he wanted to talk.¡± Perhaps the most important thing Cedric wanted to say was to take care of Artizea. It may also be because he hoped that Lysia, as the representative of the rebel¡¯s vige, would not be anxious. He reminded her that he was not married in order to intervene with Lawrence¡¯s session to the throne. But Lysia didn¡¯t say that in detail. It was because Aubrey wasn¡¯t having a normal expression. Aubrey questioned her with a hoarse voice. ¡°Is it because of that woman?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is it because of that woman? Yes. I knew it. He¡¯s a wise man, so even if he was seduced for a moment, he would have immediately noticed what kind of person she is. Did he say anything about me?¡± Lysia then realized that she was referring to Artizea. ¡°You don¡¯t mean ¡®that woman¡¯ as the Grand Duchess, are you?¡± ¡°Why? Did I say something wrong? Then, should I praise a woman like that?¡± ¡°Sister Aubrey, how dare you say that?¡± ¡°Did I say something I couldn¡¯t? Do you mean because she¡¯s the Marchioness of Rosan? Who doesn¡¯t know that the woman¡¯s mother is the Emperor¡¯s mistress? She imed she was the daughter of the predecessor Marquis, but no one knows her birth father?¡± ¡°Sister, be careful what you say.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s not an ordinary prostitute. She¡¯s that kind of woman. What did she learn?¡± ¡°You have insulted not only the Grand Duchess but also the Grand Duke!¡± Lysia raised her voice. ¡°Stop pretending to be good. It¡¯s disgusting.¡± Aubrey looked at Lysia with a disgusted face. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want me to say that she¡¯s not a good person? Because she¡¯s above me? What kind of woman is she?¡± Aubrey said in a voice filled with resentment. Artizea had to respect her. Isn¡¯t that what the Evron Grand Duchess should do? She must, of course, adapt to the people of the Grand Duchy and respect Count Jordyn. Even Cedric respects Aaron and Margaret. He himself considers Aubrey like a family. But Artizea kept her standing endlessly, and treated her no more than a furniture. She made Aubrey be ignored by the maids, and even Cedric stopped paying her attention. How can she do this to her, a descendant of the noble Count Jordyn? ¡°The Grand Duke always said he would choose the best suit for Evron. But is that prostitute good enough for Evron?¡± ¡°So, if she has an inappropriate qualification as the Grand Duchess, and sister knows about it and speaks for His Grace, why can¡¯t you tell His Grace directly? Now go into the banquet hall and give advice to His Grace, the Grand Duke, in front of everyone.¡± Lysia pointed to the banquet hall. Aubrey raised her voice. ¡°That¡¯s because she forbids me from going to the banquet!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it. You couldn¡¯te out even though His Grace was here a while ago.¡± Lysia said sharply. ¡°If youe through the official route to give advice, there is no way that the Grand Duchess will reject it. Instead, you insult, criticize and curse her behind her back.¡± ¡°This, this!¡± Aubrey raised her hand in anger. Lysia sped Aubrey¡¯s wrist before it pped her in the cheek. And she said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it, sister Aubrey.¡± ¡°Let go!¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re jealous. If you think about it, you¡¯ll get the answer right away.¡± Aubrey¡¯s face was stained with anger and shame. Her hair stood on top. Lysia then said. ¡°His Grace has undeservedly loved you like his own sister. But that¡¯s because your parents, aunt and uncle have sincerely served His Grace. It¡¯s not that sister was special.¡± ¡°I told you to let go of me! You do whatever you want, you can crawl to her in a servile manner.¡± ¡°Grand Duchess is someone who doesn¡¯t need your approval. Because she is the mistress of thisnd that the Grand Duke has chosen himself.¡± Aubrey went wild trying to get rid of Lysia¡¯s hand, but she couldn¡¯t beat Lysia at her strength. Lysia held her tight, she said. ¡°I can¡¯t let you go. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re going to do. As long as you insulted her by making a noise like this, it¡¯s not just about you. I can¡¯t let you cause any more trouble to the Grand Duke.¡± Aubrey was struggling and her hair was all loose and messy. A silver pin with a flower in her hair fell to the floor. Her face and ears were also reddened. The fuss grew. Soon after hearing the news that the two were fighting, Margaret ran. Margaret saw Aubrey¡¯s appearance and took her by the shoulder, dismayed by the view. Lysia released her hand and sighed long. Her arms were stiff. ¡°Aubrey, what the hell did you do, where did you go?¡± ¡°Oh! Mom! Why are you even like this, Mom!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Margaret grabbed Aubrey¡¯s wrist. ¡°What did I do wrong? I can¡¯t ept that such a prostitute is His Grace¡¯spanion!¡± Aubrey yelled. Margaret hurriedly closed Aubrey¡¯s mouth, but the sound rang throughout the hallway. The servants and the maids were frightened, each bowed their heads. They pretended not to hear anything and left. *** Thud! The door was roughly closed. Aubrey, who was left alone, swung around the room, huffing and puffing. Margaret dragged her to the temple, not to the Jordyn Estate. She was afraid that if she took Aubrey to the Mansion, she would be said to protect Aubrey. The temple was chosen because there are many vacancies, it¡¯s a public ce, and not a prison. Even during the day, she didn¡¯t know things would go this far. However, the rant in the hallway today couldn¡¯t be tolerated. She couldn¡¯t even imagine how much worse she had said in front of Lysia, She couldn¡¯t cover it by sending her quietly to a country cottage anymore. [The Jordyn family has been the vassal of the Grand Duke until now, and has been trusted by His Grace as well. To your mom and your dad, that was our lifelong pride. In such a case, you will destroy our family. I can¡¯t let that happen.] [What did I do wrong? What¡¯s the big deal about a maid injured?] [With you as thedy-in-waiting, you threw the mission entrusted by the Grand Duchess to the floor and wounded the head of her favorite maid. In addition to that, unforgivable abusive remarks about the Grand Duchess. If you were a member of the Knights, you would have lost your neck on the spot.] Margaret said with a suffocating face. [How did I raise my child like this.] [I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I don¡¯t think I said anything I couldn¡¯t.] [When the snow stops, go to the convent. Don¡¯te out of there forever and live reflecting on yourself.] [Mom!] [How fortunate are you that Her Grace will forgive you just by removing you from her sight?] Margaret said so, and she shut the door. She ordered servants to watch Aubrey in two shifts. Aubrey couldn¡¯t beat them. Although she is angry at Artizea, she is also angry with Lysia. Why did Cedric not say a word to her, but he was telling Lysia that? It was then. The door opened. ¡°Who is it!¡± Aubrey shouted sharply. The two fallen servants copsed inside the door. It was a young man with fiery red hair who kicked the servants. Three or four armed men entered after him. ¡°Wh¡­ who are you?¡± Aubrey was terrified. The man was wearing a short sword and had a tanned face. At first nce, he was not a northerner. The man pulled a chair and sat down and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m from the South Sea. I came up without knowing the northern weather, and got tied up. Thankfully, the temple took pity on me and gave me amodation.¡± ¡°Lies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a foreign identity, but it¡¯s true that my feet were tied because I didn¡¯t know the northern weather well, and it was true that the temple felt sorry. Sit down, Lady Jordyn. I didn¡¯te to harm the Lady.¡± Aubrey slowly rxed. Well, what wickedness could that man do here? This is no ordinary ce, but a temple of the stronghold. ¡°That¡¯s bold. No. I¡¯m not condemning it. That¡¯s exactly what I like. You need guts to negotiate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your purpose? What are you going to negotiate?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to get my woman back. I think the Lady can help with that.¡± ¡°Your woman?¡± The manughed. ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m trying to get my girl back. It¡¯s amazing to hear the news when I¡¯m on my way to propose and she married another guy.¡± Aubrey trembled. This is because she realized that the man was talking about Artizea. Isn¡¯t that so? Artizea and her maids are the only foreigners in Evron¡¯s stronghold. She is the only one who could have a rtionship with a man from the South Sea. ¡°That woman, she¡¯s a really funny woman. You mean she married the Grand Duke with a lover aside?¡± The man did not answer the question and smiled and said. ¡°Lady Jordyn. Rumor has it that the Lady hates the Grand Duchess quite a bit¡­. Will our purpose be quite aligned?¡± Aubrey nodded her head without thinking. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Proofreader: somnium An Uneptable Heart. Lysia became Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting.. This was what many people expected. If she was the sessor to Baron Morten, her status and position would be appropriate for thedy-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess. Her age was also the same. In addition, Artizea showed her more than usual favors from the start. Artizea gave Lysia a room next to her. She also attached three personal maids. She picked the best of her own clothes, repaired them, and even presented them as a gift to Lysia. There were quite a few clothes in her closet that she hadn¡¯t worn yet, and in Evron Grand Duchy it was hard to get a fine cloth. Even though they have the money. Lysia refused, bewildered. ¡°You can¡¯t give it all to me like this, Grand Duchess. Besides, these clothes were a gift from the Grand Duke¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know it¡¯s not polite to give what you have received as a gift to others. This is all I bought separately, so I hope you don¡¯t mind and ept it.¡± Artizea said so. ¡°Because mydy-in-waiting¡¯s outfit is rted to my status as well.¡± Lysia looked embarrassed, but she epted it gratefully. In fact, she only had one or two dresses, so she needed such consideration in order to stand next to Artizea. Baron Morten is poor. The vige of the rebels itself was like that as well. It was supported by the Evron Grand Duchy. However, creating a vige cost a lot of money. They had to avoid the imperial eyes, too. They couldn¡¯t guarantee a generous life. Lysia wasn¡¯t very interested in luxury from the beginning. So it was Artizea¡¯s desire to put her in fine clothes and hang jewels around her neck. At times Artizea felt skeptical, she seemed to be trying topensate for her guilt that way. But she had no reason to hold back her desire to do so. At least as much as she received from Cedric, it was right to repay it to Lysia. It was originally Lysia¡¯s. Artizea also sent a person to the Baron Morten. It was to help Lysia bring any items she needed and to take care of Baron Morten¡¯s affairs. Naturally, the maids became polite to Lysia. It was because unlike Aubrey¡¯s time, they realized that Lysia was going to be the second-inmand. She wasn¡¯t able to return after the New Year¡¯s banquet, so she wrote a letter to her father. [To my father, I am doing well. I¡¯m sure you heard the news that I¡¯m now working as the Grand Duchess¡¯dy-in-waiting. I apologize for not being able to discuss it in advance because it is sudden. However, for the Grand Duchess, there is no otherdy-in-waiting at the moment, so I cannot leave her. As it was, Aubrey would have been there, but she made a mistake and was kicked out. Many were afraid because Count Jordyn¡¯s daughter had been kicked out. But in two or three days, everyone understood the situation and the stronghold quickly returned to normal. Her Grace, thankfully, did not hold aunt Margaret or uncle Aaron ountable. I think it¡¯s because she favored me as ady-in-waiting. The Grand Duchess is cool, but she is a dignified and elegant person. She has certain rewards and punishments to match her authority. It was the same this time, the Grand Duke didn¡¯t interfere with the work of the Grand Duchess. Evron has never had a mistress for too long. At first, everyone felt a little confused, but now it is ordinary. ording to Aunt Margaret, even though she stood by the predecessor Grand Duchess, she was married young, and she was sick all the time and died early. Besides, the Grand Duchess is full of wit and intelligence. The officials are afraid and respectful because she has already discovered problems with the territory many times in unexpected ces. Above all else, she loves and trusts the Grand Duke. She¡¯s not far from politics, but she doesn¡¯t seem to be the one who will pull the Grand Duchy into a political battle, as my father concerns. The Grand Duke did not marry for that purpose. If there is anything I am anxious about, it is that the Grand Duchess is undeservedly too generous to me. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t live up to expectations, and I¡¯m worried that I won¡¯t be able to return the loyalty and favor as much as she has given me. Her Grace is nning to pick up only the loyal subjects of the Grand Duchy and bring in two moredies-in-waiting. When that timees, I¡¯ll go home once. Lysia.] As Lysia was finalizing her letter, Artizea came into the room. Lysia quickly stood up from her seat. Rize put the tea tray down on the table. ¡°Just sit down. Are you writing a letter?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m done.¡± Lysia shook the letter to dry the ink, fold it, and press it on one side. And she quickly opened the lid of the tea container. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Artizea asked. Lysia blushed her face. ¡°If you allow it.¡± ¡°Yes, you may.¡± Artizea said so as she sat down. Lysia wasn¡¯t very good at pouring tea. She first scooped the tea leaves with the tea spoon and transferred it to the teapot. Her hand, pouring the hot water, trembled. When Artizea did it, it was very simple and beautifully done. But she didn¡¯t know why it was so difficult when she did it herself. It was even more so when someone was watching. ¡°You just have to practice slowly.¡± Said Artizea. ¡°In a warm area, it is said that thinning the water stream and dropping it from a high ce makes the water softer, but in this ce the water cools down. It is natural that you are not used to it.¡± ¡°Because we didn¡¯t have all the tools at our house.¡± Lysia said. In her childhood she was educated. However, she did not actually have a chance to practice. ¡°I¡¯ll learn it thoroughly before the winter passes.¡± Lysia knew that Artizea brought tea these days to teach her and do it in front of her. When Artizea heard the words, she smiled faintly. ¡°I don¡¯t think that the beauty that the social world demands is indicative of the dignity of the person and the culture. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But, the one who cares can reduce the risk of being attacked. Because it is rted not only to themselves, but also to the eye of the person who chose them.¡± Artizea said so, thinking about the time when Lysia became Empress. She is the Saint Empress and will receive the love and support of the whole empire. However, it was the imperial socialite where Lysia really had to live. Being the daughter of Baron Morten was one of the factors that made her an easy target. The piousdies sided with her, but not a fewughed at her for not being educated because Lysia was from a rural vige. Of course, Lysia wasn¡¯t sorrowed or saddened by that. Still, it was not bad to reduce her weakness in advance. Lysia took Artizea¡¯s wordspletely differently. She thought that ¡®the person who chose her¡¯ was not Cedric, but Artizea. She smiled. ¡°Yes, I will practice hard and be ady who will not embarrass you.¡± Artizea looked at her with a slightly surprised expression. And she lowered her gaze down. ¡°I¡¯m grateful that you treated me with a sincere favor.¡± ¡°Why do you say that when it¡¯s a natural thing?¡± ¡°Actually, I thought I couldn¡¯t help it if you were a little more stubborn. Aubrey was rude to you and was disloyal to the Grand Duchy, but you think that¡¯s normal.¡± Artizea sighed lightly. ¡°It¡¯s foolish, of course, that Aubrey couldn¡¯t hide her true intentions, but I think her punishment could be enough. That¡¯s why Count Jordyn wasn¡¯t penalized for it.¡± ¡°Your Grace is mistaken. You being the Grand Duke¡¯s choice is enough to receive our loyalty and love.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°I think it was a very good choice.¡± Lysia put her hand on her chest and said politely. And she smiled. ¡°But, even if Your Grace was not the kind of mistress that the people of the Grand Duchy wanted¡­ I would have been very happy.¡± ¡°Lysia¡­.¡± ¡°Because then His Grace would choose not for his responsibility, but for his own happiness.¡± Artizea turned her head away to hide her trembling sigh. Although she was sincerely happy with Lysia¡¯s words, she felt the pain that felt like a big needle pricking the inside of her chest. Although she was temporary, she felt sorry that she was married. Because it seemed she didn¡¯t return Cedric to Lysia in full. Nevertheless, she feels secret joy in hearing Lysia says that she is Cedric¡¯s wife. She felt guilty for it too. Artizea¡¯s facial expressions becameplicated, so Lysia thought that she had made a slip of the tongue. She looked carefully at Artizea. Artizea knew, then said, as if making excuses. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t get it wrong. It has nothing to do with His Grace¡¯s preference.¡± ¡°Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Cedric is a good lord to serve. That¡¯s why he decided to trust the Marquisate of Rosan. That¡¯s all.¡± Lysia looked embarrassed. There was a knock on the door. Lysia checked her watch. It was snack time. Rize opened the door. As usual, Cedric stood with a te of cookies in his hand. Artizea naturally stood up from her seat. ¡°Wee.¡± ¡°Just in time.¡± Cedric smiled as he saw the tea ready. Lysia brought a new cup and put it down in front of Cedric. ¡°Her Grace prepared it in time.¡± Cedric put down the te of cookies and sat down. Artizea picked up one of the teacups and its saucer and moved about a third of the homemade cookies. She then told Rize to bring a tray and ced the cup and cookies on it. Cedric wrinkled eyebrow. ¡°If I¡¯m interfering, I can leave.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t, I have some work to do. Lysia, could you serve His Grace with the tea instead?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± Lysia said in confusion. ¡°It¡¯s because I don¡¯t want to be disturbed.¡± ¡°But Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it thedy-in-waiting¡¯s job to serve guests on my behalf when I¡¯m busy?¡± ¡°But¡­¡­¡± Artizea pressed Lysia¡¯s shoulder lightly to indicate her to sit. And she slightly bowed her head to Cedric. ¡°Excuse me.¡± The wrinkles in Cedric¡¯s brow were like fluctuating change in the earth¡¯s crust, turning into towering mountains and deep valleys. Whether she noticed or not, Artizea left the room as it was. Rize bowed with a face like a guilty prisoner about to be executed. Then she picked up the tray and followed. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Proofreader: somnium Cedric, who was left behind, sat for a while without saying anything. Lysia stood up from her seat, not knowing what to do. Cedric asked her. ¡°What did I do wrong?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He didn¡¯t know how many times this was. Cedric didn¡¯t seem to have spoken properly with Artizea these days. Is it because she has ady-in-waiting to be left behind? Cedric thought, rubbing his eyebrows with his index finger. Or, did he say something that had disappointed her without knowing? Lysia said. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to follow after her, instead of worrying about it?¡± ¡°I should.¡± Cedric stood up. Lysia briefly wondered if it was because of her. ¡°Surely.¡± No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing to be misunderstood about her rtionship with Cedric. She thought the idea was too self-centered and she forgot it. *** Artizea was in the library. It was true that she had several documents to write. She wanted to get her ns in order before the winter was over. She thought it was a decent break, but it wasn¡¯t. She had so many things to do as she went back, but her mind was irritated. She had no craving appetite. She¡¯s got a few sweet pieces of cookies, and even that didn¡¯t go down well. Artizea knew that she couldn¡¯t eat anything, and she put it down. In Artizea¡¯s mind, she has begun to picture some specific details after all of her work is over. If she luckily doesn¡¯t die, she¡¯d better build a vi somewhere in the eastern, quiet countryside. How about buying all the books she wants to have and putting them together? It would be nice if she walked every day, read books, and wrote letters she couldn¡¯t send. She was thinking about that when the door opened. Rize said cautiously. ¡°Madam, the Master¡­.¡± Cedric came through the door without permission and stood there asking. ¡°Am I interrupting?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you that.¡± Artizea sighed a little and sat back. Cedric knew that she had allowed his entry and stepped inside. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Do you have anything to say?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t have anything to say, can¡¯t I join your tea time?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°If you have nothing to say, I have to do my job.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± He called in a stern voice. Artizea raised her eyes. Cedric thought that it had been a long time since his and her eyes made contact. But even if he matched her eyes like this, there wasn¡¯t much difference from when it wasn¡¯t. Her eyes, which had always had a deep color, were now as emotionless as blue jewels. Artizea put her eyes down again. ¡°If you have any business, please tell me. I will listen.¡± Cedric finally sighed. ¡°I just wanted to talk to you.¡± ¡°Do itter when I have time. You don¡¯t have to make me spoiled. Lysia is taking good care of the snacks these days.¡± If she said this while turning away, Cedric couldn¡¯t speak any more. ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t disturb you anymore.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the hunt early tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. You said it was like a New Year¡¯s event.¡± Winter hunting has been around since the time when food was scarce in the middle of winter. It is for an intermediate replenishment of food. However, winter hunting is dangerous, so when there is a ce where a lot of knights gather, there is a custom of going out hunting together. Naturally, it was immediately after the New Year¡¯s banquet. Again, for unity, a hunting n was scheduled for several days. ¡°Maybe it will be about 5 days to a week. It could be longer if the weather conditions are good.¡± Artizea nodded at Cedric¡¯s words. ¡°It seems to be very dangerous because it is right after it snows, please be careful.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Although I think the knights know much better than me.¡± Cedric reached out. However, his hand could not reach Artizea. This is because Artizea preemptively avoided his hand. ¡°¡­..Do you have anything else to say?¡± Cedric asked. There was no way there would be, but Artizea did not know. Cedric looked at her fingertips. So Artizea held her hand together and hid her cold fingertips. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving tomorrow early in the morning, so I probably won¡¯t have time to say hello. It¡¯s going to be a few days away, so please take care.¡± ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry about it, have a safe trip.¡± Cedric eventually couldn¡¯t hold her hand or kiss the back of her hand. He turned his back and went outside. Artizea looked at his back for a while, then lowered her head when the door closed. *** It was fussing at dawn. The butler tried to quietly lead the hunting procession away, but that couldn¡¯t be done. The excited dog barked, and the knights shouted as they lined up the soldiers. Artizea barely slept that night. Her heart was restless. She heard the sound of a cold wind as if she had a hole deep in her heart by an awl. She kept thinking of the hand that Cedric had stretched out. She knew that his heart was inclined quite a bit to her. She knows that if she reaches out her hand, he may hold her. That was the most painful. She thinks she¡¯ll fall for the temptation. But it shouldn¡¯t have been. Artizea came down from bed. She tucked her feet into the fluffy fur slippers on the floor and found her gown. ¡°Huh? Madam?¡± Alice, crouched asleep on the couch, spoke sleepily, but she was startled and tried to get up. Artizea shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Shall I get you water? Or¡­¡± ¡°Just sleep.¡± Looking for a gown over her pajamas, she opened the door to Cedric¡¯s bedroom. Cedric never locked the door on his side. If Artizea wanted to open it, she could open it anytime. It¡¯s been a long time since the owner of the bedroom had already left, so the room was bleak. It was after the servants finished all tidying up. Still, it wasn¡¯t without human traces. Artizea briefly looked around the room and sat down on the bed. She heard the sound of a horn in the distance. Artizea stood up and approached the window. When she opened the shutter slightly, the torch of the hunting procession was already far away. The wind was so cold she quickly closed the window. And she came back to her room. What if she had opened this door when he was there? It¡¯s meaningless even if she thinks about it. She was a vicious woman. She was generally as vicious to everyone, but she was more vicious to Evron. She shouldn¡¯t forget that. Artizea locked the door again. And she crawled back into bed. In the meantime, her hands and feet were sore as if her body temperature had dropped. She covered the nket all the way to the end of her head, but her breath formed like dew on her limbs and made it colder. Artizea suddenly realized that she was still wearing the diamond bracelet. ¡®This¡­.¡¯ She had been wearing it from the time she was proposed, so she forgot. She pulled it out and put it down on the side table. Her sleep was unlikely toe again. *** It was two dayster that a guest came. ¡°From the South Sea, a leather dealer?¡± At the words of the treasurer in charge, Artizea was quite surprised. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s said to be a small business of the Eimmel Kingdom. It took so long to check the identity card, that¡¯s why I¡¯ve only got to post it now.¡± Said the treasurer with a regretful face. ¡°In this season?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t know that the sea would be frozen, so they came up, but I guess their feet were tied up. Sometimes fishing boats from the maind do the same.¡± ¡°Where are they staying now?¡± ¡°At first, they stayed at an inn, but in winter, the inn also closed its business¡­. Now it seems that the temple is taking care of them. There are many empty rooms.¡± It wasn¡¯tmon, but it wasn¡¯t something that had never happened before, so the treasurer said without doubt. ¡°It¡¯s been said that Evron leather was being received through the business of the maind so far. Middleman traders have raised the price uneptably, and now they want to trade directly.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Previously, when Her Grace¡¯s secretary was negotiating with the leather dealer, it didn¡¯t go well. They said that they want to meet in person.¡± ¡°Okay. I think it¡¯s possible. Let¡¯s meet.¡± Artizea nodded her head. It was an opportunity to see how much profiteering the middleman traders had been making. There was nothing to dy, so the merchants were called in that very afternoon. Artizea decided to meet them in the reception room of the Grand Duchy. Privately, Cedric entrusted her with full power. However, she did not want to give the impression that she had just married and that the Grand Duchess took over the official office. Lysia sits by her side, and Alphonse stands behind her. Four financiers took seats on the left and right. The entrance to the reception room was bustling. Merchants who had been called entered the reception room. ¡°I heard that everyone is a sailor, but the physique is quite¡­..¡± One of the treasurers mumbled. Artizea wasn¡¯t listening to that. She stood up in astonishment when she saw the red-haired man who came in at the forefront. ¡°Ah¡­!¡± But she couldn¡¯t put the name out of her mouth. It was because at this point in time, as a normal person, she didn¡¯t know. The manughed. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Marchioness Rosan. How long has it been? You probably haven¡¯t forgotten me already?¡± The eyes and expression were bright. Then, she realized that he already knew her. ¡°His Highness Cadriol of Eimmel.¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved you remember. My head is still tingling after I got hit by you.¡± Alphonse felt a strange hint and moved. However, Cadriol¡¯s men were faster. A man spit out a knife thinner than a finger from his mouth. And with it, he poked hispanion¡¯s belly next to him and pulled out a round object from his stomach. Alphonse, who noticed the strange feeling, was already running at him. Lysia screamed. ¡°No, Sir Alphonse! Her Grace¡¯s side!¡± But both were alreadyte. The smoke bomb exploded and the room was filled with sticky purple smoke. The smoke bomb was a melee weapon that Eimmel¡¯s navy was proud of. All of Cadriol¡¯s subordinates were elite among the elite of the Eimmel Kingdom, and through the smoke, they could see ahead like in broad daylight. However, there was only one Alphonse from the Evron Knight. The guards plunged into the room, but couldn¡¯t find their direction in the dark smoke. Cadriol ran to Artizea and snatched her. Alphonse ran after him with his senses alone. Six des blocked his way. He broke the de in his way and cut the neck of his opponent. However, he did not get Artizea back from Cadriol¡¯s hand. Lysia went out by touching the wall. Smoke bombs exploded in session. Soon the hall was full of smoke. ¡°Call the knights! Close all doors of the stronghold! ¡° Lysia shouted out loud. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Proofreader: somnium As soon as he escaped from Alphonse¡¯s de, Cadriol ran madly to the ground floor. ¡°How many are left?¡± ¡°It¡¯s three!¡± Three elite members died in the hand of Alphonse. Thinking about the crew who died to bring in the smoke bomb, he lost four in an instant. In winter, Evron is sloppy. Their power is concentrated in the direction of the Karam. They rarely even considered being attacked by the same human beings. This is because the frozen sea and cold weather were more powerful defenses than anything else. In addition, for the hunting events, all the main figures in military rtions, including knights, would be away. He thought that if only the escape route could be secured, it would be easy for him to kidnap a weak woman. But it wasn¡¯t something to look down on. The moment they realized that the enemy had entered, the stronghold itself shifted. A door made of steel descended on Cadriol¡¯s front and back. Originally, it was intended to bind the feet of enemies invading from outside. Nevertheless, as they fell simultaneously, it was easy to get trapped in the hallway. The target position was close, but Cadriol had to go round and round. Jump into another room, open another door, and run into a new hallway. If he had not been familiar with the structure of the stronghold in advance from Aubrey, even if his men were the best warriors of the South Sea, they would have been trapped and killed. ¡°Damn it!¡± Arrows flew from behind. Guards blocked the hallway. All entrances to this castle would have been blocked by soldiers. ¡°Go!¡± A member of the elite team stayed behind. Cadriol shout out, ¡°I will definitely pay you back!¡±. And finally, he arrived at the end of the corridor on the first floor. [Turn the left and right wrist of the statue carved on the wall at the same time. It is a secret passage that was created to supply water.] As Aubrey told him, this secret passage opens from the inside, and only extends to the river. But for Cadriol, that was enough. Eimmel is a maritime kingdom, a kingdom of water. For the people of Eimmel, handling the boat was like handling their own hands and feet. Manipting sails and flying in the wind is something even a 10-year-old can do. Even if it is a frozen river, a river is a river. Once he got on the boat, he won¡¯t lose to anyone. With a rumbling noise, the wall with the statue of the saint opened. Bam! Bam! Bam! Short arrows were stuck in the statue of the saint one after another. Cadriol exploded thest smoke bomb left. And he jumped into the secret passage. *** Lysia lowered the crossbow. There was no guarantee that Artizea would not be hit by shooting an arrow into that cloud of smoke. A group of soldiers rumbled into the secret passage. Lysia said. ¡°Send people outside the secret passage. We have to go through it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Send a messenger to the Grand Duke right now. And secure Aubrey Jordyn.¡± Lysia ordered one after another. Margaret¡¯s face turned pale. Lysia grabbed her hand. ¡°We have to know who leaked the secret passage.¡± There were three secret passages of the stronghold. The most insignificant among them was the passage of the statue. Rather than a secret passage, it was an emergency water supply route, so the length was short, and it was unreasonable to use it as an escape route. However, that is based on the Evron or Krates maind people. At the end, there is a river. And the opponent is a South Sea person. ¡°Oh, Aubrey, how could you¡­¡± ¡°Think calmly. Aubrey is the most likely suspect, Aunt. Aubrey is at the temple, and they were staying at the temple too. Didn¡¯t she hate the Grand Duchess a bit?¡± Lysia said coldly. In addition, Cedric said that everyone knows of the passage, but in reality, it was hard to know how to open the secret passage. He only informed it to his trusted vassals in case the stronghold was breached and themand was destroyed. Among them were the caretakers of the stronghold, the Count Jordyns, who were the agents of the master, and their children who were expected to inherit the duty in the future. Blood drained from Margaret¡¯s face. ¡°We need to find out information about them, even a little. Aunt Margaret! If something goes wrong with the Grand Duchess like this, how are you going to see the Grand Duke¡¯s face?¡± Margaret was startled and lifted her head. Then she nodded and ran out. *** Artizea¡¯s mind came after Cadriol got out of the stronghold and boarded a boat. Artizea opened her hazy eyes and raised her head. She was lying on the floor of a small cabin like a coffin. Over her body was a coat of thick fur-skinned leather. There was also a fur coat on the floor. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Her whole body hurt, as if being beaten. She sat up. Unable to cope with the cold and frozen body, she pulled up the overcoat and put it on her. It was the length that reached her ankle. Herst memory was that she was pulled by the back of neck while being carried by Cadriol. She stood up carefully. The feet in her indoor silk shoes were cold as if her toes were falling apart. Oversized fur shoes wereid. Artizea wore it and stumbled and stepped out of the cabin. The remodeled small ship was pushing forward, smoothly like a sled on ice. Artizea nced everywhere, nkly. The sails were blown up by the wind. The riverside passed by in a sh. Even when it was warm, it didn¡¯t get to this speed even when she rode Evron¡¯s ship. ¡°You woke up.¡± Cadriol clicked his finger. ¡°The hospitality is not very good, but hang in there. I know that the Marchioness is not very healthy, but I can¡¯t afford to carry a hearth.¡± Artizea took a quick breath. The cold air froze her lungs. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of hellish weather this is. Is Evron insane? They built a castle and built a town to live in a ce like this?¡± ¡°His Majesty Cadriol.¡± ¡°Are your fur shoes warm? Cutting off the bride¡¯s toes with a knife is not what I want.¡± ¡°How¡­.¡± ¡°Hmm how.¡± Leaving the sail line to another sailor, Cadriol approached Artizea¡¯s side. Artizea stepped backward. ¡°Where do I start? How did I escape? How did I know the structure of the stronghold? How did I get here?¡± Cadriolughed brightly. ¡°Or, should I start from the moment my neck fell? You haven¡¯t seen it have you? My neck fell off with an axe.¡± ¡°Your Majesty. ¡° ¡°The executioner told me. My father deliberately told him to use an ax that didn¡¯t work well, but the Marchioness spent money and reced it with a sharp one. Should I say thank you for that shallow mercy?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­.¡± ¡°Actually, I was really grateful. I had my neck drop in one swing. If I had been axed five or six times, I would have gone crazy as soon as my memories revived.¡± Artizea took one more step back. Cadriol snatched her waist. Her wrist, which swung like she was trying to resist, was easily caught. ¡°Be careful. If you fall under the boat now, your body will be shattered by ice, and you die immediately.¡± ¡°How.¡± Artizea could only ask. Cadriol, the first prince of the Eimmel Kingdom, was the pirate king of the South Sea. The kingdom of Eimmel was a small ind in the South Sea. The poption was small, and thend mass was smaller. There were no resources, and agriculture could not develop in the saltynd. Even so, they did not develop a delicate technology like the Kingdom of Ianz in a simr situation. The industry that did develop was fishing. However, distribution of seafood is possible only on the beach at best. During the development of Krates, Eimmel grew poorer. So it was piracy that Cadriol turned his eyes to. It wasn¡¯t that way from the start. Initially, they used their advanced navigation technology to engage in shipbuilding and ry trade. However, the Duke of Riagan, who was backed by imperial support, crushed it. It didn¡¯t even take a few years to realize that Cadriol could hardly stand up against therge business of the Krates Empire. He subdued the pirates of the South Sea and gathered them all under his banner. In the first ce, many of the South Sea pirates were from the Eimmel kingdom. Even some that came from other kingdoms, it wasmonly dominated by the South Sea people. Organized pirates intensively plundered the Kratesian merchant ships, periodically sweeping the southern coastal regions, weakening the naval forces. At the same time, he dered himself the protector of the South Sea as the Prince of Eimmel. It was said that a merchant ship protected by the Eimmel Navy could safely cross the sea. It was from the beginning of the country¡¯s founding that the southern regions of the empire suffered from piracy. However, in the next ten years or so from now, the imperial navy is at its weakest and the power of pirates rises. In fact, there was a position where they could do nothing without the help of the Eimmel Navy. It was all done by Cadriol. So Artizea joined hands with Cadriol. The first transaction was to manipte grain prices to oust Grand Duke Roygar. It was a deal that Cadriol couldn¡¯t refuse. He took the money separately, and obtained the grain merchant shop. As the price of grain rose, the plundered grain was released back to the southern regions and gained triple benefits. The alliance continued for some time after Grand Duke Roygar was expelled. This is because Lawrence wants to subdue even the Duke of Riagan. But in the end, Artizea betrayed Cadriol. It was because he had evidence of her conspiracy. After trusting Artizea, Cadriol was arrested by the king for treason and lost his neck. It was the Krates Empire that lent soldiers to King Eimmel that day. It was Lawrence to be precise. ¡°How¡­?¡± Artizea was forced to ask again. Cadriol smiled. ¡°About 4 months ago, I woke up while sleeping, and I was so surprised and grateful that my neck was intact. I remember my neck being cut by the death penalty. At first, I thought I had the oddest of nightmares.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°But from that day, it was very weird. The documents, the people, all I had already seen, and even the day the storm came. The memories became more vivid and I couldn¡¯t say that I had a dream.¡± Said Cadriol. ¡°So what do you think was the first thing I thought about? Marchioness?¡± ¡°I do not know. ¡° ¡°I had to get you in my hand.¡± Cadriol¡¯s hand grabbed Artizea¡¯s chin and fixed it. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ve missed you. I¡¯ve thought about it many times. Should I strangle you or kiss you when we meet?¡± Heughed furiously. A whisper fell over Artizea¡¯s lips. Artizea stopped breathing. No one else would have any memory. Artizea has checked it in many ways. Cadriol kissed her. Artizea bite down the lip hard with all her might. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Proofreader: somnium The beacon has risen. Seeing it, Cedric returned home urgently that evening after sunset. Knights and soldiers who had left for the hunting ground flocked into the stronghold without disarming. The sound of military boots trampled the castle, and the red shadow cast by the torch shrouded the stronghold even more. The inhabitants of the stronghold died in their post without even thinking of opening the gates. Dead bodies wereid on the stone floor of the hall. There were 14 guards killed by swords and 4 strangers from the South Sea. Cedric put a sheet with Evron¡¯s crest on the body of the guards. After identification, the body of the South Sea people was tied with a rope and pulled out. And Cedric sat on the upper seat of the Grand Hall with his sword on, without even loosening the winter cape strap over his coat. Alphonse knelt in front of Cedric. He couldn¡¯t even erase the blood stains he had during the day. He lowered his sword, removed the insignia from his chest, and ced it in front of Cedric. ¡°I will pay you back with death, the sin of failing to protect the Grand Duchess.¡± Cedric responded with an angry voice to Alphonse¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t put death in your mouth easily. There will be work to be done before I take your breath away from your throat.¡± ¡°Forgive me.¡± The situation was grasped. A group of South Sea people came inst month and stayed at the temple for nearly a month. It was just before the port was frozen. Aubrey, who met them at the temple, drew in detail the structure of the stronghold. The South Sea people, who had passed through the passage of the Saint statue, went down to the estuary from the river, in a small boat that had been waiting. The ship was said to have been modified to run on ice like a sled. The merchant who had lent the warehouse to store the ship bowed down andmented that he was guilty of death. ¡°The one who remodeled the ship is also those South Sea people. There were some damages, so they came in and out to repair it themselves, but there was no doubt about it at all.¡± When the South Sea people contacted Aubrey, the servant who watched her and all of their family, were also found dead. Cadriol held their family hostage to prevent words leaking from their mouths, then killed them before leaving. Cedric ordered coldly. ¡°Close the temple, arrest and investigate all residents who have had any interactions with them. Make sure that the secret passages are destroyed and blocked. Since it is known to the outsider, it should be made so that it cannot be used again.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What about the port?¡± ¡°Once the beacons were lit, aplete shutdown order was issued.¡± ¡°If you can go down the river by attaching a sled under a boat, it will also be possible in the sea. Do not neglect cracking down on the supply warehouse just because it is frozen. No matter how great the ship of the South Sea people is, they will not be able to go out to the ocean without any supply.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric said only then. ¡°Bring Aubrey.¡± Soon Aubrey was brought. She was caught in the temple room without knowing the situation. Aubrey wasn¡¯t surprised to see the ugly atmosphere of the stronghold. She asked with a cool smile, as if she was delighted. ¡°That woman, did she run away too?¡± ¡°Aubrey Jordyn. Did you inform the South Sea people of the structure of the stronghold?¡± Cedric asked in a cold voice. ¡°What? Oh, yes.¡± Only then Aubrey¡¯s shoulders shrunk. It was because she knew it was wrong. ¡°He said he must meet her. Uh, do you know that she abandoned her lover that she originally intended to marry and married Your Grace instead?¡± Cadriol never said that. But within Aubrey¡¯s head, the story was already so transformed. ¡°I¡¯ve known that for a long time. That¡¯s what cheap women do.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad. She is a woman who is not worthy of Your Grace¡¯s heart.¡± Aubrey approached Cedric. She wanted tofort him. How sad and betrayed he must have felt. He was so nice to the lowly woman whose father is not known, and gave her the status of the Grand Duchess, then she betrayed him and ran away with another man. Aubrey thought Artizea was a really funny woman. Whether she has a changed heart or for other reasons, shouldn¡¯t she first ask Cedric for divorce and ask for forgiveness. However, she guessed it from the time Cadriol spoke that they would be running away. She must havemitted a great sin that she couldn¡¯t say. Even though he became angry, Aubrey was deeply satisfied, and with this, Cedric also knew Artizea¡¯s true color. As Aubrey thought, Cedric was angry with sadness and betrayal. However, the reality was different that the person who did the betrayal was Aubrey, not Artizea. Aubrey¡¯s rude remarks froze the air in the Grand Hall. Margaret, who was terrified, ran out crying and hugged Aubrey and fell to the floor. ¡°Just her life¡­¡­¡­ Please spare her life!¡± Aubrey said annoyingly. ¡°Oh, mom. What¡¯s the matter? She¡¯s gone so she¡¯s gone, it¡¯s done now. She¡¯s a woman who¡¯s not worth scolding.¡± Aaron pounded both hands on the floor. It was because he couldn¡¯t even dare to ask for a life. Following Aaron, the daughters of Count Jordyn came forward and knelt. The eldest daughter, serving as the knight, unwrapped her sword and took off her cloak. The second daughter and third daughter, who serve as officials, also took off their hat and the insignia indicating their identity. Following that, all of the lineages of Jordyn¡¯s knelt on their knees. Aubrey then realized that the situation waspletely different from what she thought. Cedricmented in front of her as he looked around. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. This happened in my castle.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°When I came back to this ce a few days ago, the Grand Duchess advised me. People can betray me for unforeseen reasons, so she wants me to be more careful. Do you know what I answered at that time?¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± Aaron called him in a trembling voice. ¡°Iughed it off! It¡¯s all right, it¡¯s safe in my estate! I trusted you! I never thought there would be any betrayal in my castle! So I said she¡¯d be safe, too!¡± Cedric jumped up with anger. ¡°I was always worried about getting pierced from the outside! I was worried about being wiped out by Karam, and I was worried about the imperial conspiracy! I was afraid of winter approaching, and I thought of fighting and death. But I was able to sleep with confidence only in my house, my castle! Because I trusted you!¡± The knights and officials could not handle the anger and knelt on the floor at once. ¡°Aubrey Jordyn! I¡¯ll give you one chance to make just one excuse, looking at your parent¡¯s side. Why did you do that?¡± ¡°You, Your Grace..¡­¡± Aubrey, terrified, muttered tearfully. ¡°Because Your Grace is looking only at her, an, and ¡­¡­I yearn for Your Grace¡­¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t stop saying that. ng! Cedric drew the sword from his waist and threw it in front of Margaret. ¡°It¡¯s hard to forgive all of the crimes of treason against the Grand Duchess, the treachery of leaking the secret of the stronghold through amunication with the enemy, and the high crimes against Evron.¡± ¡°Please, please, spare¡­¡± ¡°It is deserving to destroy the whole family, but considering the achievements of Jordyn, I will give you the opportunity to rid the shame of the family by yourself.¡± It became irreversible. Margaret cried endlessly, hugging Aubrey¡¯s head. Aubrey looked up at Cedric nkly. And said ¡°Huh? Huh?¡± and looked around with a face that couldn¡¯t figure out the situation. No one sided with her. Aaron couldn¡¯t dare say that he would cut his daughter¡¯s throat on his own, and did not move his face up. Instead, the eldest daughter stood up and picked up Cedric¡¯s sword. Subsequently, the second daughter and the third daughter ran. The two captured Margaret and pulled her out. ¡°I, I will die instead! I will die!¡± As Margaret was pulled out, her cries echoed from outside. sh! Without a scream, her blood gushed. Lysia turned her head. Cedric continued. ¡°I hereby order that Aaron Jordyn and Margaret Jordyn be deprived of their titles and to serve as a servant at the Thold Gate. After a three-years probation, after confirming their loyalty, I will decide on future punishment. Tears dripped from Aaron¡¯s eyes. ¡°Viscount Agate.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Temporarily take over the management of the stronghold. I will track down the invader with the military.¡± Cedric ordered that and turned around with his cloak. ¡°Where are you going? We¡¯ve already delivered a search order to the port, so we¡¯ll have news tomorrow afternoon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± He headed out with a determined step. The knights rushed out after him. It was midnight, and snow was piled up. It was unreasonable to run horses all night even for northerners who were used to the cold. However, Cedric did not hesitate. The South Sea people were said to use a boat that was converted into a sled. He couldn¡¯t even guess where it would go in a day, or where the real ship would have been put on the frozen sea. ¡®It¡¯s my fault.¡¯ He thought. Just because it was his castle doesn¡¯t mean he was safe. It would have been better if he had followed Artizea¡¯s warnings enough. He should have been properly escorted without being relieved, even if it was in his stronghold. It is arrogance to believe that the hearts of the servants will be the same as his own. It was a mistake to believe that everyone would respect her and treat her like him because she was his chosenpanion. Aubrey should have been kicked out earlier as well. He already knew that Aubrey was disrespectful. However, he didn¡¯t deliberately interfere because he believed it was Artizea¡¯s job to rule herdy-in-waiting. However, Artizea was softened by the thought of his rtionship with the Jordyn family, and that was one of the reasons for this incident. He found it difficult to forgive himself. She had to be by his side. Only regrets remained. ¡°Your Grace!¡± Lysia ran out in a hurry. Cedric said, pulling the horse¡¯s reins. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to Tia.¡± It was more like a word to himself. ¡°That¡¯s not it. This¡­.¡± Lysia politely raised the diamond bracelet to him with her two hands. Cedric looked down at it vaguely. ¡°It was lying next to Her Grace¡¯s bed. She always wore it ¡­¡­ Please give it back to her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric took it and put it in his arms. And he sped up the horse. A group of knights followed him. ¡ª¡ª- Notes: The talk about betraying is in Chapter 61. Aaaa, this is one of the most exciting chapters I tl-ed to date! (Thus, I dare to write this long thoughts.) This chapter really shows Cedric in his element, usually it¡¯s Artizea being cool and him being a sweet cutiepie. But on the other hand I¡¯m quite sad that Cedric learnt his lesson this way. Like for a child to experience a cut to not y with sharp objects anymore. What will happen to Cedric in the future tho? One of his good points is that he¡¯s down-to-earth, someone just beyond grasp, and he believes in these people he thought was his family. But with this, will he lose trust in them? Be more wary? Since it¡¯s really shown how hurt he was by the incident. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Proofreader: somnium It was around midnight the next day that Cadriol arrived at the port. He had already secured a safe amodation and warehouse, so he could safely enter the city without being noticed. There was anxiety that he might be caught. However, it was too dangerous to go out into the frozen sea in this darkness. It was because it was impossible to know where the ice was breaking and where the drift ice would flow. The main ship was anchored and waiting in a far sea; deep enough not to freeze. It was dangerous. However, considering the possibility of getting trapped in ice, this was better. But once they¡¯re joined, they wouldn¡¯t be overtaken by Evron¡¯s ship. Cadriol put Artizea, who he had been carrying like a sack, down in front of the firece. ¡°Get these guys out of here.¡± Until then, the owners of the house and their families who had been rolled in front of the firece with their hands and feet tied and their mouths gagged were dragged out. Cadriol took off the cloak he had covered Artizea with. Even though she had been in the cabin, Artizea¡¯s body was frozen blue. Her face was ash colored, and her lips were purple. When he looked at her face, he didn¡¯t even feel angry about his broken lips. ¡°How did you think of marrying a northerner with such a body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of¡­ Your Highness Cadriol¡¯s¡­ concern.¡± Artizea said, trembling. The sailor poured hot water from the kettle hanging in the firece and handed it to Cadriol. Cadriol held the cup in Artizea¡¯s hand. Artizea couldn¡¯t lift it because her body froze. Then Cadriol wrapped Artizea¡¯s hand with his hand and put a cup of water to her mouth. After drinking two cups of hot water and sitting in front of the firece for a while, the color of Artisea¡¯s lips returned. Cadriol gave her warm porridge this time. It wasn¡¯t easy to eat, but Artizea tried hard to eat it. It was necessary for her body to hold on, and it was necessary to regain her reason. The trembling of her body did not stop easily. It was because of the cold. However, mixed with tension, Artizea couldn¡¯t tell which necessary side she was focusing on. ¡°What are you going to do with me?¡± ¡°Well, what should I do? I had originally intended you to be my wife.¡± Cadriol muttered. She had no idea how he returned to the past. Over the course of a month, he found out that no one else had this memory. So Cadriol thought it was very likely that Artizea had no memory of it too. So, he was nning to formally propose to her. As Marchioness of Rosan she was inferior to the Prince of Eimmel, but not low enough that she couldn¡¯t. And given that Lawrence was the emperor¡¯s son, she was the right person. She will not reject the alliance between Lawrence and Eimmel. Once she got married and put in his hands, she would have no worries from then on. She wouldn¡¯t know anything about Lawrence. He was going to separate her from Mira and Lawrence, and make her dedicated to him. It would be good if she helps him as his wife and cultivates her talents as before. But even if she couldn¡¯t, it was fine. All he has to do is keep Artizea next to him and watch her do nothing. Cadriol had the confidence that he could make her love him. Why won¡¯t she when she will be treated like the most precious person in the world and be loved? Even the future Marchioness of Rosan, she is only an 18-year-old girl who is hungry for affection. However, he was already toote by the time he went to the capital. ¡°I¡¯m amazed because the Marchioness left after marrying Grand Duke Evron.¡± Cadriol said, shooking his head. Artizea was mentally busy trying to infer his thoughts. Cadriolughed at it. ¡°So I knew that Marchioness had memories too. How far? Your memories?¡± ¡°The moment of death.¡± Artizea replied only so. She didn¡¯t have to tell him that she had cast a regression magic. Cadriol was convinced and nodded. ¡°Are you betrayed by Lawrence?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Well, it was a predicted ending. Marchioness made Lawrence a puppet and not took the regime directly.¡± Artizea did not answer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. If I had seen it, I would haveughed at it cheerfully. Didn¡¯t I tell you? Give up Lawrence ande to me. It must have been quite painful to be beaten by someone you trusted?¡± She couldn¡¯t say it wasn¡¯t painful. However, Artizea did not want to show such intent, so she turned her head. ¡°I never trusted you.¡± Cadriol showed his teeth again andughed. Artizea sped her cold fingertips. ¡°So, this time, is Grand Duke Evron the chosen man? Or, is it the Saintess?¡± ¡°Please tell me your business. You havee to this ce, so you must have a serious business.¡± Artizea said firmly. Even though she is a threat, the assumption that he came to kill her is wrong. If so, he doesn¡¯t have toe in person like this. It is much better to wait for her toe to the capital and send an assassin. It was the same if he came to kill her himself because of revenge. Instead of dragging her and saying phrases and words like this, it¡¯s okay if he killed her when he caught her in the stronghold. It would have been much easier to escape. Cadriol said something Artizea never thought of. ¡°Be mine.¡± Artizea opened her eyes wide. She had already guessed that his purpose was not to kill her, but she didn¡¯t know she would hear these words. ¡°Marchioness is too good to be under Grand Duke Evron. He will not be able to use your abilities in half.¡± ¡°Do you mean that Your Highness Cadriol is different?¡± ¡°With the memory, I am, of course, different. If the two of us hold hands, it will not be impossible to overturn the empire.¡± ¡°I am not interested in the Eimmel Kingdom before.¡± ¡°I will also help you take revenge on Lawrence.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I will not be bad to the Saintess and Grand Duke Evron. I am not interested in the northern part of the empire anyway. Marchioness will mediate. Me in the south, and Grand Duke Evron in the north hold hands and press the maind of the empire to split it in half?¡± ¡°Your Highness Cadriol.¡± ¡°If Marchioness had joined hands with Grand Duke Evron for the sake of the Saintess, this would have led to a much better result. Rather than bing the Crown Princess of the Empire, she would live happily with the Grand Duke Evron this time.¡± Artizea was silent. He knows Artizea of ??the past. So she wouldn¡¯t trust him. There was no one more difficult to persuade. Cadriolughed happily. ¡°Or, did you not marry the Grand Duke for the Saintess, but married the Grand Duke with a private heart?¡± ¡°That¡¯s.¡­.¡± Artizea was confused and tried to refute. Cadriol intercepted her words and said. ¡°You have had Grand Duke Evron in your heart from the beginning, so it¡¯s not unusual to do that.¡± Cadriol pulled her arm. Artizea saw her face reflected in his golden eyes. She had a silly look. ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t know that?¡± ¡°¡­..I¡¯ve never done that way before.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pretend I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Said Cadriol. ¡°And for either case, I love you enough to forget everything. Come to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I refuse.¡± Artizea shook his arm. And she turned her face toward the firece. ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯m a vicious woman, but I¡¯m not so mindless enough to change my master twice.¡± ¡°Then, I will kill you in this ce. I will have a special taste of sprinkling you to the sea by slicing you alive in front of the Saintess and the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Are you convinced that killing me is profitable?¡± Artizea turned her head back and looked at Cadriol. A cool light returned to her turquoise eyes, shaking with anxiety. ¡°Because you¡¯re not sure, you haven¡¯t killed me yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about killing Marchioness. I¡¯m asking you toe to me.¡± ¡°If I follow Your Highness Cadriol and state my n, will you believe it?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It will be difficult to do that. Your Highness¡¯ n has already been broken because I have the memory.¡± Cadriol shrugs his shoulder. ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing to lose just by keeping you by my side and monitoring you so that you can¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°It¡¯s easier to kill me than that.¡± Artizea said so. ¡°I¡¯m never going to follow Your Highness Cadriol. But, I¡¯ll give you a n. We¡¯ve gotten along well together before. We¡¯ll be good allies this time.¡± ¡°And then you want to hit my back again? I¡¯m sorry, Marchioness Rosan, this time I have nothing to do with the struggle for the session of the Krates Empire.¡± ¡°The current Queen of Eimmel.¡± Artizea said briefly. And when she confirmed that Cadriol had his ears open, she said. ¡°She will be assassinated within half a year. It has nothing to do with Your Highness, but by the hands of the Krates Empire.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I will create a cause for anger enough to cause military action and to force King Eimmel to abdicate. You will never lose money.¡± Artizea said so. This is the only way to persuade Cadriol, who has memory before the return. No matter how big her promises are, Cadriol won¡¯t believe her. Artizea has a history of betraying him already. Then she had to present something more paramount than that. She must convince him that even if sheter betrays him, he will not be hurt. The circumstances of the Eimmel royal family were ratherplicated. Cadriol¡¯s father, the current king, was close to sixty years old. Cadriol was the first prince, and there were no siblings. This is because the king and the former queen, Cadriol¡¯s mother, were not close. As soon as there was a sessor, the king and his wife did not meet again. And shortly after the death of the former queen, the king remarried. The new queen, younger than Cadriol, was beautiful and has a lot of charm. The king loved Cadriol¡¯s half-brother, born from the body of his new queen, it didn¡¯t irritate him to put him in front of his eyes. On the other hand, he hated Cadriol, who resembled the former queen. At the time, his eldest son was already over 35 years old, and his second son was only around 7 years old. It was impossible for the king to pass his throne on to his second son when he would not live at least 15 more years. In addition, Cadriol was already taking substantial control of the Eimmel crown. He had great achievements and was gaining support from the people. For the king, he was also a thorn. To him, Cadriol was not seen as his son and sessor, but as a political opponent taking away his power. Therefore, when Artizea prepared the frame and soldiers to be given to take out Cadriol, he did not hesitate to implement it. Cadriol was silent for a moment. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Proofreader: somnium ¡°You want to assassinate the queen?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to do the most necessary and desperate thing for Your Highness.¡± Cadriol looked at Artizea with a sunken face. Artizea knew he was willing to negotiate. So, she added quickly. ¡°We have already nted a sword in the Riagan Duchy. I will assassinate Her Majesty and use the Riagan Duchy. Her Majesty is secretly holding hands with the Riagan Duchy. I¡¯m sure you know.¡± ¡°The opinions of both sides are different.¡± ¡°Yes, but Your Highness is not officially aware of the rtionship between the Riagan Duchy and the Queen, so it will be enough justification for military action.¡± Cadriol asked with a suspicious face. ¡°How can I believe you¡¯re going to do it?¡± ¡°You must have already found out about me in the capital, so you must also know that I have be Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting?¡± Cadriol nodded his head. ¡°It is the Empress¡¯ desire to destroy the Riagan Duchy.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to use it for the empire¡¯s infighting.¡± ¡°Yes, because the Riagan Duchy is not a small prey.¡± In all likelihood, Grand Duke Roygar wille out. Because the salt business is lucrative. And now, the Riagan Duchy is in charge of the distribution of salt in the South Sea under the leadership of the emperor. The money earned from the monopoly of salt was also the emperor¡¯s greatest source of ie. If you put your hand on it, it was easy to drive it into another direction. Cadriol thought about it for a moment. Even if Artizea didn¡¯t have to exin it, he could guess her thoughts. ¡°In the worst case, father will be rted to the imperial rebellion, and even if it is not, it will be revealed that the queen has a hand in the empire¡¯s salt monopoly. There¡¯s no way Gregor could stay still.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t interfere with the internal affairs of other countries, but Eimmel¡¯s King will also have to show his sincerity.¡± So it meant to force the abdication from the pressure of the Krates Empire as the cause. Artizea said calmly. ¡°This isn¡¯t something I¡¯m doing for Your Highness Cadriol, and it¡¯s something I can only do if I¡¯m in the Empire.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°All Your Highness Cadriol will do is to take action in time for your case. If you hide that we met here today, there is no one to doubt you.¡± She waited calmly for Cadriol to think. In the meantime, the trembling of her body stopped. Cadriol suffered from his father all his life, and fought his stepmother, who he had a bad rtionship with. He also learned that he would be betrayed by his father even if he established contribution and made his country rich. If he could get rid of the two without hearing a say that he had hurt his parents, he would have nothing more to wish for. If Artizea seeds, he can be crowned without any moral ws. If she fails, he doesn¡¯t lose anything. And once he is crowned, Artizea¡¯s way of harming him disappears. For Cadriol, it is to solve both of these worries at once. If he could also have some of the assets of the Riagan Duchy, it would have been a great profit. Artizea knows Cadriol well. She knew at least as much as Cadriol knew Artizea. So she knew that this was an eptable offer for him. Cadriol looked at Artizea with aplicated face. Artizea was dumped on the carpet in front of the firece. Cadriol looked down at her. ¡°You are smart. The sessor you give birth to must be born with very good qualities.¡± ¡°So, are you epting my offer or not?¡± Artizea asked without shaking. Cadriolughed in vain. He then raised his body. He reached out to Artizea. Artizea grabbed the hand and barely sat up. Her weary body seldom moved, so it was difficult to take her back off the floor. ¡°I have an offer on my side as well.¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea tilted her head. Cadriol said, holding her hand. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the purpose of the Marchioness to raise Grand Duke Evron as the emperor? What to do after you¡¯ve finished?¡± ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re going to call me as Eimmel¡¯s servant?¡± ¡°No. I saye to me as a woman.¡± Cadriol¡¯s breath passed through Artizea¡¯s palm. ¡°If Grand Duke Evron is your only master, you don¡¯t have to insist on him after everything is done, right? After all, you wouldn¡¯t have any intention of staying in a small publicly exposed position anyway?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to retire and go somewhere,e to me. The South Sea¡¯s climate will surely be good for the Marchioness¡¯ health.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through such troubles to keep an eye on me. Even then, you won¡¯t be able to believe me anyway¡­¡± With his lips on Artizea¡¯s palm, Cadriol lifted up his golden eyes. Then she lifted her head with a bleak face. ¡°Are you really saying this because you don¡¯t understand my intention? Or are you deliberately pretending to not understand?¡± Artizea hesitated. Cadriol shook his head. Then he pulled Artizea¡¯s hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. Artizea was carried lightly in his hand. It became a posture that seemed to be held in his knees. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. Have you forgotten what I proposed to you?¡± ¡°No, I do remember¡­ It was for alliance, wasn¡¯t it?¡± It wasn¡¯t long after Grand Duke Roygar was ousted. Artizea had already obtained everything she would get from Cadriol at that time. So, she didn¡¯t want to makeplicated things like marriage alliances. It was a time when there was a lot left to do for Lawrence. She had to be next to Lysia as well. She had no intention of leaving the capital and going to Eimmel. So she refused. Cadriol had a stunned face. ¡°This is the first time I am this humiliated. I mean it.¡± ¡°Do you have any weird habits of favoring a woman who axed your own neck?¡± ¡°Hey, I think I have a bad taste, too. But I can¡¯t help it. I know what kind of jewel when I see one.¡± Cadriol lightly put his forefinger on Artizea¡¯s temple. Then, he slid along the contours of her face, raising her chin. When this happened, Artizea could not help but be nervous. All sorts ofplex emotions raged in Cadriol¡¯s eyes. Half of that would be hate. But the other half was something beyond that. ¡°Think seriously, Marchioness Rosan. I¡¯m willing to wait for the situation to be resolved.¡± It was right when he said that. ¡°Captain!¡± He heard a shout from outside. Bang! The door was torn apart with a strong sound. Cadriol knocked Artizea to the floor and covered her with his body. A bloody smell came in with the cold breeze. Artizea, who was astonished, was pulled by Cadriol. Then he jumped up and pulled out his sword. A body fell through the door. Cedric slowly stepped over the body. He was holding a bloody sword. ¡°Oh my God. I didn¡¯t expect you toe personally.¡± Cadriol groaned a little. Less than 48 hours have passed since he snatched Artizea from the stronghold. He thought Evron would make all-out efforts to track him down. However, he didn¡¯t think that Cedric, who had been out hunting, woulde this fast. Cedric looked at him with a cold face to freeze. ¡°Let my wife go, then I¡¯ll kill you in a way that you don¡¯t suffer.¡± ¡°The reality is that I¡¯m going to die the moment I let her go.¡± Cadriol replied lightly. ¡°What do you think, Marchioness Rosan? Now, if I put a knife to your neck and threaten you, can you get me out of this terrifying situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not time to joke.¡± The moment Artizea replied, Cedric¡¯splexion changed. Kang! Cadriol raised his arm in astonishment. In an instant, Cedric¡¯s heavy sword cut his steel forearm guards in two at once. Cadriol took his back step and was attacked by Cedric. Kang! Kaangg! The sound of metal crashing from the des resounded in the narrow room. Cadriol stepped back further. He drew a pistol from his waist. However, Cedric¡¯s sword was faster. Cadriol pushed Artizea away and rolled over the floor, avoiding the sword from piercing his shoulder. Cedric¡¯s sword smashed the wooden window shutters. Cedric¡¯s cloak fluttered, causing the wind to stir the lights in the firece. ¡°Ugh!¡± Cedric¡¯s hand grabbed Artizea¡¯s arm and pulled her. Artizea had no idea what the fight would be like. When her mind was thinking, Cedric was moving to the other corner of the room, leaving her behind him. It was to defend her from new enemies who mighte through the door. Cadriol shouted with anger. ¡°You think I don¡¯t want to kill you, right?¡± ¡°Barking in the middle of a fight is something that even dogs don¡¯t do.¡± Cedric said softly. ¡°Wait!¡± Artizea ran and hugged Cedric¡¯s waist. Because her arm couldn¡¯t even reach torso. Cedric flinched and stood there. It was because he feared that any wrong moves would hurt Artizea. Artizea cried out to Cadriol. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me to run away from the enemy!¡± ¡°Are you going to fight Evron in Evron? Are you crazy? You know this is his territory!¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric called her. ¡°Please let him go. He shouldn¡¯t die right now.¡± The diplomatic situation that would arise from the death of Cadriol here would be heavy. Artizea couldn¡¯t see Evron¡¯s under that burden because of her. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Please, trust me.¡± Cedric said nothing. Artizea spoke this time to Cadriol. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Marchioness Rosan.¡± ¡°I will keep my promise. If you do not believe me, I will swear by Her Majesty the Empress¡¯ name.¡± The empress, which Artizea spoke of, did not refer to the present empress, but to the future empress, Lysia. Cadriol got it. He took the sword. The oath Artizea made under the name of the Saintess is unbelievable. And Artizea is right; He can¡¯t fight Evron in Evron. And even if it¡¯s on the sea, he wouldn¡¯t know. He had no ability to break the Shield of the Empire while on the ground. ¡°I wille back to pick you up.¡± Cadriol said that and turned around. Then he jumped over the body and ran out of the broken door. The whistle sounded. Cadriol gave the signal to the warriors of Eimmel to escape. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Proofreader: somnium [Notes: Prepare tissues or read alone because it¡¯s an aww-worthy chapter!] ¡ª Cedric held Artizea and rode the horse. He left the rest to his subordinate. When he arrived at the mayor¡¯s residence, the mayor couple and employees who were waiting rushed out. ¡°Your Grace, I¡¯m d that you¡¯re safe! The Grand Duchess too¡­¡± ¡°Where is the bedroom?¡± The mayor hurried ahead and opened the door himself. Cedric climbed the stairs quickly, not handing Artizea over to the hands of the maids. ¡°Remove the blockade of the port, and let the stronghold know that the Grand Duchess is safe. Raise the beacon to release the alert.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The bedroom, which had been preheated before the start of the operation, was warm enough. Cedric put Artizea down on the armchair. Artizea, who had lost her energy, hung on thefort of the chair. The cold and exhaustion of her physical strengthpletely left her body. She warmed up for a while at Cadriol¡¯s quarters. However, for more than a day, her body suffered from bone-chilling cold in the cabin and had no more energy. In the midst of the fight, she was too agitated and did not notice. However, when she came to her senses, her tension was relieved, so she no longer had any strength in her body. The mayor¡¯s wife said. ¡°Leave the work to us. You must be tired, too¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, go back.¡± Cedric said without looking back at her. The mayor¡¯s wife read the vortex of emotions deep under his voice. She hurriedly knelt down on one of her knees and bowed. She then drove the maids away and closed the door. Thud! Cedric took off the steel gauntlet and threw it. The cloak and sword were also randomly stripped and thrown on the floor. Snow-soaked boots stained the carpet. Perhaps the ck spot is not just mud. ¡°Your Grace¡­¡± He dragged Artizea¡¯s armchair to the front of the firece. Artizea could smell the dust and faint blood on his body. ¡°How, this far¡­ how are you here?¡± ¡°How? Then, after hearing the news that you were kidnapped, do you think I was hunting in peace?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it, the stronghold¡­¡± It is not unusual for the defense of the stronghold to be broken. Since she fainted, Artizea didn¡¯t know everything about what was going on. However, it was easy to guess that someone in the stronghold would have informed the secret passage to Cadriol. In addition, the guards searched them and found no swords and smoke bombs. It was also evident that casualties were incurred in the battle a little while ago; even in Evron¡¯s stronghold, people would have died and injured. The biggest problem was that the trust of the Grand Duke would have been broken. Artizea bit her lower lip. She felt responsible. That wasn¡¯t directly Artizea¡¯s responsibility. Because she was not involved in the defense of the stronghold. However, it was undeniable that the underlying reason was with her. If Artizea hadn¡¯t been in the stronghold, Cadriol wouldn¡¯t havee this far. Cedric touched the armrest of the armchair. As if she was trapped in the armchair, Artizea withdrew her body. ¡°Is that more important to you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you have anything else to say to me?¡± Artizea hesitated. She couldn¡¯t think well. She was both mentally and physically exhausted, and Cedric was too close. When Cedric appeared, she thought her heart stopped. She thought she could convince Cadriol. But it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t care. She wasn¡¯t afraid of death. She was already dead once. But she didn¡¯t want to die without seeing Cedric again. Now that she¡¯s living like a human for the first time, she didn¡¯t want to leave this life. Even if she hadn¡¯t died, if she had been taken to the South Sea. [You¡¯ve always had Grand Duke Evron in your heart, so it¡¯s not unusual to do that.] Cadriol said so. Artizea denied that word. But his words were nailed to her chest. When he said he would make her forget everything, her heart was shaken for a moment. But she was happy Cedric came to the rescue, can she say that? What he lost was too great for that. Cedric looked down at her. Artizea saw a burning fire in his dark eyes. She saw herself trembling in it. She had tears in her eyes, then it trickled down. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Artizea chose to apologize. The anger and frustration he felt was fully understandable. It would have been difficult for him to run directly to this ce through the snow and cold. Since the stronghold was breached, the aftermath would not have been small. But Cedric prioritized her over that. He came to rescue her. But she told him to let the enemy go. If she knows she¡¯s sorry, she shouldn¡¯t shed tears. She did not deserve to be as sad as he deserves to be happy. However, the body, which reached its limit, did not listen. It always has been. It was easier to convince Cadriol. When talking about a great country, she could be rational. She could protect herself even if Cadriol threatened her with a knife under her neck. Even now. If Cedric asked her coldly why she told him to let Cadriol go, she could mix up dozens of subtle excuses. But in front of the person she liked, she was always a mess. Cedric reached out his hand. Artizea reflexively closed her eyes and curled her body. However, it was not violence, but a careful touch, like touching a thin ss. Artizea nkly opened her eyes. Cedric¡¯s face came close. Their lips touched. The first kiss waspletely different from a good-night greeting. Artizea held her breath. Cedric swept her hair in one hand and hugged her back with the other. That hug was alsopletely different from what it used to be. ¡°Your Grace, um.¡± Her lower lip was lightly bitten by his lips, so Artizea could not speak until the end. She was struggling. But she couldn¡¯t get out of Cedric¡¯s arms. Her body temperature soared suddenly. She didn¡¯t know if it was the temperature of her body or the temperature that was transmitted from Cedric¡¯s body. Her hands and feet were tingling. Hot blood seemed to seep into the veins of her body. ¡°Your¡­ Grace¡­¡± Artizea strode close to his chest. She couldn¡¯t tell whether she was hanging because she had no ce to support, or whether she was trying to push him out. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. I don¡¯t want you to feel sorry for me.¡± ¡°Well, then¡­umm¡­.¡± His lips touched hers again. Artizea groaned unknowingly. ¡°Do you know how I felt when I heard that you were gone?¡± Cedric said in a low voice. A hot breath mixed up between the two lips. As it was, he pressed his lips against Artizea¡¯s again. The answer was enough. ¡°I was running all night in the snow and I thought I couldn¡¯t live with losing you.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°My stronghold broke down. I also knew that Jordyn had betrayed me, and the trust I believed was an illusion. I was supposed to feel like I¡¯ve lost everything¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an illusion, it¡¯s not.¡± ¡°But, I only thought about you. As usual, I chose you over Evron, as if Evron was nothing if you were okay.¡± Artizea trembled. It was both because of joy, and because of fear. Cedric leaned further. Her heart poured down. Artizea trembled and grabbed Cedric¡¯s hem. ¡°But you threw yourself to protect me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do that. If His Highness Cadriol dies here, ummph.¡± Again, their lips ovepped. Cedric, who stopped her words with a kiss, lifted his lips and said. ¡°You told me to do that, so I let him live. That¡¯s all my patience is. You don¡¯t have to defend it and you don¡¯t have to tell me why. I don¡¯t want to be messed up in front of you anymore.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me like that.¡± Cedric¡¯s hand swept her hair and wiped the tears from her cheek. His body was in close contact, and everything was too close. Artizea put her gaze down. The inside of her eyelids became hot again. Cedric touched the eyelid with his index finger. Knowing that the tears were welling, he did not tell Artizea not to cry. ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°I think so, too.¡± She is still young, and she was married to a guardian. He was only a contracted marriage partner who had promised protection for only two years. He called her his wife in front of Cadriol, but he wasn¡¯t Artizea¡¯s real husband. Nevertheless¡­ no, that¡¯s why it seemed to burn her heart even more. Even Cedric himself didn¡¯t know that his feelings were so deep. Artizea shook his soul. After almost losing her, he just noticed that there were feelings that melted deep into his stomach. He wanted to hug her and warm her up. He wanted to touch her tenderly and kiss her. And just as much, he was angry and sad at her. There was a feeling of resentment and a feeling of hate. Cedric himself did not know where these feelings came from. However, even if she shed tears, it was okay if she was doing it in his arms. He could no longer hold himself back anymore. ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°Ah.¡­.¡± Artizea lifted her eyes to look at him and spit out a sigh. Now Cedric¡¯s voice was like a breathless sound. ¡°Don¡¯t say you didn¡¯t know. Didn¡¯t you avoid me because you knew?¡± Artizea put her gaze down. Cedric¡¯s forehead touched hers. Then, Artizea closed her eyes. ¡°Tia, I love you.¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then, say ¡®I don¡¯t like it¡¯.¡± She couldn¡¯t say that. She has lived with countless lies, but she couldn¡¯t lie about that. He whispered with his lips almost over Artizea¡¯s lips. ¡°I love you.¡± Artizea heard the words not by sound but by the touch. Her touching lips trembled. Ecstatic tremor ran through her back. She closed her eyes in a daze. It felt as if the floor had copsed and fallen into hell. She knew it was a sin. But just once was fine. She wanted to be loved with all heart and body from someone she adored. Artizea eventually wrapped her arms around his neck weakly. Cedric hugged her tightly in his arms and kissed her deeper. ¡°Don¡¯t think about anything, I¡¯m the only one watching, Tia.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Do you hate it?¡± ¡°No¡­.. Lord Cedric.¡± Artizea replied with a voice that seemed to be fading out. The firece light burned red. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Proofreader: somnium Her eyes suddenly opened at dawn. Artizea dazedly pulled the nket while sleeping. The cold air shook her bare shoulders. She suddenly realized that she was in the bed with her naked body. ¡®Ah¡­..¡¯ She came to her senses. Artizea recalledst night¡¯s event and her face turned red. The inside of the nket was chilling. Artizea hesitated to lie back. Cedric sat in front of the firece with his shirt on. He was picking up firewood with poker and lighting up a me. The red fire made his face line look deeper. Whenever the me grew, the shadow on her eyes shook. His face seemed to be engulfed in agony. Artizea briefly looked at Cedric¡¯s side face. After the anger and enthusiasm faded away, was he regretting it now? Artizea was caught up in such anxiety. Artizea, herself, did not regret it. No, she regretted it. A little bit of favor and a little bit of a friendly hug can be forgotten if you turn a blind eye to it. However, this cannot be said to have never happened. Can they separate like this? After she breaks up, can she casually remain as his servant? She won¡¯t be able to. Artizea knows that she will carryst night¡¯s event for the rest of her life. However, she did not regret it. Even if this was a sin, even if it was for a single night, she was happy. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡­¡± A long sigh flowed out. She had a lot to think about. How will she atone the sins to Lysia. With a simple contract marriage, it was already a great sin for her to hold the name of his wife for a while. So is what she promised Cadriol. What she suggested to him was something she had to do anyway. Rather, it was a bigger concern that he had memories of the past. It was the first time that suchrge-scale magic was actually cast, rather than trying a simple and small magic such as ¡°Light¡±. There may have been something wrong. Or maybe it¡¯s a w inherent in magic itself. She didn¡¯t study with a magic example that waspleted in the first ce. At that time, she thought she drew the magic circle perfectly, but when she thinks about it now, it might not be. She used to think that she was able to think properly, but she might not have been sane because the aftereffects of torture remained. Maybe someone else, too, has their memory other than Cadriol. Then there was a need to make a full revision of the n. Uncertainty increases with the existing information. There will also be those who are hostile to her like Cadriol. Most of all, when another person who knows her in the past appears, it might be then Cedric really knows what kind of person she is¡­ ¡°Tia.¡± Dazed in thought, Cedric felt her awakening and turned his head. He put down the poker and approached Artizea. ¡°Did I wake you up because of the rustling?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea replied with a split voice. Her throat was sore, so the sound didn¡¯te out well. Cedric sat by the bed and covered her in the nket thoroughly. And he looked down at her with a somewhatplicated face. ¡°It¡¯s still long before dawn. Sleep more.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± Artizea softly closed her eyes. But Cedric was right next to her, so she couldn¡¯t fall asleep easily. As she felt her breathing trembling, Cedric asked in a soft voice. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°¡­..no.¡± ¡°I thought you might ask me to forget it because it was a mistake.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Lord Cedric¡­..¡± She wanted to ask if it was a mistake. However, she didn¡¯t ask until the end, afraid of the answer that mighte. Cedric was silent for a moment. So Artizea became scared. Anxiety shook her body. His hands covered Artizea¡¯s eyes. Cedric sighed. He then bowed his head and put his lips on her temple. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about it like that. I¡¯ve never made a mistake about something like this¡­.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­..¡± ¡°Rather¡­.. I thought I should have done this a long time ago.¡± There was a faint trembling in his voice, as he was saying ¡®a long time ago¡¯. So Artizea tried to ask about what it meant. However, she forgot about it because of Cedric¡¯s next words. ¡°I¡¯d like to make it as if we didn¡¯t have a contract, Tia.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..? ¡° Artizea was surprised and tried to raise her body. Because she understood it to mean to cancel the marriage. But Cedric didn¡¯t remove his hand that covered her eyes. He was able to defeat Artizea¡¯s resistance with just a little strength in his hand. ¡°Please make the proposal I made as just a proposal. Regardless of the contract or the like.¡± Artizea took a breath. Cedric said, still covering her eyes. ¡°Give me your left hand.¡± Artizea hesitated to pull her hand out of the nket. Cedric held her left hand lightly. Cold metal passed through her hand and caught on her wrist. She hadn¡¯t taken it out for months, so Artizea knew right away what it was. It was the diamond bracelet she got from Cedric. ¡°Would you marry me, Marchioness Rosan?¡± Artizea held her breath. The answer was stuck in her throat and could note out. Cedric smiled generously and faintly. ¡°We already had a wedding, but it doesn¡¯t mean anything. I just wanted to.¡± ¡°¡­.. Yes¡­.¡± ¡°Far a long time ago, I should have done this. ¡° He said so in a soft voice. Artizea thought it was fortunate that Cedric covered her eyes. He won¡¯t be able to find her eyes with tears or her body trembling under the nket. ¡°Before¡­ You told me to ask you if I felt suspicious because it seemed that you¡¯re hiding something.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask instead. Don¡¯t forget what I¡¯m saying now, even if we¡¯re against each other, if you¡¯re suspicious of me or I¡¯m suspicious of you, on the contrary.¡± Cedric removed his hand from her eyes. Then he bent over and looked into Artizea¡¯s eyes. ¡°No matter who you are, no matter what you do, even if you put a dagger in my heart, you are my only wife.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t answer. Cedric said as she lowered her gaze down. ¡°Tia, what is the answer?¡± ¡°I understand¡­.¡± How could Artizea say it shouldn¡¯t be? She replied, pressing her thumping heart. Cedric smiled faintly. A sweet kiss fell over Artizea¡¯s mouth. As Artizea flinched, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and gently opened her mouth. Cedric lifted her lips and opened his eyes. Then he touched her hair and smiled. Artizea, bowed her head, blushing. ¡°Now let¡¯s go to bed. When we get up, we have to start with the stronghold.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric, you too¡­.¡± She was embarrassed to ask if he was sleeping. It was because she was going to ask if he would lie next to her. Cedric said. ¡°I just refilled the firece with firewood. I need to make sure that the fire catches on. Go to bed first.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric stood up and patted her sweetly. Artizea boiled down surprisingly easily this time. Her body was very tired, and her hands and feet were warm. The inside of her chest was still thumping and it made random noises, but she quickly forgot. Cedric sat in front of the firece until the fire rose. Then he returned to the bed. And he sighed out loud. Artizea was deeply asleep. After confirming it, he confessed directly to her. ¡°You are the first and thest woman I thought I wanted. Before and after. Maybe, even if I had another life toe, it would be the same.¡± Of course, a sleeping person cannot answer. But it was good enough for him. Cedricid next to Artizea and hugged her. It felt like he was embracing regret and happiness together. *** The next day, Artizea woke up early in the morning. The mayor¡¯s wife, who woke her up, said with regrets. ¡°It would be nice if you can settle for one more day and then leave tomorrow¡­.¡± ¡°Because what happened to the stronghold is not a small issue. We can¡¯t dy.¡± Artizea said so. It was better to go to the stronghold to settle things. She slept warmlyst night, but she can¡¯t get Cedric stuck that way all day long. The heating facility of the official residence fell far short of the Grand Duchess¡¯ room in the stronghold. Artizea borrowed the mayor¡¯s wife¡¯s clothes instead of her ruined clothes. She dedicated both of her only coats of fur to Artizea. Artizea decided to give her a reward beyond that. Cedric finished the preparations early and shared a meal with her. He was back with a cool, usual face, whether all of his fatigue had been relieved by just having a good night¡¯s sleep, or thanks to the solution to the frustrating problem. ¡°Do you have anywhere ufortable?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t¡± Artizea said, blushing her face a little. In fact, it wasn¡¯t without any at all. ¡°The road will be a little rough because maintenance is not possible due to the snow. The carriage wouldn¡¯t work very well.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s better to go back and rest. I¡¯m worried about the stronghold.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± Cedric nodded his head. ¡°I had something I wanted to tell you.¡± Artizea said so carefully. Cedric spoke ahead of her. ¡°If you¡¯re talking about the South Sea people, it¡¯s okay not to exin it. You¡¯re not someone who does things for no reason.¡± ¡°Not that. Last night¡­ I wanted to tell you about what you said that trust is an illusion.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric looked at her with wonder. ¡°I never thought that Lord Cedric¡¯s trust was built on an illusion.¡± ¡°Tia¡­..¡± ¡°I think betrayal can happen anywhere, but¡­ nheless, the people of Evron Grand Duchy haven¡¯t really betrayed. It¡¯s just that they think differently about the way Cedric and Evron are.¡± Artizea said earnestly. She knew that Evron really didn¡¯t betray him. Rather, if the trust was broken because of her, betrayal could have really sparked. ¡°Everyone¡¯s thoughts are different. I know. I just realized it anew.¡± Cedric said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I still believe in good intention and justice.¡± He said so. Then he bowed his head and kissed Artizea. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Proofreader: somnium Defense Against Karam The snowfield was wide and there was no end to it. She thought it was a deserted in even if she went up the river by boat. Even the sound was quiet as it was covered with snow. Artizea thought that this was like going to an empty ce without directions. Of course, to the knights and Cedric surrounding the carriage, it was different. For them, it was a familiar road that they went through thousands of times more. Knock, knock. The sound of a tapping on the wooden shutters caused Artizea to carefully lower the shutters. Cedric looked in and asked. ¡°Shall we take a break?¡± ¡°Can I take a break?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s the beginning of the forest, there¡¯s less wind. If you move for a while, your body will be morefortable.¡± Artizea nodded her head. It was lonesome to sit alone in a small carriage with all the windows closed. Cedric opened the carriage door and reached out his hand. Artizea was a little shy and took the hand. He held Artizea down. Cedric said it was less windy, but that didn¡¯t mean the wind stopped. Artizea gathered and grasped her hair blown away by the de of wind. She wanted to untie her ribbon and tie it back, but she didn¡¯t dare to take off her mittens. Her white face quickly turned red in the cold breeze. Cedric took off his gloves, reopened the cor of her coat, and wrapped her cheeks with both hands. ¡°Your hands will be sore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay for a while. Isn¡¯t the carriage ufortable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t have a choice anyway.¡± The official residence¡¯s four-wheeled carriage wasn¡¯t worth bringing. There is a need for inspection, and it is because the carriage itself was heavy. It was the same with Artizea that even though the road was a little more difficult, it was better to get to the stronghold quickly. She was also worried about the stronghold. That is why she chose to ride alone in a small, light two wheeled carriage. The wagons rattled without pause, and the walls were thin, so the draft was intact. However, even if it is a four-wheeled carriage, that does not mean that the cold will disappear, anyway. She missed the carriage of the stronghold that could put a small brazier. ¡°When I first came here, I thought there would be nothing more difficult than taking a boat.¡± Artizea smiled. Even at that time, she suffered a lot because of her motion sickness. But it was nothingpared to going through this road. ¡°Move your legs. We have to keep going until evening.¡± Cedric said so and put his gloves on again. Then he grabbed Artizea¡¯s arms on both sides. Artizea looked up puzzledly, not knowing why he was doing it. Cedric smiled and pulled her arm straight up. ¡°Aw aw.¡± From her stiff shoulder, there was a crunch. ¡°Because you didn¡¯t even walk in the cold while you were in the stronghold.¡± ¡°I walked a little in the living room.¡± ¡°What kind of exercise is spinning around in a room?¡± Artizea knew nothing to say, so sheughed shamelessly. Cedric lowered her arm. Then he stretched it to the left and right this time. ¡°Ugh.¡± As Artizea groaned, Cedric pulled out his hand. He clenched and opened his fist a few times. Artizea regrets a little because it was cold. Cedric sighed softly. Then he brightened his expression. ¡°Shall we take a walk in the castle next time?¡± ¡°¡­ Yes.¡± Artizea blushed her cheeks. Then she sighed and looked up. The forest is not deep, so she can see the sky and snow-capped mountain ranges through the coniferous forests. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°I think the future is far away.¡± Cedric wrapped her shoulder lightly. Artizea closed her eyes for a moment as she seemed to be buried in the hem of his cloak. It only stopped the wind, and it was worse for Cedric as his outerwear was colder. Because he continued to ride the horse. But he still warmed her body. Artizea thought it was not bad to enjoy all the joy in her life for a moment. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. It¡¯s just the beginning.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Would you like to walk?¡± Cedric took his steps. Artizea also walked slowly under his arm. There was a crisp sound in the snow. Her boots got wet on the outside. ¡°You can go first. If you go alone, you can shorten your time a lot.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°You came after me with only temporary measures at the stronghold.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but there¡¯s nothing in a hurry. Isn¡¯t it funny to run out to save you and go back alone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that you saved me. What do you think? I¡¯m telling you to go back first to take care of emergencies, because the way back is hard.¡± ¡°I may misunderstand that you do it because you want to avoid me again.¡± ¡°I never did that.¡± ¡°Tia, I¡¯m not particrly quick to notice, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯mpletely stupid. You think I didn¡¯t know you were trying to leave me on Lysia? There was nothing to say, so Artizea bit her lips. Cedricmented. ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s a nuisance to Lysia in the first ce.¡± ¡°Who says I did?¡± ¡°You pushed your young maid to serve tea to your husband. I thought that was something of a bad political marriage.¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned red. She knew she was hungry for his affection. Once she starts wishing, she will be obsessed with dedicating her life to him. Once he holds his hand out, she will never be able to sway from his side. She wasn¡¯t sure when Cedric and Lysia fell in love in the past. What is certain is that Cedric proposed to Lysia, who epted the proposal. It was about five years after Lysia became a saintess. There was little Cedric could gain from that marriage. This is because she was a vassal of Evron Grand Duchy. He rather lost his prestige. Considering that she was from the rebel vige, it also created a risk. Still, the two had decided to marry. Had Artizea not manipted the oracle, the two would have married and kept the Grand Duchy together. Lysia broke her engagement because of a divine message that she would be the Empress. She was worried that Cedric would be harmed because of the divine message. Cedric left the capital and never returned again after Lysia and Lawrence were married. And he hasn¡¯t been with any other woman in his lifetime. Before and after. In the end, she took Cedric away from Lysia again this time. Artizea looked at Cedric in a confused mood. Again, will his heart naturally lean toward Lysia after time passes? It seemed so. How can he not love someone who is beautiful and has a shining heart like Lysia. But maybe this time, neither of them was in a difficult situation, so the deep affection and bonds of the past could not build up. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t it be okay then?¡¯ When all this is done anyway, she doesn¡¯t know if she will be alive. So, wouldn¡¯t it be okay until then? Her heart pounded because she felt guilty just thinking about it. However, what would be different if she puts one more feeling on the many evils she hasmitted so far? The future has already changed. Cedric could not be returned to Lysia in full condition. This marriage was established as a real marriage. No man has ever given his heart solely to Lysia. ¡®He loves me.¡¯ The moment she recalled the words, a fever soared all over her body. The two are not in love with each other, yet. It has not been stolen by Artizea, yet. So just a little more like this. Just until Cedric¡¯s heart is taken away from her. ¡°Tia, what are you thinking?¡± Cedric called her and asked. ¡°It¡¯s your strength to think deeply, but that¡¯s also a downside. I¡¯m too worried.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Artizea tried to divert her gaze, but Cedric caught it and looked into all sorts of emotions frosted inside her eyes. And he lowered his head. His lips touched hers briefly inside the coverage of the cloak. Artizea closed her eyes unknowingly. At that moment, she had no thoughts, no guilt, noplicated mind. She slowly opened her eyes only after Cedric¡¯s lips fell. Cedric tried to get his gaze off Artizea¡¯s all-bitten lips. Her lips, which usually don¡¯t have much blood, looked red today. He impulsively reached out his other hand and touched her lips. Artizea¡¯s face turned red. ¡°You don¡¯t have to try to concede me to someone else.¡± ¡°That¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re mistaken. That¡¯s what you¡¯re doing very wrong with me, Tia.¡± Artizea bowed her head with a scorching face. It was actually the opposite. She was thinking that it would be okay to sin so that she could take possession of him. She carefully grabbed Cedric¡¯s cuffs. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ because I¡¯m not used to it.¡± It didn¡¯t seem like she would ever get used to someone putting her first. Cedric once again lowered his head. This kiss was a little bit deeper and a little bit longer than before. Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s hem, breathing embarrassingly through her nose. Cedric hugged Artizea¡¯s back, who had lost her bnce. He bit Artizea¡¯s lower lip with regret. And he set her upright. When he suddenly looked around, the knights were all looking at different ces. Some were staring into the air, while others were absorbed in the stain on the nose of their shoes or observing the bark of the trees. Cedric coughed in vain. Artizea lowered her head because her face turned red. ¡°We should get going. We¡¯ll be able to get to the amodation before they close.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°Isn¡¯t it wet inside the boots?¡± ¡°Yes? Oh, it¡¯s okay. Ah!¡± Cedric hugged her. Artizea was embarrassed. However, instead of struggling, she hugged his shoulders and buried her face on the back of his neck. ¡°You told me I had to walk¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a field of snow.¡± Cedric said in a cracked voice. ¡°If we go a little further, you can rest properly, so be patient.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was then. Hooo! In the distance, the sound of the scouts horns rang out. Cedric was shocked. He hastily rushed Artizea into the carriage. ¡°What happened, kaak!¡± The door of the carriage was closed in front of her. Cedric shouted. ¡°Take aim!¡± From a distance, the roar of the beast screeched. And the sound came in an instant like an avnche. Artizea could not clearly tell the difference between the distant and near cry. Ta-dang! The sound of the first firing shook the carriage like thunder. ¡°How is Karam here!¡± Someone yelled. Chapter 82 Chapter 81 Proofreader: somnium Bang! Twenty guns fired all at once. However, the speed of the rushing Karam group was not slowed down at all. Rather, as if they were familiar with the sound of the gun, they leaned on their stomach, lowered their height to avoid bullets, and ran with their four arms and two legs. Karam¡¯s back is covered with pure white fur. So the shape looked as if snow became waves and pouring out. ¡°Kaha! Kahaho!¡± The sound of shouting came through the wind. Collin, a young knight, breathed in the overbearing form. He made a merit in the Western Army and was erected as a knight. And he followed Cedric to the north for the first time this year. He¡¯s experienced enough of the battle with the monsters. However, this was the first time for Karam. He learned enough to know that Karam is different from other monsters. However, he turned blue at Karam¡¯s momentum. Outside of Evron, Karam was just the name of a fierce monster. The same was true in the west. Collin was imagining something like a bunch of small ogres. Of course, he would be weaker than an ogre. However, facing Karam face-to-face was fundamentally different. They could not be mistaken for humans. Karam had four arms and three eyes, and their height was slightly over two meters. Their dense muscles were tough enough to be called a monster¡¯s. Agility and physical mobility were also more overwhelming than humans¡¯. Conversely,pared to humans, they were simr enough to find little differences. No onees to this world and says that trolls do not resemble humans. However, there are many people who say Karam is different from humans. Even in the temple. Karam walked on their two feet and used their hands. Their fur was only on their back and head. They knew how to make tools and use weapons. They developed mines and built farms. They put on clothes. They were different in the structure of the vocal cords, and they screamed in something that humans could not imitate, and they could not imitate people¡¯s words. However, theymunicated via theirnguage. They lived divided into several tribes, and there was also political conflict between the tribes. The use of hands was not as sophisticated as humans, and the tactics were simple. However, it was clearly different from the existence that could be called a monster. Northerners did not think of Karam as a simple monster. There is also barter-level trade. There is also a mixed race between humans and Karam. But the people in the maind would not be able toprehend such things. Although Collin knew about it, this was his first time to see them in person. Although it resembles a human, the apparently different beings are lying down and running with their four hands and two feet, giving an instinctive sense of rejection and fear. Another knight tapped the terrified Collin on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Have you ever dealt with a direwolf?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s weaker than that.¡± Those words didn¡¯t wash away his fears. ¡°Kaha!¡± The Karam leader roared and jumped to his feet. The leap distance was quite a few meters. Cedric was the first to sped up his horse and ran forward, wielding his sword. sh! The leaping Karam¡¯s neck was cut by the sword. ¡°Alphonse, Ned, Collin, by the carriage!¡± Cedric shouted. Three knights were ordered to surround the carriage in a triangle. The remaining seventeen got off their horses and made the first defending line. There wouldn¡¯t be any window. However, the equipment they had now was a hunting gun that they could not afford to reload and a sword on their back. There was no advantage to raising body height over Karam. While riding a horse, they could be struck by Karam in the face. It was impossible to trample through Karam¡¯s ranks. Mobility is useless. This is because there was the Grand Duchess¡¯ carriage at the back. Besides, if they lose their horse, it freezes and dies in this snowy field. It is different from leaving a supply unit behind during war. ¡°Kak, Kaheim!¡± Another Karam, who ran for the second time, stood up. And he swung four axes at once. Cedric pulled the reins. The excellent horse avoided Karam¡¯s ax by mixing back and side steps. Cedric struck one ax and pierced his sword forward to strike the other with his sword. The Karam¡¯s primitive ax cracked and stuck to the tip of his sword. He struck the jammed ax with his sword in the face of the surprised Karam. The Karam staggered and swung two axes in his other hand. Cedric drew his gun with his left hand and used it to strike the Karamgun. And then he drew his sword down. sh! The Karam¡¯s head split and steam rose. It all happened in an instant. Thud! The Karam, who had lost his neck, fell to the ground. The hot blood melted the snow. Cedric slowly lifted his blood-soaked sword. The Karam must be attacked first at the captain. Due to the characteristics of the race in which the strongest person bes the captain, this was an act of showing off his authority and power not only to enemies but also to allies. In line with that, Cedric also killed two of their leaders, proving that he was the captain. It was in order to not draw any attention to the carriage behind him by pulling Karam¡¯s gaze. ¡°Kak!¡± The Karams let out a shout. Cedric got off his horse. The next moment, both sides got entangled. Artizea held her trembling hand in the carriage. She did not know the war. Cedric once showed her what it was like after the war. But this was the first time she was in the middle of one. ¡°Argh!¡± With a scream, a knight bumped into the carriage. The carriage rattled loudly once. Subsequently, an ax de was stuck on the side wall of the carriage. Artizea tried to stay in the middle of the carriage as much as possible. It was the limit of her ability to hold her breath in order to not scream. The ax de soon fell from the carriage wall. ¡°Kahak!¡± This time, there was a flurry that seemed to be breaking the wind. Alphonse tapped the shutter and asked. ¡°Are there any injuries, Your Grace?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Artizea held her breath and she replied slowly. ¡°Is this a dangerous situation?¡± ¡°¡­ It¡¯s fine.¡± There was some time gap before Alphonse¡¯s reply. Artizea knows that it¡¯s a pretty dangerous situation. However, it was best for her not to get in the way of the knights. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Alphonse said so. However, there was a difference in numbers from the beginning. The Evron Knights were all elite, but they were not properly equipped for war. On the other hand, Karam fights with physical strength with the inherently poor equipment. If there were two spears, it would not have reached this situation. Their number was also twice that of Karam. This degree of number difference is also their advantage. It was then. Whooooo! The sound of a loud horn blew. One of the knights shouted. ¡°It¡¯s a reinforcement!¡± The Karam also understood the meaning of the sound. ¡°Kak!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let them retreat! If we miss it here, the nearby town will be in danger!¡± The remaining knights raised their swords high and intercepted. Clop clop clop. The sound of the Knights¡¯ horse hooves shook the ground. The scared Karam scattered around trying to run away. The knights stopped it. The number of reinforcements was only 30. However, they were heavily armed. It was enough to trample the Karam troops. The knight pierced the abdomen of the Karam, who wasing at him, and kicked it with his horse hooves. Another knight struck the spear on the Karam¡¯s back, avoiding any retaliation. The war situation quickly turned over in an instant. Then, four Karam, who had been dealing with the knights until now, ran toward the carriage. The Karam had already grasped that the knights were guarding the carriage. If there was anyone important on it, they thought they would take them hostage and settle the situation. ¡°Oh, ah ah!¡± Instead of the missing weapon, Karam pulled out their nails and grabbed Collin. A screaming sounded. ¡°Your Grace!¡± The moment Cedric turned around towards the call, a spear flew into his hand precisely. ¡°Thank you, Lysia!¡± Cedric threw his sword and raised the spear with both hands. The body of thest Karam was tucked into the ground. The situation ended with it. *** After that, Artizea was escorted out of the carriage. It was hardly possible to judge how the war was going. ¡°Lysia?¡± ¡°You have to hurry.¡± Not having time to exin anything, Lysia put Artizea on her horse. There was an injured person who injured his leg, but instead of getting him in a carriage, he was picked up by another knight¡¯s horse. The body of the deceased was also quickly put on someone¡¯s horse. No one said anything. Fifty horses ran frantically to their original destination. Artizea desperately hung on Lysia¡¯s waist. She was covered with a cape from the top of her head, but it was hard to ovee the cold. Collin, the injured person, made a painful sound without ceasing. The messenger who ran ahead opened the vige door and was waiting. As soon as Cedric arrived, he went into the room, holding Collin. Two knights tied Collin¡¯s body tightly to the bed with a rope. They then removed the blood-soaked cloth and leather pieces from his arm. ¡°How¡¯s his condition?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already rotting up above the elbow.¡± ¡°I will do it myself.¡± A knight heated his sword on the fire and poured alcohol to disinfect it. Cedric grabbed Collin¡¯s face. ¡°Can you hear me, Sir Collin? Sir Collin!¡± ¡°Uhhhhhh¡­¡± ¡°You have nail venom on your arm. If you leave Karam¡¯s nail venom alone, it will continue to rot and your muscles will die. I¡¯ll have to cut off the wound.¡± Collin nodded as he trembled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll cut out only the wound. It will take some time to do anything, but there will be no problem with your arm. Understand?¡± Immediately, the knights gagged Collin¡¯s mouth. It was to prevent biting the tongue with the pain when cutting it out. Alcohol was also poured into the wound. As the blood was washed away, the tattered arm was revealed with scratches of fingernails and necrotic skin. Cedric raised his sword. It is a lie that there will be no abnormalities in the arm. If he cut off this much muscle, there will definitely be some problems, not unlike cutting off an arm. Life as a knight is over anyway. ¡°Ummmmpphhhhh!¡± Collin screamed, gagged. The cutting ended quickly. Next, a hemostatic agent was sprayed on the wound and wrapped a cloth on it. More than that can only be left to God. While putting the bandage, Cedric threw the sword and held Collin¡¯s head. And he said, while kissing his forehead. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s amon operation here, so nothing will happen.¡± Collin quieted as he held onto him and suppressed his struggle. He fainted. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Proofreader: somnium Artizea was watching from outside the door at the urgent operation. Lysia grabbed her hand and dragged it. Artizea knew that she was trembling. The vige chief had the bathroom ready. Lysia immersed her first in lukewarm water to prevent frostbite. The maids poured hot water little by little and melted her frozen body. ¡°Ho, how ¡­¡­?¡± Her lips were also trembling, so the words that came out were only that much. Lysia replied. ¡°There was a report yesterday morning that some of Karam¡¯s small troops were found.¡± ¡°Beyond Thold¡­..?¡± The Thold Mountains are grim. Except for the canyon called the Thold Gate, there is no way for the military to move. So, for hundreds of years, the war with Karam has been centered around the Thold Gate. As far as Artizea knows, it was. Lysia said. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to cross the mountain range at all. Hunters and herbalists are quite frequent, the traders and the sh-and-burn farmers are also going around. In the case of personal crossing, we turn a blind eye.¡± It was more like an agreement between Karam and Evron. Trade is also taking ce in that way. It is impossible to act as a spy anyway, because of theck ofmunication and appearance. However, it was never before that a group of close to 40 Karam personally crossed the mountain range. That¡¯s why Cedric initially fired a threatening shot. From the beginning, the guns, the knights had, were only a secondary armament with a short range and weak firepower. As long as it didn¡¯t hit the vital spot, it wasn¡¯t a threat to Karam. Still, he fired it in order to hear the gunshot and see Karam react. And instead of scattering, the Karams lowered themselves and came running. All of them must be on the rank of warriors. ¡°We sent out scout troops in various ces. Then I was worried about the Grand Duchess. It was impossible to escape if the Grand Duchess¡¯ carriage encountered Karam, and all the equipment that the Grand Duke took were all hunting equipment.¡± When fighting a few people, that was enough. However, if Karam is the opponent, they must be equipped with a minimum amount of armament. Artizea¡¯splexion returned to her face. Lysia made here out of the water. The maids wiped Artizea¡¯s body and wrapped her hair. Cotton trousers and tops were put on. Lysia rested and sighed. ¡°I care about the clothes you¡¯re wearing and the carriage you¡¯re riding on¡­¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°I should.¡± Lysia struggled with her smile. She was struggling to control her emotions. Even Artizea wasn¡¯t at peace with her mind. How many people have died? Downstairs there was still a repressive scream. It was the sound of a knight with an injured leg being treated. Then Artizea was guided to a room where the fire was warmly lit. The only proper house was the vige chief¡¯s house, so Cedric and themander of the reinforcements and several knights also came here. ¡°Tia, are you hurt?¡± Cedric saw Artizea and asked. Artizea shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. More than that¡­¡­¡± She carefully looked at the people. A solemn atmosphere hung among the knights. ¡°Six dead and seven are injured, two of which are seriously injured. Sir Ned will be fine. He¡¯s not someone to lie down for a long time with a cut in his thigh.¡± Cedric said. Considering that they faced twice as many Karam with 20 people without proper equipment, it was worth saying that they did well. Artizea couldn¡¯t ask if Collin was okay, so she looked down at her toes. ¡°Thank you for the timely support. If it had been a littlete, we would have been in trouble.¡± ¡°Thanks to Baron Morten. Most of the scouts were already moving towards where the Karam troops were seen. They heard the sound of a fight while they were moving with the carriage and clothes to meet the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Good job, Lysia.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s something I have to do.¡± Lysia replied briefly. ¡°Why does the warrior ss wander around this ce?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking into it now.¡± Cedric pondered for a moment. Artizea was dizzy in her head. As she remembers there is no war this year. Changes in the situation inside the empire must have affected the Karam. There is no one who couldmunicate that closely with Karam. Artizea only first found out about that possibility when she came to Evron. It would be right to think that people in other regions don¡¯t know. ¡°It¡¯s better to take a break today first. You all go back and take a rest. The sun has set.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The footsteps of the knights retreating rumbled. Lysia also turned around. The door is closed. Cedric stayed there for a while, covering his face with both hands. He was overwhelmed with emotions. Artizea stood still on the spot. When she started the war, and when she killed his people, did he have a face like this? It must have been. Countless times. When she thought about it, her heart fluttered and it became difficult to breathe. Every time she exhaled, it was hot like she was burned in the chest. She couldn¡¯t even keep her eyes open. So, as she stood still with her eyes closed, Cedric approached her. ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea was startled and stepped back. Cedric grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Wait a minute, stay like this.¡± He stayed there for a long time without saying anything. Artizea stiffened her body. It would be great if she could hug him face to face. Someone who can do that had to be here. But all Artizea could do was to touch Cedric¡¯s hair with care and anxiety. Sticky dirt smeared his hair, as if he had wiped blood from only his face and hands. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m right?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I wiped, kissed andforted the injured¡­ Every time I do something like that, I feel like an evil hypocrite and it¡¯s hard to bear.¡± ¡°Why¡­¡­. do you think so?¡± There are many people in the world who think of the lives of soldiers like chess pieces made of paper. There weren¡¯t many people who thought it was a waste to decrease as they deal with troop numbers. On the other hand, why is Cedric a hypocrite who remembers each and every person and takes care of their wounds? Artizea knew that he would not forget that he had treated Collin here. He will take care of Collin¡¯s family, and he will take care of Collin¡¯s life to the end. He was such a person. ¡°It was just that I brought Sir Collin to this ce to fight.¡± ¡°It was Sir Collin who decided to follow Lord Cedric. The knight has given all their loyalty, so you can honor him as a Knight.¡± Cedric said with dark eyes. ¡°Yes, I am loyal.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­.¡± ¡°The better I do, the more the soldiers will die for me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a hypocritical act to gain loyalty, you do it from the heart.¡± ¡°But the results are the same. Sometimes I feel that I¡­¡­¡­am telling the soldiers to die for me.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Do you think there is value in goodwill that leads to unfortunate consequences? Is there any value in a righteous process that leaves nothing but sacrifice?¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better to let go of it all? Is it worth the sacrifice of someone else to me?¡± Cedric asked Artizea, but it didn¡¯t seem like he was hoping for an answer. He was silent again. She gently stroked his face with her trembling hands. There were no tears around her eyes, but it almost seemed like there was. ¡°It¡¯s hard to exin, but¡­.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I think that those who have no doubt, will have no regrets to die for Lord Cedric as well.¡± Cedric bit his mouth. ¡®You think like that because you don¡¯t know a real hypocrite or a real evil.¡¯ Artizea couldn¡¯t say that. Instead, she gently hugged his head. She didn¡¯t dare to give strength to her arm in this embrace. *** In the early morning of that day, Cedric covered the bodies of the dead knights with a handcrafted white cloth. ¡°The people from the stronghold wille separately.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The vige chief bowed his head. A short condolence ended with silence and salute. A proper funeral willter be held in the stronghold afterward. Four beacons of fire and smoke erupted into the dawn sky in the distance. It was a signal from the fortress at the Thold Gate. ¡°At the end of the day, there was a problem in Thold too.¡± The knight said so. ¡°I have to go.¡± Cedric sighed. One beacon signifies the border, two beacons signify a local conflict, and three beacons signify that arge army of Karam ising. And the four beacons mean that decision makers¡¯ instructions are needed right now. ¡°Is it a war?¡± Asked Artizea. Cedric replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Rather, I think there is a high possibility that there may be a problem inside Karam. If so, then it won¡¯t be possible toe with an all-out war to our side either.¡± ¡°From the inside?¡± ¡°There are several forces inside Karam, so there is a conflict. I know that for the past few years, there have been those who have held the dominant power¡­¡± Cedric said so, and gently patted Artizea¡¯s cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. It doesn¡¯t mean that the war has erupted yet. Go to the stronghold. I¡¯ve only taken a temporary measure, so please take care of it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I have to go to the Thold Gate.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°You can leave military matters to Agate himself.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric called Lysia this time. ¡°Lysia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I believe in you. Stay with Tia.¡± Lysia bent her knees and raised a salute. ¡°Morten¡¯s daughter will take the order.¡± Cedric finally put his hands on Artizea¡¯s shoulders. Then he bent his head to meet her eyes. It was as if he was trying to engrave her gaze in his eyes. ¡°Tia, I trust you, so you trust me too.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­.¡± ¡°Everything you do is my responsibility. Don¡¯t forget.¡± She heard it before. However, the weight was different from when she heard at that time. The heavy addition seemed to fall over her heart ¡°We¡¯ll be able to find the right way when we go together.¡± Artizea did not nod her head. She couldn¡¯t. Cedric hugged her once and let her go. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± He said so and put his hat on. And climbed onto the horse. Five knights followed him on horseback. Six horses ran toward the north like a flurry. Chapter 84 Chapter 83 Proofreader: somnium The trip to the stronghold with a proper carriage was slower, but it was much more stable. Her cotton clothes and coat that Lysia brought with her were also warm, so she was quitefortable. Artizea sat silently. Her mind wasplicated. Lysia, who sat face to face with her, said softly. ¡°Sir Collin and Sir Ned would be fine. The treatment was fast enough, so if the wound healed, they would be able to live normally.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about injuries.¡± Artizea said so and looked out of the window. What she is concerned about is Cedric. There is a small furnace in the carriage. A cold wind came through the open window to get rid of the smoke. ¡°Does Lord Cedric usually do that¡­.. treating the wounded himself?¡± ¡°Yes, I know he does.¡± Lysia replied. ¡°When there is a military doctor, of course, the military doctores first. When he was a boy¡­ He made his first military deployment before he was sixteen. At that time, he couldn¡¯t fight himself, so he would do something like this¡­.¡± Lysia did not finish her statement. Artizea could understand everything she didn¡¯t say. ¡°I see.¡± The reason why the emperor saved Cedric even after killing his parents was to not destroy Evron. Had all the descendants of the Grand Duke been lost, Evron would have just given up and became part of the empire. However, because there was still a young master, they band together. Cedric was carrying that weight on his back. [Is it worth the sacrifice of someone else to me?] Artizea knows best of the expression on Cedric¡¯s face. She then noticed his anger. She knew his face when he was stunned, and his face when he was pained. Now she knows his joyful and shy face, and she knows his face when she utters sweet friendly words. She also saw his face full of passion. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t imagine his face with tears, yet. Artizea looked down at her palm. Theshes that rubbed against her palm weren¡¯t wet. However, the feeling made her heart flutter strangely. She knew everything about Cedric¡¯s birth to his growth. Like memorizing the name of the nanny and characteristics of the teacher. She was also aware of the oue of his first deployment and the first battle he took as the captain. However, no matter how much she memorized it in documents, she kept seeing things that she didn¡¯t know. ¡°Are you sad?¡± At Lysia¡¯s question, Artizea suddenly woke up from her thoughts. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Because you never show such a face to us.¡± ¡°Ah ¡­..¡± Lysia smiled. ¡°I wanted to thank Your Grace foring to this ce. My father was always worried.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Ever since he was a boy, the Grand Duke always said he was okay, he can still keep going and that it was nothing.¡± ¡°Lysia¡­.¡± ¡°As a noble lord, as the only pir of Evron, it was a decent attitude he was obligated to have, but it seems that it always hurts the hearts of the elders.¡± She said that she was young at the time, so she didn¡¯t know well, Lysia added lightly. ¡°I am so happy that Your Grace has epted Evron as part of him again.¡± ¡°No¡­.¡± Artizea lowered her gazes down. Perhaps it was originally Lysia¡¯s role. She was rather stealing what she shouldn¡¯t see. But when she heard that from Lysia, she couldn¡¯t lift her head straight. *** It took another full day to arrive, and the atmosphere of the stronghold was very gloomy. Before, there were many people who cheered and rejoiced that the carriage of the Grand Duchess was passing by. But now, no one came to greet. There was no one who took off their hat respectfully while doing their job before returning to work. Those on the road quickly avoided the carriage. The faces of those who greeted were also darkly depressed. Anxiety fell down like a fog. It may not be because of the Karam problem. ¡®It¡¯s also broken trust.¡¯ Artizeamented in her heart. She heard an exnation of the situation from Lysia. Aubrey¡¯s sin was not something that could be forgiven independently of its cause. Leaking out the structure and secret passages of the stronghold is a felony to the extent that even if it wasmitted by the family of the casten, was a serious crime. Since she revealed the water supply passage, which would save the castle¡¯s life in an emergency, even if it was the casten himself, it was a situation that could not be forgiven. Artizea thought she should not havee to Evron at all. She wasn¡¯t going to do that to Aubrey. At best, she tried to drive Aubrey out and prevent Aubrey froming back again. But this is her own responsibility. Aubrey wouldn¡¯t havee this far if she hadn¡¯te. Aaron and Margaret have been caring for this castle for over 20 years. Jordyn County was a family that was trusted by both the higher people and the lower people. No matter how sinful it is, such a family has been thrown out in one fell swoop. The castle, which has been impregnable since its construction, has been breached. The cause of this was a foreigner Grand Duchess who had only been married for less than half a year. Little by little, rumors spread that the kidnapper was her old lover. From the standpoint of the young people, it will bepelling to feel uneasy. Artizea sighed. It was a rift that was so difficult to make in her previous life, but she came here and soon she made it herself. She shouldn¡¯t have done that this time. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia called her in a soft voice. Soon, her carriage stopped. Viscount Agate was weing her. The Viscount opened the carriage door and escorted her off, and he said. ¡°I¡¯m d you came back safely, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Thank you. I heard that Lord Agate took care of the stronghold on behalf of the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Yes. It was a temporary job until Your Grace¡¯s return, but it seems that I will have to take charge of the local affairs for the time being because of the situation underway.¡± ¡°I must count on you. The Grand Duke went straight to Thold.¡± ¡°I saw the beacon from this side as well. Now, in the stronghold, the knights are organized for patrols. We will report on any changes in the situation.¡± ¡°Is the vige okay? There were quite a few casualties on the way back¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay because it¡¯s winter. In the summer, there are a lot of people going out for work, but now most of them will be inside the barrier. One unit is around forty people, and we¡¯ll endure it until the reinforcements arrive.¡± Artizea nodded her head. If this is Viscount Agate, that would be correct. But that doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t help with anything else. ¡°All the Karam units we have seen so far have been destroyed. You must be tired, so don¡¯t worry and rest. The stronghold is safe.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Viscount Agate politely bowed and stepped back. Then Alice, Sophie, Rize and the maids poured in. ¡°Madam!¡± ¡°Do you know how worried we were?¡± ¡°Are there any injuries? Do you want to warm up your body first? Shall I prepare bath water?¡± ¡°Do you want to have dinner? I have pumpkin soup, and I¡¯ll bring a little bit of it.¡± Artizea was almost pushed into the bedroom. Even when she entered the room, the chatter did not die. Lysia raised her voice to calm the turmoil. ¡°Everyone stop it! Her Grace must be tired!¡± The maids were pinched. ¡°Sophie, prepare a change of clothes, Rize, bring soup and chocte, and everyone else prepare bath water. Your Grace, is it okay if I go to change clothes for a while?¡± Lysia cleared up the fuss at once. Artizea was truly thankful because she was about to get a headache. ¡°You must have been tired from being out for a long time, too, so go and rest, Lysia.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Grace. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Lysia bowed her head. And she went out of the room. Then only Alice was left in the room. After a while, Artizea knew that it was Lysia¡¯s consideration. Alice smiled lightly. ¡°I think Miss Lysia is a really nice person. She made your mind morefortable¡­. She knows that I have something for you and she was considerate, right?¡± ¡°Would you like toe here for a minute?¡± Alice tilted her head and approached Artizea. Artizea hugged her with open arms. ¡°What are you doing, Madam?¡± As Alice hesitated, she didn¡¯t know what to do. She was her close maid, but she had never had such direct and deep contact with Artizea. Artizea sighed. ¡°Just.¡± ¡°Just?¡± ¡°Yes. Just¡­.¡± Alice smiled strangely. ¡°Madam, you¡¯ve been through a lot of trouble.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The warm hands gently wrapped around Artizea¡¯s back. And she patted as if tofort a child sweetly. ¡°It¡¯s really okay now.¡± ¡°Alice. ¡° ¡°Because you are back safely. Nothing will happen.¡± It was actually Artizea, not Alice that had to say that. But she couldn¡¯t say so. Artizea just hugged Alice with all her might. Artizea first realized that she wanted to do this when she just returned and met Alice. She wanted to hug Cedric like this so much. But even now, Alice was the only one who could ept this embrace. *** Lysia released a gun from her waist. The gun was originally Cedric¡¯s. It was made by one of the most skilled artisans in the capital. It was seemingly simple. There were little decorations except for the inscription of the Grand Duchy in gold on the grip. But in terms of performance, it was probably one of the best gun. Cedric gave her before dawn, when he left for Thold at dawn. [Did you learn how to shoot?] [A little bit.] [You can do everything well, so it won¡¯t be difficult to learn. Practice it.] Lysia was nervous. There is an unusual meaning to handing over the weapon that the monarch used to use. It is to give authority as well as trust. Even more if the crest of the family is engraved. It was too much to entrust the daughter of a baron, who was only 18 years old. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Proofreader: somnium Lysia was perplexed. The reason Cedric gave her the gun wasn¡¯t something entirely unknown. However, isn¡¯t it too much authority to leave it to her only by the reason that she¡¯s Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting? [Wouldn¡¯t it be better to give it directly to Her Grace yourself?] [If she shoots this thing and it doesn¡¯te out of her grip, then it¡¯s a miracle.] Cedricughed. But theughter disappeared without staying long on his lips. [To protect her body, this might be useful, but I¡¯m not very worried about it though. If you think there may be a risk, you are a person who can prepare for it on your own. What I¡¯m concerned about is her heart, Lysia.¡± Lysia tilted her head. [She is a person with a weaker heart than others.] [Yes.] [I¡¯m not saying that she¡¯s weak. Tia seems to have a strong mental power, but she is actually fragile. Maybe it¡¯s because of her good brains, or she moves on without even thinking about it. She has a habit of assuming the worst situation and is easily shaken by the word efficiency.] Cedric sighed. [But it will be fine if you are by her side. You always know how to find the right path.] [I just got to know Her Grace. If you ask me to sacrifice my life to protect her, I will obey it. However¡­] [Please be by her side. Can you do that?] Lysia received the gun. She wasn¡¯t sure if she could do it. She couldn¡¯t understand why he gave her such a great task. Maybe because she has been trusted, she acted with all her heart. Lysia changed her clothes and put the gun back inside her dress. And she went back to Artizea¡¯s room. *** There was a funeral that night. It was a funeral for knights killed by Karam and guards killed by the South Sea people. Artizea also packed a mourning suit just in case, but she didn¡¯t think she would wear it this way. Artizea did not attend many funerals. She had fewer attendance as a superior. It wasn¡¯t that she had a small experience with death. However, her subordinates were usually people who had no name, no identity. There was no honor in dying with such loyalty. She couldn¡¯t even reveal who they really are and who is their real master. There were many cases where their real name could not be written on the tombstone. When attending funerals, Artizea never mourned or said how honorable the dead were. Instead, she gave their family pension. In general, that¡¯s what she pays for their loyalty. Sometimes she did things that seemed like revenge, but it never happened for her people. Lawrence was somewhat different from her, but he wasn¡¯t someone who gave too much meaning to the death of his subordinates. The funerals attended by Artizea was usually a funeral for someone who meant nothing to her. The death of an old nobleman, the death of a young heir¡­. Behind the funeral, there were conversations filled with gloom yet anticipation about the title to change due to the death and the rights and obligations of property. It was part of politics. Often power rtionships changed, and social trends changed. Sometimes the empire¡¯s economy overturned. But the funeral here was different. Sophie cried all throughout as she dressed Artizea in ck. Alice also had red eyes. Neither of them knew the dead specifically, but everyone was sad. In the dark air that spread all over the stronghold, sadness was as heavy as anxiety. Compared to the grief, the funeral itself was simple. Dozens of coffins wereid in the grand hall. Lysia carefully asked Artizea. ¡°Would you like to see the body?¡± ¡°Should I see it?¡± ¡°It is customary here for the Master to ce a medal on the forehead of the honorable warrior. Now, the Grand Duke is not here, so the Grand Duchess should do it. If you are not confident, I will do it for you.¡± ¡°No. ¡° Artizea didn¡¯t live so delicately that she was afraid to see decaying bodies. However, neither Lysia nor Viscount Agate looked at her with anxious gazes. The lid of the coffin was down to about the shoulder. The bodies had already been cleansed and were wearing a robe. The faces had light make-up on, so it was no different from live faces except that it was pale without blood. Artizea wondered how much care the funeral director would have had to fit the broken body and decorate the face. However, they can still afford to go through a funeral like this. In a real battlefield, it is probably a luxury to be put straight into a coffin. Artizea ced the medals that Lysia handed over one by one on the body¡¯s forehead. The medal was the size of a coin, and the coat of arms of Evron Grand Duchy was engraved. The feel of the skin touching her hand was as cold as wax. All of these people were killed by Artizea. It wasn¡¯t that she drove someone to death, but that someone died to protect her. Alice was the only one who¡¯s ever been like that. The coffin lids are closed. ¡°Good job.¡± Viscount Agate whispered words of encouragement in her ear. He assumed that the young Grand Duchess would have been shaken by those deaths. It was believed that nobles who had grown up weakly in the capital would have never seen a dead body. This might be the first time for her to see a death; cut and torn by knife and weapons, not a disease or anything. Artizea shook her head without any answer. A g was covered over each coffin. The coffins of the dead guards were covered with the g of the Grand Duchy by Cedric himself. And this time, the coffins of the new bodies were covered by Viscount Agate and other knights. Artizea wondered how many of these gs and silver medals were prepared in the warehouse. She thought she¡¯d go bankrupt with just that. There were several other victims. The coffins of the servants and their families who were murdered by Cadriol were wrapped in white cloth. The coffins were carried out. Knights were lined up from side to side. Artizea stood in the position of the master and waited until thest coffin went out. It was too cold to dig a grave. All of the coffins will be enshrined, and in spring they will be buried in their respective tombs of their hometowns. No one cried violently. No one even fired a gun. So the funeral was consistently quiet from beginning to end. The ringing bell of the priests drifted away. The bereaved family and friends followed. Two maids near the entrance distributed flowers made of white cotton to the people. As the little sobbings all went outside, silence filled the grand hall. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia carefully called Artizea. She couldn¡¯t see the face hidden behind the ck veil well. Cedric said she was weak, but Lysia couldn¡¯t tell if she was mourning, or if she felt nothing. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Your Grace should rest more.¡± ¡°What about Aubrey?¡± It was then that Artisea asked. Lysia stopped. But she was forced to answer. ¡°Aubrey is in the temple.¡± Great sinners are not allowed to enter the Grand Hall¡¯s funeral. This is because they are no longer a people of the Grand Duchy. The Jordyn family organized themselves and now it was temporarily enshrined in the temple like people who died of illness or other reasons. It will probably be transferred tomorrow without any delivery ceremony. It was fortunate that family members were allowed to attend. Artizea slowly turned around. ¡°Would you like to go?¡± It was Alice who first noticed where she was heading. ¡°It¡¯s not Madam¡¯s fault.¡± Alice said in a low voice. ¡°She was punished by the Grand Duke. Miss Aubreymitted a sin that deserved death.¡± ¡°I know. ¡° Artizea replied so. She did not intend to go in front of the coffin to apologize. She can¡¯t do anything to what has already passed. Cadriol¡¯s work was out of her predictable range. Artizea main job is to reduce the variables as much as possible and to move people within a predictable range. But just because she is Artizea, doesn¡¯t mean she knows everything in the world. The sacrifice thates from unexpected things is unavoidable. Artizea wants the variable to have as small variation as possible, and does her best to do so. However, she¡¯s not sorry because people¡¯s lives are precious. This is because the smaller the variable, the higher the sess rate of the n. When the unexpected sacrifices were made, the stance that she should take was not to grieve. It was to analyze the blind spot and adjust the variables so that it doesn¡¯t fail next time. And she seldom felt guilty about it. Because she didn¡¯t do it for herself. She didn¡¯t feel guilty about getting Aubrey out. That¡¯s a natural thing to do for Lysia. In the first ce, won¡¯t it be funny for a tool to sympathize with another tool? But today was different. Those who died today died for Artizea. For a two-year contract marriage, that is not worth it. And now she is responsible for all that. Now, because she was his wife, not secretly dealing with sin behind Cedric¡¯s back. So was Aubrey¡¯s death. She didn¡¯t have to die. Due to this, Evron Grand Duchy got divided. This was a variable that Artisea had not thought of. But she¡¯s ahead of all that. ¡®Only for today.¡¯ Let¡¯s be emotional. It was probably because she had seen a funeral she had never seen before. Artizea had never seen such familiar and restrained feelings of mourning. No, no one will get used to that feeling. It is not emotions, but procedures, that the people here have be ustomed to. Cedric would not have been used to it, forever. Even when she had driven Evron to ruin. The temple was quiet. This is because the priests were away to lead the funeral. Artizea left Lysia and the maids at the entrance to the temple. Alphonse lifted themp. The temple of Evron stronghold was smallpared to the number of people, the geographical and political importance of the stronghold. This is because there was not enoughnd in the castle. The chapel where Aubrey¡¯s coffin was ced was also small. Candles were lit only on the left and right of the chapel. The lid of the coffin had already been nailed. Instead of smooth white cotton, it was covered with rough, undyed fabric. In the middle, there was not a white flower, but a mistletoe with fruit that seemed to havee from somewhere. In front of her stood a knight in her 30s. ¡°Dame Mel Jordyn.¡± She was the eldest daughter of the Jordyn family. Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Ah, Your Grace.¡± Mel, who felt her presence, stepped back and knelt down in a hurry. Artizea had met Mel when she had juste here. It was when she was greeted by everyone on the trail. At that time, Mel looked majestic as a knight captain with one hundred knights under her control. After the Knighthood, she was supposed to serve in the fortress of Thold Gate. And, after gaining experience as amander in another region, she would have seeded Aaron in the future as Countess Jordyn, a vassal in the Grand Duchy. The ck d captain was no different from the other knights who attended the funeral today. The status of all of Count Jordyn household was forfeited. However, a trained knight is a skill that cannot be abandoned. Just because the punishment is applied, it is not possible to bring about an immediate power decline. For that reason, Mel had her epaulets covered with white cloth. She served as a knight, but lost her post and was demoted to amoner. Even now, instead of kneeling on only one knee and saluting, Mel knelt down on both of her knees and bowed. It is in ordance with the tradition of themon people greeting the Grand Duchess. ¡°Rise up.¡± Artizea said in a split voice. Mel stood up with her head down. It was a quiet and calm attitude. ¡°If I met someone, I thought I would see Margaret or Aaron¡­.¡± ¡°My father went out on patrol. My mother is sick.¡± ¡°At the age of Sir Aaron, patrolling would be difficult.¡± ¡°He volunteered. He wanted to pay at least a little bit for teaching his child wrong¡­..¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Having said that, Artizea looked at the coffin silently for a moment. ¡°Aubrey wouldn¡¯t be pleased about my visit, but I came because I thought it was right to send her.¡± Mel lowered her head. ¡°Thank you. It wasn¡¯t an honorable death¡­.. She was Your Grace¡¯sdy-in-waiting for a while, so if Your Grace would forgive her, that would wipe out Aubrey¡¯s disgrace a little.¡± Mel stepped aside. Artizea approached Aubrey¡¯s coffin and ced a white silk flower next to the mistletoe fruit. And she silenced for a moment. It wasn¡¯t pure condolences that caught her heart. Rather, it was aplex tangled dark emotion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Eventually Artizea said. She didn¡¯t intend to make it this far, and she won¡¯t make such an excuse. She has done countless things even worse than this, and she has never looked back on those deaths. She couldn¡¯t make excuses just because she was feeling sentimental. There¡¯s no reason for Aubrey¡¯s life to be heavier than someone else¡¯s. Mel said. ¡°Aubrey is a disgrace to Count Jordyn.¡± ¡°Dame Mel.¡± ¡°My parents and I¡­ raised her wrong.¡± Mel put her gaze down. ¡°It may sound only as an excuse, but Aubrey is a child born prematurely on the day we heard that the Grand Duke was purged.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°At the time, Evron was having a hard time and both of my parents had suffered a lot¡­ and felt a lot of guilt.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°On the day she was born, I knew they were worried about just covering her head with a nket. At that time, everything was opaque. I heard they thought it would be a burden to have a newborn child in the Jordyn family if there was a war with the imperial family. So it would be nice to just die when she doesn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°Dame Mel.¡± ¡°You did a good thing by saying sorry. You don¡¯t behave like the wives of the capital do, they wear pretty clothes, do what they want to do¡­¡­ As if to make amends for what happened then.¡± Mel said she didn¡¯t make amends, but was trying to make amends. ¡°One day, I realized Aubrey wasn¡¯t just immature, she was thinking of herself as the Grand Duke¡¯s Lady. I realized that it shouldn¡¯t be, but it was toote.¡± ¡°Regardless of how their parents raise them, people live by their very nature.¡± Artizea replied in a low voice. Mel replied. ¡°Yes. Some people don¡¯t change no matter how they were taught. Still, I regret it.¡± ¡°Dame Mel¡­.¡± ¡°She might have been a different child.¡± Mel shed tears. ¡°His Grace the Grand Duke had his first battle on his sixteenth, and so did my father. So, if Aubrey was armed and posted on the fortress walls of Thold Gate, she might have understood why Evron was loyal¡­. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She apologized to Artizea by bending her back. Her tears fell on the stone floor of the temple. Artizea sighed a long sigh. ¡°Dame was a good older sister. You don¡¯t have to doubt that.¡± If she regretted it, she wouldn¡¯t put Aubrey up as thedy-in-waiting, but Aubrey¡¯s blood was buried in Mel¡¯s hand. Aubrey¡¯s words of envy pushed down her throat. Aubrey had everything she wanted. Artizea knew that if she had been in Aubrey¡¯s position, there would be nothing else she wanted to have or wanted to do in the world. She had loving parents and good older sisters, so just enjoying that happiness would have been enough for her life. Artizea sighed again. Aubrey¡¯s life is far more expensive than Artizea¡¯s if she considers the sadness of the remaining people to be worth her life. However, in reality, several people died to save Artizea, and Aubrey is buried in a wooden coffin that cannot even soothe her parents¡¯ sorrow. When she thought about it, everything was in vain. The world was unfair and evil. Leaving Mel in her ce anding out, there was someone waiting for her. ¡°Did you finish saying goodbye to thedy-in-waiting?¡± ¡°Priest¡­..?¡± Although she had seen his face, she had never spoken with him in person. Artizea bowed her head and greeted the priest. The priest said in a low voice. ¡°I have something to tell you for a moment. Pleasee over here.¡± The priest beckoned her to follow him. ¡°Soon the other priests will be returning from the funeral. I want to say something before that, Your Grace.¡± Artizea was somewhat surprised. There was no reason for the priest to find her in such a hurry. Even more so, if he¡¯s a regr priest. Of course, the ranks of priests were different from those of ordinary people. Even noblemen usually treated priests with sufficient courtesy. Even people who have no faith at all, their speech spontaneously increased in front of the priest. The same was true of Artizea. So, there is now that says to not speak to her just because he is a regr priest. But Artizea was the Grand Duchess. Whenever they came to pray in a formal way, the bishop greeted them or at least a high-ranking priest greeted them. So, as they had no close acquaintance, she wasn¡¯t in the position toe and follow him. What¡¯s more, he has something to tell her when there are no other priests. The priest¡¯s body smelled like dirt and dust, as if he hade back in a hurry. His shoes also had mud on it. From the main entrance of the stronghold to the burial site, all roadwalks are paved with stone. The presence of mud means that he sneaked out through the back door. Or running down the side road. What was he trying to talk about? Artizea nodded lightly. And she followed the priest. Alphonse followed Artizea without a word. The ce the priest guided her to was his residence. ¡°Please wait here.¡± Artizea said to Alphonse at the door. ¡°Your Grace can regard me as a dead man.¡± He had already assumed that his life was nothing. As Cedric said, he was only here because there is more use of him, and in reality there is no morepetent escort. He remained determined to be with Artizea as a sword until the next moment he had to give his life. But Artizea shook her head. ¡°Stay here. The priest is scared.¡± That was true. Even to Alphonse¡¯s eyes, the priest was trembling. ¡°I will be at the door.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Then she went into the priest¡¯s room. The room was very small. There was only one bed that could barely beid down, one furnace, and a small desk with a candlestick. The priest rmended that Artizea sit down by turning the desk chair. And he himself sat down on the bed. The room was so small that it was only possible to maintain a polite sense of distance. Looking at each other like this, she could see the priest sweating cold under the dim light. ¡°Your Grace, I¡¯m sorry to be asking for such rudeness. I have found some important facts, but there is no one else to discuss with but you. As I see it, you¡¯re the only one that is not from Evron¡­.¡± The priest wiped his forehead with his sleeves. ¡°As Your Grace may have already felt¡­. In the North, the ties between the local people and the priests are so strong that they are worried about burying such a serious matter. So I had no choice, but to be a priest first.¡± ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on first.¡± ¡°Yesterday I was confessed by a farmer.¡± The priest clenched his nervous hand. Disclosure of confession to others is prohibited in any case, but this was too serious. ¡°It is said that the reason the war broke out this time was because they tried to cultivate the devil crop.¡± Once the priest had spoken, he poured out his words as if he had been relieved. ¡°It looks like it¡¯s called the Karam crop among farmers.¡± ¡°Is that such a big problem?¡± Artizea asked, as if she did not understand anything. ¡°I knew that sometimes poor farmers sow seeds on the field and then pick fruit or dig up the roots when they are famished. This kind of behavior can be forgiven once or twice.¡± The priest said, shaking his hand. ¡°The same goes for trading with Karam. It¡¯s what fools do to survive in a ce out of the reach of God.¡± ¡°Priest.¡± ¡°But this is a different problem. It is said that a vige on the north side of the Thold Gate was systematically researching the devil crop. It seems that some of the vassals of the Grand Duchy were involved.¡± Artizea looked at him, dimming her blue eyes. It seemed that there would be less than a day where she could be emotional. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Proofreader: somnium It wasn¡¯t something unexpected. The vige that was created to study the farming method of Karam crops consisted of about 20 households. There were norge families like ordinary viges. Still, the poption exceeded 80. It is not 80 trained soldiers or informants, but 80 ordinary vigers. It is strange that the information does not leak out. It would most certainly be best to kill all of them to cover their mouths. Nevertheless, there are two reasons for Artizea to not suggest killings; believing in the words of Hannah and Cedric that they can control information. The first is that Cedric cannot ept the means of annihtion. It¡¯s something they can¡¯t evenmit, anyway. Rather, as a result of that, if the confidence in oneself decreases and the liberty to speak is weakened, they will not be able to do what they should do at an important time in the future. Second, the traffic between the north and the maind was inconvenient. The second reason wasn¡¯t too small: There is virtually no way for the peasants living at the northern end of the colony of the Evron Grand Duchy, to leak that information to the maind. Evron Grand Duchy is a ce with poor traffic. The spread of information was also very slow. Even if one talks to those around them, it is unlikely that it will reach the maind across the wide Grand Duchy. Even if it arrives, it will be after the work in the West have already beenpleted by then. Perhaps there is an imperial spy inside the Grand Duchy. However, unless information gathered was targeting Karam crops and the northern town of Thold, the probability of finding out about this was low. ¡®A priest.¡¯ Hannah showed confidence in controlling the people involved. However, there is something that no one in the world can stop. It was a religious spirit. Perhaps the one who confessed to the priest had not even realized that he had leaked secrets. This is because, in the thought of a pious person, confession is not about shedding secrets. Like no one thinks that confessing the sins to God, who they pray to before sleep, would be revealing secrets. Of course, the priest who received the confession took a different position. ¡°Your Grace, the Temple defines Karam as the devil. Karam belongs to the devil.¡± The priest said with a righteous face. ¡°It is a felony that the Grand Duchy¡¯s vassals are trying to bring in the devils. Moreover, it is said that this is why the war broke out.¡± Forgetting that he was in front of the Grand Duchess, he swept his face with both palms. ¡°It¡¯s divine punishment. It¡¯s natural that we attracted the devils because we coveted the things of the demons. Unlike other times, Karam suddenly appeared beyond Thold, it must be because of that.¡± ¡°Have you spoken to the bishop?¡± Artizea asked with a low, soft voice. It was to know the policy of the priests. The priest shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him. The Bishop is a weak man. Besides, he is someone who takes the unity of this region more important than supporting the will of the temple.¡± ¡°I see. ¡° ¡°Of course, there are cases where it is unavoidable in order to survive, and I know that there are some people who help Karam.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve told him that we have to preach more intensely about the fact that it is forbidden. But the Bishop said that wrong good deeds are also good deeds. First of all, he is the one who always says that we have to live.¡± The priest once again stroked his face. But then there was a determination in his face. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m speaking to Your Grace. I know it well because I¡¯m a person from here. The bishops, the other priests¡­ maybe the majority will stay quiet to cover this for Evron.¡± ¡°Priest.¡± ¡°But this has led to war. How can I bury it? There must be someone who caused the war.¡± ¡°How does the priest want me to help you? I am ignorant of the situation here, and I don¡¯t know much about Karam.¡± ¡°Please tell the maind Abbey about this, Your Grace.¡± The priest bowed his head deeply. ¡°The Abbey is too far from here, and I think, even if I write a letter to the Abbey, someone in the middle is likely to intercept it.¡± ¡°Priest.¡± ¡°If the Abbey demands, the Bishop will not forgive the devil and the fool whomunicates with Karam for their own good. We have to find them out as soon as possible. We must not have the Evron Grand Duchy abandoned by God because of its vassals, do we?¡± Artizea still looked at the priest. There seemed to be no malice. He is sincerely concerned about Evron Grand Duchy. If this was known to the maind, it would have been unthinkable, the crime ofmunicating with Karam and emunication of Evron Grand Duchy. ¡®I¡¯m d you discussed it with me.¡¯ Artizea thought. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say anything right now.¡± She replied calmly. ¡°Because it is not yet clear that the cause of the war really is because of that. And¡­ the confessor may have said something wrong to the priest with a bad meaning?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to doubt the confessor¡¯s identity.¡± ¡°Okay, but if some of the Grand Duchy¡¯s vassals did something secretly, I couldn¡¯t interfere with it too quickly. It doesn¡¯t seem like a normal problem.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, first of all, I¡¯ll find out a little. Please keep this a secret until then.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace¡¯s careful words are correct.¡± The priest nodded. Artizea stood up and greeted him lightly. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again soon. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t see me off.¡± The priest stood up after her. Artizea left him in the room and went out alone. Thud. After closing the door, a sigh leaked out. ¡°Hooo.¡± Alphonse raised themp without saying anything. Artizea quickly stepped out of the temple. Priests are pretty troublesome. The temple had a considerable level of centralized system. It is impossible for farmers at the northern end to pass information to the maind, but it is very easy for a priest to contact other temples. For this time, the letter can be intercepted. But someday it will reach the temple. If Artizea responds in vain, this priest will no doubte up with a different way of sending the news. And the priest¡¯s words will be taken more seriously than the farmer¡¯s words. It¡¯s a shocking story for people from the maind to interact with Karam. It is possible that not only the Karam crop is a problem, but all themunication that took ce in Grand Duchy Evron will be treated as crime. If it were not the priest who was talking about this now, but some other person, Artizea would have simply killed them and bound their mouth. Because the dead cannot speak. But she can¡¯t do that against a priest. All priests have their names on the Abbey¡¯s list. If they die, they must tell the reason for their death. And if a priest suddenly dies for an uneptable reason, the Abbey will surely try to investigate the reason. ¡®If I had known one day earlier.¡¯ Artizea felt pity. If that was the case, she would have killed the priest with the weapon of the South Sea people, which was held by the dead Cadriol¡¯s men. If we said that it was the casualty that urred during the raid, would it have been possible to deal with it? However, the funeral has already been held, and the body could not appear immediately after this. It was fortunate that the priest had confessed. The priest appears to be a devout principled man who is faithful to the temple. So he wouldn¡¯t easily let the confession out. Anyway, the first thing to do is finding out the reason for the war. Artizea came out with a scary face. Lysia and the maids waiting outside the temple looked at her with anxious faces. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Your Grace? What happened inside?¡± ¡°When the funeral is over, tell Viscount Agate and Hannah toe to my ce. It doesn¡¯t matter howte it is.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia replied with a tightly tense face. Artizea quickly returned to the stronghold. The two people gathered in Artizea¡¯s parlor, well past midnight, and it was about 3 o¡¯clock in the morning. Artizea sat in front of the firece without taking off her mourning clothes. Her mind wasplicated trying to organize her thoughts. After everyone was seated, Artizea first asked Viscount Agate. ¡°What¡¯s the situation at the Thold Gate?¡± ¡°As far as thest messenger announced, there is no conflict yet. However, the number of warrior-ss Karam gathered in front of the fortress is estimated to be over 20,000 and under 25,000.¡± ¡°Generally, when a war breaks out, I know that a lot more would gather than that, but it¡¯s not even less than 20,000.¡± Lysia added more exnation. Artizea looked at Hannah this time. ¡°I heard something today.¡± ¡°Yes? ¡° ¡°They said that the war broke out because of the vige north of Thold.¡± Artizea said so in a cold voice. Hannah¡¯s face turned pale. She looked at Viscount Agate. Viscount Agate hesitated and looked at Lysia. ¡°Did the Grand Duke tell you to hide it from me? Or are you randomly hiding it?¡± Artizea asked in a cold voice. Lysia replied instead. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is about, but I know for certain that the Grand Duke has said to take good care of the stronghold.¡± Then Viscount Agate lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Grace.¡± Hannah jumped up and knelt down. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my fault. In the process of dismantling the vige, I identally kidnapped a child of Karam.¡± ¡°A child?¡± ¡°There was a new Karam vige not far away. It is said that children from both sides often yed with each other. On that day, in the process of dismantling the vige and moving residents, some of the children came into the Thold Gate together. The military officer who made the mistake said that he was wearing a hood covering his upper eye, so he thought he was mixed race and brought him in.¡± Artizea exhaled greatly. It was a sigh of relief. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Proofreader: somnium When the beacon rose from the fortress of the Thold Gate, it was the emergence of the variables that worried Artizea the most. As Artizea remembers, there was no war with Karam this year. So, is this a crazy butterfly effect of her actions? If that¡¯s not the case, was it because there was another person who had the memory before the regression, other than Cadriol? Artizea did not see the probability of the former as high. The likelihood that a person outside of Evron who is rted to Karam is near zero. The Western monster wave was thought to be a natural disaster. Karam is no different, because it was considered a kind of monster in all areas except Evron. As Artizea knows, she was still the broadest person ever toe up with new ideas among those involved in imperial politics. Besides, she had been devoted to giving Evron pain. She didn¡¯t even think that Karam could be the target of negotiations or politics until she came here and talked to Cedric. So it is unlikely what she did at the maind had any impact on the Karam. In other words, it meant that apletely unknown variable urred in Evron. Variables beyond her control are dangerous. However, if the cause of the war was the vige north of Thold, it meant that Artizea herself had an influence on this conflict. It is not a variable. The war itself was, of course, a problem. However, it was better than the appearance of an unknown variable. Artizea took a deep breath and looked at them. ¡°Does the Grand Duke know?¡± ¡°Yes, the vige guard went to the fortress at Thold Gate with the report.¡± ¡°I see. What about the child?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already sent it back.¡± ¡°But since it happened once, it is said that the extremist in Karam got room to gain advantage over the moderate one.¡± Artizea was lost in thought ¡°How did the vigers handle it? Hannah, I remember you being firmly confident that you could keep it confidential.¡± Hannah lowered her head with a pale face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. ¡° ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear an apology.¡± ¡°We will look for the suspect that leaked the information as soon as possible.¡± Hannah bowed her head. ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± ¡°Punish the perpetrator severely and warn the other not to let this happen again¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what will happen if this is known to the maind. I have already told you why I am dismantling the vige and trying to put the crop on the altar of the Great Abbey.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°A warning doesn¡¯t mean anything unless you kill everyone to cover their mouth.¡± Artizea said coldly. ¡°Your Grace¡­!¡± Lysia was startled and called her. Artizea shuddered. To be sure, there is nothing more than that. Half-hearted punishment and warning increase the likelihood of information leakage. It wasn¡¯t clear whether it would make any sense to investigate it now. Artizea touched her forehead. Viscount Agate said like an excuse. ¡°In the first ce, we were going to relocate to a suitable area and cut off contact with the outside for a while. At the time of the conflict, I went to the stronghold first to deal with the urgent matter, but after that, since Karam troops appeared here and there, we have not yet cleaned it up.¡± ¡°First of all, we¡¯ll have to deal with the residents.¡± Artizea turned to Lysia and asked. ¡°Will there be any room in the vige of the rebels?¡± ¡°Our vige?¡± ¡°Because the vige of rebels is the most secret ce in Evron. It would be nice if you could ept about 8 households.¡± First of all, the rest of the mixed family or their rtives are all right. This is because they had already pretended to be amon civilian. The words of rtives who have mixed Karam blood will not be epted publicly at all. So, hide the rest in the vige of rebels. The vige of the rebels is a ce where everyone hides together. The people there were most loyal to the Evron Grand Duchy. They will also have a sense of revenge for the imperial family. They will monitor the vigers north of Thold to keep information from leaking. ¡°You will have to get some support from the stronghold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not impossible.¡± ¡°I think it would be okay if it was a temporary residence. We have to discuss whether it will be eptable in the long term.¡± Artizea looked at Viscount Agate and Hannah. Hannah nodded her head vigorously. ¡°We can meet this winter, and we can solve the problem after it. In spring, we will relocate the entire vige to a secret ce as originally nned.¡± ¡°Is it okay to believe that?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t be so uncooperative. All of them have lived as neighbors with mixed Karam for several years. They have enough loyalty, I swear.¡± Hannah said. Artizea sighed a little. Loyalty and faith arepatible. Even the one who confessed to the priest this time would not be because they have ack of loyalty. Anyway, it¡¯s good. Now that information leakage has already urred once, it is safe to think that it is already known somewhere. As Hannah said, it¡¯s good if there is no information leaking again, or else it can¡¯t be kept secret, anymore. She had no choice but to have the Karam crop on the altar in the Abbey as soon as possible. The Western Grain Merchant Union must also be made quickly. Wherever the word karam cropes from, it can be regarded as a battle between grain vendors. Artizea said. ¡°I have to go to the capital.¡± ¡°Yes? ¡° Viscount Agate, Hannah, Lysia, all three looked at Artizea in amazement. Artizea said again. ¡°The sea is blocked, but thend is clear, right?¡± ¡°Bynd¡­ you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an easy road, Your Grace. Snow has piled up¡­. If you take a break in the carriage, it would take a lot longer than two months.¡± ¡°In addition, Karam is crossing the Thold Mountains. As you can see, the patrols are subduing them, but it cannot be said that it is not dangerous.¡± Said Viscount Agate. Hannah had other worries, too. ¡°There is a dispute at the Thold Gate, and if the Grand Duchess is away, the morale of the people may be lowered.¡± Artizea was also concerned about that. To be a good Grand Duchess, it would be right to remain in the stronghold. Artizea also knew that the master and his family could give pride and trust to the young people by protecting the stronghold. But that¡¯s too low of the profits when she thinks about what she can do to go to the capital. She doesn¡¯t know much about the protocol. Rather, unnecessary efforts and resources are put into protecting her. There will be someone who sees the Grand Duchess returning to the capital, not long after she has been married, as running away. However, such personal disgrace is fine. Among the few issues here, there is Karam who has crossed the Thold Mountains. Disputes are arising at the gate. A war will break out by any chance. She was not afraid of war. There were also concerns that Cedric would get hurt. However, such worries mean nothing, no matter how sleepless she may be. On the other hand, there are so many things that she can do in the capital at this moment. No one can touch the Grand Duchess of Evron at this time. If the Grand Duchess of Evron was identally ¡®touched¡¯ or betrayed and the Grand Duchy falls back, the next front line bes the Elia Wall. It means that it will be a waring to the imperial family and the central nobility. Instead, they will get enough military supplies andpensation. Wouldn¡¯t it be necessary to get as much as they sacrificed? She doesn¡¯t know what the naive ancestral Grand Duchess was like. But Artizea knew well enough to know what could happen if Evron was touched at this point. At least in their opinion, their lives are much more expensive than those of Evron. Shouldn¡¯t the gap be filled with gold? The same was true of the Great Abbey; while Evron is at war with Karam, they cannot emunicate the Grand Duchess. So now was the best time to harvest and manipte the seeds she sown. Everything she has to do is in the capital. In the meantime, she thought that she had to bring all the western troops that Cedric had given up. ¡°Make a n so we can get there in two months, Lysia. Before the end of winter.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°Go down to the south and do the work together. If you don¡¯t have enough troops, you¡¯ll have to organize a minimum of escorts and hurry.¡± ¡°No need, it is possible.¡± Viscount Agate replied. ¡°But before that, I would like to speak to His Grace the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea said. ¡°I will write him a letter.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Viscount Agate replied without concealing his embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯ste at night, so go and take a rest.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± Artizea first stood up. A rough outline of what she had to do in the future has already been made in her head. Now, she only has the priest to deal with it. *** It was three dayster that Artizea¡¯s letter was delivered to Cedric at the fortress at Thold Gate. ¡°Did you bring the letter yourself?¡± Cedric frowned lightly at Lysia, who handed the letter. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not a long distance from the stronghold. Her Grace said this is an important letter, so she wished I could deliver it myself.¡± There was also a slight suspicion that she was trying to pass Cedric to Lysia. ¡°She asked me to see the war with my own eyes and tell her. She thought that the Grand Duke might downy it when telling her¡­.¡± Having said that, Lysia looked over the wall. 20,000 Karam warriors. It¡¯s not a small number, but it wasn¡¯t enough to break through the fortress at Thold Gate. In general, it is said that attacking a fortress requires 3 to 5 times the troops of the defending side. The number of troops regrly deployed at Thold Gate was 10,000. When calcted arithmetically, there should be more than 30,000 Karam warriors to be able to fight against them. But it is a story between people. In fact, Evron has 10,000 troops to prevent 100,000 Karam. Karam¡¯s civilizationgged far behind that of the Empire. Karam¡¯s life span is about 40 years, even at the maximum. History cannot be umted because there are no letters and the environment is not capable of developing agriculture. Karam¡¯s tactics are childish, and their weapons are poorly developed. Compared to humans who already use guns, Karam is now barely starting to properly handle spears. That was the reason why Karam couldn¡¯t surpass Thold despite its excellent physical ability and survivability like a beast, fertility that is more prolific than humans, and the rapid growth of reaching adulthood in five years. However. ¡°A battering ram, is it?¡± Lysia stared nkly at the other side. They had a siege weapon. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Proofreader: somnium There were also two catapults, not just battering ram. Lysia looked at them with binocrs. All three were just a rudimentary machine. The wooden wheels were loose. Instead of capping the tip of the log with iron, a part which would hit the wall, it barely had an iron belt around it. The catapults were also poorly held together. The rebound will break itself. However, the design itself was refined enough. Above all, the fact that it appeared was important. Until now, Karam wasn¡¯t very dependent on weapons. They have the physical ability to climb the walls barehand. So, there was hardly ever a siegedder to be ced on the wall. However, this is the first time that aspect has changed. ¡°Siege weapon after guerri warfare¡­..¡± Lysia sighed. ¡°They¡¯re perfectly prepared for the war. I don¡¯t think the problem is the kidnapped Karam or anything like that.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re ready for war. If they did, they wouldn¡¯t have collected 20,000 at most.¡± Cedric¡¯s face remained rxed. ¡°Rather, I am curious about how they came up with such an idea.¡± ¡°They have been fighting at the Thold Gate for over a hundred years. Maybe they just realized that it¡¯s difficult with a naked body?¡± ¡°Rather than that, it¡¯s more likely that they learned from someone. If the first idea was to ??smash gates by hitting them with a log, they would have brought a log first. But they made a battering ram and also have catapults. I don¡¯t think Karam will be able to make something like that so suddenly.¡± ¡°You mean someone taught them?¡± Although there are trade routes, it is only at the level ofmunicating with gestures. It was impossible to exin the concept and share the design of catapult or battering ram, and to go to war with it. Cedric was silent. It¡¯s not that he had nothing to say, but decided to save his words. The same goes for both siege weapons and small troops crossing the mountain range and disturbing the borders. It was beyond the limits of umted Karam history. Life or wisdom. However, some of the Karams have crossed it. ¡°Anyway, 20,000 warriors are not enough to stage a siege properly. Karam probably knows.¡± The fortressmander intervened. Cedric nodded his head. And he opened Artizea¡¯s letter. The letter concisely exined what had happened in the stronghold. Of course, she omitted the story she heard from the priest. The information on the northern vige of Thold was leaked, and the information on the follow-up was written first. And as a result, there was a need to quickly create a grain merchant union, and the main point was that there were works to be done in the capital. Cedric was first suspicious when he was told that Lysia had brought the letter. He was wondering if it had something to do with Lysia leaving her ce. But when he looked at the content, it wasn¡¯t. To amodate residents of the vige north of Thold, who may have leaked information, with the vige of the rebels, was a reason that Cedric could ept. In fact, if she wasn¡¯t going to kill everyone, there was no better way. It seemed that Artizea had not yet decided for sure whom she could trust in Evron Grand Duchy. It would have been. It wasn¡¯t long since Aubrey¡¯s incident happened. Loyalty and trustworthiness are different matters. Cedric knew it now. Cedric folded the letter back and put it in his pocket. Later, the letter will have to be burned. There was some information that should not be put into the hands of others. He smiled bitterly. From the time they met in the capital to this day, they still exchanged a few letters, but none was left in his hand. Because all had to be burned. There was never a word written that was affectionate enough to be kept. ¡°I¡¯m taking a rest at the fort today, Lysia. I have to write a reply.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia nodded her head. ¡°But won¡¯t you stop her from going to the capital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about her traveling in winter, but I¡¯m sure Tia knows it already. Nevertheless, the purpose must be important enough to have to go.¡± Cedric said so. It is also important to make a grain merchant union and to put Karam crops on the altar of the Temple. Apart from that, Cedric was able to raise several advantages for the Grand Duchess during a dispute at the Thold Gate. So he could have guessed why she was going back to the capital. If so, all he has to do is support her. Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! The Karam began to beat the drum. Ka! Kak! Ka! Kaaram! The shouts of the Karam warriors united and shook the sky. Said Cedric looking down at it. ¡°I¡¯ll have to drag the confrontation a little longer.¡± ¡°Your Grace?¡± Cedric¡¯smand flustered both Lysia and the fortressmander. ¡°It¡¯s less than 20,000. That means that they didn¡¯t reallye together to fight a war. Maybe some of the forces havee to test whether the catapults and battering ram they made were actually useful or not.¡± The fortressmander¡¯s face was slightly hardened. Cedric was specting that way from the start. He was first reported as to what caused this dispute, However, it is a superficial excuse to tilt the scale further toward the extremist due to the kidnapping. Upon learning of the facts, Evron immediately sent the child back and provided a significant amount ofpensation. Nevertheless, this happened. ¡°Now, we can destroy all siege weapons with one or two bombardments. It¡¯s better not to let Karam know the utility of it at all, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Karam already knows the utility of the weapon and the meaning of tactics. If you break it down at once, you can create infight in Karam. But the end result will be the same.¡± ¡°The end result?¡± ¡°The second and third attempts will be made. Eventually, Karam will learn as well. That in order to destroy the walls, you can¡¯t do it with physical strength alone. Before that, we must be different.¡± You must have the power to pour out enough resources to stop itpletely or gain the power to attempt for peace. Cedric reached out his hand. ¡°Bring my great bow.¡± The fortressmander turned his head in amazement. One of the lieutenants ran. Cedric¡¯s bow was hung in the thirdmand post adjacent to the wall. These days with guns, it was more of a decoration. Cedric adjusted the string of the bow that was not used for a long time. He chose not to shoot a gun, but to shoot an arrow, because it could have a much more direct emotional impact on Karam. Guns are unknown to Karam. Fear may be instilled on them, but cannot serve as a reminder that a true warrior is here. Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! The drumming rang without stopping. The battering ram started to move. The fortressmander said with an anxious face. ¡°Are you really going to just leave them alone?¡± ¡°They can¡¯t threaten the gate.¡± Cedric hung an arrow on the bow. As the string was pulled, his whole body muscles were tense. ¡°After I shoot the second arrow, fire afterwards.¡± ¡°What about the catapult?¡± ¡°Leave one. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s functioning properly. All shields are in ce, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was Karam who moved first. ¡°Kak! Kaak!¡± Karam¡¯s warrior, who took the lead, yelled. ¡°It¡¯sing!¡± Someone shouted. A group of Karam pushed the battering ram and ran. Cedric let the arrow go. The arrow that flew away with a whispering sound was stuck in the center of Karam¡¯s big drum. Tong! The drum tore apart the shouting sounds. The second arrow broke the gpole standing next to the drumming Karams. The Karam was startled and paused for a moment. Shooting the drum urately with a bow across that distance and breaking the gpole was usually not something a warrior could do. The bombardment continued without missing the beat. Boom! The first bombardment broke the battering ram in one hit. Some of the Karam who was pushing the battering ram got caught in the st and became bloody. Boom! The second bombardment threatened the catapult. Cedric saw a young Karam standing near the gpole. The reason he noticed him anew was because he was looking exactly at Cedric. Cedric could not clearly distinguish Karam¡¯s face. This is because he had been away from the Grand Duchy for a long time. However, the Karam did not seem to be having the same problem. A meaningful gaze swept Cedric¡¯s face. Usually, Karam will not be able to clearly distinguish human faces. They can tell who is the head of the human beings by clothes, bows, and mood. However, this Karam¡¯s gaze was not simply a face looking at the head of the hostile forces. ¡®You know me.¡¯ Cedric caught the gaze. The inside of his chest was flickering. It had crossed the limit. Would it be better to kill it here? Or should he keep it alive? Is it the status quo or change to a different future? He wanted to know what Artizea would say. Karam warriors roared. The situation that almost became a battle entered into a confrontational situation once again. *** At that time, Artizea headed to the temple with only Alphonse. She wore a hooded fur cloak over her coat. In her hand, wearing thince gloves, she held a small handbag with jewels. She walked without a carriage, but no one asked why. Because she came out without anyone knowing. If possible, she wanted toe alone without Alphonse. However, unlike in the capital, she could not separate him. She didn¡¯t have Freil to take the ce of the escort, and Alphonse didn¡¯t want to be separated either. Alphonse insisted that if she doesn¡¯t take him, she should take at least two other knights with her. Alphonse was better than two knights. Besides, he followed her to the templest time. He has already seen the priest¡¯s face. When the Grand Duchess came to the temple without any notification, the apprentice priest at the entrance greeted with great surprise and bowed his head. Artizea spoke quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll just pray for a while, so don¡¯t let them know.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± The apprentice priest bowed his head. Probably not really a secret visit. It is not something to hide; that the Grand Duchess came to the temple and quietly prayed and left. It didn¡¯t matter that much. Artizea walked across the temple without taking off her hood. It wasn¡¯t the chapel or prayer room that she was heading for. It was the room of the faithful priest who told her about the Karam crop. Cedric was wrong. Artizea had entrusted the letter to Lysia in order to be separated from her. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Proofreader: somnium The priest was in his room. Originally, the life in a temple is like a mousewheel. It wasn¡¯t difficult to find out that the priest would be in the room at this time, even after just a day or two of observation. Furthermore, he was contemting aplex problem. It was fully predictable that the time he spent staying alone in the room would be longer. ¡°Your Grace.¡± The priest opened the door, and he bowed his head in surprise to see Artizea. Artizea nced at him to enter. The priest hurriedly went back inside. Artizea left Alphonse outside and closed the door. ¡°Sit.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Likest time, the priest sat on the bed. Artizea pulled the chair herself and sat down. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed a little of what the priest has said.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. There was a vige on the north side of the Thold Gate, where mostly families of mixed Karam lived.¡± ¡°It¡¯s terrible.¡± Hearing the name of mixed Karam blood, the priest made a cross. Just thinking about it seemed to make him shiver. ¡°The Grand Duke is too weak in heart. It is much more benevolent of the father or mother to dispose of the seeds of sin quickly.¡± Artizea hid the bitter smile. And she said with a serious face. ¡°Just being thrown out of the temple will be punishment enough for them.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a punishment. How dare the devil put his foot on the temple?¡± ¡°Priest.¡± Artizea sighed a little. ¡°The Karam mixed race created a vige north of Thold. Well, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s important. Even if someone else has helped them, how can a person easily ignore a family member or rtive?¡± ¡°Yes¡­. I understand Your Grace¡¯s heart. But¡­.¡± ¡°Please pardon the individuals, but I think I can¡¯t forgive a vassal who did this without even the Grand Duke¡¯s knowledge.¡± Artizea said in a soft voice. The priest nodded his head. ¡°The Grand Duke will also know about this. It is the cause of the war, so he can¡¯t go into it without knowing the fact. I will find the person who caused it and punish them.¡± ¡°Ah! That¡¯s right! Good thing.¡± ¡°But, things aren¡¯t good right now. Some time ago, there was an incident with the Jordyn family, and now there is a threat from Karam at the Thold gate, so you will have to be cautious.¡± ¡°I know what you mean.¡± ¡°Did you write a letter to the Temple in advance?¡± Asked Artizea. The priest nodded. ¡°Then, give it to me now. I¡¯m going to the capital soon, but I won¡¯t deliver that letter right away.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what do you mean?¡± ¡°If Priest bes aware of new news or has an important cause that needs the letter to be delivered to the Temple immediately, please contact me again.¡± That¡¯s what Artizea said. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make sure to deliver Priest¡¯s letter to the Temple right away.¡± ¡°But what if the news is intercepted or someone maniptes it?¡± The priest said with a face full of concern. Artizea smiled little. In her opinion, only Freil and Ansgar were the only ones who had the right heads in Evron Grand Duchy. Ansgar wouldn¡¯t be involved in this matter. However, the key point was that the priest thought so. Artizea opened her handbag and pulled out a silver seal from within. ¡°I¡¯ll give you this.¡± ¡°Is this Your Grace¡¯s seal?¡± ¡°I used it before I got married.¡± When Artizea said so, she showed the shape of the seal. It was a seal engraved with a vine rose pattern that would be used by premarital youngdies who did not have any rights to the family. ¡°If you press here like this, the pattern changes.¡± After Artizea pressed one of the ornaments on the seal, she showed it back to the priest. Part of the bottom engravings of the seal have risen. As the petals of the vine rose were turned into reliefs, they were almost the same, but changed the seal into a different feel. The border has also changed. ¡°This is what I used when I got a private letter from a friend that I didn¡¯t want to show my mother, Priest.¡± She said it was her friend, but the priest soon understood what she meant. What kind of person Mira was, even a priest in this distantnd heard rumors. She was a person who would tear open and inspect her daughter¡¯s letter. ¡°I got it back because I don¡¯t need it anymore, but my maid knows this changed seal.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean. If I have anything serious to contact, I will stamp this seal and send it to Your Grace¡¯s maid.¡± ¡°Yes. Then it will be delivered to me intact.¡± It was aplete lie. Artizea never had a separate seal or anything else before the marriage. She only informed Alice of the pattern of the seal this time. It was in order to ept the letter if there was any real contact from the priest. Of course, it was very unlikely. It¡¯s because she doesn¡¯t really give it to be used for sealing. This seal was equipped with an borate device. When she shows it to the priest, she has pressed the other decorations first so that the pattern changes safely. Instead, if anyone just pressed one of the decorations that Artizea had taught, the stinger was supposed to pop out. It was thin and short like iron hair, and it was like a thorn that was difficult to find even if it was stuck in the hand. If he is lucky, he will survive. If he believes that Cedric will deal with this properly and forget about today, the priest can live. If he puts the seal deep in the drawer and never takes it out, nothing will happen. However¡­ ¡®Maybe, you¡¯ll not survive.¡¯ Artizea thought so. The priest will surely try to contact her. It was a matter of faith. It is difficult to believe even if he swears to keep a secret, but he was the one who had contacted Artizea because he zealously thought that he had to inform her of this fact even in difficult circumstances. He will surely try to inform the Temple about the Karam crop. He will eventually die. What¡¯s the point of leaving a ray of possibility of survival? ¡®Because it¡¯ll be an alibi.¡¯ Artizea thought of an excuse. At the moment the priest dies, she herself will be in the capital. No one can connect her with that death. Actually, it didn¡¯t mean much. This poison barely leaves any trace. If they performed an autopsy, it will just determine the cause, which is poisoning. However, there is no one who will do so just because a single priest died suddenly here. So anyway, this was all Artizea could do for her own emotionalfort. It was like relieving guilt and pushing responsibility to the victim, saying that it wasn¡¯t her responsibility they died, but their fault. ¡°Thank you very much for your consideration. I¡¯ve been thinking for a long time whether or not I should talk to you, but I think I did the right thing.¡± The priest said with a somewhat rxed face. ¡°Believe in His Grace and wait. I hope that the priest will keep the faith in people as much as the faith in God.¡± Artizea said so. Then she put a pretty thick letter from the priest in her bag and came out again. ¡°Go in, Priest.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Grace.¡± The priest bent down to his waist and bowed deeply. Artizea turned around. She suddenly remembered what Cedric said. [When we go together, we will be able to find the right way.] When he said that, what would be the right path he was drawing in his mind? She guessed it vaguely. Moreover, Artizea knew that he didn¡¯t seem to be able to go to the capital with her. ¡®I have to go back to the capital.¡¯ She thought nkly. Anything like a person¡¯s life can be used as a chess piece, a pocket of gold coins or a ce where a plot is made can be used to take one step closer to the throne. That is where she will be. In the capital, she doesn¡¯t have to feel this hesitation anymore. In a one-eyed world, only the one-eyed is normal. Her ugliness will also blend in among the countless despicable ones. Rather, she hoped so. *** The first thing Artizea did when she returned was to take the priest¡¯s letter out of her handbag and read it. There was little to keep in mind. There was a story about the fact that some of the Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s vassals had attempted to grow Karam crops using the residents and the fact that a Karam mixed blood was living there. The priest added his usual thoughts to the end. [There are many people here who are pure and sincere, but far from the Word of God. The vassals of the Grand Duchy are also loyal and courageous, but they don¡¯t seem to know what¡¯s important. The Grand Duke has been away many times, so there are many ces where his eyes cannot reach. Not a few of the people here sympathize with the devil¡¯s seed. Sometimes it is mixed with ugly and dirty blood, and emunication alone is not a sufficient punishment. There are not enough temples in Evron Grand Duchy. That is why people are wandering even more without knowing the right path. In order to take this situation into ount at the Great Temple, please send several priests to discipline the people and teach the doctrine to knights and officials¡­] Artizea read through and threw the letter into the firece. The letter burned in the fire in a sh. She picked up the fire poker and meticulously scattered the ashes. It was a habit. Perhaps there is no one in the stronghold who could pick up the remaining pieces of paper from the firece and match the letter. If there was such a person, she wanted to recruit them. Knock, knock. There was a knock at the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Artizea replied inly. She had called Alice, so naturally she thought Alice hade. However, the door did not open right away. Artizea wondered and stood up. When the maids knock, they will say ¡®it¡¯s Alice¡¯, but she can¡¯t hear them say anything. Is it someone else? ¡°Ah. ¡° The door opened before she opened it. Artizea was startled and almost jumped. Cedric was smiling with an awkward expression across the door. As if he had juste from the outside, his cheeks, struck by the cold wind, turned apple-colored. The cliffhanger X_X Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Proofreader: somnium Artizea stared up at Cedric in a daze. ¡°May Ie in?¡± Cedric asked as Artizea hesitated. Artizea stepped back in confusion. She didn¡¯t think he couldn¡¯te in or that she would hate it, but she was so surprised that she just wondered what this was about. It was four days ago that Lysia left. She was told that it took three days on horseback to go to the fortress at the Thold Gate. So she thought it would take at least three or four more days for Lysia to return. And there¡¯s no way Cedric can return at this point. The dispute could not have ended so swiftly. It was not a problem of returning the kidnapped Karam child. 20,000 warriors gathered. When that number is gathered, it doesn¡¯t end by saying,¡¯The situation is over, so scatter¡¯. Individual interests, interests between forces, and other interests will be intertwined. Most of all, if they have gathered that much, they will think that they have to fight. ¡°What happened? When did you arrive?¡± ¡°I just got here.¡± He would. Cedric was wearing a windbreaker cloak covered with dust and snow. As soon as he entered the stronghold, he seemed to go straight to Artizea¡¯s room. Cedric said. ¡°Originally, I was going to write a letter, but the word seldomes out.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°There are some things I need to tell you, some things I¡¯d like to discuss with you, but I couldn¡¯t write the first sentence. That¡¯s why I just came.¡± ¡°Are you having a big problem with something?¡± She asked so nervously. She couldn¡¯t ept Cedric¡¯s words saying that the first sentence could not be written literally. She wondered what more perplexing and serious things had arisen that couldn¡¯t be exined with more than just a few sentences Cedric smiled and looked at her. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a serious problem that I need your advice, but I¡¯ll put it off first. This is more urgent.¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea blinked her eyes. ¡°I wanted toe see you before you left for the capital.¡± Half was true, the other half was a lie. This is because there was no need toe in such a hurry if he were justing to see her. But it was true that he wanted toe. Cedric opened his arms and embraced her. Because he moved so slowly, Artizea could tell that she would be hugged by him. But, knowingly, she was startled and stiffened her body. A soft touch pressed over her lips. By the time she realized it was a kiss, he had already had her feet in the air. ¡°You got lighter?¡± ¡°That, I don¡¯t.¡± Artizea barely replied. Cedric lifted her lightly with one arm and unbuckled his dusty cloak with his other hand. The belt and coat, with his sword and gun hanging from it, fell to the floor. Artizea impulsively bent her body and wrapped his face with her two hands. Cedric¡¯s face was a little cold. It was because he was outside with the cold wind for a long time. ¡°Are you busy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°How about your body? Do you feel sick?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not sick.¡± Artizea said, trembling her body. It seemed that her body temperature had risen a few degrees. She even felt hot at her eyelids so she couldn¡¯t keep her eyes open properly. Cedricughed. ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to hold out if you¡¯re in a bad condition likest time.¡± The end of his words became a whisper. His hot breath was mixed up with hers. Cedric put Artizea down on the bed. *** When Artizea opened her eyes, it was dark everywhere. Her body was hot. It¡¯s been a long time since she slept so warmly. To be precise, it was the first time ever since she got off a shiping to Evron Grand Duchy. In the port city, she was so exhausted that she was in a state of fainting rather than sleeping. Interestingly, it made her realize, by the temperature more than the feeling, that her body was falling asleep in contact with Cedric¡¯s arms. Her body was quitefortable. She could hardly feel the stiffness of her fingers or the soreness of her shoulder, which was usually painful every time she woke up. ¡°Uh¡­¡­¡± Still, the sound of pain came out. Her muscles, which she usually didn¡¯t know existed, appealed for their presence here and there. The bed rocked. Artizea looked back subconsciously. Cedric, lying next to her, reached out his arm and lit a candle. And he turned his body toward Artizea. Artizea stared at his face in a vague mood. It was still an unrealistic feeling that this man was lying next to her. Then Cedric stretched his arms towards her. Cedric¡¯s arms were lightly wrapped around her stomach. Artizea closed her eyes tightly. She could hardly open her eyes and look at him. ¡°You can sleep if you are confident that you could sleep until morning, but it would be better to open your eyes for a while. It¡¯s still evening.¡± A soft voice prated into her ear. A trembling passed over Artizea¡¯s skin. Cedric caressed her cheek this time as she closed her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you¡¯re asleep when you¡¯re up.¡± His arms were wrapped around her waist again. Artizea was dragged to him. Cedric hugged her tightly once more, and poked her. She waspletely awakened. When she tried to open her eyes, Cedric¡¯s face was in front of her. Artizea had her eyelids down again this time. Cedric¡¯s hand swept her hair. ¡°If you don¡¯t open your eyes, I¡¯ll kiss you.¡± It became a situation that she could escape or not escape. Artizea hesitantly raised her eyelids. Cedric didn¡¯t keep his words. That¡¯s because the moment their eyes met, he touched her lips again. It was only after Artizea¡¯s body, unable to breathe properly, lost strength that his lips fell. Cedric put himself down on the pillow and hugged her on top of him. Artizeay down for a while, with her shoulders bent. Cedric made anguid face. Unlike the drowsiness and fatigue when he was tired, it looked like he was buried in bed and hated to get up. Artizea looked at the face in an unfamiliar mood. She knew for the first time that he could have such a face. Her stomach rumbled. She didn¡¯t think it was an empty stomach, but she was very hungry. It was unusual for her to feel hunger like this, so she felt strange. Then Cedric threw hisziness away and sat up. He then scratched his messy hair. ¡°Should we eat?¡± ¡°¡­..Yes.¡± Perhaps he heard the rumble, Artizea¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯lle back.¡± ¡°Call someone. The maid will be waiting.¡± ¡°I have to change my clothes anyway. And¡­ I feel like I don¡¯t want to be disturbed now.¡± Artizea was able to understand his words. It was dark and warm inside. The white fur on the wall reflects the light of the firece and candles, turning the room into a warm color. The warmth was like an afterglow. It was a heartfelt and desperate space, as if there were only two of them left in the world. At that moment Artizea knew, she wished that time wouldst forever. If there was nothing in the world, only she and him existed, she would be able to be happily buried in his arms as it is, with no more thoughts, no more sin, no more shame. However, they cannot help but open the door. Cedric stood up. And from the bed, he picked up the coat and boots that fell here and there. ¡°Where¡¯s the key?¡± He asked, pointing to the door that was connected to his bedroom. Artizea sat up carefully, covering herself with a nket. It was because she was too embarrassed to answer while lying down. ¡°Next to it, it¡¯s in a drawer.¡± Artizea pointed to the small decorative table next to the door. Cedric opened the table drawer and pulled out the key. The locked door opened. Cedric left the door open and crossed over to the room over there. A cold wind blew through the open door. There was a sound of him throwing a pile of clothes on the floor and him pulling the string. As it got colder, she wanted to lie back with the nket on, but Artizea carefully got out of bed. When she saw the cold airing in from Cedric¡¯s bedroom, she wasn¡¯t sure about going through the dressing room to look for pajamas. If she called the maid, they would prepare her bath water and even bring her clothes to dress, but she didn¡¯t want to. Putting a robe over her bare body, Artizea approached the firece. She then filled the kettle with water and hung it on the fire. Soon Cedric returned with a te of sandwiches and a bottle of milk in one hand. As soon as the door closed, it warmed up. ¡°First of all, eat something simple. The butler said he¡¯d prepare a proper dinner and would bring it here but I told him not to.¡± ¡°This is enough for me. But for Lord Cedric, this may not be enough.¡± ¡°It would be on my side if I didn¡¯t eat and itsted long.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about survival skills.¡± Artizea said as if it were absurd. Cedricughed lightly. ¡°Whatever you want to eat, I can bring it from the kitchenter. Sit down. Would you like to wait for tea? Or have milk?¡± ¡°I like tea better.¡± Cedric brought his teaware. Artizea sat in front of the firece and watched him move. The bare feet in his slippers stuck in her eyes. ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± It was a gaze that meant nothing. She just became unfamiliar with the realization that they had be a real couple. Cedric made tea. Artizea put the sandwich cut into bite-sized pieces in her mouth. Artizea didn¡¯t like cold food at all, but she felt unsure now, perhaps because of her warm body. There were boiled egg whites and apples cut thickly between the mashed potatoes and yolk. It tasted fresh whenever she cut it with her front teeth. It was slightly stimting to see if there was a little mustard. ¡°You want milk in the tea?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Cedric poured milk into a ss and poured a thick tea on it. Artizea gratefully epted it. And sheughed. ¡°Our Grace Grand Duke Evron is taking care of tea.¡± ¡°If you put it like that, it¡¯s water boiled by Marchioness Rosan.¡± Cedric smiled. She ate a couple of sandwiches and thought she would get some sleep afterward. Artizea could only ask. ¡°By the way, was it really important to run here in such a hurry? What about Lysia?¡± ¡°She wille slowly. I was in a hurry because I was worried that you would leave immediately without waiting for my reply.¡± Cedric replied, putting sugar in the teacup and stirring it with a spoon. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Proofreader: somnium Artizea lowered her eyes down with an embarrassing face. ¡°I was going to wait for a reply.¡± But Cedric¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be said to be wrong. What Cedric was talking about wasn¡¯t just a letter. It was because he meant whether she was going to leave without thinking about Cedric himself and saying goodbye. She was going to do that. She was going to leave without seeing his face again as much as possible. She thought she needed to keep her distance. If she went to the capital, she may not meet Cedric for a while. Then, she will be able to strengthen her mind a little bit. She will be able to get rid of the anxiety and greed a little from her heart. The cold wille back. Artizea thought it would. She thought she shouldn¡¯t havee to Evron Grand Duchy. It is not a matter of whether the variables she has created have caused conflict or that the loyalty of the Grand Duchy has been cracked. Artizea herself is shaking. She wants to settle down now. She lost confidence to sacrifice even a little humanity left. She was trying to not be a hypocrite. There is a conflict whether or not it is necessary to kill for efficiency. That doesn¡¯t mean that the blood from her hands was washed away. There are a few left to be killed anyway. Minimization of sacrifice is only a reduction. The sacrifice does not disappear at all. If the efficiency gets worse, the damage eventually increases. Artizea was able to calcte it. Her red hands couldn¡¯t be whitened just because she took a drop of blood off from the start. She knew it, but she was worried that she would be caught by him right now. And he would hate it, so her hands and feet were heavy. It¡¯s stupid. Isn¡¯t she happy to sleep next to Cedric? She came to do something he couldn¡¯t do. She did so even thinking about the future. She should also think about after Cedric wears the emperor¡¯s crown. Artizea wanted to put away those who would interfere when he began to rule as much as possible. Before she leaves. But now, she wasn¡¯t sure she would be able to leave when the timees. When she had just returned to the past, Artizea had a perfect picture of the future that she had envisioned in her mind. The right emperor and the good empress, who love each other, work together to change the world for the better. It must have been the mostplete imperial figure the whole Empire wanted. But now she was in pain and couldn¡¯t even think about it. When she can¡¯t think of the future, she can¡¯t design schemes. So she had to leave. Artizea felt like her mind waspletely in a mess. That was the only useful part of her. ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric reached out his hand and touched her cheek and chin lightly. Artizea was lost in her thoughts, and she raised her head in amazement. A light kiss came down to reach her. She couldn¡¯t even think about it. The moment his lips fell, Cedric swept her lower mouth with his thumb as she exhaled a long sigh. ¡°Can¡¯t you just think about me now?¡± Artizea again turned her gaze away embarrassingly. She was in trouble because she could only think of him. ¡°What¡¯s the situation at Thold Gate?¡± ¡°Are you talking to me right now?¡± Artizeaughed awkwardly. She then pulled the teapot and refilled her empty cup. ¡°That was where you¡¯re supposed to be.¡± ¡°Even if I say I wanted to talk and look at your face before you leave, you¡¯d argue that¡¯s where I belong, right?¡± ¡°Somehow, you seem to be a little bit harsh on me today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault.¡± Cedric lowered his head lightly. Artizea turned her head away before being kissed by him. ¡°I think it¡¯s Lord Cedric¡¯s turn to talk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your side that¡¯s being harsh.¡± Cedric decided to give up by kissing her on the cheek instead. ¡°You¡¯re at war, can you leave like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not in a state of skirmish. After the first fight, Karam retreated outside of engaging range.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re going to retreat?¡± ¡°There seems to be a different purpose.¡± Cedric calmed his mind after a sip of tea. And he said, ¡°Karam made siege weapons.¡± Artizea looked at him in amazement as she tried to put another sandwich in her mouth. ¡°Did Karam have that level of technology?¡± ¡°No. The siege weapon they made this time was practically useless. The battering ram was broken in one shot, and the catapult was inurate, and it smashed after flying the rock three times.¡± Cedric said. ¡°But the design itself was aplete and functional catapult. The craftsmanship of the cksmith who produced it was terribly poor.¡± ¡°You said it was the first time that a small troop crossed the Thold Mountains and attacked. Considering that it took time to cross the mountain range, they didn¡¯t just recklessly cross. Instead, they went over it and hid for a while, and thenunched an attack concentrating on the Thold Gate¡­¡­. Two unprecedented things have happened.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about the possibility of having an insider? Since there is an exchange, someone among humans may have given information about tactics or weapons to Karam. In order to keep Lord Cedric in check or to harm Evron Grand Duchy, it is possible that someone has given the information to Karam. It¡¯s something you could do.¡± Artizea asked to confirm. Cedric denied. ¡°I think that¡¯s unlikely. Because no one can speak thenguage. It is impossible for humans to enter thend of Karam and gain enough trust from the ruling ss to incite a war if it is based on a simple trade or personal rtionship ¡° ¡°What if it¡¯s a bribe? It¡¯s like giving money in exchange for threatening the Thold Gate with the right force.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a very human point of view.¡± Cedric smiled faintly. ¡°Karams don¡¯t value gold and silver. The most valuable things here are food and winter supplies. It¡¯s difficult to cross the mountain range without being noticed carrying enough resources to move Karam¡¯s ruling ss.¡± It was what Artizea thought. If that amount of resources has moved from the maind to the north, it will inevitably get caught in the informationwork. If the resource was scarce in the north, it would have been more noticeable. ¡°Then, do you think some Karam personally learned human tactics and persuaded others to do it?¡± ¡°In fact, it¡¯s hard to think of any possibility other than that.¡± Artizea took a breath. If so, he must be the ¡®returned person¡¯. Evron was first defeated when Artizea plotted to oust Grand Duke Roygar. Eventually, Cedric won a miraculous victory by killing the king of Karam. However, the consequence remained. The fortress at Thold Gate, which had once copsed, was not as solid as before. It was pierced once again after Lawrence became emperor. Lawrence was different from Emperor Gregor. Emperor Gregor wanted to use Evron Grand Duchy more thoroughly. To do that, Evron was kept alive. He spared the young Cedric to seed the Grand Duchy and restored the predecessor Grand Duke and his wife¡¯s honor by reinstating them. He did not stop supplying supplies. However, Lawrence did not be a cool-headed politician. Originally, he hated Cedric. Not only was he temperamentally unfit, but he also unterally hated Lysia, obsessed with inferiority and jealousy after marrying her. After Lysia¡¯s death, the supplies to Evron Grand Duchy werepletely cut off. Even the business trade was banned. Unlike Emperor Gregor, he wasn¡¯t trying to control Evron by using food as a strategic leverage, but because of hatred he intended to kill Evron. No matter how much Artizea warned, it was useless. Still, Cedric struggled for years. However, as a result, Evron perished. Cedric lost his base and wandered with the Knights. Since Lysia was also dead, he would have no more reason toe to the capital. The border was substantially re-established at the Elia Wall, the southern border of Evron. The empire became in need of enormous troops and armament. This is because Evron¡¯s know-how, which has been blocking Karam for over hundreds of years, has been lost, as well as the military key point of the Thold Gate. Protecting that border helped make the empire impoverished. Later, as the systempletely copsed, the border itself became obsolete. Karam had upied the north. At the time, she didn¡¯t think much about the result. The north is a uselessnd. What Artizea was worried about at the time was the political unrest arising from Cedric bing the centerpiece of the anti-emperor faction. In the end, it was only a matter of power struggling within the empire. However, if you look away and think about Karam¡¯s part, it bes apletely different problem. At the time, there was no such thing as an action to evict Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s locals behind the Elia Wall. No matter how low the poption density, the number of inhabitants was not small in terms of the entire territory. The fact that Karam upied thend did not mean that it massacred the locals or created a colonial system to iste them. If so, there would have been exchanges between those who survived and Karam. Exchanges took ce even in the situation when it was blocked by the Thold Mountains. Therefore, if they live in the samend, the amount of exchange will increase and the quality will increase rapidly. In a situation where exchanges are scarce, what kind of Karam suddenly realized that he had to learn humans¡¯ technology and studied tactics? In that way, rather than thinking that something that had never before happened suddenly, it is more reasonable to think that the Karam who had learned when in contact with a new civilization has returned. It was the emergence of a variable that Artizea was most concerned about. ¡°It was the same with retreating immediately after the first skirmish. Normally, Karam, once the battle begins, they be heated and couldn¡¯t see ahead. Since retreating is very dishonorable among them, there is hardly any strategic retreat. Rather, themander said he had never seen such a quick retreat.¡± ¡°The fortmander is in his 50s, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Since he has been in the front line since histe teens, he has been fighting Karam for more than 30 years.¡± ¡°Then, I can¡¯t say that it was a shallow experience.¡± ¡°Yes, it can be said that a Karammander with that level of control has emerged.¡± Cedric said. ¡°I can guess who it is. I saw it on the wall.¡± Artizea was lost in thought. Cedric continued. ¡°When I first heard that you were going to the capital, I thought you¡¯d take the time. If a small squadron of Karam had attacked beyond Thold, and there was even a siege weapon, even if it wasn¡¯t actually a situation here, it would be taken as a big problem in the capital.¡± The capital will be tense by maintaining the deadlock. The funny thing is, the Evron bes a target that cannot be touched even more. A war is a war, even if it does not engage in active engagement and is just a sit-in. Supplies will run out quickly, and troops will be damaged. Cedric was willing to take it and expand the range that Artizea could operate. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Proofreader: somnium Cedric said. ¡°But now that I can specify who led this development, the problem is a little different.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve got a negotiable person.¡± Cedric nodded vigorously at Artizea¡¯s murmur. ¡°It¡¯s hard to think that those who understand humans that much and have the influence of gathering 20,000 warriors will appear again in the near future.¡± If, indeed, such a person appears, conversation bes possible. Whether it¡¯s sessful or not, it will be meaningful. ¡°On the other hand, if we kill him, Karam¡¯s development will take a big step backwards. If failed experiences umte, it will be difficult to try new things again. Due to the nature of Karam, whose history is not easily umted, one failure remains only as a failure, and there is nothing new from it. It will take a long time for them to learn.¡± Artizea smiled even though she said so. ¡°It seems like you have already made a decision in your mind.¡± Cedric smiled awkwardly. ¡°Yes. I want to talk to him. The only problem is with what you are doing in the maind. Right now, domestic politics is urgent and dangerous.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take me too lightly. Of course, if there¡¯s a war, then it¡¯s no different from starting to y poker with three aces, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t solve the problem.¡± Artizea flicked her finger. ¡°And besides, the priority is wrong.¡± ¡°The priority?¡± ¡°The work I am trying to do couldn¡¯t take precedence over Lord Cedric¡¯s will. What the Emperor decides for the future of the empire is the national decision, nothing precedes that.¡± Previously, Cedric asked if a process without results was worthwhile. Artizea had her own answer to the question. The process without results is not worthwhile. Nor does purposeless means move circumstances. Power without the purpose does not produce. So Cedric¡¯s purposees first. Acquisition of power is only a means. Artizea had lived with her means and purpose reversed throughout her previous life. She knew it only before she died. Now she was a means to serve Cedric¡¯s purpose. So she was able to firmly answer him. She didn¡¯t have to put off what Cedric was trying to do for her scheme. Cedric¡¯s face turned a little red. Artizea asked with a slight smile. ¡°You¡¯re not going to say that you¡¯re still not prepared or you¡¯re going to think about itter, are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± He just started to feel weird about the fact that she considered him her master. He was captivated by the thought of whether he could handle it. However, she felt closer when she was held in his arms. And he knew now that feeling wouldn¡¯t be wrong. ¡°I tried to assist you, but I¡¯m going to get assistance. It¡¯s going to be a lot of political pressure. Can you stop the Great Temple?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, in the maind, there are very few things that can¡¯t be done with money.¡± The Temple is corrupt. Enough to forge a trust. In fact, it was a simpler opponent than the noble family, a blood-rted group, in that she could move with power and wealth. She has several cards to negotiate with the Temple. The problem was different from the Karam crop. Growing Karam crops is an active eptance of Karam, which bes an offensive card that allows the temple to emunicate Evron Grand Duchy. However, it is a military issue to have a dialogue at the Thold Gate. There was not much justification for the Great Temple to intervene here. As amander, Cedric had full control over the conflict area. The power of Grand Duke Evron in wartime is powerful. In order to slow down the war, for the operation, for the ceasefire, for the exchange of prisoners, it is natural to contact themander of the opposing army. The Temple cannot interfere unless they have the authority to order Evron¡¯s army to throw their entire lives away. Of course, there will be bacsh. Cedric will be happy to bear the political burden for the dialogue. And it will be a thrilling cornerstone of the north in the future when he wears the emperor¡¯s crown. Problem that needs to be faced head-on is different from a problem that needs to be bypassed. Instead, Artizea thought that she would have to raise a turmoil in the capital. The more she messes with domestic politics, the more free Cedric will be. Cedric nodded his head. ¡°Okay. Then I¡¯ll try to draw the wartime tension as much as possible, and try to engage in the negotiation as if it was an unavoidable crisis. I¡¯ll leave the supply of supplies to you.¡± ¡°Now you know how to think about cheating.¡± Artizeaughed. Cedric smiled bitterly. And he stretched out his arms. ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea was pulled to him and held in his arms. Cedric patted her head lightly. ¡°There is no reason to overdo.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to fail. In the worst case, Evron Grand Duchy will remain. Then you can start over. So don¡¯t let yourself, mind or body be broken.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay. You¡¯re a wise person, so I¡¯m sure you understand what I mean.¡± Cedric tapped Artizea¡¯s head lightly, pressing it against his chest. At first Artizea was straining her body tightly. But she didn¡¯t want to get out of Cedric¡¯s arms. The serious conversation was over, and her thoughts stopped. In his steadfast arms, her strength soon ran out. As she leaned against Cedric¡¯s chest, she heard the beating of his heart in her ears. Hearing the sound of his heart and the sound of the crackling and burning of firewood in the firece made her sleepy. What she ate was already digested, and she was no longer hungry. ¡°So now that you¡¯re here, I have to talk to you about it. About the Jordyn family.¡± ¡°Dispose of them as you wish.¡± ¡°Can I do that?¡± ¡°Even if I didn¡¯te, don¡¯t you already have a n about what to do?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Just do it. I¡¯ve already left the stronghold to you. It seems better for you to do it yourself than getting it turned around a few days after I¡¯ve given the punishment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also true.¡± Cedric¡¯s hand caressed her ear. ¡°Are you sleepy?¡± ¡°Yes¡­.. Are you going to depart for Thold tomorrow?¡± ¡°I have to. I can¡¯t be away for long.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea tried to hold her eyes half open. With Cedric¡¯s early-morning nature, he will probably leave tomorrow before she even opens her eyes. Then she won¡¯t be able to meet him for a while. If her luck was really bad, this could have been thest time. Or even if she¡¯s really lucky, this could be thest time, too. She thought it would be better to leave without seeing his face, but she felt disappointed about it. Cedric¡¯s hand covered Artizea¡¯s cheek. Artizea grasped his top with strength in her hand as she was about to fall into sleep. Then Cedric hugged her and carried her to bed. Artizea slightly woke up from her drowsiness, as shey her head on the pillow. Cedric said. ¡°Do you not want to fall asleep?¡± ¡°A little bit.¡± ¡°Then I will make you sleep well until morning.¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned red. *** The next day, as expected, Cedric wasn¡¯t there when Artizea opened her eyes. The key to the door between the two bedrooms was in the keyhole. Artizea gently touched the key. When she turned it halfway, the key was unlocked. Artizea locked it and she released it again. Then she threw the key back into the drawer. It was in the afternoon that Lysia returned home. She, too, came in with a new reddish face after greeting the cold wind. As soon as she came in, the first thing she did wasin to Artizea. ¡°Please stop His Grace.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°We started traveling together, but he ignored all the knights and went alone. His Grace¡¯s horse is an excellent horse, so if he runs that fast, no one can catch up. What if there were more Karam troops when he went alone there could be a bigmotion¡­.¡± ¡°I see. He¡¯s on his way back?¡± ¡°I ran into him in the middle.¡± ¡°Oh no. The knights must have gone back without a break.¡± ¡°Yes. It would have been okay if he didn¡¯t rush so much. He could havee here slowly. I know he¡¯s doing that because he wanted to see Your Grace quickly, but if that¡¯s the case, he can be gone a few more days¡­¡± Artizea looked at Lysia awkwardly. However, Lysia didn¡¯t seem to care about the fact that Cedric hade to see her like that. On the contrary, she said it with a light smile. ¡°When Your Grace said you were going to the capital in such a hurry, I wondered if it would be okay to inform him with a letter. Of course, the two of you would have spoken enough, but it happened only a few days ago. Besides, you¡¯re a newlywed¡­¡± ¡°Oh, well.¡± ¡°There is a difference when it¡¯s a distance you can go in a few days and the distance you can¡¯t.¡± Artizea turned her head and said. ¡°I heard that the war situation is stable.¡± ¡°Yes. Unless there are more reinforcements on the side of Karam, it will be fully controble. It¡¯s a relief. I think it would be okay if His Grace stayed here a little longer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there will be work for him to be done at this opportunity. So do I.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Lysia looked at her with a slightly sad face. She didn¡¯t know Cedric¡¯s purpose, nor Artisea¡¯s purpose, but she only guessed Artizea was being chased by something. And that Cedric is trying to catch it. Both Cedric and her father would always tell her that she had eyes to see the truth. Lysia didn¡¯t believe that she had that power. If she had, she would have already understood what the thing was, and she would have been able to settle it over for Artizea. Said Artizea. ¡°Go and rest. You look tired.¡± ¡°You have to be angry with His Graceter. He shouldn¡¯t walk away from the knights.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Artizea smiled. It was then. Sophie came in and asked. ¡°Madam, Dame Mel Jordyn, Dame Fiona Jordyn and Dame Haley Jordyn are here.¡± ¡°Take them to the parlor. Tell them I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll pick up the tea.¡± Sophie politely greeted and went out. Lysia tilted her head. ¡°Did you call Mel?¡± ¡°Yes. Would you like to meet them with me?¡± Lysia briefly looked at herself and her outfit. She didn¡¯t change her clothes, so she wore cotton trousers, a thick sweater, and a fur leather vest. Her hair was tied tightly so as not to get in the way. Now she looked at herself, she was not like thedy-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess. Of course, she didn¡¯t care in front of the sisters of the Jordyn family, whom she knew well from an early age. ¡°If Your Grace is not ashamed of me.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go together.¡± Lysia stepped forward and opened the door in front for Artizea. As they went into the parlor, the three sisters knelt at the same time. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Proofreader: somnium Mel was still in the knight¡¯s outfit with an epaulet. However, Fiona and Hayley were dressed in in clothes made of undyed cotton, and their hair was tied with a headscarf. Unlike Mel, who maintains her position as a Knight, these two were now officiallypletemoners. Strictly speaking, she was lower than Sophie, who works in the castle. ¡°Don¡¯t kneel.¡± Artizea shook her hand. She then sat down and offered three people a seat. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down.¡± ¡°How could we.¡± ¡°You hope you could.¡± The three people exchanged nces with each other. There was no way to know what caused Artizea to call the sisters. The sisters did not me Artizea. It¡¯s not like they didn¡¯t know what Aubrey had done. On the contrary, the third daughter, Hayley, whose age difference from Aubrey was small, expressed her hatred towards Aubrey, saying that there will be something toe. [How many times did I tell you not to pamper her around like that? I¡¯ve told you since I was a kid that she¡¯s the one who kept thinking beyond her ce.] Mel couldn¡¯t say anything to Hayley, who was so angry. However, even so, there was sadness and suffering. She was anxious too. She did not have any other thoughts, as a knight of Evron. However, Fiona, who is inherently timid, had be sensitive. Aubrey¡¯s fault is wrong, but apart from that, she also had her own husband and children. She couldn¡¯t harbor a feeling of resentment. Hayley was a bit sharper in reason than the rest. It was easy to guess that the reason Artizea invited them was because of the anxiety of Evron¡¯s stronghold. ¡®She¡¯s not going to ask for responsibility, right?¡¯ Aubrey was already dead, and Jordyn was punished. What else can they do with the impact left behind? In addition to their rights, their obligations disappeared. The sin ended by being punished. Mel, who is responsible for the Count¡¯s n as the family¡¯s eldest daughter, may be a little different, but for Fiona and Hayley, they had nothing to inherit. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve heard the news, but in a few days I¡¯ll leave this ce and return to the capital.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mel replied as a representative. ¡°I know that it is possible that it will increase the anxiety of the people. Probably, it is not desirable to the Dames. At this time, when the Grand Duke himself guards the fortress of Thold Gate, the Grand Duchess uses thend route in winter to leave the Grand Duchy and returning to the capital would seem as if I was afraid of the conflict and abandon the people to run away.¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare think about it that way.¡± Mel was very serious. Artizea shook her head. ¡°I know that everyone¡¯s mind is not the same. There are rumors that I was trying to run away with the South Sea people. It¡¯s worth misunderstanding because I¡¯m leaving in the midst of that.¡± Artizea said bitterly ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The rumors were no different from what Aubrey¡¯s in the end. So all three of the sisters bowed their heads. ¡°I¡¯m not ming the Dames. That¡¯s what the situation is.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the desire to be the honorable Grand Duchess. I may nevere back to this estate again, but there shouldn¡¯t be any resentment reaching the Grand Duchy or breaking the Grand Duchy¡¯s unity.¡± Even Lysia was surprised by this. ¡°So Dame Mel.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° Mel responded politely. She couldn¡¯t guess at all what Artizea was talking about. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to be mydy-in-waiting?¡± Mel opened her eyes wide. Artizea smiled without knowing it. This is because Mel¡¯s face looked more like Cedric than Aaron or Margaret. ¡°I¡¯m not going to bother you talking about Aubrey. I know that she¡¯s been guilty of a crime, but it¡¯s a personal deviant behavior. More to say, it will only hurt the hearts of the Dames.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°The punishment imposed on the Jordyn family was decided by the Grand Duke himself, so I can¡¯t turn it over here. Besides, Margaret took responsibility and resigned, so I can¡¯t call it back. I think it¡¯s the right choice, Dame Mel.¡± Fiona and Hayley took a breath. ¡°As mydy-in-waiting, I would like you to take the role of overseeing the Grand Duchy on my behalf.¡± That way, she can virtually reinstate the Jordyn family without touching Cedric¡¯s punishment. Of course, the title cannot be returned immediately. The same is true of the men that were handed down to Aaron and Margaret. However, if it was thedy-in-waiting of the Grand Duchess, the position was never lower than the count. The people of the Grand Duchy would consider this to be the return of Jordyn County. Any vassals and people who sympathize with the Jordyn family will be delighted. ¡°But.¡± Mel stuttered a little. ¡°I am the blood rtive of a great sinner.¡± ¡°Dame has washed the shame of the family and proved your loyalty. You are good at military affairs, know the situation of the Grand Duchy, and are trusted with confidence by myself and others, so there is no one but you. This does not hurt the people and honor the Jordyn family. It will be an opportunity to regain the trust of the vassals as well as to restore it.¡± Mel lowered her head. ¡°That¡¯s more than I can say. If it is the management of the stronghold, the Grand Duke has already left it to Viscount Agate.¡± ¡°The Grand Duke left it to Viscount Agate because he thought I would be here. He told him to assist me because I didn¡¯t know anything about military affairs.¡± However, to control not only the stronghold, but also through the entire Grand Duchy, military capability alone cannot be sufficient. ¡°Dame knows the history of the Grand Duchy and has been assisting next to Aaron and Margaret for a long time. In the future, as Countess Jordyn, you are going to stand right under His Grace the Grand Duke, and as a knight, you will be able to cope with military issues. There is no one more suitable than Dame Mel.¡± Artizea¡¯s will has been fully conveyed. Fiona and Hayley looked nervous and looked at Mel. ¡°Would it be difficult?¡± Artizea asked again. In many ways, there was no better solution than this. But Artizea herself is Aubrey¡¯s enemy. If Mel couldn¡¯t take it emotionally, she couldn¡¯t help it. ¡°No.¡± Mel replied with a hoarse voice. ¡°A Jordyn¡¯s daughter hasmitted a sin against the Grand Duchess, and Jordyn¡¯s daughter will repay it. Even if you offered for me to serve just as yourdy-in-waiting, I would be willing to devote my life to it. But I¡¯m d you offered me honor.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea said quietly. She meant it. If Mel doesn¡¯t ept the offer, she¡¯s leaving an element of anxiety on the Grand Duchy. She spoke to Fiona this time. ¡°I hope that you will help Dame Mel to take care of the Grand Duchy together. The reason I called the three together is because this is not a suggestion to the individual Dame Mel, but rather because it is a story that I wanted the entire Jordyn family to return. I hope you understand my true feelings¡­.¡± And Artizea finally looked at Hayley and said separately. ¡°Dame is single.¡± ¡°Yes. ¡° ¡°If your heart permits, I wish you would follow me to the capital as mydy-in-waiting.¡± Hayley¡¯s face instantly blushed with excitement and then turned white again. ¡°The Jordyn family has lost its title. It is within the Grand Duchy that Mel was thedy-in-waiting, and in order to take the ce, she needs the status. But in the capital, someone like me to be recognized as yourdy-in-waiting. I think it is difficult.¡± ¡°Hayley, don¡¯t say that. If you put it like that, I¡¯m from¡­¡± Lysia intervened. Artizea beckoned her not to say any more. It was because she didn¡¯t like getting the storyplicated or cumbersome in that way. ¡°Lysia¡¯s problem, Dame Mel¡¯s problem, after all, are within the Grand Duchy far away from the capital. It¡¯s not because the Grand Duchy is downyed, but what¡¯s important in the end is how many of Evron¡¯s vassals go with me as mydy-in-waiting.¡± ¡°Do you mean that it is possible to create trust by force while showing to the outside how strong the Grand Duchy and Your Grace are?¡± Hayley asked provocatively. Artizea looked at her with a slightly surprised face. It was because Hayley identified the former, but also understood thetter and had pinpointed all of her own intentions. To create trust by force. That¡¯s right. In short, taking Hayley as herdy-in-waiting included checks and hostages against the Jordyn family. Artizea smiled. ¡°Now that you say so, that makes me really want to take the Dame.¡± Hayley politely bowed her head. ¡°I will follow you.¡± ¡°Hayley!¡± Surprised Fiona raised her voice. It also has a different meaning to follow to the capital. Whether Hayley meant to be loyal to Artizea or to follow her as a hostage, it was inconceivable for Fiona. Hayley ignored Fiona. ¡°Because trust between people doesn¡¯t just arise. And I know how important the people who will be next to you in the future are. Thank you for giving Jordyn the opportunity to earn trust even after the betrayal.¡± ¡°A capable and tactful person is always wee. Like the Dame¡¯s words, there was a desire to forcibly build trust with Jordyn, but more than that, I am interested in the Dame.¡± Hayley stood up and knelt on one knee in front of Artizea. *** Artizeastly met with Margaret. Margaret was terribly haggard, but she politely greeted Artizea. ¡°I have nothing more to say, because I even brought up a foolish child and caused Your Grace to go through a terrible thing that Your Grace should not suffer. I will not be able to pay back with my life. I am sorry.¡± It was their first time meeting since that day. Margaret said so, dripping her tears to her knees. Artzea raised her by grabbing her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She couldn¡¯t say more, but Margaret washed Artizea¡¯s hands with tears, as if that was enough. All the people who heard the Dames¡¯ news were delighted. Cedric¡¯s punishment was in effect and she was still deprived of her title for three years. However, she did not believe that Mel, who became the Grand Duchess¡¯dy-in-waiting, would not inherit the County. As a result, the punishment was diluted and the Jordyn family was forgiven. In the Grand Duchy, it was believed that Jordyn¡¯s long loyalty had been rewarded. Some people still felt anxious. But Artizea knew that once she had left, most would soon forget what had happened. Because that is human nature. If you create a familiar situation where people can feel safe, people will settle down. And it is not surprising for the people here that Mel seeds Aaron and Margaret. Three dayster, Artizea finished her preparations and left Evron¡¯s stronghold. A winter wind blew throughout her long return. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Proofreader: somnium Society Golden liquor poured out from the fountain installed in the middle of the banquet hall. Peopleughed at the drizzles of alcohol rubbing against them and avoided the fountain. A group of young men lifted up a woman and headed to the fountain. ¡°Wait! Wait! Are you really going to put me in there?¡± ¡°Did you not call for a bet earlier? You said you were going into the fountain.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t saying I was going to get drunk!¡± ¡°If you fall into a fountain outside, you freeze to death.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to be drunk¡­ kyaak!¡± The young men threw the woman into the fountain without hesitation. The light-colored dress sucked the liquor and turned it yellow. The woman crawled out of the fountain and threw off her shoes. ¡°Suck my toes!¡± One of the young men knelt in front of the woman, as soon as the words were over, andughter burst out. No one was upset that she had ruined the alcohol. There were only victims one after another. Peopleughed as if it was something really funny. Then, instead of dipping a ss in the fountain, they drank alcohol that flowed from the top. Food was piled up everywhere. The sound of the band¡¯s performance was buried inughter and promiscuous jokes. Even though it was close to midnight, the candles were lit so brightly that it looked like broad daylight. Thin silk draperies hung from the ceiling were lit up and shone like jewels. Young beautiful women wearing butterfly-shaped masks that cover only their eyes, holding the veil and dancing, went round and round. At first nce, the men were struggling by a glimpse of their appearance. Among them, the most beautiful was Mira in a golden dress. Even if she covered half her face with a mask, her appearance was unique. The mask, decorated with gold and precious stones, was gorgeous, but the jaw line and the mouth exposed under it were much more beautiful. Her head, raised to reveal the nape of her neck, was decorated with diamonds, shining every time she moved. It looked brighter when the light of the diamond shined on the skin, which was naturally white and lively. Mira was a beauty sitting on thep of the Emperor. But the Emperor was not a power over her, for her beauty alone was enough to be the queen. Even by a tweak of her finger, worshipers rushed in. Behind her, there were a lot of men who would throw their bodies in front of her, even if she criticized and mocked them, if they could brush their hands on Mira¡¯s hand, even if it robbed them of their fortune. ¡°Liquor! Sweet!¡± As soon as Mira shouted in her cheerful voice, more than ten sses of sweet rose wine and honey were served out. An anticipation-filled gaze turned to Mira. Because she repeated twice that she would dance with the person who brought her favorite drink. With an arrogant gaze, Mira looked at the sses one by one. And she gently found a jewel in thest cup held from behind as the owner wrapped her body. ¡°Ho.¡± Therge ruby ??contained in the white wine reflected red light, turning the ss pink. Even if the pearls were melted and made into a drink, it wouldn¡¯t have been nicer than this. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s difficult.¡± Mira pushed the cup with her hand. She smiled at the man standing behind it. Of course it was the Emperor. He was wearing a white mask that covered his entire face, and his clothes were something in and modest. But no one else knew who he was. Who dared to wrap up Mira¡¯s body so naturally? However, Mira, who pretended to not know him, slipped out of his arms. It¡¯s obvious who¡¯s who, but at a masquerade, it¡¯s aw to pretend you don¡¯t know. The Emperor followed her in a rxed footsteps. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you dance with me when you get a pleasing drink?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°I have to force myself to get it.¡± Like a mermaid, Mira roamed inside the banquet hall. A silk veil curled around her body like a wave of water. The Emperor stretched out his hand as if he was anxious at her moving away in a distance to not get caught. Mira sneaked up on him. The Emperorughed and flipped the wine ss over her shoulder. The ruby went into Mira¡¯s clothes. The women holding the veil covered the two with it. Anyway, the banquet itself was created for the Emperor¡¯s entertainment. The Emperor held a banquet for Mira, but all the banquets he attended became a banquet for the Emperor. Even more so if it was opened for pleasure and entertainment. Everyone looked away from the couple without knowing. Mira¡¯s hand came out of the veil. Then she squeezed the wrist of one of the women holding the veil. The gaze from the crowd gathered, turned to the woman and then fell again. Soon the woman was dragged into the veil. *** Rye sat at a table on the second floor of the banquet hall, looking down at the scene. ¡®This is a struggle.¡¯ He may not be the only one who felt that way. All the luxuries and depravities of the world were in this banquet hall. Rye has lived a life that is not very clean. He killed, bought and sold people for money. If only his family and his colleagues were okay, the lives of other humans were casually thrown into the pit. It was such a degenerate banquet hall that all the corruption he had seen and suffered up to this time felt light. However, perhaps minute-by-minute, gold coins were disappearing in this luxurious depravity seemed like an impulse to live disappearing in the slums where he had lived. Last night, Mira came to visit him with a pale face. [¡°Is it really true that there are no spirits in this mansion, Master?¡±] [¡°What are you so afraid of?¡±] Rye said, embarrassingly. He did well as the necromancer that Artizea demanded. He did a little too well. Mira was thinking that he was really a psychic with great powers. Once she started believing, the more Rye denied, the stronger Mira¡¯s faith became. She called Rye a master and admired him. Rye¡¯s room was also assigned in the Rosan mansion. Even though he refused a few times to no avail, Mira asked him to stay there. The butler who now manages the Rosan mansion was the one chosen by the Emperor¡¯s attendant. Because Mira believed in him, he didn¡¯t drive him out. However, the butler didn¡¯t hide the sign that he would catch the trick and y along until this scammer showed a slip. Rye was anxious and ufortable. He didn¡¯t stop by as often as possible. But that didn¡¯t go so well. He must somehow maintain Mira¡¯s trust until further order. Mira was anxious. And he was afraid. [¡°When my daughter was around, everything went well. Well, of course, not everything went as expected, but His Majesty didn¡¯t dislike her that much¡­ I thought everything would go well if it was staying this way.¡±] [¡°Isn¡¯t the Dowager Marchioness still the Emperor¡¯s most beloved one?¡±] [¡°I¡¯m anxious. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going crazy. Nothing goes the way I thought.¡±] Mira said as if clinging on to him. [¡°I think all that happened after my daughter left. After that, nothing good happened. Is there really no evil spirits in this mansion?¡±] [¡°No such thing, madam.¡±] [¡°You said that old spirits stay in old mansions. And if the spirits here are the souls from the Marquisate Rosan, it¡¯s nothing strange that they¡¯re cursing me.¡±] She had never thought about it when she had Artizea there. There was anxiety about her beauty fading. However, the Emperor favored Lawrence, and would not abandon her, the mother of his beloved son. It was different now. The Emperor still cared for Mira, but the mask of family was cracked. Lawrence frequently met and greeted the Emperor. He was called to important meetings as often as before. However, unlike before, the three ceased to have meals together. It was initially Lawrence¡¯s fault. He visited the Empress¡¯ pce more often than visiting the Emperor with Mira. And now the Emperor did not bother to call Lawrence. Mira has lost herposure. Like her youth, she produced all sorts of splendor and tried to entertain the Emperor. The period of being a leisurely wife was over. The Emperor also knew that she was desperate. That is why he often held banquets tofort her and bought whatever she wanted. But that was not enough. Ultimately, the favor must be received by Lawrence. Only then can she live with peace of mind that she will not be thrown away forever, but will Lawrencee back as her son just because he bes Emperor? She wasn¡¯t sure. It would be fortunate toe back after he bes the adoptee of the Empress and bes the crown prince. But it seemed unlikely. Artizea left the house altogether. She left a mansion and pension, but even Mira knew it was to cut ties without noise. Mira was afraid that she was left behind in the Rosan mansion. [¡°Still, my daughter is the line of the Marquis¡¯ blood. If the spirits started cursing because of her leaving¡­¡±] [¡°The soul has no power to curse people, Dowager Marchioness. It is people who curse people.¡±] The reason Mira was in jeopardy was Artizea. But Mira wasn¡¯t smart enough to pinpoint the cause-and-effect of all that. But she just felt that everything started to go wrong after Artizea left. And after being stuck in the Rossan mansion, she wondered if it was because the Marquisate¡¯s souls cursed her. Rye came to the banquet because Mira asked for it. If there is someone that cursed her at the venue, or if there is an evil spirit from the imperial pce, he was to let her know. ¡®It¡¯s better to live, Rye.¡¯ Rye thought so and chewed the peanuts as snacks. He drank all the luxurious spirits he would not have even smelled if it were the original standard of living. It was when he was about to get up. Mira approached. Instead of soaking wet with alcohol, she wore a thick gown, and the mask changed to in white covering the entire face. But Rye could recognize her right away. In the first ce, Mira wasn¡¯t a figure that could cover her face so hidden. ¡°Master.¡± Rye didn¡¯t listen to her. ¡°Don¡¯t behave like you know me in a ce like this.¡± Rye went out in a hurry. He doesn¡¯t know if Mira left the Emperor alone or if she left him in the arms of other women. He shouldn¡¯t have known. This trust has really risen to a dangerous level. Artizea¡¯s instructions were needed. And fortunately, she was expected to return soon. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Proofreader: somnium Artizea arrived near the capital at the end of February, and it was about March. It was about a month and a half journey. It was possible to shorten the period a little more than originally expected. This is because Artizea reduced the load to move quickly. She moved by buying all of the necessary items, giving away or throwing away what was no longer needed. Evron was still covered in snow, but the capital was already warm. It waspletely spring to those who live in the North. Artizea did not enter the capital immediately. She rented a whole inn in a nearby town and stopped for now. Before she went to the capital, she wanted to know what was going on. Upon receiving the call, Freil and Ansgar headed straight there. It was Hayley who greeted the two. ¡°No, Dame Hayley.¡± Freil was startled and called her. Hayley shrugged her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. And it¡¯s not ¡®Dame¡¯ anymore. Have you not heard the news?¡± Freil tilted his head. Hayley sighed. ¡°Well, the Grand Duke is in his estate, but it wasn¡¯t important enough to send a messenger to the capital to inform it. Did you hear about the war?¡± ¡°Yes, I know that well. Because there was a report in the pce. Is it true that Karam made a siege weapon?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll tell you more about itter. It¡¯s not that serious.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Dame Hayleying here because it¡¯s a serious situation?¡± Ansgar said to Freil¡¯s question. ¡°I think Dame Hayley came as the Madam¡¯sdy-in-waiting.¡± He knew that Artizea was nning to choose herdy-in-waiting from among the vassals of the Grand Duchy. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what it is.¡± ¡°Her Grace has a vision to see people. I¡¯ve always been thinking that Dame Hayley is not just someone who will only end up as an administrator.¡± Freil said. Hayley was one of the few whomunicated well in the stuffy and uptight stronghold. ¡°But you managed to be convinced. You don¡¯t want to deal withplicated affairs.¡± ¡°There was a situation where I had no choice but to do so. Go to the parlor first. Her Grace is taking a bath right now, so she wille out a littleter.¡± Freil and Ansgar looked at each other. They knew Artizea is not someone who keeps people waiting that way. That meant they had to hear about the stronghold from Hayley before greeting her. All three were the ones who could notice it. Hayley led the two to the room where it was used as the parlor. And she gave a brief summary of the news of the stronghold. The twomented at the news of the Jordyn family. In Ansgar¡¯s case, he had seen Aubrey since birth. He even wiped away tears lightly. Freil didn¡¯t know Aubrey well because he wasn¡¯t from the stronghold. Thest time he saw her was 3 years ago, at the time Aubrey was 15 years old. He thought she was an immature little girl. He simply felt sorry for the Jordyn family and the circumstances. But apart from that regret, Freil said calmly. ¡°It was time for a generational change. Dame Mel took over at the right time. Evron is also about to change.¡± ¡°For the sake of Her Grace?¡± ¡°Do you know what I¡¯m talking about, Dame Hayley? Just by showing loyalty and following quietly, it¡¯s hard to survive.¡± Said Freil. Having been on a mission to collect information in the capital, he fully understood the urgency of the situation. ¡°Sir Aaron and Margaret are also faithful and capable, but just hearing the name of the imperial family, they tend to shrink their body. Dame Mel is highly knowledgeable and conservative, but she is younger and more flexible than Sir Aaron. In addition, Dame Mel will be morefortable for His Grace the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Yes. I think it was right for my father to retire first. My father has never had any other intentions, and also showed unchanging trust to the Grand Duchy, but it is to the credit of his predecessors he got to sit firmly. It¡¯s not always afortable existence.¡± ¡°Besides, Sir Aaron and Margaret, both of them tended to feel like they were supposed to take care of the Grand Duke and the other children¡­¡± Ansgar muttered to himself. He was no exception. Freil said. ¡°When ites to serving Her Grace, it is not enough to be loyal because the Grand Duchess has chosen you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not thinking that far yet. I¡¯m ady-in-waiting, but in reality it¡¯s close to being a hostage.¡± ¡°Dame Hayley¡­¡± ¡°Jordyn has a betrayal history. It is natural that Her Grace wants to be prepared just in case.¡± Hayley said so, added. ¡°And I¡¯m going to see now whether the Grand Duchess is a loyal person.¡± In her view, Cedric was an emotional idealist. He had nothing wrong with his ideals, but it was unrealistic. As Grand Duke Evron, he could maintain the status quo, but anything more than that was difficult. Hayley thought that was also possible because Evron Grand Duchy stood in a special position. Hayley loved her family and wanted to make the Grand Duchy a good ce. However, the trust in Cedric was partial. She had loyalty, but her loyalty was not personal and passionate, but more of a childlike instinctive level of affection for thend to which she belonged. In short, if the security of the Grand Duchy and the safety of her family are at odds, she will choose her family without hesitation. It waspletely different from the loyalty of Mel or the other knights. But Artizea was a little different. What she demanded was to think and move beyond the boundaries of what is called Evron Grand Duchy. The mutual trust to the Grand Duchy, that was as blind as what a child felt, was broken. Cedric seemed to be starting to see reality as well. Hayley thought it was better. Unless the goal was only to survive while remaining subordinate to the maind forever. There is no better means than self-preservation to let them touch and rely on their wounds to make them feel attached to each other. If they stayed as they were, they would have held each other and sank without any change or development. Hayley was giving up Evron. That is why the junior administrators were satisfied without any objection. But if it could be different, there was no reason not to change. Freil smiled. He could fully understand Hayley¡¯s mind. Both Freil and Hayley were aware of the problems of Evron Grand Duchy. However, he wasn¡¯t enough to get ahead and change Evron. Even if his status was a little higher, it would have been the same. In the end, the only thing that can make Evron different is Grand Duke Evron. ¡°Anyway, Dame Hayley is here, so I¡¯m reassured.¡± ¡°¡¯Dame¡¯ doesn¡¯t fit her status anymore.¡± ¡°Then, should I call you Miss Hayley now? Or Lady Hayley?¡± ¡°At this age, Lady is a little too¡­¡± Hayley had an embarrassed face. While having such a conversation, Artizea came in. Lysia followed after her. The three stood up from their seats. Freil and Ansgar politely knelt on one knee to greet them. Artizea gave Lysia and the others time to greet for a moment. She sat down at the top and offered everyone a seat. ¡°Sitfortably.¡± ¡°You had a hard time traveling a long way.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a very hard road. The Grand Duchy was a good ce. Loyal.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Ansgar bowed his head. He had already heard the story from Hayley, so it was enough to read the meaning behind her words. He felt sorry. ¡°I want to hear about the situation in the capital city. What happened all winter. First, let¡¯s hear from Ansgar. How is the Grand Duke¡¯s mansion?¡± ¡°Without Your Graces, what else is there? The renovation work waspleted sessfully. The gardenndscaping was done as you wanted.¡± ¡°I will trust Ansgar.¡± The design was made by Artizea herself, and the manager was Ansgar. The purpose of the construction itself will not be hidden. However, she took the pieces and left the work be done little by little to prevent anyone from seeing the whole concept. It would not be possible to find the location of the new equipment. Thendscaping had no problem as the gardener was brought in directly from Evron Grand Duchy. ¡°The vis are also going to be renovated step by step.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave it all to you.¡± Artizea said softly. Hayley looked at her with a slightly surprised face. Although Artizea was generally gentle and generous to the people of the Grand Duchy, she never lowered her position or spoke humbly. Except for Cedric, he was only so gentle and respectful to Ansgar. ¡®It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t deserve such treatment, but¡­¡­¡¯ Ansgar was Cedric¡¯s caretaker, one of the oldest and most reliable butlers, he was also a respectable person for all people in the Grand Duchy. However, Artizea was the one who would not easily open up to the maids who attended right by her side. This kind of kindness to Ansgar felt a little modest to Hayley¡¯s opinion. Well, if she thought about it, it¡¯s not like there wasn¡¯t a person like that at all. There were exceptions such as Lysia. Artizea looked at Freil this time. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about you, too.¡± Freil took turns looking at Ansgar and Lysia for a moment. Hayley didn¡¯t know about it, but he didn¡¯t think Lysia was the right person to hear this story. However, since Artizea asked here, she must have decided that there is no reason to exclude a person. ¡°Countess Martha has opened a salon.¡± Hayley thought for a moment and then remembered who Countess Marta was. It was thanks to Artizea having her memorize the influential figures of the capital while on the way here. ¡°Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting, you mean?¡± ¡°Yes, Her Majesty gave space in the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± It took the form of giving a space, but in fact there was no doubt that the salon was operating ording to the Empress¡¯ will. ¡°It¡¯s been more than three months since the Empress¡¯ pce was opened, but the only people Her Majesty has met during that time were the poor and old wives of those who didn¡¯t belong to any faction, except for youngdies who made their debut this year.¡± Freil pulled out a list. Artizea, herself, confirmed it. There was no name to keep in mind. All of them were just people who were so insignificant that they could not belong to any faction somewhere. Even when Artizea thinks of the future, none of them has distinguished themselves. She could say that the Empress was in a very opposite direction of what she usually behaves. She opened the door of the Empress¡¯ pce and showed that she was alive and that she could meet people at any time, but she was actually living a life that is unresolved of anything. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Proofreader: somnium Freil said. ¡°Instead, Countess Marta opened a salon. She has all those who want to be close to Her Majesty gathering there.¡± Countess Marta turned her salon into a thoroughly dignified cultural gathering. There was no political color at all. Schrs gathered to discuss, and poor poets visited to borrow ink and paper. A newly debuted youngdy even recited a poem. There was no political color in the operation. It was to spread the taste of literature to the youngdies whose preference is in line with the hobby of their mistress, Countess Martha. These salons were usually for very small groups of friends only. Nevertheless, due to the prestige of the Empress¡¯ Pce, Countess Martha¡¯s salon quickly rose to fame. ¡°The social circle must¡¯ve been divided into three parts. Artizea said quietly. The social gatherings that have so far divided the social world of the imperial capital have been the imperial banquet of Mira¡¯s and the salon of Marchioness Camellia. Of course, the biggest power is Mira¡¯s Imperial Banquet. Firstly, the Emperor was present. If the purpose, in itself, was to meet the Emperor and win his favor, receiving an invitation to this banquet was the fastest. However, this banquet was focused on prodigal y. On the other hand, the people who gathered at Marchioness Camellia¡¯s salon were great nobles. The most important information and the flow of money that controls the imperial economy casually went back and forth through small talk. It wasn¡¯t necessarily the people of the Roygar faction to go in and out of the salon. Those who want to touch the big money, those who want to gather investors with new ideas, and those who want to show their own talent and wisdom, all went to Marchioness Camellia¡¯s salon. It was also the pride of Marchioness Camellia. In her salon, strength and talent were as valuable as lineage and status. She prided herself in it being different from other gatherings where the chatter of the nobles who gathered together were about whom they would marry, and which property to send as a dowry. But now Countess Martha¡¯s salon has be a strong contender. Her salon, which featured literature, was different from that of Marchioness Camellia¡¯s. However, if the young and vibrant talents had gathered there, Marchioness Camellia¡¯s pride would have been hurt in many ways as she valued ??her reputation. ¡°Marchioness Camellia showed no reaction.¡± ¡°It would be ambiguous to respond. Since Countess Martha is Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting, Marchioness Camellia is not in a position to confront her.¡± Artizea said to Freil, organizing the information she heard in her head. ¡°Since Her Majesty the Empress is not actively socializing, it is not so different from the reclusive situation that she has been living in, Countess Martha is not trying to exert her own influence through the salon.¡± ¡°Yes, it just feels like she really left the space open. Of course, even so, there are many people whoe and go, they see it as almost the only window tomunicate with Her Majesty.¡± ¡°Brother Lawrence.¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks to this, a lot of young men and women gathered. There are many of Sir Lawrence¡¯s friends, many aristocrats from the influential family, and many of the marriage agedies admiring Sir Lawrence.¡± It has be famous as a ce where you can freely chat in a decent and cultured atmosphere, as no one ys prodigal y ormits hasty actions in the Empress¡¯ Pce. As young men and women gathered, the atmosphere in the salon naturally became bright. A ceramic brazier iid with gold reflects the light, and the jeweled harp gives off a brilliant light. ¡°It looks like they¡¯re trying to embrace thedies right now¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something that can be done in a short time.¡± Artizea was immersed in her thoughts. Not to disturb her, everyone bit their mouths. ¡°How about mother?¡± ¡°The imperial pce holds banquets more often than before. Nowadays, it seems to be held almost once a week. His Majesty is spending enormous budgets tofort the Dowager Marchioness of Marquisate Rosan.¡± The word Dowager Marchioness of Marquisate Rosan, was carefully pronounced by Freil. In front of Artizea, it was impossible to call her Mira, and the title of the Dowager Marchioness of the Marquisate Rosan seemed to hint that the rtionship with Artizea was not broken. Artizea did not respond to the title issue at all. Freil said quickly. ¡°But when she actually goes to a banquet, I feel like the Dowager is trying to seduce His Majesty. Every time, the Dowager herself brings a new young woman into His Majesty¡¯s bedroom.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Artizea was a little surprised. She never thought that Mira would even utilize a way that attracts other women. She wasn¡¯t expecting her to be immersed in the banquet. After settling down in Marquisate Rosan and getting older, she did not hold banquets that often. It was because her rtionship with the Emperor was stable enough that she didn¡¯t have to, and she had the belief that her own position as herself would be strong enough. As Artizea knows, she also remembered the days when Mira was dressed up and held a banquet every day. Although Artizea was very young, she didn¡¯t know what a banquet was, and didn¡¯t even understand the meaning behind it. However, she longed for her gorgeous mother because she was so pretty. Still, Artizea could vividly recall how enchanted she was when she had touched the hem of Mira¡¯s sparkling skirt. [¡°I¡¯m doing it all for you.¡±] Mira used to say that without thinking whether it wasmunicated properly. Little Artizea nodded her head hard. She believed that it was real, and it was partly true. She herself bought the Emperor¡¯s wrath only from her birth itself. She would have died before she could even begin to walk, if Mira had not then, with all her might, recaptured the Emperor¡¯s heart. That wasn¡¯t what Mira intentionally did for Artizea, but that doesn¡¯t mean that she¡¯s not survived because of it. Anyway, Mira has gone back to that time. No, she considers her own position to be more dangerous than back then. Even so, she didn¡¯t even think that Mira would attract other women to entertain the Emperor and win his favor with it. Mira lost the Marquisate after the loss of Artizea and as she lost Lawrence, her position as the real wife of the Emperor was jeopardized. The only thing she can trust now is her own beauty and her position as a woman favored by the Emperor. And both of them are short-lived. Artizea asked. ¡°What about Brother Lawrence?¡± ¡°He has never attended the imperial banquet.¡± ¡°Has he ever visited mother?¡± ¡°No. Rather, there have been a few asions where the Dowager went to Sir Lawrence¡¯s house, but it wasn¡¯t a very good meeting. After returning, she drank and fell asleep all day, and she found the necromancer.¡± ¡°¡­ I see.¡± As Artizea was quietly immersed in her thoughts, Lysia cautiously called her. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia had guessed that Artizea¡¯s heart must be broken because of her mother¡¯s terrible circumstances and her brother¡¯s cold attitude. But Artizea shook her head with a cold attitude. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­.¡± ¡°There is no sign that His Majesty¡¯s favor will be taken from the Dowager.¡± Said Freil. ¡°In fact, when the Dowager first began to attract other women, it is said that there were several dukes on the side of Marchioness Camellia.¡± It would be great to say if she could drive out Mira and nt her own person in the ce. Even if it wasn¡¯t, she would benefit from being able to share some of the favors poured out on Mira. ¡°It probably didn¡¯t work. His Majesty pities mother.¡± Compassion is one of the most intense emotions that can be elicited from the Emperor. Pleasures and entertainment are for herself. For the Emperor, enjoyment was the same no matter who offered it. He can get his hand on any woman he wants and pleasure does not even need to be permitted. However, to be pitiful is targeting a specific other person. Even Mira knows. No one can pick up the Emperor¡¯s heart as well as her. It was almost instinctive. But she will not be able to use the Emperor¡¯spassion. To look pitiful to others was what she hated most. When Mira bes anxious, she dresses up gorgeously. Beauty was Mira¡¯s pride, strength, and strongest weapon. The clothing is her armament. Whenever she felt shabby, she wore her jewels and put on her most gorgeous clothes. In order to not look ridiculous, she clenched her teeth and made the most gorgeous appearance. The Emperor considers it lovely and pitiful. No matter how much Mira is dressed, in the end she is nothing in front of the Emperor. ¡°His Majesty will probably continue to hold banquets and keep mother reigning like the queen because he knows how to relieve mother¡¯s anxiety.¡± There is nothing to worry about. Rather, the poorer Mira is, the more likely the Emperor will hate Lawrence. And when it gets to that point, Mira will be anxious again. ¡®The necromancer must have fueled her anxiety.¡¯ Mira needs someone to rely on. But superstition never really serves to calm the mind. Mira knows that her own reign is nothing but a sand castle. She had an anxiety that if the castle copsed, she would roll into the gutter that she had barely escaped. She also felt fear of getting avenged. And that anxiety became a concrete figure after meeting the necromancer. M was captured by the evil spirit she had created in her own mind. She will try as hard as she can if it means to be relieved even just a little. Because it wasn¡¯t her fault or wrongdoing, but because the evil spirit had cursed her, things are getting worse. Once she is obsessed with that thought, she can¡¯t get out. The anxiety and fear were created by Mira herself. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s watch. There is no need to rush.¡± ¡°Actually, I have something to tell you about that. It¡¯s a story of a scammer¡­¡± As she was in the presence of other people, Freil turned to the door to say it. ¡°I see.¡± Artizea cut his words, it seems like she knew the situation roughly even if she did not hear the details. Rye¡¯s story is not something to be said in front of others. Freil nodded his head. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Proofreader: somnium Rye was wearing the inn¡¯s stable-boy outfit. Artizea rxedly filled a new teacup with more tea and poured milk. For the first time in a long time, she was going to serve Rye tea herself. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Rye took off his hat and bowed his head. And he said the first word. ¡°Did you gain some weight?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Artizea was stunned. Instead of responding to Rye, she looked at Freil. Freil raised a silent roar to Rye. Meeting Rye was not a priority. The role he was ying was very important. However, it was not an urgent matter that they had to meet as soon as she came to the capital. As it was, it was normal for Freil to report the situation, and for Artizea to go to see Rye after she finished her assessment. But Freil brought him to this ce without prior permission. There was also a strong hope from Rye himself who wanted to meet Artizea, but Freil seemed to have a problem as well. So he decided to take a little risk and hurry to report it first. Rye also puffed his mouth. Artizea let out a sigh. ¡°A person, who does covert things, talks without having it go through his brain. I didn¡¯t know you had such a habit.¡± ¡°No. No, no. I¡¯m sorry, that¡¯s¡­¡± Rye shook his hand violently. ¡°It means you look better!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of pointing out the body shape. I didn¡¯t know that you had a habit of spitting out thoughtlessly. I should have given you poison, not gold coins.¡± Rye felt a cold sweat running through his back. She was more scary than the shouting and angry man. Artizea spoke to Freil this time. ¡°It¡¯s quite something that you both survived.¡± ¡°Your Grace, that¡¯s ¡­¡­¡± ¡°Sir Freil isx and has a habit of dropping things one at a time, and Rye can¡¯t go through the process of saying words with forethoughts, but both of you aren¡¯t dead.¡± Freil felt wronged. It was Rye who made the mistake. Why does he have to be scolded for it? Rye was only silent. His words really did leak without going through his brain so he had nothing to say. It wasn¡¯t a lie that she had looked better. It was not with bad intentions, and he did not dare to eye Artizea. He just said it unintentionally, because he always thought it was a pity that she was too thin and herplexion was bad. Artizea sighed. Rye¡¯s chest sank down. What if he let her down? He was putting his family in his employer¡¯s hand. But that¡¯s all. ¡°So, what¡¯s going on? Have you had a rtionship with mother?¡± Rye¡¯s face rose brightly in an instant. ¡°What do you take me for? I¡¯m not a good guy, but I¡¯m not a guy who doesn¡¯t know what his mission is. I¡¯m not a douchebag who dared to touch the Emperor¡¯s woman!¡± ¡°But you must have been tempted?¡± Then Rye bit all of his mouth. Freil, who had never heard such a story, looked at Rye in astonishment. Artizea had a nonchnt attitude, with an incredibly cold face while talking about her own mother with the mother¡¯s friend, who had been sent in secretly. Freil asked. ¡°Your Grace, is that why you said to pick a young man in advance and get ready to hide in a hurry just in case?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how mother builds trust. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if that happened.¡± ¡°Not me.¡± Like a man insulted, Rye furiously swept his bangs. ¡°But you must have been sympathetic to her, right?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Of course. My mother has a passionate personality and high self-esteem, but she must have shown all of her very weakened inner side to you. Such a beautiful woman hangs with her weak inner self, the man who can think of it casually must be rare.¡± ¡°Marchioness.¡± Rye twisted his face. But couldn¡¯t deny it. Artizea smiled a little. It is not known exactly what happened, but the state of Rye¡¯s psychology was a rough guess. Although Rye encountered a problem that he couldn¡¯t deal with alone, he couldn¡¯t consult with Freil. It is not really an urgent problem, but it is a matter of urgency. Besides, he wanted to see Artizea in person. The conclusions drawn from there were clear. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to rebuke you. I know you¡¯re not a person driven by temporary lust or impulse. You¡¯re moving with more real interests than that. That¡¯s why I chose you.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean that it is the movement of the mind that can¡¯t be helped. It is human nature for the mind to be weakened to an attractive opposite sex.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ashamed of myself.¡± Rye finally confessed honestly. He was sincerely ashamed. It¡¯s not because he hadpassion, knowing what kind of mother Mira was to Artizea. It is because if it weren¡¯t for Mira¡¯s current appearance to be a beautiful woman, he would have ridiculed her, let alone pity her. ¡°I want to get out of the way as soon as possible.¡± Said Rye. ¡°Practically speaking, the Dowager¡¯ trust has grown too deep. Because she even came out of the Emperor¡¯s bedroom and came to see me in a public ce. If this keeps up, it will soon be dangerous.¡± ¡°How many requests have you received so far?¡± Right now, Rye is Mira¡¯s most trusted person. Even if he secretly went in and out of the Rosan mansion, it was notpletely secret. Although they don¡¯t know who Rye himself is, many know that the necromancer who once ravaged the social world became the distinguished guest of Mira. Although he thought he was an insignificant scammer, many requests poured in. He handed over the request that Freil had organized into paperwork. ¡°Listen to the trivial matters. Don¡¯t touch anything that could be politically dangerous or too big, and try to get the money out as much as you can.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Especially, instead of epting all kinds of proposals to disappear from my mother, ask for money. Ask the butler at the Rosan mansion for arge sum of money. Finally, it will be a bang and disappear.¡± ¡°You mean to be faithful to being a fraudster until the end.¡± ¡°Yes, and tell the truth before you leave.¡± ¡°About being a scammer?¡± Rye widened his eyes. Artizea said. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you in detailter what to tell and in what way. Then, you can go into hiding.¡± ¡°However ¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it as missing, so you don¡¯t have to worry about mother retaliating.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Rye, nervously, clenched and opened his fist. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯ll do?¡± ¡°Yes, your role ends with that.¡± Artizea said so. That¡¯s all the part Rye will take on in her idea. ¡°Once the job is finished, it would be better to hide from the capitalpletely. Go to the east once.¡± ¡°East?¡± Rye was horrified how much she wanted him to disappear. Said Artizea. ¡°There¡¯s one person I need you to find. Even if I give you a vacation, you wouldn¡¯t be able to go to your family in this situation, anyway?¡± ¡°Damn, I want to, but¡­.¡± ¡°After looking for that person, make sure to visit your family at a leisurely time. You will know when it is safe when you look at thesituation in the capital city.¡± ¡°Can I really do that?¡± ¡°After this job, I¡¯m sure that money problem will really disappear, so it¡¯s okay to retire.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Rye had a slightly anxious face. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Do I get to keep all of that money?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the money you made with your abilities. Why? You want to share it with me?¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± Rye replied immediately. Then Artizeaughed. ¡°I¡¯m so anxious. I don¡¯t think Marchioness will let me go smoothly. I thought you¡¯d told me to retire and poison me on the way to my hometown.¡± ¡°All you have to do is hide yourself without returning to the capital again. Wasn¡¯t it your dream to live with your family?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what it is.¡± Rye scratched his head. ¡°It feels a little bad being treated as a useless person already. You just came to me and went through my life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good way to get around your life. Are you just going to entrust the job to someone who works for money?¡± ¡°Did you take my family hostage?¡± ¡°Then, shall I kill them all and cover their mouths?¡± Rye has nothing to say. He didn¡¯t know exactly what Artizea was trying to do. He initially thought it was revenge against Mira. But it wasn¡¯t just that, Rye knew now. Too many gears were moving to be counted as a revenge. He was caught up in an indescribable mood. Rye has always felt a stronger and moreplex feeling to Artizea than thepassion he had for Mira. Whether it was impulse, awe, or repulsion, it could not be clearly defined. Something boiled inside his chest. He was sad. It was also unclear to Rye himself what upset him. He knew he shouldn¡¯t feel it. He wanted to be used as a tool to the end of the dangerous things that this woman does. She¡¯s not a person with whom he fits her feet, but at best, like a little sword to wield. The person this woman is loyal to is Grand Duke Evron. Recalling that fact, Rye felt strange. ¡°If you want to earn more, you can stay. If you want to retire, you can too.¡± Artizea said, lifting the teacup. She looked down to hide her eyes. She didn¡¯t have to rule out Rye. He is a useful person. He had a record of betraying her, but back then the other person was already wearing the Emperor¡¯s crown. If he had his family as he is now, he didn¡¯t have to worry any more. Even if she doesn¡¯t retire Rye, she eventually has to rece the other parts. It is notmon to have a substitute person, but why was she urging retirement? In the end, it is because of personal feelings. ¡®Because it would be nice to have a chance to live properly at least once.¡¯ Artizea looked inside the teacup. There was no way that ugly pupils could reflect on something like a tea filled with milk, but it was like having a staring contest. ¡°¡­.¡± She thought there would be a few more sarcasm, asking if the pension wasn¡¯t a reward originally given, but Rye paused for a while and said. ¡°Then, when the timees, please give me instructions through Sir Freil.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea knew that he was troubled because she was quick-witted. Rye nodded and stepped out. As he pushed his feelings of frustration into his heart, Freil warned him as he followed him. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, Rye.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Before he even realized what Freil was talking about, Rye responded that way. Artizea is right. He wasn¡¯t interested in futile work. It was nothing more than an unclear feeling. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Proofreader: somnium The first ce Artizea showed her face in the capital was the Empress¡¯ Pce. Being ady-in-waiting of the Empress, it was a natural thing to do. The Empress¡¯ Pce had a slightly different atmosphere than before. There weren¡¯t any major changes physically. Even when the Empress made it the tomb of her life, the garden of the Empress¡¯ Pce was beautiful, and it is still so. But the atmosphere was quite different. This is because when Countess Martha¡¯s salon was opened, part of the garden was also open to salon guests. In the end, sprouts bloomed on the bare branches and the garden began to turn into a lighter color. The buds of magnolias formed in the early period seemed to be brighter thanst year because they breathed the outside air. The Empress took Artizea and went out to the garden. It was for two purposes: to make a star of her and a show of who the Evron Grand Duchess first visited in the capital. Of course, the actual conversation couldn¡¯t be said to be a warm, affectionate one. ¡°It¡¯s been a lot of fuss about the war at Evron Grand Duchy. Is it okay toe back alone like this?¡± The Empress¡¯ voice was hard and cold, not because she was worried about Evron Grand Duchy. To the Empress in the capital¡¯s imperial pce, the war in Evron Grand Duchy is nothing but a distant affair. She didn¡¯t think that even if they were defeated, the entire Evron Grand Duchy would be breached. Even if it is breached, then there is still the Elia wall. The possibility of the capital being threatened was slim. War is a very important issue for government and military personnel. However, it had nothing to do with the Empress. In fact, she did not care much even if the empire was in crisis after the Elia wall was prated. So what she asked is something as an investor. Not as an Empress. Artizea replied softly. ¡°Because I¡¯m of little use in military matters. I decided that sitting on the stronghold and living with the people of the Evron Grand Duchy, was nothing more than wasting resources because they had one more person to protect.¡± ¡°Well, your purpose wouldn¡¯t be to be a good Grand Duchess.¡± The Empress mumbled so, fiddling with the fox fur doll over her shoulder. Like a lifelike doll, the fox¡¯s face was reproduced almost exactly as it was, the shawl was very long. Even with the head on the nape of the Empress, it was so long that it hung on the back to her hips. She could use it as a shawl when she was cold, but today¡¯s weather wasn¡¯t cold enough to wear a fur shawl. The Empress touched the fox fur. The touch on her hand was wonderful. When she touched its ears, she felt as if she was touching a real fox or a dog. It was, of course, a genuine product from Evron Grand Duchy given by Artizea. Artizea¡¯s request for a walk also had the purpose of making it stand out. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°It is true that Karam has crossed the Thold Mountains and has a siege weapon. Probably His Majesty¡¯s spy has reported. Others will be busy checking the authenticity.¡± Artizea replied leisurely. She had no lie, so there was nothing to manipte or be bothered about. Evron Grand Duchy seemed quiet at first nce, but under the water it was very busy now. No less than one or two were trying to intercept or steal letters from employees. When Artizea came, she brought not a few letters to the employees and knights in the capital from those in the Evron Grand Duchy. She couldn¡¯t bring things like goods due to the heavy burden of the rush schedule, but she was able to bring letters. Artizea checked it all out without leaving any trace. This is because she was worried about secrets leaking out. It¡¯s good not to have any rumors about the Karam crop project or what Cadriol did. However, Karam did not simply pass through the Thold Gate, but crossed the mountain range to engage in raids and acquire siege weapons. The Grand Duchy employees were worried and didn¡¯t stop talking; it was something she couldn¡¯t stop with. ¡°I see.¡± The Empress replied, and she put her hands back, which she had been fiddling. People stood out over the garden in the warm sunshine. People might be wondering what kind of conversation they are having. But no one came near. ¡°Aren¡¯t you anxious?¡± ¡°Are you afraid Lord Cedric will lose?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Empress nced at Artizea. ¡°The shield of the empire, the invincible general, is at the end still a human body. Since Cedric is at the front line, he might be at the vanguard and there might be an unexpected incident.¡± ¡°It is.¡± Artizea muttered to herself. The Empress was right, but Artizea was strangely not worried. Is it because the current war situation is not actually an all-out war? Or is it because she knows he hasn¡¯t lost while confronting the enemy in a more difficult situation? Artizea said. ¡°But if you tell him to stay behind and not do that, Lord Cedric is not a person who would listen to that. It¡¯s not just because of his youthful spirit or impulse, but Lord Cedric thinks it¡¯s his responsibility to do so.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± ¡°To go to the vanguard, to protect his own people and subjects at the risk of his life, fulfilling his responsibilities without withdrawing from the battle, that¡¯s why Lord Cedric gained loyalty and gathered poprity, and that¡¯s what he wants to show to the people under hismand. So I dare not to interrupt.¡± At Artizea¡¯s answer, the Empress walked away without answering anything. For a while, the two just walked in the sun. The cleanly cleared path was covered with warm soil. Artizea looked from half a step back to the side of the Empress. The Empress had a lonely expression. However, it soon disappeared. ¡°You said you brought some of thedies-in-waiting from Evron Grand Duchy?¡± ¡°Yes. I don¡¯t have anyone else I can trust in my family. I don¡¯t have any friends.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± The Empress gazed at the empty space for a moment. ¡°If my daughter was alive, I would have attached you to her friend.¡± ¡°If the Princess had been alive, Your Majesty would not have dared let me tread on the grounds of the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, too.¡± The Empress smiled in vain. If the eldest daughter had been alive, the age difference would have been quite different with Artizea. And even if Artizea wasn¡¯t born the daughter of Mira, it¡¯s unclear whether she would have decided to be loyal to the deceased princess. ¡°I¡¯ll bring mydy-in-waiting to see you soon. They don¡¯t have a high status, and they¡¯re not particrly witty, but they are gooddies with good behavior and good hearts, so Your Majesty will also think that they are lovely.¡± Artizea politely said so. Lysia must have been able tofort the Empress¡¯ heart. Lysia will treat her with pure heart, regardless of the benefits or things like that. ¡°They would be reliable if they were the vassals of the Evron Grand Duchy. Unlike you.¡± Artizea smiled. The Empress asked. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve been on your honeymoon, I think you can officially be active in the social world as the Grand Duchess of Evron. What are you going to do first?¡± The question is not about problems that they both already know about, such as tearing off supplies. It is not a matter of what Artizea needs to deal with personally, or about the affairs of the Grand Duchy, such as the issue of the coalition of grain merchants. The Empress asked how she would use theposition of the power she hadid out throughout the winter through Countess Martha¡¯s salon. Artizea replied softly. ¡°I¡¯d like to prepare for Your Majesty the Empress¡¯ birthday.¡± The Empress was not surprised. It was because she thought that is the reason why Artizea came back before March. Her birthday was around the end of March. If she prepares from now on, it will be tight, but not impossible. ¡°It¡¯ll be my first birthday party in 18 years.¡± The Empress replied so. ¡ª At that time, Lysia was in Countess Martha¡¯s salon. Artizea tried to separate from her as was going to the Empress¡¯ Pce. Lysia couldn¡¯t let that happen. Hayley went elsewhere on an errand, but she had no other job. So, of course, she had to do the basic practice as Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting. There is also something because Cedric told her not to leave Artizea¡¯s side. Maybe it was a half-formal statement, but Lysia was somehow worried about it. So she followed Artizea, but she was not allowed to see the Empress together. It is for her Mistress to see the Empress alone. There was nothing to regret if Artizea didn¡¯t take her. In fact, Lysia was a little relieved. She wasn¡¯t very confident in her court manners. The Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, Countess Marta, led Lysia to the salon. She then, herself, went right back to attend the Empress. Lysia is left with no one she knows in the salon. ¡®Uh¡­.it¡¯s hard¡­.¡¯ Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s social circle meant gathering vassals to share greetings and make friendships with familiar peers. They danced and were introduced as newly appointed knights or officials, but they feel like a group of rtives or a group of friends rather than a social circle. It was the first time that there were only strangers like this. Besides, it was dazzling to see that there are only people who are so pretty and elegant. It was exciting, but it was difficult. A woman her age was ying the piano. There were several people standing and chatting together. One side enthusiastically discussed poetry. On the other side, they opened arge book and shared their impressions. It was noticeable that not all literary men or officials, but aristocrats were involved. Lysia thought she couldn¡¯t participate anywhere, she stood on the wall, and she looked at her dress for nothing. When she first got ready to go out, she wondered if it was too shy to wear as a day dress. She had asked Sophie four times if she looked okay. But when she came here, it wasn¡¯t too shy, it wasn¡¯t too simple, and just medium. ¡®I should say thank you to Sophie.¡¯ As she decided so in her mind, she moved to the table where the refreshments were prepared. It was because it seemed to be better off eating than doing nothing. ¡®Oh, this is delicious!¡¯ When she chewed a cookie, it tasted like a fragrant fruit that she had never eaten in her life. Would it be embarrassing to take one or two of these? But she also wanted Artizea to taste it. Wouldn¡¯t it be nice if she only took two and gave one to Artizea, and if she said it was delicious, she would leave the other one in the kitchen and ask them to make more? No, she has to take three. She has to give Sophie one as well. She sneaked out her handkerchief. ¡°Excuse me.¡± A young man approached the table and looked at Lysia while trying to pick up a water pitcher. Lysia inadvertently nced at him while attempting to wrap the cookies in her handkerchief. And she forgot to breathe without even knowing. The man had a fine line of beauty, like a statue of a boy god left in the garden. It was Lawrence. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Proofreader: somnium Lysia wasn¡¯t the only one who was distracted by the other party. The same was true of Lawrence. He came and went to this salon almost every day. None of the regr guests of the salon did not know this. He also researched and remembered all the people who came asionally because he was wondering if it was someone who had a rtionship with the Empress or other Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting. But this bright blond girl was the first face he ever saw. It was the type he had never seen before. The appearance itself was not particrly outstanding. In fact, no matter how great you look, it was difficult to catch Lawrence¡¯s eyes. The most beautiful woman in the world was his mother. And he, himself, had a beautiful appearance that resembled his mother. However, Lysia, when seen up close, was well worth the attention of others. Usually, she wasn¡¯t the type to be interested in. Her outfit was refined, as if it was tailored in the dressing room of the capital. However, looking at her clueless attitude, she must have been a local aristocrat who made her first debut this year. But she had something more than that. Lawrence couldn¡¯t say exactly what it was. He did not notice from a distance. However, something like a sprout of light nestled inside Lysia, and each time her lively limbs moved, the surrounding air was colored with a different color. Such an aura is something that even Mira doesn¡¯t have. Graceful movements and modest attitudes are something you can have with education, but your nature is different. No woman in the capital can imitate her. Lawrence felt a needle-like stabbing pain deep in his head. [¡°I¡¯m not that kind of woman! Why can¡¯t you believe me? You confirmed it!¡±] [¡°Please, please! Your Majesty!¡±] Screams and cries momentarily mored in his ears and then disappeared. There was a sound of something twisting inside his chest. Lawrence hid his expression and lowered his gaze. Unrecognized hallucinations quickly disappeared. Only the remnants of strange stuffiness and headaches remained in his head. Thinking he was looking at her hand, Lysia blushed her face. She then hurriedly took her hand back. ¡°Oh, so, this.¡± Lysia stuttered. She wanted to get into a mouse hole because she got caught in front of such an elegant looking and sophisticated man. ¡®Uh¡­ I must have done no harm to Her Grace¡¯s honor, right?¡¯ She was embarrassed. Lawrence¡¯s lips went down. Lysia was even more restless. ¡°If you like the refreshments, you can tell the servant. If you are acquainted with Countess Martha, it would be better if you tell her directly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Because there is no case of the host who dislikes guests who liked the prepared food, whether it is a salon, a banquet hall, or a dinner.¡± As he said so, Lawrence clicked his finger and called the servant. It was a familiar attitude like this is his own home. ¡°Thedy here seems to like the refreshments, so make sure she¡¯s not to be empty-handed when she returns.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The servant answered Lawrence politely. And the servant greeted Lysia as well and went back. Lysia couldn¡¯t hide her embarrassment, she said awkwardly. ¡°Thank you for your kindness. It was my first time in this position, so I didn¡¯t know how to behave.¡± ¡°No.¡± Lawrence was a little embarrassed, and he suddenly felt ufortable. He didn¡¯t know why he had be such a kind hearted person. And he thought this woman was stupid. Even if she was truly clumsy because it was her first time, it was foolish to tell others about it. This was because it became a weakness. If she was an aristocrat, it was natural for her to have perfect calmness and elegance on the outside, even if it was her first time entering the social world. However, even her frank attitude gave Lysia a sense of innocence. She¡¯s stupid, and, oddly enough, it didn¡¯t feel like it. He became ufortable facing her big, clear eyes, so Lawrence tried to turn his body away. It was rude, but it was the right thing. He wouldn¡¯t even have to greet her twice anyway. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lysia spoke again. It was then. There was a sound of something falling behind his back. Lawrence looked behind him. ¡°Oh.¡± Artizea dropped the parasol and stared at him nkly. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia bent her knees and politely greeted her. She approached Artizea and picked up the dropped parasol. It was only then that Artizea came to her senses. But she didn¡¯t look at Lysia and talked to Lawrence. ¡°Brother.¡± Artizea was terribly anxious to see that he was talking to Lysia. She was, in fact, anxious since Lysia said she would follow her to the Empress¡¯ Pce. That¡¯s why she tried not to bring Lysia. Nevertheless, Artizea brought Lysia here because Lysia insisted that she must practice. Countess Martha¡¯s salon was the right ce for Lysia to show her face out for the first time. In addition, as long as she was in the capital, she will be forced to meet Lawrence someday anyway. She believed it would be fine. Lysia was pretty, but it wasn¡¯t Lawrence¡¯s favorite type of beauty. The woman he liked was decadent, voluptuous, self-assertive and submissive. With no strong desire for power or a spirit of improvement. Lawrence was a character who could not tolerate even when one dared to open their eyes straight in front of him. It was the same even in terms of status. Something like a local Barony isn¡¯t a match in Lawrence¡¯s eyes. Lawrence would have no interest in thedy-in-waiting, until she was introduced. So even if they were in the same space, she thought they would never have a conversation. Artizea tried to pull herself together. Lawrence probably didn¡¯t think much differently after seeing Lysia. A little while ago, it seems like they had a conversation, but Lawrence was about to leave. Lawrence said. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Yes, how have you been?¡± ¡°If boredom was bad, it was bad. You must have been in trouble because something big happened during your honeymoon. Is Grand Duke Evron all right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea replied briefly. Her heart was dizzy and her words didn¡¯te out smoothly. Lawrence nced at Lysia and asked. ¡°Is she yourdy-in-waiting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I see. I thought I hadn¡¯t seen her before.¡± In general, it would be normal to introduce Lysia at this point. But Artizea didn¡¯t. Even if she doesn¡¯t introduce her here, Lawrence will soon know Lysia¡¯s identity. There is nothing wrong with saying that she is from Barony Morten, the vassal of Evron Grand Duchy. Such a thing is so public that it cannot even be called information. But she didn¡¯t want to say anything like introducing the two to each other with her own mouth. Looking back, Lysia bowed her head as if to apologize. Her cheeks were stained red. She didn¡¯t even think that the other person would be Lawrence. If she knew, she would have been more alert. This was Artizea¡¯s mistake. To the people of the capital, Mira¡¯s appearance was well-known that it wasmon sense. Portraits and pictures were frequently published in newspapers, and many people saw their faces when riding in open-covered wagons, parades, or on the balcony of the Imperial Pce. At least the features of their appearance were known to everyone who could not evene near the imperial pce. Therefore, Artizea did not think of showing Mira¡¯s portrait to Lysia to learn beforehand. When she encountered Mira and Lawrence, she warned her to not talk as much as possible in a manner that wasn¡¯t contrary to proper etiquette. Seeing her with her head down, Artizea looked back at Lawrence. ¡°Would you like to take a walk?¡± Lawrence looked at Artizea with a slightly different eye. Until now, he had never walked or hung out with Artizea. He never thought of doing that. They weren¡¯t close enough to spend time together. However, it was an appropriate choice. This is because the salon¡¯s guests didn¡¯t seem to care about them, but they were listening carefully. He thought it would be better to meet up separately to have a conversation, or to go out to the garden. Lawrence reached out to Artizea. Artizea grabbed his arm and took the parasol from Lysia¡¯s hand. ¡°You stay here. Soon, Countess Martha will be back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia stepped back. The two slowly stepped out of the salon. The sunlight was warm. There were a few more people taking a walk. It was because the Empress sometimes took a walk in the garden. People were looking forward to an encounter with her. Lawrence was one of them. Taking a walk in the garden in broad daylight was boring, but he had to do that at least to get his presence known. However, no one actually said that they had a conversation with the Empress in the garden or even met her. This is because the escorts and attendants thoroughly removed people from the area around the Empress¡¯ traffic line. ¡°I¡¯m d you came back.¡± Lawrence said so a little sincerely. ¡°It seems like it wasn¡¯t easy to ingratiate yourself to Her Majesty?¡± Said Artizea. As she moved away from Lysia, she felt a little more at ease. Herposure also returned to her voice. Lawrence replied. ¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t be easy, but it¡¯s more tricky than I thought. Secondly, it¡¯s hard to see Her Majesty, and even thedies-in-waiting have heavy mouths and firm guards.¡± ¡°Even though the Empress¡¯ Pce has been erecting a high wall, they are the people who have served Her Majesty without expecting anything. It would be difficult to seek cooperation with a lot of reward.¡± ¡°I see, no one seems to think for themselves, rather for their mistress.¡± Artizea smiled. That is Lawrence¡¯s self-centered thinking. Objectively speaking, for the Empress, Lawrence was nothing better than Grand Duke Roygar just because Lawrence was in the position to be Emperor. The Empress herself had no desire to remain an Empress. In addition, the deeper she was involved in the political conflict, the higher the probability that her life would be in jeopardy. ¡°You had a pretty good reputation in a short period of time. I heard you got all your girlfriend¡¯s mess in order, right?¡± Said Artizea. Lawrence saved his breath for a moment. ¡°There is no need to refute because I¡¯m your younger sibling. Without that much information, I can¡¯t be a Grand Duchess in social circles.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I heard you moved out of Baroness Andeman¡¯s house and entered the mansion in Sabellin Estate? It must be too small for you to use, Brother.¡± ¡°Since the salon was opened, I thought that rumors of this and that in the social world would go into the ears of the Empress.¡± So, he put himself in order first. He cleared up all the rtionships with women, and broke the rtionship with Baroness Andeman, his favorite partner. It was because he knew that the Empress was sensitive to infidelity. He called in friends because thedies-in-waiting seldomly opened their hearts. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Proofreader: somnium Lawrence was handsome and was easily favored by men as well as women. The same was true not only of people his age, but also of people of older age. However, it was hard to believe that his charm would work at the Empress¡¯ Pce. It was even more so because his appearance resembled Mira. So he called in his friends to embrace thedies-in-waiting. Lawrence¡¯s friends liked to y among the children of the influential family. Some of them enjoyed hunting and horseback riding, while others enjoyed refining their appearance and enticing women as a hobby. Lawrence thought that even if his charm didn¡¯t work here, one or two of his friends would be able to show off their charisma as handsome men. He did not expect them to properly seduce the Empress¡¯dies-in-waiting. Just enough to be likable, and to be spoken positively to the Empress. However, the Empress¡¯dies-in-waiting were much more loyal than he expected. Lawrence¡¯s achievements were, at best, only a few of the maids. Rather, a positive reaction came from a different direction. As the young men who had been prodigal became neat and followed Lawrence to calmly take part in the literary salon, the gaze around them quickly changed favorably. In particr, the court chiefs were pleased. Even the Emperor had a subtle face, but called him in and praised him. [¡°You have a n, so I won¡¯t say anything about going to Countess Martha¡¯s salon. Try to do well.¡±] [¡°Yes, Father.¡±] [¡°And I thought about it well in many ways. It¡¯s a good thing for a young man to y with prodigality, and it¡¯s good to be active and to be favored by his peers. It¡¯s also nice to have a good influence on one¡¯s friends.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about your reputation every day, but you shouldn¡¯t have too much bacsh or be overly repulsive. I¡¯m not saying to scare people. However, learn how to buy faith of the people.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°You have to let someone tell you how the world is changing. You only have two eyes and two ears, but don¡¯t forget that there are thousands or tens of thousands of eyes and mouths in the lower people. A person¡¯s mouth is also a way to break rocky mountains.¡±] The Emperor said so. Lawrence knew that it was teaching. However, he couldn¡¯t get rid of his frustration. He didn¡¯t think that he would be able to capture the Empress¡¯ heart in a short time, but Lawrence was by nature impatient and couldn¡¯t tolerate things that didn¡¯t go his way. ¡°I can¡¯t guess what Her Majesty wants. Perhaps, as you really said, I wondered if she wanted to entrust her old age to your couple.¡± Lawrence said. Artizea replied softly. ¡°There is only one thing Her Majesty the Empress wants.¡± Lawrence looked at Artizea¡¯s side face. The nuances of the words were ambiguous. He couldn¡¯t figure out if she was trying to help him or if she was hoping for a price. He thought it could be thetter. It made Lawrence feel unpleasant to be thinking that way against Artizea. ¡°Is that what you say as my younger sister or as thedy-in-waiting of the Empress?¡± ¡°My brother must understand what I can¡¯t tell you for sure. Her Majesty has never explicitly revealed it.¡± Artizea continued her words. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress has a salt crystal in her bedroom, the ornament from Riagan Duchy.¡± ¡°Salt crystal¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a very beautiful blue color. They said that the color of the South Sea is like that.¡± Lawrence was silent at the words. Artizea left him alone so that he could think through it. After a while, Lawrence asked. ¡°Then you mean,¡­¡± ¡°Then, does Brother have any ns to get married? It would be good if you were engaged.¡± Artizea opened her mouth. Her words cut off Lawrence¡¯s. Lawrence raised his eyebrows, revealing displeasure. Artizea pretended not to know it. As his younger sister, she gives information that she can give, but she keeps her duty as the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, so she does not be an active discussion partner and can pull out her feet. Lawrence wasn¡¯t an idiot. He was upset that his words were cut off for a moment, but he noticed Artizea¡¯s intention and turned his expressions mildly. It was Artizea who held the sword now. It took her cooperation to win the Empress¡¯ favor. ¡°You are Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Lawrence said quietly. He remembered her saying that she wanted to establish herself as Artizea, Grand Duchess of Evron. He was convinced, and he had taken her for granted as Grand Duchess Evron. Had it not been for her being his younger sister, he would have had to pay for this information, or undergo a long process of gaining trust. Because of his younger sister, the long process was omitted. This is because when he bes the Emperor, Artizea will, of course, be the Emperor¡¯s sister. And at the same time he could also be sure that Cedric wasn¡¯t leaning on her yet. It would be bad for him to show that he cooperated with the Empress. It is natural when you think of blood ties. The Empress will know too, but she wouldn¡¯t like to overy her hand outright. Lawrence turned his gaze forward on the road. And settled on the topic Artizea brought out. ¡°Marriage ¡­.. It¡¯s not bad to do it when there¡¯s the right person.¡± ¡°Because there was a problem with mother¡¯s so far.¡± It was because of Mira who kept the throne within sight, but also kept the valid card of the marriage alliance. Lawrence didn¡¯t even think about getting married behind Mira¡¯s back. Marriage was different from having multiple lovers. His obsessive mother will intervene. He was tired just thinking about it. But he had no reason not to. ¡°Is there anyone you want to introduce?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying that with anyone in mind. However, I don¡¯t think there are many families that can give birth to the future Empress. If I didn¡¯t have one or two people in mind, I thought I¡¯d ask the Empress.¡± Lawrence nodded with satisfaction at thest words. There are few better rtionships. The family that joined in marriage has no choice but to share the destiny in quarreling over the throne. Although Artizea became the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, the rtionship was not made with Marquisate Rosan or Lawrence in mind, but because of Cedric. In the meantime, it¡¯s better to have a real good rtionship other than that. It is even better if it is a twoyer rtionship. Did the Duchy of Riagan have a marriageable young woman? It was when Lawrence thought so. ¡°Because Brother has a lot of great acquaintances and friends, please discuss it with them.¡± Said Artizea. ¡°Okay.¡± Lawrence gave a positive answer. *** On the way back, Lawrence met someone he knew, greeted her, and went outside again. When Artizea returned alone, Lysia was again at the table. Countess Marta has not yet returned to the salon. Instead, Lysia was talking with another man. He may be a junior official or poet-like sort, as Artizea seemed to be unfamiliar with the face. She saw Lysia smiling lightly. It didn¡¯t look so bad or unstable from her condition. After checking, Artizea closed her eyes tightly. Wasn¡¯t it what she expected? Lawrence frequently enters this salon. She had a good chance of running into him. But the moment she saw Lysia with Lawrence, she felt nervous. She momentarily didn¡¯t know how much she had regretted. Neither Lysia nor Lawrence is a ¡°returner.¡± Still, it was just in case. Maybe Lawrence was interested in Lysia because his memories remain faint? How about Lysia? Even if she can¡¯t remember, wouldn¡¯t there be something like a wound on her soul? Could it be the painful result of thetter? ¡®Would not bringing her to the capital be a good idea?¡¯ Should she have left her in the mansion? Countess Martha¡¯s salon was a perfect ce to quietly introduce Lysia to the society. She brought Lysia even though she knew. Lysia can¡¯tpletely avoid Lawrence as long as she¡¯s socializing anyway. Even if it was not today, he will see her face someday as long as they were in the capital. Then she had no choice but toe up with a way to prevent them from meeting. But then there¡¯s no reason to not let here to the capital. Artizea wanted Lysia to settle in advance before she received her divine message. That way she will be at ease after she bes the saintess. She hoped that she would get used to it, be able to look after her with power in the social world, meet with her supporters, and build acquaintances first. She does not want Lysia to jump into the world with her bare body like before. That was something she had to do for Evron Grand Duchy. ¡®However¡­ .¡¯ No. Nothing will happen between her and Lawrence. If possible, she¡¯ll send Lysia to another ce as soon as possible without having to meet with and talk with Lawrence. She was thinking so, and she heard a voice calling. ¡°Your Grace, are you not in good health?¡± Artizea came to her senses. Lysia was looking at her with anxiety. ¡°Was everything all right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Artizea muttered in a cracked voice. Lysia carefully checked herplexion. Then she smiled reassuringly as the clear light returned to Artizea¡¯s eyes. ¡°I was worried. I wondered if something had happened with your brother.¡± ¡°No. What¡¯s going to happen to me? You¡¯re the one¡­¡­ nothing happened, right?¡± ¡°It was me who caused something to happen. I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± Artizea blinked her eyes. It was because she didn¡¯t know what Lysia was apologizing for. ¡°Yes. Your Grace told me not to mix words with Sir Lawrence as much as possible. He is in a very sensitive position to Your Grace¡­¡­ ¡° Lysia added as her excuse. ¡°I didn¡¯t forget it, but I didn¡¯t notice who he was. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so stupid.¡± Lysia should have been more careful, she herself regretted so. Something was gritty like a thorn in her throat. However, she calmed her mind without revealing the slightest excitement, or the anxious trembling that crept her back. She did not want to embarrass Artizea. It is this person, not that man, who she should hold hands with. ¡®¡­..?¡¯ Lysia felt ufortable with her own thoughts. Artizea exhaled a long sigh. Lysia asked, rolling her eyes anxiously. ¡°Am I hurting Your Grace¡¯s honor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can hurt that honor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not okay.¡± Lysia¡¯s face turned red. Artizea smiled at her. Her long tension was released all at once, making her feel ratherughable. Lysia carefully reached out her hand. It was against decency and manners, but she wanted to do that for some reason. Artizea stared at Lysia in amazement. Lysia held her hand tight. And sheughed with a reddish face. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Proofreader: somnium The sound of someone ying the harp echoed indoors. Despite the milder weather, Marchioness Camellia did not clean out the pottery brazier she had ced in her salon. There were sixrge furnaces, and if you add up the small ones spread all over, there were more than ten in total. Thanks to that, the interior was warm enough. Most of the salon¡¯s guests were also wearing summer clothes. The sun was still up, but a dark curtain was ced on the window of the salon. Instead, jewels on the table and in the corners reflected the light from the furnace, turning the room red. It was beautiful. However, there was a limit to how much you can appreciate with wide open eyes. Hayley was soon tired of the heat. The spring weather in the capital was hot enough for her, who is a northerner. But right now, everyone was in a hot salon wearing summer clothes, and she herself wore warm clothes. The harp sound was quiet and boring. People chatted quietly in a calm voice. If you came as a guest of the salon, you might want to join the conversation, but Hayley was on an errand. Until she had finished her business, she couldn¡¯t do anything else. Her drowsiness came. Sak, Sak. The sound of cards spinning on the table next to her yed a part. Grand Duke Roygar saved Hayley from drowsiness. He opened the door and brought in a cold wind. He was also apanied by Grand Duchess Roygar. Hayley stood up. Grand Duke Roygar approached her right away. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. You¡¯re Grand Duchess Evron¡¯sdy-in-waiting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Your Grace Grand Duke Roygar, Your Grace Grand Duchess. I am Evron¡¯s servant Hayley.¡± Hayley quickly hid her embarrassment and greeted them. It was Marchioness Camellia who Hayley originally came to meet with for her errands. She never thought that Grand Duke Roygar woulde out in person. The reason that the Jordyn family¡¯s name was not spoken was because they had lost their title. She also hoped that Grand Duke Roygar would not remember the name Jordyn. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean Grand Duke Roygar didn¡¯t know her. When Artizea arrived at the capital, the identities of all the newdies had already been investigated. Grand Duke Roygar said in a cheerful voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting at the salon for a long time, but I¡¯m sorry that the host wasn¡¯t here. Please understand that me and my wife are here. Please tell Grand Duchess Evron so.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a burden to wee such a rude person who came into the salon without giving a prior appointment. My mistress will also be pleased.¡± Grand Duke Roygar smiled. She is still a young woman in her twenties, even though she is said to be thedy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Evron. Moreover, in addition to the Jordyn family name, she was quite a well-known person. She was loyal to Evron Grand Duchy, so she had never been in the center. He thought she would be clumsy and inexperienced, away from the military service she had built up over the years. However, it was a fairly sophisticated response. Hayley said politely, keeping her bright look. ¡°If I had known that the Grand Duke was here, I would have brought a gift that fits, but I couldn¡¯t prepare it because I was here to see the Marchioness of Camellia. I have a gift for Her Grace Grand Duchess Roygar, so please ept it.¡± She said so, and looked back. The maids who were waiting at the door quickly approached and picked up a gift box. Hayley opened the lid of the box and showed it to Grand Duchess Roygar. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s cute.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar made a happy voice. Inside the gift box were two cute dolls made of rabbit fur and a scarf made of fox fur. ¡°The dolls are given to the two princesses, and the scarf is given to Grand Duchess Roygar. It is a souvenir from Her Grace¡¯s visit to Evron.¡± ¡°Tell her thank you.¡± Grand Duchess Roygard pulled and opened a gift box held by another maid. ¡°Oh, this is Sister¡¯s?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s simr to that of the Grand Duchess¡¯, but different in color.¡± It was simr, but the quality of the fur was slightly inferior. Satisfied, Grand Duchess Roygar took out the scarf and put it around her neck. When she hung the fur over a thin silk dress that exposed her shoulders, it was as new and shy as when she wore arge jeweled neckband. She also took out the doll and touched it. ¡°Honey, look at this. It¡¯s like a real rabbit. It¡¯s not as stiff as stuffed ones.¡± ¡°Evron fur is great. Sit down, Lady Hayley. I¡¯ve done the rudeness of keeping a guest standing.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Hayley sat down again as he rmended. Grand Duchess Roygar sat across from Hayley. She took out both rabbit dolls and fiddled with them alternately, like she was really satisfied. The salon¡¯s customers pricked their ears. The sound of the ying harp suddenly felt loud. Hayleymented a little in her heart. Honestly, it was no exaggeration to say that this was actually her first mission as ady-in-waiting of Artizea. She can¡¯t believe it is ruined this way. Grand Duke Roygar was too big for her to deal with. Artizea said: [I deliberately take an appointment and send you directly to the salon instead of meeting Marchioness Camellia separately, in order to show that I do not downy the salon of Marchioness Camellia any less than the salon of the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡±] [¡°Okay. And it¡¯s not a good idea to meet Lord Lawrence first and then to Grand Duke Roygar.¡±] [¡°Right. And this is actually your social debut.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s not a small thing. If you¡¯re not confident, it¡¯s okay to quit now. Marchioness Camellia isn¡¯t the one to be disappointed even if I sent Alice.¡±] [¡°No, I won¡¯t quit.¡±] [¡°In the salon, meeting Marchioness Camellia would be worth a lot more than a silly debut party. If you could catch the eye of Marchioness Camellia, it could be more meaningful than that. That¡¯s not all I can guarantee.¡±] Artizea also added this. [¡°If you¡¯re going to betray me, join hands with Marchioness Camellia.¡±] [¡°Do you think I will betray you?¡±] Hayley asked in surprise. [¡°I have no desire to avenge Aubrey. It doesn¡¯t mean that Aubrey¡¯s incident was nothing, but my mother and father are more important than that.¡±] [¡°I don¡¯t know you, Hayley.¡±] Artizea replied. [¡°I know that you are of valid value as a hostage to the Jordyn family. On the contrary, I know that the Jordyn family is qualified as a hostage to you. For now at least.¡±] [¡°For now?¡±] [¡°You¡¯re wise, but by my standards, it¡¯s like you don¡¯t know the world at all. The capital ispletely different from Evron Grand Duchy. You may find something you think is more valuable than your family.¡±] Hayley will change from now on. Moreover, Artizea is Aubrey¡¯s enemy. She didn¡¯t expect Hayley to be loyal. Rather, she was convinced that Hayley would have little personal loyalty to Cedric. She would have caught Artizea¡¯s eye at least once in her previous life, if she had had loyalty to Evron. [¡°Marchioness Camellia has aplex personality. Because she was born of a maid and was raised in the maid¡¯s room during her childhood.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°She¡¯s not an unrealistic idealist enough to expect respect from everyone, but she tends to be the perfect superior to the person she reaps. She will take responsibility till the end of their life under her. So if you betray me, I want you to be with Marchioness Camellia.¡±] Hayley looked at Artizea in an indescribable mood. [¡°Even if you think I¡¯ll betray you, it¡¯s strange to give this advice, Your Grace. For what purpose are you saying that?¡±] [¡°It messes up your mind. In preparation for the moment when you feel like betraying.¡¯¡¯] [¡°You mean to be anxious. How far does Your Grace know, whether or not Marchioness Camellia is really trustworthy, or whether she is on the side of Your Grace and doubt everything in the world.¡±] As Hayley frowned, Artizea replied with a casual smile. [¡°Okay. Don¡¯t stop thinking, Hayley. People like us will not be able to survive without doing that in this fortune-telling battle.¡±] Hayley thought to say that if Artizea didn¡¯t know herself seemed to be a lie. It was clear that Artizea had ended her judgment of her. And now Hayley seemed to know why she had made such a request. ¡°How is the North?¡± Because Grand Duke Roygar asked. He had a gentle smile, but if he could see even a small gap, he would have ripped off a fatal weakness. ¡°They said the war was quite serious.¡± ¡°How can I, who is just ady-in-waiting, tell you of such a serious matter?¡± Hayley thought desperately. What can be done in order not to harm Artizea¡¯s purpose. It shouldn¡¯t be good to show both the seriousness of the war and show signs of defeat. This is because it would be impossible to maintain the influence of the Grand Duchy. However, if the war is made light, there is no reason toe to the capital after preparing for a winter trip. She said, bowing her head. ¡°But Grand Duke Evron sent his Grand Duchess back here. I think that could be part of the answer.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Grand Duke Roygar nodded. He smiled. Still, Hayley could see that he took this seriously enough. Grand Duchess Roygar, who had been fiddling with the rabbit doll,mented. ¡°Grand Duchess Evron is really a hard work. I¡¯m not going to such a cold rough ce on a honeymoon. How nice would it be to go to the South Sea? By now, she¡¯ll be soaking her feet in warm sea water.¡± ¡°With Cedric¡¯s responsibility so important, how could she be enjoying their newlywed life leisurely?¡± ¡°But still, even if my husband left for war, it would be better to stay alone at the South Sea Vi, than in the cold winter alone. I had to bring a few maids from the capital.¡± Hayley became suspicious as if she knew the meaning of the word war. However, she did not show it on her face. The servant brought out a bottle of wine and several sses in a bowl of ice. Grand Duke Roygar pulled out the bottle with his own hand. ¡°Drink a ss. There¡¯s nothing more enjoyable than cool wine drinking in a warm ce.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said so. A pale yellowish liquid was poured into the ss. The aroma that was fragrant like the fragrance of flowers spread around. It was still broad daylight, but Hayley could not refuse, so she carefully epted the ss. The ss was also cold, so she felt like she would enjoy it. ¡°It¡¯s a barque wine producedst year. It¡¯s getting open for the first time today.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley carefully sips the wine. The sweet and sour and cool taste wetted her mouth. ¡°Isn¡¯t it pretty good? Last year¡¯s vintage will be pretty precious.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Hayley didn¡¯t know anything about the taste of wine, so she just replied so. Wine was very expensive, as there were no grapes in Evron Grand Duchy. In fact, she seldom drank. Grand Duchess Roygar tilted her head. ¡°It¡¯s not bad, but is this going to be expensive?¡± ¡°Last year, thebor cost was very expensive. So, the quantity is small. Thanks to Cedric.¡± At the words of Grand Duke Roygar, Hayley squeezed her back. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Proofreader: somnium Grand Duchess Roygar tilted her head. ¡°Thanks to Cedric?¡± ¡°Because making wine requires a lot ofbor. Butst year, thebor cost was too high. Oh, the vintage was great, but it was hard to find people, so the production was small. Our winery only got half of the previous year.¡± The productivity of the East is enormous. It was notparable to the metropolitan area. However, except for the capital, the eastern part has developed all kinds of industries with the highest poption density. In particr, the eastern part was holding an industry that needed a suitable climate and rich soil, such as agriculture. While the West sowed wheat and grazed sheep on the vast ins, the East grewmodity crops and developed a processing industry. From tea, wine, silk, tobo, medicinal materials, and fruit processing, industries that require all of the technology,bor and infrastructure are mainly in the East. Many of the expensive luxury goods consumed in the capital were produced in the East, and because of this,rgendowners andpanies grew. Industrial development in the East was more stable than anything else. In the West, where monster waves ur regrly, it was not easy to even build an orchard that had to be cultivated for many years, let alone investing in infrastructure. In addition, the monster wave maximized the profits of the easternndlords and giant traders. When the monster wave urs, refugees soon follow. While this catastrophe was akin to natural disaster, it did not affect the entire empire at the same time like a flood or drought. It unterally brought down only the West. Westerners whose living base had copsed, became migrants and flowed into the metropolitan area and the eastern part. And they be a cheapbor force. After a few years, some return to their hometown. However, many of them stayed as they were. It yed a role in regrly bringing the poption into the eastern part and the metropolitan area. Eastern farmers are also unable to respond to the exploitation. The immigrantbor force that needed to be ced is overflowing. There is a monster wave in the west, so you can¡¯t even leave the ce. However, Cedric stopping the Monster Wavest time changed the situation. The primary part is that the urrence of migrants is minimized due to the small amount ofnd swept away by the monster wave. What had a greater influence than that was the perception of people. Until now, the Empire has not always been helpless to the Monster Wave. There were times when the Western Army was more organized. Sometimes an excellentmander even emerged and stopped it. Even if the Western Army copsed, the central army would be deployed to resolve it. But no one had ever given hope. Even if any great generals stopped the monster wave without damage, they won¡¯t be there next time. If they had both ability and ambition, they can join the central army with their raised men or be the Emperor¡¯s bodyguard. If they had the ability but were not ambitious, they were often framed by someone who envied their achievements and expelled or purged by the Emperor¡¯s hatred. Regardless of whether they were transferred or demoted, they would leave anyway. And the next monster wave takes ce again. The westerners were in a state of resignation. But Cedric is different. He was the shield of the north, and the hero of the west. He will not leave because of transfer or demotion. He had a system and rebuilt the Western Army, and instead of dedicating it to the Emperor, he left it for western defense. And he was a member of the imperial family. Its symbolism wasn¡¯t small. The westerners gained the belief that the imperial family did not throw them away. The Monster Wave, which wille back a few yearster, will be stopped by Grand Duke Evron. Then there is no need to leave. The reality that Cedric is actually under pressure from the Emperor is not involved in that belief. Although few people knew him well, it wasn¡¯t enough to influence the general trend of relief. The refugees turned away and returned to the destend. Helping each other with neighbors, they refurbished their home. The Western Army helped with that. It was a subtle thing for Grand Duke Roygar. It doesn¡¯t matter if the west is solid. However, an increase inbor costs in the East was not what he wanted. His personal fortune is concentrated in the East. Even if he became emperor, there wasn¡¯t much difference. Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s supporters are the coalition of the great nobles and the great lords. If one bes the emperor by one¡¯s own power, that power bes not only of one¡¯s own, but the power that rests on one¡¯s supporters. After all, it is no different from the one who was elected out of several nobles. Someday he would take them all out and regain the imperial authority. To do this, his personal wealth was more important than the development of the entire empire. This is because it was one of the means in which he can gain an upper hand against his subjects in the future. [¡°It is greed that moves Grand Duke Roygar. Remember that.¡±] Artizea taught Hayley about the main figures in the capital and said so. [¡°People cannot easily escape from their own experiences. If nature and experience coincide, it is even more so.¡±] Artizea said. [¡°Grand Duke Roygar was only 10 years old when the predecessor Emperor was ousted. The predecessor¡¯s Grand Duchess obtained the minimal protection by bing Evron¡¯s Grand Duchess, but Grand Duke Roygar was still in the hands of the Empress Dowager. After some time, he even lost his mother.¡±] And when he was 13 years old, his brother-inw and sister-inw were driven to death. The memory of that time could not be easily erased by Grand Duke Roygar. [¡°At the time, Lord Cedric was a small child, but Evron¡¯s protection was still there. In the first ce, the reason Lord Cedric was kept alive was to keep Evron, so his life wasn¡¯t in danger for a while.¡±] [¡°In addition, because Evron Grand Duchy has independence and military power, it can be a shield. It is also thest resort to fighting the maind.¡±] [¡°Yes, but in the first ce, it¡¯s possible because it¡¯s Evron.¡±] [¡°Yes. I understand what you mean.¡±] [¡°However, because Grand Duke Roygar had only inherited wealth. He didn¡¯t have a vassal who could act as a guardian, unlike Evron, the whole estate didn¡¯t throw themselves to protect him.¡±] He had to survive on his own, and he ceased to believe in the trust itself without reason. What anyone can trust at the end is the power in their own hands. In his case, it was wealth. After all, the throne is for him a means to survive. It is not easy to give up the power you hold right now to obtain an uncertain means. [¡°People understand others in the light of oneself. If so, who is the most iprehensible for Grand Duke Roygar?¡±] Hayley only remembered the conversation. But now she could keenly understand why Artizea expressed Grand Duke Roygar in the single word of greed. Grand Duke Roygar only counts the monster wave as a cost. He thinks first of the impact it had on his personal wealth rather than the entire empire. Besides, the meaning of what he said was a stab at her. It¡¯s good if she panics and reveals her weaknesses, but it doesn¡¯t matter. In the first ce, he wouldn¡¯t have expected anything. She, who has just be ady-in-waiting, is not even the subject of conversation, let alone to negotiate. Hayley looked serious. It wasn¡¯t something she could answer at random. But at a moment like this, she has only one thing she can say as a people of the Evron Grand Duchy, and much more, as the daughter of Jordyn. She thought and thought, and the result was the same as what Mel would havee up without thinking. ¡°Our Grace is a person with a strong sense of responsibility. It is natural to save the West and I don¡¯t think he thought of it as an honor. And since he¡¯s been in the West for three years, he must have had a lot of affection.¡± In fact, she hasn¡¯t spoken with Cedric about the matter, but Hayley said confidently; It is conscious to use the expression ¡®save¡¯. ¡°It¡¯s just embarrassing that Grand Duke Roygar was so disappointed.¡± Then Grand Duke Roygar grinned. ¡°Who said I was disappointed?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It was Cedric who saved the West, but I was sorry that he didn¡¯t get the rightpensation for his deed.¡± Because he spoke casually, Hayley wandered without hiding her expression for a moment. But, it was rather unsophisticated to say ¡®I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡¯ or, once again ¡®Cedric didn¡¯t do it in the light of reward.¡¯ Grand Dukeughed loudly. ¡°The western granary¡­ ¡° He had never mentioned the granary so far, but he said so now. Hayley¡¯s back went stiff. ¡°It¡¯s fertile and goodnd.¡± A sign of peace lingered in the face of Grand Duke Roygar. If Cedric¡¯s wishes were to control the western granary, it could be convincing and negotiable. It is also an advantage that there is nothing to get out of hand right now because there is the right to give it after bing the Emperor anyway. There are also few concerns about internalpetition as there are no forces that covet the West. Taking a boat to share interests was a form of cooperation that was easy for Grand Duke Roygar to understand. He looked at Grand Duchess Roygar and said. ¡°Honey, invite her sooner orter. Maybe you¡¯re closer to her age than me, it¡¯s easier to get along with each other than with me? We need to repay the precious gift.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Also, introduce Lady Hayley to other people.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said so and stood up. Hayley stood up after him, then Grand Duke Roygar said, ¡°I am not the owner of the salon, but make yourself at home.¡± ¡°Thank you for your undeserved hospitality. If I may, can I get a bottle of wine?¡± ¡°Oh, I guess you like it.¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m a Northerner, I don¡¯t know the taste of wine, so I¡¯ll take this opportunity to learn.¡± At Hayley¡¯s words, Grand Duke Roygarughed. And he ordered the servant to bring several bottles of wine. *** On the way back from the Empress¡¯ Pce, Artizea stopped at the temple. It wasn¡¯t the Abbey where she met Cedric, it was a small temple in the capital. ¡°Do you often stop by temples?¡± It wasn¡¯t on the original schedule. However, Lysia wondered because she turned around and headed for the temple. While in Evron, Artizea did not visit the temple much. This was new. She said with her eyes closed. ¡°Just a little. I have time left.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia nodded her head slowly back and forth. ¡°There is a retired old bishop at the temple we¡¯re going to now. Now, he¡¯s a monk who lives quietly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to see him. He¡¯s unusually innocent, and he¡¯s close to the lives of themon people. I wonder if I¡¯d get advice on charity work.¡± Artizea originally intended to entrust Lysia with a charity work; starting with the grain business in the West. She thought there was no need to hurry, so she lowered the priority, but decided to get started quickly. Then she can naturally send Lysia away. And when she arrived at the temple, she ran into an unexpected person. ¡°Marchioness Camellia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Marchioness Camellia, dressed in a simple brown dress and half covered her face with a veil, greeted her. Artizea hardened her face. Why is she, who cares for her salon, not in the salon at this time? Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Proofreader: somnium ¡°This is my daughter. I heard that you have seen her before.¡± Marchioness Camellia introduced a young woman who stood by her side like ady-in-waiting. She was the Marchioness¡¯ eldest daughter Sk Camellia. Sk politely raised a bow. ¡°Long time no see, Grand Duchess Evron, I¡¯m Sk.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Camellia¡¯s Heir Apparent.¡± Artizea replied in a nonchnt way. She had made an acquaintance before marriage, but she had never intimately talked with the girl. The greetings were enough. She was caught off guard, so she didn¡¯t feel good. ¡®If Marchioness Camellia is here, there is a possibility that there will be Grand Duke Roygar in the salon. It would be okay if there was only the Grand Duchess¡­.¡¯ She doesn¡¯t know if Hayley can do it well. Although she was concerned, Artizea said without revealing her expression. ¡°¡­.. Would you like to walk for a minute?¡± Artizea took the lead. Marchioness Camellia told Sk to remain there, and she followed Artizea. At the time of their first meeting, Marchioness Camellia was in authority, and Artizea was nothing but a poor girl dressed in shabby clothes without any real power. But now her status has changed, and Marchioness Camellia followed her a half step behind her. Even temples in the capital usually have green spaces nearby to keep quiet. The two soon entered a path in a garden decorated like a forest. The escorts followed in a distance where they could not hear anything. ¡°Do youe to this temple often?¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Marchioness Camellia smiled softly. ¡°No way. Why would you pretend you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°Well, it was a whimsical decision toe to this temple. It¡¯s a surprising coincidence that Marchioness Camellia has the same whims.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t on a whim, but on the small possibility that the Grand Duchess might be visiting. Brother Colton here is from the West.¡± Brother Colton was to refer to the retired old Bishop, whom Artizea wanted to meet. ¡°Considering his reputation and history, one must seek his advice before starting a phnthropy for farmers in the West.¡± Marchioness Camellia did not hide that she knew that Artizea had bought thend of the West. Artizea was not surprised. Before she entered the maind, she had already sent the news to Marcus. Apart from that, she turned some of the grain vendors bought under a borrowed name to the Marquisate Rosan¡¯s and made them invest in mills andnd in the western region. It was intentionally disclosed. So, of course, Grand Duke Roygar would know. Even if he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯s a sensitive person to the flow of money. ¡°Yes, the West is and worth investing in from now on.¡± ¡°The only thing I can say for sure as the Grand Duchess.¡± Marchioness Camellia smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯ll have to invest a little, too. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to fail if I follow Your Grace. I¡¯m really impressed by the skill that Your Grace has shown in managing the assets of Evron Grand Duchy over the past half year.¡± ¡°It was a little money.¡± Artizea said slowly. Until now, Cedric¡¯s personal property on the maind was managed by Ansgar. Some of them were the estate of the Evron Grand Duchy. However, Cedric¡¯s personal wealth was also there. Cedric¡¯s mother brought it as a dowry and inherited it to her son with the session of the predecessor Emperor. Most of them were conservative assets such as mills, farms and wineries. It was about the ie of a small noble family. Cedric wasn¡¯t particrly interested in it, even more so given the size of Evron Grand Duchy. When added that ie to the budget of Evron Grand Duchy it did nothing but pour a well into the river. Although he wasn¡¯t the character to actively try to increase his assets, there was also the fact that it was inherited from his mother, who died due to misfortune, so he left it as it was from the time he inherited it. And he told Ansgar to use it for the cost of the capital¡¯s mansions and vis. So Artizea put her hand on it. This is because there was no reason not to do so, even though there was an opportunity to spend the money. She sold most of the eastern stable assets. She invested all that money, and she bought a sericulture farm and stocked up silk thread. It was said that one should not put all eggs in one basket, but it was not relevant to Artizea. She knew that silk would be unbeatable for decades toe. Especially so in the years toe. This is because silk is the new fabric that will be popr following the embroidery velvet at Iantz. Although the Iantz fabric is famous, it was at the Krates Empire where most of the raw materials were produced. With the exception of the Iantz fabrics, the Krates Empire produced most fabrics considered to be of the highest quality and next level. Artizea had secured raw materials inrge quantities. She didn¡¯t even have to hide it. Silk is a luxury item. The sericulture farm is in the east, and the purchaser of silk yarn is the Kingdom of Iantz. And consumption took ce on the maind. So, there was no direct rtionship with the growth of Evron Grand Duchy itself. What the Emperor is wary of is losing control of Evron. The growing dependence on the East and the South is rather wee. Even if Cedric¡¯s fortune increased, it wasn¡¯t arge sum for the Emperor to care. Of course, he was also ignoring the rate of the asset growth because he did not yet know. ¡°Because Marquisate Camellia was also investing quite a bit in the sericulture business. When I tried to secure silkworms by obtaining secret information from the Kingdom of Iantz, the Grand Duchess had already wiped it out.¡± ¡°Because the silk business never fails.¡± ¡°Do you believe that even though the Iantz leaked information that the next trend for embroidered velvet would be muslin?¡± ¡°It would be to keep the raw materials avable in bulk by temporarily dropping the price of silk yarns ahead of theunch of a new silk fabric, because Iantz, who knows that the most expensive ones are the biggest money, can¡¯t choose muslin.¡± ¡°My my. I thought Your Grace had nted an informant in the Kingdom of Iantz.¡± Artizea nced at her. However, it was unlikely that Marchioness Camellia knew something and said it. ¡°Did Marchioness Camelliae to talk about a trivial business? If that was the case, it would be nice to drink tea at home calmly.¡± ¡°Oh my god. I¡¯ve been sidetracked for so long. Personally, I was very surprised, so I was curious. Thanks to that, I confirmed that the wisdom of Your Grace is not only in the court.¡± Marchioness Camelliaughed. ¡°I wanted to ask about what you want to do in the West. Even if you focus on charity work, His Majesty will be reluctant, so I was wondering how you n to ovee that problem.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t have a specific n. It¡¯s still necessary, so I have to try my best to persuade His Majesty.¡± ¡°If there is a possibility that there is a rear base capable of stably supplying grain to Evron Grand Duchy, His Majesty will never tolerate it.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s about using the property of Marquisate Rosan, not the Grand Duchess Evron¡¯s, he can¡¯t openly stop it even if he made an unpleasant expression.¡± ¡°There are not only political means that His Majesty can use. As Your Grace Grand Duchess knows better.¡± Said Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Grand Duke Roygar said that he couldn¡¯t afford to give the Evron Grand Duchy that much.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°The shield of the north, the hero of the west. If Evron copses, the maind will also copse. His Majesty the Emperor ces great importance in ??the imperial power, so sometimes he is harsh.¡± Artizea paused for a moment. And she looked back at Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Does Marchioness Camellia mean to say that if Evron falls, then the maind will fall?¡± Artizea spoke in a hostile tone. Marchioness Camellia opened her eyes wide. Artizea knew well how to take full control of her facial expressions from the time they first met. Even when Mira was expelled at her wedding, there was always a gentle, bright, appropriate appearance on her face. But now she was revealing her raw feelings. At least it looked so. ¡°I¡¯ve been attacked by Karam once. It was terrible.¡± ¡°My God.¡± Marchioness Camellia was really astonished. ¡°I guess you didn¡¯t know that.¡± That meant that Cadriol¡¯s incident waspletely swept under the carpet. Artizea was satisfied. But instead of smiling, she hardened her face and spoke in a hard tone. ¡°Do you know why Evron is loyal?¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Because the Northerners are born with an exceptionally straight and unselfish nature? Marchioness should know that humans are not made that way.¡± It was a cold voice that she consciously gave out, as if her emotions came out. It was like anger and fear. ¡°I found out this time. The Northerners don¡¯t have a feeling of resentment, they know so well that they¡¯re unable to do so. It¡¯s impossible to flee, and if themunity copses, the defenses of the north will fall.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t even have the option of bing a migrant if other ces copse like the West. It¡¯s because Elia Wall is stopping it. The Northerners are loyal because it was an environment where they could not survive without. Because they knew that, Grand Duke Evron was willing to take heavy responsibility.¡± Up to that point, everything is true. For this reason, Marchioness Camellia could not discern whether Artizea¡¯s reflection was sincere or whether it was intentionally exaggerated feelings. ¡®If you had an experience that put your life in danger by being attacked by Karam, it might be sincere.¡¯ Marchioness Camellia never downyed Artizea. But she couldn¡¯t get it out of her mind that she was 18 years old. If she was as old as Grand Duchess Roygar, Marchioness Camellia would havepletely doubted it. But not now. ¡°The cornerstone of Evron will be at Evron Grand Duchy, no matter what. My husband loves Evron and thend, and he has a strong sense of responsibility. But I think differently.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°There is no reason to sacrifice Evron alone.¡± Artizea said quietly. ¡°I want to make a ce in the West, of course, because I want to support my husband, Marchioness Camellia.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also because I need a ce to fall back on when something happens. If possible, I will protect as many people as my husband cares about.¡± Marchioness Camellia took her breath. Artizea¡¯s words meant that Evron could give up the estate in case of unforeseen circumstances. Cedric is not one to do that But he is always at the forefront. There was always the possibility of a sudden loss of contact due to the copse of the Thold Gate, or something more. In that case, Artizea is the owner of Evron. And she was the one who would remain open to the maind. After being recognized as Grand Duchess Evron, the loyal Evrons will follow the order of Artizea. It was a real threat. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Proofreader: somnium Sk and Lysia were waiting together in the temple¡¯s parlor. The temple prepared simple refreshments for the valuable guests. Lysia stood up and took the tray from the monk¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Sk nced at Lysia. Lysia had a sweet smile. ¡®She is Grand Duchess Evron¡¯sdy-in-waiting, right?¡¯ Her appearance was fresh, and her attitude was friendly and polite. It wasn¡¯t a popr type in the capital¡¯s social circles, but it was likable. ¡®There must be something about her since Grand Duchess Evron made her thedy-in-waiting.¡¯ Sk thought so. Marchioness Camellia did not hide much from her future sessor. She regrly talked openly to Sk, especially when ites to her information. Therefore, Sk knew about Artizea as much as Marchioness Camellia knew. And she knows how much she values Artizea. Today she also talked about this. [¡°I¡¯m thinking of asking her to ept you as herdy-in-waiting.¡±] [¡°Herdy-in-waiting?¡±] Sk was startled and asked again. [¡°Grand Duchess Evron is not an ordinary person. There would be a lot to learn from her.¡±] [¡°Does Aunt think it¡¯s worth dealing with? If I do it wrong, it will look like you¡¯re trying to put your feet on both sides.¡±] [¡°I will take care of that part. Since it¡¯s about making one more string with the Evron Grand Duchy, the Grand Duke will think it¡¯s not bad either.¡±] [¡°If she epted me, she won¡¯t be able to walk the tightrope in such a delicate position like she is now, but will Grand Duchess Evron do that?¡±] [¡°Now it¡¯s time for her to decide either way. Are you on a bad rtionship with Grand Duchess Evron?¡±] [¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡±] Sk had no particr friendships or resentments with Artizea. Rather than getting along, the gap was so wide that there was no need to consciously ignore her. And now it¡¯s just the opposite. Sk resembles Marchioness Camellia. She wasn¡¯t without pride, but she wasn¡¯t a person who couldn¡¯t admit someone who had risen higher than herself. For her own interests, she would be willing to go under. Anyway, if she bes thedy-in-waiting, she stays with Lysia. When she thinks of the difference in status, of course she was the superior person. However, the favor of the person whom she served was an important matter. It was natural that she was bothered. ¡°Is this your first time in the capital, Morten Heir Apparent?¡± ¡°Yes, I have never been out of Evron Grand Duchy before.¡± ¡°I heard that besides Morten Heir Apparent, there is one more maid of the Grand Duchess¡¯. She too?¡± ¡°Yes, Sister Hayley was also born and lived there.¡± Lysia smiled awkwardly. ¡°Unlike me, she was a very smart and wise older sister. I was really worried when I became thedy-in-waiting of Her Grace, but I¡¯m relieved that Hayley will do my part well even if I¡¯m a little clumsy and ugly.¡± ¡°What are you worried about? Morten Heir Apparent will be good enough. When was your debut party decided?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re both new to socializing in the capital.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not in a position to deserve that, besides the fight at the Thold Gate hasn¡¯t ended, and the party is a bit inappropriate.¡± ¡°Is the northern situation quite bad?¡± Sk asked anxiously. Lysia replied softly. ¡°Because there are casualties in any winning battles. There were quite a few before we started. It¡¯s a matter of mindset. The two of us made that decision, and the Grand Duchess understood our hearts.¡± ¡°I see. ¡° Sk had an anxious face. Lysia said the Northern War was not just the war itself, but many other things rted to it. But she took Lysia¡¯s words to heart. She didn¡¯t say that Lysia was particrly dangerous, but she didn¡¯t even feel like she was really in either. Sk got her mindplicated. Was she talking ambiguously on purpose? It was when she was telling such a story. After a short walk, Artizea and Marchioness Camellia entered. Sk and Lysia stood up from their seats. Said Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Sk.¡± ¡°Mother.¡± Even if the secret story was over, Sk was surprised because she thought she would get closer not separate. Artizea said with an expressionless face. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again soon.¡± Marchioness Camellia politely bowed to her and stepped out with Sk. Sk looked puzzled at Marchioness Camellia. At first nce, she had a cool face, but in the eyes of her daughter, Sk, she could see the Marchioness was shaking. They left the temple and got into the carriage, then Sk asked. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°¡­¡­..Grand Duchess Evron suggested the possibility that Evron would open the way.¡± ¡°To Karam?¡± Sk asked in amazement. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. This Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°Yes. It must have been a threat.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much to say just for support? It¡¯s stupid to do it with the idea of ??getting an upper hand in the West. Or, is the North really that dangerous?¡± ¡°At least, as we know, the war was unlikely to escte. It is true that siege weapons were released, and there were several viges that were attacked by small troops that crossed the Thold Mountains, but no important areas suffered noticeable damage.¡± ¡°Yes, it would be reasonable for Evron Grand Duchy to respond carefully to the future, but it was concluded that the war wouldn¡¯t be prolonged right away. The Thold Gate wouldn¡¯t be pierced.¡± ¡°Yes. I think it¡¯s just a threat.¡± Marchioness Camellia forgets that her rouge has been wiped off and bites her lower lip. ¡°But what would His Majesty the Emperor say?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be a good cause? Because we are gathering supplies to support the North?¡± ¡°If Evron Grand Duchy was directly attacked by Karam, and was troubled by it¡­¡­..His Majesty¡¯s position would have to provide at least a minimum of supplies. And he will requisition those supplies from the nobles. You can also reap wealth by adding armaments to Elia Wall and keep the nobility in check¡­ ¡° As Sk spoke, she was startled and looked at Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Yes. If that happens, Roygar will put the responsibility on me.¡± Marchioness Camellia said so. She was originally supposed to establish a partnership with Evron. They could have given up the West and, if necessary, provided supplies in the short term. But if that was what the Emperor was doing, the situation was different. Rather than Roygar paying Evron something as a condition for a deal, it is being collected by the Emperor. So, there is no exchange rtionship with Evron. ¡°Is it not possible that Grand Duchess Evron was really just scared?¡± ¡°Maybe so. But will His Majesty the Emperor miss the opportunity?¡± Marchioness Camelliamented. She wouldn¡¯t worry about this if she had all the right to make decisions. She would just be willing to apply. Grand Duke Roygar will do the same. If they have to do it anyway, it¡¯s better to consider a rtionship with Evron Grand Duchy on a voluntary basis for the long run. Apart from that, however, the responsibility falling to Marchioness Camellia does not disappear. It was a job advocated by her to embrace Artizea. And Grand Duke is a man who does not forget a loss. ¡°Maybe she just said that to mother to give her time to cope. Unless she¡¯s really scared and overwhelmed with emotions.¡± Sk said so. ¡°If she was going to really put us in an awkward situation, she wouldn¡¯t be talking in the presence of mother and just the two of you, but she would have met with His Majesty the Emperor first or with His Grace Grand Duke Roygar in person.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Today¡¯s meeting wasn¡¯t intended by Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Marchioness Camelliamented. She made an outspoken visit and tried to get something from Artizea, but she felt like she was being beaten in return. *** Artizea sat down on the fluffy sofa in an exhausted mood. Lysia said. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask for a new tea.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She was feeling upset and ufortable. Artizea reached out to the simple tea ceremony ced on the table. She originally had a lot of food that her body couldn¡¯t ept. Even with a little, she quickly became bloated. In her childhood, Mira said that a girl should be slim, and she was severely restricted in terms of meals by Mira. As a result, her stomach became unhealthy, so even if she tried to eat, she couldn¡¯t eat much. There were also psychological reasons. That is why she was not particrly ill, but weak. However, from a while ago, she felt rather ufortable to feel empty. She kept thinking of meat that she seldom thought of before. The kind of cheese that used to quickly make her bloated even if she ate a little was quickly digested. Rye wasn¡¯t wrong when he said she had gained some weight. Artizea thought maybe it¡¯s been a while since she left Rosan¡¯s mansion. She wasn¡¯t aware of it, but now perhaps she feels less stressed? There was nothing bad about her being able to eat. Lysia asked. ¡°The snack that Countess Martha has brought is in the carriage. Shall I bring some?¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Artisea said so, because the temple¡¯s tea ceremony didn¡¯t seem to fill her stomach. She met Lawrence after the Empress, and she unexpectedly encountered Marchioness Camellia; her energy was exhausted. ¡®It¡¯s all right. I didn¡¯t make any mistakes.¡¯ Artizea closed her eyes and thought. It was the Emperor who held the key to this problem anyway. The premise does not change, the conclusion cannot be changed. It didn¡¯t matter if she just met the Emperor first as nned. Negotiations on an equal footing with Roygar? She didn¡¯t intend to do that from the beginning. This is because if she gets support from Grand Duke Roygar, it means that she will eventually join his faction. Nevertheless, she threatened Marchioness Camellia in advance. It was to drive a wedge in between. People fall into the illusion that if they get information in advance, they can change the oue. Marchioness Camellia had already understood that the conclusion of this would not change. Still, she will not lose her hope. ¡®I like wise people. Because they understand quickly.¡¯ And Grand Duke Roygar will notice it. Grand Duke Roygar, Marquess Luden and Marchioness Camellia are on a boat, but they¡¯re not a lump. Marchioness Camellia is dedicated to the Grand Duchess Roygar, but that devotion is, after all, for herself and for her children. It¡¯s good if she can break the trust and open the cracks wider. But it doesn¡¯t matter if not. She only did it because Marchioness Camellia had secretly visited her with her daughter. That¡¯s it, and she¡¯s tired. The thought of talking to Brother Colton went out in steam. It was when she let out a sigh without strength. A monk opened the door of the parlor and politely bowed. ¡°Brother Colton told me to invite in the Grand Duchess.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Proofreader: somnium She wanted to rest a little more. It seemed that her mood would improve after eating some of the snacks that Lysia had brought. However, Artizea followed the monk with a heavy body. She left a message to the maid telling Lysia to follow her quickly when she returns. She had no acquaintance with Brother Colton. Even at the time before she returned, they had no personal acquaintance. Brother Colton was innocent, but not of a friendly character. He was wise and picky, and hated those who would buy faith with money. That is why he was respected by many people, and despite his fame and knowledge, he abandoned his position as a bishop and remained a monk. Perhaps Brother Colton already knows that Artizea is bribing the temple. She was sure he wouldn¡¯t like her. She should meet when he says he will meet, and if she was toote and it was viewed as the arrogance of the great nobility, there might not be a second chance. Once they meet, Lysia will be able to persuade him. The monk guided Artizea to the depths of the temple. It was an old, small prayer room that showed a sense of time. ¡°Please go from here alone and wait.¡± ¡°Her Grace alone?¡± Alphonse asked with a hard face. Said Artizea. ¡°Monk, please guide my escort to a ce where he can restfortably.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then stand here.¡± While saying so, Artizea opened the door to the prayer room. The prayer room was very narrow. There was no window. There was a small single prayer table. An old scripture was ced on the prayer table, and a wooden sign was ced in front of it. The touched part was burned and glossy. ¡°There¡¯s nothing dangerous in this prayer room. Stand aside where the entrance is in sight so that you don¡¯t get in the way.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s dangerous, but¡­.. Was he thinking of meeting in a ce like this?¡± ¡°He¡¯s trying to teach a lesson.¡± Artizea said so. Brother Colton was a very arrogant man. Artizea even thought that if he refused to meet, she was even nning to bribe the Archbishop to arrange a meeting. It was about asking for a bit of asceticism, so he would fully listen if she could solve the first encounter issue without harm. ¡°Keep praying for a moment. He wille soon.¡± The monk who guided her all the way here politely said so and closed the door. Alphonse was forced to retreat and followed the monk. Artizea touched the scripture on the prayer table. The cover, which originally would have been made of high-quality leather, was so old that it tattered like a cloth. Artizea opened any page she knew, and she looked at it. She memorized the scripture while studying, but she never opened it when she had time. She did not believe in God. No, she didn¡¯t mean to think there was no God. Artizea saw the saint, and witnessed the miracles caused by the saint. There is no evidence that there is a God more clearly than that. However, she never had a desire to turn to God. All that God did for the many injustices and cruelties was to send one Lysia down. And the strength she had as the saint was not enough to protect her own body. So God was not interested enough to care for even ipetent or righteous human beings. She did not feel that she would be saved just by relying on such an entity. ¡®Even if I could be saved, I wouldn¡¯t depend on it.¡¯ It does not end with the salvation of one¡¯s own soul. If God forgives you without repaying all of your sins, is it all over? It is a mystery. Artizea is not even a faithful believer, let alone a priest. She didn¡¯t know whether God¡¯s forgiveness could absolve everything, or whether it was the story of somews that existed far from the world. Artizea reopened the scripture. Then, she knelt down at the prayer table, straightening the hem of her skirt. This is because she intends to appear a little faithful when Brother Coltones. Still, it was a little different from before. Artizea hasn¡¯t done anything bad enough for Colton¡¯s eyes. She bribed the temple, but that was something that any noblemen would do when they wanted something. ¡®As a subject of enlightenment, she introduced Lysia and made friends to know more than just advice on charity work¡­ ¡® While thinking, she formally put her hands together and took a prayer position. Something stuck Artizea¡¯s body like a lightning bolt. ¡¶Return!¡· Artizea lost consciousness and fell in ce. *** A tent was set up in front of Thold Gate. Three gs were erected: one white g, one g of the Evron Grand Duchy, and one g of the Krates Empire. On the other side, there were rooms for other gs. ¡°Do you have to go out yourself?¡± The fortressmander asked with an anxious face. Cedric said. ¡°What¡¯s the point if I don¡¯t meet them in person? They wouldn¡¯t trust you over there.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying that, but¡­¡± ¡°The risks are the same between each party. We should show our sincerity as well.¡± On this side, they took the risk of opening the gates and leaving. Their side, they risking within range. However, the fortressmander said, unable to hide his worries. ¡°Your Grace is the Master of Evron. Even if someonees from over there, it wouldn¡¯t be the King of Karam, would it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Karam has even made a tactic to set up a negotiating table to kill me. But just in case, as soon as I leave, close the gate firmly and keep it from copsing. That¡¯s your job.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± From far away, a group of Karam with white gs in their hands began to move. The number was a little over twenty. Cedric ordered the number of escorts to match as well. Inside the castle gate, knights equipped with heavy equipment stood by to run out at any time. In case the gate opening period was dyed, another group of knights was hidden in the nearby hill forest. In case of emergency, rescue teams will rush in from both sides. Even so, the anxiety doesn¡¯tpletely go away. Even if the venue is within the range of the guns, there is Cedric, it cannot be bombarded with artillery fire. When ites to a battle on an open field, even if both sides are lightly armed and they suddenly fight, humans can never beat Karam. It wasn¡¯t that Cedric didn¡¯t know the worries of those around him. However, Cedric pretended not to know and headed out. A small door on the castle gate opened. The vassals of the Grand Duchy also found this to be unsatisfactory. It is natural that they could not open the main gate because of the danger, but they could not ept that Cedric went out through the side gate. Cedric took twenty escorts and headed to the venue. A table and two chairs were ced in the conference hall. There was nothing other than that. It was to show that he did not hide weapons or ambush. Hannah was waiting, then lowered her head. The hooded man standing next to her bowed his head deeply. ¡°Nice to meet you, Borok. Is it Deck next to you?¡± The man stabbed the Karam on his side. That Karam bowed his head in a hurry. There was a rumbling sound. Borok said. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see you, Grand Duke Evron. My younger brother is saying that, too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee to take off the hood.¡± Borok hesitated a little. But he soon removed the hood. There was one more eye on Borok¡¯s head. Conversely, Deck had four arms, but only two eyes. Knights stationed at Thold Gate were familiar with both mixed-blood and Karam. No one was astonished even when they saw the strange appearance to the human eye. ¡°Thanks to you, I am grateful that today¡¯s meeting has been established. Even if there is no special reward, I will fully acknowledge the achievements to both of you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough that the fight has a chance to stop.¡± Said Borok. It was not long after Artizea left that the intention of the conversation was mutually confirmed. However, it took more than a month to find an interpreter. If they were bartering, using bodynguage also mademunication possible. However, propernguage was required for the two forces to meet and talk. There¡¯s also a need for a trustworthy interpreter. Without these mixed-breed brothers, the conference would not have been established yet. Borok and Deck were twins. One resembles humans, and the other resembles Karam. The structure of the vocal cords was different, but since they lived together their entire life, the words worked. They couldn¡¯t speak the other person¡¯snguage, but they could understand it. There were quite a few cases wheremunication was possible even among mixed-race families or even those living adjacent to Karam. In Hannah¡¯s vige, there was a separate signnguage that could only bemunicated within the vige for mixed blood that could not be spoken. However, it was rare for half-blooded siblings to understand the other person¡¯s words so quickly, and simr appearances were notmon. It was Hannah¡¯s achievement for finding these two. Because their family had nowhere to be epted, they hid their homes near the border and lived as hunters and herbalists. And from then on, the conditions of the meeting were negotiated after passing through a long correspondence. Soon an envoy from Karam arrived. Karam originally did not have the custom of lifting white gs. However, the one who took the lead was holding a white g, and the one who came after him also held another g, formally. The first to enter the tent was the one who had previously met Cedric face-to-face from above and below the walls. Since that day, this was the first time they faced each other for a month and a half. But Cedric could clearly recognize his face. The expression on that Karam¡¯s face was the same as that of humans. The young face somehow distinguished him from other Karam. Borok said to Cedric in a low voice. ¡°This is Apua. He is the prince of thergest tribe in Karam.¡± The original title was longer and moreplex. Position was difficult to understand with human concepts. But Borok said briefly. While Borok was speaking, Deck moved to that Karam. Borok, in reverse, tranted Deck¡¯s words. It was supposed to convey all the words that went to and from each other. ¡°I have introduced you as the master of Evron.¡± ¡°Please sit down.¡± It was when Cedric suggested a seat. Apua put one hand in his pocket. Cedric¡¯s knight, worried about him pulling out a weapon, reached out to the gun at the same time. He came with a gun loaded in advance. But what Apua took out was a sheet of paper. Deck hesitated to take the paper and hand it over to Borok. Borok opened the paper and showed it to Cedric. Inside, the following sentence was written in clumsy and crooked writing like a child. [I¡¯m here to pick up what¡¯s going to happen in 20 years.] Cedric looked at Apua, and read the sentence below it again. [I know that among the powerful men, only you are the one who canmunicate. The fallen monarch.] Cedric gave strength to his hand. Then he looked at Apua. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Proofreader: somnium Saintess When Artizea opened her eyes, there was an old monk beside her. He was on his knees quietly towards the scripture. Whether he is praying or just sitting and waiting, she could not tell for sure. Artizea raised her body and sat down in a polite position on the prayer table. She wasn¡¯t in a decent physical condition, and she didn¡¯t have enough mental capacity to do so. ¡°Brother Colton.¡± With her deeply submerged voice she called the monk. Brother Colton looked at Artizea. She could not read anything from the silent ck eyes. ¡°How are you doing? I didn¡¯t think it would be polite to disturb people abruptly, so I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°How long have I been like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not long. It¡¯s not been 5 minutes since I came in.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea was surprised because she felt as if she had fallen asleep for several hours. She felt like she had spent 10 years in this prayer room. ¡°How was the oracle?¡± ¡°Oracle? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you must have received it.¡± Said Brother Colton. Artizea bit her lower lip. Is that an oracle? It¡¯s got to be. Even if she had no experience, she could tell even if she had never heard of it before. It was clear that the meaning of something that had been stuck in one¡¯s mind was either from God or the Devil. And this is a temple. Artizea didn¡¯t know what to say. She couldn¡¯t figure out what had happened to her. Everything was shocking enough to change things. But nothing has changed. Artizea was still Artizea herself, and she did not have a sudden change of consciousness. She was nervous because she didn¡¯t know what had happened to her. It was mostly because she didn¡¯t know what Brother Colton knew. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯m supposed to have received an oracle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s in front of God. You don¡¯t have to talk like you¡¯re doubting it or trying to dig it up¡± Said Brother Colton. ¡°Saintess.¡± Artizea was dizzy and closed her eyes once and then opened it. ¡°I¡¯m not a saintess. Don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°You have received an oracle, and you are a saintess.¡± ¡°I told you not to call me that way.¡± Brother Colton looked at her. Artizea turned her head because it was difficult to face him with her dizzy eyes. Usually she doesn¡¯t show her expressions and behavior this way. However, she was so disturbed in her heart now that she couldn¡¯t hide herself. ¡°Artizea Rosan, it was about three months ago that I felt that I had to bring you here. Even though I am not a subject of an oracle, sometimes I feel the will of God like this.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to invite you because you were in the north, but I thought that God¡¯s will would have worked after hearing the word that you came to visit me when we had no acquaintance, like you did today.¡± Brother Colton called her name. Artizea said again. ¡°I don¡¯t believe in God. I came to see Brother Colton because of financial affairs.¡± ¡°If an oracle is only given to a faithful person, there are dozens of people in this temple alone who are more suitable to receive the oracle than you are. The oracle is not given in return for the faith in believing, or for doing what you do because it is right.¡± Said Brother Colton. ¡°An oracle is given to someone who can change history.¡± ¡°¡­..Do you know what kind of oracle I¡¯ve heard?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, what you will do in the future, what the oracle will change, and you don¡¯t have to let me know if you don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I just know that it was God¡¯s way of looking ahead and anticipating everything.¡± Artizea squeezed her cold fingertip with the other hand. ¡°Do you believe that God must do the right thing?¡± ¡°The servant just follows what the master does.¡± Brother Colton said with a stone-hard face. And as if he thought he was too harsh, he tried to loosen his face. Brother Colton wasn¡¯t not used to kind words. However, he felt the need to lead the youngdy who was confused. ¡°You may not know the meaning of the oracle right now. You may think you shouldn¡¯t follow it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all right. If God wanted someone to follow like a sheep, God would have chosen a representative from among many priests.¡± ¡°You mean even if I don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll behave ording to God¡¯s will?¡± ¡°God sees both before and after eternity. How can we understand all of God¡¯s will with the short life and narrow mind of man?¡± Brother Colton said, politely bowing his head. ¡°But you and I are all in God¡¯s arrangement. Just as this encounter is. Someday you will understand what is in ce for you. So just take it easy and ept it now.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t ept that remark. Her way back was full of silence. Lysia was worried for Artizea. Even after she met Marchioness Camellia, she looked tired, but she didn¡¯t feel like standing in the air. But she looked very sensitive now. ¡®Is the conversation with Brother Colton so difficult?¡¯ Maybe she could¡¯ve just asked toe backter. It wouldn¡¯t have helped much, though. Rather than going to get the snack, wouldn¡¯t it have been better to stick with Artizea instead? Even when they went back to the mansion. Artizea dragged the hem of her skirt into the mansion without giving a word to the Chief Maid. She often sees Artizea¡¯s tired or consciously sharp look, but it¡¯s the first time Artizea exposed her stress outright, so everyone felt restless. ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯re home?¡± Hayley came out to meet her in the lobby. Artizea caught a glimpse of Hayley. Hayley was still the way she had dressed to go to Marchioness Camellia¡¯s salon. It seemed that she had just returned. ¡°Hayley.¡± She felt like she didn¡¯t want to talk about anything. Her head was so full that she couldn¡¯t think of anything now. Even after receiving the report from Hayley, she couldn¡¯t do anything right now. Dying a day or two didn¡¯t mean that there would be a bigger problem. But Hayley couldn¡¯t be ignored that way. Artizea said, trying to put off herplicated thoughts. ¡°¡­¡­. what happened?¡± ¡°Marchioness Camellia was absent. I received Barque wine from Grand Duke Roygar, and I got a few more bottles. The Grand Duchess was very pleased with the gift.¡± Hayley couldn¡¯t hide her expression and slightly frowned her face. Artizea said in a calm voice. ¡°Good job.¡± ¡°What?¡± She didn¡¯t report it properly, but Hayley was surprised. Artizea replied. ¡°Don¡¯t you say you got Barque wine?¡± ¡°Ah yes.¡± ¡°If you were sloppy, you wouldn¡¯t be able to look at me with such a fine face now, because Grand Duke Roygar would have attacked you terribly. You wouldn¡¯t have had the spirit to take the wine.¡± ¡°It could have been just a gift, right?¡± ¡°If you had been treated with Barque wine, he had probably said that the profits of the eastern region businesses are less than in the previous years?¡± Artizea asked back without hiding her tired look. Still, Hayley couldn¡¯t stop her curiosity. ¡°Can you tell from that alone?¡± ¡°Wine, silk or sugar, it¡¯s the same. Still, you¡¯ve done a good job getting the wine, Hayley. I didn¡¯t think he had looked down on you.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a break and talk properly about what¡¯s going on in detailter. Now, I¡¯m a little¡­ tired.¡± Artizea spoke quickly by herself, feeling like she was going to fall, and headed towards the bedroom. Lysia said, ¡°Hayley, I¡¯ll talk to youter,¡± and she quickly followed Artizea. ¡°You said you¡¯re hungry¡­ Do you want me to prepare anything? How about a meat pancake?¡± Lysia carefully mentioned the snack that Artizea often eats these days. The thoughts of the snacks disappeared, so Artizea shook her head. Alice jumped out as Artizea went up to the second floor. ¡°Madam, why is yourplexion so pale?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired, Alice. I want to sleep.¡± Said Artizea. Alice hurriedly supported her and took her to her bedroom. While Alice stripped her coat and her clothes, the other maids prepared a basin of hot water. Alice wiped the makeup off Artizea¡¯s face with a warm towel. Artizeaid down in her bed without energy. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°Nothing, it¡¯s just because my mind is in disarray.¡± ¡°Would you like to cover your face with a wet towel?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Alice put a towel soaked in warm water over Artizea¡¯s eyes. And she wiped her hands and feet. There was a feeling of cold energy escaping from her cold eyes. Brother Colton¡¯s words buzzed in her mind. ¡®What saintess.¡¯ A person who can change history. Alright. She turned time back and changed the future. She also knew that she was the one who could change the Emperor too. However, there was nothing she could do as a saintess. Whether she is Grand Duchess Evron, Marchioness Rosan, or Lawrence¡¯s sister, the saintess does not fit in with any name. Artizea couldn¡¯t do anything like jumping into an epidemic area to heal the sick, and she had no intention of doing it, unlike Lysia. The ce where she will be is not in the sunlight, but in the corner where candles cast their shadows. ¡®Return¡­ ¡­?¡¯ Does it mean to undo what she¡¯s done so far? Is it God¡¯s will for Lawrence to be emperor? Maybe it was. The people who have fallen into depravity long for salvation. People who had lost hope of surviving, despaired and got corrupted, or relied on God for miracles and relief. What happens when a Saintess appears there. Artizea had seen faith and prayer go beyond the customs of life and spread like fire. Or, is that what God wants? No. God should not be tailored to human-like desires. If God¡¯s will was to rule the heavens, the future that Artizea knew might not matter in decades after. There was something as suspicious as it wasplicated. Could there be two saintesses in one age? It is said that no one knows for sure the will of God, so there is no guarantee. Nor are there statistics that have umted enough to establish a prediction. However, as far as Artizea knows, no two saintesses have ever appeared in history at the same time. Is she a saintess herself? Couldn¡¯t Lysia be a saintess in two years? If so, then she had really taken everything away from Lysia. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Proofreader: somnium Amalie Harper was thest one to arrive. Lawrence didn¡¯te up to meet her, but he stood up from his seat when Amalie entered. For his arrogant personality, it was polite enough. ¡°Wee, Dame Harper.¡± ¡°Seeing so many people brought in, I guess there¡¯s something important, Sir Lawrence.¡± ¡°There was a reaction from the Empress.¡± Instead of Lawrence, Gayan replied. He was one of the Emperor¡¯s guards. Amalie slowly looked around the crowd. All of the nobles who supported Lawrence were there to give an opinion. Only Count Eisen, who waspletely disgraced byst year¡¯s incident, was left out. As Amalie sat down, the attendant politelyid down a light snack and wine in front of her. Amalie did not enjoy drinking, so she nced at the ss and did not touch it. Unlike the meetings held at the Roygar Grand Duchy, there was no elegance, no subtlenguage, or luxurious music here. This is because few of the people here preferred such a thing. So did Amalie. Amalie was from the Western Army. Her first activity was the Monster Wave 24 years ago. At that time, she was a 22-year-old young junior knight. That year¡¯s Monster Wave was far more severe than other times. More than twice the usual number of monsters flocked in at a faster rate than other years. Within less than two months, all of the western strongholds copsed. The situation was so serious that the Emperor Gregor quickly deployed the central army without thinking about holding or any other consequence. However, because it was swept away so quickly, arge number of troops in front were isted among the monsters. Amalie was one of them. She knew for the first time what kind of person she was in front of death. Amalie killed her ipetent captain and took control of her unit. She saved and joined other troops from hell, increasing their forces, safely retreated, and reduced the number of monsters. When she met and joined the defensive line of the central army, Amalie became the most importantmander of the western army. Emperor Gregor offered her the title of Chief of Staff of the military department and an honorary County. Amalie chose to remain in the West, keeping connections with her forces and became the Emperor¡¯s favorite instead of being under imperial pressure. Because she felt it was safer and more profitable for her. The Emperor treated Amalie without any shortage. The title she received was nothing more than her winning title. However, for 24 years, Amalie sat alongside the Counts, and she was always able to stand alone with the Emperor. She enjoyed wealth and honor. But Amalie always felt that she was different from the ones who were noble from their birth. They were people who soaked up luxury and pleasure to their bones, but she was not. She longed for the capital¡¯s social world when she had never experienced it. However, she only knew that after she had lived in it, she would never be able to mingle into that life. Not just her, but many of those in her situation. It was a different character from those who were born and bred perfectly aristocratic like Lawrence. But there were no other options. Among Lawrence¡¯s supporters, there weren¡¯t many traditional nobles. In that respect, it waspletely different from the Roygar faction. In fact, there weren¡¯t many people who could close their eyes at Lawrence¡¯s birth due to the nature of the noble family who valued the line of descent from the legal wife. Lawrence has been close to the young aristocrats, but his ymates do not provide any political support. Gayan said. ¡°For the bted Dame Harper, let me recapitte. Her Majesty said that Her Majesty wants the Riagan Duchy. Of course, that ¡®want¡¯ does not mean that she wants a simple reconciliation.¡± ¡°Does she really mean that she wants to get the Duchy back?¡± Someone asked back, and there was a moment of silence in the middle of the crowd. This was a very sensitive problem. The Emperor has never officially disclosed his rtionship with the present Duke of Riagan. The death of the former ducal couple is officially only an ident. It¡¯s a secret that everyone knows. But it is also a secret that they have to pretend they didn¡¯t know. One person carefully pointed out only the facts. ¡°The Empress cannot regain the title of Duchess of Riagan, because she has already given up the title of session.¡± ¡°But she is the legitimate daughter. It will be after Her Majesty¡¯s death that the lineage that begins with the current Duke of Riagan is recognized as the legitimate sessor.¡± ¡°You said Grand Duchess Evron mentioned marriage, right?¡± Lawrence nodded at the question. ¡°That¡¯s why I was rather thinking about getting married into the Riagan Duchy.¡± He tapped on the table. People focused on him. ¡°I know that His Majesty made the Empress feel sorry for the work of the predecessor Riagan Ducal couple. But isn¡¯t it the majority¡¯s opinion that Her Majesty does not want the Duchy of Riagan¡¯s honor to be scattered into the wind?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best to find a rtive that Her Majesty loves, who wants to inherit the title of Duke, and connect the title? Anyway, the current Duke of Riagan can¡¯t maintain the title with his own power.¡± It is in everyone¡¯s best interest to do so. The Duchy of Riagan became a family that produced the Empress for two generations, and Lawrence can bear the recognition of the Empress and the name and power of the Duke of Riagan. The Empress will be able to bestow the Duchy of Riagan to anyone who wants it. Of course, for the current Duke of Riagan, it would have been something undesirable. He would like to seed the title with his child and make a new Duke of Riagan. ¡°It¡¯s hard to think that that¡¯s the direct meaning from Her Majesty. Didn¡¯t Grand Duchess Evron just say that she would ask Her Majesty about the bride?¡± Said Gayan. Amalie recalled her meeting with Grand Duchess Evron. [¡°Think again. Unless you want to be the dog killed after the hunt*.¡±] After receiving Artizea¡¯s letter a few weeks ago, she traveled alone. She met Artizea in a small town north of the capital, three days away. This is the time when the returning party from Evron Grand Duchy had not yet reached the capital. Amalie retorted, embarrassedly, within minutes of the conversation. [¡°Did you say a dog killed after the hunt?¡±] [¡°Brother Lawrence is a person who doesn¡¯t know how to thank others. He takes it for granted when others give him something. Because he has lived that way all his life.¡±] Artizea said in a gentle voice. [¡°There is no need to say in principle that loyalty isn¡¯t meant to be appreciated. I know why you chose Brother Lawrence.¡±] There are two reasons why the Emperor¡¯s favourites, including Amalie, supported Lawrence. First, the Emperor¡¯s will is with Lawrence. There was an ambiguous side in the Emperor¡¯s attitude. He never directly mentioned the sessor to the chief court officer. It was because he couldn¡¯t bear more of the political burden. Even if the Emperor had no deficit, it was already a heavy burden to support Lawrence, his illegitimate son. However, because of the Emperor¡¯s character, it was obvious that he would try to pass the Crown on to a close bloodline. The wiser the Emperor¡¯s supporter was, the better he was aware of it. Second, the members of the Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction and the Emperor¡¯s favorites are like water and oil. Emperor Gregor chose talented people from the local nobles andmoners while keeping the great nobility in check. They only needed his favor and trust to be powerful. When Grand Duke Roygar ascends to the throne, he will be supported by the great nobles who have only ever seen them as eyesores. Even with the Emperor¡¯s support, it will be almost impossible to be recognized for achievements among the powerful nobles, including Marquis Gayan. Unlike the great nobles, they did not have the strength to endure under the pressure of the imperial power for decades. [¡°But you have to think the other way around. Whether it¡¯s Grand Duke Roygar or Brother Lawrence, they¡¯ll try to elevate the imperial power after they¡¯re crowned. It is public confidence. My brother will not tolerate anyone who tries to get in his way by using their past credits.¡±] [¡°You are speaking very confidently.¡±] Artizea smiled and did not respond to it. And she said, not just Amalie, but referring to all people in her position, as a group. [¡°The biggest problem with ¡®you¡¯ is that the moment Brother rises to the throne, grabs the crown, and gains authenticity, the power to stand against himpletely disappears.¡±] [¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I have other options, doesn¡¯t it?¡±] Amalie knew that when considering after the ascension, there was a possibility of being appointed to Grand Duke Roygar. Eventually, when fighting against the great nobles who will be contributors, including Marquis Luden, they will need a person who wille to the forefront and be the Emperor¡¯s lieutenant. Just as Emperor Gregor has done. Nevertheless, Amalie did not choose Grand Duke Roygar. It was because until then, she had no guarantee that she would survive. [¡°All the power and authority that ¡®we¡¯ havee from His Majesty. Knowing that, I decided to be a servant of His Majesty, not a warlord in the West. Forming power at that time means that I have already given up.¡±] [¡°You don¡¯t mean to speak of loyalty¡­¡±] [¡°It means that you cannot have real power without someone to look behind you. There is a reason why the lords in the past did not try to hand over theirnd to the Emperor no matter how poor their territories are.¡±] Artizea smiled. [¡°Do you regret the choices you made when you were younger?¡±] [¡°I do not regret it. I¡¯m a soldier, Grand Duchess Evron. I listened to the orders of others and gained tactical victory in an environment provided by others.¡±] [¡°This is the possibility of a tactical victory that Brother Lawrence¡¯s thinks of Dame Harper.¡±] [¡°That¡¯s right. Because Grand Duke Roygar is a trader and a politician. I can¡¯t trust anyone other than Sir Lawrence.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s a tactician¡¯s limit.¡±] At that, Amalie looked at Artizea with a serious face. [¡°Why do you say that? Grand Duchess. Sir Lawrence is the real brother of Your Grace.¡±] [¡°The Emperor¡¯s seat is not light enough to support him unconditionally because we are siblings.¡±] [¡°It is difficult to say that Sir Lawrence will be a great king, but he is not foolish. It is moremon for a monarch to revel in pleasure than otherwise. He is arrogant and cruel, but it is only a personal w. Governance is a separate matter from that.¡±] [¡°My brother feels inferiority and resentment.¡±] Artizea also had a time when she thought like Amalie. She believed that even more because he had simr features to Emperor Gregor. [¡°He thought he¡¯d been robbed of the crown prince¡¯s seat that he should have won. So he doesn¡¯t appreciate anything he gets. Because my brother feel that the world should be his.¡±] If he was born as a real prince, Artizea thought he might not have been so twisted. [¡°The more wise people say, the less he will listen, the more meritorious they will be, the more respectful he will be, and the more he will stay away from those who have a legitimate position. Eventually, after consciously gathering up the vassals, he will enjoy wielding everyone with whims and feeling that he is superior not only as a position but also as an individual.¡±] [¡°So, then, is Your Grace¡¯s intention to support Grand Duke Roygar? Does His Grace Grand Duke Evron wish the same?¡±] Amalie thought of this meeting as if Artizea was trying to give her a chance to change the line. But Artizea looked at Amalie and said softly. [¡°There are people who repay as much as they have been devoted by loyalty, give proper honor for the achievements, are not jealous of their subjects, and never betray their faithfulness, even if there is no need to do so.¡±] Amalie was thrilled. ¡ª Note: (*) Killing the dog after the hunt: An expression used to indicate the situation of using something when necessary and throwing it away unsympathetically Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Proofreader: somnium It was amazing. Amalie felt one side of her head brightening up. She was surprised that she hadn¡¯t thought about it. ¡®For all this time, Grand Duke Evron has acted strictly as Grand Duke Evron.¡¯ However, Cedric is a direct line of the imperial family. ording to the principle of inheritance, the original number one sessor was Cedric¡¯s mother who died. And then, of course, Cedric. People seldom had that fact in mind. People think of Cedric as Grand Duke Evron and military hero, not as a powerful man or politician. Rather, when Cedric was young, there were people who tried to use him to confront the Emperor. In particr, after all of the Emperor¡¯s enemies died, there were a number of those who were greedy who wanted to make him the next Emperor. However, Cedric remained unwavering in his position as Grand Duke of Evron and as a military officer. Amalie thought that it was his nature but then she thought it was also a survival strategy. Cedric would seldome to the capital unless the Emperor invited him. It may not havee only from a deep affection for Evron Grand Duchy. Though he knew it was unfair, he went to the battlefield at the order of the Emperor. Amalie, who had risked her life on the battlefield, thought that was the reason Cedric jumped directly into the battlefield. People who have something they love, they can¡¯t lose their lives so easily. If Cedric loves Evron, he shouldn¡¯t throw himself for the West. However, even though he had a war of nerves with the Emperor for the Western Army, he did not show that he was saving his life. It was apletely different way from Grand Duke Roygar, but it worked. Even the suspicious Emperor came to regard Cedric as a natural soldier. He was concerned that his murder of Cedric¡¯s parents would have incurred a grudge. He was also worried that Evron Grand Duchy would turn their spear and use their mighty force against the imperial family. But he didn¡¯t think Cedric was looking for power. So, when Cedric got engaged to Artizea, he was relieved to think that he must have finally cleared his grudge and found personal happiness. He thought it would be unintentional if Cedric had stepped into the session quarrel. That¡¯s because his wife was Lawrence¡¯s younger sister. Even if one thought about it one step further, it couldn¡¯t be more than for the next generation of Evron. Everyone believed so. However, Cedric did not appear to avoid politics as before. From the days of Baron Yetz, no, to be precise. ¡®From the time he was engaged to the Grand Duchess.¡¯ At the time of the protests, Amalie thought that he led the investigation, handed over the bribe ledger to the Emperor, and dealt with the human trafficking problem, all because of anger. But when she thinks about the facts, without the emotional elements, it was definitely a political act. Amalie was convinced that he would have changed his mind by that time. And Cedric¡¯s status has not already belonged with any of the forces of change or military personnel. The nobles regarded him as a kingmaker, and salons and coffee houses are paying attention to his move. Literature writers and philosophers also paid attention. The interest in Evron Grand Duchy was higher than ever. The public opinion was never light. If it isbined with the temple, it bes a force that even the Emperor cannot ignore. With just one or two impressive events, Cedric¡¯s position could have once again changed drastically. There was even a sense of pleasure as if small pieces were gathered and woven into a single finished product. Amalie has been feeling a sense of incongruity in Artizea¡¯s actions so far. That¡¯s where the angles finally met. ¡®If Grand Duke Evron does not intend to be buried in the Grand Duchy, there¡¯s no other option.¡¯ Amalie was a western knight for only two years or so. For ten times longer than that, she has lived as a political soldier. She loved power, and she has enjoyed it well enough. She had no intention of letting go of power, so she was attached to Lawrence. However, she was not so depraved that she thought the empire should be a resource for her own power and for her enjoyment. Not only Amalie, but a few of the ¡®they¡¯ Artizea mentioned. ¡®They¡¯ were practically the pirs that underpinned the empire. If Cedric is ced as Emperor, the country will not be disturbed by power struggles and political strife. Because he doesn¡¯t weigh a person¡¯s life against his own desires. There is still no material yet to judge hispetence as a politician. But, at least, there will be no renunciation of testimony, fear that apetent servant will be executed for that very reason, or will one give up on one¡¯s own words in fear of going against the Emperor¡¯s depravities. The army will certainly function. The west and the south will be protected. Amalie quickly realized that the Western affairs were hanging like a debt on the side of her mind so far. It was absolutely right for Artizea to make her the first target of engagement. Amalie hated the current situation, in which her troops¡¯ only function was to defend the Emperor¡¯s power. Since she started in an isted hell, she felt irritated with using the supply lines as a means of power. Amalie finished her thoughts and raised her head. Artizea had a gentle smile. [¡°¡­..¡±] Does Cedric have the same thought in mind? Amalie didn¡¯t dare to ask Artizea for it. If there was a possibility, she had to push him to the throne even if he didn¡¯t want it. [¡°Is there any possibility?¡±] The important thing was that. Artizea said with a smile. [¡°Dame Harper should make that a possibility.¡±] And now Amalie was here to do that. Bellon, a Treasury official, said. ¡°I know that Evron Grand Duchess is unagely wise and is favored by Her Majesty, but it is about not just anywhere else, but Riagan. This is where His Majesty is particrly concerned.¡± A Duke who has dominant power in the southern provinces could control it at will, but there was no reason to let it go. This was the case even without thinking about the monopoly of the South Sea salt. For a while, there was an unsettling silence in the conference room. Lawrence opened his mouth. ¡°So what is Sir Bellon¡¯s suggestion?¡± ¡°Rather, it is better for Sir Lawrence to be engaged to the Duke of Riagan¡¯s daughter. In doing so, a bond with the Riagan Duchy is formed, you now have a close rtionship with His Majesty¡¯s vassal, and after His Majesty¡¯s gone in the future, it bes a marriage with the great nobility of the South.¡± ¡°Keep talking.¡± ¡°It is also a matter to take into ount that the imperial family can maintain a powerful influence over the Riagan Duchy to the end. If Her Majesty decides to make the next Duke of Riagan, that will not be the case.¡± Lawrence¡¯s mouth was slightly twisted. Amalie stared at it. ¡°There¡¯s a point in Sir Bellon¡¯s words. If you only think about what happened after you took the ce of the Emperor, definitely.¡± ¡°Do you have any other opinions?¡± ¡°No. Didn¡¯t everyone just agree that getting Her Majesty¡¯s recognition is the most right and fastest way? I just wondered if it would be wise to start a confrontation with Her Majesty right now.¡± And Lawrence added a word. ¡°Sir Bellon¡¯s nephew was married to a southern nobleman, right?¡± Bellon¡¯splexion deteriorated. Then Lawrence¡¯s mouth began to lighten again. Amalie recalled Artizea¡¯s words. Lawrence purposefully gathered the vassals, and afterwards he would feel a sense of superiority. Amalie carefully timed after the conversation and spoke as if she had said it after pondering. ¡°How about thinking in the opposite way?¡± ¡°The opposite?¡± ¡°The most important thing for Sir Lawrence right now is the recognition from Her Majesty. It means that Her Majesty is more important than His Majesty. His Majesty regards Sir Lawrence as the son who will inherit everything anyway.¡± This wasn¡¯t wrong at all, but it was a bit distorted. ¡°So, with the approval of Her Majesty, you will be the only legitimate descendant of the imperial family. If so, wouldn¡¯t it be right to prioritize Her Majesty even if we incur some anger in the short term?¡± ¡°Then, is it Dame Harper¡¯s opinion to ask Her Majesty the Empress about Sir Lawrence¡¯s marriage?¡± ¡°I¡¯m reluctant to do that, too. It is about determining the future Empress. If Her Majesty bes the Empress Dowager, and then her sessor bes Empress, it means that too much power will be given to the Riagan Duchy.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It is also very dangerous to face the Emperor¡¯s anger directly. Above all, you would not re His Majesty the Emperor after deciding on the matter of marriage.¡± ¡°Then, is Dame saying that I should not discuss the matter with my mother and father?¡± ¡°You can exclude Lady Mira, but you can¡¯t do that to His Majesty. Of course, if it¡¯s a matter of changing the owner of the Duke of Riagan, that¡¯s another story.¡± Lawrence looked at Amalie with a dissatisfied look. ¡°Then what is Dame talking about?¡± ¡°The Empress¡¯ desire to reim Riagan Duchy is not really about her family and title. She probably doesn¡¯t have any sessors she wants to pass it on.¡± Amalie said slowly, making eye contact with Lawrence. ¡°So, why don¡¯t you just release the predecessor Riagan ducal couple?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Sir Bellon cried right away. Amalie said calmly. ¡°Sir Bellon, I just said that Her Majesty is not pleased with the present Duke of Riagan.¡± ¡°That, however.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying we¡¯re just going tofort her.¡± ¡°Her Majesty does not have to appoint the next Duke herself. Shouldn¡¯t we just bear with what Grand Duchess Evron had said about marriage as a reference only? In the first ce, this is just the opinion of Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Said Amalie. ¡°Eighteen years have passed. The Duke of Riagan isx. He is excited that he will soon see the time when his descendants are ced in the right ce. Isn¡¯t that a shame? He needs to be agitated at least once.¡± She spoke as if in a royal court in front of the Emperor himself. Lawrence liked the way she spoke as much as the content of what she said. ¡°By bringing down the current Duke of Riagan, who is overly arrogant, the Empress¡¯ heart is pacified, but the imperial influence on the duchy is rather strengthened and we avoided the wrath of His Majesty.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°This opinion is great, but is it possible?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it worth looking into? In the meantime, it would be good to find out if there is any descendant of the predecessor Duke of Riagan, who can directly connect with Her Majesty, as in Sir Lawrence¡¯s first proposal.¡± ¡°A person who is knowledgeable in the situation in the south would be good. Either way, we need to learn more about the situation of the Duchy of Riagan.¡± Lawrence¡¯s gaze reached Bellon and then moved to someone else. Those from the south or people who have rtives there began to actively discuss. Amalie didn¡¯t speak any more. With this, she has done her role today. Someone from Lawrence¡¯s faction goes to the south and makes contact with the Duke of Riagan. The important thing was that. *** After the meeting, some people remain. Since so many people gathered, they intended to build a friendship while drinking alcohol and having a light conversation. Amalie stood up early. If she decides to change her past mistakes, she has to increase her odds a bit more. There were a few people she had to talk to individually. But not today. And Amalie knew it only when she walked out the front door of the mansion. She was followed by Gayan. Amalie stopped her feet and looked back. ¡°Don¡¯t forget you are indebted to me, Dame Harper.¡± Said Gayan. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Debt?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t point out anything about your remarks.¡± Amalie looked at Gayan silently. Gayan smiled. Riagan Duchy was a matter between the Emperor and the Empress. Lawrence has already turned away from Mira to win the Empress¡¯ approval. The Emperor watched it. Favors for Lawrence are not the same as they used to be. This time, however, he dared to touch the Duke of Riagan, which the Emperor himself had chosen, for the Empress. Rather, it would be okay to touch a powerful nobleman or a government official. The Emperor would have been proud if he had seeded in trampling Chancellor Lin, or if he had developed control over the court by taking Amalie or Gayan as a scapegoat. However, the Duke of Riagan is the dog of the Emperor. When a grown-up, hateful son kicks an old dog that has been raised for 18 years, he will get angry. Even if the dog started to disobey. If he¡¯s lucky, he¡¯ll get everything, but rather, the Empress is more likely to demand more and incur the Emperor¡¯s anger. Gayan did not point that out in front of Lawrence. He did not even point out that Amalie could not make such a high-risk proposal. ¡°¡­.¡± Amalie turned her gaze without having to deny it. Lawrence seldom listens even when one gives advice. Gayan knew that Amalie had been feeling skeptical from the beginning. In fact, her remarks have declined dramatically in recent years. Putting it all together, what she said today couldn¡¯t have been done for Lawrence. Amalie is not a young official in a hurry to build her achievements. Gayan said. ¡°Lord Lawrence doesn¡¯t know how to fear His Majesty. I guess I¡¯m not the only one who realizes that.¡± ¡°Did you not know before?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Gayan¡¯s carriage reached the front door. Still, Gayan continued to speak without thinking of moving. ¡°Mira is still alive.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°To be honest, even if His Majesty is angry, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s going to give up on Sir Lawrence.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Countess Eunice is someone whose vision is only in her family¡¯s troubles, and Countess Josiah ran away from the capital because she was too scared. The husbands, too, were chosen by His Majesty deliberately to be quiet and passive¡­.. Now, it is difficult to teach them about imperialism.¡± Gayan evaluated the other two illegitimate daughters of the Emperor as such. So, if the Emperor decides to hand over the crown to his child no matter what, it means there is no other alternative. Gayan must have guessed who Amalie decided to kneel to. After erasing the children of the Emperor and Grand Duke Roygar, there is only one royal family left. And when ites to human affairs, he probably knows that Amalie¡¯s choice is the best for them. On the other hand, he also judged that the Emperor¡¯s will is more important than who the king is. Amalie said. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know it¡¯s difficult to get off the boat on a flowing river?¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding. I trust Dame Harper¡¯s eyes. Please leave it to me.¡± That meant he wouldn¡¯t disturb her. That was enough. He will turn this way the moment he thinks that Lawrence¡¯s ship is likely to sink. It could have been better than visually increasing power or even taking a hit on Lawrence. Gayan waved and said goodbye to Amalie. Amalie also lightly nodded and greeted each other. Then, watching Gayan¡¯s carriage, she muttered to herself. ¡°For Sir Lawrence to arouse His Majesty¡¯s anger¡­¡­.How can that be a simple thing?¡± There was no one else who could hear that. *** Countess Eunice¡¯s eldest daughter Fiona, who turned 16 not long ago, was sitting in front of the piano. When she dressed up in nice clothes and raised her hair, she looked quite a prettydy. The Emperor stood next to her with a smile and handed over a sheet of music. Fiona¡¯s performance was frankly ipetent. She was sitting next to the Emperor, so she was nervous by the pressure and she made more mistakes. Even if he is her maternal grandfather, he is also the Emperor. And Fiona was at the age that already knew what power was. Hayley had never yed the piano, and she wasn¡¯t familiar with it. However she knows for the first time that when the piano keys were tapped, it could make such a scratching sound. Even though it was a terrace with an open space toward the garden. Even Countess Eunice, who was sitting across, didn¡¯t look good. Fiona tried to exaggerate her skills in order to be seen by the Emperor and she failed. It was a matter of being seen affectionately. But the Emperor smiled. Fiona¡¯s insidious attitude resembles Countess Eunice. One way or another, it was cute to the Emperor. When the performance was over, the Emperor escorted Fiona back to the tea table, and he said. ¡°You practiced a lot,¡± ¡°Oh, yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to struggle to perform too difficult songs, Fiona. Ady¡¯s ying skills should be good enough to entertain her family in the salon.¡± ¡°Yes¡­..¡± Fiona replied with difficulty. She bit her lips firmly, and looked around the terrace. And she pointed out to Lysia, who looked easygoing and young, among them. ¡°How about Morten Heir Apparent?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Lysia, who was ying with the bunny doll and the ten-year-old younger daughter Larni, was surprised and asked again. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes. What is Morten Heir Apparent learning these days?¡± Lysia¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Shooting.¡± ¡°Are you any good at it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a crossbow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cultured.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it close to being cultured? It¡¯s almost useless in practice.¡± Fiona gazed at her nervously. The answer Fiona wanted was something like a musical instrument or embroidery. She must have learned it in some vige within Evron. She asked with the intention ofughing at her at whatever came out. By shooting, let alone a crossbow. As she talked, she didn¡¯t show the gap, and Fiona couldn¡¯t tell her to try it out here. The Emperorughed. ¡°You lost, Fiona. It¡¯s no wonder that crossbows are cultured in Evron.¡± ¡°I think Lady Fiona and Lady Larni will be able to enjoy it as much as an arrow throw.¡± Lysia said with a bright smile. She thought she couldn¡¯t entertain the people in this ce with what she had learned, but she was excited because she wanted toe up with a good idea. ¡°Arrow throw?¡± Larni asked. ¡°Have you never tried it?¡± ¡°No.¡± Larni, who has a lively personality, sparkled her eyes. Countess Eunice frowned at her. ¡°She is wearing a new dress after a long time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Throwing an arrow doesn¡¯t mean running or rolling on the floor.¡± ¡°Rolling on the floor?¡± Fiona asked back in an astonished voice. ¡°No rolling,¡± Lysia replied, as she wasn¡¯t able to get the exact meaning of the word. ¡°Grandpa, I want to try it.¡± Larni said, shaking the Emperor¡¯s knees. The Emperorughed again. Then he called the attendant and ordered him to bring an arrow and a barrel that could be used for throwing arrows. ¡°I can¡¯t even remember when I¡¯ve done that.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s ying with that kind of thing these days? I¡¯d rather have taught them how to shoot an arrow properly.¡± Countess Eunice shed her eyes. Despite the sudden order, the attendants brought arrows and a beautifully decorated basket. Lysia kindly took Larni¡¯s hand and stepped down the steps into the garden. The attendants put the basket. Fiona had a nervous face. She was forced to take Larni out instead of the Emperor, who was watching them with a pleased face. A realization came that it was time to tell the stories of adults. Hayley hesitated for a moment as to whether to follow Lysia or remain. Artizea beckoned her with a tired face. Hayley sat there and fixed Artizea¡¯s hem. The Emperor picked up the rabbit doll that Larni was hugging and fiddled with it. And he smirked. ¡°You have ady-in-waiting who doesn¡¯t match you. It¡¯s a precious thing to beforted by. Cherish it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful.¡± ¡°I think you got a smart kid.¡± ¡°Because there are many hidden talents in Evron. And also trustworthy people.¡± Then the Emperorughed again. Hayley lowered her eyes, unable to hide her tension. At first, Hayley thought that the Emperor¡¯s call to inviting them into a private space could be ignored. She thought that he had to courteously wee the Grand Duchess of Evron. But she saw that it¡¯s not. This was the position of real power. The Emperor did not greet the Grand Duchess of Evron, but received the greetings of his nephew¡¯s wife, which gave Evron a seat with the imperial family. All the authentic goods brought from Evron Grand Duchy were officially epted, and gifts were given in return. That is all the formal courtesy. ¡°You look tired.¡± The Emperor said to Artizea. Artizea sighed a little. It was neither polite nor wise to show fatigue in front of the Emperor. But she couldn¡¯t pretend to be calm now. She couldn¡¯t even cover it with makeup, so the shade under her eyes turned ck. Artizea said honestly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long journey, so I can¡¯t get rid of my fatigue.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy for a winter trip. You must have been thinking about the benefits.¡± At the Emperor¡¯s words, Countess Eunice opened her eyes wide. She thought Artizea had escaped the war. And so she was surprised to think about the profit. The Emperor continued. ¡°You sounded pretty cheeky in front of Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything wrong.¡± Artizea replied calmly. The Emperorughed with his teeth exposed. ¡°Is Evron Grand Duchy really in danger? Or, was your investment suddenly shrunken and you¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ttered, Your Majesty. I¡¯ve never had an investment.¡± ¡°Then, did you buy a lot ofnd and grain in the west because you were scammed by a merchant? You should quit the joke. You know I don¡¯t like it.¡± At that, the Emperorughed loudly. Artizea gave a pale smile. ¡°If you really didn¡¯t like it, you would have called me to a royal court. Not a terrace.¡± Then she threw her gaze toward the garden. The spring breeze carried the scent of flowers. Small petals that had naturally fallen off rolled around the edge of the terrace. Larni threw an arrow into the basket and shouted cheers. Fiona, with a dissatisfied face, also seemed a little excited. Lysia¡¯s arrow was deadly urate. Artizea again turned her gaze, looked at the Emperor, and politely bowed her head. ¡°It¡¯s something we do to survive. Please forgive me.¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Even if you trampled on my brother?¡± Asked the Emperor. Hayley was dumbfounded. After all, it is the Emperor who conscripts supplies from Grand Duke Roygar and the eastern nobles. In short, Artizea only gave the Emperor a chance to do so. If the Emperor doesn¡¯t want to, she doesn¡¯t have to trample anyone. Normally, it was possible to put all the burdens mostly on all the nobles and the riches, and use the imperial finances only to a convincing degree. Of course, the Emperor would not bother with pretends. ¡°Tia.¡± The Emperor made a friendly voice as if calling for Countess Eunice or Fiona. ¡°I am old; aren¡¯t you a smart kid? Let¡¯s stop with the political conversation.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°You already know that I will use this to steal things from my youngest brother. I am very willing.¡± While the Emperor said so, he acted as if he was a victim. Just as if Artizea has created all of those situations and he has to receive it. It seems to be honest, but it is hypocrisy, and it seems to be perversity, but it is true. He probably sincerelymented that he couldn¡¯t help but take everything. It is also true that he feels sorry about robbing Grand Duke Roygar in the future. He also felt sorry for Cedric. However, for the Emperor, his power and his will are more important than all that. Even Artizea couldn¡¯t be honest just because the Emperor asked her to quit political dialogue. If you take a peek at the Emperor¡¯s inner mind and talk with him man-to-man, you would have to pay so much more. ¡°How can you say such a fearful word of trampling on someone? Your Majesty is the lord of the empire. If there is anything you need in order to lead the empire, you deserve to have it.¡± Artizea said politely. ¡°I know well that you can restrain your personal feelings, and that even if I get resentment from fools, I know that everyone is putting it under Your Majesty¡¯s responsibility. I am so scared that it seems that what I did has be a concern for you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± The Emperor flicked his fingers. Responsibility. He hasn¡¯t heard that word in a while. ¡°You¡¯re trying to intimidate even me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°You¡¯re afraid of Karam but not me?¡± ¡°Why would I be afraid if you were going to receive my gift?¡± Eventually the Emperor smiled. Yes. It¡¯s been a long time since he gained this justification without using any of his own hands. He did not intend to miss it. He was feeling the pleasure of hunting after a long time. And Artizea was a great chaser. The Emperor favored apetent man. Like an awl protruding from a ce he had never thought of, a child he had known from an early age suddenly showed off her talent, and he couldn¡¯t help but be happy. It will be Lawrence¡¯s job to tame it. ¡°Not thend.¡± The Emperor said in a gentle voice. ¡°You must be worried. This war of session or others, the future is in jeopardy. Even though I think of Cedric as my nephew, how many years will I be here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say those fearful words. You will live a long life.¡± ¡°No matter which one bes the Emperor, he will feel burdened.¡± Said the Emperor. ¡°But you cannot keep thend. Instead, I¡¯ll greatly increase the supplies to be sent to the north, and I will add more than 20% out of my pocket to it.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I promise to do that for the next 7 years. If I do that even for a few years, you won¡¯t have to worry about it for a while.¡± ¡°Even if we kept thend anyway, it is an area that can only be used as a smallndowner at best.¡± ¡°If Evron has it, the problem is different.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to rebel. You know what my husband is like, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I just want a safe ce to retreat just in case. It¡¯s not from monsters, but from humans.¡± The Emperor looked at Artizea quietly. She wasying her eyes down, so he wouldn¡¯t be able to see the gaze. Still, it was as if he could look inside Artizea. Artizea said. ¡°Additionally, they were all bought under the name of the Marquisate of Rosan. The title of the Grand Duke of Evron is to be inherited by the firstborn, and the Marquis of Rosan to the second child. The day when Evron Grand Duchy upies both the west and the north and confronts the imperial family will note.¡± ¡°A premarital contract can be made into pieces of tissue at any time.¡± The words were persuasive. Because the Emperor was the one who did that as well. ¡°Don¡¯t say that you don¡¯t look that far into the future. If you were the one who only thought about the near future, you would have epted my offer rather than keeping thend.¡± Artizea said as if she didn¡¯t have any other choice after a moment of silence. ¡°¡­. Then, what should I do with thend that I have already bought?¡± The Emperor was still thinking. When Artizea asked, he was flustered. He can¡¯t confiscate thend from his young nephew¡¯s wife. Artizea bought thend too openly. He could not avoid losing his face if he received thend as a tribute. That doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t keep the western farnd in her hand. It was also not appropriate at this point to buy and sell for money. This negates the profit of Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s requisition. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Asked the Emperor. Artizea replied with a cautious attitude. ¡°If Your Majesty tells me the disposition, we will follow it as it is. Otherwise, we will dedicate it to the temple.¡± ¡°Hooo?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t really intend to do a grain business there. I was just trying to get to know thend while doing a charity work. Then, wouldn¡¯t the temple also help me with the charity I¡¯m trying to do?¡± The Emperorughed. ¡°You¡¯ve been up to it since the beginning.¡± Artizea silently bowed her head. ¡°Yes, when you bargain, you have to start with an uneptable proposition. Thend cannot be exchanged for money, so it is best to change it for honor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful.¡± ¡°It was a waste that I offered to give you 20% more.¡± Artizea said politely. ¡°I was determined to say that. Even if I didn¡¯t start by thinking about the money, the investment wasn¡¯t a small sum for me.¡± ¡°Now that you¡¯ve done it, you are going to take charge of the western rebirth project. I¡¯ll give you the key to the granary.¡± Said the Emperor. Artizea looked at him with a surprised face. ¡°It¡¯s a duty that I can¡¯t handle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, so you¡¯re worthy. Don¡¯t reject my favor multiple times.¡± Artizea slightly stiffened her face. Favor. Absurd. But he said he would give the key to the granary Duties show the Emperor¡¯s trust, anyway. Like the Emperor¡¯s words, refusing several times was disloyalty. She bowed politely and indicated that she would ept the will. ¡°It¡¯s an undeserved honor.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Replied the Emperor. *** ¡°Why are you both so pale?¡± As she stepped out of the terrace, Lysia asked. Hayley replied. ¡°The Emperor will entrust us with the keys to the granary, so he told us to take over the western rebirth project.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you honored?¡± ¡°Formally, yes.¡± Hayley replied. It is an enormous welfare project that covers nearly 20% of the maind of the empire. Honor and real power also followed. In the process of controlling grain prices and stockpiling food, it has gained considerable influence and substantial gains for the grain dealers. ¡°In reality, if we handle it wrong, the offense will grow without limits. Right now, the rebirth project in the West is practically a mess. If you manage it, you can just pour out your own money and you might have to take the me for its failure.¡± No ce was more prone to offense. When they receive this right, they are subordinate to the Emperor. If they take in moderation and are loyal to the Emperor, they will continue to reap great profits. However, as soon as they fall outside the eyes of the Emperor, it gives a reason to be purged. Either way, the Emperor had nothing to lose. Hayley frowned. ¡°No matter how much influence Your Grace has gained from bing Her Majesty¡¯sdy-in-waiting, you¡¯re still young. Isn¡¯t it too much as a conciliatory measure? Is His Majesty trying to use Your Grace¡¯spse as an excuse to attack Her Majesty the Empress?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Artizea answered firmly. ¡°I think the Emperor haspletely overpowered Her Majesty. And there is also a blood rtionship problem.¡± ¡°You mean, if he brings Your Grace in for a penalty, then even Sir Lawrence will have problems?¡± ¡°Yes. And he can¡¯t purge Evron again for such a problem. Rather, he¡¯s doing this to undermine Lord Cedric¡¯s reputation.¡± The rebirth project is always like pouring water into a bottomless pit. It was even more so in a situation where the system hadpletely copsed, like in the West currently. It won¡¯t be easy to even fill in all the necessary positions with the number of people who are avable right now. It¡¯s harder to find someone you can trust. Those underprivileged will resent them, and if there are any ws, they will be disappointed that Cedric is not as great of a man as they thought. If you move in moderation along what the Emperor wants without losing money, you will be criticized for being corrupt. However, in order to prevent people from saying such words, the only way to run the project is to drag and apply even the private property of Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s. However, just as there are limits in the north, there are limits in the west as well. It is unbelievable to relieve poverty in a short time especially in and that isrger than a kingdom. ¡®Even if nothing was sessful, it would be better for Lysia to go and save the world by herself.¡¯ After all, the Emperor wasn¡¯t an easy partner to anticipate. There was also a positive side. At least, it was clear that the Western Grain Merchant Union was undetected. Growing Karam crops is also not a problem. It seemed possible to spread it in the West first and then bring it up to the North. ¡®If you think about it in the long run, this might be better. Anyway, we have to make a major overhaul someday.¡¯ Artizea walked slowly, submerged in thought. She doesn¡¯t have to think that they¡¯re going to get results right away and earn a high reputation. It would also be nice to start with the mindset that Cedric will look like he has a determination to improve the Empire from now until Cedric rises to the throne in the future. If she attaches apetent assistant to Lysia, she won¡¯t get much bacsh from the people. Artizea believed that Lysia¡¯s sincerity would prevail. Hayley asked. ¡°Your Grace, did you ever decide to dedicate thend to the temple from the beginning?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, yes. I was going to use it as a bribe anyway. This way, I can confidently hand over my property.¡± Artizea replied. Since she is a saintess, she will have to do her best to helping the temple. When she thought about it, her head hurt. ¡°Your Grace, are you tired?¡± It was when Lysia asked anxiously. Alphonse stopped. Hayley did the same. Artizea wondered what was going on and she raised her eyes. Mira wasing over from the other side of the hall. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Tia.¡± Mira flinched at the sight of Artizea. However, she clenched her fists with a determined sharp expression and approached Artizea. Lysia and Hayley immediately recognized who Mira was. She was such a beautiful woman that no one could help but look back. In her current look, she no longer felt youthful. She was like a flower in full bloom about to wither, overly splendid, loose, and fragrant. But no one can deny her beauty. Once upon a time, men of the highest ranks in the Empire had thrown themselves down at the feet of this woman. Now that her master had been decided, it was understandable that she would let sumptuous gifts pile up at her doorstep, even though she could not dare toy her fingertips on it. There couldn¡¯t have been two such beauties in this imperial pce. It was even more so, considering that the Emperor¡¯s private residence was right behind this. Mira immediately approached Artizea. Hayley hesitated. She heard that Artizea had cut ties with her mother. [You are mydies-in-waiting, but you don¡¯t need to pay attention to Marquisate Rosan. More so about my mother and brother. Pretend you don¡¯t know anything.] But the other person was the Dowager Marchioness Rosan. While she thought of the title, she walked forward, but she couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t know. Even though Artizea had told both of herdies-in-waiting and vassals of Evron to stand down, as a biological daughter, Artizea herself did not know what to do. Alphonse also seemed hesitant. However, Artizea moved in equal measure without any sign of agitation. Artizea held her head upright and moved her steps. And she casually brushed by without giving Mira a gaze. ¡°Tia!¡± Mira called out to her with a loud voice. Artizea heard it, but she did not look away from her. Instead, Lysia and Alphonse blocked it at the same time. Mira, in anger, raised her hand to hit Lysia¡¯s cheek. Lysia lightly flicked Mira on the back of her hand, making it bounce off hers. It never urred in history that a way to end any situation with ease was by giving a p. The hand was swung towards thedy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Evron. It wouldn¡¯t be eptable. Even if the other person was Artizea¡¯s mother. The back of Mira¡¯s hand, which was lightly hit by Lysia, did not hurt. But she was astonished by the fact that she had never had such a behavior done to her. And she exploded and screamed. ¡°You, you hillbilly bitch bastard!¡± ¡°Dowager Marchioness!¡± Hayley screamed in surprise and ran to Lysia¡¯s side. Mira swung her hand again. Lysia frowned and grabbed the wrist, then let it go slowly. Alphonse intervened slowly between the two. As a knight, it would be difficult if he grabbed Mira recklessly and got her bruises anywhere. He couldn¡¯t use his hands. Instead, he turned into arge human shield. Hayley said sharply. ¡°That was impolite, Dowager Marchioness.¡± ¡°What?¡± Mira asked back in absurdity. ¡°What are you guys doing right now? Are you locking up my daughter now?!¡± ¡°That is inappropriate for a subordinate to speak to a superior first, Dowager Marchioness. Have you dared to regard Evron¡¯s mistress as a Marchioness at best just now?¡± Hayley said. ¡°You lived in the Imperial Pce for several decades, but it seems that you don¡¯t know the court manners that even us, who are hillbillies, would know. In reality, it was a word that could not be used between mother and daughter. Even more so for Mira. Over the years, the only one who dared to tell Mira about court manners was the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting. Even the Grand Duchess Roygar softened her attitude in front of Mira. Mira¡¯s face turned red with anger, and herplexion faded away again. She staggered as if she was about to fall. Artizea moved her steps without a word. It was then that Lysia and Hayley turned their body after her. ¡°I was wrong!¡± Mira eximed. Artizea¡¯s feet stopped. ¡°Mo¡­ mother was wrong. I¡¯m sorry for getting angry every day.¡± Mira said in a trembling voice. At first, it was a forceful voice. But by the time she finished saying sorry, Mira was half weeping. ¡°I will never do that again. I won¡¯t interfere with what you want to do, and I won¡¯t get angry in front of others.¡± Large, pooled tears crept down her cheeks. Mira, forgetting that her makeup was ruined, rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. And she cried out loud. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for saying harsh words every day. I will never hit you or anything like that. Mom was wrong. Can¡¯t you forgive me just once?¡± A cry echoed in the hallway. Mira lost strength in her legs and sank down. She didn¡¯t care about her dress or the eyes of others, and she cried her eyes out A noble should always treat things gracefully without showing any emotion. However, no matter how noble she was, she was so pitiful that people could not help but pity her rather than despise her. The escort knights and attendants who followed Artizea stirred up. They did this even though they knew how Mira had treated Artizea before her marriage. Hayley looked at Artizea awkwardly. Artizea had an expressionless face that she couldn¡¯t understand what was inside. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia carefully called out Artizea. Artizea slowly turned her steps towards Mira. Alphonse took a step back and opened a path for her. ¡°Tia.¡± Mira sobbed and looked up at Artizea. Artizea held out a hand to Lysia. Lysia was startled, and quickly she handed a handkerchief that was in her hand. ¡°Mother.¡± Artizea said in a calm voice and bent her body. Then she put the handkerchief against Mira¡¯s eyes. Mira¡¯s face lit up with a glimmer of hope. But Artizea spoke in a voice that was relentlessly calm. ¡°I did not abandon mother because mother beat me or treated me harshly.¡± ¡°Ti, Tia¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Because my mother is of no use to what I am trying to do.¡± It was really true. Artizea had never thought of resenting her or abandoning her, no matter what Mira had done to her. Even when she was betrayed by Lawrence and died, she did not resent Mira. When she heard the news that Mira was dead, she didn¡¯t think it was a bad thing, although she could feel that she didn¡¯t have much feelings inside her anymore. Mira read the sincerity in Artizea¡¯s eyes. ¡°Tia¡­ ¡­ .¡± She was stunned. Artizea ced the handkerchief in Mira¡¯s hand and raised herself. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As if nothing had happened, Artizea left the ce with an elegant and dignified gait. The attendants, who had cast their sympathetic nces at Mira for a moment, followed Artizea as if they had forgotten. Mira wailed on the spot, clutching the handkerchief. The maids surrounded Mira, unable to sympathize or touch her. *** As soon as she got into the carriage, Artizea let out a sigh. She rested her head against the ss window. Lysia looked at her carefully. Being tired has been a constant thingtely. Rather, it seemed more so after arriving in the capital than on the journey. ¡®Because it was understandable.¡¯ Artizea moved so much that Lysia wondered if her life on the stronghold had really been idle. It was the same when she didn¡¯t even see any outsider guests. People who came in through the back door constantly came in and out. Even when she¡¯s alone for a while, the brain inside her white forehead must be constantly engaged inplex activities. It was beyond Lysia¡¯s imagination, who emptied her thoughts by moving her body. In addition to that, today is not going to be a good day. Although Artizea left with a cold expression on her face, Lysia saw her hand trembling faintly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have had to be so cold¡­ ¡­ .¡± Lysia didn¡¯t say that out of sympathy for Mira. On the contrary, Artizea looked distressed. She thought it might have been easier for Artizea to say that she forgave Mira. She wasn¡¯t asking for forgiveness. There is no need for her to be cruel at the cost of her own suffering. It would be better for her to just ignore it and forget about it. ¡°Coming to the Imperial Pce, you didn¡¯t think of the chance of meeting your mother? That¡¯s fine.¡± Artizea replied with her eyes closed. ¡°I did it because it was necessary.¡± Lysia¡¯s idea was right. Artizea wasn¡¯t treating her coldly because of emotional problems. She is not out for revenge, but in order to win the war. ¡®Your mother probably knows about that.¡¯ But Mira would understand superficially that Artizea had chosen the Empress over her. It would make Mira more miserable if she did so for power rather than for revenge or resentment. The Emperor is right. Mira was a poor woman. She suffered all the misfortunes that a powerless and beautiful woman could suffer because of money and power. Mira is the flower of the Emperor, a lovely cat that sits on hisp. Scratches to the Emperor can be forgiven, but the power she holds is not hers. Artizea knew why Mira gave birth to her and kept her alive. She gave birth to Artizea because she only wanted something of her own. She was spontaneous and capricious, and because of her impatient temper she was ruthless and abusive. But it was true that she risked her life to give birth. Artizea knew that while Mira was berating and cursing Artizea for not being pretty, she was determined not to make Artizea like herself. That was all the more reason why abandoning her as a powerful person made Mira feel like she was being pushed off a cliff. Artizea could do it to anyone if necessary. ¡®How can such a human being be a saintess, is it possible?¡¯ Artizea looked down at her right hand. A thin ring of light appeared around her index finger. It is so blurry that it is impossible to recognize unless it was looked at with keen eyes. There was no clearer evidence than this. Artizea extinguished the light before Hayley or Lysia realized it. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Proofreader: somnium There is real power in the Holiness. Lysia had the ability to heal diseases. She could cure thousands of sick people in one day just by holding their hand. It is said that Saintess Olga from two hundred years ago healed all the patients in one small town by exhaling her holy powers once. Not all holy powers appear as healing powers. Among the former saints before Olga, there were those who made their own body into a mountain shield to protect humans from Karam. Artizea did not believe such records of the temple. But, given the power of healing Lysia radiates, most of that would be true. Brother Colton said that bing a Saintess means that a person can change history. In Artizea¡¯s view, on the contrary, the moment a saint has acquired holy power, they be a person who can change history. If it could be used efficiently, it was enough power to save the country. But in Artizea¡¯s case, it was a little different. Artizea¡¯s holy power could not do anything. She just made a small scratch and tried to make direct contact with her holy power. But it had no healing property at all. She wondered if the power worked in a different way, so she went so far as to search the temple and the records of the temple again. However, Artizea¡¯s conclusion was that her own holy powers did nothing. Holy power is the same as vitality. Artizea, after a few attempts of faintly exerting her powers, concluded that her powers used her own life as a fuel. It didn¡¯t matter much that her lifespan was shortened. Rather than the cost being an issue, it was just useless. Maybe it¡¯s because she doesn¡¯t have faith. It seemed that it was not enough just to know that this power could heal people. ¡®Is it because I have no earnest desire to heal?¡¯ If she dared to use it, she would be able to use magic. This is because it is blood that draws the magic circle, and human sacrifice, that is, human life, that activates the magic. Holy power can rece it. To say that God watches over everything might not be right in that sense. God didn¡¯t even know Artizea had used magic and then gave her such power. Since she had saved a life who deserved death, it seemed natural to take a life to pay it back. In all honesty, Artizea should have died when she cast her time-reversing magic. This living life is a bonus. However, she cannot change the world at once with a level of magic that only costs part of her lifespan. She couldn¡¯t put any value on the high versatility of magic. Because the amount of absolute power was too small. Even if she used magic to heal, at most, it will only be enough to heal cut wounds with a letter knife. There was little difference in what Artizea could do. She must die as a price to use great magic. And if she was going to throw her life away, there was no need for her to draw her life out for holy power. Artizea lived one life without magic. Now, even if she could use a little magic, she had no idea where it could be used. Rather, revealing it is only a pretext for an attack. Holy power or magic. The temple denies magic. The history of human sacrifice has made it so. There is a reason for the fact that the ancientnguage was almost not being practiced. It remained only in the research of some schrs, and people forgot the existence of magic. But basically, a wizard was considered a murderer. ¡®I wonder what will happen when a saint uses magic.¡¯ Artizea looked out the window and thought nkly. She still couldn¡¯t figure out what the oracle meant by ¡°return¡±. It¡¯s not going to turn the time reversing magic back. The fact that the wizards who tried to invade the realm of the gods through genocide were punished is something that appears quite early in the temple. If God wanted to do something with her life, it would have been better off directing it specifically. ¡®You will find out when the time is right.¡¯ If Brother Colton is right. But why does she have to follow God¡¯s will? Perhaps God spared her life, who should have died to do something, and sent her back to the past. Then it is understandable that this life isposed of the holy power. However, even if it was God who gave her life, Artizea had no intention of following God¡¯s will. She has already made Cedric her master. And she swore to protect Lysia. It was more important for her to keep her own vows than to be a sculpture for the big picture of God. The only future she knows of is the ruined empire. There is no reason for her to return to the past and then returning the ruined future by her own hands. So Artizea told Brother Colton. [¡°I¡¯m not going to be a saintess.¡±] Artizea did not need popr support or a high reputation. Rather, it only increases her risk the more she is pulled to the sunlight. Her hands and feet are also tied. She didn¡¯t even want the name Grand Duchess Evron to be remembered as being associated with the name Artizea Rosan. It was another matter if she couldpletely take over the temple at the very least. But the saint is not the head of the temple. The temple had a hierarchical bureaucracy whose tier list was longer than that of the imperial government. And the saint was not included in the system. It was the same even if formally she was a messenger of the word of God. The system will reject a foreign entity that has suddenly emerged. While believers, monks, and lower priests believed in and served with sincerity. Nevertheless, the priests of the temples and the servants who took care of the administrative affairs of the temple were not willing to obey the orders of the saint. As an individual they could have followed it even by throwing their body, but the temple could not move that way. Moreover, today¡¯s bishops arepromised between piety and practical power. They were also the huge walls that Lysia first encountered as a saintess. The bishops respected and held her high. However, rather than listening to her as an agent of the God, they only thought of her as a symbol that would enhance the authority of the temple. In the end, the bribes worked and they were also involved in the maniption of the divine message. They manipted the oracle, of course, primarily because they wanted to influence secr power by making the saintess the Empress. But it was also because the lower priests and monks, who realized that they could not follow the will of the saintess within the temple, continued to depart. It was an agreement between the imperial family and the temple to imprison Lysia in the Empress¡¯ pce. Artizea can¡¯t move with a temple like that. She did not think that she would be able to take control of the temple with such an insignificant title, and there was no time to waste it on. The power that can be obtained is small and only the responsibility is heavy. The number of enemies will increase, and there will be reasons to be attacked and reasons to be checked. The name of a saint is not even a variable. It is a negative factor. Fortunately, Brother Colton nodded at Artizea¡¯s request to keep this a secret. [¡°You can do whatever you want. I am a monk. The temple does not impose any obligations on me.¡±] Saying so, he said with a nk face. [¡°I know what you are worried about. The temple will not follow you in carrying out the oracle, but will try to use the oracle and you for the power of the temple.¡±] [¡°Thank you for your understanding.¡±] [¡°Maybe that is why God has entrusted me with the role of bringing you here.¡±] Brother Colton said so. Artizea let out a small sigh. Then she suddenly asked Lysia. ¡°Lysia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you believe in God?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lysia looked embarrassed. Artizea suddenly called with a serious face, so she thought she had done something wrong or Artizea was trying to tell a story about her family. ¡°Just curious.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes and said. It was an impulsive question. She wondered what Lysia would have been like when she first received the divine message. Lysia is faithful, but she is not a believer or a monk who puts God at the center of her life and lives ording to the teachings of the temple. Artizea did not know Lysia before bing the Saintess in the past. She only vaguely thought that she had the character, ability, and devotion to be a Saintess. Lysia¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m a believer, but I don¡¯t go to the temple often¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never even read the end of the scripture, have you?¡± Hayley stepped in. Then, Lysia¡¯s face became even redder. Artizea grinned. ¡°If the person who read and memorized the scriptures is a true believer in God, then I would be a believer among believers. Hayley, how about you?¡± ¡°I am an atheist.¡± Hayley spoke out, but her face turned a little red. It was because she thought she was being overly harsh. ¡°To be precise, whether there is a God or not I don¡¯t think they have any interest in human affairs. They wouldn¡¯t have made the world this way if they do.¡± ¡°I still think there is a God. I do not believe in all the teachings of the temple.¡± Lysia squealed and responded. ¡°I believe that there¡¯s some kind of good will to lead the world in the right direction no matter how difficult it is.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± Artizea looked at Lysia quietly. Then she looked away. As expected, God had chosen the wrong person. Hayley asked. ¡°Why are you curious about that?¡± ¡°Just that. I remember talking to Brother Colton.¡± Artizea responded only like that. This was something she couldn¡¯t discuss with anyone. *** It was that evening. Artizea took a bath, ate, and went to bed early. There was a lot of work to be done, but there was no rush to do it. She made a list of people to meet the next day and informed Ansgar in advance. The issue of the western region rebirth project was to be discussed with the Empress, even if it was a formality. And it was about the time she got into bed and barely melted her cold toes with a bag of warm water. Alice quietly entered the bedroom. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Artizea opened her eyes and asked. It was because Alice was wearing an outdoor cloak. Alice said cautiously. ¡°The Young Lady of Marchioness Camellia hase to see you in private.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea closed her eyes for a moment and drove away her sleepiness. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Proofreader: somnium Alice said as she helped her up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What are you sorry for?¡± ¡°I found an informant of the Marquisate of Camellia. The Marchioness¡¯ Lady contacted me through her.¡± Artizea did not scold Alice. Instead, she patted her arm lightly and said it was okay, she said. ¡°Because such informants know each other but pretend they don¡¯t know each other. Do you know whom Marchioness Camellia nted in our house?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s okay.¡± Artizea said kindly. However, it was certainly surprising that Sk hade to visit her secretly. Because she thought that if she needed anything, she would be contacted directly by Marchioness Camellia. Alice hastily brought a thick cloak. She then put the cloak over Artizea¡¯s pajamas. The cloak came down to her ankles. ¡°I got her waiting in the sunroom.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Artizea changed her shoes and followed Alice slowly out of the bedroom. Normally, a couple of maids should be waiting in the next room in case they are called. But it was cleared now, thanks to Alice clearing it up ahead of time. Using a byway inside the mansion, Artizea was able to go out without meeting anyone, If she doesn¡¯t go through the front door and shees to meet Artizea through Alice, it¡¯s better to keep it a secret first of all, whatever the purpose of the meeting or whatever the oue. Sk was wearing a ck cloak that was not much different from Artizea¡¯s. Even the clothes she wore inside seemed to be simple, and the hem of her skirt did not swell at all. There was no makeup on her face. ¡°Sorry for the sudden visit, Your Grace Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°If I had not been able to meet you, I would have preferred it. However, it cannot be denied that the one who made a promise first would have been a more elegant way without causing trouble to the other person.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sk apologized in a candid manner. Artizea was a little surprised. ¡°I am not saying that this sudden arrival was aimed at the time when Your Grace was exhausted, so please forgive me. It¡¯s because it¡¯s unlikely that I¡¯ll be able to see You Grace away from my mother¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Avoiding the eyes of the Marchioness?¡± Artizea asked curiously. Sk answered. ¡°Yes, my mother is now at the Grand Duchy Roygar. The meeting was held urgently because of the conversation between Your Grace and His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°I see.¡± It will be about the Emperor¡¯s requisition order and the work of repatriation. And she could guess why Sk hade to her. Marchioness Camellia is subordinate to the Grand Duchess Roygar. Even if, in reality, Grand Duchess Roygar had few political views, even if she obeyed the words of Marchioness Camellia. To put it more deeply, in real practical terms, the real master is her father, Marquis Luden. That was unbearable for Sk. Sk respected and loved her mother. That is why she disagrees with Marchioness Camellia. What Marchioness Camellia was supposed to do and what she would risk for her children, might not be eptable with Sk. But Artizea did not open her mouth first. Unfortunately, it¡¯s Sk¡¯s side that is at disadvantage. Sk fidgeted with the handkerchief she was holding with her eyes down. It was because of the tension that her hands were constantly sweating. Artizea looked at the hand. In the end, Sk said first. ¡°I would like to ept Your Grace¡¯s offer.¡± ¡°I never made any suggestions, Lady Sk.¡± ¡°Your Grace has spoken to mother about the possibility of paving the way for Karam.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Are you saying that you had no intention of saying those words before you even asked His Majesty the Emperor for assistance to Evron Grand Duchy?¡± ¡°It was because that day I happened to meet Marchioness Camellia. I¡¯m ashamed of my terrified and emotional outburst, Lady Sk.¡± Artizea¡¯s face, who spoke those words, was so calm and bright that she showed no signs of being frightened or emotional. So Sk was sure she did it on purpose. She even doubted that the visit to the temple was not purely the will of Marchioness Camellia¡¯s, but was induced by Artizea. She, however, could not question it. She had neither the subject nor the ability to do so. Sk politely bowed her head. ¡°I know that Your Grace has shown us another way.¡± ¡°Lady Sk.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Grand Duke Roygar is the only option.¡± Sk¡¯s way of speaking was still rough. Her expression was not under control at all. But Artizea was satisfied with her. Sk was still young and raised by a capable mother. She has yet to decide on something she wants to do on her own. She may have had some negotiating experience, but she would have only a little training course with Marchioness Camellia behind her. Still, she was very good at this. The fact that she hade to meet Artizea in secret proved that she could do her part as Marchioness Camelia¡¯s Heir Apparent. Artizea said as she smiled at her. ¡°Grand Duke Roygar is a strong candidate for the next Emperor, and then the Grand Duchess will be Her Majesty the Empress.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And, unlike His Majesty, Emperor Gregor, Grand Duke Roygar loves and cherishes his wife.¡± ¡°Yes. But then mother can¡¯t get away from aunt forever. And I learned that it is right to pave several roads.¡± ¡°Marquisate Luden will be the father of the Empress, and he will be the next Emperor¡¯s father-inw. Do you really need her out of the shadows?¡± ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t mean to betray my maternal grandfather and aunt. I love my aunt, and I do not want Grand Duke Roygar to fail.¡± Sk said. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that Marquisate Camellia is of the same family as Marquisate Luden, nor must they share a destiny with Grand Duchy Roygar.¡± Sk didn¡¯t want to do that. The rewards for dedication do not always follow. Marquis Luden thought that by recognizing Marchioness Camelia as his daughter, it had saved her life. So it was only natural for her to devote herself to Marquisate Luden and Grand Duchess Roygar until she died. And he thought that Marchioness Camellia is his too. Marchioness Camellia was the fourth child born from the second wife who is a smallmoner. He had three impable heirs before her, and the Marquis was no less ambitious. Marquis Luden made her the heir through a conspiracy. Although it was declining, Camellia was a Marquisate. It was a perfect fit for the status of an older sister who takes care of Grand Duchess Roygar, because it wasfortable to wield. He made the humble blood a Marchioness. Therefore, it is natural for him to take a mortgage for the life of the child born between the two of them. Marquis Luden thought so. Of course, the position of Marchioness Camellia was different. [¡°We both have ws, but not you, Sk.¡±] Marchioness Camellia used to say so. [¡°You are the daughter of a real Marquis, and you will be a Marchioness. So you have to be confident.¡±] Having said that, Sk thinks her mother is too attached to her maternal grandfather. Sk didn¡¯t think it was necessary. In the past, anyway, she was the legitimate heir to the Marquisate. Her mother takes care of Grand Duchess Roygard, as her maternal grandfather requires. She fulfilled her role not only as an older sister, but also as herdy-in-waiting. Marchioness Camellia was an ally of Grand Duke Roygar, and Marchioness Camellia was also an able adviser. Wasn¡¯t that enough? She has no reason to obey anymore. Marchioness Camelia must move for her own good. Sk said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure whom Your Grace has in mind. Even if you join hands with Grand Duke Roygar, you will keep Marquis Luden in check, otherwise¡­ ¡­ .¡± If there was something her mother couldn¡¯t do, she had to do it. It wasn¡¯t something she couldn¡¯t do as Marchioness Camelia¡¯s Heir Apparent. ¡°When Grand Duke Roygar is defeated, it will be a way for our family to survive.¡± Sk, like all nobles, did not want a one-sided andplete victory for Grand Duke Roygar. She also didn¡¯t want to fall with him when he was defeated. Artizea quietly fell into thought. The sun had set and the sunroom was already dark. The thrushes cried ¡®hoo, hoo, hoo¡¯, Alice came in quietly and brought a few more candles. Sk waited nervously for Artizea¡¯s words. ¡°I am d that Lady spoke openly. There¡¯s nothing wrong with having a lot of friends.¡± Sk flinched at the word friend. Artizea smiled. ¡°There¡¯s nothing strange about it, isn¡¯t it? The Lady is my age.¡± ¡°How dare I befriend Evron¡¯s mistress?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good enough, Lady Sk. Lady is Marchioness Camelia¡¯s daughter, but in other words, you are just the Marchioness Heir Apparent. It is not yet known which ofdy¡¯s siblings will be preferred by Marquis Luden.¡± Sk flinched. But she wasn¡¯t angry or anxious about the weakness that Artizea stabbed on. Artizea said that on purpose. Artizea said in a soft voice. ¡°I can¡¯t say hastily about Evron¡¯s rtionship with Camellia, but if it¡¯s a friend, we can meet and talk openly. From time to time we can ask for a favor from each other.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Knowing that the ¡®favor¡¯ was key, Sk eximed. ¡°I have very few friends, so don¡¯t turn me down, Lady.¡± ¡°I understand what you mean.¡± Sk bowed her head. If the name is a friend, she can continue friendship without being allies. Even if the rtionship is deep, there is no need for mutual responsibility. It is advantageous in this respect that they are still young people of the same age. There was no reason not to use it. And in the process of making friends, naturally, she will check in with Marquis Luden and do what Artizea asks for. Leaking or digging out information. ¡°Since you are here, there is something I would like to suggest to Lady.¡± ¡°Whatever you say, is there anything I cannot do as a friend?¡± ¡°This year, I n to celebrate the Empress¡¯ birthday. But as the youngest of thedies-in-waiting, I can¡¯t even ask my seniors for even the slightest favor, so I decided to ask the nobledies who were not yet responsible for the family.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I think it would be appropriate for Lady Sk, both in terms of status and abilities.¡± Sk nodded her head. It was also in line with the will of Grand Duke Roygar, who wanted to examine the heart of the Empress, and it was also a position where she coulde in closer and confidently contact with Artizea. ¡°I will make a formal request to Marquisate Camellia soon. I¡¯m letting you know in advance.¡± ¡°Thank you for giving me such an important role, Your Grace.¡± Artizea did not correct the name. It was because the word ¡®friend¡¯ was a superficial title anyway. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Proofreader: somnium The situation in the capital fluctuated. When the news first broke that Karam had crossed the Thold Mountains and attacked Grand Duchy Evron no one would have expected that the situation would escte this way. The war itself was virtually pushed back. Rumors of Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s struggles have been heard from time to time. Karam became tactical, learned to use siege weapons, and such news made people uneasy. However, even two months after the first news broke there was no news of the Thold Gate being breached. The people of the capital quickly becamefortable. The fear that the enemy woulde to Elia Wall at any moment was also diluted. And if the capital was not affected, the war in the north, the monster wave in the west, and the pirates in the south were all nothing but other people¡¯s business. Grand Duke Evron had never been defeated since his first battle as a boy general on the front line. This time he must have defended the northern border brilliantly. When the fear of war was gone, what surfaced was the Emperor¡¯s new disposition. The Emperor was very concerned about what was happening in the north. Rumors abound that the terrified Grand Duchess Evron cried in tears before the Emperor. Hearing the rumor, Hayley and Freil looked at each other with bizarre faces. ¡°Is this a rumor Her Grace leaked?¡± ¡°It may be what His Majesty the Emperor said. It wouldn¡¯t be too strange for others to hear. It¡¯s not really something that hasn¡¯t happened before, is it?¡± There have been quite a few cases in which Grand Duchesses of Evron, who had been married to a foreignnd, suffered one war and never returned to Evron again. The story that Grand Duke Evron had sent his wife back out of concern sounded more usible. Either way, it was a story that was both absurd and funny to those who knew Artizea. Even more so because of the saying that Cedric sent her back because he was worried because it wasn¡¯tpletely wrong. Whether the rumors were true or not was not a serious matter. Even more so when the Emperor started discussing the issue of supporting the north. Having gained a cause, the Emperor greatly increased his armament. Many of them were for Northern aid supplies. Grain, hay, linen and cotton were requisitioned inrge quantities. A small amount ofpensation was given, but it was an amount that could never be said to have paid off its original price. Even more so, considering that prices have risen as a result. Gunpowder and oil literally scraped the floor. It was no exaggeration to say that he collected all the ammunition for hunting guns and gunpowder to be used in the mines. A considerable amount of steel was also requisitioned. If it all went into the hands of Grand Duke Evron, the nobles would have been more at ease. The Emperor had never been more generous toward Grand Duke Evron. It was a time when the northern ports were melting. As soon as many of the supplies were gathered, they were sent to the north first. However, gunpowder and oil were a different matter. More than half of it was stockpiled by the Emperor in the Elia Wall, in case the northern part was breached. Under the pretext of preparing for emergencies, the Central Army and the elite knights continued to move from one garrison to another. It felt very intimidating to the aristocrats. In particr, Grand Duke Roygar could not hide his anxiety even with his smiling face. Giving out more supplies than what would be requisitioned, it was extraordinarily boisterous. The older nobles remembered several purges in the past. A number of elite knights put Grand Duke Evron, his brother inw, to death in one morning over treason. The current Emperor didn¡¯t have to. But how is it that he didn¡¯t suddenly feelpelled to do another purge for the sake of his cute son? Following Grand Duke Roygar, thendowners in the east offered food and cloth as representatives. The Emperor split it and sent another part of it to the west, and had Grand Duchess Evron use it for the rebirth project. Even Marchioness Camellia was certainly perplexed. ¡°The n of dividing the north and the west and the east and the central and the south ispletely messed up. Was it meant to be this way by Cedric, no, Grand Duchess Evron from the start?¡± Grand Duke Roygar, unable to hide his displeasure, said to Marchioness Camellia. Normally, he was more respectful to his sister-inw. But now he didn¡¯t even seem to mind. Marchioness Camellia answered with a livid face. ¡°I have nothing to tell you, Grand Duke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something that can end with that.¡± ¡°I think the West was used in a negotiation with His Majesty the Emperor, but it was used in reverse. Because Grand Duchess Evron is still young.¡± ¡°Use? What¡¯s the situation now? Grand Duchy Evron suffered no loss.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it inevitable to lose money in the future?¡± Marchioness Camellia spoke softly to Grand Duke Roygar, who frowned. ¡°Even if the rebirth project seeds, it will unconditionally lose money. The greatest asset of Grand Duke Evron, aside from his loyalty, is his own integrity.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Hmm.¡± ¡°The Western Army now is nothing short of beingpletely rebuilt by Grand Duke Evron. And yet he won the hearts of the Westerners by letting them go.¡± Even if the current Western Army defends the West on its own, it is all thanks to Cedric. If the Western forces stop the monster wave just two more times, the West will regard Cedric as their guardian and will naturally kneel under him. At that point, it doesn¡¯t matter who has institutional authority. There was also a reason for Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s attempt to recognize the supremacy of the West. It couldn¡¯t have been better if the son of his trusted brother-inw and an excellent soldier would support Grand Duke Roygar with the power of the West on his back. Grand Duke Roygar considered Cedric worthy as a lifelong political partner. That much, he was disappointed. Marchioness Camellia said. ¡°In other words, if you lose your reputation, you lose the West. There was a reason His Majesty the Emperor had long wanted to discredit Grand Duke Evron. I believe that Grand Duchess Evron yed into the hands of His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°But Evron didn¡¯t suffer much damage, sister-inw.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said in a soft voice. ¡°Didn¡¯t sister-inw agree that there would be other terms and conditions under the table?¡± ¡°That would not be the long-term direction of Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Marchioness Camellia tried to convince him. ¡°If you do a round-trip business in the West, you can get a significant advantage in the short term. But in the long run, the reputation of Grand Duke Evron will disappear.¡± ¡°Anyway, Cedric has legally won the West¡¯s interests. Have you considered the possibility of him staying there?¡± He might think he doesn¡¯t have to do anything anymore. And that alone would support the Emperor. ¡°What do you think about Brother Colton being consulted on the western rebirth project at the request of Grand Duchess Evron?¡± ¡°I do not know how Grand Duchess Evron persuaded Brother Colton, Your Grace. That does not mean that Evron haspletely bowed down to His Majesty the Emperor. Rather, considering the nature of Brother Colton, wasn¡¯t he persuaded because it¡¯s the other way around?¡± At the words of Marchioness Camellia, Grand Duke Roygar softened slightly. There was that. That stiff old bishop would never work for the Emperor. ¡°Think of the Emperor¡¯s age. Even loyalists who have been loyal to His Majesty all their lives feel that they have to choose one or the other.¡± ¡°Exactly¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And Grand Duchess Evron has not yet reached her 19th birthday. Thinking ahead 20 years, she can never bet everything on His Majesty the Emperor.¡± Grand Duke Roygar looked at Marchioness Camellia with eyes mixed between suspicion and trust. Marchioness Camellia politely lowered her eyes. Grand Duke Roygar still had no doubts about her. But he seemed to have a gritty feeling somewhere in his heart. He is a quick-witted person. He must have sensed an uneasiness inside Marchioness Camellia. ¡°By the way, I heard that Sk had been asked by Grand Duchess Evron, and she went to the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± ¡°Yes. She said Grand Duchess Evron was asking for an unmarrieddy between the ages of 17 and 20, who was not doing anything in particr, who was in a proper status without considering a faction or anything like that. About seven people will help thedies-in-waiting prepare the birthday.¡± It was an opportunity for anyone who didn¡¯t like the Empress, even those who held grudges with the former Duke of Riagan, cannot refuse. ¡°I¡¯ll have to help Sk. After all, it would be embarrassing if Her Majesty the Empress did ever find Lawrence loveable.¡± Grand Duke Roygar nodded slowly. Then he spoke as a brother-inw and not as a Grand Duke. ¡°But why is sister-inw sighing?¡± Marchioness Camellia let out a sigh of relief involuntarily, and then she stiffened her body in surprise. She knew that she was persuading him. Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s suspicions were almost identical to hers. Nevertheless, Marchioness Camellia waspelled to speak, as if excusing herself from Artizea¡¯s position. The moment Grand Duke Roygar decided that Artizea could not be captured, the opportunity cost of his previous decision would be a responsibility that falls on him. In such a situation, Sk was called by Artizea. There was a good chance that Grand Duke Roygar would be suspicious. And right now, just as she had feared, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s eyes were frowning. *** Lawrence¡¯s situation was far better than that of Grand Duke Roygar. He was not directly pressured by the Emperor¡¯s actions. From the beginning, it was the great aristocrats who suffered losses this time. He voluntarily gave up his fortune at an appropriate level. After Lawrence, wealthy bureaucrats and young aristocrats who had never been particrly pressured did the same. It was not so much loss for Lawrence that the Emperor¡¯s power became stronger. But it wasn¡¯t like that on a psychological level. ¡°It¡¯s a little frustrating.¡± He confided his secret to Gayan. ¡°How long will Father have everything in his hands?¡± It was a smallment rather than a question. Gayan saidfortingly. ¡°All of this is to be passed on to Sir Lawrence. Please wait a little longer. After Sir Lawrence has taken your rightful ce, you will be entrusted with various duties by His Majesty the Emperor.¡± Gayan knew that the Emperor was not worthy of that. But since Lawrence wasn¡¯t serious and didn¡¯t ask for an answer, he just answered it and made him feel better. Viscount Hoden under Lawrence¡¯s order headed south. Among his attendants were vassals of various nobles from the Lawrence faction. It was not something to propose or work on right away with the Duke of Riagan. But it was too big to leave the judgment to just one man. It was a wise thing to do. But it was also foolish. Being wise because Viscount Hoden is not loyal enough, so it was right to send several aristocratic minions together to monitor and cross reference any information. Being foolish because by moving together, it¡¯s impossible to find out who the spy is when things go wrong. It was shortly after arriving in the southern Duchy of Riagan that one of the Viscount Hoden¡¯s men met Madame Lexen, Terry. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Proofreader: somnium [By the time this letter arrives, the weather would begin to get warmer over there. It¡¯s still cool here. You would say it¡¯s still winter. Still, I saw a flower bloom a while ago. There is a flower bush inside the Thold Fortress. I found out for the first time. It had sprouted by chance even though it was not cultivated by anyone, so I left it alone. It¡¯s about knee-high now. A messenger arrived ahead of His Majesty¡¯s envoy and informed me of the capital¡¯s news. There have also been several reports from Freil. I can guess that you are busy. I heard that you were in charge of the Western Rebirth project. If it were you, you would do well. However, don¡¯t think too much about it. It¡¯s not a story of risk, it¡¯s a story of health. If you have the right person, leave it all to them, and think about pulling out. Are you feeling well? Are you eating properly and keeping a good sleep time? It is a warm ce, so it would be better than the north. Ansgar would be better than me. Still, I¡¯m worried since you¡¯re someone who doesn¡¯t know how to take care of yourself. I¡¯ve written separate letters to Lysia and Hayley, saying that Ansgar¡¯s wordse first when ites to your body, though I don¡¯t know about anything else. To Sophie as well. If the three of them disobey you, don¡¯t be angry, think of it as me saying and listen carefully. There are no major changes in the war situation. Reinforcements were replenished for the Karam¡¯s side, resulting in one local skirmish. However, both sides were in a stalemate again without much damage. Rather, there are those who insist on pushing it all the way up at this opportunity. The majority opinion is that you won¡¯t have to worry about war for a few years or even decades if you¡¯re lucky. After all, humans can¡¯t live beyond the Thold Gate, and you¡¯d know that it¡¯s pointless considering the rate at which Karam grows. It¡¯s also difficult for Evron alone. Warfare is not what I hope for. And, fortunately, I met someone who shared the same mind. I would like to see it together with you. Buting back to the North won¡¯t be easy. Within a few years, I made a promise to lead the expedition. I decided to think slowly over a number of issues. Life isn¡¯t as long as eternity, but that doesn¡¯t mean you have to rush as if today is everything. As a far-sighted person, I know you think you have a lot to prepare for the future. But we still have 20 years, 30 years, and more years toe. And it¡¯s only just the beginning. It¡¯s been less than a year since we met, but aren¡¯t we already in a situation where we couldn¡¯t have imagined back then? I don¡¯t think I¡¯m the only one who feels that way. There are many more stories that I cannot write because the letter will travel a long distance. But you are a wise person, and I hope you can guess what I didn¡¯t write. By the time summeres, I¡¯ll be able to see you in the capital. There is something I have to tell you. Please stay healthy until then. When we meet again, I hope those arms are a little heavier than I remember. From the deepest part of my heart, Cedric.] The paper was white and clean with no smeared letters. In the neatly written manner, all sentences lined up. There were several sentimental expressions. Maybe it was because he was worried about the secret or Evron¡¯s situation leaking out. As he said in the letter, it is a letter that travels a long distance. There is a risk of loss, and it was not strange even if someone tried to tear it open. There were no worthy friendly sweet nothings. Cedric isn¡¯t a person to put those words into sentences. Still, somehow, Artizea couldn¡¯t see the letter directly. Cedric was right. She could tell what Cedric didn¡¯t write in the letter. It¡¯s not just what he does with Karam that he wants her to see, but the unexpected situation¡­¡­. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ Artizea folded the letter in half and bowed her head. It hurt as if something was rubbing against the edge of her heart. A book arrived together. It was an ordinary yearbook that Artizea also had. At first she wondered why he had sent the book to Artizea. Did he hide a code or something? But once she opened the book, she knew immediately why. A flower branch that was pressed inside the book fell. It was immediately obvious that it was the flower of the flower bush that grew inside the Thold Fortress, which Cedric was talking about. This is the first flower he saw this year. Simply putting it in a book doesn¡¯t make it a proper pressed flower. As the thick flower stalks were pressed down, moisture soaked into the paper and the ink was smeared. Thanks to that, even the petals of the flowers, which were originally white, were stained. She should have smiled bitterly, but now she couldn¡¯t. Heat rose on her cheek. Even if she tried to ignore the fact that it was her heart pounding, it was hardly easy. But admitting it didn¡¯t make it any better. Artizea didn¡¯t quite know how to react. She took a white cotton handkerchief,id the flower branch, picked up a single fallen petal and put it back in ce. She covered it properly, but there was nowhere else to put it, so she put it back in the book that was sent with it She wondered what to do with the letter. It was a letter she did not need to burn. So what if she keeps it? Artizea seldom exchanged personal letters with others. If there was a way to cherish it, it seemed she coulde up with this and that, independent of whether she could do it. But she doesn¡¯t know how to keep it normal. As she pulls out the juice ss, thinking about the other people¡¯s studies, she hears a knock on her door. Artizea put the letter back straight in the envelope and ced it on the book. It was Freil who came in. In his hand was a te of bite-sized fried croquettes. ¡°Have you fallen into a light snack messenger now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a fall. It¡¯s a valuable opportunity to serve Your Grace.¡± ¡°Even if I be the Emperor myself, I will treat Sir more precious than a toilet attendant, so there is no need to worry about that.¡± Freil shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Sir Ansgar¡¯s orders have more authority than Lord Cedric¡¯s words, but are limited to only this mansion.¡± It was. Artizea put the book and envelope aside and lifted the fork to keep the oil away from herself. She bit the crispy fried food, being careful not to burn her mouth. She didn¡¯t know it before, but she felt that her stomach was a bit empty. Freil was staring at her, he asked. ¡°By the way, have you ever seen a doctor these days?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Because they can¡¯t say that Her Grace is on the healthy side.¡± ¡°Even if you see a doctor on a regr basis, that doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no other way. They will tell you to get some sun, get some exercise, eat well, and rest well.¡± Artizea said so calmly. And then she chewed the second piece of croquettes. Freil let out a sigh of relief. Ansgar, and Marcus too, said that putting her mind at ease is a priority. He¡¯s not sure, but it¡¯s not good if he puts a lot of pressure on it for nothing. Still, Freil, who had heard the story from those two, couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. One way or another, the mistress did not seem to be as at ease with him as the old butlers wished. Seeing him sigh, Artizea asked. ¡°You¡¯re not really here to bring snacks, are you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Freil reverently corrected his posture. And he said, ¡°I will be blunt. Give me Miss Hayley.¡± ¡°Do the proposal yourself.¡± Freil, who was taken aback, opened his mouth wide open. ¡°Who said that? Give her as a colleague, colleague.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t say anything. Freil raised his voice as his face turned red. ¡°Because Your Grace is trying to bury me alive in a pile of work! Why would you suddenly want me to scoop up information from the South?¡± ¡°You created an organization.¡± ¡°I am the only one managing it! I¡¯m not just doing what Your Grace asks, but my main job is to manage informationing from the North and Evron¡¯s contactwork!¡± Freil spoke in session and exhaled a harsh breath. But Artizea said calmly. ¡°Not Hayley. Find someone you can trust.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it my job to find someone like that? They¡¯ll even have to get certified by Her Grace! Do you have any ns to lighten the burden on me?¡± ¡°Sir will be able to live smoothly for the next 30 years, so it¡¯s okay.¡± Artizea looked at theining Freil with a smile on her face. ¡°Hayley, not yet.¡± The reason she was able to entrust him with a secret in a short time was because she already knew Freil before she returned to the past. But not Hayley. Freil understood the meaning and sighed again. ¡°Your Grace is a strange person. You seem to be willing to believe some people easily, but you also have a habit of testing people.¡± ¡°Because the quickest way to know if someone¡¯s worth a job, is to try it.¡± ¡°Even so, don¡¯t bother testing your employees anymore. You put a very tight on the Grand Duke¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°It shows that the person who takes my bribe can also ept other people¡¯s bribes, so I¡¯m just confirming.¡± ¡°It is painful for me to know the result.¡± ¡°Pretend you don¡¯t know. It¡¯s not your business, is it?¡± ¡°Your Grace can easily say something like that.¡± Artizea tilted her head. ¡°So?¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Is there any news from the South? Sir is a person who thinks that it is only eptable to ask for a vacation after achieving good results.¡± ¡°And Your Grace is the kind of person who doesn¡¯t give any vacation to those who perform well, and gives eternal leave to those who don¡¯t.¡± Freil grunted, but said obediently. ¡°The one recruited by Dame Harper made contact with Madame Lexen.¡± ¡°Dame Harper recruited Viscount Hoden, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes. Viscount Hoden has been taking care of her since she was a child.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°Shall we keep an eye on it?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to. Dame Harper must have done a good job. I was just curious.¡± ¡®Do you want me to do that just out of curiosity?¡¯, Freil then murmured. ¡°Is everything alright with Thold?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Sir know better than me? Because the information of Evron Grand Duchy is gathered in the hands of Sir¡± It was a sarcastic sound, but instead of counterattacking, Freil said sarcastically. ¡°Because I did not open the letter from the Grand Duke. Or is it just a bunch of non-informative content?¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned red. Freil satisfactorily gave chase. ¡°Or maybe there is a password that only the two of you canmunicate with?¡± ¡°Sir¡­¡­.¡± It was when Artizea was about to say something. Someone knocked on the door twice and opened it. ¡°Your Grace, I have something to tell you. Oh, Sir Freil is here.¡± It was Hayley. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Proofreader: somnium Artizea looked at Hayley. So was Freil. For a moment, the air in the living room became awkward. Freil said. ¡°Your Grace is being ridiculous, is it?¡± ¡°I was joking, as the Sir said, what is so awkward about it?¡± Freil¡¯s face turned red. Hayley frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re joking about, but you¡¯re not talking about me, are you?¡± ¡°Sir Freil¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I asked Your Grace to get Miss Hayley to help me with my work.¡± Before Artizea spoke, Freil jumped and said. Artizea grinned. ¡°He asked me to send you, Hayley, to the army because he thought he would be buried alive in a pile of work.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m going to die under the pile of things that I already have, so I¡¯m going to decline.¡± Hailey said. And she nced at Freil. ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s easy just because I¡¯m preparing flowers and food, right?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. It seems to me to be the most difficult thing in the world.¡± ¡°It is difficult. I really don¡¯t know why people heremunicate in such a roundabout way.¡± Hayley sighed. ¡°Besides different types of flowers, did you know that the meaning varies depending on the size and number of flowers?¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I know it, too.¡± Hayley sighed. ¡°I never thought I would use it in real life.¡± And Hayley didn¡¯t have the ability to ask questions for things she didn¡¯t know as lovingly as Lysia. She had to memorize things she never thought weremon sense and even applied them. Hayley and Lysia were actively engaged in preparations for the Empress¡¯ birthday party. From invitations, small gifts to apany it, food for the birthday party, party decorations, and congrattory gifts to the Empress, there was nothing easy to think about. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of celebrating the birthday of a noble person. This is her first public appearance since attending Artizea¡¯s wedding. Unlike the wedding of rtives, this time it was a big banquet held at the Imperial Pce. All important members of the Imperial nobility and bureaucrats will be present. Some wereing from far away to attend this banquet. At this point, it was more of a political banquet than a celebration. Hayley stopped the chatter and said. ¡°Your Grace, you have a guest.¡± ¡°Did Lady Hazele?¡± ¡°Yes. She arrived a little earlier than pointed time, so I escorted her to the parlor.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Artizea raised her body up. Hayley followed her. Freil made a decision a beat toote. Not only did he have to do the offering, but also the scouting himself. It¡¯s not just Artizea¡¯s work. If she were to take over a part of Evron¡¯s intelligencework, it would give him a space to breathe. ¡°Miss Hayley!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Hayley stopped walking. ¡°Are you thinking of changing your position?¡± What is this guy talking about, Hayley looked at him with a puzzled look. Freil tried to be tant. ¡°There is a job that is much easier and more suitable for Miss Hayley than what you are doing now. It¡¯s important for Evron, so it¡¯ll be rewarding.¡± He was like a sledgehammer even as he said it. Hayley grinned. ¡°By the way, do you know why I wasn¡¯t a knight even though I was the daughter of the Jordyn family and I was healthy?¡± Freil tilted his head. ¡°I hate the army. I hate knights. If you want to pass on your job, please ask the secret organization operated by Her Grace, not the military intelligencework. There is an interest in that.¡± Freil sagged his shoulders. *** Hazel looked around the parlor where she was guided nervously. The furniture was luxurious, but not excessive. There were spring flowers all over the ce, and it was gorgeous. The flowers were sent as samples from the business, who wanted to provide decorative items for the Empress¡¯ birthday celebration, remained after decorating Artizea¡¯s living room and overflowed into the parlor. She arrived early, so Hazel thought she would have to wait a long time. Even if Artizea was not meeting other people or doing urgent work, it was the same. There is no need for the Grand Duchess to make the time ande out quickly to meet her. Considering the difference in status and fame, it was not unusual for her to wait several hours. Arriving early was simply to be polite. Hazel came prepared to kill time while waiting. But Artizea came out to the parlor before Hazel had even pulled a little notebook out of her handbag. Hazel stood up in surprise. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Lady Hazel.¡± Hazel smiled bashfully. ¡°When I met you the other day, you were still the Marquisate of Rosan¡¯s Lady. Even then you were, of course, the fiancee of His Grace Grand Duke Evron.¡± What Hazel said was the day Artizea was dragged out of the tea party by Mira and beaten, and Cedric came to the rescue. That day, Hazel met Artizea for the first time. At that time, Artizea was nothing more than a powerless noble girl who did not even have her rights properly. Before she was engaged to Cedric, she was no better than Hazel. Even after her engagement, she still wasn¡¯t in a position where she was much different from Hazel. This is because the status of the social circle is not determined simply by the hierarchy of a title. But she was now the mistress of Evron and one of the Emperor¡¯s favoritedies. Not many people would have guessed that she would be such a great person in such a short time. Artizea understood the meaning and smiled at her. ¡°I was very ashamed back then. But I was grateful. I remember that Lady Hazel stopped Mother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m immensely sorry. Then, had I done a favor to the most powerful person in the Empire?¡± Hazel said cheerfully, half jokingly. But Artizea answered her not jokingly, but seriously and mildly. ¡°Of course. If it wasn¡¯t for Lady Hazel, it wouldn¡¯t have been easy for me to be the Marchioness of Rosan and to hold the wedding.¡± Hazel tilted her head, not understanding what Artizea meant by it. Then she understood a beatter and opened her mouth, and then she asked. ¡°Your Grace¡¯s word¡­ ah, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hazel quickly bit her mouth again. Because she didn¡¯t really have anything to say out of her mouth. What Artizea said was that Hazel had spread the rumor that Mira had assaulted Artizea at the time. Though rumors were never good things. In general, it was preferred not to be talked about, whether good or bad. In the end, it only bes a gossip. Reputation was originally a double-edged sword. Of course, Artizea¡¯s situation at the time was not very good, and her reputation was at an all-time low. She bought sympathy and it moved in the right direction because she had no ce to fall, and because the event itself was romantic enough. Hazel knew it, too. So she didn¡¯t do it purely for fun, it was because she had a little pity for Artizea. But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that in the end people turned it into a story of interest. This time Hazel was thinking she would be reprimanded for what happened then. Even if she doesn¡¯t speak about it directly. With such a gentle demeanor, she didn¡¯t even think Artizea would be offended if she knew it. Hazel bowed her head. Artizea smiled brightly. ¡°But I can¡¯t understand the saying that I am the most powerful person in the Empire. I know that people say that I am a young woman who has been taken advantage of by His Majesty, the Grand Duchess, who fled in fear.¡± ¡°Because half of the world¡¯s poption are stupid. However, because of you, Her Majesty the Queen opened the door to the Empress¡¯ Pce, and, with the favor of His Majesty the Emperor, you took charge of the Western Rebirth project. A lot of people know what it means.¡± Public opinion in the salon and coffee house was divided about who Artizea was. However, including all that and who is the most popr at this moment, the person who is attracting most of people¡¯s attention, it must have been Artizea. She may not be the one in power who leads the political world, but in a sense, it was true that she was the most nobledy in the social world. Hazel said in a slightly excited tone. ¡°Above all, the favor and prestige of Dowager Marchioness Rosan did not exceed Your Grace.¡± As with all stories of Mira, it was already rumored that Artizea turned away from Mira at the Imperial Pce. People have been mouthing that Artizea was too cold-hearted; or that she should have been one, that it was Mira¡¯s consequence for her indulgence. But the most important part wasn¡¯t Artizea or Mira itself. The most important part was that the Emperor did not reveal his anger to Artizea. Even though the Emperor was aware of all the circumstances, he pretended not to know the full story of the incident because Mira did not directlyin. He onlyforted Mira, who was crying that day. Although, he gave priority to Mira over his daughters and granddaughters. The Emperor ordered his servant to send back Countess Eunice as soon as he heard that Mira was sitting in the hallway and weeping. Then he went to pick up Mira, lifted her up in his arms, and took her to his bedroom. And he advised Mira not to go back. There was a ce for Mira in the Imperial Pce, but there was no mention of staying there. He told her to just stay in his bedroom. He pulled out his ring, engraved with the Imperial Coat of Arms, and put it on Mira¡¯s thumb, and wrapped around her shoulder the cloak embroidered with gold. But he did not ask Mira why. He didn¡¯t even call Artizea and scold her, or her surroundings, that she should be nice to her mother. Artizea¡¯s achievements in creating her cause were to be praised. Since she was entrusted with the Western Rebirth project, her authority should not be lowered for any reason other than her failure at the job for the time being. He wasn¡¯t supposed to upset Cedric. The Emperor used Mira to make his subjects clearly aware who their master is, and sometimes he would consolidate his authority by deliberately provoking and trampling on them. But now was not the time. It was between Mira and Artizea, the mother and daughter, and because of the marriage, she couldn¡¯t be touched further. He could step on it, but not too far. The Emperor knew that Artizea¡¯s threats could actuallye true. That danger exists independently of the character of the previous Grand Duke Evron or Cedric. It is for this reason that the imperial family held the food supply chain and waved it from generation to generation, but did not threaten it, and always resorted to honor or wealth. And the Emperor¡¯s attitude was the greatest proof that Artizea was in a very important position. Hazel looked at Artizea with an observing gaze. She wondered who did all these things that no one could have imagined one year ago. Artizea is by no means the Young Lady of the Marquisate of Rosan that Hazel knew. How many more things were hidden in her? Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Proofreader: somnium Artizea caught Hazel¡¯s gaze. Hazel was naturally curious. She was also observant. And she hasn¡¯t been able to hide it all yet. Artizea did not rebuke her even though it was rude. Because that¡¯s why Hazel was a useful person. Hazel realized that her gaze had been too explicit, and made an expression of embarrassment. ¡°I wanted to say that it is an honor to be called by such a person.¡± ¡°We met once at that time, but it was too short a time to build friendships.¡± In response to Artizea¡¯s answer, Hazel said. ¡°Yes. I thought that it would never be possible to have a conversation like this so close.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t invite just anyone. Both Lady Hazel and Lady Mielle are faithful and dignifieddies.¡± Artizea replied with a smile. ¡°Even though your parents aren¡¯t from traditional aristocratic families, in today¡¯s world, blood isn¡¯t that important.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± ¡°Lady Mielle is the daughter of Lord Kishore, Lady Hazel¡¯s mother is the heir of thergest newspaperpany in the capital, and your father is a famous writer, can¡¯t it be said that they are far superior to those who depended on their ancestors¡¯ honor hundreds of years ago? ¡± ¡°There is a contradiction in your words. It¡¯s just that Mielle and I, after all, are daughters of great parents. Doesn¡¯t that mean that what you inherit by blood is important?¡± ¡°Having a good education from good parents is not the same as valuing long-distance ancestry.¡± Hazel¡¯s face brightened at Artizea¡¯s words. ¡°Thank you for acknowledging my parents. I am very proud of them.¡± ¡°They are parents to be proud of, and in that regard, I have high expectations for Lady Hazel.¡± ¡°I am concerned that I will not be able to live up to Your Grace¡¯s expectations.¡± Although humble, Hazel could not hide her excitement and looked at Artizea. ¡°I would like to invite many schrs and writers who can represent the Empire to the celebration of the Empress¡¯ birthday. Also, I want the newspapers to write proper coverage articles rather than gossip based on interest.¡± Artizea continued her word. ¡°I am not familiar with such things, and in fact, the youngdies who decided to help prepare for the banquet this time are very dark in that area.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s too important to just leave it to the subordinates. I think Lady Hazel can do a great job in this part.¡± ¡°Yes, I will do my best!¡± Hazel said. In fact, when she was called, she had some guesses about what she was going to do. And she was a little thrilled. Hazel was proud of herself for being able. But she has yet to prove it. Hazel¡¯s dream was not to inherit from her parents in the future, but to create her own newspaper. Her parents still considered Hazel as a little child. But if she was 18, she was old enough that she could do a part for herself. Growing herwork and seeing how little things spread by buying and selling information, or even spreading small rumors, was all for the future. She often tried to write articles that could appear in her parents¡¯ newspapers. But she was hardly epted. However, Artizea entrusted the task of inviting schrs and writers. In other words, Artizea was telling her to select the most important intellectuals in the Empire. The small bond of that day became the biggest opportunity of her life. In fact, no matter how big a newspaper owner or a reputable journalist Hazel might be in the future, she wouldn¡¯t have a chance toe face to face with a great aristocrat like Grand Duchess Evron. After gracefully nodding down to Hazel, saying that she had nothing to thank, Artizea asked. ¡°By the way, Lady Mielle didn¡¯te with you. Lady Mielle is familiar with the Imperial Pce, so I thought it would be good if she and Lady Hazel would help each other take charge of the work.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s not feeling well these days.¡± Hazel said with a darkened face. ¡°Even so, she asked me to deliver an apology to Your Grace. When she gets better, she will write you a letter.¡± ¡°Is it so bad that she can¡¯t even write a letter?¡± Artizea was startled and asked. Hazel forced a smile. ¡°She has been very well for a while. So I guess she yed too much. She suddenly lost her energy, so she¡¯s taking a break¡­¡­. She will get better soon.¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Mielle has been like that since she was a child. She was so weak that she got seriously ill once in a while. But she always gets up again.¡± ¡°I should visit the hospital sometime. Unless, it¡¯s not convenient for Lady Mielle.¡± Hezel smiled at Artizea¡¯s words. ¡°She will be delighted. Every time she gets sick, she always says that being bored is more painful than being sick.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Mielle is weak, but she likes meeting people.¡± It was so unfortunate that Artizea offered Hazel a word of constion instead. This served one of the purposes of the letter to Hazel and Mielle. Artizea needed to hear this story naturally and connect to the visit to the hospital. Hazel said she would get better soon, but for Mielle it didn¡¯t happen again. She didn¡¯t celebrate her 19th birthday. After losing his daughter, Keshore resigned from his office. And the couple left the capital¡¯s mansion together. Artizea couldpletely change the situation. It was the most dramatic and decisive thing she could do as a saintess. £ª£ª£ª Lawrence¡¯s visit was a few dayster. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, brother?¡± Artizea asked curiously. She and Lawrence aren¡¯t close enough to visit each other¡¯s houses for no reason. Lawrence¡¯s face looked slightly ufortable. It was even more strange. Lawrence would be mad if he found out he had been spied on, or if he had found out that Amalie had betrayed him. Or, he would have been annoyed if Mira¡¯s affairs had caused them to have something embarrassing to discuss. He wouldn¡¯t have had a soft and gentle face if he were to ask for Artizea¡¯s help. But now, Lawrence¡¯s face was not all three. Other than that, she couldn¡¯t think of any other urgent business. ¡°Looks like you were about to go out.¡± As Lawrence waited and hung around in the parlor, he looked at Artizea and said so. She was wearing a cloak for going out. ¡°Ah, yes. I have someone to visit. It¡¯s not important. If my brother¡¯s business is important, I should give it priority.¡± ¡°My business is not that great either.¡± Lawrence had an unfamiliar face that Artizea had never seen before. ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to disturb you for long. I will be going back soon.¡± Because Lawrence spoke while standing, Artizea didn¡¯t even have to take her cloak off and sit down. Lawrence said in a quick tone. ¡°Because you have not yet decided what gift to give to the Empress. I heard that you are preparing clothes, not just the expensive ones.¡± ¡°Ah, I was going to contact you even if I hadn¡¯t.¡± Artizea said. ¡°I¡¯m going to make a jewelry crown out of weaving carnation petals. Like aurel wreath, wait. There must be a design somewhere.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t even have to look. The shape of carnation petals, isn¡¯t it too childish?¡± ¡°I like it to be easy enough that even a child can understand it. In the end, I know that brother will take Her Majesty the Empress as his mother.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to openly buy Her Majesty¡¯s anger?¡± ¡°Her Majesty is a political figure.¡± Artizea said so. Until she signed the papers that made Lawrence her adoptee, the Empress had nothing to lose, no matter what she received or what rumors spread. After all, Lawrence¡¯s rival is not the Emperor¡¯s child, but the Emperor¡¯s brother. The inheritance rights of Grand Duke Roygar have nothing to do with the Empress. Lawrence nodded his head. Artizea¡¯s words were not very different from the evaluation of Emperor Gregor. ¡°I¡¯ll let the crown be given as a gift from my brother to the Empress. Give the same to His Majesty the Emperor. The two don¡¯t have to actually use it in person. Rumors of doing so can be spread.¡± Lawrence nodded his head. Giving a pair of gifts to his parents seemed pretty good, he thought. ¡°And it would be nice to dedicate something to the temple to pray for the health of the parents.¡± ¡°Because we talked about itst time. Goldbox, engraved with the name of Father and the Empress, will be sealed and dedicated to the temple three days before the birthday celebration.¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Artizea said so. ¡°As for the jewelry to be sent as a gift, I will arrange it within a few days and send it to you personally. It has to do with the clothes that the Empress will wear, so I think I will have to work on it until thepletion. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe in person to tell a story like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lawrence nced around the parlor for a moment. There¡¯s no way someone who isn¡¯t there will appear just by looking around. Artizea tilted her head. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lawrence said in a slightly subdued voice. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lawrence was already regretting it. Artizea was right when she said that he did not have toe in person. The Empress¡¯ birthday present business was a task that could be solved by sending a reliable messenger or a simple letter. If not, it was right for him to make an appointment properly and meet her. Even if there was no business, there must have been a reason to deepen their friendship. Lawrence realized that the reason he hade was an excuse. He kept making excuses until he got into the carriage toe here. It was regrettable. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have interrupted you for nothing. I¡¯ll just leave.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need a see-off, so do your job.¡± ¡°Yes. Goodbye.¡± Artizea struggled to maintain a casual color. It was fortunate that she was enduring the cold voice waiting toe out. Lawrence didn¡¯t notice it and left Grand Duke Evron¡¯s house at a quick pace. It was useless, it was a useless thought. He couldn¡¯t understand why the face of the maid whom he had never heard the name of kepting to his mind. He was just gripped by a feeling of nervousness, as if he was stabbed somewhere in his spine each time. Lawrence had just gotten into his carriage. Lysia, with her tied up blonde hair, came in on a big horse. She stopped her horse when she saw the carriage standing in front of the front door. ¡°Who is here?¡± When Lysia saw the carriage, she asked the deputy butler who was seeing him off. Lawrence got out of the carriage. As Lysia¡¯s face, sitting on the horse, turned against the sun, she looked dazzling. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Proofreader: somnium Lysia was startled to see Lawrence and got off her horse. At first, when Artizea told her not to talk as much as possible even if she stumbled upon Lawrence, she took it only as a boundary. Lawrence is not simply the brother of the person she was serving. He was one of two people battling for the throne. He was also an axis of theplex political situation in which Grand Duke Evron was intertwined. So she thought Artizea was being on guard against her brother. If Lysia made a mistake prematurely, it could escte into a political problem, or Artizea could be in an awkward position. But it wasn¡¯t to that extent. Indeed, Artizea seemed to be emotionally appalled of him. They actually met at the Empress¡¯ Pce once, but it was still recognizable. So she was even more careful, so as not to run into him. But like this, to meet face to face in front of the mansion, and she couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t know Lawrence and walk away. It wasn¡¯t a slight rudeness, it was a disgrace to Artizea and Baron Morten. Lysia got off her horse. And she greeted him politely. ¡°I was rude not knowing that a precious guest was here.¡± That was referred to when she dared to look down on him from the horse. Lawrence was not angry. He looked at Lysia¡¯s face for a moment. Lysia tried to keep her calm demeanor. However, Lawrence¡¯s gaze was so deep that she couldn¡¯t win and her face turned red. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Where have you been?¡± Lawrence didn¡¯t have much to say, so he asked. Lysia answered with a short answer. ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia did not answer in detail. Because wise people knew that they could read a surprising number of things from even the smallest clues. The conversation did not continue and was cut off. Lawrence thought strangely, fixing his gaze on Lysia. She really was a woman of nothing. She¡¯s young and quite pretty, but that¡¯s all she is and nothing more. There were many women as pretty as Lysia. Among the women who would run to him if he just contacted them now, there were several women who were prettier than Lysia. Still, she was stuck in his mind like a nail. Lawrence even dreamed several times. In the dream, Lysia was lying in his bed. When he woke up, his chest was pounding and he was thirsty. There were times when he woke up at dawn and couldn¡¯t sleep for the rest of the night. Once he has her, this feeling will go away. From the beginning, he had no interest in people or emotions. Even love, especially love, was not regarded as entertainment. Therefore, his lover has always been nothing more than a partner with whom to share stimting pleasures. Rather, the emotions he was interested in were hatred, fear, contempt, and all sorts of negative and passionate things. This is because it was believed that this is a genuine emotion that a person can show only in the face of death. Perhaps the reason he feels this way is because she is a woman he shouldn¡¯t have. Seducing a woman and throwing her away was no big deal for Lawrence. It was simple, and he never had any trouble with cleaning up afterwards. However, using his sister¡¯sdy-in-waiting as a ymate was out of character. It was even more so if she was a girl under the age of 20. Above all, he will not be liked by the Empress. Moreover, she was from the family of the old vassal of Grand Duke Evron. It is unwise to have a dispute with Cedric over this. ¡°Well, is there anything you want to say?¡± Lysia hesitated. Lawrence is a man of bad character. Lysia was not the type to judge people easily by listening to words. But there was no doubt that Lawrence was promiscuous and arrogant. There were many people who blushed and admired his beauty. There were quite a few people who positively evaluated it as being bold and aristocratic. But even the staunchest admirer of Lawrence could not deny that his private life was debauchery. Above all, Artizea was the one who had been subjected to the abuse in the Rosan mansion while he stood by. She should never have been deeply involved with him, even without a warning. She had no intention of that. However, when she sees him like this, she bes seized with strange emotions. It felt like her heart was pounding. The first thing she felt when she met him was excitement. She didn¡¯t know who he was, so she thought he was a kind person. But now she feels anxious. There¡¯s something like a dry crumbled residue somewhere in her chest. It was soplex that it could not be ssified into a simple category of like or dislike. Lysia was still too young to understand it. Feelings of unknown names that had not yet formed are only iprehensible. As they were facing each other, something was unraveling, something tangled like a thread of her own. It¡¯s only her second encounter with him, and the lifelong feelings swelled in her heart and slipped away like the wind. As if she was possessed, her thoughts of him were engrossed deep in her mind. She painstakingly lowered her eyes. Lawrence then opened his mouth. ¡°Is there anything difficult or ufortable about living in the capital?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­ Yes. Her Grace takes good care of me.¡± ¡°Do you know my name?¡± Lawrence asked impulsively. ¡°Yes, Lord Lawrence.¡± Lysia answered obediently. Lawrence¡¯s heart pounded strangely at that answer. He thought it was the first time he had heard his own name in Lysia¡¯s voice. Naturally, it gave him a fresh shock. ¡°I live on Sabellin Street.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°Come visit me anytime.¡± Lawrence said impulsively. So what if Lysiaes? Well. That¡¯s something he¡¯ll think about then. Lawrence nodded his head lightly to Lysia and got back into the carriage. Lysia watched as the carriage left while she was still in a strange mood. It felt so strange to her that he was being kind to her, and that he had a soft voice, she couldn¡¯t stand it. She wanted to cry and, conversely, trembled. ¡®Let¡¯s not think about it.¡¯ Lawrence asked if she knew his name. But he didn¡¯t seem to realize that he didn¡¯t ask for Lysia¡¯s name. He might have known if he tries to find out from which family thedy-in-waiting that Artizea has brought from Evron, it will be answered by a butler or secretary on the spot. But, to put it that way, Lawrence¡¯s name was something she couldn¡¯t have known. In short, this cannot be called amon name. It was a minor thing, but Lysia seemed to know who Lawrence was. It was when Lysia entered the mansion. Artizea, who had finished preparing her outing, wasing out to the lobby. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Oh, Lysia. You came early.¡± Artizea was startled. Lysia saw Artizea¡¯s eyes clouded with anxiety. ¡°I met Sir Lawrence in the front.¡± She couldn¡¯t tell a lie that would soon be revealed, so Lysia said frankly. And she added that before Artizea could say anything. ¡°It was nothing special. I said hello for a moment. I cannot ignore him.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± Lysia made a decision impulsively. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ going to the west.¡± It¡¯s been quite some time since Artizea had told Lysia to go to the West in her ce. Even before arriving at the capital, there were already ns for phnthropy. Artizea wanted Lysia to take care of it. Even if she declines because shecks the ability to manage arge business, Artizea insistently rmends that she just go ahead and try with a learning heart. And after taking over the rebirth project, Lysia was told to do it this time. It was more of a pleading request rather than amand from her. Lysia hesitated. It was because of Cedric¡¯s orders. [¡°Stay by her side. That¡¯s enough.¡±] Cedric said Artizea was a weak-hearted person. She seemed to know a little more about what he was talking about now. Even though Hayley is there, it was with a heavy heart to leave her behind. But if she is the one who endangers her heart, wouldn¡¯t it be right for her to walk away? She didn¡¯t know why Artizea was trying to keep her from meeting Lawrence until they did. However, Lysia was well aware that Artizea liked and cared for her. So she should listen to that. Surely, Artizea would be rmending it for her own sake. And it might be better for Artizea herself. So said Lysia. ¡°I am not very confident. Brother Colton is a good guy, and I think I can do it too if he helps me.¡± Artizea visibly sighed in relief. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ll be fine. And do well.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t get too mad when I fail.¡± ¡°I know you will do very well.¡± Artizea took Lysia¡¯s hand and ced her forehead on the back of the hand. Lysia gulped down the rock on her chest and swallowed it. At this point, she really didn¡¯t know what to do. Though she thought she had made the right decision, she was still gripped by anxiety. *** ¡°Why are you sending Miss Lysia to the West?¡± Alice asked in the carriage to the Keshore mansion. After Hayley and Lysia came, it was rare for Alice to apany Artizea when she went out. Her status has changed from the past, and her ns for going out have also changed a lot. It shouldn¡¯t be, but Alice felt a little bit sad about it. ¡°I know now that it is not somon to be a person of ability and trust. You believe in Miss Lysia, don¡¯t you? ¡°The West is right for Lysia. In fact, there¡¯s not much work to entrust to Lysia in the capital.¡± ¡°But Miss Lysia is pretty, kind, and easily sympathized with people. And she¡¯s not as good as the knights, but she¡¯s good at fighting, and she¡¯s very good at horse riding, and I think she¡¯s perfect as Madam¡¯s attendant.¡± ¡°What are you fighting for? In the capital, I prefer to go with you.¡± Artizea said in a voice with a smile on her face. Alice sulkily answered. ¡°Madam is no longer in the position to bring a maid like me.¡± ¡°No matter how many people there are, I feel mostfortable with you and Sophie. Reliable.¡± ¡°I am busy, too. As the number of people in the mansion increases, there are so many things to take care of.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really hard, should I hire a separate maid?¡± Alice rolled her eyes. ¡°Are you kicking me out?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a promotion.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like it. I don¡¯t have anyone I can trust other than Sophie. After all, I have to do it myself.¡± Alice said so. Artizea smiled faintly. ¡°On the way home, let¡¯s stop by for a while and go for a walk. We¡¯ve both been very busy these days, haven¡¯t we?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay because I¡¯m strong. But I think taking a walk is a good idea. Madam, have you hardly ever had a break these days?¡± While they were talking, the carriage arrived at the Keshore Mansion. Sir Keshore came to meet her personally. She doesn¡¯t know how many nights he had been up all night from theplexion. His face was ck and dead. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Wee, Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Sir Keshore.¡± Artizea greeted him politely. Henry Keshore was one of the Emperor¡¯s most trusted Guard Knights. He had the virtue of a soldier who looked after his subordinates and obeyed his superiors. And he had a reputation not only among the subordinates of the Guard, but also among military personnel and officials. The Emperor¡¯s confidence naturally brought him power. Speaking of the power he possessed, he was the best among the six generals. When he was young, he was the best militarymander in the empire, and even now in his old age, he has not lost his skills. He used to be that kind of person, but now he¡¯s very different. Thest time Artizea met him was at her wedding. It had not yet been a year since then, and he seemed to be aged by fifteen years. The energy drained from his strong body, and a deep tiredness piled up under his eyes. It was as if he had lost some weight as his cheeks had be thinner. ¡°You look unwell. I heard that you have been resting for over a month with the permission of His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°I am okay. I am just a little tired.¡± said Sir Keshore. ¡°My wife should havee to greet you, but I gave her medicine and forced her to sleep.¡± ¡°That¡­¡­. Lady Mielle looks really bad, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sir Keshore said faintly. He led Artizea to the south room where Mielle¡¯s bedroom was. ¡°Lady Hazel said she was okay until winter.¡± ¡°Yes. Rather, she was in good condition. She¡¯s been like that all winter.¡± Sir Keshore carefully opened the door to Mielle¡¯s bedroom. A nurse was sitting by the bedside, and the maid opened the window to ventte. Mielle¡¯s bed was covered with a thin curtain woven withce. She was in aa. ¡°She was in hospital two months ago. But untilst week, she was able to sit up,ugh and meet people¡­¡­.¡± Sir Keshore sighed. ¡°It happened three days ago.¡± Alice covered her mouth with one hand. Artizea cautiously approached Mielle¡¯s bedside. Even though she was still breathing, Mielle¡¯s face looked like she was already dead. ¡°The doctor told me to be prepared. Even if she ever wakes up again, it will be difficult for her to pass this year.¡± Sir Keshore revealed his despair. He had only one child, Mielle. She was the only child born when he was thirty. Considering that the average person gets married before the age of twenty-two and has children right away, the Keshores had children quitete. The two struggled tirelessly to have a child, but only Mielle was born, and no children were born after her. Sir Keshore, who was amoner and became a Guard Knight, was a new aristocrat who started his own family. But he did not try to establish the Keshore family, but lived in gratitude for what was given. He didn¡¯t deny wealth, but he thought it was enough to make his wife and daughterfortable. Although he was originally frugal and not ambitious in nature, that¡¯s not the only reason. To him, Mielle¡¯s life was much more important. He had no intention of making his daughter the victim of an arranged marriage. He didn¡¯t even want to raise up his ailing daughter to be the heir to the family. He didn¡¯t want to spend too much time rushing for his ambitions, and spend less time with his daughter. She was such a precious child. ¡°My wife and I were both trying to stay quiet. So we didn¡¯t even tell the rtives. I am grateful that Lady Artizea came to visit me, but I would have rejected it usually.¡± ¡°Sir Keshore.¡± ¡°What is the way to save Mielle, the one you wrote in the letter?¡± Sir Keshore asked Artizea with bloodshot eyes. Artizea beckoned lightly. When Alice saw it, she whispered to the nurse that they should leave quickly. The Keshore maid and nurse were bewildered. However, it seemed like the high-ranking people were having an important conversation, so they quickly followed Alice. Only two people remained in the room, Sir Keshore and Artizea. Artizea ced her hand lightly on Mielle¡¯s pale forehead. Contrary to how she looked, there was still warmth in her skin. Said Sir Keshore. ¡°It¡¯s fine whether it¡¯s medicine or just a name. I want to do everything I can. Even if it doesn¡¯t work, I will be grateful and never forget it.¡± Perhaps he thought Artizea got some precious medicine somewhere. Artizea said. ¡°10 years.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Mielle, I will let your daughter live another ten years.¡± Keshore blinked his eyes. He didn¡¯t think Artizea would say so definitively. Artizea looked at Sir Keshore in an upright position. ¡°She is not going to be healthy. Probably not much different from now, always sick and lying in bed for no reason¡­¡­. Living like other people can be difficult. Like now.¡± ¡°Lady Artizea¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But she can live for another 10 years. What would you do?¡± He didn¡¯t even have to think. It didn¡¯t matter what the method was. Sir Keshore responded immediately. ¡°I will give her 10 years of my life. Just let her live one more year.¡± Sir Keshore never wielded power. But he knew what his position was. He is not the Emperor¡¯s most cherished favorite*. However, he is the person the Emperor has the most confidence in. The Keshore was not loyal to the power or wealth of the Emperor. He is also not loyal to an individual named Gregor. He was loyal to the Emperor¡¯s authority. His allegiance is towards the Crown itself. A servant must be loyal to the Emperor, so he was loyal. Such people are a few among the Emperor¡¯s favorites. Sir Keshore was well aware of the Emperor¡¯s personal ws. He also felt sorry for the Empress, and he did not think it was right for the Emperor to enter Mira¡¯s house. But he was also a conservative. He thought that a stable reality would be better than throwing the world upside down, even with some injustice. Therefore, that was not a reason to be disloyal to the throne. Therefore, he was not interested in the session battles. For Sir Keshore, it was always clear what he had to do. Either way, he only had to be loyal to the Emperor. The Emperor trusted the Keshore because he knew it. That¡¯s why the trust he receives is even more important. But his loyalty would never be sustained at the cost of abandoning his child¡¯s life. He was more than willing to go to Hell for doing what he believed was right for Mielle. Whatever Artizea asked for, Sir Keshore knew it was all he could pay with. She already had more money, more power, and more than Sir Keshore could give. ¡°Don¡¯t say that.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes and spoke softly. ¡°When I was at the Rosan Manor, Lord Keshore was pretty much the only one who still tried to be a grown up for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see Lady Mielle very often for various reasons, but she was one of the few people of my age who was kind to me at the time.¡± Artizea said softly. Of course, that wasn¡¯t the real reason. Sir Keshore burst into tears. ¡°Thank you for your kind words. I haven¡¯t really done anything.¡± They both knew things wouldn¡¯t actually turn out that way. If Mielle survived, of course, Sir Keshore had to repay Artizea for her favor. But he was at leastforted a little by her kind words. Because it felt as if she was saying that this was not a matter of power, but in return for Mielle¡¯s kindness. It sounded like a reason for Mielle to live. ¡°However.¡± Artizea said quietly. ¡°You must keep it a secret.¡± ¡°Secret¡­¡­ ?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea raised her lowered eyes and said to Sir Keshore. ¡°The fact that I saved Lady Mielle. And I¡¯m not going to tell Lord Keshore how I do it.¡± ¡°But¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Sir Keshore must believe that I have not done anything dangerous to Lady Mielle. You must also keep it a secret.¡± ¡°Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°Today, I visited Lady Mielle, but it is simply a coincidence that she is getting better. Can you do that?¡± Confusion crossed Sir Keshore¡¯s face. The word magic wouldn¡¯t even be in his mind. But one thing could be certain. ¡°I can keep a secret. Lady Artizea.¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t even tell your wife. I don¡¯t think Lady Mielle herself needs to know. It¡¯s not because I don¡¯t trust the two, but because it¡¯s better if they don¡¯t know the story at all.¡± ¡°No one in the world will ever hear from my mouth anything that would threaten my daughter and her benefactor.¡± ¡°Sir Keshore is trustworthy enough. I believe you.¡± Sir Keshore¡¯s oath was heavy. Even if he doesn¡¯t offer sacrifices like the Altar of Oath or swear it on the River of Death, his oath will be kept. Artizea lowered her eyes, not wanting to show her feelings. ¡°You don¡¯t have to mention it. Could you please leave for a moment?¡± Sir Keshore hesitated for a moment. But he had already pledged to keep the secret, believing in Artizea. There was nothing that could get better if he were curious or anxious about how. Keshore left the room. As he left, Alice entered. Artizea looked around the room and ordered Alice. ¡°Draw the curtains. We have to make sure that there are no light leaks outside.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Because it was the sick person¡¯s room, there were several clean cloths. There was also a basin with clean water. Although the weather was mild, it was warm enough with a fire in the firece. Artizea took a white cotton cloth and spread it on the table. She was going to use magic. If it was Lysia, just holding her hand would have made Mielle healthy. But to Artizea, it was impossible. She took off the gloves she was wearing. She then pulled out a small knife and stabbed the tip of her left index finger. Blood was dripping down. Alice cried out in surprise when she saw it one stepter. ¡°Madam!¡± ¡ª- Note: *) Please don¡¯t get confused on ¡®most cherished favourite¡¯. The term favourite here doesn¡¯t mean the same as saying ¡®Pizza is my favourite food¡¯, but the favourite here is actually a term for a closepanion of the Emperor. The term was first used to describe Amalie Harper. Read more about it here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favourite Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Proofreader: somnium ¡°I told you I would do it.¡± ¡°This is easy.¡± Artizea said with a slight frown on her face. Each time she bled her fingers from a couple of experiments, Alice insisted that she cut her own arm instead. But Artizea also preferred to stab her own finger than to cut Alice¡¯s arm and draw her blood. She couldn¡¯t say that she had good resilience. But this is where it ends with the smallest wound. Fortunately, Artizea was good at putting up with physical pain. She went through the wounds a few times, drawing a magic circle on a cotton cloth. Artizea then stopped the wounds on her fingers. She carefully wiped the area around her wounds with a wet cotton cloth and sprayed it with a hemostatic agent. ¡°I think Evron acid hemostatic works well. I think it would be fine tomercialize it. Will it be difficult to supply and demand medicines?¡± Artizea said so and threw the cotton into the firece. The wet cloth seemed to soften the mes for a moment, and then it burned with ck smoke. ¡°This is not the time to say that. Lady, show me your finger.¡± Alice said in an upset voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay. But I must say that I have a hobby of embroidery.¡± ¡°Who has hurt her hand so much because of embroidery?¡± ¡°I told you this is the most efficient.¡± ¡°I would heal much faster.¡± ¡°You have to do water work, don¡¯t you use your hands a lot? I¡¯m better. I can just keep wearing my gloves.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous that Madam hurts your own body. What if the Master finds out?¡± ¡°Are you going to listen to Cedric more than me?¡± Alice couldn¡¯t respond to that, and bit her mouth. Artizea said softly. ¡°Only this time.¡± Alice shook her head in disbelief. ¡°Really?¡± Artizea¡¯s words were sincere, as she had no other ce for this to be used. Alice eventually shut up. Although she was concerned about Artizea, she never objected to what she said was necessary. It was because Artizea¡¯s words were always the most important. Artizea covered the magic circle over Mielle¡¯s face. Even if the fact that she brought Mielle back to life by magic is known to the temple, Artizea will not be immediately attacked by the temple. Because she is a saintess. Mielle was equally safe. But when it does, she has to tell the truth. Artizea had no intention of doing that. She ced her hand at the center of the magic circle. Fwaaaa-! A green light rose and flowed along the edge of the magic circle like a fire spreading. All magics require human vitality. However, there is usually no way to extract life force separately. At best, it was all about bleeding. However, if arge amount of blood is spilled, the magic circle drawn in blood will be crushed and the contents will be unclear. Therefore, unless it is a level of magic that emits light for less than 5 seconds, just fatigue is impossible. In fact, they had no choice but to kill people and offer them as sacrifices. However, Artizea was able to cut off her own life force and convert it to holy power. She pays a price for it, and she saves Mielle. She¡¯s already done a few experiments and she¡¯s confirmed that it¡¯s possible. She cannot heal another person, but she could prolong their life by paying the price for it with her own body instead. To put it another way, it could be viewed as the ability to bring about the target¡¯s suffering or illness. Her abilities were equal in price and reward. If she included a little bit of life force used to activate magic, the price she had to pay was slightly higher. In a way, it was also an ability that was well-suited to her oracle of ¡®return¡¯. But she didn¡¯t have any major problems. Didn¡¯t her body make up for it, there¡¯s a saying that people who have a weak body live longer to make up for the weak body? Artizea wasn¡¯t in good health, but she was never so weak that she nearly died. She lived well until she was forty years old. If she hadn¡¯t been tormented by Lawrence, she would have lived longer. Even if it was cut off by 10 years, she still has plenty of time to work. It wasn¡¯t a waste at all. If it could put Sir Keshore in her hands, it would be cheap. Her ns were long, but execution was fleeting. Even if she took off the cloth, Mielle¡¯splexion did not improve immediately. Over the next few days she will get a little better. Artizea didn¡¯t heal her, but she just put her death on hold for 10 years. Artizea wiped the blood from her fingers once more and put her gloves back on. She carried the cloth on which the magic circle was drawn into her arms. She was going to go home and burn it. She opened the curtains and windows to ventte, and when she opened the door, Sir Keshore stood with a restless face. ¡°Mielle will be fine. I¡¯m sure she will be up for the next few days.¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°In order to pray for the well-being of your daughter, Mielle, I brought the statue of Saintess Olga, which was a gift from Her Majesty the Empress. Please put it by her bedside. I had it in the carriage, so the servants should have brought it to the lobby by now.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say to thank you¡­¡­ .¡± Artizea smiled at Sir Keshore¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s a loan, so you can¡¯t say that. Lady Mielle will definitely wake up. ¡°Yes, she must be¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll just go back. Please tell your wife not to strain her body and mind with too much concern.¡± Sir Keshore followed to see Artizea out of his mansion. But he couldn¡¯t see her off to the end. It was because a maid ran out and yelled at him before Artizea got into the carriage. ¡°Sir Keshore! Sir Keshore! Pleasee this way! Thedy has opened her eyes!¡± Sir Keshore¡¯s eyes widened. Artizea whispered quietly. ¡°Go. It seems that Saintess Olga has granted a miracle.¡± Sir Keshore understood that. Although Mielle¡¯s condition is now a secret, if she woke up from her sickbed, he should have spoken to the doctor or nurse. So, in order not to spread rumors, he was meant to say that the miracle was caused by Saintess Olga. ¡°I will make a new statue of the saintess and dedicate it to the temple.¡± Sir Keshore said quickly. ¡°Sorry, I have to go.¡± Artizea said yes. Sir Keshore hurriedly turned around and ran inside. Soon through the open window came the sound of a man¡¯s wailing. Artizea set off her carriage. Alice said with a slightly moved face. ¡°Sir Keshore is a good man. My father wouldn¡¯t cry so much if he heard that I was dead.¡± ¡°If you die ande back to life, he might cry.¡± Artizea smiled faintly. She was dizzy from the anemia. As the carriage shook, she had motion sickness. She soon closed her eyes andy down on Alice¡¯sp. *** In early summer, when Artizea gave Terry Ford the camouge identity of Madam Lexen, she asked for: [If possible, try to earn the Duchess¡¯ trust. If you can be a maid, it¡¯s better, and if not, you should at least be a friend of the maid.] If she would sum it up in one word, it would be summed up as infiltrating the Riagan Duchy. It wasn¡¯t just the marriage certificate that Artizea prepared for the task. She had a small business running in the name of Madam Lexen with substantial funds for the activities. As parts of the business, there were a fairlyrge cloth merchant, a small dressing room, and threerge sericulture farms. It was only when Terry came to the south that she realized the value of the business that Artizea had handed over. The southern province was a very dangerous region because of pirates, and at the same time, it was also an area where so many goods were passed through the sea route that pirates ran wild. Other than the Eimmel Kingdom and Iantz Kingdom, there were several small kingdoms beyond the southern part of the empire. The south had a nice and free climate. In a different sense from the east, the south is a developed area of ?merce. There are norgendowners and caravans that target them like predators. There was no conservative temple or oppression by the imperial government. In the south, those with brilliant ideas worked day and night to make money. Commerce and trade moved through the south. Many foreign merchants and spies came and went to enter the huge market called the Krates Empire. There were also many tourists. Terry soon got used to handling information. Some of the information and guidelines Artizea gave her were very effective. Moreover, owning a sericulture farm at this time was treated like owning a gold mine. Because of the newly developed fabric in the Kingdom of Iantz, merchants were running aroundte trying to find quality silk thread. When they learned that Terry had recently bought a sericulture farm, they groaned with envy, how did she get such important information. Terry just said modestly that she was originally a cloth trader, so she just bought it as an investment. But people seldomly believed it. Madam Lexen was a standout figure, earning her own money at a young age and finally earning her title. The capital would say that she¡¯s a great person, but in the conservative east, she wouldn¡¯t even get into the social world, they would say that she¡¯s a nouveau riche. But in the south it was different. This gave Terry easy ess to the Duchess of Riagan. [Her Majesty the Empress is our 7th cousin once removed.] She felt that the Duchess was struggling to im the Empress as her cousin. The Duchess of Riagan tried to keep her dignity, and to be arrogant, like a high-ranking aristocrat. Unfortunately, however, it was said that her temperament did not favor her innately arrogant or egotistical side. Her entitlement was shamefully revealed on her face. The Duchess of Riagan used to speak of her own identity as if she were making excuses. And she attracted a lot of inconspicuous emerging aristocrats like Terry around her. It was because around them, with the blood of the Riagan Duchy, she could act like an old noblewoman. Anyway, it was something to be grateful for Terry. Her acquaintance with the Duchess was beneficial to her business. Traders who mainly dealt with the business of the Iantz Kingdom fabrics gathered around Terry. Terry never knew she had a business talent. Madam Lexen¡¯s business, which Artizea had arranged, could also be maintained fairly passively. However, Terry achieved significant sess in half a year. It deepened the Duchess¡¯ trust, and a virtuous circle of advantage in business. And finally, she came to the Eimmel Kingdom with a letter of introduction from the Duchess of Riagan. ¡°Madam Lexen.¡± The Queen¡¯sdy-in-waiting called in a polite voice. Terry stood up with determination. She had a wry smile on her lips. She got used to that hypocritical smile. Terry quickly got used to living as Madam Lexen. Coming here, Terry was freed from money. She was also respected by people. It was the first time Terry knew that those two could change a person¡¯s lifepletely. ¡®Enjoy the present, but don¡¯t be happy.¡¯ Don¡¯t let the resolution get buried. If shepletely bes Madam Lexen, she will not be able to function properly. She was choked when she received the envelope tightly sealed with wax, even though she had been thinking about it all along. How about just pretending not to know and continue to live as Madam Lexen? Now that you know your own talent for the first time, why not just run away and start over somewhere? But in the endless night, she would remember that she had not yet forgotten her resolution. Terry hid her tremors. She then went to see Queen Eimmel as she smiled brightly. ¡ª Note: Do you guys remember her? To jog your memory, her story appeared in Chapter 39 till Chapter 41 ! Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Proofreader: somnium Empress¡¯s Birthday Celebration Sir Keshore¡¯s return was two weeks after Mielle opened her eyes. The Emperor looked at Sir Keshore with a slightly puzzled and quite curious face. ¡°Did Mielle get up from the sick bed? Congrattions.¡± ¡°I am grateful. There is no way I can repay you for sending your precious medicine and doctor.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t really help much, it was nothing. I¡¯m so d. Congrattions.¡± Sir Keshore silently bowed his head to express his gratitude. The Emperor chuckled andughed. ¡°But it was a bit surprising.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I thought you would get some more rest. Although you say that Mielle is recovering, she hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet? I thought you were going to stay by her side until she waspletely healed.¡± ¡°Doctors say there is no cure anyway. Now, she can get up and walk aroundfortably in the mansion.¡± Said Sir Keshore. ¡°It seems ufortable with her father staying at home all day, now that her friends cane to visit her.¡± ¡°You must be sad.¡± At the Emperor¡¯s words, Sir Keshore smiled bitterly and faintly. ¡°It has been my lifelong wish for my kid to be healthy and to be able to y with her friends. I can¡¯t sincerely say no when ites to being sad, but she¡¯ll be an adult soon.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Some of her friends are already married, and it wouldn¡¯t be good for her parents to keep looking after her and keep nagging.¡± ¡°You are old enough.¡± The Emperor shook his head. ¡°I still thought you might retire. It would be better for Mielle¡¯s health to go to the east or the south for treatment rather than the bustling capital city.¡± ¡°I am thinking about it. I can¡¯t repay Your Majesty¡¯s grace, but it may be better..¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only natural that you are more worried about Mielle than me.¡± Noticing the mischief mixed in the Emperor¡¯s words, the servants held their breath and bowed their heads. Formally, it could be said that parental love takes precedence, but in reality, it implies that the love of children takes precedence over loyalty. But Sir Keshore lowered his head knowingly and calmly. He had never sumbed to such a prank-like test from the Emperor. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s grace that I can take care of my daughter.¡± ¡°Well. Since you are such a person, Tia must have gone to visit her, even lending Saintess Olga¡¯s statue.¡± Again, the king knew everything. As expected, Sir Keshore answered with his head slightly bowed so that a bitter smile would not be noticed. ¡°I decided to make a new statue of Saintess Olga with gold and precious stones, engraved with the prayer for the health of Artizea and my daughter and dedicate it to the temple.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like a miracle of healing, but ¡­.¡­ I think there may have been a little bit of a blessing.¡± Sir Keshore said in a low voice. ¡°I really hope that the statue of the saintess retains its protection. It is also a meaningful way to thank Artizea for her kindness.¡± Even if he lied, it wouldn¡¯t work with the Emperor. It was clear that Artizea had lent Mielle the wedding gift from the Empress, not because of their friendship, but because of Sir Keshore¡¯s status. So Sir Keshore drew the line. He thanked God for the miraculous awakening of his daughter, and prayed to God for the person who granted the opportunity for the miracle. It fits well, and it doesn¡¯t go too far. Dedicating a golden statue of a saintess to the temple and putting Artizea¡¯s name at the same time could be an indirect bribe sent on behalf of Artizea to the temple. The Emperor lowered his eyelids in a thoughtful manner for a moment. Even Sir Keshore would know that. The Emperor thought it was a proper reward, even if it was that much. Anyway, there was nothing wrong with paying a bribe to the temple. Artizea took charge of the Western Rebirth project. It is a task that can be done smoothly only with the support of the employees. At the same time as he is expressing his gratitude for her, he also sets a limit of his help to only indirect means. The Emperor immediately smiled and looked at Sir Keshore. ¡°Right. But it will be a bit of a financial burden on you, the Golden Saintess statue.¡± ¡°Mielle woke up, why would that be a problem? If Saintess Olga¡¯s statue really does work the miracle and cures her, I will dly dedicate all my fortunes and enter the monastery with bare feet.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that. Shouldn¡¯t you leave your wife and child something to live on?¡± The Emperorughed as he joked. And he had the servant bring two gold bars. ¡°Before you go barefoot, I need to give you some congrattory gifts. Use it in addition to your wealth in order to make a new statue of the saintess.¡± ¡°Your generosity is immeasurable.¡± Sir Keshore knelt down on his knees and politely epted it with both hands. *** The Empress¡¯s birthday party was prepared step by step without any hindrance. The location was decided to be the Luminous Hall. The three-story building in front of the Imperial Pce was small but very dignified and beautiful. It was the first part of the Imperial Pce, built in the early days of the empire, and now only the most important events were held there. Such things as coronation ceremonies, ceremonies for the crown prince, national marriage, funeral ceremonies, and triumph ceremonies. Other than that, handing out almanacs on New Year¡¯s Eve envoys to each country every year, and the ordination ceremony of knights were held in the Luminous Hall ording to the customs. Even the Emperor¡¯s birthday party did not use the Luminous Hall unless it was also a special asion tomemorate. However, the Emperor did not prevent the opening of the Luminous Hall as excessive. This is because he had no justification to pressure the Empress who opened her pce after 18 years. It was even more so because the Empress was in a tug of war with Lawrence. To oppressing his wife for the sake of his beloved illegitimate son and doing it for his mistress arepletely different things. Artizea carefully selected everything from the decoration of the banquet hall to the Empress¡¯ clothes and ornaments. Since it was the season of uncertain weather, both the furnace and ice were prepared in case it was cold or hot. Luxurious gifts piled up like a mountain. The Iantz Kingdom decided to postpone the release of the new fabric until that day. It was chosen to be used as the Empress¡¯ birthday celebratory dress, and it could even be said that it was the day the Empress practically took off her mourning robe for the first time in 18 years. It was the perfect ce for the debut New, beautiful, and expensive are always popr. There was no greater publicity than the fact that the Empress made her new dress out of it and went to the Luminous Hall. Everydy with money gets new clothes made. Because it is against the proper manners, even if you cannot acquire clothes, small items such as fans and gloves would be fine. Men were no exception. A colorful fabric that shines like a jewel can be used as a handkerchief or as a decoration for a cor. You can make a shirt or cravat with a simple fabric that is soft and shiny. However, the Empress¡¯ dressing room vehemently refused. The youngdies Artizea had gathered were thorough in this matter. And their parents also helped with the work, regardless of the faction. With much effort, their daughters were given an important job in the Empress¡¯ pce, and there was no need to upset the Empress over clothes or essories. The opponent was an older Empress who had the same authority as the Crown Prince. Moreover, it would not bemon for clothes to have such deep meaning as this time. Even Grand Duchess Roygar said with a slightly jealous expression, ¡°I wanted to wear it, too.¡± Of course, not everyone was unwilling topete for power with the Empress. ¡°Is it unreasonable to ask you to bring some more fabrics, at most? Clink! Mira threw the teacup. Fortunately, no one was hit head-on by the teacup. But hot water was sprinkled everywhere. An apprentice seamstress, tea-drenched on her thighs, sat down screaming. The maid and the seamstress were frightened and fell to their knees. There were by no means a fewdies who yed the devil¡¯s advocate in the dressing room. If you look at what they do to the mansion maid and the dressing room staff, there have been times when it was so severe that it was hard to believe that they were the same person as someone who was rumored to be elegant and ssy. Mira was the worst among them. She was extremely moody. When she liked the clothes, she even bought mother-of-pearl buttons one by one, down to the maid at the end. However, when there was something she didn¡¯t like, she tore up all the fabrics on disy and cut off other people¡¯s hair. So, when Mira came, everyone was scurrying to hide needles and cutting scissors. Madame Emily quickly motioned for her burnt seamstress toe quickly. As the face of the new male apprenticeplied, she gave an exnation, hoping that it might help Mira quell her wrath in the slightest. But it seemed like she couldn¡¯t stand it. ¡°I am sorry, Dowager Marchioness Rosan. However, the Empress Pce is not the problem, the Iantz Kingdom does not provide the supply.¡± ¡°How could you ask me to do something about it? Who am I? You mean to say that I can¡¯t wear a single piece of clothing? I said I would give you the money!¡± Mira yelled at her. Emily spoke as if she was a sinner. ¡°From the beginning, the Iantz didn¡¯t send me enough fabric toplete any dress until it was first released. At most, we only got one handkerchief as a sample.¡± ¡°Are you ignoring me now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted other dressing rooms and fabric dealers. If you want, I can make it by using it on the chest side of the dress or part of the skirt.¡± Emily said in a trembling voice. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful enough to do that. If you put it on the cor, it¡¯s so bright that you don¡¯t have to wear a jewel ne¡­¡­.¡± Mira must have been much more beautiful than the old Empress wearing all new fabrics. But it was unlikely that Mira would calm down if she said so. Because she is not trying topete with the Empress for beauty. She was so frightened that she could not even bring out the name of the Empress. ¡°Emily, are you making fun of me now?¡± Mira roared at her in a sharp voice and stomped her feet. ¡°Who do you think I am?¡± She was on the verge of going crazy in anger. She heard yesterday that Lawrence made two jewels cut into the shape of petals and dedicated them to the Emperor and the Empress respectively. And the fact that Artizea ordered it. Mira ran out in anger and ran to Lawrence¡¯s mansion on Sabellin Street. But Lawrence never even met her. Lawrence¡¯s butler gave a dismissal order in an embarrassing yet respectful manner. [¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dowager, the master is very busy these days. If you go back and have a quiet stay at the Rosan mansion, he will visit you when he has time.¡±] Mira had no one toin to. Artizea, who protects her no matter what, is no longer at home. Grand Duchy¡¯s servants never told Artizea that Mira had visited. Mira didn¡¯t even hear the dismissal order from the butler in that house. Because the knights in front of the gate pointed their sword and told her to go back. She couldn¡¯t even speak to the Emperor. But if Lawrence really does go wrong, then whom should she depend her life on? Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Proofreader: somnium Mira turned over the entire dressing room and made sure there was no new fabric before she left. Fortunately, there were no more injured workers. Emily hasn¡¯t been experiencing this just once or twice. As soon as she realized it was impossible for her to calm Mira, she gave her everything she wanted. Mira has overturned all the clothes drawers and even the bins for storing all sorts of things. When Mira finally left the store like a storm had passed, it was as if she had been carrying a gang of thieves. ¡°Sigh, really, that¡¯s awful, the Dowager.¡± One of the employees said in a tired voice. Wondering how long it would take to put this all together. Emily said in a low voice. ¡°Still, not many people were injured, so you should think of it as a good thing. It¡¯s not the first time it¡¯s happened.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really too much. What kind of ves are we? Her daughter, Grand Duchess Evron, is a decent person.¡± ¡°The Dowager, it can¡¯t be helped.¡± Emily didn¡¯t want to sympathize with Mira, but she still had to say so. The chief seamstress under Emily sighed. ¡°It reminds me of the past. Previously, the Dowager had humiliated Her Majesty with her clothes.¡± ¡°How?¡± The younger worker asked with eyes wide open. ¡°That must have been 25 years ago. It was before Sir Lawrence was born. For the ball, which Her Majesty attended, she went in with five courtesans, all dressed in identical clothes with thedies-in-waiting. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s bold.¡± ¡°And she herself wore luxurious clothes simr to the Empress¡¯ clothes, but much more expensive.¡± ¡°If the Dowager Marchioness Rosan wears clothes simr to that of Her Majesty the Empress, and stands in the same room¡­.¡± The worker said, ¡°Wow¡±. Emily let out a sigh. ¡°The Empress is no ordinary woman, and she ripped off the clothes of the courtesans on the spot, leaving only her underwear behind.¡± ¡°And the Dowager Marchioness Rosan? I guess His Majesty the Emperor wasn¡¯t present.¡± ¡°Even in the absence of His Majesty the Emperor, she is still the Marchioness of Rosan, if you do that, the Marquisate of Rosan will have a problem. Instead, Viscountess Pescher took a knife and tore her skirt.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh.¡± The employees sighed. Emily said sadly. ¡°They said no red flower stays red for ten days*, who would have imagined that it would be like this justst year?¡± ¡°I know, right? I think it was just yesterday that I first went to tailor the clothes for Her Grace, Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°You reap what you sow. I¡¯m not sorry at all. How much of a horrible mother must she be that both of her son and daughter would abandon their mother?¡± One of the workers said sulking. ¡°When are you going to put all this away?¡± ¡°I hope you get used to it.¡± The chief designermented. ¡°The Dowager Marchioness of Rosan is exceptional, but she¡¯s not the only one.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a break and clean up.¡± Emily sighed and lowered her head. *** Mira sat in the carriage and closed her eyes. After she poured out her anger and exploded all fury at once, it now seemed rather chilly and empty in her stomach. Mira lowered her head. Then tears fell. She would go into a state of extreme anger or agitation, and then she would go into depression again and again. But she had never in thest few decades shed tears at any time every day like in the past few months. More often than not, Mira was not even conscious of the tears flowing. She thought her tears had long since dried up. She was very tired. She couldn¡¯t even understand what made her so angry. Emily couldn¡¯t have gotten it no matter how talented she was, as she said the Iantz Kingdom wouldn¡¯t supply the fabric. It was clear that she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to get it even if she talked directly to the owner of therge cloth merchant. And what does it mean for her to get the fabric and make the most beautiful dress in the world? Even Mira knew that. Even if she held a more morous and grander banquet at the pce on the same day as the Empress¡¯ birthday celebration, it wouldn¡¯t make much sense for her to be the main character. After Lawrence grew up, Mira had never received a birthday present. It was only when he was very young that he brought things such as flowers. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he himself hadn¡¯t prepared the gift as the tutor took care of it. Does she really know her own birthday? She would only have known when the Emperor gave her a birthday present or threw a party. ¡®Bad boy.¡¯ Lawrence was the only thing Mira had brought out into the world to be praised as valuable. But instead of being proud, she always felt sorry for Lawrence. She was sorry that she gave birth to the Emperor¡¯s son but not a Prince. She was sorry that she gave birth to an indecent body. Of course, he is a precious body that should be the crowned prince, but she was sorry that she couldn¡¯t do it because she had ws. She wanted to raise him well. She loved him. So he could do anything. She didn¡¯t ask him to do anything he disliked, she let him do whatever he liked. She could give it even if it cost her life. Mira could do anything to restore Lawrence¡¯s original and proper rights that he should have. She thought Lawrence would recognize that feeling, too. ¡®They said there was no use in raising a son.¡¯ Still, she knew that only Lawrence was different. Mira leaned her exhausted neck back. The frightened maid looked at her fidgety. And she asked in a voice as low as a mosquito. ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Where¡­¡­ Would you like to go?¡± The coachman was too cautious to ask. So the carriage stood still for a long time. Mira thought with an empty mind. Will she go to the Imperial Pce? But she had nothing to do there. Those in power who had been with Mira moved around Lawrence, following the natural course. And now that Lawrence has turned his back on her, a proper line was drawn for Mira, now courteous servants and courtdy. Come to think of it, they¡¯ve never been on Mira¡¯s side. They were merely a force to defend the Emperor¡¯s favorite son. The Emperor would wee her, but meeting him didn¡¯t make much difference. Even if she was treated badly in the dressing room, the Emperor would only talk aboutforting her with empty words or asking if he would pay for the dressing room. The Emperor was well acquainted with the petty battles for power through clothes and essories. But after he established authority as Emperor, he pretended not to know. This is because it is a fight that has to be fought in order to be seen by the Emperor, and it is not something that the Emperor can interfere with. Mira had few friends who could truly be called friends. It was not that there was no one by her side. But for the most part, they were just a bunch of ttering people. And as they had wanted toe to Mira¡¯s banquet not so long ago, they were wondering if they could get a good position at the Empress¡¯ birthday party this time. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± In the end, it was the only ce to go. Mira returned to the Rosan mansion with a hellish mood. ¡°Wee back, how have you been?¡± The butler politely bowed his head. Mira waved her hand roughly. She wanted to take off her makeup and rest. Had it been the dead Bill, he would have noticed that Mira was in a bad mood. He would have been able to rx her mind by talking to her friendlily, ttering her, and preparing things to make her feel better. But this butler didn¡¯t. As a butler, he did what he had to do and was asked to do perfectly, but he never took the initiative to do what he was not told to do. There was no such thing as talking without purpose. The job went wlessly. The mansion has been perfectly maintained. The house was more pleasant and beautiful than it had been in Bill¡¯s management. But Mira thought the butler was like a housekeeping machine. And she thought that her entitlement would be ignored because this man despised her. The reason she didn¡¯t change him was because it was the Emperor¡¯s attendant who sent the butler. She also had reasons to find him difficult to trust. Mira was now tired and struggling to find andpare people as actively as she did in her youth. Mira thinks that these days this house is no different from the house she lived in when she was a child. The house was a mansion with a long history. However, as there was no employee, weeds grew up to the thighs in the garden, and thieves ripped up the wallpaper, making it a waste of money. The butler said. ¡°You have a guest.¡± ¡°Guest?¡± Mira tilted her head because no one was supposed toe. ¡°Belmond Family¡¯s Hazel.¡± ¡°The Lady?¡± The Belmond family knew Mira. The Belmond family had a total of three newspapers, and several other magazines that Mira was not familiar with. Belmond Coffee House was famous as a gathering ce for the capital¡¯s intellectuals. Chancellor Lin asionally contributed columns to the Belmond newspaper. On the other hand, even the most sensational scandal sheet in the capital belonged to the Belmond family. Yellow Belmond used to bring vivid descriptions of Mira¡¯s worn heels or the decorations on her head. Even Mira saw Yellow Belmond. There were times when she burst into anger at some content and turned the newspaper upside down, and on other days, deliberately threw out articles at them. She wears a wide-brimmed hat to make portraits easier, and she once sat for a long time on the balcony of a salon. The Emperor¡¯s government and gossip were in a symbiotic rtionship. When Lawrence got to read it, he drew a line to keep it from being too harsh. However, in any case, if it was the daughter of the Belmond family, she would have been a well-bred daughter of a wealthy family, even if she was not a noble of a traditional family. Even though she was young, Mira doesn¡¯t know why she came to see her. If it were the Lady, she wouldn¡¯t have met the Belmond familydy one on one. If it¡¯s Mrs. Belmond, she doesn¡¯t know. Especially when she is in such a sad mood. But Mira decided to meet Hazel. Because she thought Hazel might have been sent by Artizea. Even Mira knew that the daughters of influential families were helping to prepare for the Empress¡¯ birthday party. When she entered the parlor, Hazel jumped to her feet. And she politely bowed her head. ¡°Thank you for meeting me, Dowager Marchioness Rosan. My name is Hazel.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so polite.¡± Mira motioned for her to sit down. Hazel expressed her gratitude with a tense attitude and sat down. Hazel had no feelings for Mira. Mira may not remember, but it was she who was beaten by Mira a few times as she protected Artizea. However, Hazel was the kind of person who could put it aside when she was curious about things. ¡°Thank you for meeting me despite my sudden visit. It may be rude to visit today, but I have something to ask Dowager.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°May I know where the necromancer, whom Dowager had been keeping a guest for a while, went?¡± At Hazel¡¯s question, Mira bit her mouth. ¡ª Note: *) No flower stays red for 10 days (?????): The Chinese version was ¡®there is no person that has 1,000 good days in a row and no flower stays red for 100 days¡¯. The proverb means that nothing goodsts forever, all good things muste to an end. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Proofreader: somnium It had been a little over a month since Rye, the necromancer, had left. The butler said Rye was a scammer. When he left, he scraped all the money he could get his hand on. Not only did he take a bribe and solicit Mira, he demanded arge sum from the butler in return for leaving. But Mira didn¡¯t feel betrayed by him somehow. If Rye wanted to, he could raise more money, saying he would perform a ritual to prevent curses or make something like an evil-spirit-warding amulet. Had he been a real con artist, he would have even stolen the belongings of this mansion when he disappeared. The butler said that Rye had run away, but in reality, Mira bid farewell to him. He confessed everything to Mira. [¡°I am a swindler, Dowager.¡±] [¡°But Master makes the light, and the seance¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°It was magic, not necromancy.¡±] Rye said so, and he even demonstrated his magic to Mira. [¡°Sorry. I have been making ends meet, but I couldn¡¯t stop mid way, so it ended up like this.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°But Dowager, there are no evil spirits. I¡¯m just a scammer. So you don¡¯t have to be afraid. Only people can curse people.¡±] He said so. Mira came up with more of what she wanted to ask him the next morning, but he had already packed up and disappeared. The butler said that if Mira wanted him, he would pursue and capture Rye. Mira told him not to. In retrospect, he seemed to have pitied her rather than wanted her money. He was also one of the few men who, despite giving him a chance, didn¡¯t rush to Mira. Mira thought he was a human being. However, she was well aware that, regardless of how she felt, people would gossip about her being deceived. When Artizea returned, the story of the war situation of Evron Grand Duchy, the western rebirth project, and the Empress¡¯ birthday party swept the social circles one after another and buried the rumors. Otherwise, it would still be quite a ridicule. So Mira looked at Hazel with displeased eyes. ¡°What do you want to ask, Lady? I know the rumors that I have been scammed have spread. Are you trying to mock me now? You dare?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dowager. How could I have such an intention?¡± Hazel hastily apologized. It was because the politeness had disappeared from Mira¡¯s soaring tone. Even if Mira¡¯s prestige wasn¡¯t what it used to be, it didn¡¯t change the fact that she was the Emperor¡¯s favorite woman. The fact that one was not the same as they used to be is a story that only applies to those in power, those who control the political world. It was irrelevant to a young girl who was at the end of a social circle like Hazel. It is true that Hazel¡¯s parents own a newspaper, but Mira¡¯s original reputation was not good and she was a gossip person, so that was no way to protect Hazel. ¡°I just want to meet the necromancer once.¡± Hazel said cautiously. ¡°Have you ever heard of Mielle of the Keshore family?¡± ¡°You mean the girl who worries her parents because of her frailty?¡± ¡°Yes! You know.¡± Mira trembled. What she expected was news about the Empress¡¯ birthday celebration or Artizea. She had seen Sir Keshore often, but he was not friendly, and she had no interest in his daughter. Come to think of it, Artizea seemed to have gone to see her from time to time. ¡°Mielle has been very ill for a while. I didn¡¯t know because Sir Keshore didn¡¯t tell me, but it seems he was thinking of the worst.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Her consciousness returned on the day that Her Grace Grand Duchess Evron lent her Saintess Olga¡¯s statue. She is now fully recovered.¡± Mira wrinkled her eyes. She did not want to hear the story of Saintess Olga, which the Empress had given Artizea as a gift. However, she was curious about Artizea¡¯s current status. In aplicated mood, Mira listened to Hazel¡¯s story until the end. ¡°It is said that Saintess Olga¡¯s statue has already lost its holy miracle of healing. But, ording to the priest, even if such a relic had lost its power, it would still harbor divine energy. so¡­¡­ Me and Mielle thought about it.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°We once had a seance ritual. We invited the necromancer, whom Dowager had received as your guest. Her consciousness was lost during the ritual, so I wondered if Mielle was sick because of it¡­¡­. So, I wonder if she could have recovered just by having the Saintess Olga statue by her side.¡± The priest said that Mielle¡¯s body actually had divine energy. Even though the healing powers have disappeared from Saintess Olga statue, the powerful protection must remain, the temple announced with great joy. These days, Mielle¡¯s room is filled with flowers sent to be dedicated to the statue of the Saintess in addition to the flowers from the visit. Without saying anything, Hazelughed at herself as if it was ridiculous. She couldn¡¯t tell her parents. Because it was obvious that she would be scolded for believing in such a foolish superstition. So Hazel consulted Artizea. She believed Artizea could give her wise advice. When talking to Artizea, Hazel used to feel like she was being educated by talking to her mother or some other wisedy, rather than a girl her age. [¡°If that was the case, I would be very sorry. Mielle tells me that it was something she did because she was curious too, but if I hadn¡¯t been sulking, she wouldn¡¯t have been interested.¡±] [¡°Does Lady Hezel believe in necromancy?¡±] [¡°No. No, it¡¯s strange to say this while also feeling anxious, but I never believed in such a thing. It is impossible to summon the souls of the dead to prophesy or to influence the future.¡±] [¡°I see.¡±] [¡°But Mielle is so weak that she may have been affected by the bad energy, so she was ill and got better when the protection of the statue came near. Ah, yes, I guess I¡¯m a little bit trusting.¡±] Hazel was startled by her new discovery. [¡°Then check it out.¡±] [¡°Are you sure?¡±] [¡°Maybe, there must be a reason why you thought about it, right?¡±] Artizea said softly. [¡°Once you meet the necromancer and check it out, it will be clear whether the reason is grounded or just an illusion.¡±] [¡°However¡­¡­.¡±] Hazel hesitated though. [¡°If you pay a reasonable amount, he will probably tell you the truth. He has already made it difficult to work in the capital.¡±] [¡°He must be a scammer anyway.¡±] [¡°Have you ever written an article about that necromancer before?¡±] [¡°Ah yes. In the end, Belmond magazine didn¡¯t publish it.¡±] Hazel was startled. She wrote the article, but she didn¡¯t quiteplete it. She didn¡¯t finish it because she couldn¡¯t even get it published in Yellow Belmond, and she wrote in a very small gossip magazine. She didn¡¯t think that Artizea would know. [¡°Think of it as a follow-up article, so find out.¡±] [¡°A follow up article?¡±] [¡°It means that you need to know enough about it. It would be great if all the deceptions could be disclosed, and even if not, just by revealing the evidence whether it is a scam or not, it will solve many people¡¯s questions.¡±] Artizea said so. [¡°I think that will helpdy gain peace of mind. You want to make sure that Mielle¡¯s illness has nothing to do with it.¡±] So Hazel came here. It would be best if Mira knew the necromancer¡¯s whereabouts. If she doesn¡¯t, she may know a story that might help. Because she made him stay the longest. Hazel didn¡¯t notice it at all, but this was the reason Artizea had summoned her in the first ce and kept Hazel close to her. She had been nning since she learned that Hazel had written an article about the necromancer. She thus intended to persuade Hazel to visit Mira. With that in mind, she wanted Mira to remember once more of what Rye had said to her. It was a coincidence that Hazel first sought her opinion because of Mielle¡¯s incident. Thanks to that, the situation became more natural. Mira¡¯s face contorted slightly. It couldn¡¯t have been more pleasant to say with her own mouth that she was deceived. ¡°He is¡­¡­ He is not a necromancer.¡± ¡°Then what was that light magic trick? Did Dowager see it too?¡± ¡°He said it was magic.¡± Mira said with a cold attitude. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where he went. I didn¡¯t even ask to find out, is that Lady¡¯s only business?¡± ¡°Yes. However¡­¡­ .¡± Hazel had more questions, but Mira waved her hand. ¡°Okay then. Go somewhere else and find out.¡± Mira exhaled in a quick tone and stood up. Hazel followed her and stood up. Mira came out of the parlor without even looking at her. She was expecting a story that would make her feel better, but she got none of that. The butler followed and asked. ¡°Shall I send the Lady back?¡± ¡°Tell her to go home. And¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mira stared for a moment at the butler waiting for her order, then exhaled. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± What¡¯s better: trampling on Emily¡¯s dressing room or messing around with Hazel? Her willpower, which had risen for a moment, dried up again, and it was so painful that it rippled to the depths of her head. Mira dragged her legs and tried to go up to the bedroom, but she remembered Rye¡¯s words once more. [¡°The soul has no power to curse people, Dowager. It is people who curse people.¡±] Rye is not a necromancer. So there was no guarantee that he was right when speaking of the soul. But for some reason, Mira believed it. It seemed that a person seemed to be cursing her, not an evil spirit. ¡®I too?¡¯ Can I curse? [¡°Anyone can use magic if they know how. You can write what you want in blood and pour life into it. Magic cast with blood only shines for a short time like this.¡±] But if you sacrifice a person, nothing is impossible. Mira looked down at her hand nkly. A sudden thought popped into her mind. Couldn¡¯t she curse the Empress with magic? She only needs the Empress to disappear. Then everything will be back to normal. It¡¯s just difficult, but not impossible. She felt an instinctive sense of rejection and fear. But she had already crossed the line once. Compared to that, the curse was nothing. Who would believe it if she said she killed a person with a curse. All you need is an ancientnguage and an offering that can urately pay for the content. And the Marquisate of Rosan is an old family. Many of the books collected in the library were still in ancientnguages. She remembered when Artizea used to bring books that smelled like dust and said she could read it. If there is a sentence that can be copied, it would be good, and even if not, it would still be helpful. Even so the words to curse the Empress can¡¯t be obtained anywhere in a straight-forward sentence. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Proofreader: somnium It was the day of the Empress¡¯ birthday party. The Luminous Hall was open from dawn. Dozens of spring flowers have been put in. The Luminous Hall is a 100-year-old building, so no matter how much you polish and decorate it, you can hardly create a bright atmosphere. This is because it was an early building unlike the luxurious main pce built of marble at the height of the empire. The dark gray stone had worn out. However, it was not easy to erase the old feeling of the building itself. So thedies preparing for the banquet decided to bury the entire hall with flowers. It was around the time when the spring flowers were blooming. In the afternoon, guests began to arrive. The first toe were the low-ranking aristocrats, who would not have easy ess to a seat in the lounge, and themoners who had received invitations from somewhere. Even amoner is not entirely of low status. Most of them are members of a noble family but have not inherited the title for more than two generations and are no longer included in the nobility yearbook, and those who newly enter the social world based on their own wealth. These people were more likely to not be able toe in at a time when people were rushing in even if they had an invitation. So they were early. The second to arrive were nobles with their own status. There are two categories here. First of all, there are those who have a long family, but their own reputation does not reach that of the family. Most of the nobles belonged to this ss. Although they lost their political influence, the social world still recognized them. Conversely, there were also emerging aristocrats who had a high personal reputation, but did not yet have anything worthy of being called a family. They were mainly government officials or those who proved their abilities by establishing a major. Artizea grouped the intellectuals selected through Hazel into this group. Most of the new aristocrats were already familiar and acquainted with each other, so she thought that they could easily mix with each other. The third to arrive were the great aristocrats. These are the real powers that govern imperial politics. The Roygar Grand Ducal couple were also among them. But it was not the great nobles who received the most important invitation. The Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting and their family were the ones who remained unchanging friends despite her living in exile for 18 years. Among them, there were those who lost most of their titles and assets and were on the verge of copse. This was especially true of the friends and acquaintances from the days when the Empress was in the southern Duchy of Riagan. Others havepletely refused to join the social circles led by the new Duke and Duchess of Riagan. In such a case, there were cases where he became a nobleman who was really only a phantom. Artizea found them and brought them up from the South. It was not easy to find a person and bring them to the capital in a short time. There were some people who arrived just yesterday and could not even get rid of their fatigue and came to the banquet. But they managed to make it on time. The Empress heard the news of the guests arriving from the Tuvalet room with herdies-in-waiting. None of the guests were greeted. Artizea, even herdy-in-waiting, could not be summoned. ¡°Tia cared a lot.¡± Sitting in front of the mirror to put on her makeup, the Empress said so. The Empress only found out today what kind of guests had been invited. Because she didn¡¯t like revisiting political issues, she left it to Artizea. The supervision was given to Countess Martha. After that she only heard reports that there was no problem. Countess Martha bowed her head as if in a dreary state. ¡°She might not find anyone, so I couldn¡¯t tell you in advance.¡± ¡°No. I know it¡¯s because you want to please me.¡± The Empress smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s a surprise party, it¡¯s the first time since I got married.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± All herdies-in-waiting smiled. The thought of meeting the friendly people brought a smile to the Empress¡¯ lips as well. Today is a big banquet, so it will be difficult to meet them one by one and reminisce. But there is plenty of time. It¡¯s different now than it was 18 years ago. The Empress had long since left politics, and her friends and acquaintances also lost power. She can use public opinion and Lawrence as shields. She wouldn¡¯t want the Emperor to check in or suppress her again. At first, the Empress was reluctant to hold such arge banquet. But she thought it would be good to give Artizea a day or two of running about. ¡°Make it nice. Make myplexion look good.¡± Said the Empress. Thedy-in-waiting who was just about to smear powder on her face was startled.. The Empress also wore mourning clothes, but she never wore makeup. She decided to take off her mourning clothes for her birthday celebration, but thedy-in-waiting never expected her to say that. The Empress said ¡°Meantime¡­¡­ I want to show that I have been well and healthy.¡± The opponent is not the Emperor, nor the enemies of the past. She didn¡¯t mean to insist strongly that no matter how painful she was, she was fine. She wanted to show her old friends and vassals who kept their faith until the end. So far she¡¯s been fine, so let¡¯s get better together in the future. *** The Emperor¡¯s visit was after the Empress had almost finished dressing up. When the servant announced the visitor¡¯s identity, the servants apologized and did not know what to do. The Empress ordered Countess Martha to go away with thedies-in-waiting. The Emperor came alone, without anyone. The Empress sat facing her reflection in the mirror without looking back. It¡¯s been 18 years since she had dressed up and makeup done. Meanwhile, she aged quite a bit. Now, there was nothing left like the thought of wanting to look pretty to someone. However, when she looked in the mirror again, she felt the passage of time and was in vain. The Emperor seemed to have felt the same way. ¡°It reminds me of the old days when you sat like that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say useless things. Only the winners can talk about the past like memories. I am a loser.¡± The Empress spoke dryly and looked at the Emperor through the mirror. It was their first meeting since Artizea and Cedric¡¯s wedding. It was the first time in 18 years that the two of them met in a private ce. Between the first prince, the Emperor¡¯s illegitimate child and the Empress¡¯ adopted son, and the only daughter of the Riagan Duchy, love has always been a secondary issue. In their youth, they regarded each other as reliable allies. No passion was needed. The Empress knew. A two-person doing a three-legged race is not always able to move as one body. The family could be at odds with the Emperor. There was also the possibility of political friction. She also thought that there would be room for dispute over the issue of children. Nevertheless, she thought she could count on him as a lifelong partner. The Empress knew now that she was the only one who had ever thought so. She gave the Emperor a bitter smile. ¡°You are cold, Catherine.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯te here to reconcile with you.¡± ¡°I know. Tia must have a n. You¡¯re just going to be ying along with the beat.¡± Said the Emperor. ¡°I can¡¯t understand why you would put a child other than ours on the throne.¡± Kuaduk. The Empress grabbed the pearl bracelet she had picked up, tightly. The opal and pearl stuck in the middle scratched and ruined. The Emperor smiled faintly and took a step closer to the Empress. But after a reasonable distance, he stopped and paused a few times. ¡°You seem to have misunderstood what I did, but I feel the same way.¡± ¡°Gregor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the first time I¡¯vemented how great it would have been if my child had been alive.¡± Said the Emperor. It was a sincere voice that was never heard by anyone anymore. But the Empress was not agitated. She didn¡¯t show any sentimental feelings about it. The Emperor¡¯s sincerity cannot be trusted. She believed in that person¡¯s sincerity at one time in the past, and the Empress knew it well enough that he had revealed his true heart. The Empress said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t put my child in that mouth. And I don¡¯t care if Lawrence is good or bad. Now, I don¡¯t even care about anything like Mira anymore.¡± ¡°Catherine.¡± ¡°If I had the heart to do that, I would have just killed her.¡± ¡°Is it because of Tia then?¡± The Emperor asked. ¡°What are you going to do with Cedric?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your side that¡¯s trying to use Cedric.¡± The Empress replied ¡°Not many people remember that now, but you hated the Evron Grand Duchy. Not only poor Cedric¡¯s mother, but also his father. If you have an upright person next to you, it¡¯s easy to see that you¡¯re a worm-infested tree.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you think Lawrence would be different?¡± The Emperorughed bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s strange. I knew it¡¯s better to leave himpletely stomped on.¡± ¡°And now you feel unsettled.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you at this age as well? These days, when I wake up in the morning, my hands and feet are tingling, so it takes me a while to get out of bed. That¡¯s why I sometimes feel like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Gregor.¡± ¡°If a reportes in at night due to an emergency, it will take some time just to get up and go out to receive the report, and it will take longer to make the right decision. Then one day I will not be able to get up.¡± ¡°Because man cannot live forever.¡± ¡°Exactly. I couldn¡¯t ignore it.¡± The Emperor walked slowly and approached the Empress. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m at this age. Affection, loyalty, and blood are all in vain. In the end, the only thing you can count on is someone with the right rtionship and good character. So I understand that you want to entrust the rest of your life to Cedric and his wife.¡± ¡°Are you entrusting the empire to a trusted subject, holding power ordingly, and giving it as inheritance to those who want it? It¡¯s only possible when Lawrence is a vessel that can hold Cedric.¡± The Emperor did not readily answer. It was as the Empress had said. Lawrence wasn¡¯t like that. If you embrace Evron with an open mind, you can stop worrying about borders. Words cannot describe the value of a servant who can be trusted with sincerity, nor the value of a servant who is not afraid to drop his neck and can advise. But in reality, even the Emperor Gregor, himself, couldn¡¯t do it. Cedric¡¯s bound by blood and soul, so will he be trustworthy? It was also something the Emperor could not do. Wasn¡¯t the Emperor himself the one responsible for purging his own half-sister and her husband, Grand Duke Evron? The Empress looked back at him and grinned. ¡°It¡¯s only natural that you don¡¯t have anyone you can trust.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯te out of the Empress¡¯ pce to forgive you. Even if I knew that my hatred had no power, I would hate you until the day I died. And there will be not just one or two people like me.¡± ¡°Catherine.¡± ¡°I can say that everything is useless because you are the one who bought the grudge. I am not the only one who¡¯s bitter.¡± The Emperor opened his mouth, but he couldn¡¯t easily answer them. A loud knock was heard. The Emperor let out a long breath. And he said, ¡°Come in.¡± It was Artizea. Then there was Lawrence. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Proofreader: somnium Artizea bowed in surprise at the sight of the Emperor. The youngdies who followed Artizea also knelt on their knees in unison. ¡°With all due respect, I did not know that His Majesty the Emperor was here.¡± Lawrence bowed his head and greeted. ¡°You¡¯re here, Father?¡± ¡°Is it already time?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lawrence hesitated a little. Today he was supposed to be the escort of the Empress. It was because it was unclear whether the Emperor would attend today. If he escorts the Empress at the birthday celebration, he will be acting as her son. Even if he does not officially enter the household, it shows that he has an extremely high chance of bing the Empress¡¯ adopted son. Then the opportunity woulde to have a proper conversation with the Empress. However, if the Emperor was present, the escort was, of course, the Emperor¡¯s role. Instead of the hesitating Lawrence, Artizea beckoned to Sk. Sk opened the lid of the ebony box she was holding. A scarlet jeweled crown appeared inside. ¡°Great.¡± Said the Emperor. The Emperor knew that these crowns were made in pairs. But he didn¡¯t bother to ask where the other one was. It was because he wondered what Artizea would say. If the Emperor went out without wearing the crown while the Empress does, all preparations would have been lost. The reason why the Emperor suddenly came without announcing the news was also out of curiosity. Would Artizea have prepared both of the jeweled crowns at the expense of the Queen¡¯s displeasure? Or, would she have prepared only one with the Empress at the center? And Artizea was prepared for both cases. Sk took the crown and stepped back, this time Hayley lifted the ebony box. Inside was a jeweled crown that belonged to the Emperor. ¡°Did you expect me toe?¡± ¡°Even if you do not attend, I think it would be good to show it to the Empress, so I brought it.¡± That was, of course, a lie. If the Emperor had note, she had no reason to bring this up at the risk of the Empress¡¯ displeasure. That was why Hayley was standing inconspicuously at the very back, holding it. Even though the Emperor knew this, he justughed. There was nothing he couldn¡¯t do to nitpick it, but it was a good response. ¡°I am not going to attend the banquet.¡± ¡°You came all the way here, Father.¡± ¡°You and your sister must have ns, and I don¡¯t want to ruin it. I have seen the face of the Empress, so that¡¯s enough.¡± Those words, which should have been affectionate expressions, sounded dry like the winds of a wastnd. Lawrence expected the Emperor to take the crown and ce it on the Empress¡¯ head. But the Emperor did not. ¡°I¡¯ll just go back.¡± Said the Emperor. However, the Empress did not bid the Emperor farewell face to face. After the Emperor left, Artizea brought the youngdies, who were chatting like birds, into the Tuvalet room. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s new dress is truly a jewel!¡± Even the olderdies-in-waiting didn¡¯t seem to mind it. The Empress had been relinquishing the glory she should have had for too long. Lawrence found his ce awkward. He wasn¡¯t without the experience of attending a women¡¯s Tuvalet. But he seldom received invitations without sexual intent. It was even more unfamiliar how he should have behaved in a ce where no one cared about him and it was unclear even if he was invited. ¡°We¡¯re just going to leave.¡± Artizea said. ¡°The crown?¡± ¡°Thedies-in-waiting will prepare.¡± Lawrence nodded his head. It was strange to see the Empress wearing a crown with her own hands. ¡°It will take some time to prepare. Do you have nothing else to prepare for, brother?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you should rest in the lounge for a while. When I¡¯m ready, I¡¯ll send someone.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Lawrence nodded his head. And he said to Artizea. ¡°Good work. You too looked tired¡­¡­.¡± That was then. A young man rushed in. ¡°Lord Lawrence, Lord Lawrence, something has happened!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? This is in front of Her Majesty¡¯s waiting room. Do not make a fuss.¡± Lawrence scolded him harshly. ¡°Lady Mira, Lady Mira¡­¡­ !¡± The man was so agitated that he couldn¡¯t speak properly and shouted. ¡°She has been arrested by the Guards!¡± Lawrence was startled and turned to Artizea. It¡¯s not because he thinks Artizea knows something he doesn¡¯t. He just looked around at her involuntarily. Artizea looked at Lawrence without expression. Lawrence shook his head. *** At that time, in the carriage in front of the Rosan mansion, Hazel was trembling. It started out of curiosity and resonance. She only came to see Mira out of guilt and a little bit of difort because Mielle was ill after the ritual. She didn¡¯t intend to make a big deal out of it. However, a few days after her visit to Rosan¡¯s mansion, a maid came to visit her. Hazel didn¡¯t know the maid at all. The maid said with her face mixed with a little bit of fear and anticipation. [¡°I heard that Lady is a newspaper reporter.¡±] [¡°I am not a reporter.¡±] [¡°You¡¯re the Lady of the Belmond newspaper, aren¡¯t you?¡±] The maid said she has information she wants to sell when ites to the necromancer. She says Mira often goes out alone to meet an old woman, nobody knows whether she is a new necromancer or a prophet. A feeling came. Obviously this is a big deal. Talking to her parents, it was clear that they would tell her to stop being stupid and study or work hard. And even more so if the opponent was the Emperor¡¯s mistress. But Hazel felt a kind of responsibility. She even made Mielle ill to write an article, so she can¡¯t back down because she¡¯s scared now. Hazel followed Mira, joining hands with some of the Belmond magazine reporters she was close with. And watched the slum house she came in and out of. And she knew that this wasn¡¯t just proof that Mira was superstitious. Because the bloodstained animals began to be thrown away as garbage. And finally, the old necromancer also bought a child. As soon as she realized what the child was going to be used for, Hazel ran to Sir Keshore. [¡°What¡¯s in the basement of that house, I don¡¯t know what it is, but it¡¯s a bad thing, Uncle. The Dowager Marchioness Rosan, is a superstitious person. She¡¯s already killed a dog or a cat several times!¡±] Sir Keshore was the Emperor¡¯s Guard Knight, who could lead the Knights into any house without permission. After hearing the story from Hazel, he immediately raided the mansion. The basement door was smashed, and the smell of blood stung. Arge magic circle was drawn on the floor. And in the middle of the magic circle, he found children sitting dazedly, drunk on drugs. Mira, astonished to see him, shouted at him. ¡°How did you get here! Who said you coulde in!¡± Even before Hazel spoke, Sir Keshore knew Mira was going to do something heinous. Because Artizea had already spoken to him. [¡°If Lady Hazel was the first to find out, she would definitely run to Sir Keshore. Be sure to catch it.¡±] If it was a request, rationally she would ask him to take care of her mother, or to dy and let her know so she could handle it first. But Artizea said the opposite. [¡°Sir Keshore¡¯s catching is the lowest risk. His Majesty thinks that Lord Keshore has no two hearts. As long as you catch her in time, he¡¯ll leave all other specifics to Sir Keshore.¡±] [¡°Should she be arrested after the sacrifice is made?¡±] [¡°Sir Keshore is not one who can tolerate that. Do what you have to do.¡±] There was no guarantee that the event would happen in the short time. But one day something will happen. Or, even if Mira did not move just by stimting her through Hazel, there was a second and third n. Sir Keshore kept an eye on Mira to make sure there were no victims. Thanks to that, as soon as Hazel¡¯s message arrived, he was able to immediately dispatch the knights. If someer found out about this, it could have been bad for Sir Keshore himself. However, Sir Keshore hoped that Hazel would not be hurt or that Artizea would not umte a bigger evil. Sir Keshore did not know the principles of magic. However, it was clear what was going to happen when he saw the animals that had been killed so far, the magic circles painted in blood, and the children brought out. ¡°Dowager Marchioness Rosan.¡± He said in a cracked voice. ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°Who, who told you toe in!¡± Mira was furious. ¡°Who is it! Did you follow me? Are you from the Empress? Do you know who I am?¡± Sir Keshore opened his mouth, and then closed it again. Mira suddenly fell to her knees and knelt on the floor. She knew what she was doing. Mira clings to the Keshore. ¡°Nothing has happened yet, Sir Keshore. I¡¯ll clean it up right away.¡± ¡°Dowager Marchioness Rosan.¡± ¡°Please turn your blind eye to me just once. I guess I just lost my mind in a moment. Please don¡¯t tell His Majesty. I would do anything. We haven¡¯t just known each other for a while.¡± Sir Keshore let out a long sigh. ¡°I will tell His Majesty first. That is the greatest favor I can show to Dowager.¡± And he made Mira go out. Mira was quiet at first. But by the time she was dragged out of the house, she was shouting all kinds of curses against the Empress. The old woman who was helping Mira was also dragged away and cried. The knights who had been brought by Sir Keshore looked away as if they were horrified by the appearance of the basement. Sir Keshore ordered the frightened, terrified, trembling children to be wrapped in nkets and taken to their houses. Then he set up a sentry to guard the scene, and returned to Hazel¡¯s side. ¡°Did something really happen?¡± Hazel asked, trembling in terror. Sir Keshore patted her hair and spoke softly. ¡°Thanks to you, three children were saved today. And Dowager Marchioness Rosan was also stopped beforemitting a mortal sin.¡± ¡°I-I should have told you sooner.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on.¡± ¡°Will it cause any trouble for Grand Duchess Evron? Since she¡¯s in a mother-daughter rtionship, she may be dragged into the kin punishment.¡± ¡°It will be fine.¡± Sir Keshore said in a low tone. ¡°She must already be prepared for when the Dowager sinned.¡± Sir Keshore told Hazel to go to his house first. Because he thought his own mansion would be safer for her than Hazel¡¯s. It was also an excuse to Hazel¡¯s parents. Hazel nodded quietly. Sir Keshore also set off Hazel¡¯s carriage. And he, himself, went to the Imperial Pce. Because he had to report directly to the Emperor. It had been about half an hour since Artizea and Lawrence received the news. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Proofreader: somnium Lawrence and Artizea did not attend the banquet. For Artizea, it was not surprising. But when Lawrence did not appear, the guests murmured somewhat. Everyone knew that he had decided to present the Empress with a red jeweled crown modeled after a carnation. In fact, many of the guests of the banquet hall were waiting for an event about it. If Mira appeared and went mad and ripped it off the Empress¡¯ head, it would be the exciting thing everyone wanted. But Lawrence suddenly left the Luminous Hall. The Empress wore a simple tiara made of blue crystal, not the red jeweled crown. Of course, the jewelry is modestpared to the Empress¡¯ status and her age. The tiara was the tiara of the Duchy of Riagan, which she inherited from her grandmother when the Empress was still an unmarried Lady. It was a young boy, only 14 years old, who escorted the Empress. He was very nervous, and he was not good at etiquette. It was evident that he had never attended small social gatherings, let alone big banquets. The Empress looked at the boy affectionately. Rather than being escorted by him, the Empress appeared to protect him and teach him how to escort a noble woman. It took time to figure out who the boy was. ¡°Viscount Perscher¡¯s Heir¡¯s son? Is he alive?¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the small whispers to fill the banquet hall. There were others who knew the situation more urately. ¡°Because the Viscount Peschers couplemitted suicide that¡¯s why their family went missing. The Viscount¡¯s Heir Apparent is probably about the same age as Countess Eunice.¡± ¡°Oh my God, so they¡¯re still alive and had a child?¡± ¡°How did the title pass along? Even if he did not perform the inheritance ceremony, the inheritance is automatic. It was not returned to the imperial court.¡± ¡°How had he not appeared until now?¡± The appearance of a descendant from an old family that was thought to have disappeared, not a new nobleman. Even though he did notmit any treason, he was from a family where the couplemitted suicide after gaining the Emperor¡¯s anger. He didn¡¯t just show up, he held the Empress¡¯ hand and debuted in the social world, so it was a surprise. ¡°Has Her Majesty the Empress been hiding and protecting him until now?¡± ¡°Does His Majesty know and acquiesce? Rather, what about Sir Lawrence?¡± ¡°What would happen?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same as Her Majesty saying that she has no intention of adopting Sir Lawrence as her adopted son now?¡± Few people could have guessed that something much more serious was going on. Grand Duke Roygar urged his subordinates to hurry up and find out about this situation. But this case was too big to be covered up. People with strong informationworks learned the news one by one. It¡¯s the Empress¡¯ birthday party. There was no one who could make a racket as a caution. But there was amotion under the water. *** What Mira did was not something to be taken lightly. The Emperor received this report on his way back to the Imperial Pce from the Luminous Hall. He was not a person who did not feel the fundamental fear itself. He feared that the consequences of what he had done woulde back to him. He spent decades at the pinnacle of his empire, watching the world move. He therefore believed in his karma. But he was not like Mira who directly believed in evil spirits, curses, or codes. Therefore, he didn¡¯t take it seriously that Mira was trying to curse the Empress. It¡¯s ancient magic. The Emperor didn¡¯t even think that Mira would be able to achieve such a thing. He felt like he wanted to cover it up. But the case was too big to cover up. Magic is forbidden by the temples. Besides, it has real power. Therefore, it was different from ying necromancy or asking for a prophecy from a self-proimed prophet with a penny. Above all, he could not hide her attempts to sacrifice human beings. It was Belmond¡¯s reporters who helped Hazel uncover the truth this time. It is impossible to silence the press. Even if he blocks it over and over again, it eventually leaks out somewhere. In order to keep it a secret, the people must bepletely unaware from the beginning. The Emperor knew it well. So he never met Mira. He didn¡¯t even try to hide the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± Sir Keshore said as if consoling the Emperor. ¡°I will protect you from any inconvenience while Dowager Marchioness Rosan is under investigation. It will not be easy for the temple to hand her over.¡± In other words, it meant that this case was under the jurisdiction of the temple, which the Emperor had no choice but to stay away. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡± That¡¯s all the Emperor said. All he did was let Lawrence know first. It was because it was Lawrence who would suffer the most from this incident. The temple quickly dispatched a group of priests to investigate the magic circle. The position of the Heretical Inquisitor, which had been infamous for a long time, gained new strength. The investigation was initiated under the leadership of Bishop Akim, who was well versed in the ancientnguage. The Emperor sent schrs. It was to defend Mira even a little. Schrs tried to reduce the problem by making the old woman the main culprit and Mira the victim who was deceived. But the evidence was so strong. The words engraved on the magic circle were cursed words to pray for the Empress¡¯ misfortune and to wish her death soon. And it was confirmed that the texts were from an old history book in the Rosan mansion. The reason why the magic circle¡¯s sentence didn¡¯t clearly say ¡®The Empress will die¡¯ was because it was a copy of the sentence. Even that was circumstantial evidence that this was Mira¡¯s work. The children were bought by an old woman. The human trafficking case was reignited. Since the one big human trafficking casest year, it has not been easy to buy and sell people. It wasn¡¯tpletely abolished. A factory that could be run by unskilled workers did not want to pay even the minimum wage. Some guilds disguised their practice in the form of apprenticeship education, but in reality they bought children and treated them like ves. As the due date for repayment of the debt approached, many people brought their children and asked how much they could receive. However, when they learned that they had bought the children not to care for the child but to offer them as a curse sacrifice, public opinion was seething. Besides, the instigator of this case was Mira. Lawrence¡¯s involvement in thest human trafficking and human hunting case was brought up again. ¡°Burn the Emperor¡¯s mistress and her son at the stake!¡± The protests started in front of the Rosan mansion and then spread to the detached pce. ¡°Did the Emperor really not know that?¡± ¡°Drag out the beastly mother-and-son!¡± There have been several attempts to set fire to the Rosan mansion. Sir Keshore guarded the mansion by encircling the Guard inyers. Protesters fought with torches and oil barrels. Mira was locked in the mansion, terrified. Even her morbidly agitated periods were gone, and now she was only trembling. ¡°His Majesty, let me see His Majesty.¡± Mira grabbed Sir Keshore and begged him like that. The Emperor just needed time and opportunity to make excuses. Then the Emperor will surely forgive her. If the Emperor forgives, everything will be fine. But Sir Keshore shook his head. The Emperor could not stop this. This time, the problem was different from when the immediate blood rtives of the Marquisate of Rosan were poisoned. At that time, it was a matter between nobles. Those involved were few, but most of them were nobles. With deals and interests, rewards and fears, he was able to solve all the problems. Moreover, above all else, one direct blood rtive called Artizea remained. Even as an Emperor, he was able to get rid of the rough situation by obfuscating it. If she had rather tried to poison the Empress, he would have been able to protect Mira with ease. But no matter how powerful he is, there are two things he can¡¯tpletely crush. One was the people and the other was the temple. The Emperor feared the will of the people. He can suppress protests, manipte public opinion, and divert the attention of the people, but one day it will return to a weakness of legitimacy. It is causation, and it is karma. A person¡¯s mouth can never bepletely closed. The temple was more burdensome. Even if the temple is suppressed, it is impossible to uproot it. The temples also hold a part of its legitimacy to the throne. The emunicated king is no longer a king. Even if it was unlike the formless will of the people, the temple was an organizational power. And the temple did not intend to take this case lightly. The taboo of magic itself was the same, but this, in itself, was also a great opportunity for the temple. The sinner was the Emperor¡¯s mistress. As the world¡¯s attention was drawn to it, it was an opportunity to spread the authority of the temple. Bishop Akim had previously believed that the temple had been overrun by secr power. Even the Emperor is, after all, just a human under God. He should respect the temple and follow its wishes. Because the bishops¡¯ decisions are to act on behalf of God¡¯s will. They decided to take this opportunity to publicize this fact. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± When asked to see the Emperor, Sir Keshore said so and bowed his head. Mira had a confused face at first. ¡°I see.¡± But soon, Mira spoke again with a strangely clear face that seemed to be understanding. ¡°I see.¡± So it is. Mira was loved by the Emperor, but she was never important. And the Emperor knew very well what to take and what to let go. ¡°I can¡¯t even meet Lawrence.¡± ¡°His Majesty said it would be better not to do that. For Sir Lawrence, himself. Now, not only Sir Lawrence, but Lady Artizea is in a dangerous situation.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Mira just said so. And after that, she never begged to see the Emperor. The protesters piled firewood in front of the Rosan mansion, took a scarecrow made in imitation of Mira and burned it. It was Bishop Akim who calmed the protesters. Dressed in a pure white liturgical robe, he walked into the agitated protesters alone. And he promised. ¡°It is, of course, iparably horrendous to buy a child for sacrifice. But that¡¯s not the only thing that¡¯s happening.¡± Bishop Akim took off the embroidered silk robe he was wearing on his shoulder and threw it at the burning stake. ¡°The corruption of the imperial family has reached its climax. Do you know what kind of woman she is?¡± ¡°She is the Emperor¡¯s woman!¡± ¡°The Emperor had such a vicious woman by his side just because she was beautiful, who greeds for her own gain by preying on innocent children as victims of evil magic. How could the servant of God just wait and see this reality?¡± Bishop Akim then bowed his head. It seemed to be directed towards the protesters, and at other times it seemed to be directed towards the sky. ¡°The servant will never let this happen. So trust the temple and go back.¡± In doing so, he imprinted the temple and his presence on the protesters in an instant. The protesters prayed and held a simple service together with the bishop that day. Never since the death of Saintess Olga had the temple been so revered. *** Being the target of the temple was something Lawrence and Artizea could not avoid. The protesters did not attack Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, out of respect for Grand Duke Evron¡¯s wise handling of thest human trafficking case. But the temple was different. When Bishop Akim led the priesthood to visit, Grand Duchy Evron reacted decisively. The knights were mobilized to protect the mansion like ironds, and did not allow the priesthood inside. Artizea called Ansgar and said, ¡°I will follow Bishop Akim.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Proofreader: somnium Ansgar was startled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to, Madam.¡± ¡°Ansgar.¡± ¡°It was the Dowager Marchioness Rosan, whomitted the heresy. Of course, you may feel morally responsible, but strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with you.¡± Artizea has already separated herself from Mira. In this capital, no one with an ear didn¡¯t know it. ¡°I can¡¯t hide forever.¡± ¡°The priesthood has no authority to interrogate Madam. If the Temple wants to take you for the kin punishment, they¡¯ll have to get Sir Lawrence out first. Not Madam.¡± Ansgar said sternly. ¡°Unless all the knights and servants of Grand Duchy Evron lose their lives, no one will be able to restrain or enforce Madam.¡± Artizea was a little bitter and a little sad. It was because Ansgar¡¯s attitude had itched the scars of the past. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ansgar, all you can be punished at the temple is emunication.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The scandal is not a small sin. But for it to be a real threat, it must lead to the deprivation of property or title.¡± Those who are emunicated are deprived of their rights as members of the society. This was another matter with atheists. An atheist simply meant that he had little or no piety. But emunication meant that he was a felon who did not deserve to be under God. Therefore, they retroactively lose all rights. Therefore, the sacrament of marriage bes nonexistent. All children born be illegitimate. When Mira is emunicated, Artizea will no longer be a direct line of the Marquisate of Rssan. But how about that? It is only formally stated that Artizea is the daughter of Marquis Rosan. No one thought of her as the real lineage, so it had little to do with her reputation. ¡°I have already seeded the Marquisate of Rosan, so there is no way I will lose my title unless another blood family sues for inheritance. The title of Grand Duchess Evron was obtained through my own marriage, so it doesn¡¯t matter if I be an illegitimate child. Because I am not being emunicated.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ansgar, if I am emunicated, will Evron banish me?¡± ¡°It will never happen.¡± Ansgar dered. Artizea smiled. ¡°Then I don¡¯t have to worry.¡± ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ansgar, this is my decision.¡± When Artizea said that, Ansgar couldn¡¯t hold back any more. The Mistress has already made a decision. Any further disapproval would not be an advice, but an out of ce nagging. Artizea greeted Marcus separately. She couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t know the old butler, who had not slept for days out of worry. Because this had something to do with Mira, Marcus became even more angry and wept. He had now thought that she was stabilized in many ways, and that she could just wait for the birth of her sessor in peace. Only now, it seemed he could forgive and forget even theplicated feelings about Artizea¡¯s birth. If only a child is born, if only a real heir of the real lineage is born, then the Marquisate of Rosan will be able to start anew. Again Mira ruined it. Marcus¡¯ position is different from Ansgar¡¯s. In the worst case, Evron can also choose to give up on Artizea. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. How much money have I dedicated to the temple so far?¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± Artizea was joking, but Marcus couldn¡¯t take it lightly. Then Artizea looked into Marcus¡¯ eyes and spoke straightly. ¡°The problem is actually more on the side of the rebellion than the emunication of my mother.¡± Marcus clenched his lips so that it turned white and he nodded his head. Heretics are emunicated. Wizards are burned at the stake. But it is not a kin punishment system. Lawrence and Artizea would indirectly suffer as a result of Mira¡¯s emunication. However, it was a rebellion to curse the Empress; to pray for her misfortune and death. Even if Artizeapletely cut off her rtionship with Mira, it is of no use. As long as they were rted by blood, it was a felony that would get even Artizea and Lawrence executed. Grand Duchy Evron and Lawrence¡¯s men will also be implicated and imprisoned altogether. ¡°His Majesty won¡¯t do that. It¡¯s not that he can¡¯t kill his wife or his own son, but there¡¯s no benefit to be seen in doing so.¡± ¡°Then what does Her Majesty the Empress¡­ .¡± ¡°She no longer has the energy to take an active part in thisplicated battle. But isn¡¯t there one person who will do everything in his power to allege treason?¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Marcus spoke heavily with bloodshot eyes. ¡°I know what you mean.¡± ¡°For the time being, let the temple dominate. Until public opinion subsides, heresy is better for me. Understand?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡­¡­ I am angry and sad, but I understand.¡± Artizea lightly tapped his arm. Hayley, who was ready to go out, was waiting. She wore clothes that looked like a knight¡¯s uniform, with a short sword and pistol around her waist. On her chest was the insignia of Grand Duchy Evron. Artizea was surprised. Because she didn¡¯t know that Hayley had such clothes. ¡°Hayley?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just clothes. I¡¯m not good at swords and I can¡¯t even shoot.¡± Then Hayley showed the magazine of her pistol. It was empty. ¡°This role originally belonged to Lysia, but now it doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I was going to make you watch the social scene.¡± ¡°Leave it to Sir Freil. The ce where ady-in-waiting will be is close to her mistress.¡± Without hesitation, she handed over the heavy duty to Freil. Artizea couldn¡¯t help butugh. Hayley said with a slightly red face. ¡°It¡¯s not because of Your Grace. Anyway, you need to put pressure on your employees.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°I thought that it would be to spread the word, that Your Grace is not going to talk secretly, but waited for the priests toe.¡± ¡°That too. Bishop Akim has a strong desire for power and honor. It¡¯s better to indulge his face.¡± ¡°The fight starts with momentum. Your Grace may be obedient this time to build the prestige of the temple on the outside and to gain tangible benefits from the inside, but from the point of view of the Evron people, that won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°As long as Evron isn¡¯t going to throw me away anyway, there¡¯s no problem with negotiation if I don¡¯t show off my power. I don¡¯t want to show anything but the impression that they are trying to oppress us with power and status. ¡°We are Evron, Your Grace. It seems strange to send Your Grace alone.¡± It was true. Hayley added. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, think of it as a way to put the two old men at ease.¡± Having said that, she had nothing more to say to Artizea. Hayley had already mobilized the knights. As if in a crisis situation, Artizea stifled a smirk, like the Grand Duchess heading to the battlefield. Artizea herself walked out to the front door in simple attire with only Hayley. About 10 knights followed her, and about 70 Evron knights were already waiting outside, fully prepared. With this number, it could be seen that all the knights in charge of the security duty were not involved in other office work or intelligence work. The priesthood had a slightly intimidated face. Artizea approached Bishop Akim. He remained expressionless. ¡°What is this, Marchioness Rosan?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to obey the temple, it¡¯s that my family can¡¯t let me go alone.¡± Artizea said with a genuinely perplexed face. ¡°You know, the temperament of the people of Evron.¡± ¡°Tell them to step back. You dare to intimidate the temple with force?¡± Then Alphonse stepped forward and bowed his head politely. ¡°How could you possibly mean that, Bishop? I just want to do my best as a knight.¡± ¡°We will be the only ones going to the temple. The rest will gather up and thene back. In the current circumstances, we have decided that it is inappropriate to let Her Grace out of the mansion without any escort.¡± Hayley said. ¡°Are you saying that you do not believe in the protection of the temple?¡± Bishop Akim looked at Artizea again, expressionless. However, Artizea, with an embarrassed smile, still did not answer. It was difficult. Bishop Akim would not even let ady-in-waiting apany Artizea. Especially an armeddy-in-waiting. But the knights follow. It was fortunate that they would push everyone into the temple together, or that they would be stationed near the temple. Thinking like that, Hayley felt like a small problem. ¡°Alright. Since you have a noble status, there is no helping it but to allow ady-in-waiting.¡± Bishop Akim said so and opened the carriage door. It was the carriage of the little temple he rode in. Artizea got on the carriage without hesitation. Hayley followed. Bishop Akim got onst, and he said after closing the door. ¡°From now on, the temple will decide whether or not every action and word of Marchioness is in line with the will of the gods.¡± ¡°Are you threatening to put Her Grace on a heresy trial right now?¡± Hayley asked. ¡°Not only the Marchioness, but everyone else is living in a test of whether or not they are living uprightly ording to the will of God. Do not take it in a bad way.¡± At Bishop Akim¡¯s words, Artizea only smiled bitterly in her heart. Soon the carriage departed. The sound of the hoofs of the Knights of Evron resounded. *** Lawrence¡¯s situation was slightly worse than that of Artizea¡¯s. Because he was directly involved in thest human trafficking case. Besides, unlike Artizea, he had no one to be a shield. His mansion on Sabellin Street was surrounded by protesters, as was the Rosan mansion. Even after Bishop Akim dispersed the protesters in front of Rosan¡¯s house, the number of protesters gathered in front of Lawrence¡¯s house only increased day by day. Through the open window, the light of the torch could be seen all the way. Even two weeks have passed since the Mira incident, the protests only intensify day by day. It didn¡¯t matter day or night. Those who thought Lawrence might escape at night were voluntarily surrounding the mansion. ¡®Stupid.¡¯ Lawrence frowned. If he had decided to run away, he would have done it right away. Even now, if he made up his mind to go out, he could leave at any time. He could go out through a secret passage, but he could also mobilize guards and servants to break through by force. But Lawrence had no intention of running away. He thought he had done nothing wrong. To themon people at best, he, the son of the Emperor, has no reason to run away with his tail between his legs. ¡°I wish it was disbanded. Has the meaning of ¡®Father Emperor¡¯ changed yet?¡± ¡°Rather, it is the good judgment of the working-level officials that any disbandment would just provoke the protesters further.¡± Gayan said so without expression. Fortunately, unlike at the Rosan¡¯s mansion, there was no attempt to set fire to his mansion. Protesters threw dirt at the mansion. Gayan instructed his troops that there was no need to block it. The Guards were doing their best to umte the ability to do such a thing, despite not training every day. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Proofreader: somnium Gayan wasn¡¯t the type to feel especially humane towards his subordinates. But he himself was a knight from the bottom up. He knew very well that all of the members of the Guard were those who risked their life for what was important, whether it was for fame or the future of their children. And everyone is here as a result of their own achievements. It¡¯s not for standing there to block the throwing of dirt. ¡°If you use force to suppress the protesters now, you will lose your cause. Heresy is the main issue at the temple, but what the protesters are angry about is that they tried to sacrifice innocent children.¡± Said Gayan. ¡°The use of force will only exacerbate Sir Lawrence¡¯s image as the murder of innocent children in the past, entangled in human trafficking.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Lawrence uttered angrily. ¡°You said that Tia appeared at the temple?¡± ¡°The wording is inappropriate. She didn¡¯t go for interrogation.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the purpose of interrogation in reality? I heard they asked for her cooperation in the investigation of the Old Books and Old Language manuscripts at the Rosan Mansion.¡± ¡°Ancient books are just the old collections of the Marquisate of Rosan. Since Grand Duchess Evron is the Marchioness of Rosan, it is only natural for the temple to ask the Grand Duchess for her cooperation.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense, doesn¡¯t it? If you really want to know about the books in the library, it¡¯s normal to call the butler. The old butler next to Tia would probably know all the scribbles in the books.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that an attempt to ce some of the me on Tia?¡± ¡°Even if there is such an attempt, the opponent is Evron.¡± Gayan said without emotion. ¡°It¡¯s not something that can be forced by pressure from the temple. It is said that the Knights escorted her to the temple with full armor today.¡± ¡°Do Sir think that since Tia went voluntarily, you think there is no problem?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If there is a problem, Evron will be the first to respond. Grand Duke Evron is not one to throw his wife away on this matter.¡± Even if there is a desire to do so, the time has not passed yet enough for the news to be delivered. And the Knights of Evron were not the kind of people who could follow the current atmosphere and treat their mistress as they were judged, even if they didn¡¯t have orders. And Gayan knew one more thing. The reason Artizea voluntarily participated in the investigation was because she had sympathy with the Emperor. After reading the long letter from Artizea, the Emperor said to Gayan: [¡°Tia wants to meet Bishop Akim.¡±] [¡°Are you talking about Grand Duchess Evron? I thought she has disconnected herself from Lady Mira.¡±] [¡°Can separation between parents and children be so simple? It¡¯s two different things from being quiet when nothing¡¯s going on, and beingpletely ignorant when her mother is in trouble.¡±] The Emperor sighed. [¡°Tia is nning to donate the Rosan mansion to the temple and turn it into a monastery.¡±] [¡°Isn¡¯t this the home of the Marquisate?¡±] [¡°So, it would be worthy of being used as a negotiation material. Tia said to turn the Rosan mansion into a monastery, and then we could finish it by putting Mira under pension there.¡±] [¡°Are there any prospects? Bishop Akim is not an easily controlled man. Will he just finish with a mansion?¡±] [¡°It¡¯s not just a mansion. She will probably have to hand over more property. I don¡¯t even know if I should take some of this load off¡­¡­. Still, it seems that Tia¡¯s donation so far is considerable. She put a lot of effort into staying close to the temple, so it can¡¯t be ignored at all.¡±] The Emperor¡¯s words were very hopeful. [¡°Tia will be fine. She¡¯s such a smart kid. The temple won¡¯t be able to ignore Grand Duchy Evron, as she¡¯s been tangled up in the Western businesstely. Because of her love story with Cedric, she has a good reputation among themon people.¡±] [¡°That is a reasonable statement.¡±] [¡°Rather than me, it looks better for Tia toe forward in many ways. I will make up for itter, so I told her not to worry about it.¡±] Having said that, the Emperor paused for a moment. And for a moment he put his gaze in the air and murmured. [¡°I wish I had one such a nice child, that would be great.¡±] [¡°Your Majesty¡­.¡±] The Emperor had a tired face. That day the Emperor did not say a word about Lawrence. It wasn¡¯t clear whether it was because he had no expectation or if he thought it was inappropriate to speak about him to the person from Lawrence faction, Gayan. ¡®It didn¡¯t go well.¡¯ That day, Gayan thought so. Gayan knew that on the first day of the incident, the Emperor had made Lawrence the first to hear the news. Even if Lawrence knew it first, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to solve the case. How can he solve a problem that even the Emperor could not do? But he should have at least pretended to fight the temple. Unlike the Emperor, he must have been able to do something because he was her own son. He could im all this to be a conspiracy to siphon off Mira, or, like Artizea, try to reduce the situation by negotiating. He could also go tofort her. Mira was wrong. Sir Keshore said she couldn¡¯t meet Lawrence, but it was on Lawrence¡¯s side that actually refused to meet her. Since Sir Keshore had some sympathy for Mira, he even deliberately gave contact to Lawrence from his side. Lawrence¡¯s choice was to sever ties with Mira more thoroughly, and to prove that he had no part in the curse at all. In the end, Lawrence was just showing what he was going to do with his helpless parents. Young as he is, he may not have realised it, but it was a very important matter for the elderly such as the Emperor or the Empress. [¡°Even if he gets the approval of Her Majesty the Empress, the temple is standing up next¡­.¡±] Amalie said so in a rxed manner. [¡°It does not mean that the possibility haspletely disappeared. Legally, he still has to be the Empress¡¯ adopted son. But the situation is already at this point.¡±] [¡°Hooo.¡±] [¡°Even if he get ahead of Grand Duke Roygar, it will be difficult to establish the imperial power properly.¡±] [¡°From the day of the coronation, he will face resistance from the temples and citizens.¡±] [¡°Right. And Sir Lawrence is not one who can break through it on his own. I want to be a dignitary, not a nanny.¡±] Gayan couldn¡¯t help but agree. Gayan is ambitious. Even if he felt skeptical of Lawrence¡¯s humanity, he would have stood next to Lawrence if he still thought Lawrence was the closest person to the throne. But now he thinks it¡¯s a good thing he¡¯d put one foot forward in advance. It¡¯s far better to line up ahead of time than to turn around after things have happened. Lawrence said in a cold voice, as if he had guessed Gayan¡¯s innermost thoughts. ¡°You¡¯d better not think of betraying me just because I¡¯ve be like this, Sir Gayan.¡± ¡°What are you talking about all of a sudden ¡­.¡± ¡°Uncle Roygar holds grudges long. He can¡¯t ept Sir. Those under him despise men like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± Said Lawrence. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I sent a message to Viscount Hoden, who had gone south, to return to the capital as soon as possible.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°The Empress did not have any involvement in this matter.¡± The social circles watched every move to see what kind of attitude the Empress would have. Her husband¡¯s old mistress, who was pretending to be a socialite, was caught cursing her. At this point, even if she had decided to forget the past, resentment and anger would rise again. But the Empress was having fun in the Empress¡¯ pce as if nothing had happened. It¡¯s not that she¡¯s pretending it¡¯s okay, she really doesn¡¯t seem interested in Mira¡¯s situation in any way. She met her old friends and resumed her hobby, which she enjoyed in her past days. In particr, she spends most of her day personally teaching culture and etiquette to the three children from Viscounty Pescher. Things got to this point, and no one paid any attention to Viscounty Pescher. Even if they actually had an interest, they were not in a position where they would be able to argue about Viscounty Pescher to the Empress. Isn¡¯t she the one who almost got cursed? Gayan said to Lawrence. ¡°Do you still think there is a chance to be Her Majesty¡¯s adopted son?¡± ¡°Because there is no other way. Things could have been better if my mother was gone.¡± Gayan tilted his head slightly. He agreed that there was no other way. But just because Mira became absent didn¡¯t mean that the Empress would think better of him. ¡°It turns out that Tia was not as favored by Her Majesty as I thought. I thought she had the time, so she proceeded slowly, but maybe it was impossible for her to get likened by Her Majesty at all.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then it would be better to clearly show the gain and loss. I know how much Her Majesty is obsessed with the former Duchy of Riagan, so I¡¯m waiting for Viscount Hoden.¡± ¡°You need information to do anything. Do you intend to rece the Duke of Riagan?¡± ¡°Yes. I told them to find out if there are any remaining descendants.¡± It was a hopeless story in Gayan¡¯s opinion. Lawrence¡¯s side face looked like a gloomy statue. He hasn¡¯t acknowledged it yet, but maybe he was feeling it. That his day had already gone dark. *** On the other hand, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s face was in full bloom. He¡¯d never felt so goodtely. ¡°Sister-inw, take a drink.¡± Marchioness Camellia felt uneasy about it. ¡°You have an unpleasant face, Sister-inw.¡± ¡°In times like these, you have to be more careful, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Do you think I am doing something wrong?¡± Grand Duke Roygar said with a smile. Marchioness Camellia said cautiously. ¡°His Majesty will not punish Dowager Marchioness Rosan for her treason. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s going to be a headwind.¡± Grand Duke Roygar officially spoke in support of the temple. All the officials under his influence insisted that Mira be punished for treason. Several journalists and intellectuals who quoted his words made the same argument. This is not the impulsive mistake of a foolish woman, but a conspiracy to murder the Empress. Other than that, there were several conspiracies moving, such as the scaremongering. For Grand Duke Roygar, it was a win-win. Marchioness Camellia said with a dark face. ¡°The temple will formally put Dowager Marchioness Rosan on heresy. If Lawrence bes the Empress¡¯ adopted son, it is not impossible to ascend to the throne. There is no way the Archbishop would crown the children of an emunicated. They will simply never host a coronation.¡± ¡°They can¡¯t do that, sister-inw.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said firmly. ¡°The influence of the temple is not going tost long. It¡¯s different from the old days. Once you be the Crown Prince, you will eventually be recognized if you ascend the throne even if the Archbishop does not preside over the coronation. Or it would all be of no use if the Emperor himself took the crown off his head and put it on Lawrence¡¯s head.¡± ¡°His Majesty¡¯s heart is departing from Lawrence. Even if you¡¯re not in a hurry¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That feeling of leaving will note to me.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said. ¡°Or, are you worried about Grand Duchess Evron?¡± Marchioness Camellia looked at him with a bewildered gaze. Grand Duke Roygar looked at her with shadowy eyes. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Proofreader: somnium Marchioness Camellia hesitated. She knew that a slight gap could make Grand Duke Roygar even more offended. But sometimes these days, Marchioness Camellia did not haveplete control over her expression. Because her fatigue has umted. And she seldom had a chance to get a sense of victory to blow it away, unlike before. Still, she was Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s most important counselor. However, there were more cases of disagreement with Grand Duke Roygar than before. In particr, there were many times when she felt anxious and uneasy about what Grand Duke Roygar was doing, like this one. It was not clear why she felt that way, so she did not persuade Grand Duke Roygar. So in the end, she was forced to say something like this with an embarrassingugh. ¡°You speak as if I were working for Grand Duchess Evron, Your Grace.¡± It was more problematic because that kind of feeling was usually felt when Artizea was entangled. There were times when Marchioness Camellia herself thought that she was overly sensitive to Artizea issues. However, Artizea¡¯s reaction was not always clear. Her own daughter, Sk, is also bright and calm for her age. However, Artizea¡¯s demeanor is iprehensibly calm and cool. Marchioness Camellia used to look back on herself twenty years ago. At an early age, she herself won the recognition of Marquis Luden. The Empress? She was a key figure in the rise of Gregor to the throne. But she thinks that both of them, herself and the Empress, are far inferior to the present Artizea. Just like this time too. There was no sign that Artizea had intervened. Everything could have happened by chance. The necromancer who taught Mira was a famous socialitest winter. Even Sk had attended that person¡¯s seance. It is no wonder that there is a history book written in ancientnguage at the Rosan mansion. Even if you are not an old book collector, it is natural for a noble family with a long history to have a few old books in their library. It was not too strange that there was a book in which only the words of the curse were selected and copied. There were not many nobles who learned ancientnguages ??through culture. They usually give up at the beginning. However, selecting and copying the sentences that interest them are what many do. Even before Mira, the Marquisate Rosan was not such a peaceful and good family. It was not strange even if there was a person in the family who had collected at least one curse word. It was also well known that Mira was a mentally unstable person. She was someone more than enough to curse the Empress when she got angry. And the recent situation was enough to drive Mira crazy. There is no surprise about human sacrifice. She already had a criminal record of annihting the Marquisate Rosan family. The other party was a child who had been sold because of poverty. Not only Mira, but most nobles would only consider the child as a stray dog. But, nevertheless, Marchioness Camellia was not convinced. Did something like this happen purely by chance in an imperial political world, where conspiracies were constantly swirling around? To Marchioness Camellia, it felt like the probability of throwing three beans and identally getting an equteral triangle. Sooner orter Mira will be doomed. Lawrence also struggled to challenge for the throne. Such things never happen by chance. But neither Grand Duke Roygar nor she conspired. She didn¡¯t even think that the Empress would have done it. This is not the way the Empress organizes things. Grand Duke Roygar throw a soft voice to Marchioness Camelia, who was lost in her thoughts. ¡°I understand, knowing that you cared about Grand Duchess Evron and put a lot of effort into her. But I think you overestimated her, sister-inw.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t there times when things like fame and power have a current trend, and you can¡¯t ovee them with your own strength alone?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even sister-inw could not have guessed that she would be arrested in this way. It¡¯s too bad for the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Grand Duke Evron will not divorce her over this.¡± ¡°Cedric is not like that. So it¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°What do you mean, good thing?¡± ¡°That guy is far from politics or scheming. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for us if the Grand Duchess that was going to manage it in his ce loses her power?¡± When Grand Duke Roygar asked if it wasn¡¯t so, Marchioness Camellia had no choice but to agree. But the sadness in her heart didn¡¯t go away, so she came back and called Sk. ¡°Did you have any acquaintances with Lady Hazel of Belmond?¡± ¡°Yes, mother. This time, I became a little acquainted with her while preparing for Her Majesty¡¯s birthday party.¡± ¡°I would like you to approach Lady Hazel. How did she get the idea to follow Dowager Marchioness Rosan?¡± ¡°I had bought the information from the maid when I found out that the daughter of the Belmond newspaper went to find out about the necromancer. I thought mother would know. There was a very detailed article.¡± ¡°Yes. But somehow I think there is more to it than that.¡± Sk opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it again. And she asked ¡°Does uncle think so too?¡± Then Marchioness Camellia had a conflicted face. ¡°It¡¯s just that I have some doubts. In fact, it feels kind of strange that Viscounty Pescher is back.¡± ¡°Feels strange?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not easy for a descendant, from a family that everyone thought to be extinct, to appear?¡± Marchioness Camellia let out a sigh. ¡°It is even more so if the family was responsible for the death of the prince and princess just 18 years ago and the couplemitted suicide. They also dramatically debuted at the Empress¡¯ birthday party, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It was buried because of the incident of the Dowager Marchioness Rosan. Like¡­¡­. Knowing that it would happen and releasing Viscounty Pescher at the same time.¡± ¡°Are you thinking too much? I think mother is a little sensitive these days.¡± ¡°I wish I did. But isn¡¯t it too surprising to even call it a coincidence?¡± Sk didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Or maybe she predicted this would happen and she put Viscounty Perscher in line with it¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Mother.¡± ¡°It could be a coincidence. But if even one of these is not a coincidence, but someone nned it, it is too dangerous not to know such a person. It¡¯s better to be careful and nothing happened, so you can¡¯t get hit without prior knowledge.¡± Sk thought for a moment. And she said in a cautious manner. ¡°If such an eminence grise really existed, what would mother do?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to figure out a way to deal with it. Make sure you know their purpose.¡± Marchioness Camellia looked at Sk. ¡°I don¡¯t know if she is working for the Empress or if she has some other purpose¡­ ¡­ .¡± It was difficult for her to know for sure whether Marchioness Camellia was suspicious of Artizea or not. So Sk thought about it a bit. ¡°But aren¡¯t you and uncle the only one who benefits from this? Who would plot such a conspiracy? It¡¯s probably not what Her Majesty the Empress would do for Viscounty Pescher.¡± The Empress openly exposed Viscount Pescher to all attention in her birthday celebration. She does not hide who she was holding in her arms. So, conversely, it was not logical to also secretly plot to hide Viscounty Pescher from the public eye. Marchioness Camellia agreed. ¡°Yes. Her Majesty the Empress is not someone who hides herself and ns things secretly.¡± ¡°Will it be something that uncle did without mother¡¯s knowledge?¡± ¡°It definitely isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then maybe it was done by the temple.¡± ¡°That seems a little likely. Dowager Marchioness Rosan always attracts attention, so she must have been the best bait.¡± ¡°Maybe it was the work of Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°She¡¯s losing too much for that.¡± Marchioness Camellia was silent. So Sk turned her back in an awkward mood. Marchioness Camellia said. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t know either.¡± Sk was guessing more about this matter than Marchioness Camellia. But she decided not to say it all. It was because she could not abandon the thought that Marchioness Camellia was moving for Grand Duke Roygar. But it was not time yet to decide where to go next. Sk was almost certain that Artizea was in control of this. If so, going to the temple could also be part of the n. Unless Artizea was defeated, it would be foolish for Sk to give up on her and just remain under Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Lady Hazel and continue to find out what happened at the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± She said just that. *** The room given in the temple was a small monk¡¯s room with only a bed and a small desk. The clothes they gave her to change into were also monk¡¯s clothes made of rough hemp. Hayley was not interested in luxury. But she couldn¡¯t help but open her mouth to this treatment. ¡°Look, Priest, I didn¡¯te here to be treatedvishly, but at least I should be treated as a guest, right?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m just following orders¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Hayley. If you feel ufortable, you can go back.¡± Artizea said so. Hayley, of course, couldn¡¯t do so. ¡°I mean, Your Grace should not be treated like this.¡± Hayley said, recalling a few warnings from Ansgar. Artizea also thought it was abnormal. Whether she is a noblewoman or Grand Duchess Evron is a secondary matter. She gave an enormous amount of offerings that she has poured out so far. Besides, she was in a kind of partnership with the temple because she was in the Western Rebirth project. As such, it is strange to be treated like this. Laying down on a squeaky, straw mat in itself was not a big deal for Artizea herself. No matter how bad the bed, it is heavenpared to falling asleep on chains and fainting. Even the rough clothes themselves were nothing special. But Artizea did not expect toe and be treated by the temple like this. That was the problem. While she didn¡¯t appear to be too generous on the outside, she thought that on the inside she would be treated appropriately as arge donor. But when she came here, it was strange from the attitude of Bishop Akim. It was illogically aggressive. ¡®Bishop Akim must be a person who can speak well enough.¡¯ Artizea saw him as a person like herself. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t have faith. But he wasn¡¯t the kind of person who wouldn¡¯t go back and forth because of doctrine or piety. Unlike the amodation and clothes, the dinner was quite luxurious. Artizea was sure then. It must have been that the forces were divided and fighting within the temple. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Proofreader: somnium The next day, Artizea was invited to purify her heart and pray in a small prayer room. The prayer room was narrow and rough. But Artizea didn¡¯t insist that she wouldn¡¯t do it. Because she had nothing else to do anyway. Hayley, who was angry that this kind of treatment was uneptable, became quiet around lunchtime. It was because she realized that this was not an attempt from the temple to simply discourage them. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I wondered if it was because of the decision to utterly destroy the Dowager Marchioness that came out of the temple.¡± Having said that, Hayley was a little grumpy. In front of Artizea, it was embarrassing to call her mother the Dowager Marchioness, and to associate it with a word like destroy. Artizea answered casually. ¡°You think the temple is trying to burn my mother at the stake?¡± ¡°Given the current atmosphere, I think that might be the case. If Your Grace¡¯s mediation was to be epted, it wouldn¡¯t havee out like this.¡± ¡°That also makes sense.¡± ¡°I would rather¡­¡± Without trying to speak, Hayley bit her mouth. Artizea smiled faintly. ¡°I know what you mean. Hayley.¡± Hayley didn¡¯t say sorry. If Mira is burned at the stake as it is, Artizea will finally be able to free herself from the burden of having to call her mother. Considering the future, it would have been much better for Artizea herself. ¡°Unfortunately, the temple cannot do that. If my mother is burned at the stake, public opinion will be reversed this time, and my brother and I will turn into victims. The so-called intellectuals will use the temple¡¯s act of burning at the stake as a barbaric act.¡± Public opinion supporting the temple will be split in half at once. First, the atheists will turn around. In addition, those who still think the protests are excessive, but keep their mouths shut because of the human sacrifices, will begin to assert themselves. There are always neutrals who pretend to be cold-hearted. And what Bishop Akim hates the most is the widespread perception that the teachings of the temple are only followed by the old and the rural people. ¡°That¡¯s why older brother is stupid. If he decides to abandon mother, he must make things clear, not draw a line as he is now. It would be better if he set the Rosan mansion on fire or burned mother at the temple, then stand before His Majesty the Emperor and weep.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a scary thing to say.¡± ¡°But that is the least damaging way out of this situation. The case will be closed quickly and all that will be left is the poor son who has lost his mother miserably.¡± At Artizea¡¯s relentless words, Hayley bit his lower lip. ¡°Do you intend to do that, Your Grace?¡± ¡°Fortunately, I don¡¯t have to. I don¡¯t really want my brother to make a profit.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s meet with Bishop Akim.¡± Artizea said so. *** It was long after evening that Bishop Akim found her. Bishop Akim is a power-oriented person. Whether he himself admitted it or not, he was. He was devout and well versed in doctrine. He was not only well-educated, he was also fluent in majornguages. He knew well enough to be able to exin any debate on philosophy and theology on the spot. Even the most trivial sentence in the scripture turned into a beautiful poem with deep meaning at the tip of his pen. He was dignified, his appearance was elegant, and his preaching skills were excellent. Among the nobles, there were many who only participated in the service he presided over. Even the Archbishop would step down to Bishop Akim. ¡®A man who became a priest because he was amoner.¡¯ But Artizea regarded him that way. If he had not been the son of a poor family, if he had been given an environment where he could study to his heart¡¯s content other than the temple, he would have exerted his powers in the imperial pce rather than the temple. His devotion was more of loyalty to the temple than of piety. It was also loyalty to his own power base, as is often the case with loyalty to the Emperor. ¡°Nice to meet you, Bishop Akim.¡± Artizea greeted him like so as she entered the study hall of Bishop Akim, which at first nce seemed simple. The crude wooden furniture did not even have brass, let alone gold decorations. The only thing that adorned the room was all kinds of books. Books piled up to waist-high, because they could not be inserted to the ceiling high bookshelf. Artizea didn¡¯t need to make any observations on such things. Without even looking at it, she knew Bishop Akim¡¯s study well. One of the reasons why Bishop Akim invites outsiders to the study room rather than the drawing room is to create a sense of intimidation. When an average person enters the study of Bishop Akim, they will be first overwhelmed by the sheer volume of books. And be in awe of his intelligence. Artizea did not think that Bishop Akim would have designed the study without being conscious of it. Self-righteous intellectuals are prone to bacsh. But he was not a schr or an intellectual, but a bishop. The faithful respected Bishop Akim, and those who were not, were daunted by his learning. Of course, Artizea was an exception. She knew Bishop Akim too well to have any respect. [¡°This is for the Saintess.¡±] Artizea recalled a story she shared while sitting in this study. [¡°I think it is natural for the noblest woman chosen by God to sit in the highest position in the world, Bishop Akim.¡±] [¡°I am d that someone who has a connection with the imperial family knows such a principle.¡±] Bishop Akim was the one who, along with Artizea, led the maniption of the oracle in order to make Lysia the Empress. Artizea considered him a good politician and a capable partner. But she had no respect for him as a priest or schr. Bishop Akim asked, unable to guess Artizea¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Isn¡¯t a day short enough to cleanse your mind, Marchioness?¡± ¡°My heart is always clean, Bishop. It¡¯s just that I have a poor mother.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°To be poor means to be like a child who was almost sacrificed. She was such a person who gives birth to a child of a man who is not married to her by the sacrament of marriage, and who intends to make sacrifices to curse the man¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea also thought it was strange. There is no way Bishop Akim was really surprised or shocked by Mira¡¯s immorality. He was someone who, if necessary, could cover up the sin casually. Artizea was surprised because in his manner of speaking, there was no room forpromise, but only hostility. He didn¡¯t seem to have taken a strong stance in the first ce to strategically gain an advantage in negotiations. She could not offer negotiations to the person speaking about principle in a hostile manner. Artizea spoke her position in a mild manner. ¡°The Bishop is a wise man, and you probably know why I call my mother pitiful. It¡¯s embarrassing to even say this.¡± Artizea said. ¡°My mother has long been emotionally unstable. It¡¯s my fault that I didn¡¯t take good care of her and let her fall into the devil¡¯s temptations. I feel the responsibility and n to make fullpensation for it.¡± She didn¡¯t even bring up any other stories that might arouse sympathy for Mira. That¡¯s a story that should be spread only during public opinion hearings. Talking to Bishop Akim was useless. Instead, Artizea has already informed the amount of donations to be made to the temple through other routes. She simply reminded Bishop Akim of it. After all, what the temple really wants is not to punish heresy. There are many fake wizards, necromancers, and prophets in the world. There are also cults that believe in superstitions. But the temple is not interested in most of them. In the end, what made this case so big was because the culprit was Mira. What the temple really wants is to regain its former authority. And Mira was the perfect target to show that authority. However, taking this work to the extreme is burdensome for the temple as well. Unlike protesters who disappear after disbanding, temples are forced to think about the future. Just as the imperial pce cares about the temple, the temple must also care about secr power. If Mira was burned at the stake, the Emperor will still be the Emperor, and he could live up to avenge his children. Grand Duchess Evron is the daughter of Mira. Moreover, when Lawrence became Emperor, it was even more difficult. If they let it slide right now, the temple must bear the burden throughout Lawrence¡¯s reign. He will be able to hit the temple at any time in the name of revenge for his birth mother. That is why there were many arguments for ending it on an appropriate line within the temple. Therefore, Artizea¡¯s mediation proposal was the best answer. Instead of emunicating Mira, they announce that she will be imprisoned as one of a demon possessed. Taking care of the madman was originally the job of the temple. In reality, the home of Marquisate Rosan will be turned into a monastery, and Mira will be penalized for life in the name of a training nun. It would be even better if Mira came to the trial and reflected and shed tears, while Artizea herself went and showed some praying instead. Otherwise, even if Mira spit out curse words and went mad, Artizea could show her dignity by showing herself dragging Mira out of the temple. If this is done, it will be sufficient to establish the authority of the temple. Also, since they epted the biological daughter¡¯s mediation proposal, the resentment also disappears. It could alsofort the Emperor¡¯s heart because Mira was not moved to a rough ce, but stayed where she is now. It was a moderate arbitration without harm to anyone. In addition, Artizea intended to pay the temple as a lump sum of pension, which she was giving to Mira, as a token of her gratitude. All of Mira¡¯s fortune now will be donated. Besides, the Rosan mansion has history and value as property. Bishop Akim would already know that the proposal would produce optimal results for the temple as well. But he had a fierce look on his face. ¡°Marchioness, what do you think the temple is?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°A young person who has already developed a bad habit. Even if you are not, there are a lot of people in the temple who are overly biased towards Marchioness, so I did some research.¡± Bishop Akim threw a pile of papers in front of Artizea. ¡°From errand servants to high-ranking priests, there was no one who did not receive the Marchioness¡¯ ¡®sign of sincerity¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you think you can do anything with money in this sacred temple?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s literally just a ¡®sign of sincerity¡¯.¡± Artizea consciously kept a faint smile. ¡°You don¡¯t think Brother Colton is in a partnership with me because of my ¡®sign of sincerity¡¯, do you?¡± There were two things she could guess. He wasn¡¯t sure which one it was, so Artizea picked one up and floated it lightly. And as expected, Bishop Akim¡¯splexion changed. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Proofreader: somnium The moment Bishop Akim revealed his inner feelings was brief. He soon returned expressionless. ¡°If you think you can get out of this case with a good rtionship, you are wrong, Marchioness Rosan. Colton has no power.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea was lost in thought for a moment. Brother Colton¡¯s follow-up was something that was the least expected in nning. It was natural for errors to ur. ¡®It¡¯s the Sainthood. I knew it was going to be a troublesome variable.¡¯ Bishop Akim¡¯s dislike of Brother Colton was well known without any special investigation. Brother Colton renounced theplex liturgy and overly difficult doctrines of the temple, and resigned as bishop. He said that repentance, service, and faith were the only ways to truly follow God¡¯s will and be redeemed. Disillusioned with the temple, many priests followed Brother Colton. Themon people also respected the poor monks. While pious old nobles respected Bishop Akim, Brother Colton was often chosen first. For the self-righteous Bishop Akim, all that must have been a thorn in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t stand the fact that Brother Colton received more respect from the people than he did. This is a dispute between the faction that values ??doctrine and the faction that values ??capitalism in the temple. At the same time, it was also a matter of Bishop Akim¡¯s feelings. ¡®Still, I don¡¯t think we ever fought in earnest like this before.¡¯ Artizea turned her memory back. Then there was Lysia. Bishop Akim tried to seek glory through Lysia, and Brother Colton tried to protect her by obeying her because she was a saintess. There were differences in the detailed actions. However, once Lysia became Empress, it made no difference who moved by her side. But now it is different. Brother Colton left the monastery to engage in secr work, such as the charity business*. And Bishop Akim doesn¡¯t know why. It was not strange to misunderstand that Brother Colton had changed his mind and was trying to work in earnest and expand his influence. Then she was with him, a person who had bribed the entire temple with hefty bribes. Bishop Akim apparently interpreted it as an act that she did in order to support Brother Colton and gain the favor from the temple. Some people can only understand the world that way. ¡®That¡¯s a relief.¡¯ It was a more serious situation than a confrontation between the moderates and the extremist in that they were mixed with emotions. But it wasn¡¯t the worst case scenario in terms of the reason why. Artizea also had in mind the possibility that Bishop Akim would be the ¡°returner¡±. If he was, the situation would have been difficult to resolve easily. Artizea said, hiding her sigh inside. ¡°Is the temple now trying to me me for having a madwoman as a mother?¡± ¡°You are a madwoman. Do you think you can get away with it like that? This is treason.¡± Bishop Akim said so. ¡°It was the first time I knew that a bishop had the right to investigate treason.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no use trying to get away with clever words.¡± ¡°I separated myself from my mother and became the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting. I think bishop knows that there are not many stories about me.¡± ¡°The rumors of the public are not very reliable. Especially when ites to conspirators.¡± ¡°Which conspirator in the world wanted to assassinate their base of power?¡± Artizea smiled softly. If there was no room forpromise, she did not have to try to work with Bishop Akim. And she didn¡¯t even have to hide herself. ¡°Bishop, have you joined hands with Grand Duke Roygar?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°If Brother Colton had Grand Duke Evron on his back, did you think Grand Duke Roygar would be necessary to confront him?¡± ¡°Marchioness Rosan, please don¡¯t be rude.¡± ¡°You would like to tie me up with Evron Grand Duchy, but if it is treason as you call it, that will be difficult.¡± Artizea gave a faint smile casually. ¡°If you tie me and my brother together and punish me for treason, the resentment will disappear, so the temple can do whatever they want, and my husband is fighting Karam in the north, so you must have thought that he couldn¡¯t get his hands on this so far? His Majesty will not be able to do anything if the templees forward and finds evidence of treason.¡± And Grand Duke Roygar wants to tie her and Lawrence to this treason. If only one Mira did it, it was nothing more than what a capricious woman did out of jealousy. However, if Artizea was also participating in that, it was a definite treason. ¡°Bishop, you better be careful. I made an arbitration proposal on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. It has nothing to do with this.¡± ¡°Then prove it.¡± Having said that, Bishop Akim put two pieces of paper down in front of Artizea. ¡°I heard that Marchioness is a smart person, and you studied the ancientnguage quite hard.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Are you really not involved in any of this heresy?¡± Artizea pulled the paper. One was a curse word transcribed by Bishop Akim, and the other was a nk piece of paper. Artizea did not look at what Bishop Akim had written, but wrote the ancientnguage on the nk piece of paper with a skillful handwriting. ? I pray for the death of ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª. ? She wrote so briefly, leaving the subject nk. And she wrote this time with her left hand. It was to confirm her clumsy left hand writing. ? I pray that those who hate me and those who make me suffer will fall into misery. ? Artizea returned the paper to Bishop Akim. Bishop Akim couldn¡¯t hide his surprise when he saw the paper. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Bishop Akim, you know this is foolish, right? If I had been involved in the curse, I would have had my mother write down the exact sentences, copy them, and then burn them. Without leaving a booklet in the mansion.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The bishop and I know that this is a much more effective sentence.¡± Bishop Akim has no evidence. Even if Artizea tries to copy poorly, she cannot write in the same typeface as the curse words from the Rosan mansion. Perhaps Bishop Akim will also make Artizea¡¯sdies-in-waiting copy it, but he will not find a match either. Because the person who copied it is already dead. ¡°Come to think of it, Bishop.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on the weak side, I don¡¯t know if you know.¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°Even so, I am very tired from my mother¡¯s work. I don¡¯t think it will be easy to survive in this environment for a long time.¡± Artizea said so and stood up. Bishop Akim¡¯s face was distorted. But he did not try to rebuke Artizea. Bishop Akim was almost certain that Artizea was the author of the cursed book. So he intends to yank the young Grand Duchess into confessing. Once he secured her handwriting and obtained the testimony that she was the one who wrote the book, he thought he could do whatever he wanted. But Artizea was too casual. She even handed over the handwriting of her left hand, as if she already knew he would doubt her right handwriting. Bishop Akim felt theplexity in his head. It was time for him to find another way. *** Artizea came out of Bishop Akim¡¯s study, feeling tired. Hayley asked. ¡°Is everything all right?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t what I expected.¡± Artizea spoke briefly and left the hallway. Only then did she see Hayley holding a small basket in her hand. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°I got it from the kitchen.¡± Inside the basket was a sweet orange tart and apple juice. It was not something that could be easily made in a temple. ¡°I think Sir Ansgar asked from outside. He seemed to have talked to Bishop Nikos personally to take care of Your Grace.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°Would you like to go for a walk in the courtyard? It would be nice to eat there.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± But the two could not go out into the courtyard. This was because the apprentice priests who had been ordered by Bishop Akim prevented the two from going out. Hayley was almost angry. ¡°Are you treating us like prisoners now?¡± Artizea stopped her. Because she didn¡¯t think it was necessary to openly quarrel. It was evident that the embarrassed apprentice priests had no right to decide whether or not to allow them out. The two returned to their small living quarters, spread snacks on the bed, and sat down next to each other. ¡°Now, you must have understood the atmosphere of the temple, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Behavior control is very strict, such as forbidding people from going out or having Her Grace go to the prayer room, but also in the kitchen, some priests are very careful. There were people who came here on purpose and told me about the outside world.¡± ¡°There must be some influence from Brother Colton. Bishop Akim is overworked, the Archbishop is moderate, and the majority of lower priests would not want to be so directly involved in secr politics as they are now.¡± Artizea said. ¡°That¡¯s why Bishop Nikos told the kitchen to take care of us. He¡¯s a safe man, so he¡¯s probably trying to ameliorate my difort a little, just in case.¡± ¡°Then, wouldn¡¯t it be the first thing to prevent such an act like confinement?¡± ¡°Because interrogation of heresy itself is under the domain of Bishop Akim, and it is also supported by citizens.¡± ¡°What are you going to do? You didn¡¯t expect to be locked up like this, did you?¡± ¡°If I had known, I would not havee voluntarily. I was just nning on investing a day or two to inte the face of the temple and negotiate. Well, what should I do?¡± Before meeting Bishop Akim, she thought about using Bishop Nikos. But that won¡¯t solve it. ¡°Bishop Akim has joined hands with Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°If he had joined hands with Grand Duke Roygar, would he be driving Your Grace as treason?¡± ¡°Yes. The purpose of Grand Duke Roygar is to execute even my brother as treason, and Bishop Akim is to make me, who is close to Brother Colton, a heretic and a traitor, so that there is no ce for the monk in the temple.¡± ¡°What are you going to do? Two or three days is enough time to forge evidence.¡± Artizea munched on the orange tart and nodded her head. ¡°Fake evidence¡­¡­. That¡¯s a good idea.¡± It would not be possible to im that Artizea wrote the book in the Rosan Mansion. But they can bribe a maid or a servant to use Artizea of getting the book from somewhere. If they had decided to forge the evidence, they could have created witnesses that she was involved in the purchase of children who were likely to be sacrificed. The old woman who was about to try the curse with Mira is now in the hands of the temple. Hayley asked. ¡°Shall I contact Sir Alphonse?¡± ¡°Stop. It would be crazy to go to war with the temple. Why don¡¯t you just leave? It¡¯s okay to just put a notice to the Archbishop.¡± ¡°It is worth fighting Bishop Akim.¡± ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know. I know Your Grace¡¯s extent.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea did not deny and only shook her head gently. Will she finish quickly, or will she organize it carefully? Bring a cause and narrow Bishop Akim¡¯s position, and the moderate faction will take care of the rest. Not only Bishop Akim, but Artizea was also weighing it. About how to proceed. cough cough Summer will being early cough cough Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Proofreader: somnium Artizea waited another day. But Bishop Akim never called her back. Artizea left open the possibility for him to change his mind. She also had a little hope that the Archbishop or Bishop Nikos might put Bishop Akim aside. But, on the contrary, he seemed to intend to move forward without her by excluding her altogether. Because he was sure he wouldn¡¯t get any usible evidence from Artizea or make her do a slip of the tongue. Artizea had a good meal and was able to eat delicious snacks that were not very different from when she was in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. She was able to walk around the courtyard as if someone had talked to the apprentice priests who were watching the gate. Perhaps Bishop Akim did not explicitly forbid it. But the next day she was again asked to repent herself. Artizea entered the small prayer room and closed the door. She then sat down on her knees, looking at the sacred icon. She had no intention of praying, let alone repent, but this space itself was not bad. The scent of burning incense candles and the smell of old wood harmonized to create a serene and calm atmosphere. It was perfect for her to focus on her thoughts. ¡°If it happens, you must be focused on defilements.¡± Her muttering alone echoed in the prayer room. The problem was not in the prayer room itself, but in the request for repentance. Repentance is something you do yourself. You couldn¡¯t force this unless you were a sinner of the temple. Bishop Akim must have already guessed that such means of pressure would not work. It could be because of pride. A person like Bishop Akim would not be able to tolerate disobedience from a girl who was only 1/3 his age. ¡®After all, that was the problem that bothered Lysia.¡¯ It must have been difficult for Bishop Akim to understand. If Lysia listened to his words, there would be personal glory to gain. And he would be able to shake off divine authority. But he doesn¡¯t understand why Lysia refuses and does not follow. ¡®What should we do?¡¯ The quickest solution was to reveal that she was a saintess. Then this problem will be over immediately. No one could say that the saintess was a heretic. She couldn¡¯t even be driven as a traitor. Especially in temples, you can never even mention such a word. Bishop Akim will turn this way immediately. Artizea¡¯s position was different from Lysia¡¯s. When deciding something, whether it was right or wrong, whether the person was a good person or a bad person, were not very important factors. So, it wasn¡¯t that difficult to win Bishop Akim¡¯s loyalty. After all, he was a person who had been Artizea¡¯s good partner. The fact that the saintess is Grand Duchess Evron would be a satisfactory result for him. And it would be even better if she became the neat empress. So he will immediately reverse his position and try to put Cedric on the throne. But Artizea didn¡¯t want to do that. A person like Bishop Akim is not suitable for Cedric. Besides, if she makes him work, he will be a headache in the future. If so, will she contact Bishop Nikos? This is a prudent way. If Artizea didn¡¯t want to be exposed, this was a much better choice. The majority of priests are stability-oriented. They want to increase the authority of the temple, but they do not want to fight secr power as actively as Bishop Akim. They want to enjoy a moderate degree of respect and considerable wealth without having to risk anything. Rather, it is better to be friendly with the imperial family to gain formal respect. The Archbishop was no exception. That is why he was able to ascend to the position of Archbishop without any opposition. If she raises a dispute and gives a good cause, she can win their cooperation and suppress Bishop Akim. ¡®The problem is that Bishop Akim¡¯s principles of action are mixed with personal feelings.¡¯ He may not admit it himself, but he certainly did. It¡¯s not hard to convince someone who¡¯s cool down after acting emotionally. It will be after the self-justification is over. If the Archbishop could have simply stopped Bishop Akim, he would have already done so. Taking advantage of those who hate fighting would require a fairly cautious approach. Artizea didn¡¯t think she could control everything. The behavior of a person who acts logically and moves for power is predictable. A person who, like Mira, is driven solely by emotion, she can guess the next course of action as a result of observation. But it would be foolish to think that she couldpletely predict the behavior of aplex person like Bishop Akim. He sets up the real motives and inner logics of his actions separately. Artizea wasn¡¯t sure which side he would follow. She has already made the error once. There was no guarantee that it wouldn¡¯t get any bigger. ¡®The variable of sainthood is toorge to handle easily.¡¯ It was difficult for Bishop Akim to boldly move forward while acting calmly and cautiously. She can¡¯t react properly in a current situation, where she¡¯s stuck and is only getting limited information. And Artizea had a slightly different stance from before. If things went wrong, she couldn¡¯t say out of the blue that she had a n to separate herself from Cedric through a divorce. ¡®Let¡¯s finish it quickly. Get a good night¡¯s sleep. I am getting tired.¡¯ Artizea looked down at the ring she was wearing. She has been wearing a pearl ring, which she doesn¡¯t normally wear, just in case. The pearl is a fake, with a light drug inside. It was a bit of a strong sleeping pill. The average person would wake up around the evening of the next day. Or, sleep all day and wake up in the morning of the second day. Artizea reacted to it more severely. If she drinks it before going to sleep, she will not wake up for two or three days. At the same time, her fatigue was umting. She can¡¯t even remember thest time she slept properly. Artizea was anxious about not being able to direct the immediate situation with her own hands. But she¡¯s also told Hayley about the various contingencies, and there¡¯s Freil, so it will be fine. It was unintentional to worry Ansgar and Marcus, but this was the quickest way. But Artizea didn¡¯t have a chance to drink it. It was in the evening when she got up and decided to drink it before she went to bed. Her eyes flickered. She thought it was a standing anemia as usual, but the condition was more serious than that. Her vision instantly darkened. Artizea tried to grab the altar and lean on it, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Artizea copsed with a thud. * * * Hayley, who was waiting right next to the prayer room door, heard the sound. She hurriedly opened the door. Then she found Artizea lying down. ¡°Doctor!¡± Hayley ran to her and yelled out. ¡°Call the doctor!¡± The two priests who had been guarding the two, while standing a little further away, heard the sound and panicked. Hayley hurriedly untied Artizea¡¯s hem. It was to make her breathing easier. She then confirmed the condition by cing her hand under Artizea¡¯s nose. Her breathing was hot and irregr. ¡°I told you to call the doctor! What are you doing?¡± When she yelled, one of the priests was startled and ran outside. Hayley shouted at the other priest. ¡°Bring water! Go to the kitchen and bring some salt and sugar! What are you doing with her weak body like this!¡± The priest was also terrified. He had been told by Bishop Akim to keep an eye on the two of them, but that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Hayley pped Artizea on the cheek a few times. But her consciousness did not return. It didn¡¯t look like she was just fainting. ¡°Your Grace! Did you do this on purpose?¡± Hayley let out her wrath in a low voice. No wonder she said something like that the night before. [¡°If anything happens to me, try to contact Bishop Nikos through the kitchen. Perhaps Bishop Nikos had someone in the kitchen to look after us.¡±] [¡°There is no such thing as a ¡®perhaps¡¯ for Your Grace.¡±] [¡°Do I know everything about the world? I said ¡®if¡¯. I¡¯m not in very good shape. I don¡¯t have the stamina tost long in a ce like this.¡±] Then Artizea said. [¡°If you get out of here, please contact Brother Colton in the west as soon as possible to inform him of what happened here. Leave everything behind. That¡¯s the most urgent. Then appeal to the Archbishop.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°Control the knights so that there is no excessive conflict. I don¡¯t want it to be a fight, I want Bishop Akim to step down and another priest to take over.¡±] Artizea said ¡®perhaps¡¯, but there was absolutely no way it would be so. If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d have informed Hayley of that policy in advance. Hayley put Artizea down on the floor with her face turned red from anger. She could easily guess Artizea¡¯s thoughts. The weak Grand Duchess who voluntarily came to cooperate with the temple, but was effectively imprisoned. She was forced to repent and knelt down on her knees in a narrow prayer room until she fainted. This is enough for Evron to weigh in. They could not help but hold Bishop Akim ountable, a mere moderated bishop. Citizens who were inherently favorable to her and Evron will be suspicious of Bishop Akim. She also instructed her to contact Brother Colton. This must have been to empower Bishop Akim¡¯s opponents in the temple. It was Artizea who didn¡¯t know the extent. She had to know how far Evron would do for her. Would Cedric execute Aubrey and throw Jordyn away for someone whom he could sacrifice so easily? Artizea told her to control the knights so as not to be too much of a dispute, but Hayley had no intention of doing so. She was determined to make Evron act. She ran up to the corridor. Then she pulled out a re. Then she lit the re and put it on the floor. The res made a hissing sound and emitted yellow smoke. £ª£ª£ª At the same time Cedric was at Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence in the capital. ¡°What happened to you? How can you suddenly¡­without any news¡­.?¡± Ansgar rushed to greet him as he entered through the back door. ¡°I was lucky. I came by sea, and the weather was nice all three weeks, and the tail winds blew tremendously.¡± Ansgar nodded his head. ¡°What about Tia?¡± That¡¯s what Cedric asked next. ¡°I sent a carrier pigeon several times, did you not receive it?¡± ¡°I was in a hurry, so this is thest thing I got before departure. When I heard that Mira had done something great, I left immediately.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear anything from the port?¡± Cedric tilted his head. Ansgar sighed. ¡°It seems that there is no news yet because of the distance. There was no notice on the port, either¡­ Her Grace the Grand Duchess has been in the temple ever since.¡± ¡°Temple?¡± ¡°There was a request for cooperation in the investigation of the Rosan mansion. Her Grace thought it was an opportunity to discuss with the temple secretly. However, the atmosphere is strange.¡± That was then. The sound of the knights rushing out from the front door could be heard. Cedric¡¯s face hardened. T/N: As promised! Cedric is here earlier! It¡¯s just going to get exciting that he¡¯s here!! (too much exmation marks, I know) Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Proofreader: somnium Bishop Akim was seated opposite Marchioness Camellia. Although the visit was not scheduled in advance, Bishop Akim was not surprised. It was because he knew very well that Marchioness Camellia cared about Artizea a lot. Even when a secret agreement was made between Bishop Akim and Grand Duke Roygar, Marchioness Camellia reacted very sensitively. It was only after Grand Duke Roygar and Bishop Akim had agreed to be rtively lenient towards Artizea. What Grand Duke Roygar wants is for Lawrence to be charged with treason. Artizea is just a bridge to bring out Lawrence. It is said that Artizea has recently been cherished by the emperor, but the gap is clear from Mira and her own child in their prime. There was no need to risk making a grudge against Cedric and push Artizea to the extreme. His desire to win Cedric¡¯s support has not changed yet. However, unlike before, he wanted to take a form in which he reached out his hand from a more advantageous position. It was because Cedric¡¯s support was not so strong that he desperately needed it. In the process, it would be better if the resentment between the Emperor and Cedric could deepen. And his wife¡¯s involvement in treason would be something that would remind him of his parents¡¯ resentment. That is why he hoped that evidence of this treason woulde from the temple¡¯s side. The Emperor ispelled to execute the Marchioness of Rosan, including Mira and Lawrence, for treason. And in the process, he was trying to give her the grace that he had taken Artizea out. Cedric is far from such a conspiracy or nder. And he didn¡¯t have a bookkeeper to supplement that part. As it is, Artizea seems to have started in such a role, but she is still young and involved in the work. Grand Duke Roygar thought she could be left uninformed enough. If Grand Duke Roygar had decided so, then there was no reason to object. After all, what he needed was a cause to oust Brother Colton. Artizea herself is pretty good. Once Artizea is driven out of central politics in that way, she cannot openly support Brother Colton, no matter how wealthy she may be. If Brother Colton was backed by Artizea after that, it wasn¡¯t too bad that it could be a cause for dispute. But Marchioness Camellia was against their will. If they decide to attack Artizea, he should not bex and shouldpletely eliminate her. And Bishop Akim seemed to understand the reason. ¡°How was it? How do you feel about meeting Grand Duchess Evron?¡± Bishop Akim poured tea by his own hand into a teacup and handed it to Marchioness Camellia. And said without revealing any agitation. ¡°¡­¡­ I regret not heeding Madam¡¯s advice and belittling her because I thought she was a little girl.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Would you like to see hers?¡± Bishop Akim said so and went to his desk. Then he took out a piece of paper and showed it to Marchioness Camellia. ¡°An ancient handwriting by the Marchioness of Rosan.¡± ¡°She is very skilled.¡± Marchioness Camellia said that even though she did not know the ancientnguage very well. But she could see it. ¡°She even gave her left handwriting. Like someone who knows what I¡¯m asking for.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is not easy for someone who has be ustomed to writing to write like a child again. It is rather difficult for those who know the principles of writing ancientnguage characters to write clumsily like the manuscript found in the Rosan mansion. Even if I tried to copy the same typeface, it would be impossible.¡± Bishop Akim said. ¡°I didn¡¯t originally think the Marchioness Rosan was involved in this. As Madam knows.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­. I thought so, while admitting the possibility that the Grand Duchess had written the booklet.¡± ¡°There is no evidence of Marchioness Rosan¡¯s intervention either before or after this. However, if there was a connection, it was just stressing Mira and instigating her madness, because it was just a mother-daughter fight.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But if it was a booklet with the words of curse on it, things were a little different. It was written less than three years ago. You can tell by looking at the fade of the paper or the color of the ink.¡± ¡°Is it that she hid a book she had written years ago in the library, which Mira identally found and tried to use it for her curse?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I suspected. Maybe it was hidden with the heart of cursing her own mother. Didn¡¯t Marchioness Rosan not grow up enough, at the time, to embrace the curse words? It¡¯s not a coincidence, it¡¯s just that the karma came back on its own.¡± Bishop Akim continued. ¡°But seeing it in person changed my mind.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°If the Marchioness Rosan wanted to destroy Mira, she would have written it herself, rather than copying the curse words on paper.¡± Marchioness Camellia pondered. ¡°I think the Bishop seems to agree with me that the Grand Duchess really did this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I can¡¯t say that. The manuscript was never written by Marchioness Rosan.¡± Bishop Akim sighed. ¡°But if it was the Marchioness herself who came up with the n, she would have already known that she might be implicated. So, in order to bury the evidence, she purposefully made a manuscript with someone else¡¯s handwriting, and proudly gave me her own handwriting in this way.¡± ¡°Do you think she was confident that you would never find out what she did?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We will find out, but in all likelihood none of the maids or servants will ever have copied it.¡± And Bishop Akim said. ¡°No matter how logical you think, this is a real coincidence. At least it¡¯s perfectly decorated as one.¡± ¡°Yes. I think so, too.¡± Marchioness Camellia also readily agreed. If Artizea had used Mira to assassinate the Empress, she wouldn¡¯t have been sox that she would be exposed so quickly. Conversely, if there is a purpose in beingx, they will not be able to gather the evidence. Especially within a limited time. Bishop Akim said. ¡°It is also strange if the purpose was to defeat Sir Lawrence. It¡¯s because profit and loss don¡¯t match when you¡¯re driven as a traitor. The risk is too great.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marchioness Camellia agreed this time as well. And she said ¡°Apart from logic, your mind must have been inclined towards not a coincidence? Because the Bishop is wise.¡± At the words of Marchioness Camellia, Bishop Akim let out a long sigh. He thought it was a coincidence, so he was trying to get evidence by force. Conversely, if this is a staged coincidence, the evidence will note from anywhere. But soon the same conclusion was reached for both. The truth of the matter was not important. What was important was the result. Bishop Akim said. ¡°If you decide not to hit, you won¡¯t know, but if you decide to hit, you have to be sure.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Bishop Akim has now agreed to stand in the hands of Marchioness Camellia. Right now, he shouldn¡¯t have thought of it as an excuse to attack Brother Colton. It should be approached from the point of view of eliminating the hindrance. You have to nip the bud before it grows into a really menacing person. ¡°Unless we can find the real evidence.¡± It was when Bishop Akim had just spoken. A priest mmed the door open. Bishop Akim jumped up in surprise. ¡°What is this rudeness?¡± The sound from outside, which had been blocked by thick doors and windows, came in. Amotion was heard from afar. The priest said with a face soaked in cold sweat. ¡°It is the Knights of Evron.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Grand Duchess Evron copsed in the prayer room. It seems that herdy-in-waiting, who was with her, told the news to the outside.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it before that?¡± ¡°You had an important guest, so I called the doctor first. I didn¡¯t mean to let you knowte. For some reason, they arrived almost at the same time as the doctor.¡± The priest bowed his head. Bishop Akim jumped to his feet. Marchioness Camellia had already covered her face with a veil. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Bishop Akim did not wait for Marchioness Camellia to answer. It was because nothing good wille if they were known to meet secretly. He hurriedly headed out. *** The reason that the Knights of Evron arrived so quickly was because it had been prepared in advance. On the day Artizea came to the temple, not all of the Knights returned to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. Alphonse always had at least three knights watching the temple. He also stayed nearby. It was Alphonse who gave Hayley the re. And as soon as the re went off, he was the first to move. The temple was bewildered. The temple is not a ce that normally closes its doors. No one knew what had happened until three armed knights entered the temple grounds. There were more people who did not know that Artizea was at the Great Abbey. Some of the priests knew Alphonse, so they came forward ¡°This inner area is where the priests and monks live, Sir Alphonse. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but if you wait outside, I¡¯ll call the person you¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°I havee to pick up our Grand Duchess.¡± Hearing those words, a look of surprise spread out. A few priests rushed out. One ran to the Archbishop, another to Bishop Akim, and another to Bishop Nikos. Armed knights flocked in. The knights did get off their horses as prescribed at the main gate of the temple. However, with a line up, they headed to the building behind the temple where the signal was fired. The sound of shrill thumping boots resounded through the building. The priests flocked to stop it. The same was true of priests who knew nothing. They could not let the knights enter the holy temple armed. It was at this time that Bishop Akim heard the news and rushed out. ¡°What is all this! You dare to invade the temple with your earthen feet?¡± He came forward without hesitation and shouted. Alphonse said. ¡°Bishop, we are only here to see Her Grace the Grand Duchess. If you take her all the way to us here, I have no desire to enter the temple.¡± Bishop Akim said with a cold face. ¡°Marchioness Rosan has not yet finished her penance.¡± ¡°Then, call thedy-in-waiting who was with her. We need to know what caused the emergency res to be fired.¡± Bishop Akim changed hisplexion. ¡°Do you dare doubt the protection of the temple now?¡± ¡°If Her Grace is safe, there is no reason for us to worry. All you have to do is call her and let her meet me.¡± ¡°When the timees, Marchioness Rosan will be taken care of for her return.¡± Bishop Akim spit out coldly. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Proofreader: somnium Alphonse took a step forward. He was sorge and well-armed that he alone was threatening. ¡°Then I will go in by myself and see Her Grace.¡± ¡°Are you saying that the temple is forcefully holding Marchioness Rosan right now?¡± ¡°I am not saying that the temple is imprisoning Her Grace.¡± Alphonse said without much thought. However, the priests, who did not know the circumstances, were stirred up. Because the connection between the word confinement and Evron Grand Duchy raised suspicions. If Grand Duchess Evron is here to voluntarily repent, wouldn¡¯t it be a good idea to show up for a moment and reassure the knights. Of course, Bishop Akim couldn¡¯t let that happen. He had already heard reports that Artizea had fainted. Showing her in her present state to the knights proved that she was in captivity. There is also a witness which was herdy-in-waiting. He had no idea how the hell he knew and ran here so fast. Bishop Akim in his heart cursed the priests who were monitoring Artizea. It means either he was absurdlyte to report to him, or that he didn¡¯t stop any news froming out. He had to stop them for now. In the meantime, he was nning to move Artizea and Hayley to another ce first. Negotiations must be made with Artizea. That stupid Knights of Evron must have been spreading rumors all over the ce by now. Then there is agitation in the temple. Morale was on the rise among the low-ranking priests. They are united internally and externally and follow the heresy inquisitor. He couldn¡¯t ruin the atmosphere. Above all else, resigning from this will damage his authority. ¡°Stand down.¡± ¡°This is myst apology, Bishop. After this, it will not be a request.¡± Alphonse slowly ced his left hand on the hilt. That wasn¡¯t a sign that he was going to draw his sword right away. He confirmed that he was armed. However, following him, the knights all at once touched the hilt. Shudder-. Even though not a single handle had been pulled, the sound of iron rubbing reverberated through the air. Like a battlefield, there was a whirlwind of momentum that was about to explode. The priests took a breath. There were also those who took a step backwards. Because they knew that Alphonse was serious about attacking. But Bishop Akim was not cowardly enough to sumb to force. He straightened his body and shouted arrogantly. ¡°The Lord must be a faithful person. Do you know what this sacred temple is doing!¡± But the word returned to him the other direction. Cedric appeared from behind the knights. Even the Archbishop was with Cedric. ¡°That is something I would like to ask, Bishop Akim. Why should the escort knight Imanded to guard my wife have to do this?¡± Cedric said. ¡°Hey, Akim!¡± The Archbishop raised his voice. Bishop Akim gasped with nervousness. ¡°Archbishop, this is, how¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°Your Grace!¡± Alphonse was startled and bowed his head. He waspletely unaware that Cedric had arrived in the capital. Even though the knights opened the way, they could not hide their surprise. When the priests saw the Archbishop, they in unison bent one knee and bowed down. Cedric spoke again to Bishop Akim in a cold voice. ¡°If my knights ims that my wife is imprisoned here aren¡¯t true, then there¡¯s no reason to stop them like this, Bishop.¡± ¡°Grand Duke Evron¡­¡­.¡± Bishop Akim groaned. How is Cedric here? This made no sense. There was no way that Cedric could have kept an eye on the trends while working in Evron Grand Duchy. Even so, due to the news of the war at the Thold Gate, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s intelligencework was operating at its maximum capacity. Not only Grand Duke Roygar, but also the Emperor¡¯s informationwork and Lawrence¡¯s informationwork moved. The target groups also wanted to know the situation in the north. Because the war moved supplies at an unprecedentedlyrge scale for political reasons. Dozens of carrier pigeons flew almost every day. As the sea cleared up, even the businesses set up a small group and headed north. Bishop Akim also sent a letter to the priests to inquire about the news. However, the news from any source was all simr. The Karam troops gathered in front of the Thold Gate did not disband despite two shes and losses. The army was gradually replenishing, and now the number has increased to 25,000. Even during the war, Karam would climb north of the road when the weather got warmer. This time, however, they settled down within the reach of the bombardment. This was, in fact, an intentionally falsified information leak to blind Karam from negotiating. But Bishop Akim had no reason to doubt the information gathered from multiple sources. Bishop Akim knew that the sea route had been opened a few weeks ago. But they were still at war. There was no way Cedric could clear the Thold Gate. Why is Cedric here? This would break all preconditions. The conspiracy to drive Artizea into treason is established under the condition that Cedric would ept Grand Duke Roygar¡¯spensation n. Everything had to be done while he concentrated on the work of the northern border. When he found out after it had already be unavoidable, Cedric would admit that he was better off being rewarded for the sake of his wife. But Bishop Akim realized just now that Cedric was a man who would never negotiate over his family. Cedric spoke again. ¡°Would you like to stop me even if I wanted to go in?¡± Bishop Akim looked at the Archbishop. The Archbishop beckoned to open the way. The priests opened the way by moving left and right like the sea splitting without waiting for Bishop Akim¡¯smand. Cedric strode inside. The knights followed. *** Hayley was stamping her feet nervously at themotion outside. Anyway, the most important thing was the doctor. However, the confused priests did not seem to know what to do first. Three unknown priests came in with a stretcher. Hayley jumped up and put her hands on her pocket. This is because the priests approached Artizea first without even a greeting as they entered. ¡°Stop right there. What about the doctor?¡± Hayley asked. ¡°He wille soon.¡± One priest answered dryly. It was as if all of his nerves had been turned outward. Hayley felt ominous and stood between him and Artizea. ¡°The doctor? Where are you going to take Her Grace?¡± ¡°First of all, I will take her to afortable room. The doctor wille over there.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch Her Grace¡¯s body.¡± Hayley spoke quickly and put her hand on her pocket. Not only these three priests, but other priests were seen moving outside. Among the many people, not one came to look after Artizea or to bring necessary items for the person who had copsed in panic. A priest turned and approached Hayley as if he knew this. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time.¡± Hayley knew that they were doing it to subdue her in case of emergency. The rush does not mean Artizea¡¯s condition, but it would mean that they must be moved to another ce quickly. Hayley took her gun out of her pocket. ¡°Gasp.¡± ¡°Oh my.¡± The three priests stopped at the same time. Hayley couldn¡¯t hide the trembling of her hands. ¡°Don¡¯te near me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do this, Lady Jordyn.¡± ¡°I¡¯m neither a soldier nor a knight, so I can¡¯t shoot well, priest. I don¡¯t want to create an ident.¡± She should have brought the bullets, Hayley thought, no matter how bad she shot. One shot would have been enough for her. If she fires a single shot into the air to announce her location as well as a threat, Alphonse will run to her even if he has to break the door. Her shoulder was terribly sore from her bluffing. The priests hesitated. Bishop Akim¡¯s order was solemn. However, they were not adept at using force enough to rush at a person with the gun and subdue her at once. ¡°You can¡¯t do this, Lady.¡± ¡°If the priests can honestly tell me what¡¯s going on outside, I¡¯ll be happy to follow you.¡± Hayley said. It was just a moment of confrontation. The noise of the people talking disappeared, and the sound of footsteps scattered here and there. Thump, thump. And the heavy footsteps of the knights were heard. Hayley took a breath so that her shoulders went up and down. Cedric was the first to enter the small prayer room. ¡°Grand Duke¡­¡­ !¡± She never thought he woulde here himself. Hayley half-shouted, threw her gun away, and knelt on the floor. The three priests couldn¡¯t even run away and went back and forth in confusion. The knights rushed in in an instant and grabbed the three of them. Cedric went over to Artizea¡¯s side without saying anything and knelt down on one of his knees. Then he put his hand lightly on her cheek. Her face was as pale as a dead person, and her body temperature was cold. He carefully put his hands on Artizea¡¯s back and under her knees and held her up. Artizea didn¡¯t seem to have obeyed any of his orders. She did get a little heavier. But herplexion seemed worse than before. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hear from youter, Hayley.¡± ¡°They are attempted kidnappers.¡± Hayley crawled her words out. It was about the three priests who were captured by the knights. Cedric slowly turned his head to look at Bishop Akim. Bishop Akim took a half-step back. He didn¡¯t mean to, but he was so overwhelmed under the pressure. Cedric looked at the Archbishop this time. He saw the knights depart from the mansion, and heard a brief exnation from Ansgar. And instead of immediately following the Knights, he went to the Archbishop¡¯s residence. No matter what happened, apanying the Archbishop was the mildest way to deal with the situation. He thought Artizea would want that too. He didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on in the temple. However, Artizea herself seldom reveals the way she embellished her works. And he regretted thinking that way. The way back was only about twenty minutes. Still, for as long as that time, Artizea was lying on this cold stone floor. Had it not been for Hayley with the gun, it is possible that she would have been moved. The Knights ran out, but it was foolish to think of a moderate solution. ¡°I think I have served the temple well enough, Archbishop.¡± The Archbishop made a perplexed face. He was dyed red down to the bottom of his neck, but his expression barely maintained hisposure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Cedric. I heard that the Grand Duchess was staying, but they said she was praying voluntarily¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You must have known that my wife was weak. If you did not know, herdy-in-waiting would have known.¡± ¡°I have nothing to say.¡± The Archbishop bowed his head. T/N: I know a lot of readers are wondering about the bun in the oven, everything will be answered in the next chapter! Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Proofreader: somnium Cedric said in a low, cold voice. ¡°I never imagined that the temple would treat me like this. I believed the Archbishop would protect my wife.¡± The Archbishop failed to answer. Cedric turned his gaze to Bishop Akim this time. And he ordered with his eyes fixed on him. ¡°Take the attempted kidnapper. Find out who ordered it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alphonse answered in a stern manner. ¡°Bishop Akim.¡± Cedric then called Bishop Akim. Bishop Akim trembled. ¡°I heard that my wife came here to voluntarily cooperate with the investigation on the Rosan mansion.¡± Cedric¡¯s voice was calm. However, Bishop Akim¡¯s spine, who was facing his gaze, trembled non-stop as if he had a chill. Bishop Akim had no intention of showing any humiliation in front of others. He wasn¡¯t defeated yet. There is now that holds the temple responsible for Artizea¡¯s copse. Cedric could be angry, but he knew very well that that alone wouldn¡¯t cause any decisive effect on him. But before he could judge with his head, his body felt alive. Bishop Akim realized that he was shivering like a man covered in cold water in the middle of winter. He had never been crushed by the pressure of another until now. He was always proud even in front of the Emperor. However, Bishop Akim could not win against the person who had traveled to and from the battlefield to determine the life and death of people, since he was young. Cedric said slowly. ¡°It is voluntary. Because my wife isn¡¯t dragged around by anyone, and she doesn¡¯t have to be.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°We will go back. But I will never let this slide, Bishop Akim.¡± Cedric said so and turned around while holding Artizea. The sound of the Archbishop telling the priests to get the carriage was heard over his ears. The knights followed Cedric like a low tide. At the order of the Archbishop, the priests were also scattered. A murmur spread throughout the wide temple. Bishop Akim stood there dazedly, then suddenly came to his senses. Sweat pooled in the palm of his hand, and as he tried to clench his fist, his finger slipped. He looked down at the palm. The nape of his neck was also drenched in cold sweat. Among Cedric¡¯s words, the only thing that stood out in his memory was thest sentence. ¡®You won¡¯t let it slide?¡¯ It was only when he escaped from death that his reasoning returned. Then, this time, just the same amount of anger that had been suppressed soared. ¡°How dare you at the temple¡­¡­ !¡± But he couldn¡¯t release any of his anger. Because the Archbishop is back. The Archbishop¡¯s face was now stained red. The Archbishop used to be considered a good man. He was a gentle man with no enemy, and he avoided quarrels with others. He had no faction, and he had no enemies, so he was made Archbishop. It was rare for such an Archbishop to be so angry. ¡°Akim, what did I say!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Archbishop.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to touch the Grand Duchess unintentionally? Trying to weave the word treason to the Grand Duchess without anything else, there is no way Evron would stand it?¡± Bishop Akim looked at him with a puzzled expression. The Archbishop had never been so aggressive in his opposition. He only expressed the anxiety of overdoing things and what if things go wrong. So Bishop Akim said to the Archbishop. ¡°The Archbishop will not be able to escape this by iming that this was a foolish act that I secretlymitted alone.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you think the Grand Duke would believe you don¡¯t know that the Marchioness of Rosan was here? In the end, the Archbishop is also guilty of not protecting her. Perhaps you wanted to draw a line in case the Marchioness of Rosan became a traitor.¡± ¡°Akim, you¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You took quite a bit of bribes.¡± ¡°Akim!¡± The Archbishop roared. Bishop Akim ignored him and turned away. Has Marchioness Camellia left? He had to discuss a follow-up in a hurry. *** At the Grand Duke¡¯s residence, vassals and servants flocked and rushed, anxiously waiting for the return of the Grand Duke and his wife. Cedric got off the carriage with the fainted Artizea. Ansgar and Marcus hastily opened the way. The doctor was waiting in advance just in case. There was an urgent matter that the knights were dispatched to. He had called the doctor in advance because he thought there might be an unexpected situation. Cedric put Artizea down on the bed himself. The paleplexion did not improve in the slightest. Alice and Sophie rushed in, took Artizea¡¯s coat off, and rubbed her hands and feet. Marcus, pale blue, rushed in with warm sugar water. The doctor checked herplexion, breathing and heartbeat. Meanwhile, Cedric was looking down at Artizea¡¯s face with a dark face. ¡°Master Ced.¡± Ansgar gently stroked his arm and tugged him in. ¡°The doctor will take a good look.¡± ¡°Yes, it should be fine.¡± Cedric shook his head. Then, as Ansgar dragged him out, he went out to the living room. One side of his head hurt like being stabbed with a long skewer. He pressed his finger to his eyes. ¡°Forgive us.¡± Ansgar and Alphonse knelt side by side. ¡°If I had known that Madam would be treated like that, I would never have let her go.¡± ¡°No.¡± Hayley intervened, knelt next to them and made excuses instead. ¡°It is the decision of Her Grace. How could Ansgar or Sir Alphonse have stopped her? Sorry. It¡¯s all because I haven¡¯t been able to help properly.¡± Hayley bowed her head. ¡°When I saw that the room given to her by the temple was for a monk, I should have forcefully brought Her Grace out.¡± ¡°Get up. As you said, it was she who decided, how could you stop it? I don¡¯t even know if I could have stopped it if it were me.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. But Hayley knelt down on one of her knees and spoke as an excuse for Artizea. ¡°Her Grace also said that it was unexpected. There are usually enough rooms for guests to stay in the Great Temple, and there are a lot of olddies who are recuperating in the annexes.¡± ¡°By the way, did you mean that they gave her a rough room used by monks?¡± ¡°Yeah. There is quite a bit of chilling from the walls and the floor, but I believe that the mattress was made of straw, so it was not good for her health.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Perhaps it was because of fear that rumors would spread outside if they let her stay in an annex or guest room.¡± Cedric fiddled with the empty ss he was holding. It was difficult to tell whether his throat was burning or his stomach was burning. Hayley continued. ¡°Her Grace intended to meet and negotiate quietly with Bishop Akim. She expected it to be over in two or three days. But it didn¡¯t work out the way she wanted it to.¡± ¡°Is it because of Brother Colton?¡± Hayley was surprised because Cedric came to the same conclusion as Artizea without asking any further questions. Cedric sighed. ¡°It¡¯s rare that someone can make Bishop Akim irrational. Then?¡± ¡°Her Grace¡¯s spection is that Bishop Akim may have partnered with Grand Duke Roygar. If Her Grace is charged with treason, Brother Colton, who was sponsored by Her Grace, will also be a criminal.¡± ¡°I see what you mean.¡± If Artizea had guessed it, it would hardly be wrong. She is not someone who speaks out of her mouth without certainty. It was also a conspiracy enough to be fully staged. Although Grand Duke Roygar had spoken favorably by emphasizing his blood ties, Cedric was not foolish enough to believe it. ¡°She said she would make the capital noisy¡­¡­ .¡± Cedric pressed his hand against his eyes again. He never thought she would do it this way. What was a mere suspicion to Marchioness Camellia or Bishop Akim was as clear as the truth looked through a magnifying ss to Cedric. Artizea nned this to reduce Lawrence¡¯s position. The Emperor is always at the center of her schemes. It¡¯s probably because she¡¯s been watching the throne all her life and looking at who the owner of this ce is. It was this time too. It was the result of examining the limits of the Emperor¡¯s patience that she offered a mediation n to remove only Mira. She could have tried to get rid of Lawrence and Mira at once, but the Emperor wouldn¡¯t stand it and would try to cover it up. No matter how fearful the Emperor was, he had already lost many of his children. So first, get rid of Mira to get rid of the shield, and then Lawrence willmit another sin and instigate anger. That is the safest and most reliable order. And maybe Cedric himself was a little worried. Because he inevitably married Artizea himself, so when things got bigger, he was going to get involved. So, as soon as Cedric heard that Mira had been caught cursing the Empress, he ran to her. He thought Artizea would be overdoing it. But in the corner of his heart he seemed to believe that nothing wrong would happen. She never failed to get what she wanted to do. Especially when ites to conspiring under the waters, negotiating and getting the results she wants. And all she had to deal with in this job were those people she knew very well. But reality doesn¡¯t always go the way you think. Like this time Artizea seldom fails because she pays her own costs when she fails. The result in the recipient¡¯s hands is always only sess. ¡°Hayley. Surely, Tia didn¡¯t copse because she drank something herself, right?¡± Cedric opened his mouth in a subdued voice. Hayley flinched. The head of the family is Cedric, but now her mistress is Artizea. She couldn¡¯t say anything that might upset Cedric just by guessing. Yet she could not casually lie to Cedric. Cedric seemed to know the answer from Hayley¡¯ste reply. Hayley said as an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s just my guess.¡± ¡°There must be a reason for this.¡± Ansgar, who hurriedly prepared the tea, handed the chilled teacup into Cedric¡¯s hand. Cedric took a sip of it. Then he seemed to calm down a bit. Then the doctor came out. Cedric rubbed his face with both his hands, trying to calm his mind. Then he raised his head and asked the doctor. ¡°How is Tia?¡± ¡°It is not that she had a serious illness. The fainting itself appears to be due to low blood pressure. She is exhausted and her body is very tired.¡± The doctor then said, ¡°Fortunately, the baby in the womb is also blessedly safe.¡± Crash! The teacup fell from Cedric¡¯s hand. T/N: Okay, you can let go of your seats now XD Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Proofreader: somnium The teacup shattered into pieces. Since it was Artizea¡¯s living room, there was still a white rug on the floor, but there was a big red stain on it. People panicked and looked at Cedric quickly. ¡°Are you hurt, Your Grace?¡± ¡°No, it was cold tea. It¡¯s okay.¡± Cedric waved his hand half out of his mind. And he looked back at the doctor with a confused look. ¡°Tia, you mean she has a child?¡± ¡°Yes, she is pregnant.¡± The doctor answered in a slightly perplexed manner. It was because Cedric didn¡¯t seem to know at all. Some of the vassals, including Ansgar, who kept their secrets and watched, sighed in relief. Others widened their eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t been watching Her Grace continuously, I¡¯ll have to take a look again to be sure, but it¡¯ll be between 12 and 14 weeks.¡± At the doctor¡¯s words, Cedric asked, stunned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me about this important thing?¡± He didn¡¯t even think about it. At one day, he was thinking about it. However, it was a vague ter¡¯ thing, when various things were sorted out and Artizea¡¯s body became a little healthier. Even after he made up his mind to start a family, he hadn¡¯t yet imagined his house with children running around. Above all else, there were too many opportunities, to be told, to expect a child first out of the blue. Ansgar said cautiously. ¡°We were all pretending not to know because Her Grace didn¡¯t seem to want to talk about it.¡± ¡°Carefuldies may deliberately not speak until it is a time of reassurance. Sometimes they only see doctors brought from their family.¡± The doctor also said, ¡°This is not the case now, but there are many cases where the fetus is threatened due to disputes over inheritance. They are excited about the heir, but are also concerned about disappointing the people in the family.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Cedric answered in a distressed mood. He thought there was some truth to what Ansgar and the doctor said, but he couldn¡¯t move on to saying that it is so. It didn¡¯t seem like Artizea was hiding it for that reason. Artizea should have told him the news. If she was worried, rather more. If she wanted to hide the fact of her pregnancy from him, she would have tried to hide it from herself and not from anyone else. ¡°Tia, is she okay?¡± That was the only word that came out. The doctor seemed a little relieved. That was easy enough for him to answer. ¡°Her Grace may be weak, but don¡¯t worry too much. The baby is well established, and Her Grace can take care of herself and build up stamina. But for the time being, she must be absolutely stable.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cedric answered so. It was only then that a tactless knight took the lead and shouted. ¡°Congrattions, Your Grace!¡± ¡°Shh, be quiet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s right next to Her Grace¡¯s bedroom.¡± Tackles came in straight from both sides and silenced the knight. The words of congrattions were delivered only in a soft voice. It was not long after Artizea copsed under persecution from the temple. The doctor said there would be no problem, but it was not a situation to celebrate loudly. There are still many urgent tasks left. Now was the time to be angry. Although fully aware of it, all the people of Evron mansion could not hide their joy. Until now, the older vassals and knights were waiting without saying a word, even though they had guessed. They also smiled happily at the doctor¡¯s confirmation. It can be said that it is only when there is a sessor that he has established himself as the master of a family. Until now, there was only one direct blood rtive in the Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s family, Cedric. Although it is said that he was married, it is true that people were anxious until the birth of an heir. But now, even Grand Duchy Evron, who was until now in peril, will finally rise to the top. They couldn¡¯t help but be happy to hear such good news at the right time following the wedding. Since the Grand Duchess was of young age, they thought they would have to wait slowly for two or three years or more. As Cedric headed to Artizea¡¯s bedroom, excited vassals and knights followed. Ansgar stopped them. Even Alphonse tried to sneak in, but was blocked by Ansgar. Only Hayley could follow Cedric into the bedroom. Artizea was buried deep in the soft bed. All of her clothes were taken off and she was madefortable. Her tousled hair was scattered over the pillow. Marcus was rubbing her feet, then he saw Cedric and stood up. Alice, who had cooled the slightly feverish forehead with cool water and brushed her hair, also stood up. Her eyes were dyed bright red. Sophie went all the way to the corner, sobbed, then stood up and hid her face with the apron. Rather than rejoicing that Artizea was pregnant, she felt more sorrow for being in a difficult situation and was confused. Artizea got married and she came out of the Rosan mansion, so Sophie thought she¡¯d never have something like this happen to her again. Sophie, however, would have been unable to show her tears while everyone was delighted that she had conceived. ¡°If she sleeps well for a day or two, she will wake up.¡± The doctor said in a low voice. Cedric looked at Alice and asked. ¡°Is there no doctor that Tia sees separately?¡± ¡°There is none.¡± Alice bowed her head like a sinner. Cedric waved his hand to the people. ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± Hayley opened her mouth. ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± There was a realization that the question was too far-fetched. But she couldn¡¯t bear to not ask. Now that Lysia was away, no one could have asked that word on behalf of Artizea, if it weren¡¯t for her. ¡°I¡¯m happy. How can I not be happy?¡± Cedric muttered to himself. ¡°But how can I say that I am happy when she closes her eyes?¡± ¡°Huk.¡± Sophie couldn¡¯t resist and sobbed. Alice quickly approached her and stroked her shoulder. And she backed away without a sound. Marcus and Hayley, who understood Cedric¡¯s heart, followed suit. When the door closed, only the two of them were left. Cedric sat down next to Artizea. The mattress tilted, but Artizea didn¡¯t open her eyes. He pulled Artizea¡¯s hand from under the nket. Her helpless fingers slid through Cedric¡¯s fingers. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it was the right thing to do to trust you.¡± He ced her hand on the back of his hand. He wasn¡¯t sure if she was this white from the beginning, or if she looked more like it because of theck of color. ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s also a problem that you don¡¯t spare yourself.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°Hiding many things from me is also a problem. It¡¯s also a problem to make a promise casually when you don¡¯t have the heart to keep it¡­¡­.¡± Cedric sighed and stroked the back of the hand once. Then he pushed her hand back into the nket. Did she know she had a child? Did she still throw herself away? It could have been. She might have thought it would be better to have no children. Still, maybe, when she epted his proposal again, and they became a real couple, he thought she would take care of herself a little. It was a stupid idea. His chest was tight. Hope came and went again and again. One night he felt that everything was going to be alright, and he was in a happy mood until dawn. But some nights, even in his dreams, he had to rip his chest out. ¡°Can I change you?¡± He asked in a whisper. Of course, there was no answer. People do not change easily. It was the same with Cedric himself. Once a decision is made, it cannot be changed so easily. [¡°Lord Ced is like a rock.¡±] Lysia once said so. [¡°It may break, but its properties will not change.¡±] [¡°It doesn¡¯t sound like apliment.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s not apliment. After all, it will break someday.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°People cannot live by keeping their beliefs alone. Forgive yourself. Because God has already forgiven you and your heart.¡±] Lysia was right and she was also wrong. Cedric forgave himself. At least he was trying to do that. But he must reflect and change in order to be truly forgiven. And he hasn¡¯t changed. When he proposed to Artizea twice, he broke instead of changing. At the first time, the way of life was broken, at the second time, part of his heart was broken. Still, he decided to love her. Cedric lowered his head and pressed his cheek to hers. Artizea¡¯s colorful, exhaling breath reached Cedric¡¯s ear. He closed his eyes and stayed there for a moment. *** When Cedric left the bedroom, the ce was already quiet. Ansgar quickly stopped the vassals and prevented them from making a fuss. There were four people in the living room. Marcus and Alice just bowed their heads to Cedric and went inside. They were going to stay by her side all night. The other two were Hayley and Freil. Cedric called Freil first and asked. ¡°Has he been arrested as an attempted kidnapper?¡± ¡°I locked him up in an outhouse. Would you like to interrogate him yourself?¡± ¡°Take care of it so that you won¡¯t be in trouble afterward. Wait for the interrogator. I will have an audience with His Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was to interrogate without anyone¡¯s suspicions. With the Emperor¡¯s servant as a witness, he will capture and cut the temple without any excuses. Cedric clenched and opened his fist a few times. It wasn¡¯t something he would be angry about right away. His mind calmed down and he left. Still, it took considerable effort to remain patient. Cedric then looked at Hayley. Hayley was very nervous. She was only a low-ranking official in Evron. As the daughter of the Jordyn family, she spent her childhood with Cedric. Even after she became an adult, they met frequently. However, as a lord and servant, she did not have many opportunities to hear his orders directly. Shortly after she became Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting, she was only told to do well. Hayley liked Cedric as a person. But she felt that it was not enough to make him her master. She thought he was too soft and weak. And that was one of the main reasons Hayley was disappointed with Evron. But now, Cedric looked like apletely different person. His eyes were dyed in dark colors, and his anticipation and pressure were so solid that it was vividly revealed. Standing there was not a young man in his twenties who could not decide which way to go, but a man like a rock who had endured all the rain and wind. ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Before Tia copsed, did she give any special instructions?¡± Hayley swallowed her breath. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Proofreader: somnium Hayley did not readily answer. The doctor made it clear that it was overwork and low blood pressure. But that doesn¡¯t mean that Hayley¡¯s suspicions are gone. Artizea must have known her own physical condition. Hayley wasn¡¯t yet a trusted aide who knew about Artizea¡¯s health. But Hayley believed Artizea was aware of her own condition apart from the fact that her body was not important to herself. There is no possibility that she would have necessarily used poison or something detrimental. The doctor only made a diagnosis for a moment. There could be other ways that the doctor didn¡¯t notice. Had it not been for her position, Hayley would have told Cedric everything without hesitation. As Artizea¡¯s husband, he should have known what Artizea thought and decided. But there is a child. If Artizea knew she was pregnant and she still decided to do so, that would be a big deal for Evron Grand Duchy. Because it was a threat to the sessor. Hayley didn¡¯t think Cedric would publicize it and make it an issue. But Hayley shouldn¡¯t be the one to talk about it with her mouth. Otherwise, it would be a testimony that Artizea threatened the heir of the Grand Duchy. Cedric then said. ¡°Do I not know her?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Whether it was trying to bring a cause by taking her own body as hostage, or simply overdoing it, she would have prepared just in case.¡± Hayley didn¡¯t answer. But Cedric spoke as if he had heard the answer. ¡°She did.¡± ¡°Does that mean that Her Grace wanted a price to be paid for endangering the baby in the womb?¡± When Cedric said it was a price, it wasn¡¯t that he wanted revenge. Cedric¡¯s attitude conveyed the feeling that he would prioritize Artizea¡¯s ns over other things. It was neither Cedric¡¯s nor Evron¡¯s. In the end, Artizea was trying to do her thing. In the end she and her fetus¡¯ health was to be rewarded with the interests in order to obtain a cause in exchange for their ordeal. Cedric stared at Hayley, then he said. ¡°You are Tia¡¯sdy-in-waiting, so it means do what Tia tells you to do. She even threw her body away, and you shouldn¡¯t do anything because of me.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I will do as I wanted too.¡± Cedric said so and strode out of the living room. Hayley rxed and sank down. Somehow she felt a little relieved. She has always thought Cedric was frustrating, but if he had really used this as an opportunity instead of getting revenge, Hayley would have been disappointed. *** At twilight, the Knights of Evron moved for the second time that day. Cedric entrusted Alphonse with a total of 100 members, adding 30 of the knights who escorted him to the 70 who were originally protecting the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. There were several other soldiers attached to it. It cannot be said that the number is overwhelminglyrge. However, the fact that there is an army in the capital not under the Emperor¡¯s orders is dangerous in itself. Even though they usually knew the existence of the Knights of Evron, the citizens of the capital never felt threatened. This is because the Knights of Evron were strict in their discipline, and usually only armed with a single sword. Even on days when Artizea was escorted to the temple in groups, the soldiers were never called up to take arge-scale military action. In other words, it has been customary since ancient times for the Knights of Evron in the capital to escort the Grand Duke and his wife. It¡¯s more of a protocol to show what kind of family Evron Grand Duchy is. But that night was different. The knights were fully armed, and the soldiers followed with rifles. It wasrge enough to say that they formed an army rather than an escort. As the troops passed through the gates, the Emperor¡¯s central army tensed. It was time to end the day, but the capital woke up in an instant. The military garrison base was lit up with torches, and watchers scattered around the walls. The messenger ran in all directions. The Knights of Evron did not care at all about the gazes toward them. Alphonse took full authority from Cedric and ced the knights in the forest near the temple. There were not enough numbers to encircle the entire temple. However, Cedric had been stationed in the vicinity for several months with the Western Army. The geography was as clear as looking at the palm of his hand for him. The elements were blocked so that no ordinary person coulde and go except through the Knights of Evron. Naturally, the temple strongly objected. ¡°I have no intention of persecuting the temple.¡± Alphonse said with a calm face to the priests who hade to protest. ¡°We are just staying here.¡± ¡°Who would believe that!¡± ¡°We did not block the road. Please pass.¡± Alphonse said so to the priest. Only Bishop Akim and his men weremanded to stop. This was to prevent them from escaping. It is also a threat to the temple. Knowing that, the temple did not protest any further. An errand boy sent by the Archbishop advised the priests to pass by quietly if they had to go out, otherwise return to the temple. Even if it was close to the temple, not all of the forest belonged to the temple anyway. They didn¡¯t have to force their way out of the temple. Now was the time to bow down. *** The news came to the Emperor at the time when the torches were lit up on the walls. Then, the Emperor was lying half asleep in his armchair. He was in a very ufortable state. He was tired, but sleep did note. A skillful cello yer was ying a slow te into the night to clear the stillness. An old masseuse was rubbing his legs, but it never felt better. The Imperial Pce was also quiet these days. It had been several months where there were no banquets or even small gatherings. It was because of the disappearance of the small gatherings held by the Emperor¡¯s favorite servants and Mira¡¯s friends. At one time, the Countess Eunice would hold a tea party with the Emperor¡¯s permission, but that disappeared. The salon was also closed, and there were no officials or dignitaries who held any discussion in the private rooms of the Imperial Pce. The messenger was lying t on the floor in fear. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and looked at the messenger. And he closed his eyes tiredly. ¡°What about Gayan? Is he here?¡± ¡°All the guard knights and central army officers are waiting in the audience waiting room.¡± The servant who brought the messenger said politely. ¡°I have to go out.¡± The Emperor muttered, but did not intend to move. He did not ask the messenger again about the current situation. The servant went out without a sound. The messenger also rolled his eyes and, seeing the servant beckoning, quickly backed away. The Emperor asked with his eyes closed. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°What would a lowly person dare to have in mind?¡± The masseuse answered and massaged the Emperor¡¯s knees and calves. The Emperor murmured. ¡°I envy you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You have entered the Imperial Pce with your skills, and you live your life simply by using your skills.¡± ¡°Thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s grace.¡± ¡°Whoever you are, whichever family you are from, whomever you tter, whichever people you line up with, the skill is yours, isn¡¯t it? Wherever you are, you must have lived a good life with your skills.¡± ¡°If Your Majesty hadn¡¯t favored me, how could a lowly person like me live with the same wealth as now?¡± ¡°People have to live like you. With their own skill, with their own abilities.¡± The Emperor spoke to himself as if he couldn¡¯t hear the masseuse¡¯s answer. The masseus¡¯s words were nothing more than a formal answer anyway. ¡°I have a lot to think about. Sometimes I want to quit, but I just can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Because you have a good reputation .¡± ¡°If I had had a proper child, how could something like this have happened? I am the one who got the karma.¡± It was when the Emperor mumbled like that. The chief attendant came in. ¡°Did you even urge Gayan to hurry up and get to the Imperial Pce as soon as possible?¡± He didn¡¯t know if the Emperor was joking or being serious. The chief attendant bowed his head deeply and apologized. ¡°Your Majesty, Grand Duke Evron, has asked for an audience.¡± Even then, the Emperor, who had been buried in the chair without even thinking of standing up, opened his eyes. ¡°Cedric?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The chief attendant could not hide his flusteration. ¡°It is said that he came into the capital this afternoon. It seems that the movements of the Knights of Evron are in ordance with the orders of the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Those hard-headed bastards could not have acted voluntarily and strategically up to here.¡± The Emperor replied sarcastically. Although the chief attendant did not know, the Emperor already knew that Evron Grand Duchy¡¯s ship had entered the port, and that Cedric hade to the capital. As for the dispute that took ce in the temple today, he also knew that Artizea had returned in the Archbishop¡¯s chariot. Not only the Emperor, but everyone who had a thorough informationwork would have known. ¡°Interesting.¡± This is bothte and early. If it were Cedric he knew, he would havee to him first, surrendering himself to his anger and sense of justice. Otherwise, once he had done everything, he would have presented himself to the Emperor and asserted the dignity of his actions. But today it was not. Cedric moved at the same time. He moved the knights and had an audience with him, so there were probably one or two other actions. ¡®I heard that Tia copsed. Is she conscious?¡¯ If so, it may be that Artizea, not Cedric, is causing these actions. While the Emperor was thinking, the masseuse stopped the kneading hand. The masseuse wiped the Emperor¡¯s legs with a hot towel. Then pulled down the Emperor¡¯s rolled up pants and put on his slippers. ¡°Would you like to change clothes?¡± The chief attendant asked. The Emperor shook his head. ¡°It iste.¡± As he was thinking about seeing Cedric, the door opened. The guards did not know what to do. But that didn¡¯t stop Cedric from pushing in. Cedric was alone. He was disarmed. If it hadn¡¯t been for that, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to get into this inner ce no matter what. The Emperor clicked his finger. Then the guards opened the way. Cedric strode into the Emperor¡¯s bedroom and knelt down on one of his knees. ¡°Pardon my rudeness for being here in the middle of the night.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. This old man never sleeps. What are you doing here? I hadn¡¯t even heard of your departure from the north. Did you leave the border exposed ande all the way here because your heart was filled with your wife?¡± ¡°Yes. I havee to ask you something. Your Majesty the Emperor. No, my uncle!¡± Cedric corrected it. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Gasp!¡± The chief attendant took a breath. In fact, despite being maternal uncle and nephew, Cedric had never called the Emperor his uncle since childhood. It was the same when he was growing up in the capital before the age of ten. It meant that Cedric did not deviate from his position as a subject, but it also meant that he did not regard the Emperor as blood. The Emperor looked at Cedric with thoughtful eyes. ¡°This is the first time you have called me like that.¡± ¡°I am honored.¡± ¡°Has there been any change of heart?¡± Cedric lowered his eyes and lowered his head deeper. It was to hide his expression. ¡°I tried to forget that half the blood that runs through my body is Krates¡¯. As you may have known¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is true that I resented uncle, and it is also true that I was afraid. More than that, I wanted to protect my family and my estate.¡± ¡°Yes, you were.¡± ¡°It is not going to happen anymore.¡± Cedric, whose expressionpletely calmed down, raised his gaze. The Emperor could not read his mind. Cedric said before the thought crossed the Emperor¡¯s mind. ¡°Today my wife copsed due to the persecution at the temple.¡± ¡°I was told that she voluntarily went there to cooperate with the investigation of the Rosan mansion. It may sound like an excuse, but I also said that there is no need for her to do that.¡± ¡°Yes, I know that.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°She told herdy-in-waiting that she was forced to stay in the rough rooms used by the monks and to repent in the cold prayer room.¡± ¡°If Tia endured it, there must have been a good reason.¡± The Emperor said calmly. He didn¡¯t think too much about it, he truly believed it. Cedric didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Even if she put up with it for a reason, there¡¯s no difference that my wife was unfairly treated as a sinner?¡± ¡°Do you believe that Tia couldn¡¯t get out on her own?¡± ¡°I actually saw it with my own eyes. My wife copsed on the cold stone floor of the prayer room, passed out and left there for nearly an hour. So thedy-in-waiting fired her re and summoned the knights to ask for help.¡± Cedric said strongly. ¡°Even then, the temple refused to let the guard visit and tried to block them.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°At best onedy-in-waiting followed. But her body is weak. If she¡¯s blocked with force, there¡¯s no way she¡¯ll be able to break through, right?¡± ¡°Cedric.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t happened to arrive in the capital early, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if anything happened. The temple secretly tried to move my copsed wife to another ce while blocking my knights.¡± Cedric spoke slowly. It was so difficult to calm down during these words, he had to roll them in his mouth several times. ¡°In addition, my wife is pregnant.¡± The Emperor paused. He couldn¡¯t help but express his surprise and bewilderment. If Artizea is pregnant, the child she has in her womb is the heir to the Grand Duchy. If the temple persecuted the Grand Duchess who was pregnant with such a child, it was no small matter. ¡°I should say congrattions first, but that¡¯s not the case. Is she all right? If she copsed¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Fortunately, she and the baby are safe.¡± Cedric chose the word. And hearing it, the Emperor fully understood his will. That¡¯s why he called him uncle instead of Your Majesty. ¡°Do you want to punish Akim for treason?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric answered without hesitation. The Emperor did not miss the moment when Cedric clenched his fist. ¡°I am uncle¡¯s nephew. Although only half of the blood flowing through this body belongs to the imperial family, I am a member of the imperial family.¡± Cedric bowed his head again. ¡°Then my wife and child are also part of the imperial family.¡± The Emperor felt a shiver run from the tip of his head to his toes. His body trembled with excitement. Because he realized that Cedric had decided to roll into the same world as him. The Emperor wanted tough out loud. He wanted to say something to Cedric¡¯s father who had died. To the knight of the princess who was noble until her death. Your child, who looks exactly like you, who was born with half of the same blood as mine, is now living in the same world as me. Persecution after persecution, and until the moment his throat was cut, the Emperor failed to bring Leopric Evron to his knees. Even when the Emperor seduced him with all kinds of wealth and power, provided him with pleasure, or threatened him by withholding on to the lifeline of thend called food, there was no way the Emperor could change his straight eyes. He did kneel to the Crown Prince and to the new Emperor with all courtesy, but that was all. He acted in the way he thought was right, and in his heart he had the princess as his wife who served the Emperor as her Lord. But what about Cedric now? Cedric chose to kneel before the Emperor in order to get his revenge. For the safety and future of his wife and child, he would forget about his parents¡¯ resentment and the unfair treatment Evron suffered. It is undoubtedly selfish. He eventually gave in to the world. The Emperor leaned his body forward and said, ¡°I understand what you mean.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Of course. You are my nephew, and your descendants are my grandnephews. What would have happened if she had miscarried?¡± Cedric did not respond to the Emperor¡¯s words. That was exactly what he intended. But it was unbearable for the Emperor to say that. Still, Cedric persevered. It is foolish to fail to protect a person who should be protected for one¡¯s own sake. Artizea taught him that. And she and the child in her womb were the things that Cedric had to protect the most. The Emperor asked. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°There are those who kidnapped my wife, destroyed evidence and prevented me from intervening in this situation. I believed that they were ordered by Bishop Akim.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Please have two reliable guards present as witnesses in the interrogation. We want to ensure that the temple does not question the fairness of the interrogation.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The Emperor nodded his head. ¡°However, there will be bacsh from the protesters. Do you have any thoughts about that? If you n to forcefully suppress it, I will lend you the military.¡± ¡°The heresy interrogation is intended to be led by an otherwise trusted clergyman. That should calm them down to some extent.¡± ¡°Come to think of it, Brother Colton was helping your wife. But will he listen? He doesn¡¯t listen to me. Besides, temples are not easy to sway about.¡± ¡°I have to convince them. At least the Archbishop will bepelled to cooperate with me.¡± ¡°Well, the temple has operated with its greed for worldly power, so no priest can pretend that they don¡¯t know that. Besides, the Archbishop has been quite friendly with you so far, and he¡¯s ignored these things, so it won¡¯t be in vain.¡± Cedric said with his head down. ¡°Leave me the work of the Dowager Marchioness of Rosan.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor did not respond to this request. ¡°I understand that Your Majesty feels uneasy. It¡¯s also true that I don¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°However, she is the mother of my wife and the maternal grandmother of the child to be born. I¡¯ll make sure the thing that you worry about doesn¡¯t happen. Leave the disposal to me entirely.¡± The Emperor thought for a long time. He wouldn¡¯t interfere, he couldn¡¯t heartlessly say it didn¡¯t matter. Maybe it was a good thing. A father, who had nearly lost his child for treason, had to deal with treason. It could have been easier for the citizens to understand too. And above all, the Emperor would not be med. The Emperor nodded his head. ¡°Yes. You have a reputation, so you¡¯ll do well. I will leave it to you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cedric bowed his head deeply and greeted in gratitude. ¡°I have a lot of work to do, so I¡¯ll leave.¡± ¡°Well. Even if you are not, the officers of the Guards and the Central Army are gathered here, so it would be good to say that you have received all authorities from me as you go out now.¡± The Emperor said so and called the chief attendant, who had been standing politely beside him until then. ¡°Deliver my orders to the waiting room first, and have the scribe write down the Imperial Decree and give it to Cedric.¡± ¡°I will.¡± The chief attendant bowed. And he stepped back first, and opened the door for Cedric. Cedric bowed again to the Emperor and went out. The Emperor then opened his mouth wide andughed theughter he had been holding back. And he called the attendant and gave orders. ¡°Although Akim is greedy, he wouldn¡¯t have the guts to do this alone. Dig out who¡¯s in the background.¡± The attendant bowed without a word and left. Of course Cedric would also investigate the background, but the Emperor had to figure it out for himself first. This was an opportunity to firmly seize Grand Duke Roygar. *** Cedric first went to the audience waiting room under the guidance of the chief attendant, and met with members of the military, including Gayan and Amalie. ¡°You could have had a really big trouble.¡± Gayan offered a word of constion. ¡°In Evron Grand Duchy, there was only one blood descendant until now, Your Grace. This should be congratted, but I am sorry that I am not in a situation where I can easily say such a thing.¡± ¡°I was very surprised that the Knights of Evron took action. There were also some who suspected rebellion.¡± said Amalie. Few people can guess how much thought she has been through in the hours from when she heard of the news until now. She was determined to stand by Cedric¡¯s side. But that meant supporting Cedric as the next power, not betraying the Emperor right now. ¡°It¡¯s not rebellion, Dame Harper. Didn¡¯t the Knights of Evron rather go out of the capital? If it was a coup, they would have targeted the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°Sir Gayan, no matter how deaf you are, I didn¡¯t say anything dangerous. I¡¯m saying this in a sense that there shouldn¡¯t be such a trivial excuse.¡± Amalie replied back with a slight frown. ¡°Anyway, since His Majesty¡¯s permission has been granted, the Guards and the Central Army will cooperate at any time, as long as you speak up.¡± said Gayan. Sir Keshore intervened. ¡°More than that, the health of Her Grace. Is she alright? She¡¯s a weak person, so I don¡¯t know if she can hold on¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The doctor says it is absolutely stable for the time being, and it is not dangerous. All I can do is hope that she is safe¡­¡­.¡± It was when Cedric answered. A man approached from the other side of the hallway. The sound of footsteps echoed through the long corridors of the Imperial Pce. Cedric paused. The other side also stopped. The light of themp was weak, but the neat and beautiful face was recognizable even in the shadows. It was Lawrence. Lawrence seemed to recognize Cedric as well. He looked surprised. He hadn¡¯t heard of Cedric¡¯s return yet. Lawrence¡¯s face contorted. His soft lips were clenched. And he tried to go past Cedric, as if he had decided to ignore Cedric. ¡°Lawrence.¡± Cedric called him. *dun* *dun* *dun* *cue intense music* Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Proofreader: somnium Lawrence stopped. He tried hard to straighten his expression. ¡°When did youe back?¡± ¡°This afternoon.¡± Cedric answered in a low voice. ¡°Is the war over?¡± ¡°No. But I heard the news from the capital.¡± Lawrence made his face expressionless, then halfway it twisted. He knew he shouldn¡¯t, but he couldn¡¯t contain his emotions. From the beginning, he did not know how to suppress himself for a long time. He was born with a passionate temperament resembling Mira. Besides, he had little need to train patience. Lawrence didn¡¯t know why he hated Cedric so much. He knew from the beginning that Cedric wouldn¡¯t be actively supporting him right away just because Cedric married Artizea. Rather, now was the opportunity to attract him. If Cedric didn¡¯t intervene in this and wanted to keep his distance, he would have stayed in the north, pretending not to know, instead of returning. The border work was more urgent, and the excuses that the news arrivedte could be used as needed. But Cedric did not do that and returned in haste. It meant he was paying more attention to Artizea than Lawrence had thought. While nothing was going well, he could actually say it was going in a good direction. Cedric had a good reputation and was supported by the public. With his help, the aftermath of this incident could have passed more easily than expected. Neither Grand Duke Roygar nor Grand Duke Evron would easily do such a dangerous job like treason. Still, he couldn¡¯t make a good face. So pretending not to know Cedric and passing by was the best option he could do right now. Lawrence didn¡¯t always like Cedric. But mostly it was directed as discord andpared often to rtives of the same age but wasn¡¯t in the same tune. He didn¡¯t really want to face Cedric, but he had no reason to actively hate Cedric. But now it was different. There was an unbearable deep emotion that was boiling from the depths. It was as if Cedric had scraped the depths of his heart with something like a w, and the cold pus was spewing out poison. It was hateful. Lawrence thought that in that expressionlessness and indifference must be hidden contempt and hatred for Lawrence, too. And even though he¡¯s never actually seen it before, he kept imagining Cedric¡¯s horrific expression of disgust. And Lysia. Her face is like that, too. Thedy-in-waiting still upied one side of his head. It touched with the hatred in Lawrence¡¯s head. It was really a mystery. She was just a woman he had little interest in. She was not the type to be taken or stolen, or something like that at all. They never even converse properly. He told her toe, but he didn¡¯t really expect her toe. She was, after all, the woman of Evron. A woman of Evron whose mission is more important than passion. And it was Artizea who sent Lysia to the west in the first ce. It had nothing to do with Cedric. ¡®This bastard will take what is mine.¡¯ Still, Lawrence was caught by his ankles at the thought without any basis, and he couldn¡¯t get out of it. Amalie had once told Lawrence he could be emperor if he could embrace Evron Grand Duchy. Lawrence agreed with her. But now it was different. There are people in the world who can never be tolerated. He couldn¡¯t understand how he had thought of getting Cedric on his side. ¡°Please excuse us for a moment.¡± Cedric raised his hand lightly and said. Amalie, Gayan, and Sir Keshore bowed their heads slightly and stepped back. The attendant who was leading Lawrence knew that it was not his ce to join, so he hurriedly backed away too. ¡°Well, do you have something to say?¡± Lawrence asked, showing raw hostility. Cedric squinted his eyes. Unlike Lawrence, that was all his signs of hostility and displeasure. ¡°Is that all you have to ask?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I mean, do all you have to ask me is war stories? Aren¡¯t you wondering if everything¡¯s okay with Tia? Aren¡¯t you her brother?¡± Lawrence frowned slightly at those words. ¡°Yes¡­¡­. Come to think of it, is everything all right?¡± Lawrence said so indifferently. Up to this moment he was not very curious about Artizea. Cedric took a step towards Lawrence. Lawrence was not swayed by his momentum. But in the next moment, Cedric reached out. Lawrence was startled and took a quick step back from Cedric, but he couldn¡¯t avoid it. Cedric grabbed Lawrence¡¯s cor with his left arm and thrust him against the wall. Thud! ¡°Keugh¡­. !¡± Lawrence gasped for breath at the shock on his back. Cedric clenched his teeth and said out. ¡°It is such a waste to dedicate lives to something like you.¡± ¡°What, nonsense¡­¡­ Ugh!¡± Lawrence struggled to shake Cedric¡¯s hand away. Lawrence handled quite a bit of weapons and was good at hunting. He was a young man with above-average physical strength. He was also very ustomed to using violence. But with all his might, he couldn¡¯t even push Cedric¡¯s left hand away. He tried to kick Cedric, but that didn¡¯t work either. He lifted his toes with force. Lawrence¡¯s face turned red as he suffocated. There was no sign of the white and beautiful face. ¡°It¡¯s your little sister! It happened while she was trying to mediate your mother¡¯s affairs, and even if you don¡¯t even think about protecting her, isn¡¯t it normal to worry about whether she is okay?¡± The attendant rushed in and tried to stop it. Gayan grabbed him and shook his head lightly. Lawrence is no longer the Emperor¡¯s favorite son. And Cedric was the one who decided that he would now live as an imperial family. He didn¡¯t mean to intervene in a fight between such high-ranking people. ¡°You should at least protect your mother and sister and wife.¡± ¡°What, pretend to be nice.¡± ¡°Why, did youck in receiving such devotion, you?¡± ¡°Every day you ramble, giving advice to others, ugh!¡± Lawrence snorted as Cedric strangled his throat. Cedric loosened his grip strength a little to hear what he had to say. Lawrence then raised the corners of his mouth and smirked. ¡°You filthy hypocrite, who protects whom? After you shed a few drops of tears, even if you transported the corpse with the limbs swept off in a cart, it would never end. And you¡¯re talking about dedication?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The loser who ran away because he didn¡¯t want to get his hands dirty!¡± Cedric once again mmed Lawrence against the wall. And he growled. ¡°Yes. You are right.¡± ¡°Cough, heuk¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°I ran away to not get my hands dirty. I should have killed you first.¡± Cedric said so. Lawrence chuckled. Somehow, he felt a sense of coolness in his stomach. It was because it became clear that this tantrum and hatred within him was neither one-sided nor an illusion. ¡°Will you try? After all, you don¡¯t even have the courage to pull out a knife in this hallway.¡± ¡°Do you think the blood flowing through your veins will block the sword?¡± ¡°Uh, uhk¡­¡­ !¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be emperor, Lawrence.¡± Cedric said so. ¡°I¡¯m not going to leave it like that.¡± ¡°Who are you, you dare¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Remember. That I have the power to kill you at any time.¡± Cedric said in a low voice that the others couldn¡¯t hear it. And he threw Lawrence on the floor. Lawrence moaned painfully at the shock as he was thrown. Cedric looked down at him and sighed. ¡°So pray that nothing will happen to my wife.¡± He said so and turned his back. Gayan, Amalie, and Sir Keshore followed him in a panic and hurriedly. ¡°Your Grace.¡± He wasn¡¯t in the mood to talk, so Cedric didn¡¯t answer. And he strode out across the Imperial Pce. He thought there was nothing wrong with Lawrence¡¯s words. ¡°Haa.¡± The attendant carefully lifted Lawrence up. His back hurt so badly when he hit the wall. But a twisted smirk hung around Lawrence¡¯s lips. He didn¡¯t know exactly what the words that came out of his mouth meant. But it felt a little cool as if he had said what he wanted to say. Lawrence brushed off the crumpled cor. And he said to the attendant. ¡°I will go back. Say that to Father. Seeing that the guards are following that guy, I don¡¯t think I need to meet him.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And.¡± ¡°What?¡± p! Lawrence¡¯s palm pped the attendant¡¯s cheek. The attendant bowed his head without saying a word. From the moment Lawrence was caught by the cor, the attendant was prepared to be the subject of his anger. But Lawrence was content to hit him only twice, leaving no trace on his cheek. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to go in front of Father?¡± ¡°Yes. Yes¡­¡­.¡± Lawrence clenched his fist. Frightened, the attendant closed his eyes and tightened his stomach. Then Lawrenceughed out loud a few times, patted him on the shoulder and left. £ª£ª£ª Before Artizea copsed, there were three main instructions to Hayley. First, contact Brother Colton in the west. Second, ask Bishop Nikos for cooperation and appeal to the Archbishop. Third, control the Knights to avoid excessive conflict. In addition to that, there were some detailed instructions regarding information control. But there were limits to what Hayley could do. First of all, since Cedric came, the issue of the Knights left Hayley¡¯s hands. And it was impossible to control the information so that the incident did not escte. As long as the Knightsunched a military action and the Guards and the Central Army responded to it, it was impossible for the citizens to not know about this. Meeting the Archbishop was also withheld for the time being. Cedric raised an army towards the temple. Meanwhile, she couldn¡¯te forward and convey that Artizea¡¯s will not to fight with the temple. Even if she negotiated, several days were needed to shrink the temple. However, she wrote a letter to Bishop Nikos, informing him that Artizea is conceived. She also wrote a thank-you note, saying she remembered the care he had provided during the time of their stay in the temple. It was a sign that she was aware that not the whole temple was the enemy. Aside from that, all Hayley could do right now was write letters to Brother Colton and Lysia. She couldn¡¯t stop sighing. When Artizea threw herself away to solve the problem, she was determined to be like Evron. However, when things came to pass, she leaned towards Artizea¡¯s orders to get the job done on due course. ¡®The situation must not be so great that even Her Grace cannot stop it.¡¯ That was certain. She missed Lysia. If it was Lysia, she¡¯d definitely be able to hold the middle ground while keepingmon sense in times like these. She thought so until midnight. ¡°Sister Hayley, what the hell happened to Her Grace?¡± That night, Lysia suddenly appeared in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. She was with Brother Colton in a modest outfit. The first half of the chapter, between Cedric and Lawrence : *chef¡¯s kiss* Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Proofreader: somnium It was the day after the news of Mira that Lysia and Brother Colton set out for the capital. The news going to the in west was faster than the north, which had a harsh natural environment. Moreover, since it was rted to the heresy interrogation, the news from within the temple was faster than that of the messengers heading north. Upon hearing the news, Lysia felt a stabbing pain in her chest. For some reason, she wondered if it was Artizea herself who caused this to happen. There was no reason or logic. But Lysia was sure. She did not even think that Artizea couldn¡¯t get anything out of this. Because Artizea¡¯s own profit and loss and what she thought were necessary rarely coincided with each other. Her heart was full of strange and tingling emotions. Even if she thought it was necessary by reason, Lysia did not think that it would be okay with Artizea¡¯s heart. Lysia had not known Artizea for a long time. But for some reason she could easily understand her. Artizea said that she had given up on Mira. That would be true. Artizea did what she always thought was necessary for a purpose. She didn¡¯t care much about right or wrong, and she didn¡¯t care how she felt. But emotions didn¡¯t just disappear just because she ignored them. Even if Artizea took a long time to give up on Mira and make up her mind, it does not mean that the heart of yesterday has disappeared today. She wanted to go and hold Artizea¡¯s hand. Lysia wasn¡¯t Artizea¡¯s friend or sister, and she wasn¡¯t like Alice, who had been with Artizea from her home, Lysia was just ady-in-waiting. But it might be of any help even a little, she thought. But that didn¡¯t mean Lysia could leave her ce easily. She didn¡¯t have much to do in the west. Artizea entrusted Lysia with the duty of Inspector of the Western Business. But in reality, it was only a sign that Grand Duchess Evron cared enough to send herdy-in-waiting to watch. Rather, she centered on the role of liaison and attendant with Brother Colton. Fortunately, Brother Colton spoke up first. [¡°I must go to the capital, Morten Heir Apparent.¡±] [¡°Really?¡±] [¡°The person in charge of the heresy interrogation is called Akim. That friend must be trying to intimidate not only Dowager Marchioness Rosan, but also her children. There is no clear standard for heresy interrogation, and there are very few people who can get out of it if the inquisitor is determined and driven.¡±] Brother Colton couldn¡¯t leave it that way. Artizea was the saintess. The temple should not dare to impeach the saintess. The temple should y a role in promoting and putting into practice the teachings of the god written in the scripture. However, a saint hears the voice from God directly and realizes God¡¯s will in the world. There was no need to think about which one was more important. So he hurriedly set off. By the way, if anything happened, he was going to secretly inform the Archbishop that Artizea was a saintess. However, he knew that Artizea was a political mover, so he could not act prematurely. If he wanted to keep the fact that Artizea was a saintess to the end, he should not appear in the capital at all. Moreover, it was even more so because it was Bishop Akim who was leading the heresy interrogation. Brother Colton knew that his hurried arrival to the capital had the potential to provoke Bishop Akim. So Brother Colton stayed quietly with Lysia in a monastery near the capital. So he was able toe as soon as he heard that there was a conflict in the temple today and that the Knights of Evron had moved. Hearing the story, Hayley shook her head with a puzzled face. ¡°I¡¯ll have to reconsider Your Grace¡¯s intentions.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± At Lysia¡¯s question, Hayley smiled in vain. ¡°There are too many people who don¡¯t know the extent. After His Grace the Grand Duke, now you.¡± ¡°Has His Gracee?¡± ¡°Yes. Otherwise, would I have done a great job like besieging the temple? I would have stopped it.¡± Lysiaughed awkwardly. Hayley grumbled. ¡°So it¡¯s saying that all of Her Grace¡¯s ns have gone awry. In the midst of this, how can someone who is only ady-in-waiting like me manage the situation?¡± ¡°Sister Hayley¡¯s is thedy-in-waiting. She is trusted by Her Grace and was kept by her side.¡± ¡°Thedy-in-waiting¡­ Anyway, you go see Her Grace.¡± ¡°Will that be alright, though?¡± ¡°Yes. Even if Her Grace doesn¡¯t say it, she¡¯ll be happy that you came.¡± Lysia was shaken. Hayley briefly informed Lysia about Artizea¡¯s condition. And this time she told Brother Colton. ¡°It is toote for Brother to see Her Grace, so please give me some time. I will deliver the words of Her Grace.¡± ¡°I will listen, Lady Jordyn.¡± ¡°And it would be better to keep it a secret that Brother came here today.¡± At Hayley¡¯s words, Brother Colton pulled open his cor. Lysia left the room behind while the two of them were talking. If there¡¯s anything she needs to know more about, Hayley will tell herter. Rather than talking about such a political story, she wanted to see Artizea¡¯s face now. Lysia headed to Artizea¡¯s room. A smallmp was lit in the living room and several people were waiting. The doctor and the maids were asleep. Alphonse was sitting in front of the bedroom door with a chair. Lysia approached him and greeted him with a hand signal. Alphonse lowered his voice to answer. ¡°It¡¯s okay to talk in a low voice in the living room. It looks like she is sleeping deeply.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°I just arrived. Is Her Grace all right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a disease, it¡¯s just overwork. Did you hear that she is pregnant?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The baby is fine, and nothing will be wrong. They said that if she rests well, she will wake up naturally.¡± Alphonse said softly. ¡°Do you want to see her for a moment?¡± ¡°Is it okay, though?¡± Alphonse stood up and knocked lightly on the door. Sophie, who was guarding inside, carefully creaked the door open. And looking at Lysia, startled, she covered her mouth with one hand. ¡°Miss Lysia.¡± ¡°Can I see her for a moment?¡± ¡°Ah yes. It¡¯s okay. Her breathing is very stable now.¡± Saying so, Sophie opened the door. ¡°Lysia ising, Madam will be happy too.¡± Lysia silenced the sound of her footsteps, so she cautiously entered the bedroom. Alphonse closed the door. Lysia walked over to the bedside. Sophie lit another one of the candles. It was dark by itself, so she tried to light two more, but the candles that had been lit from the evening on had already shortened. ¡°I¡¯ll change the candles.¡± ¡°Yes. I will be watching.¡± Sophie said thanks and went outside with the extinguished candlestick. Lysia sat in the chair by the bed. And she looked down at Artizea¡¯s pale face. ¡°Don¡¯t try to handle it alone, Your Grace.¡± Lysia whispered lowly. Something seemed to boil in her chest. It seemed like it was all her fault. She regretted breaking Cedric¡¯s advice to stay close. It¡¯s not that Hayley wascking. Had it been herself and not Hayley that followed to the temple, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to stop this from happening. She couldn¡¯t have stopped Artizea from doing what Artizea had decided to do. No, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to decide whether to stop or not. And she couldn¡¯t even protect Artizea. Lysia grabbed Artizea¡¯s hand that came out of the nket. And she put her forehead on the back of Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s too difficult, Your Grace. What can I do?¡± She knew that this was rude and disloyal thinking. But she somehow felt like she had to take care of this person, so it was even more unbearable. She couldn¡¯t believe it with any peace of mind, because it felt that if she turned away from this person, she would pass over to the other side in the blink of an eye. Lysia thinks she has to do something, but she doesn¡¯t know what she can do. It was when Lysia closed her eyes. The inside of Lysia¡¯s palm, which was facing Artizea¡¯s palm, was briefly dyed with a white light and then it went off. No one saw it. *** After Sophie brought the candle, Lysia left the seat and stood up. She met Cedric when she went out into the garden because she didn¡¯t seem to be able to sleep. The footsteps of the knights that followed and the rumble of the ground were heard first. Then she felt the fighting spirit, smelling like a blizzard in the north. Lysia paused. She didn¡¯t go out, but she stopped there, bent on one knee, and waited for Cedric. ¡°It¡¯s Lysia.¡± Cedric, who was walking in quickly, stopped. Lysia bowed and said. ¡°I arrived a little while ago.¡± ¡°You must have left early. Did you see Tia?¡± ¡°Yes. She is sleepingfortably.¡± ¡°Is everything all right?¡± ¡°Yes. She was sleepingfortably. But now Your Grace¡¯s momentum is so rough that it seems to break the serenity of the bed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric exhaled slowly. He was trying to calm himself. Lysia was right. It wasn¡¯t good to go like this. He beckoned lightly to the knights that followed. It meant that they should each fulfill their roles. And he looked back at Lysia. Lysia did not stand up and kept kneeling on her knees and bowing her head. ¡°I¡¯m guilty of my crime.¡± ¡°Crime?¡± ¡°Your Grace told me to stay by Her Grace¡¯s side, but I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cedric looked at Lysia with an indescribablyplicated mind. ¡°Stand up. You don¡¯t have to be so polite.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Since Tia ordered it, it must have been something that you, herdy-in-waiting, could not refuse. Even if you were by her side, it might not have changed.¡± Cedric said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Because Lysia did not stand up, Cedric eventually lifted her up by hand. Tears were dripping down from Lysia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Lysia pressed her eye with her sleeve. It wasn¡¯t because of breaking the orders of Evron, it just broke her heart. She was obsessed with the thought that if she had done just a little bit better, everything might have worked out. Cedric sighed and handed her his handkerchief. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t have done better.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You did well. You endured it.¡± Cedric said so and stroked Lysia¡¯s head. Lysia did not fully understand the meaning of his words, but she nodded her head. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Proofreader: somnium The next day, before sunrise, everything turned upside down. First of all, the Guards appeared fully armed. Some joined the Knights of Evron and besieged the temple, while others took control of the environments of the capital. Martialw was imposed and all traffic in and out the capital was controlled. Entry ispletely forbidden. The Central Army lit up lights everywhere, indicating that it was ready to move at any time. The Emperor¡¯s army did not hide what was going on. The word ¡®attempts to kill the imperial family¡¯ and ¡®treason¡¯ spread across the capital in an instant. Even before the sun came to the center of the sky, there was no one in the capital who did not know about it. ¡°Attemped murder on the imperial family? Who even rushed in to kill Lawrence?¡± ¡°Did you not see the paper today? Grand Duchess Evron almost had a miscarriage.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°It seems that Bishop Akim made her knelt on the cold stone floor for hours to confess her mother¡¯s sins.¡± ¡°A pregnant woman?¡± ¡°I guess so. It is said that from the beginning, the Evron Grand Duchy was opposed to the Grand Duchess going to the temple.¡± ¡°I guess so. She¡¯s pregnant. Besides, isn¡¯t there only one descendant of the Evron Grand Duchy now, His Grace?¡± ¡°Still, the mother, whom she cut off ties with, is still her mother, and as Marchioness of Rosan, she was detained after going to the temple to cooperate and take responsibility for the Rosan mansion.¡± ¡°Hey, do you believe that? Anyway, it¡¯s Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°And how could the fair Bishop Akim have done that?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I don¡¯t know. My nephew went to the temple yesterday, and the bishop prevented the Knights of Evron from visiting the Grand Duchess, so it must have been a big fight.¡± This kind of story was whispered. ¡°But when did Grand Duke Evron return?¡± ¡°Yesterday.¡± ¡°Then is the war over in the north?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never heard of such a story. But that must have been resolved, so he returned?¡± ¡°He may havee due to the news about the Dowager Marchioness Rosan. Did you forget what happened when the Grand Duchess was about to marry?¡± Last year¡¯s events were repeated again. Cedric¡¯s involvement in the trafficking of Baron Yetz was also told. ¡°Will Grand Duke Evron be involved again this time?¡± ¡°Can I trust Grand Duke Evron? He handled it fairlyst time, but this time his wife and child are at stake, as you can see from the fact that he brought up the charge of treason.¡± ¡°They almost killed the imperial family, so it¡¯s treason.¡± ¡°Is he going to let Mira go like this? Considering Grand Duke Evron, would he still be able to do it harshly? No matter how bad the rtionship is, she¡¯s his mother-inw.¡± ¡°Hey, would Grand Duke Evron just let her go?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying about consideration, right?¡± ¡°Anyway, just wait. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s an answer. If it¡¯s Grand Duke Evron, he surely would answer to this.¡± People¡¯s opinions were all divided. In fact, the content that every newspaper frantically printed that morning contained the works of Hayley and Freil. Hayley wrote the article almost directly. Still, Freil was a bit dumbfounded himself. Freil said. ¡°It¡¯s not wrong. It¡¯s all true that Her Grace went to cooperate when the vassals said that she didn¡¯t have to do this, that they made her stay in the monk¡¯s room, and that she was forced to kneel in the cold prayer room to repent when she was pregnant. Miss Hayley slept on the floor after all.¡± ¡°It would be a lie to say there was a miscarriage risk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not entirely a lie. A weak person like Her Grace passed out like that, and it is surprising that the baby was unharmed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, too. Anyone who knows her well will be amazed.¡± Hayley let out a deep sigh. ¡°At least, Her Majesty the Empress will be baffled.¡± ¡°Because I wrote only the facts and not about the mindset.¡± Freilughed. Announcing the situation publicly like this would be something Artizea didn¡¯t want very much. But the case has already grown too big. The Central Army is on alert, and even the Guards are monitoring the capital without pauses. Therefore, it was better to publicize why this happened and make it clear. ¡°It is better to overheat. We have to bring the atmosphere here all at once.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t nned, but I knew it was a good opportunity.¡± ¡°Now we must defeat Bishop Akim and break the hands and feet of Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Freil said firmly. ¡°If Her Grace had been awake, she would have done so.¡± Hayley couldn¡¯t deny that. £ª£ª£ª The first public appearance of Brother Colton was on a forest road near the temple blocked by the Knights of Evron. So it was as if he reached the temple as soon as he returned from the west. The reason he entered the residence of Grand Duke Evron was aplete secret. In the temple, all the bishops of the capital had gathered and held meetings. Brother Colton went straight to the council of bishops. ¡°It has been many years since this old man decided to take off his embroidered belt and be feet that tread the earth instead of being glorious hands. However, I had a small rtionship with Her Grace, Grand Duchess Evron, and I also spent quite a long time with herdy-in-waiting, so I came to say a word.¡± He made eye contact with each of the bishops presented at the meeting and said so. ¡°It is good that the authority of the temple rises. It¡¯s good to scare them of the temple taboos. It is also true that this is an effective punishment, and that the Dowager Marchioness Rosan is a symbol of this fallen age.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But let¡¯s not look away. We all know what made this thing so big. Bishop Akim¡¯s greed has gone too far.¡± ¡°Then, how do you think you should end this situation?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do what we have to do. Hold the heresy trials, emunicate, and warn believers. Let¡¯s spread the right teaching and stop the wrong doings.¡± Brother Colton said strongly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough? It¡¯s good to go out and join the people for what¡¯s right. That¡¯s what a priest should do.¡± ¡°Brother Colton.¡± ¡°But it is not the priest¡¯s duty to fan the crowds by plotting or devising. You must not sell the name of God to get more money.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Why did the temple leave the world? God¡¯s authority and glory is always there, whether the temple is high or low, people believe or not. It is the greed of the temple, not the will of the gods, that the temple wants to be respected by others.¡± Brother Colton drew a signal. ¡°God himself watches over the world, and does his will. Sometimes he sends down his hand, and sometimes he sends down his word, and the temple only has to help his hand and his word, and to preserve and spread his teachings.¡± The bishops agreed with Brother Colton. In fact, not everyone agreed with Brother Colton¡¯s words. However, through the letter that Bishop Nikos received, they were well aware of the situation. Artizea copsed while pregnant, and Cedric witnessed the scene firsthand. And the movement of the guards was serious. They were bound to be entangled in treason. The whole temple wouldn¡¯t be a suspect, but one or two people put together could be enough. That must have been what the Emperor wanted. Archbishop and Bishop Nikos, who were originally moderate, already wanted reconciliation when Cedric intervened. Moreover, even the bishops who supported Akim knew that it was time to step back. A temple must not covet secr power. What could be a better cause than this? Assuming that Bishop Akin was handed all the responsibility and Brother Colton returned and changed the course of the temple, the temple would be able to get out of this incident naturally without much loss of its face. It was thought that the protesters¡¯ bacsh could be calmed down to some extent by Brother Colton. Even within the temple, there were many members among ordinary monks and lower priests, who were angry and opposed to the actions of the Knights of Evron. However, things quickly calmed down when Brother Colton returned and took over the heresy interrogation instead. Of course, there was bacsh. Brother Colton is involved in Artizea¡¯s rebirth project. They had doubts as to whether he would be able to interrogate fairly. Amalie visited the temple as a mediator early the next morning. ¡°Neither the imperial family nor the Evron Grand Duchy intend to deny the fact that the Dowager Marchioness Rosanmitted heresy.¡± ¡°Then what are you going to do? Are you saying that this siege of the temple and intimidation by force has nothing to do with the Dowager Marchioness Rosan?¡± Bishop Nikos asked. Amalie said slowly. ¡°From the beginning, heresy, human trafficking, and attempted murder are separate sins. It is heresy that the temple will interrogate and punish, while human trafficking and attempted murder should be punished under the nationalw.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°The part where the protesters are demanding strong punishment is strictly on the side of human trafficking rather than heresy. Bishop Akim made it look like all charges should be punished in the temple with his skillful speech.¡± Words like curses and magic are provocative. Much less the fact that the Emperor¡¯s mistress was going to make human sacrifices to curse his wife touched the public¡¯s heart. However, strictly segregated, few people believed that such a curse would really be a sin. Because it was considered a foolish superstition. ¡°The heresy side will be left to the heresy trial of the temple as it is. However, human trafficking and attempted murder will be brought to a formal trial in ordance with nationalw.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s reasonable.¡± To Bishop Nikos, who was relieved, Amalie added firmly. ¡°And there¡¯s one thing that was at risk because of the temple, Grand Duchess Evron and her descendant in her womb.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I also want to ask Bishop Akim for his interpretation of viting thews of the country. This is the will of Grand Duke Evron.¡± The temple that had been noisy all day calmed down with it. Because they made it clear that Cedric wasn¡¯t going to attack the entire temple. Moreover, what Amalie conveyed was not far from what Brother Colton had argued at the bishops¡¯ meeting. Above all, several priests had seen Artizea copsed and carried away by Cedric. A lot of people felt that something was wrong. *** It was none other than Grand Duke Roygar who responded most quickly to this situation. ¡°Bishop Akim is now finished.¡± Grand Duke Roygar stayed up all night with Marchioness Camellia and several of his men. The news came before dawn that day that the Emperor had issued a decree for Cedric to punish the treason. The imperial decrease gave him almost limitless powers. From the moment the word treason appears, neither the temple nor thew of the country affects anything. Grand Duke Roygar regretted it. He never thought that Artizea would be pregnant. He wasn¡¯t suspicious of the marital rtionship or had any other reason. It was because Artizea acted too carelessly for a Grand Duchess who was pregnant with her first heir. From the forced marching down from the north to the Empress¡¯ birthday, weren¡¯t there too many things for a woman in the early stages of pregnancy to do? If it were Cedric, he would never have let her work so much. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Proofreader: somnium For this reason, Grand Duke Roygar concluded, ¡°It¡¯s not something Cedric did.¡± From the point of view of Grand Duke Evron, the sessor is not something that can be sacrificed for political reasons. But it wasn¡¯t just for that. Cedric and Grand Duke Roygar themselves were in a simr situation, although their lives were different. They were of the imperial family, but the noble family could not be called blood ties. The weak maternal family was destroyed altogether when the sisters were framed and executed. Cedric and he were close rtives. However, there was no opportunity to build affection enough to be called family. Moreover, before they could grow up, each became the master of a different family. Instead, Marquis Luden served as his strong familial support for a long time. Even now, with his wife and children, he was the closest rtive. Nevertheless, his rtionship with Marquis Luden was still a transactional one. Therefore, the existence of a wife and a child was very meaningful to Grand Duke Roygar. Even if he dies, the child who inherited the blood will live and seed him. If he survives and gains something, there is a child who will inherit it. The meaning of life has beenpletely renewed. Before the birth of the child, Grand Duke Roygar lived to survive. And after he had children, he was living to have more in his hands. So the wife who gave birth to the child was precious. It was only after he had his own children that he understood the reality of the responsibilities involved in his bloodline and family. When one has children and a wife, people are bound to change. So he thought Cedric wouldpromise;to protect his wife. Conversely, it has now crossed the negotiable limits. Otherwise, Grand Duke Roygar would have done it himself. Grand Duke Roygar looked at Marchioness Camellia and said, ¡°I regret not heeding sister-inws warning of execution. Sorry.¡± Perhaps this was the work of the ambitious Artizea herself. He never thought she would sacrifice the child in her womb. The thing to watch out for was Artizea, as Marchioness Camellia said. It was an apology with that meaning. ¡°No, Your Grace. I think that maybe even the Grand Duchess herself did not know.¡± said Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Because, at a young age, she has never had a married sister or experienced birth from her mother. She doesn¡¯t even have a nanny or an adult she can trust.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Marquis Luden followed the advice of Marchioness Camellia with his own. ¡°In any case, His Majesty the Emperor has received this cause. The problem is that.¡± It happened for the second time after the requisition of supplies to be sent to the north. It was not known how far the attack woulde. Grand Duke Roygar concluded. ¡°It is not good to confront Cedric now or to protest the treason itself. Let¡¯s leave him alone for the attack on the Dowager Marchioness Rosan to punish her for treason.¡± ¡°Your Grace is correct. He cannot im any justification in itself. Just because Grand Duchess Evron was persecuted by the temple does not remove the fact that the Dowager Marchioness Rosan cursed Her Majesty.¡± ¡°It would be ridiculous toe and change our attitude now. So let¡¯s just leave it alone. Completely, let go. That is enough.¡± The Emperor will understand Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s will that he will not push any further on the Dowager Marchioness Rosan¡¯s incident. Marquis Luden nodded his head. Grand Duke Roygar changed the subject. ¡°The problem is on the temple side.¡± Grand Duke Roygar looked at Marchioness Camellia and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to have to cut the loss*. The sooner the better.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Everything has already been prepared.¡± Marchioness Camellia said politely. ¡°As expected, sister-inw is the most reliable.¡± Grand Duke Roygar smiled. *) Originated from an economic term to stop an activity, business, etc. that is failing in order to prevent more losses or damage. Now used in a more daily life: when someone does not want to get their hands involved anymore or to end friendship or any kind of rtionship £ª£ª£ª And while all that was happening, Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence was quieter than ever. Cedric went out early in the morning to get things done. His knights were put into operation. The employees whispered even the most essential words, lest to interrupt the rest of the sleeping Grand Duchess. Artizea opened her eyes two days after she copsed. It was a familiar bed. She was also familiar with the sight of thete afternoon sunlighting through the curtains and brightening the bedroom. Artizea buried her face in the pillow. She hadid down looking at the ceiling for a long time, her hips and backs were hurt and her bones were sore. For a while she was extremely tired and seldom slept well. This was the sweetest sleep she had tasted in a long time. So a little bit more. There was nothing particrly urgent. No, was there? In a daze, Artizea mentally counted the things she had to do one by one. Then she opened her eyes. Heat surged from her body, perhaps because she had forced herself to wake up from her sleep. Her stomach ached. Artizea looked around the familiar bedroom. ¡®In the prayer room¡­¡­. Did I take it?¡¯ Her memory was unclear. Artizea let out a long sigh. Even after all those years of living, worrying about her subordinates, lying in bed and never being able to get up, she had never lost her memory like this. Was this the side effects of the drug? But it wasn¡¯t too bad thinking about it. She had never lost her memory after taking the sleeping pill in the past. She wants some more sleep, but that¡¯s all. ¡®Is Hayley doing well?¡¯ She should get up and not worry Alice and Sophie. As she moved with that thought, Alice, hearing her presence, jumped up from the corner of the room. ¡°Miss!¡± Alice shouted in haste enough to forget even her changed name. And she shouted outside. ¡°She is awake!¡± The door swung open before the shouting was finished. But there was no rush of people pouring in. Alphonse, who moved first, stopped walking and took a deep breath. It was because he was afraid that he would make the bedroom noisy with excitement and shock Artizea. Others, blocked by hisrge body, mored. But thanks to Alphonse, it seemed only a little bother. Artizea looked at him slightly nkly. ¡®Ah, because I copsed.¡¯ She must have worried not just Alice and Sophie, but everyone else. She knew it in her head, but hardly felt it. The people who cared about her in the past were very rational. They were worried about Artizea, but those worries were close to those worried about the control tower disappearing. But the people here now are not. Alphonse, Ansgar, and most of the other employees are just worried about her without knowing the real role she is ying. That put Artizea in a terribly strange mood. Alphonse only let the doctor pass first. And he said in a solemn voice. ¡°Everyone may be worried, but treatmentes first.¡± Then he bowed to Artizea silently and closed the door. Artizea was holding back a smallugh. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°This is not the time to say that. You copsed, passed out, and hadn¡¯t woken up for two days.¡± Alice arranged Artizea¡¯s bedding and moved the cushions. And she let her sit leaning against it. ¡°Since you¡¯ve slept for a long time, first drink some water.¡± The doctor said cautiously. Alice immediately handed Artizea a cup of warm water. She brought the silver samovar to one side of the room, the water was kept boiling to keep the humidity in the room at an appropriate level and allowed Artizea to drink whenever she woke up. After Artizea had wet her dry neck with the ss of water, the doctor examined her closely. The doctor asked, while taking a temperature and a pulse. ¡°Is there any difort or anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°It would be a good idea to start with a thinly boiled soup. I said it¡¯s better for you to get a good sleep, but if you hadn¡¯t woken up, I would havee up with a way to run the soup through a ss tube down your throat.¡± After saying that, the doctor said, ¡°Do you have any stomach ache? I was checking that there was no bleeding, but I shouldn¡¯t even miss a small abnormality.¡± ¡°Stomach?¡± Artizea reflexively ced her hand on her stomach at those words. ¡°It seems to be pulling a little¡­¡­.¡± Artizea replied that way without much thought. Since she ate a lot, there were not many days when her stomach waspletelyfortable. There were quite a few times that it was aching or heavy. She never paid much attention to it. She thought she had an upset stomach, because she ate more than the usual amount. But the doctor said with a serious face. ¡°ording to His Grace the Grand Duke¡¯s words, it is estimated to be around 14 weeks, so it is natural. However, for the time being, do not get out of bed and take absolute rest. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll have to take another look.¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea blinked her eyes. Alice sat next to her and wrapped her arms around Artizea¡¯s shoulders. It was a rude act that a maid could not dare to do. But she was concerned that Artizea might fall, and she had no choice. Seeing Alice¡¯s attitude and Artizea¡¯s bewildered face, even the doctor hesitated. ¡°You¡¯re conceiving, but¡­¡­. Did you not know?¡± ¡°Pregnant¡­¡­?¡± Artizea felt her head turn white. Alice grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her tightly. Artizea opened her mouth and then she closed it again. The doctor tried to hide his flusteration. Artizea caught her breath several times. The doctor rushed to her and, along with Alice, hurriedlyid her down firmly between the cushions. ¡°Take a deep breath. Calm down. Now is the time to be really careful.¡± ¡°I¡¯m, pregnant? Is there not anything wrong?¡± Artizea grabbed the doctor¡¯s arm. She gave strength to her fingers till it turned white, but there was no grip in the thin branch-like fingers. ¡°You must¡¯ve missed the moon, did you really not know?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know. In the beginning, I almost never had any.¡± Artizea said, trembling. Her first moon waster than others. And after that, at most once or twice a year, but itpletely stopped in her early thirties. In the beginning, there were hardly any moons on a regr basis. She thought it was because of the stress, and she didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s infertility..¡­.¡± ¡°Not necessarily. The odds are very low, though.¡± The doctor said in a soft voice. ¡°It was a very difficult-to-get baby. I have to congratte you.¡± Artizea hardly heard those words. She said half-dazed. Her head was nk and she couldn¡¯t think of anything. ¡°Go away.¡± She only said that one word. Chapter 144 Proofreader: somnium At Artizea¡¯s brief remark, the doctor panicked. He thought she would be delighted to have been given the news. Or, she could have panicked. She married at a young age, and even if she didn¡¯t, she didn¡¯t have a family of her own, and he thought that she might be sad because of the current situation. Then he thought hard about how tofort her. Although she has a weak constitution, he was trying to reassure her that she could give birth healthily enough if she nurtured it from now on. However, Artizea didn¡¯t make any facial expressions that the doctor anticipated. Her cold face, as if she was wearing an ice mask, did not reveal the reaction that a sick person should naturally show. ¡°Go away.¡± Artizea spoke again. The doctor dared not linger any longer. He could not even talk about meals or medical care. So he politely bowed his back and walked out of the room. Thud. The door is closed. Artizea¡¯s body began to tremble as if it had waited. Alice quickly closed the door tight and ran to the front of Artizea. Her expression remained suppressed, but she couldn¡¯t suppress all her emotions. Alice pressed Artizea¡¯s shoulder between the cushions. It was because she was afraid she would fall again while trying to get up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, miss.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to get an abortion medicine, Alice.¡± Artizea whispered in a low voice so that it could not be heard. Her hand, holding Alice¡¯s wrist, trembled like a tree. ¡°I think Rye knows a pharmacist. Oh Rye¡¯s not here. Then another way¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t, miss!¡± Alice said firmly. ¡°Your doctor said it, too. It¡¯s a baby who hade with difficulty. He said you might never get a second chance!¡± ¡°Bu, but¡­¡­.¡± Artizea looked up at Alice with a terrified face. Tears streamed down from her blue eyes. ¡°How can someone like me be a mother?¡± ¡°You can do it, it¡¯s okay. The doctor said you could give birth to a healthy baby.¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I, you, you know, Alice, how I grew up.¡± Artizea stuttered in a trembling voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know what a proper mother is.¡± ¡°No one knows what being a mother is before she has her first child.¡± ¡°Bu, but, this one has a high likelihood.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that. You don¡¯t hate the baby, do you?¡± At Alice¡¯s question, Artizea trembled astonishingly. She had never even thought about it. She had never thought of such a possibility in her life, so Artizea could not even imagine herself raising a child. She never thought about likes or dislikes. ¡°I, I am not aplete person. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± One day, a w will pop out of nowhere. Artizea knew that she did not know how to love properly. If it¡¯s against adults, she¡¯s fine. It would be over when she was abandoned. But if it was her own child, it was different. She wasn¡¯t sure that she could be a different mother than Mira. Mira didn¡¯t even give birth to her because she hated Artizea and wanted to beat her. She had a heart to love. But in front of Artizea, Mira just can¡¯t handle herself. How can Artizea herself guarantee that she is not the same? Artizea knew that she was a person who could be much more ruthless and cruel than Mira. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯m going to mess up the child. I, I¡¯d rather it not be born¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I will raise it!¡± Alice screamed out loud. Artizea looked at her in surprise. Alice hugged her tightly. ¡°I will raise it. If you are not confident, I will raise it for you.¡± ¡°That, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t a very educated person who learned a lot, and our house was not that harmonious or anything like that¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Alice¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But I can still raise children. Do you know that I raised my youngest brother?¡± Artizea nodded her head as Alice made eye contact with her. ¡°I can¡¯t make the baby a noble or raise it to be as smart as Miss, but I can love it. Sophie is here too.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I think Sir Marcus will be able to help with the teaching.¡± A light returned to Artizea¡¯s eyes. But her trembling did not stop. Cry leaked out of her throat like a painful scream. ¡°But, still, what if it looks like me? What if it resembles my mother? What if it resembles my older brother?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, Miss? And you¡¯re not the only child!¡± ¡°Even more so, I can¡¯t let it be the child of a woman like this¡­¡­!¡± Artizea said desperately. £ª£ª£ª At that time, Cedric was at the Chancellor¡¯s residence. He felt like he wanted to be by Artizea¡¯s side, but he had too much to do. There was a meeting with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs early this morning today. He had rarely been involved in internal affairs until now, but he suddenly intervened in the name of the imperial family, so it was difficult to coordinate. Fortunately, he had gotten used to it with Baron Yetz¡¯s incidentst year. Otherwise, it would have taken longer. And after it was over, he had epted Chancellor Lin¡¯s request and hade to drink tea. The servant politely set the tea down on the table. Cedric took the long-necked ss and went to the window. He was grateful for the chilled tea. ¡°Please don¡¯t think I¡¯m rude, Chancellor. After sitting all morning, my body aches.¡± ¡°It is understandable. Neither the Judiciary nor the Ministry of Home Affairs are passive, so you must be upset.¡± ¡°I was prepared. In fact, it is impossible to eradicate human trafficking with a short-term military deployment.¡± ¡°Failure bes responsibility, and bureaucracy avoids responsibility.¡± Chancellor Lin said so. He felt a sense of responsibility as the head of that bureaucracy, but also because he wanted to make Cedric aware of the difficulties of capital politics. ¡°It would have been more difficult if His Majesty had not issued the Imperial Decree.¡± ¡°Fortunately, I have that decree in my hands now. If he¡¯s not going to let it go on forever, this¡¯ll have to start at some point.¡± Cedric continued. ¡°Now is the best time to avoid the reproach you will receive while weakening the punishment of the Dowager Marchioness Rosan.¡± Most of the citizens, frightened of being entangled in treason, held their breath and watched the progress. But not everyone forgot their courage. There were also small demonstrations, angered at the fact that a pregnant woman who was weak in body and was assaulted, med themselves for trusting such a person, and criticized the temple. Conversely, there were many who were angry with Cedric and still trusted Bishop Akim. Some thought that treason was just an excuse, and that the Emperor finally moved his army to protect Mira. The army suppressed both sides. Nevertheless, right and wrong did not change. Those who did not forget the essence of the case quietly gathered in front of the judiciary. This was after learning that Mira¡¯s trial was divided into heresy and criminal trials. Cedric felt the need to answer them. So he went to the protesters yesterday afternoon. All the shiny insignias and cloaks were taken off, and even the simple armament that he always wears was also released, like when entering the imperial pce. [¡°The trial will be fair. The judges will give reasons for every ruling, and there will be no unjustified presumptions.¡±] Cedric promised sinctly. [¡°Everyone who buys and sells humans will be punished. The perpetrator¡¯s property will be seized and will be used to protect victims. Children who lose their parents will return to their parents¡¯ arms, and children who are sold from their parents¡¯ hands will be returned to their parents¡¯ homes and will receive adequate protection to prevent being sold again.¡±] And Cedric politely knelt down on one of his knees. [¡°I will leave a righteous world to the children. I promise in the name of the Imperial Family and Evron.¡±] Anyone could understand that Cedric¡¯s own children were included in the ¡°children¡± he was talking about. Chancellor Lin thought that he would never forget the incident for a long time. In the long history of the empire, there was one or two where the imperial family did kneel before the citizens. But it was the first time one had made an oath about the future. Chancellor Lin said. ¡°It is never a wise choice.¡± ¡°Chancellor.¡± ¡°It must have been difficult not to intervene at all because there was a problem with the Grand Duchess. But you don¡¯t have toe forward like this. If anything goes wrong, the me will be poured out on Your Grace.¡± It was a pity that Chancellor Lin said that. ¡°To be admired by everyone means to do nothing. I know it now.¡± As Cedric answered, he gently rolled the curtains up on the window. There were citizens who had not yet been disbanded. But now it was very different from the previous crowd. They were gathered not to protest, but to watch. Cedric did not force them to disband. Instead, he mobilized some of the central army to protect them from shing into the security forces. The officials seemed to be under considerable pressure there. Cedric said softly. ¡°At the end of the day, I will have to push ahead the way I see fit. I just hope it can make more people understand.¡± ¡°Even if the public opinion is so, what do you n to do with His Majesty? His Majesty doesn¡¯t say anything because you have to deal with the Dowager Marchioness Rosan right now, but when things are all settled and forgotten, it¡¯lle back to you.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be helped either.¡± Cedric said. Chancellor Lin said as he sighed. ¡°You are very determined.¡± ¡°You keep trying to stop me. I was told that Chancellor was determined to not immerse himself in lust, and thus became a bureaucrat.¡± ¡°There was a time when I had that determination when I was younger.¡± Chancellor Lin said. ¡°Something like me is pretty good. I am already a failed bureaucrat.¡± ¡°A word of humility.¡± ¡°I choose to hold my breath andpromise under His Majesty. However, Grand Duke is different from me, who is only a subordinate, and from Grand Duke Roygar. Unlike the public opinion of the social circles and the support of the upper ss, the support of the military will present a psychological threat to His Majesty.¡± When Grand Duke Roygar first began to establish his powers, the emperor still had the shorings of the Empress. He would not have thought that raising another sessor to keep his legal wife in check woulde this far. But now things are different. Cedric said. ¡°That kind of power rtionship is a good thing. Because I think I have to do this now.¡± It was when he told such a story. The Grand Duchy¡¯s messenger has arrived. ¡°Your Grace, Grand Duke Evron, the Grand Duchess has awakened.¡± Cedric took a deep breath. And he said to Chancellor Lin. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°Oh, you should.¡± ¡°Excuse me.¡± He stepped out at a quick pace. And ran out. The next few chapters will be a whirlwind of emotions, but don¡¯t worry Cedric is here tofort us all~ Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Proofreader: somnium Cedric sprinted to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. His mansion is not far from the Prime Minister¡¯s residence, but he¡¯s never been this frustrated. Even seeing people on the street made him angry. When he jumped into the Grand Duke¡¯s mansion, the employees panicked. Cedric paused in the lobby. And he took one deep breath. It won¡¯t change anything just because he rushed. A servant was waiting with water and a towel to wash his hands. Cedric washed his hands and wiped his face. He hoped that his face would keep itsposure. Ansgar looked at him anxiously. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there anything wrong with Tia? Is her condition bad?¡± ¡°No. Doctors say she has improved remarkably within a day. He said that herplexion was restored to the extent that it was no problem that she hadn¡¯t eaten anything while she was sleeping¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°It looks like she is crying right now.¡± Ansgar said in great perplexity. He didn¡¯t know what they were talking about through the closed door, but the only thing he could hear was a cry. All the employees have seen until now was only Artizea¡¯s smiling face and the majestic mistress. Ansgar saw her weeping the first day she came to this house. But even then, Artizea had not abandoned her noble appearance, despite her bruised and ripped-off face. The doctor didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°It seems she didn¡¯t know she was pregnant.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ is it.¡± ¡°She thought she was infertile¡­¡­ she seems shocked.¡± The doctor said so cautiously. Cedric nodded that he understood and took off his dusty cloak. Ansgar took his clothes. As they entered Artizea¡¯s sitting room, Marcus, who was standing in front of the door, jumped up to Cedric. Sophie was half crying. Lysia and Alphonse also looked worried, then looked at Cedric and bowed their heads in relief. Knock, knock. Cedric knocked on the door. And he opened the door without waiting for an answer. He did not want Artizea to greet him fully prepared. Even if Artizea would treat everyone in this world with her armor on, she shouldn¡¯t be so to him. ¡°Hup!¡± Artizea hupped in surprise at the sound of the door opening. Alice hugged Artizea as if wrapping around her and looked towards the door. Cedric took a step through the door. Then he turned his hand back and closed the door. ¡°Lord, Lord Cedric, ho, how¡­¡­.¡± Artizea looked at him with eyes of disbelief. Blood drained from her tear-stained face. ¡°I was back on the day you copsed. It¡¯s not like I set the date on purpose.¡± Artizea looked at Alice in confusion. Alice answered in a low voice. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wh, why?¡± ¡°What I have to do at the Thold Gate is, of course, the work of a lifetime, but it is no more important than you.¡± Cedric answered in a low voice. Artizea¡¯s body, which had been stiff in surprise, began to tremble. Alice took her hand. Cedric said. ¡°Alice, I can¡¯t say that your worries are less than mine, but I want you to step aside for a moment.¡± If Cedric hade out even a little stronger, Alice wouldn¡¯t have left Artizea¡¯s side. But he was polite and very calm. Artizea tightened her hand as she grabbed Alice¡¯s arm. Alice gently pushed her hand away and bowed a greeting to Cedric politely and withdrew. Cedric walked over to the bedside. Artizea pulled her body back as if frightened and was going to run away. But she quickly reached the edge of the bed. Cedric pulled her back and held her in his arms before she fell off the bed. Artizea pushed him away,pletely terrified. Cedric grabbed her as she struggled, hugged her and patted her on the back. Artizea¡¯s hups barely stopped. There were too many things to talk about. He had a lot to tell, a lot to ask, and a lot to rebuke. Her first promise was that she wouldn¡¯t hurt herself, and Artizea still couldn¡¯t live up to that. ¡°Did you get up and drink water?¡± Artizea did not answer and only nodded her head. Cedric rested her head against his chest and stroked the back of her head lightly. ¡°They said that you should eat well and rest.¡± ¡°That¡­¡­ I¡¯m¡­¡­ trying.¡± Artizea stuttered. She didn¡¯t know what to say. She didn¡¯t want to talk about the child. But Cedric should already know. If the doctor knew, everyone in the residence would have known. She was so afraid of what to say. She was afraid to say she didn¡¯t want it. But Cedric asked Artizea before she spoke. ¡°Are you afraid of the child?¡± Artizea¡¯s body stiffened. Cedric, knowing that she could no longer make any attempt to run away anymore, gentlyid her down on the bed. Then, with his thumb, he wiped her tear-soaked eyes once, and pressed his lips to her forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have to give birth to it. If you don¡¯t want it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ !¡± Artizea¡¯s body trembled like having a convulsion. Cedric swept her forehead. For the past two nights, he has been thinking countless times about the possibility that Artizea might have drank the medicine even though she knew she had a child. Maybe she thought she might as well get rid of the child. He thought if she was going to abort it anyway, she might have found the moment when it would be most effective and made it part of her ruse. Cedric was guessing Artizea was setting her goals. The goal is not the reason behind the two-year deadline she set out when they married, nor the day when he will be crowned. She will leave when she thinks things won¡¯t turn around anymore, or when she thinks she can no longer contribute to Cedric¡¯s power. So he thought she might see the child as a hindrance to her ns. Perhaps, she was just being swept away by his and her rtionship as a man and woman, and she didn¡¯t want to start a family or forge a bond with a child. But he thought it was fortunate it wasn¡¯t the case. Artizea is just afraid. ¡°You are weak, you are still young, and I am well aware that having children can be dangerous. When the child is born, it would be difficult to move around.¡± Something inside Cedric¡¯s chest seemed to be washed away. It was something he had already decided even when he thought that she might have drunk the medicine while knowing of pregnancy. Whether to have any child or not, let Artizea choose. Still, he was in pain. But now it¡¯s fine. If it was a decision she made while in tears like this, he could ept it himself. ¡°If you tried to get rid of the child, I think it¡¯s possible. If you don¡¯t want to, you don¡¯t have to give birth.¡± When Cedric said that, Artizea hesitated this time. Because she never thought she would hear such a thing. But it wasn¡¯t relief that spread through her mind. Anxiety and fear ran through her veins, making her hands and feet tremble. After all, Cedric may not have even thought of having any child. He might have thought it was impossible. Isn¡¯t she Mira¡¯s daughter and Lawrence¡¯s sister? She couldn¡¯t even imagine that Cedric wasn¡¯t that kind of person. Artizea thought it was crazy. But nothing allows her to think properly. Cedric ced his hand on Artizea¡¯s eyes, as if aware of all kinds of thoughts churning in her head. It was like the night they became one for the first time. ¡°But it¡¯s not that I hate the child myself.¡± Even back then, and for her right now, when her eyes were covered, it made Artizea feel strange. It was just that when her eyes were covered, it felt as if she was cut off from the world. Cedric¡¯s hands wererge and warm, wet from her tears. The touch melted away what was in Artizea¡¯s head. ¡°Then give birth.¡± ¡°But, but what if it¡¯s wrong? I, I, I don¡¯t have the confidence I can raise it properly. Heuk¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I will raise it well.¡± ¡°If, if it resembles me, if it resembles my mother or brother, or if it passes on my biological father¡¯s blood.¡± Artizea gasped and stuttered her words. She didn¡¯t even have a clue if what she was saying was being properly sentenced. It was as if the words that rose from her chest were flowing straight through her mouth; not through her head. ¡°You seem to be forgetting that I have imperial blood in my veins.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you were going to say ¡®bad blood,¡¯ that would be the best depiction. Do you not know well how the imperial family washed blood with blood?¡± ¡°Lord, Cedric.¡± ¡°Tia, you are not born with bad blood. No one has ever taught you the right path.¡± Cedric said softly. And he leaned his body to Artizea and spoke affectionately. ¡°I¡¯m scared, too.¡± Artizea took in a breath. ¡°I can¡¯t even remember the faces of my parents. Instead of leaving a good world for it, I might be leaving it with a lot of luggage.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ No¡­ way.¡± ¡°If we are unlucky, you and I may both be purged, and the child may be left alone; like I did. His Majesty is someone who knows very well the limits of what a person can endure.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t deny that. ¡°Still, I want it. Just as you became my wife, the children are on the road we should go on with together.¡± Artizea groaned. ¡°¡­¡­ Still I can¡¯t. Ho, ho, how?¡± Anyway, how could she possibly have Cedric¡¯s child? It would have been better if it was just a child born between Cedric and herself. However, when the child is born, the child bes the eldest child of Evron Grand Duchy, who was born bywful marriage. It was the unconditional sessor. Cedric wiped her eyes again with the palm of his hand. ¡°Crying like that makes you dehydrated.¡± ¡°I, no.¡± Artizea mumbled a few meaningless words. Cedric pulled her, hugged her and made her bury her face in his shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t have to make a decision right now.¡± ¡°Bu, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. You will think about it with meter. Do you understand?¡± He said whileforting her. What does that mean? Artizea thought. Having Cedric by her side is what scares her the most right now. But as he patted her, the rest of the thoughts melted in her mind. Now she couldn¡¯t even remember why she started crying. Artizea wept as he released her neck from his arms. And she fell into a dark sleep at some point. Did the whole chapter make you squeal ¡®Cedric, where is someone like Cedric in real life¡¯ Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Proofreader: somnium Artizea woke up again the next morning. Meanwhile, Cedric spent the night by her side. It was because he was afraid that when she woke up, she would be mentally unstable or have a seizure again. But when she woke up suddenly in the morning, Artizea had a calm face. ¡°Tia. Did you sleep well?¡± Cedric deliberately spoke in a more gentle voice. He had aplicated heart, but he was determined to show a calm side for her. Artizea blinked her swollen eyes as she buried herself in the nket. And she covered her eyes with her hand. ¡°My eyes are sore.¡± ¡°Because you cried a lot. Doesn¡¯t your throat hurt?¡± ¡°It hurts.¡± Artizea answered with an almost resting voice. Cedric said. ¡°I will call the doctor first. I¡¯ll see the doctor again, wash my face, and get something to eat.¡± ¡°You can go.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Cedric paused. ¡°You came all the way here from the north. I¡¯m sure the echo wouldn¡¯t be small?¡± Artizea spoke in a shriveled voice and put her hand on her neck. ¡°You don¡¯t need tell me.¡± Cedric said in a whisper. And he said on behalf of Artizea. ¡°You¡¯re right. You copsed, and I took control of the situation.¡± ¡°The Northern work¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it either. I beg your pardon. I should discuss it with you as well. I have a letter to deliver.¡± Cedric said. If it had been between humans, the negotiation would not have been so easy. However, the Prince of Karam, Apua, knew how to doubt, but did not fully understand the excuses of humans. He genuinely epted and understood Cedric¡¯s words that his wife¡¯s family had trouble. ? If you are worried about your partner, you cannot do anything. Let¡¯s end this conversation here. This does not mean that the conversation itself will cease. Anyway, just because you have stayed in this ce for a few more months and talk to me more, it¡¯s still impossible to break the Thold Gate all of a sudden.? [¡°Thank you for understanding.¡±] ? And isn¡¯t your partner a woman of light? You barely got her back, so you should cherish her.? Cedric smiled bitterly, not knowing where to start exining and correcting Apua¡¯s words. ¡°Anyway, I will only say for now that I havee to see the possibilities for the future. There are a lot more urgent things right now.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Cedric pressed his lips to Artizea¡¯s finger. ¡°I will take care of the rest. For now, just think about resting and recovering your body. It¡¯s not only a problem with the child, it¡¯s your body that¡¯s also a problem.¡± Artizea nodded her head meekly. And she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, you can go. You must have work to do.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric made a voice of reproach. Artizea was right. Originally, there was a meeting with the Ministry of Home Affairs this morning as well. But a day or so dy will be fine. Some had already been asked for their consent. When Artizea¡¯s conditions change, he has to stay by her side. He wanted to be by her side for a little longer, probably more. But Artizea said in a cracked voice. ¡°I also need time to think on my own.¡± ¡°We have to think together.¡± ¡°For now, I want to calm myself down a little bit.¡± Cedric couldn¡¯t be more stubborn about those words. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll just take care of a few important and urgent things and be back soon, so you can rest.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t answer. Cedric didn¡¯t rush for an answer. He brought his face closer instead. Artizea turned her head and went under her nket. Cedric gently tried to pull her out of the nket. But Artizea was stubborn. Instead of pulling her out with strength, Cedric pressed his lips to her cheek on the nket. Because the summer nket was thin, Artizea could not help feeling the pressure on her cheek. ¡°¡­¡­ Now go.¡± ¡°¡®Go,¡¯ do you have any other things to say?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t want her words toe out, so she opened her mouth and swallowed a gulp. Her neck hurt very badly, and her ripped lips also hurt. The moment before, it was like sweet pain mixed with itchiness and anguish, now it felt as painful as her sore eyes and throat. Once the dam copsed, it could hardly hold up the second time. Artizea curled up under the nket and held her breath. It was just all so hard. In such a quiet bedroom, there¡¯s no way she could hide her sobbing with a thin quilt in between. She still couldn¡¯t help but do it. Cedric hugged her with the nket. He wanted to say he would be back. And she was going to tell him to go. Everytime, with the intention that he wille back to her side. But for Artizea, even that still seemed unreasonable. He stayed still until Artizea¡¯s sobs subsided. £ª£ª£ª Afterwards, Cedric was eventually summoned by a lieutenant and forced to leave. After her tears stopped, the next thing to do was to wash her body. The maid chief and two of the most trusted maids hurriedly filled the bathtub with lukewarm water. Marcus and Ansgar personally checked everything in the bathroom. Alice and Sophie decided to attend the bath. They didn¡¯t usually use a lot of people, but today they did that even though Artizea was very tired. The two elderly butlers knew how dangerous these times were. That is why, unless it was someone they trusted in particr, they decided not to bring them around Artizea. Artizea usually prefers hotter water, but the doctor personally adjusts the temperature of the water himself. The doctor made Artizea drink a watery soup boiled with herbs and meat while Artizea was in the water. Because she couldn¡¯t dy further hydration or nutrition. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten anything for three days, so it¡¯s good to soothe the stomach with warm food. I am trying to use medicinal herbs to protect the body based on the progress.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just tired, but there is no particr pain.¡± ¡°It may be that you are too weak to feel it.¡± Artizea was now unable to say that she knew her body well. Sophie, who was washing her hair, agreed with the doctor. ¡°The doctor will take good care of you. Since Madam has always been weak, you can say that even the most unfavorable condition is normal.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Take your medicines well. During pregnancy, I was told that taking medicine was not good but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The best way to stay healthy is to eat a bnced diet. But you have to start replenishing your energy right now.¡± The doctor said ¡°That¡¯s how you can hold on until giving birth.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Artizea drank the soup, roughly skipping it. She thought she couldn¡¯t eat nor drink, but it went beyond her expectations. It was even delicious. When she was relieved, this time she started to feel very hungry. Seeing Artizea rumbling, Sophie looked at the doctor. The doctor nodded his head. ¡°Even if it is light, it is better to eat as much as you can eat first.¡± ¡°Yes, I will tell them to prepare it.¡± Sophie hurried out of the bathroom. Alice finished rinsing Artizea¡¯s hair, wrapped it in the towel and dried it. She grumbled. ¡°But it seems that our baby is very strong. I wondered why you were so emaciated even though you¡¯ve been eating well, did it all go to the baby?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you just d it¡¯s a healthy baby?¡± ¡°Obviously, it¡¯s a glutton just like the master.¡± Still, Alice did not stopining. It was both aint and afort. To say the child would look like Cedric. Artizea was listening to such a conversation dazedly. Alice helped roll her hair up with the towel and then lift her up from the bathtub. After washing, she felt really refreshed. The time up until this morning was as vague as a dream. Her eyes were still sore and her face was puffy, but she couldn¡¯t even realize how much she cried. And that Cedric is here. Artizea bit her lower lip. It wasn¡¯t in her ns. Cedric would have been better offing this summer or noting to the capital this year at all and passing the year in the north. If that had been the case, at least Lawrence would have been able to put an end to it and set the stage for the fall of Grand Duke Roygar. Cedric had better not dirtied his hand at all on this. It was even more so, because she was Mira¡¯s daughter. If he severely punishes Mira, he bes a person who treats his mother-inw harshly. However, if he did it in moderation, he bes an unfair person who didn¡¯t punish a perpetrator for being his kin. So, whether he treats her harshly or not, there are all ws. She should have been in charge. She had a cause she could get because she was Mira¡¯s own daughter. And since he didn¡¯t do it himself, there were parts that Cedric could have avoided. It all failed. But what was more pathetic, she was notmenting that he hade, but she feltforted and consoled. ¡°Madam.¡± Sophie dried her hair and took out her light clothes. Marcusid out several small tes in front of Artizea. Various kinds of fruits, turkey meat cut into bite-size pieces and grilled with sauce, small meat pie that was often eaten as a snack and others were served in little amounts. ¡°If there is anything that bothers you, please tell me. I¡¯ll change the recipe or make sure it won¡¯t be served next time.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Perhaps because her stomach was warmed up first, her appetite turned. Artizea ced her hand on thest te. Terin, made from mashed trout, shattered in savouriness in her mouth. There was a fragrant smell from the mushrooms inside. Most of the food was ced on one te, two at a time. Artizea emptied several of the tes. Oddly enough, it was tastier than before. This child seems to want to live for a while, Artizea thought. ¡®In this world, if it had been born as a child of a mother like me, nothing good would happen.¡¯ But thanks to the food she ate, her stomach calmed down a lot and she was energetic. Artizea was able to keep her feelings hidden. Marcus asked with a smile on his relieved face. ¡°What do you like best? Shall we use the same ingredients for lunch?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Anything that is prepared.¡± Artizea answered. Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door. Alice went to see what was up, and then she returned. And she said to Artizea with a slightly cautious face. ¡°Miss Lysia wants to see you.¡± Artizea flinched. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Why is Lysia here?¡± Artizea asked. She did tell Hayley to contact Brother Colton quickly. But it will take a few days for the news to arrive, and it will take some time for the news toe back. It was not a distance that could be reached in three or four days. Alice said cautiously. ¡°She arrived on the day Madam copsed. It seems that Brother Colton made the decision on the day he heard about the Dowager Marchioness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I think he was thinking of being on Madam¡¯s side at the temple.¡± Alice asked. ¡°What should I do? Shall I take her inside?¡± If it were anyone else, she wouldn¡¯t let in now. Artizea had to rest more. It was Alice¡¯s intent that Artizea should forget everything about the Evron Grand Duchy and rest. But she knew that Artizea was a person who couldn¡¯t do that. Besides, Lysia is a special person. Artizea thought for a moment and then let out a long sigh. She had no desire to run away. But she didn¡¯t have the option of rejecting Lysia when Lysia wanted to meet. She sighed, not because she didn¡¯t want to meet her or because she was shy. ¡°Nothing really goes my way.¡± ¡°Are you going to decline? Miss Lysia said that she would go if you were tired.¡± ¡°No. Please tell her toe in.¡± Artizea said so and she turned to Sophie and Marcus. ¡°You two can go.¡± ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Nothing¡¯s going to happen.¡± The cause was unknown, but her condition was actually better than before she copsed. ¡°And Alice, tell Lysia toe in, and tell Hayley and Sir Freil that I am looking for them.¡± ¡°Madam, you need to rest more.¡± ¡°Even if I take a break, it would be better to understand the situation first and then rest. There¡¯s no rush, just tell them toe when they¡¯re done.¡± Alice did not object further. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be by your side even then.¡± ¡°Yes, please.¡± Artizea nodded her head. £ª£ª£ª Lysia entered Artizea¡¯s sitting room with a cautious attitude. And she knelt down on one of her knees in front of Artizea and kissed the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re safe, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Lysia¡­¡­.¡± She didn¡¯t know where to start, so Artizea called her name and choked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± When Artizea did not speak to her, Lysia looked up and said. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t keep doing what I wasmanded to do, and I came as I wanted.¡± ¡°I heard that Brother Colton hade. I have entrusted you to be Brother Colton¡¯s assistant, so you don¡¯t have to think so.¡± ¡°Your Grace is too generous with me.¡± said Lysia. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be by your side, and I couldn¡¯t do what I was asked to do, so I should be reprimanded.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that, get up.¡± Artizea tried to reach her and get her up. But she hadn¡¯t yet had strength to that extent. The angle of her looking down at Lysia and Lysia looking up at her was the exact opposite of what Artizea remembered. She herself is sitting, and Lysia kneeling on her knees in front of Artizea gave her a tormented mood. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯re not okay.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Artizea spoke again. Lysia always said. [¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±] With lips that turned white. But how can she say that she is not okay? She once again tried to take Lysia¡¯s hand, but Lysia was a bit more stubborn. Artizea burst into tears. Lysia was not surprised. It was because she remembered that she had seen these tears in the past as well. ¡°This child, do you think it¡¯s okay for me to give birth?¡± Artizea asked. What a meaningless question she asked impulsively, she thought. Lysia knows nothing. What would be different if she asked Lysia to forgive her or to get Lysia¡¯s permission? It doesn¡¯t change that she stole Cedric, that she caused Lysia to die painfully, or that she failed to protect the child. It doesn¡¯t change that she¡¯s a genocide criminal or a sinister copycat. It was still true that she was born of ugly bloodlines. Cedricforted Artizea, but she couldn¡¯t forgive herself for that alone. He asked her to think together. She was grateful for that. But this was a problem before that. Is it okay to give birth to this child? It was a question before the question of whether she could make the child happy. But it was useless even if she asked Lysia now. Even if she were to receive her blessing and forgiveness from her, it would be nothing more than a flimsy self-constion for Artizea. However, Lysia¡¯s words were neither permission nor congrattions nor constion. ¡°Do you want to give birth?¡± ¡°I¡­¡­?¡± Artizea looked at Lysia nkly. ¡°Yes, I think it¡¯s something you want to love.¡± Lysia looked a little embarrassed, but she said with a confident attitude. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want to, you wouldn¡¯t be afraid.¡± Artizea blinked her eyes. But Lysia was right. Had she had no feelings, she would have decided, whether she would have the child or not, ording to her own needs. There was no element in which trouble could intervene. This is because it is not a process of finding the optimal efficiency, but a reasonable choice. Also, if she didn¡¯t want to, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate. She would remain steadfast in her belief that the child not being born was better for everyone. It is right to cut the seeds of anxiety early. There is no reason for her to leave a variable that is far more likely to be negative. Why should her children be any different from all the lives she has ever dealt with as her chess pieces? Where is the guarantee that this is a child worthy of birth? Even if Cedric nurtures it and Alice loves it, the child¡¯s nature may resemble her and be cold-blooded. But it is painful because she wanted it even though she knew it. She wanted to have the child. She wanted to create a family that she wanted to have but couldn¡¯t get. She wanted to have her own child and raise it differently from her. It was the child born to Cedric. She wanted to love it. She kept thinking that maybe it¡¯ll be okay. Especially since this might be the first andst chance. She traced back to her heart one by one and realized that fact, then Artizea lowered her head. ¡°It¡¯s strange.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°How could you not change like this?¡± It was only when Artizea was twenty-four that she met Lysia in person. The lives and sufferings of the countless people Lysia met in the West made her mature, and the wars and hardships that gued Evron Grand Duchy tempered her. At that time, Lysia was already aplete saintess. When they met again, she had an innocent side that Artizea had never even thought of. So Artizea felt sadness and joy at the same time. She thought she wanted to keep Lysia from changing like this. But Artizea knew and suddenly realized that there was no point in trying so hard. Lysia¡¯s eyes were always right. And the world, which will be watched with her eyes, will raise her as a saint. Any thoughts Artizea had created by spinning her head like crazy meant nothing in front of Lysia¡¯s eyes. Artizea realized it anew. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I fell in love with Cedric.¡± Artizea stuttered. She was determined to y a useful role this time, since her life, which was supposed to be lost, did not disappear. But in the end she was the same as before. She¡¯s terribly selfish. Artizea admitted she was the same as she was back then, as she didn¡¯t mind ruining the world just because she wanted her mother¡¯s love. So she didn¡¯t stop crying out of guilt. Lysia got her body up. ¡°It¡¯s so strange. I haven¡¯t known you for very long.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Lysia.¡± ¡°By the way, I think I know what you are thinking.¡± Lysia stretched out her arm. ¡°If you don¡¯t think it¡¯s rude, can I give you a hug for a moment?¡± Artizea did not answer. But Lysia spread her arms as if she heard the answer. And she hugged Artizea briefly in a motion slow enough not to startle her. ¡°What Your Grace is so afraid of or worried about, I don¡¯t know for sure.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have to. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong to me.¡± Lysia said kindly. Artizea closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Thinking that now too, she hasn¡¯t changed. Artizea says she will protect Lysia, but in the end she finds herself protected. Lysia patted Artizea¡¯s shoulder once, then loosened the embrace. And she said as she held Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°You will be able to give birth to a healthy and wonderful child, and raise them very well.¡± If it were a blessing, it would be the most meaningful blessing in the world. It was a true saint¡¯s blessing. £ª£ª£ª Meanwhile, Hayley and Freil arrived at Alice¡¯s call and were waiting in the parlor. ¡°You said that Her Grace had a seizure yesterday?¡± ¡°I was just hearing the news. I didn¡¯t have time toe anyway, Sir Freil knows that too, right?¡± Hayley said so with a nk face. ¡°You¡¯re still closer to the maids than me, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Alice and Sophie are all good kids, but there is a great river flowing between the maid and the husband¡¯s maid. Lysia is an exception. She is loved by everyone.¡± Hayleyined. ¡°Well, are you aware of the current situation of the Grand Duchy?¡± Freil sighed. Even under his eyes, a dark shadow was thickly cast. ¡°Will I ever reach that far? Dealing with the covert contact of military personnel is killing me. Does it make sense to deal with the generals in my spare time?¡± ¡°What can I do? You should resent His Grace for acting as if he would never do such a thing again for the rest of his life.¡± Hayley sighed, and Freil grumbled ¡°Isn¡¯t Evron reallycking in talent? I knew it, but no, no matter how hard it is.¡± ¡°I feel the same way¡­¡­. Still, can Sir Freil still be in a harder situation than mine? I have disobeyed Her Grace¡¯s orders.¡± At Hayley¡¯s words, Freil bit his lips. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t admit so easily that you¡¯re in a worse situation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true, but what can I do?¡± Hayley threw the pen at him. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Proofreader: somnium It took a while for Artizea to calm down again. Hayley¡¯s worries continued to grow as she waited, saying that it would be better to get scolded right away. Finally, there was a call just before Hayley exploded, she wanted to ask if she was intentionally promoting fear to create a head start. ¡°You did a great job while I was away, you two.¡± Artizea said so in a cracked voice. They heard that she cried the whole time. But they couldn¡¯t expect that her face and eyes were swollen and lips cracked, making it difficult to speak. In fact, Hayley wasn¡¯t quite convinced that Artizea had taken her pregnancy so shockingly. Even if she was shocked, she thought it would be a lie to say that she cried so hard. ¡®Well, it¡¯s like, during pregnancy, emotions fluctuate.¡¯ Even that blunt older sister, Mel, cried,ughed, and fussed. Artizea clenched her throat a few times, but there was hardly any sound, so she spoke in a whisper-like voice. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to talk, so I won¡¯t pry into everything. I¡¯m just trying to understand the situation, so just report briefly.¡± ¡°All right. A detailed report was also prepared.¡± Alice took the report from both hands. Hayley exined the situation in sequence from the time Artizea copsed. From the firing of the re to the appearance of Cedric, the turning of the tables on treason, and the leaking of information to newspapers to escte the situation honestly. It took only three or four days, but it was so much that she couldn¡¯t exin it all by herself. In the middle, Freil added a story about the military situation. No one has yet publicly expressed support for Cedric. However, Cedric was originally acquainted with military personnel both high and low. In particr, among those who did not have any particr interest in politics or factions, there were many who showed their favor to Cedric. From the beginning, people feel closer to those who have many simrities with themselves. As Cedric solidified his identity as an imperial family, he had many wanting to stand by his side. In the midst of this, Amalie and Gayan came out to assist Cedric. Many officers of the Central Army and Guards actively cooperated with the two. No one has made an official statement, yet. However, rumors circted that the two had some kind of rtionship with Cedric beforehand. So, those who really want to know whether this is really for revenge or a pavement for the future, and how far Cedric is aiming if he jumps into the struggle for power, have been in contact with him under the water. ¡®There¡¯s no way you didn¡¯t know.¡¯ Since the words couldn¡¯te out properly, Artizea sighed only in her heart. There is no way that Cedric was unaware of the repercussions of his actions. Artizea felt the edge of her chest tighten. There¡¯s no way Artizea wouldn¡¯t know what Cedric had given up when he was determined to kneel before the Emperor. He gave up pride for her. He also broke his beliefs. He also decided to forget Evron¡¯s redemption. What he said to the Emperor was not a lie, but neither was itpletely sincere. It is intentionally deceptive. He was determined to set his feet in the dirty mud of political strife. Because of her and the child in her womb. That¡¯s not what she was hoping for. It was Artizea herself who had told Cedric to give up the fight. Her belief is that he can only expand after bing Emperor. But when he made up his mind to do so, her heart ached. If Cedric were to make such a decision, it should either be for the Empire or for Evron. Or it had to be for the suffering people at the bottom. It shouldn¡¯t be for Artizea herself. Artizea bit her lower lip. To prevent her tears from flowing, she forcibly turned her thoughts away. She told Hayley. ¡°You did well.¡± Hayley visibly shook her body. Artizea tilted her head. Freil patted Hayley on the shoulder. Then, Hayley let out a long, puffy breath, and then she cried. Artizea had a sore throat, but she couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Why? Are you surprised that I said you did well?¡± ¡°Because I did the opposite of what you ordered.¡± ¡°It was something I could never have imagined myself; that Lord Cedric woulde to the capital.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t speak much as her throat hurt, so she took a few sips of warm water. ¡°The situation haspletely changed, and the scope of what you can do has narrowed down. In that situation, you understood the true meaning of my orders and the importance of the work so that the aftermath of Lord Cedric¡¯s actions had the maximum effect. This is a feat worthy of praise.¡± ¡°However, there is no difference when breaking the order.¡± ¡°It was certainly true that the re was fired, but in the end, wasn¡¯t your judgment right? If you had gone out as mildly as I told you, there is a possibility that we would have been kidnapped.¡± ¡°Is it, though?¡± Alice gave a re to tell Artizea to stop talking. But Hayley waited patiently for an answer. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring you here because I need a puppet who can only do what I¡¯m told.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°If you had acted as ordered in that situation without even trying to judge for yourself, you would have been a disappointment.¡± Hayley used to try not to feel her personal feelings toward Artizea if possible. Artizea was Grand Duchess Evron, and she was the daughter of the Jordyn family, so that if she did her best in public service, she thought it was enough. Because everything but negative feelings felt like betrayal to Aubrey. Aubrey, who died, actually knew nothing. The offender was Aubrey. Hayley had no resentment, and she never thought of revenge. She didn¡¯t miss Aubrey much. It was only bittersweet to think that her parents and sister had been hurt. But still, there is something like loyalty as a sister. She used to think that way, but now, something is about to spring up in her mind. And even before she could really feel it, Freil tackled it. ¡°Is that apliment? I heard that even a ten-year-old can think for himself?¡± ¡°If I left him alone, wouldn¡¯t he want to think about nothing?¡± ¡°I mean, if that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t pour a lot of work onto me just because you believe in me.¡± ¡°I never said that you were less than a ten-year-old. There are many people who are less than a ten-year old.¡± ¡°Then give me some praise.¡± If Artizea¡¯s voice was not hoarse, it was a response that sounded quite pleasant. As Hayley tried to give Freil a look for what he was doing, she realized Alice was keeping her mouth shut. And she noticed that Freil was deliberately speaking more lightly to lighten Artizea¡¯s mood. Whether she knew this or not, Artizea¡¯s face rubbing her forehead was definitely better than before. Hayley realized that she shouldn¡¯t have kept her mouth shut. ¡°Are you expectingpliments when you have beenining without a break?¡± ¡°But I did a good job, didn¡¯t I? Am I the only oneining?¡± ¡°What I did was worry, notin.¡± ¡°I was also worried. My job is not as it should be, someone who is two ranks higher than me should do it.¡± As they argued, Artizea let out a sigh and took a few more sips of water. And she beckoned to Alice. Alice handed the papers she had prepared beforehand to Freil and Hayley respectively. ¡°I asked to make two copies of the material, but now that I see it, I think it would have been better if there was only one.¡± ¡°No. The emergency system is now over.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t work together.¡± Hayley and Freil answered side by side. Alice giggled. Artizea said. ¡°The document is a list of all the people whoe and go, including the employees of this mansion, their families, and the merchants who do business, to find out whose the bribe it was and to whom, how much, and with what information.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two responded tensely. ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± Artizea hesitated as she could not readily continue the next words. But she ordered what she would have done if it had been someone else, not herself, who had conceived the master¡¯s child. ¡°With this in mind, make sure you thoroughly cover all people and things that were brought into the mansion.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The two bowed their heads together. They knew how dangerous this time was and what to be careful about without having to exin it. Hayley asked. ¡°But I don¡¯t know what His Majesty is thinking. Didn¡¯t he know that the military would react like this?¡± ¡°No way. I think he did it on purpose.¡± Freil said. ¡°We must not forget what happened 18 years ago. His Majesty knows that it is far better to have a young sessor to threaten and squeeze than it is to have a capable, mature and experienced Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°You mean he¡¯s letting it stand tall and waiting for it to topple over?¡± ¡°It makes sense.¡± Artizea answered. ¡°But things were a little different from back then. There is no need for His Majesty to re-establish the foundation of imperial power through imprisonment and purges.¡± ¡°It is, but ¡­¡­. It¡¯s not without gain, but he¡¯s given His Grace something too big for what it¡¯s required.¡± ¡°Everyone is illogical to some degree. Maybe something¡­¡­ It must have been an emotional gain.¡± ¡°Emotional gain?¡± Hayley tilted her head. ¡°Yes. There¡¯s no way a greedy person like His Majesty could not act without gain, nor could he have miscalcted profit and loss for such a big deal.¡± If the obvious gain is small, the rest is filled with emotional things. For Artizea, it was not clear what it was. But she was well aware that although the Emperor was cold-blooded, he wasn¡¯tpletely cold-hearted. He¡¯s the same person that had long loved Mira, and he has notpletely removed the Empress but kept her closed within the confine of the Empress¡¯ pce. ¡°Let¡¯s start with what we can do.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley and Freil answered nervously. ¡°The greatest advantage His Majesty can get from this is to establish a conspiracy against Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even if His Majesty doesn¡¯t use the cause right now, he¡¯s going to try to hold the evidence. Grand Duke Roygar must know that Bishop Akim is never one to face it all alone.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There will be an attempt to destroy evidence.¡± Freil asked. ¡°The temple is under surveince right now, shall we bring him to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence and protect him?¡± ¡°No. I like to fish.¡± A cause that is useful to the Emperor is also useful to her. Originally, another scheme had been prepared to oust Grand Duke Roygar. But then a better one came up, and she didn¡¯t have to stick with her original n. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea hesitated. She would have taken care of these important things herself. ¡°Hayley, I¡¯ll leave that to you.¡± But Artizea said so. If she wasn¡¯t going to abandon the child, she couldn¡¯t umte any more fatigue than what she already had. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Proofreader: somnium Bishop Akim was still in the temple. Just because the word treason was involved didn¡¯t mean he was taken away. He was still at his ce in the temple. He was in custody. The Knights of Evron and guards surrounded his room and watched the hallways. Very few were allowed to visit. Even so, they could not immediately drag the bishop into a dungeon and imprison him. Evidence or testimony was required. In this case, the moment the priests who tried to kidnap Artizea confessed was the moment when Bishop Akim was properly indicted of treason. Bishop Akim was, of course, well aware of this. And he knew that his priests couldn¡¯t endure it or be stubborn when tortured. They believed Bishop Akim and followed him blindly. However, it is impossible for a person with such training not to disclose information while being tortured. It was impossible with mere loyalty. ¡°What the hell were you thinking?¡± Bishop Nikos came to him with a dark face and askedmentably. Bishop Akim replied with his hard face. ¡°Did I assume that the Grand Duchess was conceiving? I have been deceived.¡± ¡°Damn it. Didn¡¯t you know that Grand Duchess Evron was not very healthy?¡± ¡°If she had said she was pregnant, I wouldn¡¯t have told her to repent.¡± ¡°Akim! Now is not the time for you to be so stubborn. Don¡¯t you know how big this is?¡± ¡°Therefore?¡± Bishop Akim asked in a cold voice. ¡°Isn¡¯t it enough for you to watch without taking this side or the other side as you have done so far?¡± ¡°Akim, why are you saying that? Yes, just like you said, I¡¯ll do my thing. Still, shouldn¡¯t we try to calm things down a bit? Are you ready to be punished?¡± ¡°If there is something you want to tell, say it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote now. Apologize to Grand Duke Evron and his wife, and cooperate. You weren¡¯t really trying to harm the imperial family, were you?¡± ¡°Is that Colton¡¯s idea?¡± ¡°Akim, Colton is not the problem.¡± ¡°Tell Colton. Don¡¯t let the Grand Duchess deceive him and endanger the temple.¡± As a result of being deceived, he lost the fight. He did not believe that Artizea would not have known that she was pregnant. She deceived everyone and was aiming for a dramatic effect. ¡°A fall is a fall, either from a tower or from the second floor.¡± He muttered to himself. In fact, there is a big difference. Those who fall from the second floor have a chance of surviving, but those who fall from the top of the tower will not survive. Bishop Akim knew it, too. Bishop Nikos eventually stood up. ¡°Break that stubbornness and pride, and think again. If you change your mind, Colton and I will try to mediate somehow.¡± ¡°Did Colton tell you to say that?¡± ¡°You are such a bad person to waste our time like this. You¡¯ll have to leave the office of bishop, but it won¡¯t be too bad; a life spent in the monastery managing and studying the scriptures. Think carefully.¡± Bishop Nikos left those words and left. Bishop Akim did not respond. He had no intention of epting such a life. But if he doesn¡¯t ept it, is there any other way to survive? ¡®Escape is wrong.¡¯ He was guarded by the Knights of Evron, so it was impossible to escape on his own. It was also dangerous to seek the help of Grand Duke Roygar. Neither Bishop Akim nor Marchioness Camellia were foolish enough to easily leave evidence. All conversations were conducted face to face. The money exchanged took the form of sponsorship for Bishop Akim¡¯s research activities. There was absolutely nothing to be called evidence. However, they could all be meaningful evident with the testimony of Bishop Akim. Conversely, Grand Duke Roygar had no reason to keep him alive. Rather, having him killed would be a relief. So now he has only two options. One of them is to tell Cedric everything in order to gain his favor. Then Grand Duke Roygar bes the culprit, and Bishop Akim himself bes the essory. He then offers a promise to actively cooperate in the prosecution of Grand Duke Roygar to lessen his own punishment. The Archbishop and Brother Colton will also intervene. Then he will be able to save his life. As Bishop Nikos said, he would be able to end his life as a monk and live in exile in a monastery somewhere on the outskirts. Cedric is a man of his word. Bishop Akim won¡¯t have to worry about the rest of his life as long as he can get Cedric¡¯s word. ¡®It¡¯s terrifying just thinking about it.¡¯ Nevertheless, Bishop Akim did not want to take that path. He had a realization that it was stupid. But if hepromised, he eventually had to bow his head to Artizea. He also had to ept Brother Colton¡¯s arbitration. He will not be able to look up to Brother Colton for the rest of his life. Even if the alternative would cost him his life, his pride would not allow it. So, until yesterday, he was just going to die proudly. He, of course, did not intend to die alone. If he¡¯s going to be framed and die anyway, wouldn¡¯t it be better to burn it all with a splendid fire? Butst night he had another option. Bishop Akim headed to his desk. And he took out a letter from the secret drawer. The letter, delivered in secret, was from the Emperor. Of course, there was no name written on it. Even if he traced the sender, it would have nothing to do with the Emperor. But he guarantees a sure protection. He also promises to change Bishop Akim¡¯s identity secretly. Even though it is far from the capital, he promises to let him live withoutck as a nobleman. It also touched Bishop Akim¡¯s pride. The letterpletely treated Bishop Akim like a secr person. As if he were willing to sell himself over just because he could live in wealth. But it was better than bowing down to Artizea and Brother Colton. It was also a reasonable suggestion. If the opponent secures Bishop Akim, he will get a justification to execute Grand Duke Roygar as a traitor at any time. So, at least Bishop Akim himself is not going to be in a one-sidedly forgiven rtionship. This was a deal. ¡®I¡¯m in the hands of the Emperor, I guess.¡¯ There was no way it would be an equal trade. When the Emperor deems him no longer needed, he will quietly dispose of Bishop Akim any time. Even so, it was a more usible future for Bishop Akim. Knock, knock Then he heard a knock on the door. Bishop Akim put the letter back and jumped to his feet from his desk. The door opened. The servant who brought the meal lowered his eyes with a frightened face. It looked like it was already dinner time. As the door opened, the knights nced inside. Bishop Akim was deeply offended, but he did not reveal it. The servant came in cautiously and set the tray down on the table. And he went out hurriedly. The door closed again. Bishop Akim sat down in front of the tray in a reluctant way. Then he ate slowly and realized when he was half way through. His tongue was getting numb little by little. ¡°Keuk!¡± He tried to scream, but no sound came out, as if his throat was also closed. There must have been poison in the meal. Bishop Akim jumped up in panic. Then he hurriedly ran to the desk and opened the drawer with the medicine box. Among the vials he drank due to his chronic illness, he hurriedly found an antidote and opened the lid. He was lucky enough to have it set up for emergencies. It¡¯s not a cure-all, so there¡¯s no guarantee he¡¯ll be detoxified, but it¡¯ll buy him some time. But as it passed over his neck, Bishop Akim felt a burning pain and grabbed his neck. ¡°Keee, heuk¡­¡­ !¡± And he just fell to the floor. It was the fifth day since the day Artizea copsed. £ª£ª£ª It waste that evening that Hayley hade. She was very nervous. It was Hayley herself who created the overall n for this event. She didn¡¯t go through enough reviewing because she was running out of time. In fact, Hayley had no intention of leading this work until this point. How much more can she say that this is such an important and urgent matter? She thought that once Artizea woke up, she would just have to follow themand. Whatever it was, she had no other choice but to take the work. Hayley tightly strained her body and stood in the hallway with Bishop Akim¡¯s room. Will she be able to negotiate one-on-one with Bishop Akim? It didn¡¯t seem like she would be. But she couldn¡¯t help it. Artizea did not seek the cooperation of Bishop Akim. It was enough to use him as a bait. [¡°Remove the restraints a little, and make a way so that he can connect to the outside. It¡¯s good if he escapes, and Grand Duke Roygar will surely respond.¡±] Artizea said in a cold voice. [¡°There will be an assassination attempt. You have to hold it back.¡±] Hayley disagreed with that opinion. [¡°I think it would be better to negotiate with Bishop Akim first.¡±] [¡°Bishop Akim will never cooperate with us. When a man like that achieves great achievements and grows old, he has an unimaginable ego. He¡¯s even jealous of Brother Colton.¡±] [¡°Bishop Akim now knows who Your Grace is, and he also knows that he is in the spotlight now. And I don¡¯t think Grand Duke Roygar would want to let him get out alone.¡±] [¡°I don¡¯t think Bishop Akim would be in a state where he could reasonably calcte profit and loss¡­¡­, but if you think so, go ahead.¡±] Artizea said so coolly. [¡°You are a person who can think, so I won¡¯t worry about this any more.¡±] Thepliment Artizea said that she did well wasn¡¯t apliment, Hayley thought. After all, when Artizea copsed, she must have been given a punishment of her own. Freil, who knew Artizea before Hayley, said with a resigned attitude. [¡°You havee to a crossroads to decide whether to rest until you die or die until you rest.¡±] [¡°Can¡¯t we rest until we die?¡±] Hayley was sincere. The knights who were guarding the hallway were surprised to see Hayley. ¡°Lady Jordyn, what are you doing at such ate hour?¡± ¡°On behalf of Her Grace, I havee to see Bishop Akim. May Ie in?¡± ¡°Of course. Just that me and the guard will be present.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to hear the conversation.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If it¡¯s Lady Jordyn, that¡¯s fine.¡± Having said that, the knight opened the door. And jumped in surprise. Following him, other knights and members of the guards rushed in. Hayley stepped in toote. Bishop Akim was lying on the floor, holding a vial. The blood from his mouth was ck and pooled on the floor. The temperature was already cold. ¡°Oh God, is this seizure? I should have paid attention to it.¡± The guard said with a worried face. Because it was clear that it would be the responsibility of those who guarded him. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Proofreader: somnium Hayley returned to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, like a withered sd. At that time, when she said she would meet Artizea, Alice opened her eyes in an angry re, but her affairs were urgent and she had no choice. Artizea wasn¡¯t asleep yet. The doctor and maids urged her to rest quickly. But she couldn¡¯t sleep because she had slept for several days. She was sitting on the bed, and she was sorting things out and thinking. ¡°Is Bishop Akim dead?¡± ¡°Yes. He had a vial in his hand. There was poison in the vial.¡± Hayley replied so. The guards said it was a suicide, and it seemed so on the surface. ¡°The Guards seem to think it was suicide by poison.¡± ¡°Considering the pride of Bishop Akim, it¡¯s not impossible, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°But it is strange.¡± Hayley said. ¡°There was a half-touched meal left. If he was going tomit suicide, he wouldn¡¯t have eaten at all. He could have killed himself after eating a meal, but even then, there is something strange about it.¡± ¡°There must have been something in the meal.¡± ¡°But, just in case, all the food and water were thoroughly inspected and sent in. I did ask them to check it again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not poison, it¡¯s a weak paralytic. Then, even if people eat it and get checked, it cannot be confirmed.¡± Artizea said indifferently. ¡°Bishop Akim knew he was in danger. What would he think if his neck and tongue were paralyzed in such a situation?¡± ¡°Are you saying he looked for the vial because he thought he was poisoned?¡± ¡°It is most likely. Perhaps they had swapped out the vials before this happened. It¡¯s hard to notice things unlike regr medicines because you don¡¯t usually touch them.¡± Artizea asked. ¡°What about the servant who brought the meal?¡± ¡°We are looking for him now.¡± ¡°They must have lost the servant already.¡± It¡¯s one stepte. Marchioness Camellia and her craftsmanship was known to be the best. There will be no evidence, no witnesses left. So she was trying to catch the fish on the spot. Hayley bowed her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t wake up earlier. It was impossible for you to stop.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± Artizea thought for a moment. Before she copsed, she never imagined that a word like treason woulde out. It was a n that was made in haste ording to the sudden situation in the first ce. It was a luxury to hope it would happen without any problems. As soon as she opened her eyes, it urred to her that she should have taken care of Bishop Akim first. But he had already passed away, so she couldn¡¯t help it. Even what she nned early and carefully is often ruined due to variables when carried out. This was out of Artizea¡¯s control. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. Let¡¯s stop this here.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± Hayley was restless and lowered her head. ¡°It¡¯s just that I wasn¡¯t as lucky as I thought. It would be better not to delve into this any further. It¡¯s not the time to ignore the odds and persist.¡± Perhaps the Emperor had his hands on Bishop Akim in his own way. If she digs the wrong way, she will touch it. There was originally a separate n for dealing with Grand Duke Roygar. It would also be better to push it, too. Hayley wasn¡¯tpletely convinced. But she nodded. ¡°Understood, Your Grace. Do you have anything else to order?¡± ¡°What about Lord Cedric?¡± Artizea asked without agitation. This is because it was not a personal question, but a question to understand the situation. ¡°Did you deliver him this news?¡± ¡°Yes. A person from the Knights of Evron departed in order to report immediately. Even if it was hasty, I made a separate note of the facts and passed it along to him.¡± ¡°Alright. Wait there for a while.¡± Artizea brought a pen and paper, and wrote a short letter on the spot. [If you continue your now hardline attitude, and no evidence emerges, you will return as a political failure. You took most of the gains you could get. Now is the right time to put an end to this situation before you regret that His Majesty gave you too much power.] Artizea simply wrote it like that. In the signature line, she pondered for a long time. But in the end, she wrote nothing. Then she folded the letter in half and put it in an envelope and gave it to Hayley. ¡°Please deliver this letter to Lord Cedric. You must hand it over yourself.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°After that, you can rest without having toe to report to me. I must go to rest now.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley bowed politely and walked away. Artizea stared nkly into the air for a moment. Her stomach was throbbing. She crawled under the nket. And she tried to sleep. £ª£ª£ª Cedric remained in the Imperial Pce until this moment. With him were the Archbishop, as well as the representative of the temple and the judges appointed by the Emperor. The guards and the elders of the nobility also attended. In front of him were the priests who tried to kidnap Artizea. This was the first time they had officially testified, but it was already after they had suffered enough when questioned by the Knights of Evron and the Guards. The priests, terrified, took an oath in the name of God and testified that it was Bishop Akim¡¯s order. Bishop Akim himself did not attend, but it was a de facto trial. There was no separate trial for treason. He will be executed as is. The reason why this procedure went through this process was because the other party was a bishop. The news of Bishop Akim¡¯s death was delivered near the end of this process. The knight that came to report to Cedric was the fastest. In addition, information was delivered through their respective routes. The bishops¡¯ countenances turned pale. Judges and nobles also murmured. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? Is it a suicide?¡± ¡°Are there any suspicions of suicide by poisoning?¡± Several voices of conversation with the person next to them were carefullybined to be a murmur, in a low voice so as not to be heard by others. Cedric ran his hands up to his face. He had a headache. Amalie spoke to him in a muffled voice. ¡°Things are a mess, Grand Duke. No suicide note was found, was it?¡± ¡°Initially, that¡¯s the news.¡± ¡°Then the chances of suicide are low.¡± ¡°But it appears that the poison vial was originally owned by Bishop Akim. He drank it himself.¡± ¡°Suicide is more difficult than murder. If he died suddenly..¡­.¡± Then Bishop Nikos, who had spoken with the Archbishop, approached Cedric. ¡°The temple will thoroughly cooperate with any investigation. Please do not misunderstand, Grand Duke.¡± Bishop Nikos¡¯ face was pale and tired. ¡°Bishop Nikos, do you think Bishop Akimmitted suicide?¡± ¡°Akim is a very proud person.¡± Bishop Nikos lowered his eyes. ¡°I see what you mean.¡± ¡°Grand Duke.¡± ¡°But right now, I cannot readily promise that there will be no more issues with the temple.¡± It was time to tell them that. Hayley arrived. Cedric was not surprised. But he felt a little sad. ¡®Even though I told you to rest.¡¯ But he knew very well that Artizea couldn¡¯t do it, and that he couldn¡¯t stop her. That¡¯s what she¡¯s been doing so far. Just because she has a child doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s suddenly excluded from everything and reading a storybook in a quiet, safe bedroom. Realistically, Artizea¡¯s advice was also needed. Hayley quietly delivered Artizea¡¯s letter to Cedric. Cedric skimmed it and read it. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Shall I tell something to Her Grace?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Tell her to rest well and not to worry. I¡¯ll bete tonight.¡± Hayley politely bowed again and walked away. ¡°What did she say?¡± Amalie asked curiously. ¡°Now is the time to stop.¡± ¡°Her Grace is also wise. It is only spection that Bishop Akim is behind it. Right now, there is nothing that can be concrete. It¡¯s the same whether it¡¯s suicide or murder.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°If we drag it for a long time without result, you will likely touch His Majesty¡¯s judgement.¡± Cedric nodded his head. He too knew what Artizea and Amalie were talking about. He folded Artizea¡¯s letter four times and put it in his inner pocket. It was also a letter to be burned. The murmur grew louder as Cedric stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Cedric said. If Bishop Akim died and even after listening to the testimonies of the priests, nothing would happen. He went out first. Then the nobles moved hurriedly. It was going to be a night where no one sleeps. £ª£ª£ª The salon of Marchioness Camellia was also still lit until this moment. News of the death of Bishop Akim has not yet been made publicly avable. Only a few major nobles, including Grand Duke Roygar, heard the news quickly. Grand Duke Roygar got out of the conversation and poured his own cool sparkling wine into two sses. And he approached Marchioness Camellia. ¡°The weather is getting hotter, have a drink, sister-inw.¡± A happy smile hung on his lips. ¡°I feel very refreshed.¡± It would not have been easy because of the strict security, but Marchioness Camellia handled the matter lightly. She left no evidence to link even to herself. Even if it turns out that Bishop Akim was poisoned, it would not be known who did it. All guesses are just guesses. The charge of treason with Bishop Akim is over. Now all the facts that remained for Grand Duke Roygar was that Mira¡¯s actions were treason. And this, on the other hand, was something that Cedric could not im to be wrong. There is no reason to attack each other. It was an unwinnable board, so it was overturned. Marchioness Camellia smiled. ¡°I will tell you in detailter.¡± This was not a story to be told here. That was then. ¡°His Grace, Grand Duke Evron, hase.¡± The servant entered the salon with hurried steps. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Proofreader: somnium As soon as the servant could tell the news, the door opened. Cedric came in very quietly. Apanying him was only one lieutenant, and he had no servants. He didn¡¯t make a sound or say anything when he came in. However, the guests of the salon looked at him all at once. He had that much presence. Grand Duke Roygar hardened his face. He thought that Cedric must have been running here because he had a tantrum. Politics is for a justification. Cedric had no excuse to me him. With the death of Bishop Achim, there is no evidence to link Grand Duke Roygar to treason. But if what Cedric wanted to do was revenge rather than politics, there was nothing else he could do. Because emotions need neither evidence nor justification. Cedric took off his cloak at the entrance to the salon and untied his sword. And he left it to the servant and went inside. Grand Duke Roygar brightened his expression. ¡°What is this, Cedric? I thought you didn¡¯t go to salons.¡± It was as if he did not know about the interrogation held at the Imperial Pce today. Grand Duke Roygar was really determined to pretend he didn¡¯t know anything officially. He tried to smile. But he seldom did that. Cedric did nothing, and he slowly approached Grand Duke Roygar and he was intimidated. After all, humans are animals too. As the hostile opponent narrowed the physical distance and came face to face, one was instinctively conscious of the physical difference. Contrary to the brief, baseless imagination that ran through the mind of Grand Duke Roygar, Cedric did not distort his face. Instead, he spoke in a calm manner. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Really? Shall we go to a quiet private room then? It¡¯s a sudden visit, but I think my sister-inw will be able to give you that much consideration.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said in an outwardly relieved way. Cedric didn¡¯t seem toe to fight. ¡°No. It¡¯ste, and it¡¯s not going to take that long.¡± ¡°Then would you like to drink something? I just picked up some great sparkling wine. If nothing else, I was going to congratte you on getting an heir, so that¡¯s all good.¡± Cedric seemed to think for a moment, then epted the ss from Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°Then I will ept it with thanks.¡± ¡°Yes. You should celebrate. Since your wife is not feeling well right now, even if the celebration is dyed a little, isn¡¯t it still a celebration? Now, it feels like Evron Grand Duchy has returned to its ce.¡± Grand Duke Roygar raised his ss. Cedric did not hesitate and emptied the ss as he rmended. And he nced at his lieutenant. The lieutenant lifted up the ebony wooden box he was wearing on his side. ¡°Since you congratte me like this, I think I can even get an excuse that what I brought was a gift in return.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Grand Duke Roygar asked, perplexed. Cedric¡¯s attitude was different from anything he had envisioned, and he didn¡¯t know what to do with it. He nced at Marchioness Camellia. Because he wanted to know what she was thinking. But Marchioness Camellia also looked bewildered. Cedric opened the box by hand. Inside was a pair of dueling pistols. The two single-shot guns, made exactly the same, were elegant and beautiful, like a work of art. Since it was in Cedric¡¯s possession, the performance must also be certain. ¡°Cedric.¡± Grand Duke Roygar called Cedric in a frozen voice. He really couldn¡¯t have given this as a gift. It¡¯s not a gift, it¡¯s a duel request. Cedric closed the box cover and held it out to Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s servant. The servant hesitated and looked at Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar did not order to take it. Cedric said to Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°I hate to bleed in ces that aren¡¯t even a battlefield, uncle. You don¡¯t have to look so frightened.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± Only when Grand Duke Roygar heard those words did he realize that he was turning blue. And he took a deep breath, pretending to be alright, trying to clear his expression. However, his breath that had been blocked was not opened at once. Grand Duke Roygar made a sound as if his throat was strangled. ¡°Uncle.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. ¡°I think you will understand my feelings, because you love my aunt and my cousins ??so much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Cedric.¡± ¡°My uncle once told me. Anyway, we¡¯re the closest blood rtionship.¡± Grand Duke Roygar looked at Cedric, not understanding what he was trying to say. ¡°Neither Uncle nor I have ever lived like a family, and each of us was busy protecting our lives and even our names. In life, there are a lot of things that just don¡¯t go as nned.¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°I would like to tell you, even if it iste, that we should fulfill our responsibilities to each other.¡± Cedric said. ¡°It means I will take care of my aunt and cousins, just in case. And if an emergency arises for me, I also want uncle to take care of my wife and children.¡± Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s mind was entangled. He thought it was usible, but there really was no way they could be such a rtive. They are of imperial blood, and power is a zero-sum game*. The option for Grand Duke Roygar to gain Cedric¡¯s support by attacking Artizea first became far away. Cedric responded with treason, and now the gap between them is deeper than ever. In Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s head, thoughts of Marquisate Luden and Marquisate Rosan, Lawrence and Empress were mixed together. Cedric is not a sophist. But he couldn¡¯t take it literally. Besides, it¡¯s the first thing thates to mind when one pulls out duel pistols. ¡°Don¡¯t beplicated, uncle. You know what I¡¯m talking about, and you know you can trust me.¡± Cedric said so. The servant finally epted the pistol box with a rush. Cedric then slightly bowed his head to Grand Duke Roygar and left. Marchioness Camellia hastily approached Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard such a creepy way of saying that you can trust me.¡± Grand Duke Roygar opened the pistol box again. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t understand Cedric. Perhaps what Cedric meant was that if Grand Duke Roygar touched his wife again, he would use this pistol. However, unlike his own wife, who waspletely powerless politically, Artizea was an opponent that should never be left alone. Grand Duke Roygar closed the box again. His own fingertips were trembling a little, and anger erupted. He had never been so intimidated by anyone other than the Emperor. £ª£ª£ª It was past midnight when Cedric returned home. The walls of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence were lit up brightly. It was for security. However, when entering the wall, the main building was quiet and calm. Ansgar greeting Cedric. ¡°You arete. Did you have dinner?¡± ¡°Simple one during the meeting. How is Tia?¡± ¡°She is sleeping.¡± ¡°Did she eat lunch and dinner properly?¡± ¡°Yes. She seems to feel a lot better after taking a bath.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± Cedric sighed. Let¡¯s think about tomorrow¡¯s work. Bishop Akim¡¯s troubles made him feel cramped. It was not always pleasant to hear that someone had died. Especially if it¡¯s an assassination. He won¡¯t get used to it forever. But he had to ept it. The world he had to live in is a world full of such conspiracies. Even if he tried to run away, he knew there was nowhere to escape. After briefly washing himself in cold water, he went to his bedroom, and turned his steps. Alphonse was standing in front of Artizea¡¯s room as usual. Marcus was dozing off on a bench next to him. It was just in case Artizea¡¯s body felt ufortable. Ansgar also had a doctor and a nurse stationed in the room next to her. Cedric told Alphonse. ¡°Has anything happened?¡± ¡°There is nothing.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± Alphonse bowed his head. The knights who followed Cedric as escort stood next to Alphonse. Cedric opened the door carefully so as not to make a sound. There were only thin curtains on the window. The moonlight and the light of the torches on the wall mixed and seeped into the bedroom. Cedric walked over to the bedside. Artizea¡¯s eyelids moved. Her breathing also changed slightly. She seemed to have woken up. He sat on the bed and waited for a moment. Artizea seemed unwilling to wake up. She seemed to be pretending not to know, even though she might be awake. Cedric slowly ced his hand on her head. Her hair, which shimmered in the dim light, flowed between his fingers. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric opened his mouth, then closed it again. He will wake Artizea if she is asleep. If she¡¯s not sleeping and she doesn¡¯t want to open her eyes, forcing her to talk to him will add something heavy to her mind. Both were concerning. It must have been a long day for Artizea. Now she had gone to her bed in peace, and he didn¡¯t want to wake her up with a fuss. Instead, he crawled next to Artizea. And hugged her from behind. Artizea stiffened her body. It looked like she hadn¡¯t slept either. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Cedric whispered in her ear in a soft voice. She wasn¡¯t as cold as when he first hugged her. But the tension was the same as back then. She seemed to have gone back to that time even though they were married. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± He spoke softly again. Then he took Artizea¡¯s hand and lightly covered her hand and pressed his lips to her head. Artizea seemed to be tense for a moment. But she didn¡¯t stay that long. The inside of the duvet quickly became hot. Artizea struggled to hold back her tears again. There was really no reason for this now. There really isn¡¯t, she¡¯s not thinking of anything in particr, and there¡¯s no reason to do so. However, from the chest to the stomach, the organs inside her body seemed to be rumbling at will. As if recognizing it, Cedric¡¯s hand lightly covered her eyes. Her heart pounded and her heart raced. Cedric¡¯s beating sound was much stronger than hers. So, as soon as she was buried in the sound, Artizea forgot about herself. And soon fell asleep. Cedric felt the strength drain from Artizea¡¯s body and pulled her closer for a hug. He wished her afortable night. *) Zero-sum is a situation in game theory in which one person¡¯s gain always results in another¡¯s loss. tl;dr of this chapter: Cedric going from the protective Papa Bear that he is if you touch my wife and child, I will end you to a sweet huge ball of loving fluff~ Chapter 152 Hayley wanted to do more investigation into Bishop Akim¡¯s death. Artizea said that she was one stepte because she woke upte, and that it wasn¡¯t Hayley¡¯s fault and told Hayley to forget it. But Hayley couldn¡¯t be so at ease. It was, in many ways, an uneptable ending. Perhaps it was because Bishop Akim had been poisoned. Hayley has seen many different forms of death. In fact, if she had been an ordinary woman in the capital, she would never have attended as many funerals as she did. However, it was her first time for assassination. But she never had a chance to properly investigate. As Artizea said, at the time the body of Bishop Akim was discovered, the evidence had already been removed. The kitchen servant went missing, and the servant who normally brought the meal stopped working during that day. The guards captured the servant, but it was true that he quit his job after receiving a letter from his hometown stating that his mother was in a critical condition. Bishop Akim¡¯s study and bedroom were closed by the guard. Two days after, Hayley was able to get in, it was already empty and there was nothing left. The person guilty of treasonmitted suicide, so the guards would look for relevant evidence. It was made clear that the results would not be announced. ¡°How could this be?¡± ¡°His Majesty must have something he doesn¡¯t want others to see.¡± Artizea sat on the bed and said calmly. ¡°There is no need to worry about rebellion because it is the job of the Guard. Since the risk does not turn to failure, it can be seen as a great benefit.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley replied obediently. But she soon asked again, she couldn¡¯t ovee her curiosity. ¡°Does His Majesty even think that Grand Duke Roygar was behind Bishop Akim¡¯s death?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t be sure. His Majesty is a man of many thoughts.¡± Perhaps the Emperor thought that Artizea was trying to get revenge or forge evidence to drive Grand Duke Roygar. The Emperor didn¡¯t even know the ¡°trick¡± of Marchioness Camellia. ¡°There will be doubts. No matter who did it, they will try to track down the evidence and keep it quiet if possible.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to stop here, Hayley. It is dangerous to know that His Majesty is trying to get his hands on Bishop Akim, but it is even more dangerous if you delve too deeply into this and run into His Majesty¡¯s undercover investigator.¡± Hayley took a breath. ¡°You¡¯re mydy-in-waiting, you¡¯re not yet familiar with the capital, and the name Evron will guarantee your innocence to some extent.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s okay to know a little bit. It¡¯s strange to face the usage of poison and not react at all, so what you¡¯ve known so far is just right. But no more than this. We cannot mobilize the informationwork.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a shame.¡± Hayley said casually. She didn¡¯t want things to get any bigger than this. However, she hoped that Grand Duke Roygar would be dragged out and punished. She hated Grand Duke Roygar. It was good enough to say he was disgusting. Perhaps, it was because she encountered Grand Duke Roygar first among the power yers when she came to the capital. It was also unpleasant that he escaped with an assassination in this way. Artizea looked at Hayley for a moment, then smiled bitterly at her. She thought that if it was Hayley, Hayley would get used to capital politics. Hayley seemed to have the adaptability to do so. However, Hayley, who also appears sarcastic on the outside, has a good basic personality. Artizea felt it anew and became envious. Because she, herself, had never been shocked by anything like that. £ª£ª£ª After the conclusion was made, the procedure for announcing it to the citizens proceeded in an instant. Trials for heresy, human trafficking, and attempted murder were held on the same day. The trial was brief and formal. The trialsted only 10 minutes. ¡°We emunicate Mira Rosan for attempting to practice the forbidden curse magic through human sacrifice. All the sacraments performed by the temple have ceased to be effective, and from this moment on, Mira is no man¡¯s daughter, no man¡¯s wife, and does not belong to any house.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°However, no matter how sinful you are, God is pitiful for humans by nature. So if she intends to repent and serve for the rest of her life, she will live in the temple.¡± That was the result of the heresy trial. The Supreme Court ruled as follows: ¡°The act of buying a human being for a curse and trying to kill it is extremely sinful and difficult to forgive. However, it failed, and considering the fact that she tried tofort the victim by reflecting on it and donating all of her property, she is sentenced to life imprisonment.¡± Now Mira will be exiled to live out the rest of her life in a monastery on the western border. It was the result in line with the intention of the temple that if the emunicated person repents and reflects ording to God¡¯s mercy, it will be ounted as the result of exile. The property, which would have been donated to the temple and used for the rest of Mira¡¯sfortable life, would be used topensate trafficking victims and rescue children sold from their parents. The Rosan mansion was to be an orphanage. Mira, emaciated, paid no attention to the verdict. However, she kept staring at the audience; like looking for someone in it. So Cedric had to tell her. ¡°I told Tia not toe. No matter what I do, she will only be tied to you and criticized.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There is no reason for Tia to suffer more because of your incident.¡± ¡°She, she¡¯s my daughter.¡± ¡°Yes. When the sacrament of baptism bes invalid, the surname you received from your parents is lost; when the sacrament of marriage bes invalid, the surname of your legal husband disappears; even if you do not belong to any family, your children are your children.¡± Cedric said quietly. Mira had every reason to die. It wasn¡¯t just because of this. Mira should have already received the death penalty the day she poisoned Marquis Rosan. Perhaps there were other sins that Cedric was not aware of. But Cedric decided to overlook it without digging it all up. ¡°Save your life and live longer. When you die, you can¡¯t do anything. No reconciliation, no resentment, no regrets.¡± Cedric said. ¡°I hope you will regret it.¡± She wanted to tell the story Artizea had expected her whole life, but she would have given up knowing that she would never have a chance. ¡°No matter who you are, no matter what you are, no matter how beautiful you are, no matter how rich you are, no matter how powerful or unloved you may be, I hope you regret not recognizing and abandoning the one person who loved you unconditionally and who was dedicated to you.¡± ¡°You, what are you?¡± ¡°I am Tia¡¯s husband.¡± Cedric¡¯s answer was heavy. And he gestured to take her away. Mira was loaded onto the convoy. She didn¡¯t go crazy, and she didn¡¯t cling and cry. She had already epted her own fate. £ª£ª£ª Memories The Empress put the needle into the frame and spoke in a rxed tone. ¡°Exile to the West. Gregor has made a lot of concessions.¡± ¡°Because he needed something to do to soothe his wounded pride.¡± ¡°I thought there was going to be a riot.¡± ¡°I heard that Cedric persuaded them. Life imprisonment is also under Imperialw.¡± If one were to look at this case thoroughly, it was a fair punishment. Excluding the attempt on the Empress, the attempt to kill the two orphans has failed. It wasn¡¯t a small sin, but it wasn¡¯t a crime enough to throw a stone to death like the crowd wanted it to be. If it were Cedric, he would probably have stopped it even if he hadn¡¯t thought of Artizea. Cedric¡¯s consideration was not in the judgment itself. The fact that the old sins were not brought out separately and that the judgment was linked to the heresy trial and the ce of exile was decided as a temple. He knew the temple itself. He decided to have a monk there, with whom he was acquainted, so that he could take care of Mira. He also donated a small amount of money to the extent that she would have no difficulties with food, clothing and shelter. ¡°He did a difficult job. He cared a lot for you.¡± ¡°ording to popr belief, it would have been necessary so¡­¡­ I think.¡± ¡°But you wished for him not to?¡± Artizea did not readily answer. Mira¡¯s sins were her own. It was painful to think that her own bloodline had broken Cedric¡¯s righteous heart. It was holding his ankles, even though she couldn¡¯t give him wings. ¡°He saved my mother¡¯s life. I¡¯m grateful for that alone.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be grateful.¡± ¡°Then, can I say that it is not a bad oue?¡± Artizea asked that. ¡°That¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°I think my mother is a pitiful person, but that¡¯s no reason why she has to be an exception.¡± The Empress looked at her with deep eyes. Her eyes seemed to try to see through Artizea¡¯s heart. ¡°Well, your target was not strictly Mira, but Lawrence.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There is no parent who gives up right away just because their childcks something and is disappointed. I want you to remember that.¡± ¡°I know. In the first ce, my mother had no one to stop her when she was angry with His Majesty and disappointed with my brother.¡± ¡°If you were determined to do that, then it¡®s fine.¡± The Empress said calmly. ¡°I thought you might have changed your mind now that you had a child, but I¡¯m d you didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes to hide her expression. She didn¡¯t know. Maybe if she wanted to have children and raise them fully, she would have to change the way she lived. But now she couldn¡¯t stop. The wheel had already begun to roll. If she stops now, it will be on her side that will be crushed. ¡°Is Your Majesty satisfied with what I have done?¡± ¡°Satisfied.¡± The Empress said with a slightly thoughtful look. ¡°It¡¯s fine like that. It was so noisy outside that no one was looking at the Empress¡¯ Pce. Thanks to this, the children are adjusting well, and the guests were weedfortably.¡± As she said that, the Empress smiled lightly. Viscount Pescher¡¯s descendants still resided in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Her old friends and vassals also visited. If it was before, the Emperor¡¯s surveince would havee in. But now he couldn¡¯t. It had not been long since the Mira cursing incident happened. If something happened to the Empress¡¯ Pce now, it was just right to say that the Emperor had avenged his mistress on his wife. ¡°I want this to be over before Gregor looks my way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Once you step into the mud, you can¡¯t stop for the sake of the child. Although it is said to be dangerous during pregnancy, it is actually much less dangerous than when the baby was young. You don¡¯t have to leave it in the hands of others.¡± It seemed to be the story from the Empress¡¯ experiences. That was then. The servant knocked on the door and came in. ¡°His Highness Grand Duke Evron, hase.¡± ¡°He seems to havee to pick you up?¡± ¡°Yes. I guess so.¡± Artizea answered awkwardly. The Empress smiled once more. She and Artizea did not share personal concerns or affection. She was also judging that it wouldn¡¯t be good, either. But it felt good to see a husband who is dedicated to his wife. Even more so because she knew of Cedric¡¯s childhood. Soon Cedric came in. ¡°I havee. How are you, Empress?¡± ¡°How can I be good when you don¡¯t look at me often?¡± ¡°Since when have you be the Moon Goddess?¡± Cedric said lightly. Note: there¡¯s something about [I am Tia¡¯s husband.] that hits the spot just right. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Proofreader: somnium The Empress answered Cedric¡¯s words. ¡°I never closed the door when you said you¡¯de.¡± ¡°I n to visit more often in the future. I have no other adult to take care of, so please Your Majesty the Empress be considerate of me.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re here to talk about it after all.¡± The Empress smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There is no one else I can lean on, so you have to take good care of me while I am around.¡± Cedric reached out to Artizea. The Empress asked, tilting her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to drink some tea?¡± ¡°I have a doctor¡¯s appointment so I have to go home now. It was only three weeks ago that I copsed.¡± ¡°Yes. It is still time to be careful.¡± said the Empress. Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s hand and stood up. And she bowed politely to the Empress. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the news.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re doing a good job even if you don¡¯t give me any news. And it¡¯ste, but congrattions.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯ve already sent a congrattory gift.¡± Artizea answered. She felt awkward. The Empress beckoned for her to leave. Artizea bowed once more and left. Cedric asked. ¡°Are you feeling well?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°If you are not tired, why don¡¯t we walk a little bit? At home these days, even if you move, it¡¯s hard to walk around because it¡¯s so loud.¡± ¡°The Empress Pce is quiet.¡± Artizea said so. The gardens of the Empress Pce were quiet. In the meantime, it was spring and the days were getting hotter. Countess Martha¡¯s salon was also now closed. After all, there was no reason to open it while it was politically dizzy, as friendship was the main focus. The purpose of opening a salon was also aplished. The two walked slowly, arm in arm. Artizea was the first to open her mouth. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°How was what?¡± ¡°You came from the Imperial Pce. His Majesty must have said something.¡± Cedric smiled bitterly. He didn¡¯t mean to talk about a story like that. There were so many stories to discuss. About the child, about her, and about Cedric himself. But Cedric did not rush. Because Artizea did not think herself to be ready. Her demeanor returned to her usual calmness, and the traces of tears disappeared. Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s vassals now took Artizea with joy without hesitation. On the surface, even Artizea didn¡¯t seem to have any objection to her child. But still Artizea woke up every dawn. When Cedric woke up in the middle of the night realizing that the ce next to him was empty, she would have the curtains open and endlessly staring out of the dark window. Cedric couldn¡¯t figure out whether she had made up her mind or not. The only thing to keep the calm during the day is to be patient. Just as she had endured wailing in the past. Cedric¡¯s heart ached when he thought about it. He still had the thought that he couldn¡¯t have been the person to whom she really opened her heart. Artizea asked again. ¡°Is it difficult to say?¡± ¡°No. I was sorting out my thoughts for a moment.¡± I can¡¯t say I was thinking about you, so Cedric just said so. ¡°He offered me the position of Secretary of State.¡± The Secretary of State was not a position included in the official bureaucracy. It was a post given to people who directly received the Imperial decree and performed government affairs on the Emperor¡¯s behalf. Except in special cases, it was also the official post usually granted when the imperial family member was involved in national affairs. It was not an honorary post, and in terms of his rank, it was the same as the Chancellor. All bureaucrats had to ept the orders from the Secretary of State as orders. Cedric was surprised. This was the first time he had been offered the position of a political minister. Even when he was ordered to rebuild the Western Army and subdue the Monster Wave, he was simply deployed from the military with the title of Emperor¡¯s Special Envoy. So he was very surprised that the Emperor made such a proposal to him. He was ustomed to being those who were kept in check and excluded. But Artizea had a calm face. ¡°You are not surprised.¡± ¡°Yes. I thought you might have something to say about the position. Lord Cedric has done too much.¡± He made too many promises to the protesters. As much as he promises to uproot the human trafficking organization, it may all be temporarily directed under themand of Grand Duke Evron. However, remedies for victims and the protection of children were different. This is not going to be over in the short term. It also meant that he had to be actively involved in the internal affairs. If he wants to take on a heavy role, he has to be given the right position tomensurate with it; even to show it to other subjects. ¡°It¡¯s very risky to give authority without being included in the right organization.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Above all, His Majesty will not want Grand Duke Evron tomunicate with the citizens outside of your jurisdiction.¡± ¡°I know what you mean. By emphasizing the fact that I acted under the decree from the Emperor, it means that he intends to ultimately make the support of the people His Majesty¡¯s.¡± Artizea nodded her head. She couldn¡¯t smile easily, but her expression softened slightly. Cedric¡¯s answer seemed to be satisfactory. ¡°Will you ept it?¡± ¡°Do you think it would be better not to do that?¡± ¡°You are not in a position to fight with His Majesty right now. Maybe it¡¯s better to stop at this point and go back North.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You stopped what you were doing in Evron and came in haste. Worst of all, standing out is like raising a g on the battlefield, so you¡¯ll be heavily attacked. It¡¯s not yet the time. There is too little preparation.¡± Artizea said seriously. Cedric paused for a moment and pondered his thoughts. The reason Artizea was talking about that was well known to him. If he went back to the North, he almost inadvertently asked if she woulde with him. If he had to stop everything and lie down for a while, it would be better for Artizea to do the same. They can go to the North together and take a break for a year or two and think about the future. Life is long. The future is even longer. The Emperor would not suddenly copse and die within two years. The politicalndscape of the Empire has changed significantly over the past year, but that¡¯s what Artizea did. So they don¡¯t have to rush. What can be done in the North will have an impact long into the distant future. But Artizea didn¡¯t think so, and Cedric let out a small sigh. ¡°I will not leave your side, Tia.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know you don¡¯t want me to get involved in what you¡¯re trying to do.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t intend to do that. But I have no intention of leaving you alone now.¡± Artizea bit her mouth. Instead, she grabbed Cedric¡¯s arm. Cedric lightly stroked the back of her hand. It was to relieve tension. ¡°I told you we had to go together, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°And I have already made a promise to the citizens. If I break that promise, I will not be able to properly reign even if I gain power in the future. Who will believe and follow those who break even such a small promise?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t help but nod her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think you did anything wrong. However, I think it is a bit early.¡± ¡°Chancellor Lin once told me that imperial politics of the Empire is about using His Majesty¡¯s will as a weight to escape the will of the people.¡± Cedric said. Artizea answered, not understanding what he was trying to say. ¡°That¡¯s a great expression.¡± ¡°Yes. I didn¡¯t understand exactly what that meant before¡­¡­.¡± Cedric continued. ¡°I am not thinking of changing anything in the face of His Majesty in a hurry. For the time being, I will remain bowed down and faithfully fulfill the role that His Majesty desires.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to approach it with the idea of ??grasping the situation for the future.¡± ¡°You have made up your mind to ept the post of Secretary of State.¡± ¡°Unless you give me another reason to go to Evron. Of course, if there is a reason, I will listen. So I didn¡¯t say I would ept it, I just replied that I would think about it.¡± Artizea hesitated for a moment. Artizea wanted him to be in the North. But it¡¯s not because Cedric has a reason to be there. It was because she still wanted to stay in central politics and not let Cedric get caught up in a whirlwind of muddy conspiracies. Cedric was right. Trust is Cedric¡¯s greatest asset. To break a promise made while kneeling in front of a citizen is to throw it away on his own. He pushed his head into the realm of politics. He had to achieve meaningful results. ¡°Lord Cedric is right. I mean, I can¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding.¡± Cedric spoke softly and took Artizea¡¯s arm again, leading her back to his arms. ¡°And I want you to rest, too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve done a big job. Not only do you need a rest, but any more exposure is dangerous.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea replied that way. It was meant to be that way anyway. She can¡¯t move while the Emperor¡¯s eyes are watching. The same was true for Grand Duke Roygar. It was necessary to calm the situation in several ways. For the time being, she was going to say that she was not only weak physically but mentally as a result of pregnancy. Still, the paving stones that had already been ced would move freely and proceed with the n. Artizea raised her lowered eyes and looked up at the sky. The conspiracies, the ttery, the calctions are all so obvious. There is nothing easy to say. She knew Cedric was waiting for her words. He wanted to tell her to raise the child happily because she would give birth. But the words never came out of her throat. Because it felt like she was asking him to do that. £ª£ª£ª It was Lawrence who was meeting the Emperor at that time. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Father.¡± Lawrence knelt down on one of his knees and bowed politely. For more than three weeks he did not see the Emperor. It was the same on the day of Mira¡¯s trial. The letter he sent did not arrive either. Lawrence knew the Emperor had it removed without even reading it. For Lawrence, it was embarrassing. The Emperor was not always a friendly father. After he became an adult, he was often scolded. But it was his first time being rejected. Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Proofreader: somnium The atmosphere was still there. The Emperor did not call him to a private space, but to his office. And then Chancellor Lin and Guards Captain Gayan had arrived before Lawrence. Of course, Lawrence often went to the Emperor¡¯s office as well. Here, he often met with other officials, watched the Emperor give brief orders, or consult with the Chancellor. But it was the first in three weeks. It was also the first meeting after Mira¡¯s incident. It wouldn¡¯t be strange if it was a more private, paternal time. But apparently it wasn¡¯t like that now. The Emperor didn¡¯t even tell Lawrence, who was on his knees that he didn¡¯t have to. Instead, he pressed on his forehead with his thumb and forefinger. Gayan asked. ¡°Do you feel ufortable? Shall I call the doctor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll rest after I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s health.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal with a little headache?¡± Lawrence didn¡¯t get up until the Emperor allowed. The Emperor said in a stiff voice. ¡°Get up, Lawrence.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lawrence stood up and politely stepped aside from the Emperor¡¯s face. He knew he was hated. It was a situation where he couldn¡¯t do anything in thest three weeks. Cedric intervened and took the initiative. Since Lawrence was Mira¡¯s son, from that point on, Lawrence could not intervene in the trial. If he wanted to intervene, it should have been much earlier. He should have done it around the time Artizea presented her mediation. At that time, behind-the-scenes negotiations between the temple, the media that dictated by the words of Grand Duke Roygar, and the Emperor¡¯s watchful government could influence the oue of the trial. But from the moment Cedric intervened, that was no longer possible. Because Cedric knelt before the citizens and promised a fair trial. Citizens watched to see if the promise was kept or not, and they will be watching for a long time toe. In the meantime, the exposure of Mira¡¯s son himself had no advantage whatsoever. While Cedric¡¯s poprity and fame skyrocketed, Lawrence couldn¡¯t help but be angry at the thought of how he had been locked up in a mansion. Even more tantrums erupted when officials and military figures who had supported him turned to Cedric like flipping palms. But for the time being he intended to bow down and be quiet. Because he knew the Emperor was feeling sad. ¡°What have you been doing?¡± the Emperor asked. ¡°I quietly reflected on myself at home.¡± ¡°Have you ever met your sister?¡± ¡°I only sent constion and congrattory gifts. The visit was refused by the butler. They said she was ufortable showing her face to her brother when she is sick and sensitive.¡± ¡°If you were a friendly older brother, how would she feel ufortable?¡± The Emperor clicked his tongue. Lawrence was dumbfounded that the first story they talked about when they met was about Artizea. Recently, the Emperor had a little favor for Artizea. However, she stood in the position of being a useful noble who could be used to any extent. The Emperor could not openly talk about Mira, so hepared him to Artizea and criticized him. But Lawrence didn¡¯t realize it. He did not clearly distinguish himself from his family. His mother and younger sister were always there only for himself. He knew that even for them they had separate lives and feelings. However, he only knew that when thinking rationally about it. When talking like this, he lived moment by moment and did not fully realize the situation. So even now, at the words of the Emperor, his heart boiled. The Emperor must have known that Lawrence was not on very good terms with Cedric. Even if Artizea was pregnant, he felt nothing. Rather, he was upset that Cedric had an heir. He couldn¡¯t tell himself why very well. However, the unknown hatred that had arisen after the fight with Cedric that day, grew deeper and deeper as time passed. It felt as if it was the reason they haven¡¯t been able to be close with each other since he was young. Lawrence didn¡¯t respond and just bowed his head as he pressed it down. ¡°Tsk.¡± The Emperor clicked his tongue once more to make it sound tant. Clearly, Gayan was apologetic. ¡°I intend to appoint Cedric as the Secretary of State this time.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lawrence raised his head in surprise. The Emperor looked at him with displeasure. ¡°He should be rewarded anyway. He dispersed the protesters without shes, and the problems caused by the temple were also safely solved.¡± ¡°Is that a reason for a reward? Rather than overwhelm the protesters, relying on His Majesty¡¯s dignity, he merely made a ttering vain promise and dismissed them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t protect your mother until the end.¡± said the Emperor. His expression had softened considerably. Lawrence lowered his head to hide his expression. It wasn¡¯t that Mira was resenting or hurted by the Emperor. But he couldn¡¯t understand. Why did the Emperor appear to be yielding to the protesters at all cost? It was through Cedric, but in the end the Emperor was behind it. Cedric even went out on behalf of the Emperor and knelt before the protesters. Isn¡¯t this just ipetent? If it had been Lawrence himself, he would have released the guards and dealt with the protesters who dared to gather in front of the Chancellor and vite the Emperor¡¯s authority. If he caught some of the ringleaders and drove them like rabbits, they would have disbanded quickly. The Emperor let out a short sigh. ¡°There is a thing called a flow in the world, Lawrence. The people are stupid and weak, but it is not easy to change the flow even more.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to cause a bloodstorm over something like this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that it can¡¯t be done. But there are times when you should and times when you should not. Moreover, it is difficult to find a minister who has the ability and the will to bow his head and take on the responsibilities instead.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Despite the obedient answer, Lawrence protested in his heart. The Emperor would know what Cedric had done to him. And then he will say: They were already on too bad terms to reconcile. They could not tolerate each other from the beginning. Even if Artizea was stuck in the middle, it was the same. The Emperor spoke without knowing how Lawrence felt. ¡°This is for you too, Lawrence.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You are not qualified. Not to mention Cedric is also no better than Roygar.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± Gayan intervened cautiously. He was afraid that the Emperor¡¯s words would hurt Lawrence¡¯s temper. But the Emperor spoke without hesitation. For he was at most afraid of hurting his son¡¯s heart, and he didn¡¯t feel the need to wrap it up and say it with good words. ¡°But you are my son.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°You are the child that I cherish the most, and you are the son whom I have decided to pass on the most important thing.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­. I know you well, Father.¡± ¡°I will appoint you as Secretary of State at the same time as Cedric.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Of course, in order, Cedrices first. Cedric will be the 1st Secretary of State, and you will be the 2nd Secretary of State.¡± Lawrence raised his head in surprise. As if it had already been discussed, Gayan and Lin remained silent, without changing their expressions. In fact, it was difficult even as an Emperor to just give Lawrence, who had no achievements or titles, the post of Secretary of State. That¡¯s why Cedric was appointed first Secretary of State. There was also clearly an aspect of rewarding Cedric and giving him a position to draw him into the central bureaucracy. But more than that, it was also for Lawrence. If they were appointed at the same time, the rtive importance of the position would be diminished and the fact that two cousins ??were appointed side by side would be significant. ¡°And I am going to send you as an ambassador to the South.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lawrence took a deep breath. The Emperor continued. ¡°Here, Gayan will go with you. We will subdue the pirates and deal with the smuggling problem in the South these days.¡± He said, ¡®we will¡¯, not ¡®you will¡¯ because it wasn¡¯t Lawrence who would actually do it. The Emperor did not believe that Lawrence could build such an army. For that reason, he nned to send several capable servants, including Gayan, along with him. All they have to do is build a feat and wrap it up as Lawrence¡¯s. Then, when Mira¡¯s case is forgotten, he will return with a splendid triumphal ceremony. If Lawrence gains fame and then bes Crown Prince in the name of bureaucrats and aristocrats, he will be able to supplement his legitimacy, although iplete. ¡°In the meantime, Cedric will certainly be clinging onto the capital. Do you understand what I mean?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lawrence looked at the Emperor with a shocked expression. The Emperor sighed once more and motioned for Lawrence toe closer. Lawrence walked over to him. And he politely knelt to his knees and kissed the hem of the Emperor¡¯s robe. The Emperor lightly stroked his hair. And he said in a soft voice. ¡°You have to do well. If you do well, your mother will also live.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This is the greatest andst chance I can give you.¡± said the Emperor. ¡°I know,¡± Lawrence replied. Looking at the scene, Gayan and Lin met each other¡¯s gaze. Lin shook his head slightly. It was an attitude of resignation. Gayan looked at it and sighed only inwardly. It was Gayan himself who took on the most troublesome problem right now. The South has a deep-rooted problem. The thought of carrying Lawrence and thinking that he would take care of that difficult situation gave him a headache. More than anything else, he was dizzy with whom he was lining up. His heart was leaning towards Cedric. However, he had a different position than Amalie. The Emperor demands a higher level of loyalty from the Guard Knights. It is okay to be involved in the struggle for session, but he had to do it while considering the will of the Emperor. It was the first time the Emperor had shown such a strong intention to support Lawrence. Then he should have followed the Emperor. Yet, the Emperor is correct and powerful. Nevertheless, Gayan had aplicated mind. Because he didn¡¯t think that even if Lawrence is rightfully credited with all these achievements now, he would recognize Lawrence after he sat on the throne. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Proofreader: somnium News of the appointments of Cedric and Lawrence as Secretary of State spread throughout the capital in less than a day. This wasrgely ording to the Emperor¡¯s intentions. Had this news made public, there would have been an explosion of bad public opinion about Lawrence. How many days had passed since Mira was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and he had already given her son an important position? However, the capital¡¯s newspapers focused on Cedric as if they all had promised. Even when he stabilized the West and had a triumphal ceremony, they didn¡¯t rave about him this much. It was as if they were trying to make a hero. And about Lawrence, it was only in writing one or two small lines after that. Sometimes, there were small articles that distorted his going to the South to be the Secretary of State and the subduing of pirates were out of private interests. Some criticism could be found only in the anti-government illegal newspapers that only circte in salons and coffeehouses. Freil said bitterly. ¡°If they make a fuss like this, we won¡¯t be able to save the real battle even if we do our best.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind it.¡± Even if Artizea said that, Freil grumbled. ¡°I was angry when I thought that His Grace was going to make a stand. They call him the shield of the empire, but they treat real people as whole shields.¡± ¡°If you are in a prominent position, you will be attacked a lot. I¡¯m sure he will also be rewarded as much.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Internal affairs must be done well from the beginning. Moreover, this is difficult to achieve. It¡¯s not just about helping the victims of this case and protecting the children, right?¡± Freilined loudly. ¡°You were reckless. Didn¡¯t Chancellor Lin also say that?¡± Artizea smiled. What Freil said was partly right. Chancellor Lin¡¯s concerns were fully understood. It is possible to get rid of the ve-distributing organizations in the short term. But it cannot be uprooted. The reason ves do not disappear even if prohibited by the imperialw is because the mindset that considers the human body worthless has taken root. Lin had warned Cedric in advance. [¡°Don¡¯t take it easy. If it could be resolved by just cracking down on it, I would have already done it.¡±] [¡°We will improve public order and take measures to relieve victims and protect children. I¡¯ll think about what happens after that.¡±] [¡°That alone will not solve the problem at all. Because this is not about getting rid of criminal gangs.¡±] Lin said so. The imperial capital was always overflowing with nomads and refugees. So no matter if a person disappeared, it was almost impossible for officials to identify and search for them. In order to eradicate human trafficking, three steps had to be taken. The first is to rewrite the national family register. The second is for the officials to protect the people by working diligently to ensure that the family registers and actual families are consistent. Finally, it was necessary to grasp the flow of underground money and bring it back within the boundaries of imperialw. And in order to properly create and manage the family register, it is necessary to strengthen the borders between the West and the South to eliminate refugees. In order for the officials to work properly, they must subdue the warlords in each region and then drive their administrative authority to every corner. In order for the flow of money to move through legal channels, the livelihoods of the imperial people must be stable. How much more work needs to be done before that. This inevitably led to reform of the entire imperial government. This is because improving security in some areas and using military force to eliminate criminal organizations is only a short-term solution. If the shade itself is not removed, no matter how much it was wiped, the mold will eventually grow in the same ce. [¡°It will definitely fail. That¡¯s why I urge you, Grand Duke, not to openly take risks and burdens.¡±] Lin said so. [¡°This is a possibility that only arises when the Emperor decides and all the ministers above and belowe together to serve the people.¡±] [¡°Chancellor Lin.¡±] [¡°If Grand Duke wants to wrap this up in a proper objective andplete it, it is possible. But you don¡¯t want that, do you?¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Then, would you like to ask His Majesty to reform the empire? I¡¯m sure Your Grace knows very well how dangerous it is. This is because it is no different than pointing out that the governing His Majesty has been doing so far has been wrong.¡±] Even Cedric was embarrassed to say that, and he couldn¡¯t answer properly. There was a reason behind Artizea¡¯s decision to stop at bowing in front of the Emperor and examining the internal affairs of the empire for the time being. Artizea was aware of all of that. But he didn¡¯t care much about it. As Freil said, the attack will continue. Cedric will stand before the face of public opinion in the capital, while Lawrence safely sets himself up in the South. But Cedric will do just fine. He is not a person who is greatly shaken or swayed by small criticisms. In the end, Artizea believed that Cedric¡¯s sincerity would prevail. And once the sincerity goes through, that much reward woulde back. The will is like that. For that part alone, there was nothing she could do to help. £ª£ª£ª It was in the afternoon two dayster that Amalie visited Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. Artizea sat in an armchair on the terrace overlooking the garden with a normal attitude. The warm sun was shining. Amalie saw the bright-faceddy standing beside Artizea, reading letters and opening gift boxes. Artizea alternated between fried fritters drizzled with sauce and ground sour fruit. She had a tiredplexion, but it wasn¡¯t really bad enough to say it was in bad shape. Amalie walked up to her and greeted her. ¡°Thank you for allowing me to visit you, Your Grace.¡± ¡°I am d that you¡¯re here. Dame Harper, have a seat.¡± Amalie pulled a chair close to Artizea and sat down. She then held out the box she brought as a gift. Lysia took it from Amalie¡¯s hand. ¡°Congrattions on your pregnancy.¡± Artizea motioned at Lysia. Lysia opened the box slightly. What was inside was the dried petals of arge flower growing along the southern coast of the South Sea. Just by half-opening the lid, the bright scent spreads. ¡°You can put it in the bath water and use it. I brought it with me because I remembered that it was helpful for having a baby. There is no other meaning.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea answered with a dignified attitude. It wasn¡¯t that she was suspicious of Amalie or anything that made her open the box on the spot. It was because she was wondering if there was any significance to it. Amalie knew that, so she said there was no other meaning. Lysia put the box away and she poured tea for Amalie. Artizea picked up the fruit again with a spoon and took a bite of it. When she ate the cool fruit because her mouth was hot and she couldn¡¯t stand it, she wanted something warm and strong. So when she ate hot food, this time she was craving for something sweet and cool. Amalie smiled at her as she watched Artizea snacked in session. ¡°You seem to have less morning sickness; I¡¯m d.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Artizea ced the spoon she was eating with. It was because she suddenly felt that it was rude. But her mouth kept watering. ¡°Eat more. I was just interrupting your rest. More than anything else, it¡¯s time for Your Grace to build up your strength.¡± Artizea let out a small sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not a good time.¡± ¡°It is very important to have a strong heir. You may think that it is too early for Your Grace, because you are young, but from the point of view of Evron Grand Duchy, it¡¯s a blessing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There is nothing better if an eldest son who inherits the wisdom of Your Grace is born. There are times when I don¡¯t realize the importance of legitimacy as desperately as I am now¡­¡­.¡± Artizea was not very pleased about the birth of a child who resembled her. But she could not help but agree that legitimacy was important. In fact, that was the most troubling thing. ¡°Are all those gift boxes sent to celebrate your pregnancy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like that.¡± ¡°I heard that Sir Lawrence sent you a present.¡± ¡°He did send it. I¡¯m sure the butler must have chosen and sent it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to care. About Sir Lawrence.¡± Artizea beckoned Lysia to stay away. It was because she noticed that Lysia¡¯s hand had stopped, which was sorting out the read letters and putting them back into the envelope. Lysia flinched for a moment. But she hurriedly swept the letter and put it on the tray. And she politely bowed to Artizea and went away. Artizea looked at Amalie with a quiet face. She knew well enough what Amalia was here for. Contrary to popr opinion, the most important topic for politicians was not that Cedric had be the Secretary of State. It was that the Emperor had begun doing various things for Lawrence. Lawrence and Grand Duke Roygar have been mentioned as possible sessors to the Emperor. However, in fact, this was the first time that the Emperor had openly expressed his intention for Lawrence to ascend to the throne. It¡¯s not that he never talked about his sessor. But it was all indirect. He used to tell his servants that although he had lost the children from the Empress, he still had a younger and healthy brother. Or, he indirectly indicated by putting the Emperor¡¯s Crown on young Lawrence¡¯s head and letting him y with the national seal. Sometimes in private, he told Lawrence he would pass on hisst legacy to Lawrence. Every time that happened, the top and bottom were all buzzing. In short, the Emperor has used his sessor candidates as a hand to strengthen the imperial power and move his subjects. He had been avoiding speaking directly out of his mouth so that he could reverse his decision at any time. This time, however, he indicated that he would personally work behind the scenes for Lawrence. All nobles interested in the session to the throne, including Grand Duke Roygar, were concentrating on this. Among them, the Emperor¡¯s servants were most concerned. Amalie said that everyone except Alphonse had backed out and he was effectively alone. ¡°Gayan will faithfully follow His Majesty¡¯s orders. And he will seed in pacifying the South.¡± ¡°Yes. He would. Sir Gayan is capable, and His Majesty¡¯s army is very strong. In fact, the imperial borders are chaotic not because the empire is weak, but because the internal affairs are chaotic and it is impossible to focus all energy on the outside world.¡± So, as long as the emperor properly supports him, he won¡¯t fail. Moreover, the original purpose was not to eradicate pirates. It was enough for him to achieve a usible level of achievement that could be called meritorious. It wouldn¡¯t even be necessary to have such a dramatic oue. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Proofreader: somnium Amalie had already made up her mind that there was no one better than Cedric as the next emperor. But she was anxious. Although the Emperor used to wave Lawrence and Grand Duke Roygar in each hand, he still considered Lawrence to be his sessor. The Emperor¡¯s servants were well aware of this. But he didn¡¯t think his firstborn son could even share his power. Mira and Lawrence have already been involved in state affairs since a long time ago and have long wanted to get their ce. Nevertheless, the Emperor did not allow it. This is because he used his power and inheritance as a means to gain loyalty and love from his children. He was the one to let go of the national seal only as hey down on his sick bed and died. Amalie calcted that at this time, Grand Duke Roygar, who had built up his own power, or Cedric, who had a high reputation and would gain more public support from now on, would have an overwhelming advantage. As the Emperor grows old and sickly, the imperial power weakens. And it also meant that Lawrence¡¯s power, which had the Emperor¡¯s favor as a basis, would be weakening. However, from now on, if the Emperor would transfer power with the rank in mind, the problem would be different. The Emperor is still righteous, and his authority is high. Even after going through this incident, he was not shaken in the slightest. Amalie did not dare to confront it. Not just Amalie, but most of the Emperor¡¯s servants. Artizea asked curiously. ¡°Did you not think it would?¡± ¡°It shouldn¡¯t. Isn¡¯t it too soon?¡± Even if it¡¯s just doing the underground work in advance, it¡¯s too early. After at least a year or so had passed, and the aftermath of this incident had passed, it would be appropriate to start. Lawrence was an illegitimate child, even when he was the son of the Emperor¡¯s favorite mistress. His reputation wasn¡¯t very high. But now, he was the descendant of an emunicated person who was sentenced to life imprisonment. This was beyond disqualification and was a critical hit. Is there any reason to start preparing for the session at this point? Artizea smiled faintly. Frankly, she was much morefortable with this conversation rather than being congratted on her pregnancy. ¡°If you think about it differently, it¡¯s something you can¡¯t do if it¡¯s not now.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because the affair with treason prevented the temple from speaking out loud.¡± It was. Amalie nodded her head in agreement. Artizea continued, pointing out each one. ¡°The same goes for Grand Duke Roygar. The Guards searched through Bishop Akim¡¯s residence. It cannot be said that the cause of the poisoning haspletely disappeared.¡± Artizea does not know whether the Guards have found evidence of a conspiracy between Bishop Akim and Grand Duke Roygar. The same was true for Grand Duke Roygar. He doesn¡¯t know what the emperor knows, if there is evidence, or whether he can tamper with it. So he won¡¯t be able to move for a while. It¡¯s scary to be caught on a weakness, but not knowing what the other person knows about you is also a threat. ¡°Public opinion has be quite quiet. Because my mother was coldly punished.¡± Of course, there were those who argued that punishment alone was not enough. But many, in their heart, thought that even that much was huge. Wasn¡¯t she the Emperor¡¯s favorite mistress and the Dowager Marchioness of Rosan? On the contrary, there were not many people who judged that the Emperor was just and coldly judged. The Emperor¡¯s authority was not shaken in the slightest. ¡°You must have judged that there was no problem on the part of Her Majesty the Empress.¡± Had it been so, the Empress would have exercised half the rights on this matter. But she now has the descendants of Viscounty Pescher. The Empress¡¯ old friends also unraveled their secrets and revealed themselves. In the long run, there were enough factors for the Empress to ept the deal. ¡°While there is no reason not to, it is overflowing with reasons to. Even if the public opinion is somewhat poor, he must have decided that it is best to push ahead now. Even if he starts now anyway, it will be a year or two before brother Lawrence gets his improvement.¡± By then, public opinion criticizing Mira will have cooled down. ¡°Even with that said, Your Grace does not seem to think much of it.¡± ¡°All of this is logic based on the premise that His Majesty loved brother Lawrence and decided to make him his heir. Dame Harper must have thought so.¡± ¡°Does Your Grace think that¡¯s not the case?¡± Amalie looked at Artizea with a curious face. Artizea said calmly. ¡°If His Majesty¡¯s resolve had been that strong, he would have removed Her Majesty the Empress and immediately married my mother to solve the legitimacy problem.¡± ¡°It cannot be as simple as you said. Even though she is Your Grace¡¯s mother, so I¡¯m sorry to say this, but she was not worthy of the position of Empress.¡± ¡°Then there would have been some means of putting a woman other than my mother over the Empress and adopting brother Lawrence as her son, so why not?¡± Amalie was not ready to answer, and she pondered for a moment in her thoughts. She¡¯s sure if he wanted Lawrence to be his sessor, it¡¯d be much less of a political burden on his side. Artizea said. ¡°People act ording to their heart. Reasonable judgment is far less important than that.¡± ¡°You mean that His Majesty never gave him the legitimacy because he had no desire to do so?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I cannot agree with that. His Majesty¡¯s heart was certainly with Sir Lawrence. Especially since Grand Duke Roygar married the Marquisate of Luden.¡± ¡°Everyone is so perturbed because they didn¡¯t think he would take concrete action.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help but agree with that statement.¡± ¡°His Majesty seemed to have raised a family with my mother and brother. It was not that he had chosen my brother as his son, but that he had chosen my mother as his wife.¡± ¡°It is, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And yet, instead of marrying my mother, he spent it elsewhere.¡± essible and emotional, Mira was an easy-to-use existence. Nobles and wealthy people who wanted the Emperor¡¯s favor gathered around Mira like hyenas. The Emperor would give out power and wealth on a whim, just because Mira wanted it. Conversely, there were many cases in which their family fortune was confiscated or their necks lost overnight for making Mira sad. Mira was one of the tactics that the Emperor used to divide, unite, and suppress the nobles as he wanted. Of course, Amalie was well aware of this. Artizea spoke in a voice so cold that she couldn¡¯t believe it was a story about her own blood. ¡°Now, this is a question worth thinking about. Which did His Majesty love more, my mother or my brother Lawrence?¡± Amalie did not answer easily this time as well. Regarding the Emperor¡¯s family rtions, political issues have been considered. However, the Emperor¡¯s emotional problem had never been thought about. But by this point, Amalie could also understand. The Emperor loves Lawrence, but because he is also Mira¡¯s son, he loves him a little more than the other children. Would the emperor who used even Mira so harshly think of Lawrence differently? Marriage was much easier, but he kept Mira as his mistress for the rest of her life. Because it is more suitable for her purpose. But is he really going to hand over his power to Lawrence? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s unavoidable. ¡°But His Majesty has actually decided to make Sir Lawrence Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Yes, for now.¡± ¡°For now ¡­¡­.¡± Amalie chewed Artizea¡¯s reply. ¡°If you look at it as a mental issue, not a political one, things get pretty simple. His Majesty wants to relieve his guilt right now.¡± ¡°Guilt about ¡­.. The Dowager Marchioness?¡± ¡°Is there anything elsetely that might have changed His Majesty¡¯s mind greatly?¡± ¡°Exactly¡­¡­ There is not.¡± ¡°Then that must be the reason.¡± It was a story that Amalie had never thought of. Artizea said calmly. ¡°The decision to abandon my mother was the result of a sober judgment. But for whatever reason, His Majesty threw her away without even trying to protect the woman he had been living with for 25 years.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°His Majesty will want to make an excuse for that.¡± ¡°His Majesty took over the responsibility, so she could escape from the situation.¡± ¡°It is external. Apart from that, His Majesty must make excuses in his heart. He knew exactly what he had done.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Amalie swallowed a gulp. Artizea smiled at her. ¡°Dame Harper seems to have no regrets. But I heard His Majesty said so to brother Lawrence? My brother needs to do well so that my mother can live.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There are very few things in the world that are as good as the excuse that they did it for their children.¡± The Emperor regrets that he has not done anything for Mira, and has to pay his heart¡¯s debt with that guilt. Although Lawrence did something wrong to Mira, the Emperor will support Lawrence as much as he is sorry for Mira. ¡°His Majesty is a contradictory person. He likes obedient people, but at the same time he hates those who can¡¯t do anything but listen to hismands.¡± ¡°He is.¡± Amalieughed bitterly. No one knew it as well as the Emperor¡¯s servants. Artizea lowered her eyes and recalled the things that were now gone. The Emperor never loved a person who was only obedient. Just like he loved Mira, who stood with her nails up. He wanted obedience and loyalty from his son, but at the same time he wanted his son to take power with his own hands, beyond his control. Artizea vividly remembers how delighted the Emperor was when she rigged the oracle to create legitimacy for Lawrence. He did not want to pass power to his son. He told him to wait, ¡®I¡¯ll give it to you when the time is right¡¯. But at the same time, he wants his son not to wait and take it on his own. It was only after Lawrence created his own legitimacy without waiting for the Emperor¡¯s will that he recognized him as a real son. But now, is there any way that he would want to hand over everything to Lawrence early on? It can never be true. So the current condition won¡¯tst long. A person who has nothing to be desired from is easy to forget. After the Emperor¡¯s self-justification is over, the sense of debt will be forgotten and only emotions will remain. Even if there were one or two incidents that could fuel it, the Emperor¡¯s heart would change drastically. This is Lawrence¡¯sst and greatest chance. Conversely, if this opportunity failed, Lawrence would no longer be included in the session fight. Artizea thought. ¡®Rather, this is better for Cedric. It will be aparison.¡¯ Theparison in being made as the Secretary of State. It was done as cousins. Comparing people with other people means that they are considered equals. Lawrence was on the verge of being the heir to the Emperor. So people would naturallypare Cedric to Lawrence as the next emperor. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Proofreader: somnium Lysia suddenly woke up around midnight that night. She had a terrible nightmare, which she couldn¡¯t remember exactly. However, as her chest burned, Lawrence¡¯s face came to mind. Lysia sat up. Seeing Lawrence in her dream was probably because during the day Amalie and Artizea talked about him. But that wasn¡¯t the only reason. She didn¡¯t tell anyone, but Lysia thought of Lawrence in the West as well. She knew Artizea was worried, so she tried to pretend she didn¡¯t, but she woke up several times from Lawrence¡¯s dream like a fever. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t conscious of him at all when they returned. It¡¯s just that Artizea doesn¡¯t want it, so she¡¯s just trying to pretend she doesn¡¯t know. Lysia got out of bed. Then she changed her clothes and went out quietly. Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence was engulfed in silence. Lysia came out with amp. The guards let her go without much concern at the words that she was going out for a walk. It was because they knew that although Lysia was not a battlefield knight, she had enough skill to defend herself. Lysia got on her horse and headed for Sabelin Street. She made an impulsive decision. When Lawrence told her that his house is on Sabelin Street, she had no intention of visiting him. But now she wanted to. She couldn¡¯t exin exactly why. She stopped her horse where she could see the front door of Lawrence¡¯s mansion. Even after she left, Lysia was worried. Will she go in or not? She didn¡¯t really know what to say to him just because she met him. It was a time of agony. Then when she started to move, Lawrence¡¯s carriage came running back. Lysia quickly moved out of the way. She thought it was rather good. Because it felt as if the carriage had swung past her like she was a ghost. But the carriage stopped before Lysia swallowed the bitter water rising from her stomach. Before the servant could open the door, Lawrence opened and exited the carriage himself. Lysia flinched her body. Lawrence came over to her and held out his hand. His hands were white, his fingers were smooth, and his palm was soft. No man in Evron would have had such a hand. Lysia couldn¡¯t tell if it was the right thing for her to hold his hand or not. Objectively, she deserved to be escorted from a high-ranking man. But can she really hold this hand? Is it a betrayal? With manners and emotions jumbled, Lysia ced her hand on Lawrence¡¯s hand. Then Lawrence pulled her to him and pulled her off the horse. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Lawrence had an expressionless face. However, his cheeks were hot, as if a porcin doll was breathed to life. ¡°I didn¡¯te with that in mind.¡± ¡°Then?¡± Lysia took in her breath. She couldn¡¯te up with a word. ¡°Lysia.¡± Did she ever give him her name? She can¡¯t remember it well. Lawrence¡¯s hand sped Lycia¡¯s hair lightly. Pulling and approaching happened at the same time, and his breath came close enough to touch. It was a feeling very familiar to Lysia. She was ecstatic enough to lose her soul, but scared enough to chill her spine. Lysia took a step away from him before their lips touched. She then sped her hands together in front of her chest. Not knowing what¡¯s on her mind, she felt like praying. ¡°Would you like to go to the West with me?¡± ¡°The West?¡± Lawrence asked. And it soon turned into a face of absurdity. ¡°Yes. To the west¡­¡­. No, it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s East or South.¡± Lysia shook her hand. ¡°Leave everything ande with me. Then I will give up everything and be with you for the rest of my life.¡± They only met a few times, and this conversation was not something to say to the person he met twice. Lysia knew it too. But it was the answer to the problem she was looking for. What Lysia was about to answer, she couldn¡¯t answer with certainty. In fact, she didn¡¯t even know exactly what the problem was. But it feels like everything will go in the right direction. It was so clear that it felt like her eyes were wide open. The saint must have felt this way a long time ago when they saw directly in the direction God was pointing. Lawrence grinned. Heughed as if it were ridiculous. ¡°Everything? What are you talking about when you don¡¯t have anything anyway?¡± ¡°Sir Lawrence.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do that, insteade to me.¡± He pulled Lysia and wrapped around her waist. Lysia saw the shadow from by themp cast red over Lawrence¡¯s white cheeks. His long eyshes were gleaming, making it look golden. ¡°I will let you enjoy all the wealth and the greatest pleasures in the world that you could not have imagined in Evron or anywhere else.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need that.¡± ¡°Then, present you with a crown under the starry night?¡± It was a term referring to the Empress¡¯ seat. Lawrence lowered his head. Lysia turned her face away again this time to avoid him kissing her. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think about it. You just need toe to me. I will make you the happiest woman.¡± Then he whispered that he would do everything for her, and he pulled Lysia closer to him, trying to embrace her deeply. But before he could kiss her, a short arrowhead came out of Lysia¡¯s sleeve. Lawrence let her go as he was startled and backed off. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to hurt you. sorry.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Lysia.¡± ¡°I have to go back to Her Grace.¡± Turning around, Lawrence spit it out in a cold voice against Lysia¡¯s back. ¡°Is your heart just that much?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even love me.¡± Lysia stopped her steps and said. Lawrence exhaled. ¡°Does anything change when I say I love you? Is the love you are talking about can only be achieved by being a poor person?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°Then, are you doing this for Evron Grand Duchy?¡± Lysia looked at Lawrence with a painful mood. Leaving doesn¡¯t mean that Lawrence loses everything. All he has to do is leave behind the fact that he is the son of the Emperor. Yet, he still holds the title and is a wealthy aristocrat. He doesn¡¯t have to be more greedy. Lawrence is tormenting himself with that greed and dissatisfaction. If he gives up his greed and leaves with her, they can try to love each other and live a simple and cute life. Then he can live without bothering anyone. He himself could probably try to forgive himself with all his might. But Lawrence refused. There was nothing more Lysia could say otherwise. Lysia turned around. She did not look back this time. ¡°Lysia!¡± Lawrence shouted again. Still, Lysia did not look back. What Lawrence knows about love is only to give his partner something bigger and better. She wasn¡¯t saying to throw it away. If someone had to give up something and let it go, he deserved to be by Lysia¡¯s side. If only he really had pushed his hand out to her. Lawrence twisted his lips and smiled. £ª£ª£ª For some time thereafter, the Empire was ostensibly very quiet. The government has been busier than ever before. Chancellor Lin said Cedric¡¯s promises would not be anything more than short-term measures at best. But even that alone puts an unusually heavy burden on the officials. Lawrence¡¯s preparations for the southern conquest were much moreplicated and serious than that. The subjugation of pirates in the South has been a problem that has been regrly called for for a long time. Even the Emperor always had in his mind the seriousness of it. He didn¡¯t just give Lawrence an achievement, he had to get the most out of it at once if he was going to move the army as the center of the operation. On the other hand, there was clearly a reason for why he had been neglecting it until now. So, Gayan and his military officers wrapped their heads every day. Such things became the main topic of discussion in social circles, salons and coffeehouses. On the other hand, there was no ce for scandals and conspiracies to intervene. Artizea would wait until the time came. She told Amalie the same thing. [¡°Well, even if I say this, it must be true that Dame is hesitant.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±] [¡°I do not intend to form a conquest andpete with His Majesty for power. I don¡¯t even think it will be of any benefit.¡±] [¡°Your Grace.¡±] [¡°Rather, I think it is right to win the favor of His Majesty. So don¡¯t worry and wait.¡±] Amalie looked at Artizea with a face that wondered if that would be possible. It was because it felt like a contradiction to seek the Emperor¡¯s favor from the position of pushing Lawrence away. Artizea said the Emperor¡¯s heart would notst long, and Amalie even admitted that her words were usible. But she has not yet fully agreed and was not convinced. Knowing this, Artizea was also saying this. [¡°If you follow His Majesty¡¯s will and wait, Dame wille out knowing that I was right.¡±] Artizea didn¡¯t expect loyalty from them right now. Even if she forcibly puts the pressure, it will only solidify a transactional rtionship. And true loyalty did note from a faction united for profit. Cedric¡¯s reign should not have started like that. So her job is to change the situation. Not forcing them to make a decision. Amalie again apologized, but she nodded her head at Artizea¡¯s words. Gayan, who had heard the story from Amalie, also agreed. He sighed. His heart wasplicated, but he could not disobey the Emperor¡¯s orders. If the ¡®time¡¯ Artizea spoke of did note, he would eventually have no choice but to remain loyal to the Emperor. [¡°It¡¯s not asfortable as it is, mentally. If His Grace Grand Duke Evron bes the next emperor, wouldn¡¯t his position be that he noticed the trendte?¡±] In essence, the person who was with you in difficult times is the best. No one wees a person who joined after it is clear they will be advantageous after looking at both sides. Even Amalie understood Gayan¡¯s feelings a hundred times. She herself had such anxiety. Nevertheless, Amalie had no choice but to say this. [¡°But the other person is Grand Duke Evron. After all, the vassals of Evron Grand Duchy will be the best when ites to those who have been with him in difficult times, and His Grace will decide whether or not to use such a person for that reason.¡±] [¡°Is that so?¡±] [¡°Faith does not onlye from sharing in hardships or opening your heart, but also from whether you can do it with certainty when you are entrusted with it.¡±] [¡°I think it would be morefortable that way. These days.¡±] Gayan said so in a tired voice. Then he assembled an army for Lawrence and set out for the South. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Proofreader: somnium Artizea did nothing for a while after that. She had a doctor¡¯s order to take a break from work. Even if it wasn¡¯t, the Grand Duke¡¯s residence was not going to let her do her job. There was no other urgent matter. It was not easy for her to rest either. She never rested like this, even when she shouldn¡¯t have done anything tactical. At least she was supposed to deal with information. As she sat by the window dazedly, staring at the sky, only then did Artizea realize that this had happened before. It was when Lysia died, she resigned from all her posts, disbanded the intelligence organization and resigned, and she lived alone. As she looked back, the memory of that time was vague and hazy. She seems to have been mesmerized by doing nothing all day. She had breakfast and then she had dinner. The person she thought she had met a day or two before, turns out, met her two weeks ago. When she had no work to do and free time came, she was eager to read the books she wanted to read. She thought she wanted to go to a leisurely retreat and walk in the morning air. She didn¡¯t do any of that. Her body continued to be sore and ufortable without any special illness. She couldn¡¯t get up in the morning, and the days would pass because there was no reason to get up until the afternoon, and no one was looking for her, so shey buried in the bed with her eyes open with her throbbing body. It is different now than she was then. She still had a lot of work left to do. But her thoughts stopped often. ¡°Are you okay like this?¡± Artizea questioned herself from time to time. The answer was ¡°yes¡±. She had to wait like this. It made no difference here whether she added little modifications or not. Without a second thought, she was stretching her limbs on the armchair, and something touched her back. ¡°Ack!¡± Artizea suddenly came to her senses. And she was startled, and she leaned her body back. Her body, floating in the air, struggled. Cedric, who was holding her in his arms, panicked and grabbed her tightly. Artizea unknowingly grabbed his neck and hung on it. Cedric¡¯s strong arms supported Artizea¡¯s stiff body without difficulty. Cedric didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t expect to be so surprised¡­¡­.¡± ¡°See, what did I say? I told you to wake her up first. It looks like she hasn¡¯t slept well.¡± Lysia rebuked. She was sitting at another table a little farther away, looking through the misceneous papers, just as Artizea was before she was lost in thoughts. Artizea stroked her chest. Cedric put her back down on the armchair. Lysia came up to her and asked. ¡°Are you okay, Your Grace? Are you surprised or ufortable?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± She answered Lysia, inadvertently paying attention to her lower abdomen. Artizea¡¯s abdomen was starting toe out quite a bit. Cedric hesitated and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were sleeping, so I tried to move you to the bedroom.¡± ¡°Oh, no. I guess I fell asleep.¡± Artizea answered with a red-stained face. ¡°But what brings you here? Isn¡¯t the sun still up in the sky?¡± ¡°I came to see your face in advance because there seems to be a military meeting in the evening.¡± Cedric added that Artizea would say it was not necessary. ¡°So take a rest.¡± Artizea made a subtle face. She felt likeughing, but she didn¡¯t think she should. ¡°Did I disturb you?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing anything.¡± Cedric stretched out his arm again. Artizea was also bewildered this time. His arms did not hold Artizea this time. Instead, he pulled the pins out of her hair and swept them lightly. It was tangled by rubbing against the armchair. Artizea¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I need to trim my hair.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your house anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Nevertheless.¡± It bothered her. Cedric held out his arm to Artizea, who was pressing her head. ¡°I told Sophie toe to the sunroom.¡± ¡°The sunroom?¡± ¡°I was thinking of having lunch and snacks there. If you¡¯re not going to take a nap, let¡¯s go together.¡± Usually, when Cedric dines alone, he wouldn¡¯t set it up in such a ce. When he was busy with work, he was the type of person who simply resolved the situation by eating in the study, and when he had to go out, it was in the dining room of the knights close to the kitchen. So, if he had it set up in the sunroom, it was probably for Artizea herself. Artizea hesitated a little, even though she had no reason to hesitate. She nced at Lysia and said, pointing to the documents. ¡°I have a lot of work to do.¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± At Cedric¡¯s words, Artizea felt a sense of shame. ¡°After all, after Lysia sees through it, you have to check it all again, don¡¯t you? That¡¯s the mansion budget, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Leave it to her. If you want to lighten things up, I don¡¯t think Lysia is in a hurry.¡± At Cedric¡¯s words, Artizea let out a sigh. ¡°Did Sir Freilin?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t scold him. It was more of ament than aint.¡± ¡°What should I do with thementing of a loyal vassal of Evron Grand Duchy, whom we have no manpower to rece?¡± Cedric bit his mouth. The reason they didn¡¯t have the talent to deal with the information was his fault. ¡°It will be fine soon.¡± Artizea said so. When they start to gain strength, the manpower will increase in an instant. At that time, it will be more difficult to choose people. Cedric held out his arm. Artizea grabbed his arm and stood up. The two went outside after receiving Lysia¡¯s support. And they walked slowly like going for a walk. ¡°By the way, is the military conference about the Southern Conquest Army?¡± ¡°It¡¯s aprehensive issue. Not long ago, arge number of military supplies were sent to the North. Most of the supplies used by the Southern Conquest Army at their destination will be provided by the Duchy of Riagan, but they still need a huge amount of supplies while they are moving.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be tight in many ways to gather the supplies again. Will it be all right?¡± ¡°You mean the Evron problem? Or¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Both.¡± ¡°If you are concerned about His Majesty, then there is no need. I have already reported the situation to His Majesty, and informed the military.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric continued. ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the war, I¡¯ve said it before, but I¡¯m here because it¡¯s worthing. It was already in a state of silence.¡± It became clear that Karam¡¯s siege weapons could not prate the walls of the Thold Gate. There was no second attack by bypassing the Thold Gate and crossing the mountain range. Karam was still outside the Thold Gate. The confrontation was continuing. But it didn¡¯t get to the big deals he was worried about at first. After using the siege weapon several times, Karam found it ineffective and gave up. Besides, the weather has warmed up. Now, Karam had no incentive to try to go south as if being chased by the cold. Because it was better to take thend from another tribe innd beyond the Thold Gate than to hit the walls of the Thold Gate, which was as hard as an anvil. The Emperor and the military rxed. In winter, Karam goes south, and in spring they return. It was the Northern War that the Empire knew well. In the first ce, it was for political reasons that fueled the fear of the war. Conversely, however, it could have been a political issue. ¡®Even if His Majesty tries to find fault with you, there is nothing you can do about it. Even if the war is over for now this year, we have to prepare for the siege weapons for next winter anyway.¡¯ ording to Freil, they¡¯re already preparing for next year. In principle, it is in ordance with the exchange. However, repairing the walls of the Thold Gate in preparation for siege weapons, and training units in each vige, mainly retired military personnel, to respond to unexpected raids are also being made at the same time. Cedric broke the cycle of his thoughts. ¡°Now stop thinking about it, or there is no rest.¡± Artizea raised her head and looked at him. ¡°Is there anything you want to eat?¡± Artizea sometimes felt that Cedric had something to hide. It still was. He seemed to have changed the subject on purpose. She had no intention of questioning. It was the work of Evron Grand Duchy. It was, after all, a military issue. Not only was it not for Artizea herself to get involved in, she also had nothing to say, even if he asked for advice. The same was true with the new leader of Karam. In a situation in which she had never met and did not know the actual situation well, it was not meaningful to know more than that. She knew that Cedric was doing this not because he distrusted her, but because he didn¡¯t want to add to her burden. But one side of her chest became heavy. What did the prince of Karam say to Cedric? Is he a ¡®returner¡¯? Artizea replied, trying to forget her thoughts. ¡°¡­¡­ Sugar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen.¡± Cedric immediately refused. Artizea let out a sad sigh. The butler and the doctor were blocking it together. She wondered if Cedric would give her some. Usually, people crave the things they ate when they were young, but she craved things she couldn¡¯t eat. Lately, she keeps thinking of white sugar. Marcus brought her some fruit candy instead, but that wasn¡¯t it. Cedric asked. ¡°What about fruit?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, but I prefer meat.¡± ¡°It¡¯s perfect.¡± She wondered what was perfect, and there was arge bowl full of meat pancakes and crispy baked bacon potato rolls on the table in the sunroom. There was also bread, butter and jam. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± Feeling Artizea¡¯s gaze, Cedric said. Artizea shook her head and sat down in the chair Cedric pulled out. ¡°I think Lord Cedric was still misunderstanding why I didn¡¯t like dinner.¡± Cedricughed softly. Milk mixed with grounded summer fruits is poured into a chilled ss. She wasn¡¯t really hungry, but it was good. Maybe it was a habit to eat, but at one time, she felt bloated and ufortable when she didn¡¯t eat, so she has been thinking about eating all the time. Artizea was eating a meat pancake and drank a sip of sweet milk. Then she felt something creeping in her stomach. Before, she would think that it was just a feeling of bloatedness. She¡¯d heard stories about the baby¡¯s movement. She was so conscious of the baby in her womb that she seemed to be mistaken. She couldn¡¯t be sure. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Artizea took a deep breath and cleared her mind. It took considerable effort to keep her faceposed. There was that feeling again. This one was certain. She felt strange. So far, it¡¯s been an abstract feeling to have a baby, but now she thought it was really there. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Tia?¡± Cedric called her curiously. Artizea tried to stand up from her seat. She couldn¡¯t possibly be keeping a casual face, so she decided she would avoid the spot altogether. Before that, Cedric stood up first and held her hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Artizea tried to suppress her agitation. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ve got some work to do. I want to rest upstairs.¡± Artizea said it without thinking. She was not ready to talk about the child. Cedric pulled her up. And he gently hugged her. ¡°I¡¯m not going to force you to talk, so just stay.¡± Artizea hardened her body. She then gave strength to push Cedric. Then, thankfully, Freil entered the sunroom. Freil said after looking at the two of them for a moment. ¡°Should Ie back in 30 minutes?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea shook Cedric¡¯s hand away. Cedric frowned slightly. Freil shrugged his shoulders. Cedric didn¡¯t say anything, but he didn¡¯t want to be called a bother. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Her Grace has a visitor.¡± ¡°Tia would have decided not to see anyone for a while.¡± ¡°Someone brought a message from the East from an old friend.¡± Artizea calmed her expression. Her coolness returned. An old friend was a reference to Rye Fidget. When he moved to the East, Artizea gave him thest task of finding one thing. It doesn¡¯t matter if he doesn¡¯t find it quickly, she said. Because the thing lived in hiding, she didn¡¯t think he would be able to find the thing easily. However, Rye seemed to have quickly fulfilled his part. ¡°An old friend?¡± Cedric asked. Freil looked at Artizea with a slightly perplexed face. Artizea doesn¡¯t want to tell Cedric, and she shakes her head lightly. ¡°I have to go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t know what Artizea was trying to do, but he chose not to interfere. Instead, he held her hand and pressed his lips lightly to her cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. Not only physically, but also mentally. If you care too much, you will get tired.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°Do you have anything else you want to tell me?¡± Artizea hesitated a bit. It wasn¡¯t clear whether Cedric was talking about the news Rye had sent, or a trivial greeting, or perhaps more importantly, the most important issue she¡¯s currently avoiding. ¡°Good luck with the meeting.¡± Artizea chose the second and said. Cedric smiled. Artizea turned away from him and hurriedly left the room. She felt the creeping sensation in her stomach again. The air bubbles seemed to tap her heart. £ª£ª£ª Freil brought the messenger sent by Rye Fidget to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. Had it been before her pregnancy, he wouldn¡¯t have brought outsiders into the mansion. But now, it was not a good choice to leave the mansion and go to a safe house. The two crossed the quiet backyard and headed for the annex. When the estatendscaping was remodeled, Artizea also had the outbuildings repaired. And she hid a passage. At first nce, it looked like they were considerate enough to create a trail in the backyard to make walking more enjoyable. However, if they choose a specific path and walk on it, they will be covered by tall trees. Now that the road waspleted, it was impossible to tell who was going in and out even by looking through a binocr from the outside. From the main building to the annex, it was possible to move through an underground road. In other words, it meant that there was a way out of the main building, and out of the annex without anyone¡¯s notice. There were three other simr secret passages. One of them was a tant secret passage, and the other was a real emergency passage. ¡°I brought him blindfolded, so he won¡¯t know where he came in.¡± Freil said as if making excuses for Artizea, fearing that Artizea wouldn¡¯t like to allow an untrustworthy person to use the secret passage. Artizea just nodded her head. Then she put on the veil that Freil had handed her in front of the annex, and smoothed her hair into the. She draped a ck cloak lightly over her clothes. If the other person is not an idiot, he will guess her identity. However, there is an immeasurable difference between thinking ¡°maybe¡± and being certain ¡°yes¡±. A man, blindfolded with an eye covering, was sitting in the reception room of the annex uncharacteristically. He was young, and his appearance was ordinary. His face was sunburned. It proved that the excruciating fatigue from his rough hands limping and sweat soaking all over his body was not solely due to the long journey. Artizea looked carefully at the man¡¯s figure. The thing that remains in her memory is this man¡¯s younger sister, but looking at his appearance alone, the person she was looking at was definitely the right one. Freil handed Artizea two envelopes. One was a letter of introduction that Rye handed over to this man. [The person you¡¯re looking for was notpletely hidden. You¡¯ll hear the news soon. His parents had already died, and his sister¡¯s side married early and joined her husband¡¯s household. An ordinary merchant family. I don¡¯t know about other blood rtives yet. Enclosed is a copy of the parent¡¯s family register and the person¡¯s birth certificate kept at the temple here.] Artizea put the papers back into the envelope, put it down, and said. ¡°Release the blindfold.¡± Freil loosened the man¡¯s blindfold. The man tried not to roll his eyes. He seemed to know well that looking around was never a noble act. He straightened his back and tried to act confidently. Curiosity and embarrassment were etched on his face. He knows that not being able to act nobly will be a weakness for him. He must have been educated on etiquette from an early childhood. After that, he must have worked like amoner, and made his own meals with his own hands. So Artizea could guess that his parents worked hard to keep their children from forgetting their old glory. Artizea said softly. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± She knew that the man was wary of her. But she wasn¡¯t too worried. Without revenge and ambition, he wouldn¡¯t havee here with a letter of introduction. ¡°Camellia Heir Apparent.¡± The man¡¯s body twitched and convulsed, knowing why she was looking for him. Ian, the man called the Camellia Heir Apparent, clenched his fists nervously without realizing it. ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°Yes, of course I know. Do you not know what this document you brought with you is?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Ian could not open the tightly sealed documents. But he was just guessing. If he wasn¡¯t a descendant of the Camellia family, why would a stranger pay his debts? Also, why would a stranger give him a sum of money and make him run an errand to bring papers to the capital? Even as he was blindfolded and put in the carriage where the papers had been handed over, he was guessing roughly as he stepped on the fluffy carpet. She had called him because of the Marquisate Camellia. Ian¡¯s mother was the eldest daughter of the previous marquis. Had it not been for the Marquis of Luden, the present Marchioness Camellia would have been his mother. But it was already in the past. His mother fell down and died. It looked like an ident. However, the only people who didn¡¯t acknowledge that it was an assassination were the former marquis who had eyes for the second wife. After that, his father took Ian and Ian¡¯s sister and ran away at night. That was when Ian was 5 years old. Ian didn¡¯t know what happened to his uncles and cousins. All he knew was that Marchioness Camellia continued to monitor them as they fled. Perhaps even if they survived, they probably wouldn¡¯t be living a veryfortable life. ¡°Who are you?¡± After thinking about it, Ian squeezed the question out. He knew very little about the state of the capital. He did not know the faces of thedies well. ¡°Wrong, Heir Apparent.¡± ¡°Wrong, you mean?¡± ¡°I have brought you here to do you a favor. It means that Heir Apparent is not in a position to ask me first.¡± Ian took a deep breath. ¡°Are you saying that you will do me a favor because you need me anyway?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And the reason I need it is to cause a dispute with the current Marquisate Camellia.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, too.¡± ¡°Madam is already using me just by bringing me here. I didn¡¯t even know where I was going to be.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But how can you say that I am wrong for asking first?¡± Artizea did not answer for a moment. Ian said the rest while at it. ¡°Also, I don¡¯t know who madam is, how can I be sure that what madam is doing is a favor?¡± How can he be sure that the woman in front of him, with her face covered, is not Marchioness Camellia? Perhaps, Marchioness Camellia herself, had summoned him to sprout the conflict. While telling him to forget the name Camellia, his father in his whole life, would always tell him. [¡°Don¡¯t be hopeful. Don¡¯t even think about getting revenge. Even if Grand Duke Roygar falls, even if Marquis Luden also falls, what can we do now?¡±] [¡°Father.¡±] [¡°Wealth is good to have, but it is not more important than peace of mind. What¡¯s the point of going back to such a battlefield? This father just wants you and your sister to find a good person and lives happily ever after.¡±] Ian nodded his head at that. But when he thinks about it now, it was different. Little Ian could not have known the true meaning of the words ¡®hope¡¯ or ¡®revenge¡¯. Nevertheless, Ian never forgot those two words. In the end, his father also regarded it as a ¡®hope¡¯ to reim Marquisate Camellia. That¡¯s why he came all the way here, though he knew it could be dangerous. The sign of Artizea¡¯s smile was felt beyond the veil. ¡°You are a thoughtful person.¡± ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°It is better to be thoughtful than foolish. You seem to already have a good grasp of what you have and what you don¡¯t have, so let¡¯s be honest.¡± Artizea said. ¡°My purpose is to disturb Marquisate Camellia. I don¡¯t expect it to be knocked down. If possible, I would like to harm the honor of the family and prevent them from raising their heads.¡± Ian tilted his head. ¡°That said¡­¡­ , are you saying you¡¯re not interested in taking over Marquisate Camellia?¡± Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Yes. I ampletely uninterested.¡± Artizea responded like so to Ian¡¯s question. ¡°Even if Heir Apparent seeds in taking over Marquisate Camellia, I don¡¯t think that you will be able to im the privileges that the current Marquisate Camellia has.¡± The honest answer made Ian more understandable of the situation. ¡°Then, are you trying to only get what you want in the process?¡± Artizea smiled again. His head didn¡¯t look that bad. But the view is still narrow. Ian seemed to be able to include only direct gains within the scope of the event. ¡°I have no intention of swaying Marquisate Camellia like Marquis Luden. There is no need for that.¡± ¡°Then Marquis Luden¡­¡­.¡± Ian shut his mouth as he was about to speak. And he was lost in thought. It was not wise to show such a contemtive appearance. It was something the Marquis Camellia should not have done. Of course, from Artizea¡¯s point of view, it didn¡¯t matter whether he could live like the Marquis Camellia in the future. The sess or failure in itself was not a serious factor for what she was trying to do using Ian. After all, he¡¯s among one of the most promising candidates to target Marchioness Camellia. Even if he failed, there was nothing to lose. Ian asked as if he had made up his mind right away. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± ¡°This question is much better.¡± Artizea said. ¡°File an inheritancewsuit. We¡¯ll support you with everything you need. In the meantime, we will provide all support so that you can live a noble life as well as the cost of thewsuit. I¡¯m talking about including a sufficient level of escort.¡± Ian frowned slightly. It was because he didn¡¯t quite understand what Artizea¡¯s purpose was. ¡°I know it is no secret that my mother and maternal uncles were either killed or driven to flee far away by the present Marquis couple. Can you shake that current Marquisate?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think you will be sessful.¡± ¡°It has been over 20 years since the youngest uncle took over the title. Even great sess in an inheritancewsuit would, at best, be limited to obtaining a portion of the fortune¡­¡­.¡± ¡°For Heir Apparent, that¡¯s a good sense.¡± ¡°Because I can¡¯t risk my life in exchange for a fortune.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even get wealth without taking risks.¡± Artizea said. ¡°And if Grand Duke Roygar does not ascend to the throne, then the fact that you have filed an inheritancewsuit will have meaning in itself.¡± The courts of the Krates Empire are by no means a strict and impartial judicial body. Judges usually judged under the eyes of the great nobility. The stronger the power, the higher the rank, the richer the wealth was always the closer to victory. Although it deals with the emperor¡¯sws now, in the early days, it was an institution that coordinated agreements between nobles. Therefore, the judgment is never permanent. At Artizea¡¯s words, Ian made a surprised face. Then his eyes soon shone. ¡°If Grand Duke Roygar fails to be an emperor and falls, then Marquisate Luden and the Marquisate Camellia will be purged together.¡± A purge also needs a reason. It can also be incurred by creating appropriate political reasons. But if there is a reason that already exists, the burden is reduced. It is even better if it is corruption or evil behaviour. It can be treated as a personal evil deed that Marquis Luden harmed and expelled his enemies in order to get his hands on Marquisate Camellia. Needless to say, it was easy to implement if there were enemies who were already iming their rights when they were determined to be purged. This was a good cause to present to other nobles. Nobles are sensitive to the elimination of noble families. This is because the Emperor believes that it is suppressing the nobility However, they did not care much about the change of master, considering it as someone else¡¯s house affairs. Moreover, Ian was the grandson of the enemy. He thought Artizea would be a noble on Lawrence¡¯s side. Having lived as amoner in a distant country side, he had neither the information nor the analytical power to understand anything beyond that, nor the intuition to jump into the logic and reach the truth. And if he thinks it¡¯s Lawrence¡¯s n, it¡¯s a good fit. To put a disgrace on Marquisate Camellia. It would be good if Marquisate Camellia was shaken by that. Even if it doesn¡¯t, it¡¯s making up an excuse to purge the area around Grand Duke Roygar in the future. As Ian bears the risk, it was also a task that did not burden thisdy and her master at all. Ian thought that now was the time to bet. ¡°It is true for Madam too, to take risks to get greater things.¡± ¡°Hoo.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there any guarantee that Grand Duke Roygar will fall? Rather, if he bes emperor, I will only be in danger.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°More than anything else, if I, who has been living in the East, to bet on an inheritancewsuit, wouldn¡¯t it be natural to think that there is a behind-the-scenes dealing?¡± Artizea hid her smile. In a nutshell, it seemed to mean that he should be properly ced in a faction and protected. Otherwise, he could reveal the existence of those behind him. ¡°Heir Apparent is like a thorn left behind by the Marquisate Camellia because it was difficult to extract one by one. I won¡¯t betray you anyway, so don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If Grand Duke Roygar hears about ¡®behind the scenes¡¯ from Heir Apparent, will he acknowledge your work and give you a reward?¡± ¡°But Madam.¡± Ian tensed up and called her nervously. He was nervous at the thought he wouldn¡¯t even get what she had promised at first. Artizea knew his anxiety as if looking into the palm of his hand. It wasn¡¯t bad His greed is great, but he has no gambler temperament. He seems to have a good brain, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s much smarter than usual. Like Sk, he was not thoroughly educated from an early age and trained as a high-ranking noble. In other words, he would be just a petty criminal. As long as she doesn¡¯t strangely twist his ego while making him the Marquis, he¡¯ll be easy to handle. ¡®On the looks, it¡¯s not badpared to the rough life.¡¯ Artizea thought for a moment. A new idea came to mind. What could be the reason Marquisate Rosan couldn¡¯t do what Marquisate Luden did? Of course, the form would be quite different from what Ian thought. Just as when Marquisate Luden was involved in the session of the title, it was Marchioness Camellia that was the subject of the master-servant contract, not the Marquis. Anyway, that was forter. For now, it was just a passing idea. Artizea answered Ian with a darkened face. ¡°I don¡¯t like those who don¡¯t have any power and try to secure something with an uncertain price in the future.¡± ¡°Madam ¡­.¡± ¡°But from my point of view, it is very embarrassing not to be able to do what I have beenmanded to do. So, I¡¯ll pretend I haven¡¯t heard of it.¡± Ian let out a sigh of relief as well. ¡°Thank you, madam.¡± ¡°Then, will Heir Apparent ept my offer?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll, I¡¯ll think about it. I am nothing to your master, but to me my life is precious.¡± ¡°Yes. Just think it through.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t say any more. Ian could not hide his nervousness and stood up. He realized that there was no possibility that good conditions would be offered just because he held on longer. The men came in and took Ian, who was blindfolded again, out. Artizea also ordered his eyes that had been watching secretly to be closed. Eventually, at the point when he got the offer and decided toe this way, Ian had to know that he couldn¡¯t go back the way he was. Freil asked. ¡°Have you decided?¡± ¡°Decided?¡± ¡°Yes. I was wondering if you had chosen Mr. Ian as the Marquis of Camellia. Lady Sk has alreadye to see you three times, but you turned her down, right?¡± ¡°It might look like that. It would be better if even Sk thought that way.¡± ¡°Lady Sk has not yet decided to pledge her allegiance to Your Grace. If she doesn¡¯t think Your Grace¡¯s trust can be trusted, she¡¯ll go all the way to Grand Duke Roygar.¡± And, in Freil¡¯s judgment, the only thing Ian had better than Sk was that his purpose was well-rounded. It could have been important. So they can feel at ease. It was understandable if it was in the sense of reducing the variables rather than trying to bring Marquisate Camellia into power. Artizea smiled brightly. ¡°Sk¡¯s position is a bit vague. In any case, just because she remains fully loyal to Grand Duke Roygar, following Marchioness Camellia as she is now, there is no guarantee that she will be able to fully exercise her rights as Marchioness Camellia in the future.¡± ¡°But at least the inheritance itself will be stable. Now, she will inherit the property and interests as it is, and she will be the Marquis of Camelia herself. Wouldn¡¯t the political position be more stable than that of the current Marchioness?¡± Freil objected. ¡°If His Majesty makes it difficult to inherit the title, there is a risk that she will turn into an enemy.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°She¡¯s been here three times already, haven¡¯t she? it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she knows who is in a bad position. She¡¯ll be making her fourth visit soon.¡± As if she had already made an appointment with Sk, Artizea said calmly. ¡°As long as there are only a few things that can be achieved by attaching to Grand Duke Roygar, Sk has no choice but to consider many things.¡± ¡°Lady Sk has an active personality.¡± ¡°Yes. And as I said before, Sir Freil, it is the heart above all else that moves people.¡± No matter how rational a person may appear, their judgment is ultimately influenced by their emotions. The decision was more so than the judgment. A lot of people act because they want to do it, and they decide because they can¡¯t help it. Sk is resentful at the Marquisate Luden¡¯s behaviour toward Marchioness Camellia. And there is a resentment towards the Marchioness Camellia herself for epting it obediently. It would twist Sk¡¯s judgment. Especially since she respects and loves her mother. And just as Artizea said, Sk visited the next afternoon. £ª£ª£ª Until her third visit, Sk felt rxed despite being rejected. It was only natural that Artizea, who had suffered from great troubles with her pregnancy, could not easily meet people. But on her fourth visit, she didn¡¯t have that much leeway. She failed to follow the rule of sneaking in through Alice¡¯s back door. The informationwork of Marchioness Camellia had already caught on that Ian had entered the capital. Marchioness Camellia was not so concerned when news came that Ian had disappeared from where he was living. But the matter was different if he hade to the capital. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Proofreader: somnium Sk could not understand Marchioness Camellia. [¡°Ian Camelia can¡¯t do anything anyway. At best, he will make a fuss.¡±] [¡°I know. What I¡¯m worried about is what your maternal grandfather knows.¡±] [¡°Are you afraid that you will be scolded for not being able to solve such a problem?¡±] [¡°That¡¯s not it. No, in a sense it is not.¡±] Marchioness Camellia sighed. [¡°Your maternal grandfather wanted to get rid of all the Camellia people who had fled then. But your father asked to spare his life.¡±] [¡°That something my father would have done.¡±] Sk¡¯s father, Marquis Camellia, was on the weak side. When Marquis Luden proposed to marry his daughter for his title, he knew that bad things were going to happen to his brother and sisters. However, it did not stop at the extent of his family being driven out by the scandal, but suffered several idents and deaths. He was afraid as the series of unbearable misfortunes continued. Marquis Camellia used to habitually say that he didn¡¯t know it would go that far. Although he had a bit of greed and resentment towards his brothers for abusing him, he was basically not the kind of person who could hurt someone that much. [¡°How could I have turned away from your father¡¯s tears? I thought that even if I kept him alive, he wouldn¡¯t do much harm.¡±] [¡°Mother said you would take responsibility.¡±] [¡°Yes. The children were also very young¡­¡­. He¡¯s been quiet up until now, so I thought he wouldn¡¯t think of anything else in the future. I had neglected to watch as the years had passed. Anyway, since this happened, it must be difficult for me to escape responsibility.¡±] It wasn¡¯t that she was afraid of being scolded by her father, but that she was afraid of falling out of the eyes of her master. So Sk couldn¡¯t stay still either. Now Sk couldn¡¯t wait for Artizea to meet her. She thought that this, too, must have been Artizea¡¯s work. Maybe it could be a signal, she thought. She could rule out Marquisate Camellia altogether if she tries to walk the tightrope beyond this. Now might be herst chance. Sk differed from Amalie and Gayan, who became a factor in the imperial government by their abilities. She couldn¡¯t hope she would be of great useter. Marquisate Camellia is a force in itself. Powers are involved in politics through amalgamation. It even belonged to a certain hostile force. She had to do it right now to get her line changed properly. If her time is wasted and she bes useless, Artizea will not ept her. ¡°Madam is not meeting guests.¡± The butler said so in an embarrassed manner, but Sk stubbornly insisted. ¡°I am a friend of Her Grace.¡± It was only a nominal story. But this time it was a good excuse for Sk. ¡°I don¡¯t know when she was ill, but I heard she is already recovering now.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If it is difficult to meet me right now, I will wait.¡± She sat on the sofa in the parlor and opened the book she brought. She didn¡¯t really intend to read the book. It was close to expressing her intention of not backing down. The butler made a troubled face, but he eventually said he understood and went to tell Artizea this. Sk waited over two hours. She thought maybe Artizea herself or her maid would be watching. Artizea came out just before the teapot was emptied. Artizea worefortable clothes tied lightly with a wide ribbon just below her chest. Sk looked at her with an awkward mood. She knew Artizea was pregnant, but seeing her in maternity clothes like this felt strange. Sk doesn¡¯t even have a fiance yet. Artizea slowly approached the table. Sk calmed down and greeted her politely. ¡°I¡¯m d to see you looking good.¡± ¡°Lady is still the same. Nice to meet you.¡± Artizea greeted each other and sat down. Sk held out a little gift box, and said. ¡°Congrattions on your pregnancy. I had already sent a letter, but I thought it was the right time to greet you in person.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t answer. Celebrating her pregnancy was still very difficult to properly respond to. Even though she knew the other person was just saying it out of courtesy, it was still so. Sk interprets Artizea¡¯s silence as a rejection and gets nervous. So she stood up from her seat and she bowed her head politely. ¡°You may think it¡¯s rude, but I¡¯m here to apologize for the sins that my mother hadmitted against Her Grace.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Artizea looked up at her with an expressionless face. ¡°Did something happen?¡± There wasn¡¯t, officially. Sk bit her lower lip. There were no permanent enemies or allies in politics anyway. Sk did not think that Artizea would not recognize her own usefulness just because her mother had attempted to kill her on behalf of Grand Duke Roygar. The reason Artizea didn¡¯t meet her was probably because she was pregnant. But Sk still couldn¡¯t help but be nervous. ¡°I am well aware that Your Grace is not one to be swept away by anger. I ask for forgiveness, and I am prepared to pay the price.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­ , what is it all about¡­¡­.¡± Artizea looked at the gift box Sk had brought and pulled her words. She didn¡¯t mean to pretend to be angry. It¡¯s understandable that Sk was determined to switch side. Is it because of Ian? She deliberately disclosed information in the hope that either Marchioness Camellia or Sk would react. But even so, it was strange for her to suddenly change her mind all over the ce and bend over. Artizea had thought she would try to negotiate with her with a little more rethinking, a little more consideration. Sk lowered her head again. ¡°Sit down, Lady Sk. Don¡¯t make me look up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sk sat down again. ¡°I think there is no hope for my uncle.¡± Ian wasn¡¯t the only reason she decided to turn aroundpletely. Convinced that Grand Duke Roygar would be defeated was the first trigger. Grand Duke Roygar, after discussing with his vassals, decided toy low and remain still for the time being. If the Emperor had decided to give it to his child, it would have been difficult to touch for a while. Another reason was that he did not know what the Emperor had learned from Bishop Akim. Soon, the result was exactly what Artizea had predicted. But the reason was the opposite. [¡°No matter how bad things get, children are children. From His Majesty¡¯s point of view, how pitiful would it be for a child who lost its mother?¡±] It is difficult to prevent that. Instead, Grand Duke Roygar decided to nt his men in the army that would go south. It was to attack if there was anything that could be a problem while keeping an eye on Lawrence. Lawrence can be easily dragged down with the slightest blemish. And as long as Lawrence is brought down, the floating forces will naturally gather around him. That is, legitimacy protected by customs andws. Grand Duke Roygar was not very concerned. However, Cedric¡¯s trend was concerning. Likewise, there was a big difference in support between members of the imperial family, who had the right to inherit ording to custom andw and those who did not. Grand Duke Roygar said anxiously. [¡°Of course, Cedric must have been very upset this time, but we still don¡¯t know, right? His Majesty cares for Cedric as well, and he is the only brother to the Grand Duchess.¡±] [¡°I don¡¯t know what Grand Duke Evron will do, but Lawrence will never work with Grand Duke Evron.¡±] Marquis Luden dismissed Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s concerns. [¡°Did you forget that Grand Duke Evron assaulted Lawrence on the day the Grand Duchess fell?¡±] [¡°I did hear it. It wasn¡¯t enough to called assault, was it?¡±] [¡°Even so, there is no denying that Lawrence was humiliated. With that pride, His Majesty has decided to fully support Cedric, but how would Cedric say that he regret it?¡±] [¡°Well, that¡¯s right, too.¡±] At that time, Grand Duke Roygar also smiled broadly. [¡°Cedric, that child is not a wild boar. His movements were certain.¡±] In the attitude of pretending to be rxed, there was a sign that he was trying to psychologically cover up his weakness. If Lawrence were to endure, he would have visited Artizea¡¯s first, Marquis Luden said. [¡°Lawrence will not stand it even if you put tomorrow¡¯s profits, let alone a cause, right in front of his eyes.¡±] Marchioness Camellia did not dispute that opinion on the spot. But sheter told Sk somethingpletely different. [¡°Father and Grand Duke Roygar are both mistaken. Grand Duke Evron didn¡¯t take political considerations? There is no way.¡±] Marchioness Camelia said, biting her lower lip. [¡°It seems like an action of no consequence, but it puts a lot of pressure on both Grand Duke Roygar and Lawrence. They shouldn¡¯t deny that.¡±] Even for aplishing that, Cedric didn¡¯t pay anything. That in itself is huge. Rather, he became the Secretary of State. This does not change the fact that Cedric has quickly established himself as one of the most important figures in central politics. Just because internal affairs were less conspicuouspared to foreign affairs or military affairs, it did not mean that they were not important. Cedric had enough fame in the military. This was an opportunity for him to gain the experience hecked and to expand his influence among the bureaucrats. [¡°It is father¡¯s limitation that he cannot think that Grand Duke Evron himself could be apetitor. He is old.¡±] [¡°If it¡¯s that dangerous, why didn¡¯t you tell maternal grandfather and uncle?¡±] Marchioness Camellia did not answer Sk¡¯s question. It was because she thought it wouldn¡¯t work even if she said it. The terrified Grand Duke Roygar maintains his pride by consciously undermining Cedric. Marquis Luden is still stuck in the political structure of his youth. Marchioness Camellia thought that Marquis Luden was old. His vision wasn¡¯t blurred, so now he couldn¡¯t see the world objectively and grasp the facts. Sk thought the same as Marchioness Camellia. To that extent, Marchioness Camellia praised Grand Duke Evron, and she couldn¡¯t think of changing faction because she was old. ¡®She has been so faithful as a daughter for over 20 years, and also as a subordinate, and maternal grandfather doesn¡¯t even recognize mother, he just thinks of squeezing her.¡¯ Putting her as a daughter, he must understand that she could not refuse her husband¡¯s request to spare the lives of her nieces and nephews. Conversely, if he regarded her as a subordinate rather than a daughter, he should pay the price for her loyalty and service over the past 20 years. Marquis Luden did neither. If her mother¡¯s birth was dirty, it was maternal grandfather, Marquis Luden, whomitted the dirty work. This was unfair. ¡®I have to do something.¡¯ Sk couldn¡¯t help but think so. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Proofreader: somnium Artizea picked up the teacup and wet her lips. Her eyes were set on the tea that had grown into a painful red. It was necessary to limit the movement of the eyes in order to prevent the mind from being read by others. There is not ady who does not know how useful a teacup is. Anyway, she was curious. Not long ago, Sk was hoping for a victory for Grand Duke Roygar; a victory that is not too big. It¡¯s no different than thinking that you have a high chance of winning. But Sk became convinced that there was no hope. There must be a reason. But Artizea could not easily ask. Asking gives an opportunity to speak and re-acknowledging Sk¡¯s role as a ¡®friend¡¯. She still doesn¡¯t know if that would be a good option or not. Sk said. ¡°I know that Your Grace will want to put Grand Duke Evron on the throne, not Sir Lawrence, but Grand Duke Evron.¡± Artizea smiled brightly. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it before. Are you not saying that Grand Duke Roygar or Marquis Luden were thinking like that?¡± ¡°No. Sir Lawrence¡¯s appointment as the Secretary of State is due to His Majesty¡¯s erratic mannerisms. This is something that no one¡­¡­.¡± Sk hesitated for a moment. It was because she thought that if it was Artizea, Artizea might have guessed it. But she continued. ¡°It must have been something no one could have guessed.¡± Artizea smiled and did not answer. So Sk had no idea if Artizea had guessed it or not. ¡°Maternal grandfather is specting that the situation that Her Grace had originally hoped for would have been very different from what it is now.¡± It was probably unexpected that Bishop Akim and Marchioness Camellia were so aggressively trying to get rid of Artizea. Marquis Luden was convinced that Cedric¡¯s request to the Emperor to treat this as treason must also have been unexpected. The results after excluding all such variables are as follows. If Artizea¡¯s meditation had been epted, Mira would have remained in the Rosan mansion in the capital. Lawrence had to be more cautious, even when thinking of the Empress. The social circles who supported him would have lost their center, Mira, and scattered. Artizea would have been adequately rewarded by the Emperor for her sess in the work. She might have cemented her position as the Emperor¡¯s favoritedy. The Empress is silent, and Mira disappears. The Emperor¡¯s daughters are not worthy to do great things. Then, who will be the next to move the social world with the will of the Emperor? It was a spot worth taking a look at. Grand Duchess Evron could simply be said to be the thirddy of the Empire after the Empress and Grand Duchess Roygar. She had enough qualifications to rule the social world. The next step is to be a supporter of Lawrence from a supporter standpoint. This was aplete reversal of loyalty as a sister. This was a position that anyone who wanted to establish an emperor should aim for. And the centerpiece there is Artizea. Not Cedric. Marquis Luden followed the same reasoning and concluded that Artizea herself was trying to acquire power. [¡°There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll be able to satisfy her ambitions by relying on Grand Duke Evron. Even if she was respected in Grand Duchy Evron, it wouldn¡¯t have been enough.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°The Grand Duchess is Mira¡¯s daughter. She must be well aware of how the Emperor¡¯s favoritism and unofficial power are connected, and she must know how enormous power it is.¡±] [¡°But now Grand Duke Evron has be the Secretary of State, right?¡±] [¡°It¡¯s a ce with no substance. Doesn¡¯t Grand Duke Evron already have both honor and status? If what the Grand Duchess wanted was power that led to real benefit, she would have been disappointed.¡±] Marquis Luden also added: [¡°Besides, even if you give Grand Duke Evron such power, there is no way it will be useful.¡±] He didn¡¯t mind the fact that Cedric had a chance to win the bureaucracy¡¯s trust. Citizens had no interest in talking about Lawrence and Cedric side by side. After all, it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing for the people to say. Marquis Luden considered it foolish to care about the will of the people. A power struggle is a power struggle of the nobility. Where would you use such things as poprity with the people? That¡¯s what you can get just by providing bread and circuses. Session to the throne is based on legitimacy. There is no point in fussing about whether the people support him or whether the people whisper that he will be the next emperor. Recognizing the legitimacy of Emperor Gregor, Cedric had a lower right of session than Roygar unconditionally. ording to the imperial sessionw, unless you are an idiot, the title and the property apanying it are inherited by an order, and it is followed in the order of the eldest son to the youngest son. If there is a deficit, then the younger brother. Therefore, the Emperor¡¯s younger brother, Grand Duke Roygar, came first, followed by his nephew, Cedric. At this point, no one dared to question the legitimacy of the Emperor Gregor. So, no matter how popr Cedric is, it all means nothing. For Grand Duke Roygar, this was not an immediate problem. Grand Duke Roygar did not fully agree with this. However, he admitted that there was some truth to what Marquis Luden said. Artizea listened to Sk with interest. It was interesting to hear the thoughts of Grand Duke Roygar and Marquis Luden. However, the most interesting thing was that Sk seemed to have decided to prove her worth, far from the tug-of-war, but to stop offering her conditions. It was a wise thing to do. When Ian appeared, Sk¡¯s usefulness became vague. It was all the more so because all Sk had hoped for so far was for Grand Duke Roygar to win, but not to win too much. Artizea asked. ¡°You seem to think differently from Marquis Luden, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Even for a short period of time, I went to the Empress¡¯ Pce and helped with Your Grace¡¯s work.¡± Sk said. ¡°I consider myself not that stupid. But I am well aware that Your Grace is not someone whom my shallow mind can measure.¡± ¡°Well. It seems that Lady has an unreasonably high regard for me.¡± ¡°Your Grace, you see power as a tool, not a goal.¡± Sk said. ¡°You¡¯re also a cold-blooded person.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I believe that Your Grace concocted the affairs of the Dowager Marchioness Rosan. To really oust the Dowager Marchioness and Sir Lawrence.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Do you know how dangerous and groundless your story is right now?¡± ¡°I am well aware that there is no evidence. So mother was suspicious, too, but we couldn¡¯t tell maternal grandfather or uncle.¡± Sk thought it was a little pathetic. The situation would be very different if Marchioness Camellia could have expressed a different opinion from Grand Duke Roygar or Marquis Luden without evidence orplete logic. Sk wouldn¡¯t even have thought that Grand Duke Roygar would be defeated. ¡°But I know that from the very beginning, Your Grace had no intention of bringing a close rtionship between Sir Lawrence and Her Majesty the Empress. Nevertheless, you made up a number of usible stories, including the red jewel. Rumors have spread far beyond reality.¡± ¡°Well. I tried, but maybe it just didn¡¯t go well. Rumors are always out of control.¡± ¡°Then why did you prepare the headdress in advance? Just as Sir Lawrence knew there would be nothing to escort.¡± That was the first time that Sk noticed this. Artizea answered calmly. ¡°It was a day when not a single mistake should be made. It¡¯s only natural to be prepared for emergencies.¡± ¡°And I know that youforted and encouraged Lady Hazel of the Belmond house. At that time, I had some acquaintance with Lady Hazel.¡± ¡°If anyone other than Lady Hazel, a talented youngdy who was hesitating to show off her own talent, I would have pushed her back.¡± Artizea raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°Lady, are you now trying to im on that basis that I used Her Majesty the Empress as a bait to set up my mother?¡± ¡°I know this is not proof, Your Grace. I hadn¡¯t even told my mother. The reason I am giving you the words that I have only kept in my heart when there is no basis for it is because I hope that your doubts will disappear after telling you how I decided to be a servant.¡± Sk politely bowed her head. ¡°There is absolutely no way Your Grace would have tried to oust Sir Lawrence for uncle, nor could you have done it for emotional reasons. So I thought that the only reason left behind would be Grand Duke Evron.¡± After thinking about it that way, and looking at the current results, it¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s in a pretty good shape. Artizea did not fail. Artizea, who had a presumably angry face, changed her expression again and buried her body back in a rxed position. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s assume Lady is right.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It is, after all, a ¡®perhaps¡¯. So, if that¡¯s true, what does Lady want to do?¡± Artizea asked with a rxed attitude. Sk felt her breath choke. Artizea says it¡¯s a ¡®perhaps¡¯. But what Sk is talking about is not an assumption. The risk is solely with Sk. However, if she does not say anything, all that has been said so far will be nothing more or less than the information on the side of Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°Please allow Marquisate Camellia to add a hand to ushering in the reign of His Grace Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something Lady can promise. Lady is not yet the Marquis of Camellia.¡± ¡°Yes. But I will be much more useful than Ian Camellia.¡± Artizea looked at Sk with a careful demeanor. How far is she prepared? Sk is not like the normal noble girl. At the very least, she knew that she had to betray her mother and all her close rtives. And if Sk was really prepared to betray that much, of course, she was a much, much more useful sword than Ian. That was then. There was a knock on the living room door. ¡°Madam, this is Alice.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Artizea said without taking her eyes off Sk. It was Alice who came in. She approached Artizea with a pale face, knelt down on one of her knees next to Artizea, and whispered low in her ear. ¡°A letter came from the South.¡± Artizea took the letter and opened it on the spot. It was the news she had been waiting for. It was news sent by the South intelligence organization as an emergency. [Queen Eimmel died of poisoning. The Eimmel Kingdom Armynded in the Duchy of Riagan. Madame Lexen,mitted suicide. As new information arrives, it will be dispatched.] Sk saw that Artizea¡¯s lips, which had been wearing a gentle and meaningless smile until now, changed to expressionless. She wondered what the news was. But Artizea stood up, folding the letter. ¡°Just go back.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Everything I want to tell you today is over. Go back, Lady Sk. I¡¯ll call you if I need anything.¡± Artizea gave a dismissal order. And she hurriedly left the ce. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Proofreader: somnium Cedric didn¡¯te home that night. Only one letter was delivered. [I was prevented from leaving the pce because of an urgent message from the Duchy of Riagan. More details tomorrow. It¡¯s going to be a long day, so I hope you get a good night¡¯s sleep.] Artizea folded the letter and brought it to the candle. The short letter quickly turned to ashes. Freil said. ¡°The same news came through the military intelligencework today. The messenger went to the Imperial Pce with the urgent message.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Perhaps the news came a few days ago to the conquest army going down south. It is still a military secret.¡± ¡°What about Grand Duke Roygar?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know yet. Even if his people were nted in the army, I think it would take a day or two.¡± If Artizea had not ordered in advance to keep an eye on the movements of the Eimmel Kingdom Army, the news would not havee to her so soon. It was that night that the second report arrived. Queen Eimmel was assassinated 16 days ago. She was poisoned by Terry Ford, Mrs. Lexen, who was introduced by the Duchess of Riagan and had an audience with the Queen. Two dayster, Cadriol, Prince of Eimmel, rose to power. His intention was to ask the Duke of Riagan why he sent the Queen an assassin. As if preparing in advance, the Eimmel Kingdom army upied two ports in the southern part of the Empire with lightning speed. From the beginning, the navy of the Krates Empire did note close to the Eimmel Kingdom¡¯s navy. If it is an all-out war, the size of the countries matters, so even if the Empire cannot win, it will not lose. However, if it was a short-term naval battle, it was an unconditional victory for the Eimmel Kingdom. Prince Cadriol pushed his momentum to advance into the Duchy of Riagan. The Duke of Riagan was surrounded by news that the ports had been taken away, without any time to respond. It is at this point in time that a wave of urgent news emerged. It was almost the same time that Artizea¡¯s intelligencework collected and sent information from the Eimmel Kingdom and the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°Regret?¡± Artizea repeated Freil¡¯s question. In her hand was a letter from the second messenger. It contained a little more detail about the death of Terry Ford, Mrs. Lexen. Terry died on the spot where she poisoned the Queen. She drank another cup of tea from the same teapot before the Queen died. She was already vomiting blood and dying when the guard who was waiting outside the door came running in when they heard the maid¡¯s scream. And it was the impression received by the servant who leaked that information that Terry was very calm until the moment she stopped breathing. In fact, Terry drank the tea first, so the Queen also believed it was safe and drank it. Artizea let out a small sigh. ¡°I am sorry. It is difficult to find a person with such wisdom and courage. She wasn¡¯t the kind of person to be spent like this.¡± Artizea thought she had judged people too much based on past memories. The only reason she used Terry Ford as her consumables was because Terry had never stood out in her previous life. ¡°It¡¯s a waste in many ways. Had she been alive, there would have been a chance to mediate with Sk.¡± Artizea muttered as if to herself. No. Terry was in the right ce at the right moment. When she sent her orders, Sk had not yet obtained the title of ¡®friend¡¯ from Artizea. ¡°Would she intend to get back at you instead? I know you told Terry Ford that you can¡¯t promise anything.¡± Freil asked. ¡°And didn¡¯t Terry Ford say that the downfall of Grand Duke Roygar was enough?¡± ¡°I know that the Marchioness Camellia is included in the subject of revenge, so is it not shameful to pretend not to know?¡± Artizea was silent for a moment, then she spoke slowly. ¡°A bookkeeper must have credibility.¡± Undoing what you said or breaking a promise and betraying, is a secret n that can only be used once. Such a thing is not for subordinates. It is something to target the most threatening allies. ¡°If she were alive, I would have taken her out. She could have been persuaded to ept other rewards instead of revenge on Marchioness Camellia.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°But Terry is dead. She risked her life to fulfill her mission, and I cannot help but pay the promised reward.¡± Artizea always paid the price promised to her subordinates exactly. If it was money, she gave money, and if it was to treat a sick family, she would give the medicine at all costs. And revenge. That is how the organization is maintained. There are people who continue to sacrifice their lives and keep secrets. Punish one, deter a hundred* ; the right reward must be shown to create solidarity and loyalty within the organization. They didn¡¯t do it because they particrly value her promises. Freil said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that Your Gracemanded her to die.¡± ¡°When I ordered the assassination of Queen Eimmel, it was no different than telling her to die.¡± Artizea replied. Terry has no connection to the Eimmel Kingdom. She didn¡¯t even have the time to make any. To assassinate, she had no choice but to attend an audience and do it on the spot. ¡°Did she even count her death?¡± ¡°Even if she didn¡¯t die, Terry would have been caught. Then they would dig her up and connect her to the next step.¡± And to be caught after assassinating the Queen is no different from telling her to die. Perhaps that¡¯s why she chose to die together. Terry is not a professional spy who has learned to endure torture. She has no reason not to confess. Above all, there is no way she can stand the pain. Terry said she would sell her life to Artizea. And since she died, Artizea had to pay the price. ¡°Actually, I thought Terry might run away.¡± ¡°Because you gave her a lot of money.¡± ¡°Money and fame dull decisions. Besides, Terry seems to have a talent.¡± Artizea said in a sentimental manner. Freil hesitated a little. He didn¡¯t know if it was the right thing to do or not to keep talking about this. But he had something to ask beforehand. Artizea was not someone to rest just because she wanted to rest. ¡°Then, what are you going to do with Lady Sk?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll use her as a knife.¡± Artizea said in a low voice. ¡°Terry didn¡¯t be a stabbing dagger to Grand Duke Roygar, so wouldn¡¯t it be good for Sk to be like that?¡± Without saying anything else, Freil simply nodded his head. £ª£ª£ª Hearing this news, Gayan was the first to act. He immediately turned the army around. The ce where the knights who received Gayan¡¯s order headed to was Lawrence¡¯s barracks. Lawrence asked in dismay. ¡°What is this, Sir Gayan? Dare to attack me now as I go down as the Southern diplomat? Are you going tomit treason?¡± ¡°This is not treason.¡± Gaya said sternly. ¡°I have the authority to immediately arrest and investigate any crime that may threaten the security of the Empire, without waiting for His Majesty¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Sir Gayan!¡± ¡°I remember the name Mrs. Lexen.¡± said Gayan. ¡°Viscount Hoden once went to the South on an errand for Lord.¡± Lawrence widened his eyes. He doesn¡¯t know why the story ising out now. ¡°Have you forgotten why Viscount Hoden went down south? Didn¡¯t you say that you would bring down the Duchy of Riagan and release the wrath of the previous Riagan Ducal couple? On the contrary, he seemed to have been well received by the Duke of Riagan.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Sir at the meeting too?¡± Lawrence asked, as if exasperated. Said Gayan. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I didn¡¯t make a decision; I didn¡¯t do it; I didn¡¯t even advise on the job itself.¡± Lawrence¡¯splexion turned pale. Gayan said without hesitation. ¡°At the introduction from the Duchess of Riagan, a woman who had an audience with Queen Eimmel assassinated her. But how could the Riagan Ducal couple make such an assassination in such a public way when it is not by His Majesty order?¡± ¡°Sir Gayan.¡± ¡°Of course, someone designed this to trap the Duke of Riagan. And I know that Sir Lawrence had such a n, and you even sent people.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd!¡± ¡°As a subordinate of His Majesty, as a guard knightmanded to protect the foundations of this Empire, can I pretend I don¡¯t know just because I was there?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the aftermath?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It would just have good effects on His Majesty. If you did no sin, there is nothing to worry about. Like you said, it¡¯s just something I have to worry about.¡± Gayan said so. And he ordered the knights to arrest Lawrence. Although Lawrence was themander-in-chief of the Southern Conquest Army, he had no real power. The knights followed Gayan¡¯s words without hesitation. Gayan turned the army back to the capital. At that time, the southern conquests had not yet left the central region. Contrary to the fact that the preparation took a long time, it would take less than a fortnight to return the army as they are and return to the capital. Gayan, as he himself said, waspletely unaware of the before and after of the incident. But the remarks made at that meeting were very well remembered. Because he knew that Amalie had turned to Cedric. And that, for some reason, Amalie gave cleverly twisted advice. Gayan knew neither the purpose nor the oue of the advice. However, he remembered vividly because he was only guessing that there was something hidden in the plot. [If you dig into Viscount Hoden, you will find a link to the assassin.] He had no idea it would be connected like this. He admired it in his heart. Amalie had said that Artizea had told her not to worry and to wait. She said they would be able to turn around while obeying the Emperor¡¯s orders. And this must have been what Artizea had told her to wait for. This opportunity should not be missed. To get off the sinking boat, you must first get on the boat. Gayan flew amunication pigeon toward the Imperial Pce. He then sent an envoy. It was on the same day that Duke of Riagan¡¯s appeal from the south arrived at the Imperial Pce. £ª£ª£ª A suffocating silence floated through the terrified conference room. The Emperor clutched the letter he was holding in his hand. [¡­¡­ This old servant really knows nothing. It is true that the Madam had a personal acquaintance with Her Majesty the Queen of Eimmel. However, it was just that they were building friendships by talking about women¡¯s essories and clothes. Who would have imagined that the person whom she introduced have had an unseemly heart? The woman is a sericulture farmer who is acquainted with a textile trader and was only introduced by her to Her Majesty the Queen of Eimmel because the Queen was interested in the silk business. This is, indeed, so unfair and unbelievable that I only ask for mercy and salvation from His Majesty¡­¡­.] He tossed the letter on the desk. *) Ò»ÁP°Ù½ä (ichibatsuhyakkai): to punish one and to make an example for others Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Proofreader: somnium Cedric didn¡¯te home that night. Only one letter was delivered. [I was prevented from leaving the pce because of an urgent message from the Duchy of Riagan. More details tomorrow. It¡¯s going to be a long day, so I hope you get a good night¡¯s sleep.] Artizea folded the letter and brought it to the candle. The short letter quickly turned to ashes. Freil said. ¡°The same news came through the military intelligencework today. The messenger went to the Imperial Pce with the urgent message.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Perhaps the news came a few days ago to the conquest army going down south. It is still a military secret.¡± ¡°What about Grand Duke Roygar?¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t know yet. Even if his people were nted in the army, I think it would take a day or two.¡± If Artizea had not ordered in advance to keep an eye on the movements of the Eimmel Kingdom Army, the news would not havee to her so soon. It was that night that the second report arrived. Queen Eimmel was assassinated 16 days ago. She was poisoned by Terry Ford, Mrs. Lexen, who was introduced by the Duchess of Riagan and had an audience with the Queen. Two dayster, Cadriol, Prince of Eimmel, rose to power. His intention was to ask the Duke of Riagan why he sent the Queen an assassin. As if preparing in advance, the Eimmel Kingdom army upied two ports in the southern part of the Empire with lightning speed. From the beginning, the navy of the Krates Empire did note close to the Eimmel Kingdom¡¯s navy. If it is an all-out war, the size of the countries matters, so even if the Empire cannot win, it will not lose. However, if it was a short-term naval battle, it was an unconditional victory for the Eimmel Kingdom. Prince Cadriol pushed his momentum to advance into the Duchy of Riagan. The Duke of Riagan was surrounded by news that the ports had been taken away, without any time to respond. It is at this point in time that a wave of urgent news emerged. It was almost the same time that Artizea¡¯s intelligencework collected and sent information from the Eimmel Kingdom and the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± ¡°Regret?¡± Artizea repeated Freil¡¯s question. In her hand was a letter from the second messenger. It contained a little more detail about the death of Terry Ford, Mrs. Lexen. Terry died on the spot where she poisoned the Queen. She drank another cup of tea from the same teapot before the Queen died. She was already vomiting blood and dying when the guard who was waiting outside the door came running in when they heard the maid¡¯s scream. And it was the impression received by the servant who leaked that information that Terry was very calm until the moment she stopped breathing. In fact, Terry drank the tea first, so the Queen also believed it was safe and drank it. Artizea let out a small sigh. ¡°I am sorry. It is difficult to find a person with such wisdom and courage. She wasn¡¯t the kind of person to be spent like this.¡± Artizea thought she had judged people too much based on past memories. The only reason she used Terry Ford as her consumables was because Terry had never stood out in her previous life. ¡°It¡¯s a waste in many ways. Had she been alive, there would have been a chance to mediate with Sk.¡± Artizea muttered as if to herself. No. Terry was in the right ce at the right moment. When she sent her orders, Sk had not yet obtained the title of ¡®friend¡¯ from Artizea. ¡°Would she intend to get back at you instead? I know you told Terry Ford that you can¡¯t promise anything.¡± Freil asked. ¡°And didn¡¯t Terry Ford say that the downfall of Grand Duke Roygar was enough?¡± ¡°I know that the Marchioness Camellia is included in the subject of revenge, so is it not shameful to pretend not to know?¡± Artizea was silent for a moment, then she spoke slowly. ¡°A bookkeeper must have credibility.¡± Undoing what you said or breaking a promise and betraying, is a secret n that can only be used once. Such a thing is not for subordinates. It is something to target the most threatening allies. ¡°If she were alive, I would have taken her out. She could have been persuaded to ept other rewards instead of revenge on Marchioness Camellia.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°But Terry is dead. She risked her life to fulfill her mission, and I cannot help but pay the promised reward.¡± Artizea always paid the price promised to her subordinates exactly. If it was money, she gave money, and if it was to treat a sick family, she would give the medicine at all costs. And revenge. That is how the organization is maintained. There are people who continue to sacrifice their lives and keep secrets. Punish one, deter a hundred* ; the right reward must be shown to create solidarity and loyalty within the organization. They didn¡¯t do it because they particrly value her promises. Freil said. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that Your Gracemanded her to die.¡± ¡°When I ordered the assassination of Queen Eimmel, it was no different than telling her to die.¡± Artizea replied. Terry has no connection to the Eimmel Kingdom. She didn¡¯t even have the time to make any. To assassinate, she had no choice but to attend an audience and do it on the spot. ¡°Did she even count her death?¡± ¡°Even if she didn¡¯t die, Terry would have been caught. Then they would dig her up and connect her to the next step.¡± And to be caught after assassinating the Queen is no different from telling her to die. Perhaps that¡¯s why she chose to die together. Terry is not a professional spy who has learned to endure torture. She has no reason not to confess. Above all, there is no way she can stand the pain. Terry said she would sell her life to Artizea. And since she died, Artizea had to pay the price. ¡°Actually, I thought Terry might run away.¡± ¡°Because you gave her a lot of money.¡± ¡°Money and fame dull decisions. Besides, Terry seems to have a talent.¡± Artizea said in a sentimental manner. Freil hesitated a little. He didn¡¯t know if it was the right thing to do or not to keep talking about this. But he had something to ask beforehand. Artizea was not someone to rest just because she wanted to rest. ¡°Then, what are you going to do with Lady Sk?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll use her as a knife.¡± Artizea said in a low voice. ¡°Terry didn¡¯t be a stabbing dagger to Grand Duke Roygar, so wouldn¡¯t it be good for Sk to be like that?¡± Without saying anything else, Freil simply nodded his head. £ª£ª£ª Hearing this news, Gayan was the first to act. He immediately turned the army around. The ce where the knights who received Gayan¡¯s order headed to was Lawrence¡¯s barracks. Lawrence asked in dismay. ¡°What is this, Sir Gayan? Dare to attack me now as I go down as the Southern diplomat? Are you going tomit treason?¡± ¡°This is not treason.¡± Gaya said sternly. ¡°I have the authority to immediately arrest and investigate any crime that may threaten the security of the Empire, without waiting for His Majesty¡¯s orders.¡± ¡°Sir Gayan!¡± ¡°I remember the name Mrs. Lexen.¡± said Gayan. ¡°Viscount Hoden once went to the South on an errand for Lord.¡± Lawrence widened his eyes. He doesn¡¯t know why the story ising out now. ¡°Have you forgotten why Viscount Hoden went down south? Didn¡¯t you say that you would bring down the Duchy of Riagan and release the wrath of the previous Riagan Ducal couple? On the contrary, he seemed to have been well received by the Duke of Riagan.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Sir at the meeting too?¡± Lawrence asked, as if exasperated. Said Gayan. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I didn¡¯t make a decision; I didn¡¯t do it; I didn¡¯t even advise on the job itself.¡± Lawrence¡¯splexion turned pale. Gayan said without hesitation. ¡°At the introduction from the Duchess of Riagan, a woman who had an audience with Queen Eimmel assassinated her. But how could the Riagan Ducal couple make such an assassination in such a public way when it is not by His Majesty order?¡± ¡°Sir Gayan.¡± ¡°Of course, someone designed this to trap the Duke of Riagan. And I know that Sir Lawrence had such a n, and you even sent people.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd!¡± ¡°As a subordinate of His Majesty, as a guard knightmanded to protect the foundations of this Empire, can I pretend I don¡¯t know just because I was there?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of the aftermath?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It would just have good effects on His Majesty. If you did no sin, there is nothing to worry about. Like you said, it¡¯s just something I have to worry about.¡± Gayan said so. And he ordered the knights to arrest Lawrence. Although Lawrence was themander-in-chief of the Southern Conquest Army, he had no real power. The knights followed Gayan¡¯s words without hesitation. Gayan turned the army back to the capital. At that time, the southern conquests had not yet left the central region. Contrary to the fact that the preparation took a long time, it would take less than a fortnight to return the army as they are and return to the capital. Gayan, as he himself said, waspletely unaware of the before and after of the incident. But the remarks made at that meeting were very well remembered. Because he knew that Amalie had turned to Cedric. And that, for some reason, Amalie gave cleverly twisted advice. Gayan knew neither the purpose nor the oue of the advice. However, he remembered vividly because he was only guessing that there was something hidden in the plot. [If you dig into Viscount Hoden, you will find a link to the assassin.] He had no idea it would be connected like this. He admired it in his heart. Amalie had said that Artizea had told her not to worry and to wait. She said they would be able to turn around while obeying the Emperor¡¯s orders. And this must have been what Artizea had told her to wait for. This opportunity should not be missed. To get off the sinking boat, you must first get on the boat. Gayan flew amunication pigeon toward the Imperial Pce. He then sent an envoy. It was on the same day that Duke of Riagan¡¯s appeal from the south arrived at the Imperial Pce. £ª£ª£ª A suffocating silence floated through the terrified conference room. The Emperor clutched the letter he was holding in his hand. [¡­¡­ This old servant really knows nothing. It is true that the Madam had a personal acquaintance with Her Majesty the Queen of Eimmel. However, it was just that they were building friendships by talking about women¡¯s essories and clothes. Who would have imagined that the person whom she introduced have had an unseemly heart? The woman is a sericulture farmer who is acquainted with a textile trader and was only introduced by her to Her Majesty the Queen of Eimmel because the Queen was interested in the silk business. This is, indeed, so unfair and unbelievable that I only ask for mercy and salvation from His Majesty¡­¡­.] He tossed the letter on the desk. *) Ò»ÁP°Ù½ä (ichibatsuhyakkai): to punish one and to make an example for others Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Proofreader: somnium It was the third day from the day Artizea received the first message, when Duke Riagan¡¯s appeal, Cadriol¡¯s march, and Gayan¡¯s envoy arrived. On the night of the third day, Sk received a call from Artizea. The general news was also conveyed to Grand Duke Roygar. Of course, he didn¡¯t know the details. This is because Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s connections in the South were not at a level that could even respond to military issues. Some of the businesses belonging to his enterprise also hadrge and small businesses in the South. In addition, a family proud of history and tradition among the southern nobles supported Grand Duke Roygar. The Duke of Riagan was already an existence that could not be their focal point. Even so, he did not have a special informationwork like Artizea. He couldn¡¯t get the news at the same speed as the envoys in the military. So the information received was still at a simple level. Queen Eimmel was assassinated at the hands of a merchant introduced by the Duchess of Riagan. The merchant was from Iantz, and is now an imperial noble. The Prince of Eimmel, enraged at this, raised his army, captured two southern port towns and besieged the Duchy of Riagan. Cadriol¡¯s national letter said that he only wanted to punish the Duke of Riagan for assassination of the Queen, and he had no intention of invading on the Empire¡¯s territory, asking for their understanding. Of course, from the point of view of the Empire, it was impossible to let the army of another country into its own territory. Even more nominally, it is the homnd of the family of the Empress¡¯ parents. Moreover, he was the one entrusted with a heavy duty by the Emperor. Whatever the cause, they couldn¡¯t let a small country like Eimmel threaten them. It was also a matter of the face of the Empire. It was so sudden and unexpected. Grand Duke Roygar was confused as to how to deal with this. Could this be a good opportunity or not? It was veryplicated. Sk was not in a position to directly participate in the discussion of the countermeasures. However, it was possible to make a rough guess from the story that came out. And Sk¡¯s worries went one step further than the others. ¡®Isn¡¯t this also the work of Her Grace Grand Duchess Evron?¡¯ When she thought of it withmon sense, it was difficult to think that Artizea had even used her hands up to that point. Even if she had her hand in the assassination, how could she have used her hand on Prince Cadriol of Eimmel? It¡¯s not about anything else, but war. Marchioness Camellia spected, with a high probability, that it was a conspiracy perpetrated by Prince Cadriol herself. The rationale was that he raised an army as if he had been waiting and moved like a lightning bolt. There was a good reason for that. After King Eimmel remarried to an ambitious young woman, Eimmel¡¯s royal family was in turmoil. It was no secret that there was a bad rtionship between the Queen and the First Prince, an age difference closer to brother and sister rather than parents. Therefore, it was reasonable to think that Cadriol himself might have nned a conspiracy designed to shift the me for the assassination of the Queen to another country. It was a more reasonable exnation than that it was originally aimed at the Duke of Riagan. Perhaps, the original intention was to hold the Iantz ountable. The Duke of Riagan tried to intervene in the midst of it, but failed and things got messed up. Without knowing the true identity of Mrs. Lexen, they had no choice but to judge that way. But Sk thought only about the results. The Duke of Riagan was in a very embarrassing situation. Otherwise, he will be destroyed by the Eimmel Kingdom before help arrives. Even if he doesn¡¯t, he¡¯s definitely out of the Emperor¡¯s favor. Because the fact that he secretly tried to create his own power does not go away. Even if the Emperor saved Riagan right now, the Emperor would keep that fact in his heart. Could it be that Artizea designed it for the Empress? Artizea opened the door to the Empress¡¯ pce. Sk did not believe in the slightest bit that Artizea had touched the Empress¡¯ heart. It is easy to understand that Artizea promised this from the beginning. But she could not tell Marchioness Camellia of her opinion. It wasn¡¯t that her mother wouldn¡¯t believe her, but she was worried that Artizea wouldn¡¯t ept her. She was so nervous that she had received a note from her maid saying that Artizea was looking for her. Sk put on a ck cloak and sneaked out of the house alone without anyone knowing. An uncharacteristic carriage was standing near Camellia¡¯s mansion. Sk tried to catch and ride it, but at this time she realized it was strange to stand still near the Marquisate. ¡°Ah.¡± She eximed briefly. The coachman came down and opened the door. Sk got into the carriage. The carriage had a passenger. She was a woman in a ck veil and mourning robe. ¡°Your Grace.¡± She was not surprised. The door is closed. The carriage departed. There was no destination. It was just running in the middle of the street like this to have a conversation without approaching anyone¡¯s residence. There was only the noise of the wheels rolling in the carriage for a moment. ¡°Have you thought enough?¡± Artizea said. Sk came to her senses in surprise and responded reflexively. ¡°Yes.¡± But she wasn¡¯t sure what she was thinking was enough. She did a lot, but is it enough? But it didn¡¯t seem like it would be good enough for her to ponder more. Artizea lifted the veil. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°I thought that the decision of my mind would be made by Your Grace, not me, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you put your money on a bet, you cannot collect it till the result is out. It¡¯s a big bet on who will be the next Emperor.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°One side¡¯s merit is the other¡¯s vice. I¡¯m sure you know.¡± And Sk already had a good understanding of which side she should bet on. She gripped the hem of her cloak with both her hands. ¡°What can I do?¡± ¡°Be thedy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± Artizea said. When ites to betrayal, do not start with difficult tasks. If there was a lot of room to betray again like Sk, it was even more so. But this was not a direct threat. Confirming that Sk nodded her head, Artizea spoke again. ¡°And firmly believe in the victory of Grand Duke Roygar, instill in the Grand Duchess the idea that she will soon be the Empress.¡± ¡°To do that, I¡¯ll have to get my mother off my aunt first. Is that Grand Duchess¡¯ purpose?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without the help of Marchioness Camellia, Grand Duke Roygar would make fatal mistakes over and over again. Even Sk understood it. ¡°Being ady-in-waiting is something my aunt has always wanted, so it will happen right away, but taking mother off isn¡¯t going to be possible any time soon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There are things we are preparing here.¡± ¡°Are you nning to use Ian?¡± ¡°If Marchioness Camellia suffers great loss to her face, she will not be able to remain attached to the Grand Duke Roygar. For the time being, Marchioness Camellia will be dizzy.¡± That was the purpose of bringing in Ian from the beginning. Marchioness Camellia herself is not the target. The purpose was to distract Marchioness Camellia from assisting Grand Duke Roygar. Sk was easily convinced. If Artizea tries to plot against Grand Duchess Roygar, it¡¯s safer for Marchioness Camellia to stay away from her. This was a mutual wish. It will be what happened when Artizea won. There is no way of keeping the enemy¡¯s tactician alive. Marchioness Camellia had even tried to assassinate Artizea. In order to keep her alive, it was also necessary for Sk to not only fulfill her feats, but also to keep Artizea¡¯s ns from being thwarted. ¡°I would like to ask you one more thing. How are you going to dispose of Ian?¡± ¡°It is not my business.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t say for Sk to not care about it, she said the other way around. Sk was feeling embarrassed. If she does something big enough to break Marchioness Camellia¡¯s heart, it could be a fatal blow to Marquisate Camellia. ¡°I knew that Your Grace would understand my hope that Marquisate Camellia be solely based on the Marquisate Camellia.¡± ¡°The Marquisate Camellia isn¡¯t alreadypleted. To protect the family, the first priority is to reim all the legitimacy protected by custom and thew.¡± Sk knew what that meant. To regain legitimacy, she must either kill all their enemies or bring them back into her family. The former was impossible because Artizea secured Ian. So what Artizea was saying was that by marrying Ian, doing thetter, she would be able to give full legitimacy to the next heir. Married to Ian Camellia. She had never thought about it. But it wasn¡¯t wrong. That way, her parents¡¯plex of legitimacy is resolved. In a way, it was also the simplest way to get rid of disputes. Cousin marriage is not forbidden. Although notmon these days, in the past, there were many cases of arranged marriages within the family to maintain bloodlines and prevent inheritance disputes. ¡°I ept your advice with gratefulness. If Her Grace offers it as a condition, I will dly wee him as a husband.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯m betting on. I was just advising you, unless you do that, there will be problems with the inheritance of the Marquisate Camellia anyway.¡± Artizea just said so. ¡°Lady and I are holding hands because the benefits are the same. Lady is not my vassal, and we are not blood ties, so I have no intention of getting involved in the marriage.¡± That was a bit of a disappointment for Sk. Sometimes arranging marriages was also important. If Ian had any value as Artizea¡¯s subordinate, it could also function as a kind of marriage alliance. But to her, Ian didn¡¯t seem to have any value. She couldn¡¯t help it. She was the Camellia Heir Apparent, and was to be Marquis Camellia. She couldn¡¯t move the entire Marquisate Camellia, to ally with Grand Duchy Evron. She, on the contrary, could not kneel down to Artizea, excluding her family and be as aplete individual . So she¡¯s just making a breakthrough within the limits of what she can do. The carriage turned around and again stopped in an alley near the Marquisate Camellia. Sk asked as she put on her cloak. ¡°Perhaps the conversation I had here won¡¯t go anywhere¡­¡­ I can only ask one thing.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is Queen Eimmel¡¯s assassination a n by Her Grace?¡± Artizea smiled bitterly. Sk never knew, but that was the reason Artizea came to see Sk again now. Artizea didn¡¯t answer, but Sk read the answer on her face. Sk got off. The carriage left on the dark night street. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Proofreader: somnium Alice helped Artizea off the carriage. ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°A little.¡± It doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s moved much, but just being in the carriage for over an hour seems to have had an effect on her body. Artizea slowly walked down the back road, feeling weary. The night breeze made her feel a little better. Alice asked. ¡°Are you going to kill the daughter of Marchioness Camellia?¡± ¡°Did it look like that?¡± ¡°Yes. The Lady seemed to want toe under you, but you drew the line that you were holding her hand temporarily.¡± ¡°Whatever Sk¡¯s true intentions are, she¡¯ll be well aware that she can¡¯t, from her standpoint.¡± ¡°Your Grace is the Grand Duchess. Why are you saying she can¡¯t be a subordinate?¡± ¡°Because there is a difference between a formal position ording to a title and a real power rtionship.¡± It could be as if Marquis Luden had subjugated Marquisate Camellia and acted like the Emperor took control of the Duchy of Riagan. However, if Sk were toe under Artizea, it would be the same as now that Marchioness Camellia is a subordinate to Marquis Luden. The first reason Sk came to Artizea was because she wanted to get out of that state. Aside from the insecurities she feels deep inside her own heart, she wouldn¡¯t want to be in a situation where she had simply changed master. Alice had aplex subtle face. ¡°Why? You wish I had Sk, do you?¡± ¡°No. I absolutely don¡¯t want it. Considering that Marchioness Camellia tried to harm Madam, I can¡¯t forgive the Lady either. But I don¡¯t think that¡¯s why you draw the line.¡± ¡°Sk is very useful.¡± It is not easy to find someone who can get close to the heart of Grand Duchess Roygar, and even to the Grand Duke. ¡°Still, I have no intention of making Marquisate Camellia a servant family.¡± Artizea made an offer, and Sk will decide whether to ept it or not by calcting her own profit and loss. The proposal contains deception, not faith. Artizea will take everything from Marchioness Camellia but her life. Among them, of course, also included the Marchioness¡¯ wish that ¡®her children will fully inherit the Marquisate Camellia and be of direct lineage¡¯. So Sk will never inherit the title of Marquis as a direct lineage. *** Although tired, Artizea returned, washed her hands and feet, and then headed to the study, not her bedroom. ¡°Call Hayley.¡± Hearing the order, the maid chief went out without dy. It waste at night, but Hayley was not surprised. She already knew that Artizea was out. It means that something serious happened. She thought Artizea must have called her for a follow-up of something. ¡®I wouldn¡¯t have been able to sleep because of work anyway.¡¯ Hayley thought as she gently pressed her fingertips under her t eyes. When Lysia returns, she takes over social affairs, and the fact that Artizea is away due to her pregnancy doesn¡¯t reduce her work. She had to take Artizea¡¯s ce and take care of the mansion. She also dealt with the mansion¡¯s intelligence andmunications with Grand Duchy Evron on non-military matters. In the end, she had seeded in letting Freil hand over some of the work. Artizea sat in the armchair, dressed infortable pajamas. She put the papers she was flipping over on the desk and looked at Hayley. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯ste, Hayley.¡± ¡°No, Your Grace.¡± Hayley knew what the papers that had been put down by Artizea. It was because there was a filing cab wrapped in a cloth embroidered with a mixture of red silk thread and gold thread on the desk. What was contained there would be a prenuptial agreement and marriage certificate. Artizea offered Hayley a seat. Marcus pulled out the tea soon after. ¡°It¡¯s ratherte now, but I called because I thought I had to decide on a nanny.¡± ¡°Yes, tell me.¡± Hayley nodded her head. There was no way for ady to raise her children alone. Apart from a wet nurse, there was a nanny responsible for the overall upbringing. If it was a marriage of great political significance, a newdy-in-waiting from the husband¡¯s family was chosen to be the nanny. All thedies-in-waiting take care of the baby in turn, but still, someone needs to be in charge. Usually an older sister or maternal aunt or fraternal took care as thedy-in-waiting and nanny to the children. If the body was weak like Artizea, it was even more so. But now Artizea had nody-in-waiting to be the nanny. Lysia is young. Hayley was older than Artizea, but she had never had children. ¡®But, well, I¡¯ve seen my nephews, so I thought I¡¯d get a little involved.¡¯ Hayley looked at Artizea with such a rxed feeling. ¡°Do you know anything about the prenuptial agreement, Hayley?¡± ¡°I understand that the eldest child born between the two of you is supposed to inherit Grand Duchy Evron and the next the Marquisate Rosan. If there are more children, property and other assets are to be inherited by custom.¡± ¡°Yes. But maybe¡­¡­ This will be my first and myst.¡± Hayley looked at Artizea awkwardly. Doctors, the old butler, the maids, and everyone said so. So, they were praying that at least one more would be born healthy. But even though she knew it, it was very embarrassing to hear Artizea herself say such a thing, so casually even. Artizea said. ¡°Therefore¡­¡­ I¡¯m going to ask Lord Cedric to fix the prenuptial contract.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Reversing the order of the eldest and the second, so that this child inherits Marquisate Rosan, and if another child is born under it, that child inherits Grand Duchy Evron.¡± ¡°Is that meaningful? If Your Grace considers the baby to be the first andst, they would definitely inherit both the Grand Duchy Evron and Marquisate Rosan as the only child¡­¡­.¡± Without saying anything, Hayley looked at Artizea with a surprised face. ¡°Are you trying to prepare for the time when His Grace the Grand Duke has a child somewhere else?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, Hayley. It¡¯s not that I think Lord Cedric is a dishonest man, but anyway, even if a child is born safely, there is no guarantee that I would be safe, right?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think like that in advance.¡± ¡°You know that positive thinking isn¡¯t everything.¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°Lord Cedric is still young. To be honest, if something happens to me, I can¡¯t leave the seat next to him empty. This is a political matter, not a family matter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Hayley couldn¡¯t help but admit it. Rather, she should be grateful as a vassal of the Grand Duchy for saying that. But the insides of her tongue was rough. ¡°Because Your Grace always wants toe up with a countermeasure for every case. In the sense that you want the child to fully inherit everything from Your Grace¡­¡­ I will ept it.¡± If Grand Duchy Evron and Marquisate Rosan are inherited together, Marquisate Rosan will be merged and disappear. This prenuptial agreement divides each heir to prevent that. It was what Artizea thought she wanted to protect. Artizea had no lingering feelings about Marquisate Rosan. But she decided to leave it be. It was because there was no difference in that she intended to separate Marquisate Rosan from Grand Duchy Evron. ¡°So, I want to ask you a favor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This child will most likely be raised as the child of Marquisate Rosan, not the child of Grand Duchy Evron, but I hope you will take care of it.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Hayley asked back in amazement. Artizea lowered her eyes. As is often the case when she tries to hide her expression, Hayley has no idea what Artizea was thinking. ¡°Does that not mean that you want me to be the nanny?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Not sister Mel?¡± No matter how hard she thought about it, it was right. Mel is honest, sincere, and has a good personality, and she has already had several children and raised them. If Artizea was going to choose a nanny from the Jordyn family, she would have chosen Mel. If she simply wanted a nanny from Grand Duchy Evron, there were plenty of other candidates. ¡°Mel is of County Jordyn, and she is the Grand Duchess¡¯dy-in-waiting. Unless this child is the sessor, we can¡¯t send it to Mel¡¯s care.¡± ¡°I am single. I have never had children, and I have never raised babies.¡± Not only was it absurd, it was unreasonable. The nanny had to make up for the experience the baby¡¯s mothercked. It is a precious child of a noble family. She had no reason to choose an inexperienced caregiver. Artizea let out a small sigh. ¡°Because I trust you.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you ask Lysia. Lysia is kind and good, and besides, Your Grace also likes her character. If it were her, the baby would be raised in a very loving way.¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t want it.¡± Artizea said. ¡°I need someone who can scold the child without hesitation when it is growing up wrong, and put them in the right direction. But that doesn¡¯t mean I want an upright and strict caretaker.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°You know the world, you are flexible, you know why the child is going in the wrong direction¡­¡­.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes and said. ¡°And you¡¯re not fooled by childish delusions, and you need the insight to be one step ahead of the child and the discernment and the determination to dispose of it in case of an emergency.¡± Hayley realized that what she was talking about was when the child was born, who at the same time inherited the qualities of Artizea herself and those of her family. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°I know this is a shameless request, Hayley.¡± Artizea raised her blue eyes and looked at her. ¡°But I can¡¯t let Cedric take care of it. He will trust the child.¡± And even if Artizea was alive, she couldn¡¯t raise it either. Because there¡¯s no way she can properly raise it. ¡°But if it were you¡­¡­, you will be able to see objectively and judge rationally while having affection. You will never forget what is right.¡± ¡°Your¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not forcing. As I said, this child is more likely to be the child of Marquisate Rosan, not the child of Grand Duchy Evron. I know very well that there is no loyalty to me to even do that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Still, it is Lord Cedric¡¯s child, and in the end it will have a deep bond with Grand Duchy Evron. It could be more than that. So I know it¡¯s a difficult request, but to ensure that it doesn¡¯t be a bad person¡­¡­ I want you to take care of it for me.¡± Hayley held her breath and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Think slowly.¡± It was when Artizea spoke. A smallmotion was heard outside the window. It was the sound of Cedricing home. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Proofreader: somnium Cedric had returned home after three days. That¡¯s how big the impact of this case was. ¡°What about Tia?¡± Taking off his robe and leaving it to Ansgar, Cedric asked, it was something almost habitual. ¡°She hasn¡¯t slept yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± He would have to leave the capital for a while, so he wanted to talk to her before he went. A serious situation had arisen, so he had to discuss it with Artizea as well. First of all, Cadriol was involved. That day, his eyes were turned over and he couldn¡¯t think. However, looking back, Cadriol withdrew too easily, considering that he hade all the way to the North. Something must have been negotiated between Artizea and Cadriol that night. ¡®Is it the assassination of the queen¡­.?¡¯ Cedric thought bitterly. Hearing that Artizea was in the study, he headed straight for it. And he knocked on the door. ¡°It¡¯s me, Tia.¡± A voice was heard from inside saying, ¡°Come in.¡± Cedric opened the door. Hayley stood nervously, pale face, then trembled at the sound of Cedricing in. Cedric looked at her curiously. Hayley bowed politely to Cedric and walked away. Artizea had a calm face. Cedric thought he had not seen such a face in a long time. It was the face of the ¡®Marchioness of Rosan¡¯. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°I waste. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°You kept in touch. It¡¯s a natural thing because it has a national significance.¡± Cedric walked over to her. It¡¯s been three days. Unbeknownst to him, he had to stay in the Imperial Pce. He had a longing heart. However, he felt something in Artizea that he could not readily hold and hug. ¡°Are you going to have to go out again soon?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Sir Gayan has sent an envoy. Lawrence has been arrested.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°You are not surprised.¡± ¡°So Lord Cedric isn¡¯t surprised that I¡¯m not surprised.¡± It was. Cedric sighed lightly. And he sat at the table, pulled up the remaining cold tea and drank the tea. ¡°His Majesty must have been very angry?¡± ¡°Yes. He is probably as angry as he likes.¡± Cedric replied briefly. Artizea got up from the desk and she came to the seat across from him. Cedric said. ¡°There are so many things I want to tell you, but¡­¡­ , I don¡¯t have much time right now. Instead of Sir Gayan, I took over the Southern Conquest Army.¡± Artizea was also surprised by this news. ¡°Are you going to go all the way down south?¡± ¡°I am not. I don¡¯t know the geography of the South at all, and I have no experience in naval warfare. Perhaps the Central Army will pick up generals from the South and hire them.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s temporary.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Artizea didn¡¯t want Cedric to go down south. There was nothing worse to put his hands on than this. It was not very pleasant to see Cedric and Cadriol meeting again. It¡¯s best for Cardriol to get a decent win and get out. But if Cedric intervenes, it bes a full-fledged war. Then, the whole n would go awry. Thinking like that, Artizea felt bitter. War is at stake. It was only in the capital that counted who held the military power, how much troops were consumed, and how much more supplies were needed, but in the South, where the battlefield would be, this could not be looked that way. ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± Cedric was also deep in thought. He was thinking about what to say first. He had no intention of questioning what he had already done. The repercussions of this event are already showing. There was more than enough to guess what Artizea was aiming for and why she was doing everything by herself. He just thought they should talk. It doesn¡¯t mean that Artizea has to get his permission, it¡¯s that she shouldn¡¯t be responsible for this alone. Now, even Cedric had no intention of iming his right without ever getting his hands dirty. That said, he had no talent for intrigues and conspiracies, but at the very least he had to know what was being done for him. She probably started doing this when he didn¡¯t even think of anything at all. It would not have been possible to stop now. But he was going to ask her to avoid dangerous things for the time being. At that moment, Cedric¡¯s eyes caught the box containing the marriage certificate and the prenuptial contract. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea realized where his gaze hadnded and groaned. Embarrassed, she stood up from her seat. She then organized the prenuptial agreement that had beenid out on the desk and put it in the box. ¡°What were you talking to Hayley?¡± ¡°I was thinking of choosing a nanny.¡± Cedric took a deep breath. It was a sudden answer to a question he had never asked before. ¡°You have decided¡­¡­ to give birth?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Cedric got up from his seat in a feeling of indescribable emotion. Then he approached and hugged Artizea. At first it was soft, then he squeezed her arms and hugged her tightly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea could feel all the emotions contained in that one word. So her throat was choked with soaring emotions. She was grateful. Now, he should have known about her in his own way, but he still loves her. So she wanted to live up to that feeling. She was always thinking how great it would be if she was a person who could do that. Artizea closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Cedric¡¯s body scent and temperature tried to melt her heart away. Artizea held her breath and pushed him away. Before her heart softens. This was apletely separate matter of the gratitude and love she felt. ¡°I have something to tell you about that.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric was slightly embarrassed and let her go. Artizea¡¯s face, as she raised her head, was quiet and pale. ¡°I want to amend the prenuptial agreement.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that already invalid?¡± ¡°The two-year contract¡­¡­ We said that we should pretend it didn¡¯t happen, but that doesn¡¯t mean that the contract on inheritance is invalid. The part that was originally supposed to be null and void was not even included in the contract.¡± Cedric frowned slightly. Until now, he had never had that prenuptial contract in mind. It was written in a formal way, as it is mostly used when title holders are married. Like Artizea, he hardly cared because he did not know that this would turn out to be a real marriage. And he didn¡¯t think this contract would ever be executed after he proposed to make this a real marriage. He hadn¡¯t dared to think about it, and it wasn¡¯t all void. The inheritance issue was something that the couple had to discuss and decide. If the chances of having more children were slim, even more so. ¡°Tell me.¡± Cedric decided to listen. Artizea said. ¡°I want this child to inherit Marquisate Rosan.¡± ¡°If no more children are born, of course.¡± ¡°No. What I mean is that I want to separate the inheritance of Grand Duchy Evron and Marquisate Rosan, as originally intended in this prenuptial agreement.¡± ¡°Do you mean that you do not want the child to inherit Grand Duchy Evron? To inherit only Marquisate Rosan?¡± ¡°Yes. I may not have any more children¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Artizea had been thinking for the past three days and tried to put forth the excuses she had made. But Cedric didn¡¯t listen to everything and cut it off. ¡°In conclusion, you want it to be your own child.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t raise his voice, and he didn¡¯t show strong emotions. He didn¡¯t even have the pressure to force it. But there was an indescribably deep and dark emotion in his voice. So Artizea took a deep breath. It was in order not to be drawn into that feeling. ¡°Yes. Please. I want to.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Cedric said firmly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t want to have children because you are thinking of yourself. But that¡¯s not what it is now, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use Marquisate Rosan as an excuse. I am well aware that you are not attaching any meaning to the Rosan name.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°You want to make sure that that child does not be my child, or, technically, that your blood will not be mixed with Evron¡¯s lineage, that¡¯s what you mean?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± No, the lie didn¡¯te out of her lips. Because she realized that Cedric was seeing through her thoughts. Cedric said. ¡°I know what you are concerned about. I think it¡¯s okay to teach it well, but if your innate personality is really bad, then you would have to worry about it.¡± ¡°If we do it that way, they will have legitimacy problemster. This is also for my child. Not Lord Cedric.¡± Disputes arise when you try to exclude the firstborn and pass it on to the child below them. If Cedric had remarried, the problem would be even greater. This is because there will be more people supporting the current empress¡¯ children than the dead ex-wife¡¯s children. The child would not even have a mother. Artizea advised Sk about reiming legitimacy. It is no exception for her children. If it was the emperor¡¯s eldest son, he could only be excluded by death. ¡°And it¡¯s also for the people of Grand Duchy Evron and the Empire¡¯s people. Rather than causing another strife because of a hierarchical struggle.¡± Cedric, who always listens, stopped her from talking for the second time. ¡°Are you aware that what you are assuming now is that I will have another child? Even with another woman?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric¡¯s ck eyes glowed with anger like scorched coals. Artizea looked at it, and her head went numb. Cedric said. ¡°The children you will give birth to will be all of my children, and they will inherit all of me as the firstborn.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°I will respect your will almost unconditionally on child matters, but I cannot yield on this, Tia.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t. You can¡¯t make this child Evron¡¯s sessor.¡± Artizea said, half gasping for breath. She turned her gaze away from Cedric. It was because she was in agony and her chest ached. ¡°Why not? Is it because you were one of the causes of Evron¡¯s destruction?¡± Artizea opened her eyes wide in astonishment and turned to Cedric. Cedric looked at her with a painful face. AAAAA the next chapter is going to be B-O-M-B!! Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Proofreader: somnium Artizea looked at Cedric with a shocked face. And without realizing it, her body trembled like a tree, and she took a step backwards. ¡°H, ho, how¡­¡­ ?¡± Artizea stuttered. She didn¡¯t think of it. She already knew that there were ¡®returners¡¯. Cadriol was one of the returners, and there was also the one who returned to Karam. So she thought there might be more that returned. She looked closely at the state, worried that the memories might return to someone in an important position in imperial politics. But she didn¡¯t think it would be Cedric. She didn¡¯t even imagine it. Wouldn¡¯t that be so? If Cedric had all those memories, he couldn¡¯t have had Artizea as his wife. There was no way he could love her. For a moment, just having such a realization gave her goosebumps and made her want to cut her heart. Even more so, he could not tolerate the birth of Evron¡¯s sessor in her own body. ¡°Even if you ask me how, I don¡¯t know. That doesn¡¯t matter now. I know you, Tia.¡± Artizea stumbled. Her eyes widened as if struck by lightning. It was because she had understood all the meaning of Cedric¡¯s word ¡®know¡¯. Cedric wiped his face with both palms. Even that didn¡¯t calm his mind, so he wiped his face dry a few more times. From the day he first met Artizea, he had a foreboding. He dreamed of Artizea, and felt emotions that would never happen with a stranger It seems that the memories did not pour out all at once, but came to fall piece by piece from somewhere. He feltpassion first, then respect, then protection, and then love. He also felt the lust for destruction, regret, and stubborn obsession that he did not know where it wasing from. And as he stands here and looks back now, all those emotions did not arise in the past year, but rather were dug out one by one as if it had been buried. ¡°As much as you know me, I know you.¡± Artizea stepped back from him and bumped into the window. ¡°What a horrible human being you were, what happened to Evron, how many people I treasured died.¡± Cedric said as if vomiting blood rather than vomiting words. ¡°And how long you have been watching me.¡± ¡°Lord, Ced¡­¡­.¡± ¡°While you were watching me, do you really think I didn¡¯t know that?¡± He thought he had a lot of preparation. He had thought many times, turned around, tried to speak softly and carefully. On some quiet evening, he wanted to speak calmly, sitting between a thick tea made with milk and sugar. He wanted to tell her not to cling to the past, since he can only go to the future by going beyond the past. He wanted to tell her that he knew that she wants to do the best she can for the future, and that he knows she¡¯s struggling. He couldn¡¯t say it because she was pregnant. He was afraid that Artizea would not be able to withstand the shock. But he realized that it was only an excuse. He actually wasn¡¯t ready for it himself. What kind of preparation was necessary toplete this conversation? ¡°That, that can¡¯t be¡­¡­.¡± Artizea stuttered. But she didn¡¯t even get the question right. She was terrified. She thought he must have been mistaken. She should¡¯ve been able to deceive Cedric until the end. She hoped he didn¡¯t know. Then, she would be able to stay like this. Rejoicing, ecstatic, always afraid of being loved, thinking that she shouldn¡¯t ept it fully, in the end, she covets what she shouldn¡¯t have dared covet on the excuse of ignorance. But if he remembers. Then. She doesn¡¯t know though. Her thoughts did not follow after that. It had been her own worth and strength to be able to think, but she couldn¡¯t think of anything. She was just out of breath. Her heart was aching and it was painful. Artizea turned away from Cedric. She then suddenly realized that she had the diamond bracelet hanging from her wrist. She tried to take it off. But her hands were trembling, and she could hardly get the lock off. Cedric grabbed her wrist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°You said you remembered it.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°The contract we originally proposed was for two years, but now it is enough. The inheritance issue is over, you just have to sort out the baby problem, and it¡¯s not toote, so you don¡¯t have to regret it.¡± Artizea spoke quickly. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was speaking correctly or what words she was uttering. The lock on the bracelet did note off no matter what. She was going crazy. Cedric grabbed her arm and turned it towards him. ¡°Are you not listening to me or are you pretending not to?¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°I love you. How many times do I have to tell you for you to understand?¡± Cedric was very patient. He knew that himself well. Cedric could endure the pain several times more than others. He wasn¡¯t optimistic, but he knew how to think positively. He could endure despair. He held a small hope and he had lived with it for nearly twenty years. But there were moments when he couldn¡¯t stand it either. And it was always made by Artizea. In any sense. ¡°I was trying to hide these feelings forever. I felt your gaze, I knew you, I hadpassion for you, I loved you, but I could not forgive you.¡± This kind of thing, this kind of heart couldn¡¯t be tolerated. Those who died at her hands, those who died by her work, could not have allowed him to do it. ¡°Nevertheless, I love you. Even if I tried to cover it up, the feelings didn¡¯t go away!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be true!¡± Artizea shouted face to face. Cedric roared. ¡°Don¡¯t judge my heart by what you think!¡± Artizea once said that people are betrayed by unexpected things. What she said was seldomly wrong. It really was. Cedric betrayed Evron. If this heart is not betrayal, then what is it? Still, he was determined to love her. The grudge did not go away, but now it remained only in Cedric¡¯s own memory. So, why can¡¯t he just endure it himself? If his memory hade first, he would not have dared to extend his hand. But love came first. They danced, got married and embraced each other. It, too, could not have disappeared as much as he wanted. Even after remembering everything, he nevertheless couldn¡¯t let go of everything. ¡°I love you! And we are already married and have a child! All the pain you caused me and the resentment that had been umting in Evron have all been lost!¡± ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t happen!¡± Artizea half screamed. ¡°Now you know what kind of person I am! It doesn¡¯t mean that I would¡¯ve lived differently this time!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong! I chose you! You did not choose me!¡± Artizea grabbed her chest and took one more step back. Cedric grabbed her arm as she was about to run and hugged her. Their lips met. A painful moan from Artizea¡¯s throat was sucked into Cedric¡¯s mouth. Soon after, Artizea¡¯s limbs lost her strength and she drooped. Cedric supported her, hugged her, and locked her in his arms. Then he looked into her eyes, clutching her chin and cheek. ¡°Did you forget? I asked you for a n.¡± ¡°Lord, Ced¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I am responsible for all of you living, being here, marrying me, and doing all these things, and I started it. You are not deceiving me.¡± Artizea now wanted to stop looking at him. But Cedric¡¯s eyes did not allow it. Artizea remembered those eyes. So her eyes were clouded by tears. It was an unforgettable look. It was the eyes when Cedric knelt down and bowed to her, at a time when shecked a tongue, so Lysia¡¯s will only rolled in her mouth. Like a statue, standing tall in the square, hit by the rain and wind, had a face that burned red as if it had received the dawn of the sun. Beyond all the hatred and resentment, there was the man who knelt on his knees and asked for a n because he knew her and trusted in her abilities. ¡°At that time, if you had survived and told me the truth, would I not have epted it and held you ountable? And yet, would I have thought of you as an enemy rather than my counselor?¡± Artizea shook her body. She had a definite answer to that question. He probably epted her as a true member of Evron. If at that time she had the power to turn things around, she would have been willing to be Cedric¡¯s counselor. And she would have been able to spend the rest of her life as a servant serving a lord worthy of serving. She thought about it when she returned and realized that she loved Cedric. If she had been able to do that back then, she would have been able to do her job without any agony or pain unlike now. That¡¯s right. Tears welled up in Artizea¡¯s blue eyes. Cedric didn¡¯t wipe her tears this time. He didn¡¯t evenfort her. He said in a hoarse voice instead. ¡°At that time, I already made up my mind to take responsibility for what you would do.¡± It didn¡¯t matter what she was like. That¡¯s how much he needed her. At that time, Cedric was worried. Isn¡¯t this the hunch? But he no longer had anyone to turn to for advice. Since the important person died first, there was no one to devote his allegiance to, and there was no one to confide in with key information and talk about a hopeless future. He had no one to depend on. There was no love, no hatred, no resentment. ¡°And you did what I asked you to do. So everything that happened after that was my responsibility and I have to bear it.¡± Cedric said softly. ¡°Just because you go back in time, that doesn¡¯t change that fact. As you say, it will never happen to us.¡± Artizea covered her mouth with her hand. Cedric grabbed her hand and pulled it away. And pressed his lips to the back of her hand, and also her wrist. The diamond bracelet hung on his lips. Cedric said in a tired voice. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me lonely anymore. I don¡¯t have strength to stand it either.¡± The only people whom they could really share this work with would be each other. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± That was then. Something popped in Artizea¡¯s stomach. She thought it was just once, she felt a small reverberation, one after another. Artizea was bewildered and she did not know what to do. The constant sound within her body, it felt like the baby was trying to make its presence known. Cedric looked at her, not knowing why she was doing it. ¡°The, ba, baby¡­¡­.¡± Artizea stuttered and said. That in itself was not something that had to be said now. But, confused, Artizea reflexively said so. She had never told Cedric about the movement. Cedric reflexively reached out his hand and ced it on Artizea¡¯s belly. A faint vibration was felt in the palm of his hand through the thin hem of her robe. It felt like a pulse to Cedric. It was truly an amazing and mysterious experience. ¡°This is the movement.¡± Cedric took a long breath. He felt the swampy loneliness that had been stagnating inside him seep away. He hugged Artizea with both arms. And exhausted, he leaned back on the chair. Artizea, who sat on hisp, leaned helplessly against his chest. And she stayed there without saying a word. Please give me some space while I cry in the corner T.T Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Proofreader: somnium Lysia had a dream. In the dream she was standing overlooking the wilderness. No, it¡¯s not a wilderness. It was originally a fertile wheat field. But the uncultivatednd turned into a wastnd, instead of a wheat field. The ruined vige was full of abandoned houses, and where the road once stood, the broken wagons and the stone pirs that marked the vige had fallen. It was rather miserable than thend that had never been cultivated. Lysia was well aware of thend that was never cultivated. Because the vige of the rebels she lived in was on suchnd. There were many such ces in Evron. And that has never been plowed because humans have not dared to touch nature. And with no roads and no viges. Frozen ins that remain as they were. And as she stood before it, she might have felt fear, but she never felt miserable. But this ce was miserable. [¡°I am the opposite.¡±] A heavy voice came from behind. Lysia looked back. She pulled her hair with her two hands as the wind ruffled her hair. Cedric looked at her with dark eyes. Not all cks are equally dark. Cedric¡¯s eyes that Lysia knew were originally a gentle night shade. But now standing in those eyes was a frozen shadow. The old feelings of loneliness and despair were deposited from the depths, and now they have a color as cold as a stone. Lysia felt sorry for it. [¡°There is nothing I can do now. Should I gather my followers and go to war with the temple?¡±] [¡°That might be viable, too.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s really scary when Lord Ced said that.¡±] [¡°If a saint joins Evron¡¯s efforts, it will be quite worth a try.¡±] [¡°You may struggle for a few years. It looks like the temple can be finished, and Evron will be destroyed. Karam wille down after you.¡±] Lysia replied that way. [¡°Well, I know that Lord Ced wasn¡¯t really meaning what he was saying.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±] Then Cedric let out a long sigh. [¡°Lysia.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m fine. Really.¡±] [¡°Lawrence is a cruel man. More so to women.¡±] [¡°Lord Ced.¡±] [¡°Think again. The oracle is not real. It was manipted by Marquis Rosan.¡±] [¡°Yes. I know it best. Because I am the one who hears the voice of God.¡±] Lysia turned her gaze away from Cedric and looked back at the wilderness. [¡°With your mouth, you reveal that it is a false oracle. That¡¯s all you need to do. No matter what Bishop Akim and his ilk may say, no matter what the temple unitedly ims to be and argues, you are a saint. If you survive and say it¡¯s a lie in front of people, that¡¯s the end of it.¡±] [¡°How many more sacrifices will I have to make to survive like that? Will I be able to escape the trap of Marquis Rosan by doing that?¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°If I exposed this oracle to be a lie and fight the temple and win, will this disgusting affair be over?¡±] Cedric did not respond to that. [¡°And it¡¯s not entirely a lie. In the end, I have to change the Emperor¡¯s mind.¡±] [¡°Lysia.¡±] [¡°If it¡¯s not the current Emperor, then the heart of the next Emperor. If that doesn¡¯t work, then the heart of the Emperor after the next.¡±] said Lysia. She said that the oracle she received was to look after the poor and in need. The words were not entirely urate. To protect her life, she created an interpretation that would pose the least threat to the temples and those in power. The original oracle is not something that can be urately tranted into human words. The words that Lysia heard from God were not just one word, but everything. To save those who live in this world, to save those who suffer from tribtion. And that she is someone who does not change for it, believes in sincerity and can change others. Her holy power is nothing but incidental. Even if Lysia heals tens or hundreds of thousands of sick people with her power, if the world doesn¡¯t change, the sick will only reappear. It was the world that had to be healed. So, her holy power was only a help so that she could shine a light without losing hope on a long and difficult road. [¡°I¡¯m going to change Sir Lawrence. The reason that person treats me sweetly now is to get a saint on his side, and I know that he was originally a cruel and selfish person.¡±] [¡°Lysia.¡±] [¡°Still, that person loves me.¡±] Lysia smiled sadly. She thought maybe that¡¯s why she became a saint. [¡°People can change. The truth will prevail, I believe. And if that person can change, that will be the fastest way to save the Empire.¡±] [¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to work.¡±] [¡°Even if that doesn¡¯t happen¡­¡­, at least I can give birth to an heir to the imperial family.¡±] Lysia said with her fists clenched. And she looked back at Cedric. [¡°Even if we fail, there will be another 20 or 30 yearster. I am a saint. No one can threaten my life and position so easily.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Lord Ced knows it too. Somebody has to go. Whether it¡¯s Sir Lawrence ¡­¡­ or the Marquis of Rosan, we¡¯ll have to see what happens inside the imperial court.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­ Can¡¯t I ask you not to leave?¡±] [¡°Poor man.¡±] Lysia let out a sigh. Her holy powers do not include foresight. But Lysia still seemed to know Cedric¡¯s future. No pir in this world can hold up the sky alone forever. Cedric had no one to apany him. Many were loyal, but none he could lean on equally. He had many who would risk their life to carry out his orders, but none with whom he would confide in his heart. If even she herself leaves, he will be left alone for a very long time. [¡°Or would you like to do the opposite?¡±] Lysia smiled brightly and said it like a joke. [¡°The opposite?¡±] [¡°I will act as a saint who heals the sick. Lord Ced ??seduces and persuades Marquis Rosan.¡±] [¡°What nonsense.¡±] [¡°Make her Lord Ced¡¯s person. You can get married. Then, I think everything will go smoothly, right?¡±] Cedric chuckled. Lysia smiled and said. [¡°Good days wille. Trust me. It is a blessing from a saint.¡±] [¡°Lysia.¡±] [¡°The day will surelye when you will think that all of this was just an ordeal to ovee.¡±] The wilderness was tinged with the sunset, and the wind smelled of dust. The onlyfort was that there was no sign of an epidemic anywhere in the wilderness. Lysia opened her eyes on her bed and looked up at the ceiling. Her tears didn¡¯t stop. £ª£ª£ª Cedric had to leave that morning. He was tired both physically and mentally. It was as if decades of exhaustion hade all at once. He was also anxious to leave Artizea¡¯s side now. But he had to do what wasmanded. He could not disobey the Imperial order. It wasn¡¯t the right thing to do, but not doing it was also dangerous. ¡°His Majesty isn¡¯t suspicious of me, but it wouldn¡¯t be wise to show off that I talked to you too long before I left.¡± Cedric caressed Artizea¡¯s hair and sighed. ¡°Until I get back, don¡¯t think about anything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your body is not your own. You should also know that you cannot control everything in the world on your own.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I understand.¡± ¡°This is not just what I say as your husband¡­¡­, it is also an order issued as a lord.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Cedric gently stroked her stomach. The child was quiet for a while after the first few months. But it struggled that night. Perhaps, it was because of surprise, or perhaps, in the meantime, it knew that its mother was not pleased with its existence, so it was deliberately holding its breath. ¡°Don¡¯te out. It justplicates my mind.¡± After a few urges, Cedric said so, and he went out alone. A smallmotion was heard outside. Soon the footsteps of the horses disappeared. Artizea saw the dawn light dye the window. Even then, her thoughts did note together. It was an ecstatic sense of despair that filled her chest. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have gone to you.¡¯ That¡¯s what Artizea had been thinking all night long. The day she returned, she shouldn¡¯t have gone looking for Cedric. In her memory, she shouldn¡¯t have even given him a chance to break her mind by proposing a marriage contract to him. It would have been better if she just poisoned Mira and Lawrence and ended with that. If Cedric didn¡¯t ept her offer that day, she originally intended to do so. Grand Duke Roygar would have been the Emperor. But wouldn¡¯t that work out in the end? Evron would not have fallen, and Cedric would have had the strength to resist. She should have done it right away that day instead of looking for him. Before she falls in love with him without knowing anything. Before anguish and conflict arose in her heart. It would have been nice if she had just finished everything. But it¡¯s already toote. Cedric and her. Cedric is right. It never happened. And to love each other like this will never happen. Even if she died, there were no regrets. Her mind was soplicated that nothing seemed to go into her mouth, but in the morning she was hungry and thirsty. The maids have been preparing small sausages. Artizea washed her face and had breakfast. As soon as morning came, Hayley came to see her with nk eyes. It was a face that hadn¡¯t slept. ¡°I want to ask you more about what you said yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ yes.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t already reached an agreement on the matter of the Grand Duke and his sessor, have you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley let out a sigh. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the order thates after you decide that first? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something I can answer first.¡± It was a decision that Hayley had been thinking about all night. In fact, it was just to dy the reply. ¡°I see.¡± Whether or not she understood Hayley¡¯s anxieties and tensions, Artizea readily answered. And she asked. ¡°But where is Lysia?¡± Usually, Lysia was the first to wake up in the morning to greet her. In fact, Lysia would get up at sunrise a few hours before Artizea would and finish light exercise and practice by the time she woke up. But today, she didn¡¯te to greet. ¡°She said she wasn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Hayley answered instead. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Proofreader: somnium Artizea hesitated. She was worried that something was wrong. Hayley said. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she has such a healthy body. She doesn¡¯t have a fever, she¡¯s just a little tired.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Lysia has been very busy, too. She¡¯s not even ustomed to capital life.¡± It really was. In the past, Lysia had barely adapted to capital life. Unlike then, now she is less exposed to the public, and she is not pressured by rumors, strict court life, and an environment surrounded by enemies. However, this environment itself would not be suitable for her basically free nature. ¡°I told her to go see the doctor. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°In terms of health, to be honest, you have to be a hundred times more careful.¡± Artizea smiled bitterly. ¡°Is it something that people don¡¯t know yet?¡± She watched Lysia wither and die, how could she not care about her? Besides, Cedric¡¯s memory returned. There was no rule against the same thing happening to Lysia. Even if it hasn¡¯te back to her now, it mighte back in the future. It mighte back to her as a painful mental disease. Artizea was afraid of that. ¡®Please, even if everyone¡¯s memoriese back, I hope it¡¯s just not Lysia.¡¯ For the sake of Lysia herself. It would be a lie to say that Cedric and Lysia¡¯s rtionship is no longer a thing that bothers her at all. But she decided to believe Cedric. Cedric had said before and after that Artizea was the only one he wanted as his wife. She decided to believe it. There must have been a number of reasons for his engagement to Lysia. In order to protect her, she must either make it easier for Lysia by leading Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s support in her activities, or stand with her in the temple to prevent her from being mistreated¡­ ¡­ . Reason gave several answers. But that didn¡¯t mean that it unlocked the depths of her heart. The guilt still lingered. But as long as she lived, Artizea thought she would do her best. She¡¯ll do her best to trust and believe that she might¡¯ve been forgiven. [¡°The child is not yours.¡±] Cedric said sost night. Artizea trembled as if she had been struck by lightning. Because it was only then that she realized that she was trying to do her own thing with the child as she took it for granted. Wasn¡¯t she trying to do the same with Mira, after all? Even before it was born, Artizea was terrified at the fact that she almost did so. Artizea, as Cedric ordered, decided not to think about it until he returned. She doesn¡¯t know if she¡¯ll do well, but she¡¯ll try anyway. Until then, she wouldn¡¯t think anything of it. Dismissal Crash! The cup that hit Lawrence¡¯s head shattered. Red tea ran down and wet Lawrence¡¯s head and face. He was brought before the Emperor as he had been arrested by Gayan in the camp of the Southern Conquest Army. Tea dripped down on his dusty cheeks, making messy stains. ¡°How can you be so stupid!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I did.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you everything I had to give you? It wouldn¡¯t be possible if you didn¡¯t ignore the burden and harbor enmity!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, Father!¡± Lawrence was really upset. It was true that he had sent Viscount Hoden to the South. It is also true that he tried to bring Duke Riagan down to curry the Empress¡¯ favor. But he knew nothing about Queen Eimmel. He had only rough directions for the n to bring down Duke Riagan, but never had a concrete n. Even Viscount Hoden¡¯s visit to the South could not find any useful information. This is because Artizea at that point evacuated or hid most of the people who had ties with the former Duke and Duchess of Riagan, and invited the Empress¡¯ old friends to the wedding ceremony. But now he can guess that it was so, but he didn¡¯t know it at the time. Viscount Hoden was heavily rebuked for being ipetent. Lawrence said with a frustrated heart. ¡°Is there any reason why I should have assassinated Queen Eimmel? It is true that I wanted to do something to Duke Riagan, however.¡± nk! This time the teaspoon pped Lawrence¡¯s forehead. Lawrence wiped his forehead once with his hand. He felt so humiliated that he could not stand it. But the other person was the Emperor. Lawrence didn¡¯t say anything, trying to contain the wrath that welled up in his chest. ¡°Do you think that is forgivable?¡± ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Duke Riagan is the one whom I handpicked and ced in that ce. He swore allegiance to me.¡± ¡°He was unfaithful.¡± ¡°It is my burden to punish that unfaithfulness and disloyalty. Not you!¡± The Emperor¡¯s face flushed red with anger. ¡°I mean, he has been my servant for twenty years! He is Duke Riagan, and he is a public servant! How dare you n to bring down the Duke!¡± ¡°Then what am I supposed to do? Isn¡¯t it something that Father also supported; to win the favor of Her Majesty the Empress?¡± The Emperor jumped to his feet and then copsed, trembling. His blood pressure soared, and his eyes were dizzy. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The chief attendant rushed in and supported him. The Emperor closed his eyes tightly and opened them. He tried to calm his mind. Then, this time, his chest tightened. The attendant held a ss of water in his hand. The Emperor gulped down the water. ¡°Are you that stupid? It¡¯s not enough for you to behave so half-witted, you¡¯re trying to solve the problems so shallowly?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say you take any tantrums and bring Duke Riagan down. Do you think the Empress would have been grateful for that and adopted you as her adopted child? Did the Empress appear to be that easy?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t you show your vision for the future? As a man who rules the country. What is the most important thing?¡± The Emperor poured out. ¡°That was the surest promise you can make, and that was the easiest promise to break.¡± The Emperor spoke in past tense. ¡°What is the difference from what a merchant does to fulfill your wants right now and earning a favor in return?¡± ¡°Father.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your job, it¡¯s your subordinates¡¯ job. You don¡¯t have anyone to do that for you!¡± The Emperor raised his voice again. The chief attendant hurriedly stopped him. ¡°Your Majesty, calm your anger. You are not in good health.¡± ¡°Hooo.¡± The Emperor let out a long sigh. This time his limbs ran out of strength. He slumped down on his chair. He was so tired that he couldn¡¯t stand it. He¡¯s been attending meetings non-stop for thest two weeks or so and getting reports. However, the Emperor did not feel any difficulty in seeing his government affairs yet. So this was not physical fatigue, but mental fatigue. ¡°Anyway, you should leave the capital now.¡± ¡°Father! I didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°I know. I don¡¯t think Viscount Hoden actually went to the South to do anything, and in fact, looking at theposition of the attendants you sent to Viscount Hoden, I know that they made a mutual monitoring.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But it seems certain that when Viscount Hoden went down to the South, something was ordered to the woman named Madame Lexen.¡± The Emperor picked up one of the papers on the desk. It was a report that scouted the deeds of Viscount Hoden and his attendants. There was nothing suspicious about Viscount Hoden or his important attendants. However, some of their servants were missing. Some were horsemen, and some were simple handymen. Each of them quit their jobs for one reason or another. No one would have thought it was strange, but when they looked around, their family had disappeared. Someone must have contacted Mrs. Lexen. Now Viscount Hoden and a number of his attendants were held in custody to be held ountable. ¡°It is your responsibility.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Father say that you knew I didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°Responsibility is to bear the consequences. How old are you, do you need to have me teach you such basic things?¡± The Emperor spat out. ¡°Even if you are not in a conspiracy, this is your responsibility. It is also the responsibility of not properly cracking down on your subordinates.¡± ¡°Father!¡± ¡°Shut up! Behave yourself! You would be responsible for the war if you don¡¯t do it now!¡± Lawrence bit his lips tightly. His fists were trembling. He was upset and angry. ¡°What are you going to do with the Southern Conquest Army?¡± ¡°None of your business now.¡± said the Emperor coldly. Then he let out a long sigh. The attendant rolled his eyes and nced at Lawrence with a hint. It was to not buy the Emperor¡¯s wrath any more. Lawrence took a step back. It was a rude attitude. He was so angry, but now he realized that there was no point in talking with the Emperor. He came out of the office, and Gayan, who hade here with him, was waiting there until then. Amalie was standing next to him. The two of them looked startled to see Lawrence¡¯s face, which had turned red on one side of his forehead after being drenched in tea. Lawrence¡¯s lips twisted. It was a sudden realization. ¡°It¡¯s Cedric.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Neither Gayan nor Amalie were clumsy enough to show their agitation. But Lawrence was convinced. ¡°Is there any way that well-prepared fellows could have done something like this when they said they detected no interference?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Soldiers are all like that. You will regret it.¡± Lawrence passes by the two with a sarcasticugh. Although he deliberately had a rxed attitude, in fact, he did not feel veryfortable. Anger filled his chest, and it seemed as if it had pooled up to the tip of his neck. He remembered Cedric¡¯s arrival at the Southern Conquest Army. When Gayan decided to arrest him and return him to the capital, the soldiers of the Southern Conquest Army were very anxious, but stabilized as soon as Cedric arrived. There weren¡¯t many people who fought directly under Cedric. But everyone knew the rumors. They believed that it would be a battle that would not be lost because of Cedric, or at least a battlefield where they would not be killed for the foolishness of themander. Cedric¡¯s involvement made him even more upset than the incident itself. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Proofreader: somnium A fact-finding was being carried out within the Empire, but in the South, it was not important in itself why Madame Lexen assassinated Queen Eimmel. Cadriol didn¡¯t even care. It must have been Artizea¡¯s trick anyway. Digging around was not advantageous to the Kingdom of Eimmel. What was important to him was that the king was grieving, and at this moment all power over the Eimmel Kingdom army was in his hands. And that he had in his hands a justification to attack the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to get rid of it right away?¡± Cadriol¡¯s subordinate asked so. Contrary to his initial momentum, he was puzzled that Cadriol did not attack the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°I¡¯m not going to go to war against the Empire.¡± Cadriol said, looking down at the army that surrounded the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°It would feel good to hit and remove the Duchy of Riagan, but if there is a real war with the Empire, it will be a headache. Don¡¯t stroke your pride too much.¡± Above all, it is impossible to upy all the assets of the Duchy of Riagan anyway. Because it will be a battle onnd. ¡°Anyway, at the right time, I will retreat. There¡¯s the Empire¡¯s face, there¡¯s no way they¡¯ll let us go and wait for the disposal just because we have a justification.¡± Of course, this ce was too far away for the Emperor to react promptly right now. So his subordinate asked again. ¡°Are you worried about incurring the wrath of the Krates Empire?¡± ¡°Emperor Gregor is old, but he is still Emperor.¡± Cadriol kicked the stone stuck at the tip of his toes as a joke. ¡°It¡¯s scary to touch an old man¡¯s pride. Especially if that old man had the greatest power in the world. Even so, if we run away before then, we¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cause you¡¯ve been working on for a long time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible to take the southern part of the Empire anyway. I got everything I deserved.¡± Cardriol chuckled andughed. Although the Riagan Ducal Couple did not have such outstanding abilities, they knew the southern region very well. The fact that they tried to create their own power base means that they have gained that much confidence. After the downfall of the Ducal couple, who will be the next ruler from the Empire to upy this ce? There was no way for the Empress to stand up again, and there was no way for the old Duke of Riagan, whose great roots had been cut off, to stand up again. Can the Emperor¡¯s new chosen subject be able to control theplicated situation in the southern part of the country in a short time? It will be difficult. In the meantime, the power map of the South will be turned upside down. Cadriol has alreadyid the foundation for that. He eliminated the enemy within the royal family, took full power over the Kingdom¡¯s army, and took over the real power in ce of the dejected father. The crown prince¡¯s appointment will also go smoothly. The Krates Empire will be busy with internal maintenance for the time being. In the meantime, he was nning to reap all the real gains. ¡®But I never really thought that Marquis Rosan had already nted people there.¡¯ It¡¯s not about an assassin. Cadriol was able to get a glimpse of the Eimmel Kingdom and Artizea¡¯s organization nted in the southern part of the Empire this time. The skill of concealing rumors of the Empress¡¯ rtives and dispelling them before the incident started was still unusual. Judging from the time his memory returned, it hasn¡¯t even been such a long time. ¡®Would it have been much more beneficial to kidnap her?¡¯ Cadriol thought about that for a moment, then smiled. Even if he forced to bring her, Artizea wouldn¡¯t have been his own. Either as a woman or as a strategist. Well, hiding her and looking into her alone was also a way to enjoy a treasure. ¡®It¡¯s a pity.¡¯ The words of his subordinate interrupted his thoughts. ¡°The carrier pigeon is flying. Shall I catch it?¡± ¡°Leave it alone. I¡¯m not really going to get rid of the Duchy of Riagan, so if the Duke keeps talking nonsense, the internal affairs of the Empire will be in chaos.¡± ¡°Will the Empire really send troops? Didn¡¯t they say that the Southern Conquest Army was formed?¡± ¡°By the time they send it, we will have already run away. We don¡¯t even have to be ashamed of running away from the enemy again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°The Duke of Riagan¡¯s candle burns on both ends* . That old man¡¯s frightened face, just thinking about it makes me happy.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± His men giggled andughed. Originally, the neighboring countries were not on good terms with each other, but the Duchy of Riagan and the Kingdom of Eimmel were even more so. The Duchy of Riagan saw the Kingdom of Eimmel as a group of bandits. In the Kingdom of Eimmel, the Duchy of Riagan was viewed as an idiot. They had thought that it was absurd to try to be the lord of the southern provinces, on a subject that they could not even exert their strength at sea. To say that they were actually a bunch of bandits, they weren¡¯t. £ª£ª£ª It was about a week after Lawrence returned that the Countess Eunice had an audience with the Emperor. This audience was arranged by the chief attendant. A letter came from the Duchy of Riagan asking for salvation every day. But the justification lies with the Kingdom of Eimmel. Nothing else, but to find the culprit of the Queen¡¯s assassination and hold them ountable. epting that request and having them investigate the Duchy of Riagan will not save them in any respect. In addition, whatever the cause, the Kingdom of Eimmel dares to raise troops, upy the ports of the Empire, and attack the Duchy of Riagan. However, it was not an easy decision to gather the Southern Army and send a conquest army from the center to wage war. Subjugating pirates and fighting other countries are different. Since the cause was beyond that, there was bound to be a problem with the morale of the soldiers. It is a long way to the South where the Duchy of Riagan was. It took twenty days even when the wind blew right. There was not enough information to make an immediate judgment. Even if the information was avable, there was no guarantee that it would be timely when a response was determined and sent down here. There is a reason why the Duke of Riagan had jurisdiction over the South in the first ce. Waiting for the next information and discussing countermeasures, the Emperor was overworked. Moreover, he was dismayed by the disappointment of his son. The chief attendant, who could not bear to see it, had invited his daughter and granddaughters tofort him. When Countess Eunice entered the living room, the Emperor was getting a massage. The scent ofvender filled the room. The masseur was massaging the Emperor¡¯s scalp. Fatigue that could not be hidden was revealed on the Emperor¡¯s face. As if he had a headache, his closed eyes trembled slightly. In a matter of a few days, he seemed to have aged several years. ¡°You look tired, Father.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m tired. How can I not be tired?¡± The emperor muttered, pressing his hand to the corners of his wrinkled eyes. ¡°Still, it is much better to see you. Come here, kiss your grandfather.¡± The two daughters of Countess Eunice approached the Emperor and kissed him on the cheek. The Emperor seemed to feel better just by that. The Emperor reached out to the masseur. The masseur ced a warm wet towel on the Emperor¡¯s hand. The Emperor wiped his face with it once. ¡°Are you okay, Father?¡± ¡°My body is definitely not what it used to be.¡± ¡°Can I rub your shoulders a little?¡± ¡°Will you?¡± The Emperorughed. Countess Eunice walked over to the Emperor¡¯s side and began to rub his shoulder. She couldn¡¯t get her massage better than the masseur¡¯s. But it was much better for the Emperor¡¯s mood. So he sighed even more. At a time like this, how good it would have been if he had a cute child as a reliable heir. Even now, sometimes the Emperormented like that. However, he was concerned about political stability, and it was also a story of the future. But now, he desperately needed an heir who could divide the burden in half right now. ¡°You seem to be deeply concerned.¡± Countess Eunice said cautiously. ¡°You have raised children too, don¡¯t you know by now? There¡¯s nothing in the world more impossible than raising a child.¡± The Emperor groaned with his eyes closed. Countess Eunice did not answer. So the Emperorughed. ¡°You don¡¯t think Lawrence deserves it either?¡± ¡°Lawrence is not a stupid kid.¡± Countess Eunice answered only that way. The Emperor also understood the meaning behind the answer. Had she been inclined to think he deserved to serve as the next Emperor, Countess Eunice would not have answered so bluntly. Conversely, if she was afraid, she would have responded more cautiously than this. She knew that Lawrence didn¡¯t have the best qualities. But she also knew he wouldn¡¯t be popr. He had to be able to instill fear in order to be popr, but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°The dumb thing was a burden. I was the only one who was in a hurry.¡± The Emperor remembered the conversation with Amalie. [¡°Your Majesty, Sir Lawrence is not dull or foolish, but not generous enough to ept advice, nor wise enough to judge the value of advice.¡±] But the Emperor rebuked her on why she gave such nonsense advice, Amalie answered without hesitation. [¡°It is true that he said that in order to win the favor of the Empress, he would have to solve the problem of the Duchy of Riagan. But, couldn¡¯t that have meant that he would disobey Your Majesty¡¯s will and have Duke Riagan be overthrown?¡±] [¡°Harper.¡±] [¡°If Sir Lawrence had been wise, he would havee first to ask Your Majesty¡¯s permission. At least, I realized that my words were dangerous, so I turned to someone else for advice.¡±] [¡°You mean you tested Lawrence?¡±] [¡°There were several loyal servants of His Majesty. If there had been a truly disloyal suggestion, it would have already been known by His Majesty. He must have thought of that too.¡±] Amalie said coldly. [¡°Sir Lawrence doesn¡¯t know exactly where his powerse from, or he thinks that His Majesty¡¯s majesty belongs to him.¡±] At that, the emperor gave a sullen expression on his face. [¡°At the same time, he likes sweet stories to his ears, and he doesn¡¯t know how to put down the view that he once thought was right.¡±] Amalie continued. [¡°So, among the advice of subordinates, he just picks and chooses the savory one, and he doesn¡¯t know how to judge properly. If not this time, he would have made a failure like this any time.¡±] [¡°I said he would inherit everything. Dame should have looked after Lawrence.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m looking for someone to follow, not someone to look after, Your Majesty.¡±] [¡°Harper.¡±] [¡°I have be your majesty¡¯s servant because you deserve to be followed. Sir Lawrence was dear to His Majesty, and you wanted to empower him.¡±] Amalie said with a serious face. [¡°But I am a soldier, Your Majesty. I am in a ce where lifees and goes. Even if there are tens of thousands of troops in front of you, you have to believe that themand you are given is correct and jump in blindly, and you have tomand your subordinates to do so.¡±] [¡°Harper.¡±] [¡°How can I obey the orders of the one I need to take care of?¡±] Amalie didn¡¯t care if she was demoted, so she said what she wanted to say. ¡ª *an idiom, means to be so nervous. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Proofreader: somnium When Amalie spoke in the conference room that day, she had already anticipated the current situation. It was a statement that could not be said that she was trying to take care of Lawrence with a loyal heart. However it is a statement that cannot be said to have rebelled against the Emperor. Amalie knew for sure that it was impossible to put it as evidence. So, she was even more casual. She was prepared to fly outside the eyes of the Emperor. It didn¡¯t matter though. Because she believed Cedric would be Emperor, and she intends to make it so. It was okay to be deposed or dismissed, or even if the Emperor was more aggressive than she thought and sent out sentences such as exile. Emperor Gregor was a setting sun. And it won¡¯t be long before the new sun rises. She now made her presence known not only to Artizea, but also to Cedric. This incident also well established her position. Even if there were some hardships, the new Emperor¡¯s endowment would make up for it all. The Emperor was angry, as she expected. However, he did not punish Amalie. He had to keep the military from swaying, as they might be at war with the Kingdom of Eimmel. Besides, Amalie wasn¡¯t the only one involved. At the meeting that day, most of them were unsuspecting even after hearing Amalie¡¯s remarks. As Amalie said, there was no one that got agitated. It was a story worth telling. All of them could not be punished for the same crime. Moreover, even if that¡¯s not so, in a situation where there are few people who can be used, there will be no more reliable servants left under. For the mere fact that she had spoken the wrong thing to his son, he could not disown his ever faithful servant. Even more so at the point when he no longer has any expectations for his son. ¡®Hoo¡­¡­.¡¯ The more he thought about it, the more painful his bones hurt, and the Emperor stared at the air. He knew well that Amalie was greedy for power. She was willing toply with the Emperor¡¯s will when he wanted to put people around Lawrence. So, her attitude was even more shocking. Because it meant that she had judged Lawrence as someone that she couldn¡¯t do anything about. The Emperor ordered Amalie to be on probation and finished the work. Amalie said onest time. [¡°Allow me the grace to speak frankly, Your Majesty. Sir Lawrence is a person who does not know how to be grateful.¡±] [¡°Harper.¡±] [¡°If I swear with all my heart and ept Sir Lawrence¡¯s decree, what does it mean? Would a person who has no gratitude for his parents value public servants?¡±] So she concluded that she had no desire to be Lawrence¡¯s public servant. Every word Amalie said that day gave the Emperor a headache, but nothing daggered into his chest as she had said at the end. Combined with the statement that Lawrence didn¡¯t know where his power wasing from, it was all the more so. The Emperor was strangled in his throat and pulled a ss of water. Since the royal court prohibited drinking alcohol, he wished he could drink a lot of cool water, but the chief attendant seldom gave it to him. He missed Mira very much. Countess Eunice said when she saw the Emperor drinking two sses of lukewarm water in a row. ¡°If you are thirsty, would you like some honey? There are medicines and herbs that are good for fatigue recovery with honey.¡± ¡°Hmm. Did you bring it?¡± He didn¡¯t really want to drink honey, but the Emperor asked, because he thought that his daughter¡¯s sincerity would make him feel better. Countess Eunice said. ¡°It was made by Fiona. Fiona had recently gone to see Baron Morten Heir Apparent. Baron Morten Heir Apparent is making it for Grand Duchess Evron, so she says she¡¯s been ying around and making it together.¡± With all the ingredients and the bottle ready, she just poured it as instructed, so it wasn¡¯t something Fiona could say that she made. But Fiona was quite proud. Still, the Emperor smiled. Fiona was his first granddaughter. She was cute no matter what. ¡°You seem to not like Baron Morten Heir Apparent.¡± ¡°For the kids, I think the things Baron Morten Heir Apparent is doing are new and interesting. After all, she¡¯s a strangely good-looking young girl who does something the maids would do.¡± Countess Eunice said so. And she called the attendant and made them bring the jar of honey and warm water. The Emperor took the lukewarm honey water that Countess Eunice had brewed herself and cast his gaze into the air for a moment. And he came up with a name he had never thought to be associated with. It was naturally aroused by the thought of the honey water and the connection between Baron Morten Heir Apparent, Lysia, and Artizea. ¡°What do you think about Cedric?¡± ¡°Cedric? He¡¯s a good person.¡± Countess Eunice answered without much thought. The Emperor slowly took another sip of the honey water and asked again. ¡°Think more seriously. If Cedric sits on the throne, do you think your family will be able to live in peace?¡± ¡°Father¡­¡­.¡± Countess Eunice, in her dismay, stopped her hand from the massage, and she returned to the Emperor¡¯s side and knelt on one of her knees. This was the first time that Cedric¡¯s name was raised by the Emperor¡¯s mouth while discussing heirs. Just because she was his daughter, she didn¡¯t dare say anything rude. Countess Eunice was sweating on her back. She wondered why he was asking her this. The Emperor set down his ss of honey and leaned forward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Are you afraid that I will find fault in you and throw you away?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I can say carelessly¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it irrelevant to you?¡± The Emperor let out a long sigh. ¡°When I said I would take Lawrence as my heir, how could I not have been concerned about you? Even though I made it clear that by choosing your brother it would not jeopardize the family and the life of the family by trespassing in these matters, you never know if it will happen.¡± Said the Emperor. ¡°Lawrence isn¡¯t friendly to you, but isn¡¯t he still your blood brother? For the safety of you and your children, it would have been more at ease for Lawrence to be here.¡± In order to supplement Lawrence¡¯sck of legitimacy, he must have the support of his subjects. He knew that Lawrence didn¡¯t have the skills to gain legitimacy on his own, so he tried to bring that in. However, he realized that he was losing the hearts of his subjects in this way, so the future was bleak. The power he had built up throughout his life seemed more at stake than ever. If there is no child to hand it over, no matter howrge and strong a castle is, it is just an empty shell. Eventually, he had to pass it on to someone. ¡°But now Lawrence was like that.¡± The Emperor muttered. Countess Eunice couldn¡¯t open her mouth again easily because she was speechless. She couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯ll be safe if her blood brother Lawrence ascends. It was not something to be said when Emperor Gregor himself proved that the lives of his own brothers and sisters were not so valuable when the imperial power was at stake. However, she could not speak those words directly to the Emperor. Countess Eunice said cautiously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I¡¯m not really close with Lawrence. In addition¡­¡­, I never told Father, but I had a really big fight with Lawrence¡¯s biological mother.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Compared to that, I am more reassured with Cedric. I¡¯m not even close to Cedric, but he¡¯s not going to threaten my family or anything because of his power.¡± The Emperor was submerged in it. Countess Eunice felt her chest flutter. He called her adorable, but the Emperor never had her as an important counselor. Artizea told her when she met herst year. [¡°His Majesty is wise, and there are many thoughtful subjects around to seek opinions, but there are very few whom he can discuss anything with as a family.¡±] [¡°Father is not someone who reflects the wishes of his children or lover in national affairs just because they are his favourite.¡±] [¡°No. I didn¡¯t mean to take an opinion. It¡¯s like human nature to confide in someone you can feel safe about.¡±] [¡°That¡¯s possible.¡±] [¡°You just say what you want to say and you will only push it to the extent that this person is also thinking like so. Nevertheless¡­¡­ The story you hear at that moment has a greater impact than you think.¡±] Countess Eunice regretted that at the time she had answered coldly. She didn¡¯t think back then that this moment woulde. Had she asked a little more, she might have had helpful advice. Artizea once said this too. [¡°Don¡¯t lie to His Majesty, Countess Eunice. His Majesty is a man of many doubts, and he sees the truth of people very well.¡±] Countess Eunice made up her mind. She can¡¯t tell a lie anyway. Countess Eunice realized how clumsy the lies and tricks she was telling while talking with Artizea were. The Emperor¡¯s eyes twinkled over her wrinkled eyes. ¡°Have you ever felt sad?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Come to think about it, both you and Lawrence are in the same position, but I never said that I would make you my heirs.¡± Countess Eunice took a deep breath. ¡°I would be lying if I said I never felt sad.¡± The Emperorughed as if he knew that. Countess Eunice lowered her eyes. ¡°But now I am acutely aware that I was not the vessel for that.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. I must have let Father down. Rather than that, it¡¯s better to feelfortable like this. I also understand why Father chose my ambitious and wealthy husband.¡± Countess Eunice thought that she herself could not afford even half of what had happened under the waters in thest year. Had it been herself, she probably wouldn¡¯t have even noticed the existence of so many conspiracies. ¡°I also have children, Father. Now all I want is for those kids after Father¡¯s death, and until they forget that they are the granddaughters of Father, to live safely and as wealthy as they are now.¡± The Emperor understood the meaning underlying it. The sessionws and customs were disrupted when the Emperor used his authority to ce Lawrence on the line of session. Emperor Gregor himself ascended to the throne as the predecessor Empress¡¯ adopted son, it added to the situation that he was originally an illegitimate child. He gave the impression that if the illegitimates had blood and a deep affection, they could seed. Grand Duke Roygar will not tolerate it. Because he has had years of beingpared to Lawrence and was threatened. So he will one day endanger her daughters as well. Not to mention Lawrence and Mira. Grand Duke Roygar couldn¡¯t keep them alive. The Emperor thought for a while, then muttered to himself. ¡°What a ridiculous thing to do.¡± ¡°Father¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even if you give them affection for a long time, even if you build trust and loyalty, and even if you try hard to teach, in the end the thing you can trust is a person with a good nature.¡± The Emperor drank the remaining honey water. Then he buried himself in the armchair and fell into deep thought. Chapter 173 Chapter 173Proofreader: somnium War was not what the Krates Empire wanted. More than anything else, military supplies were a problem. It was the Duchy of Riagan who decided to take responsibility for the supplies of the conquest in the South. It was very difficult to take arge amount of material from central to there. In addition, it was because the southern part of the country used to regrly solicit pirate subjugation. The Duke of Riagan was suppressed by the Eimmel Kingdom Army, so he could not move hastily. So did the Southern Army. If the system worked well, the Southern Army had to make a single move independent of the Duchy of Riagan to intercept the Eimmel Kingdom Army. However, the Southern Armymanders, who were close to the Duke of Riagan, did not move hastily. To make matters worse, Cadriol attacked the strategic points, as if he knew where the Southern Army military warehouses were, disrupting the chain of supplies. In the end, the central had to send down a person in charge who would arrange everything. ¡°Now you have to make a decision.¡± The priests urged the Emperor to make a decision every day. ¡°We must punish the Eimmel Kingdom so that it will never invade the Empire¡¯s territory again.¡± ¡°Is war so easy? Sanctions against the Kingdom of Eimmel should be sufficient as economic sanctions. Stop all trade and issue a decree that bans all exchanges with the Eimmel Kingdom, including the Iantz Kingdom and the small southern kingdoms.¡± ¡°What kingdom would recognize and follow an empire whose territory has been invaded and the Emperor¡¯s parent¡¯snd destroyed as a great power? An empire is an empire because it has the power to subdue all nations.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say that it is so and then win against the Eimmel Kingdom. Even if the victory was won by consuming huge amounts of material, if the Duchy of Riagan was destroyed, it would be a loss of face anyway!¡± The battle between the group that advocates for war and the group that advocates for reconciliation and peace was tense. A fact-finding investigation surrounding Terry Ford was conducted separately. Dealing with the Eimmel Kingdom is something to be done with the face and justification of the Krates Empire at the center. The Empire would never admit that the assassination of a queen had anything to do with them. But even if it was external, they had to know the facts. All persons suspected of having had contact with Terry Ford, including Viscount Hoden, were detained and subjected to harsh interrogation. Some of them were found guilty of other corruption in the process and were punished. In the capital, more people were interested in this than the disputes with other countries in the southern provinces. After all, the Eimmel Kingdom is a small country. Most of them thought that no matter what happened there, there would be nothing special happening to the Empire. Therefore, what the nobles paid attention to was the situation of the Duchy of Riagan and the direction of the sessor. Because of this, Lawrence was fired from his position as Secretary of State and was ced under probation at his home. The suspicion grew even more when it was revealed that Terry Ford had a grudge against Marchioness Camellia. However, in the end, the identity of the person behind it was not revealed. This is because all evidence was cut off in the Kingdom of Iantz. However, there were rumors that the Emperor¡¯s investigators knew it and covered it up. That was the basis for iming that Lawrence had done it. If the Emperor didn¡¯t push him, Lawrence didn¡¯t have any legitimacy to im. So was the im to power. Therefore, if the Emperor¡¯s favorites could no longer cover his faults, he could no longer be the Emperor¡¯s heir. And the spark of this incident flew at Grand Duke Roygar. It was also in the wrong direction he hadn¡¯t thought of. ¡°Is Ga still in the room?¡± Grand Duke Roygar took off his robe and left it to the butler. The butler answered with an apologetic face. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How about a meal?¡± ¡°Sk brought it in, but she didn¡¯t even put it in her mouth.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already been four days. What do you mean?¡± The butler bowed his head at the harsh words. It was the fourth day that Grand Duchess Roygary down and stopped eating. Marchioness Camelliaforted her and Marquis Luden even went for a visit, but to no avail. Lying on the bed, she talked only with her older sister, Marchioness Camellia, and never tried to converse with anyone else. ¡°The kids?¡± ¡°Madam doesn¡¯t even want to see the Misses. She¡¯s afraid they¡¯ll be worried.¡± Grand Duke Roygar clicked his tongue. ¡°Bring me some pomegranate juice. Cool it down.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She¡¯ll be angry when she sees his face, but when his wife is sick, how can he pretend he doesn¡¯t know. Soon the butler brought a ss of pomegranate juice. Grand Duke Roygar took the cup with his own hands and knocked on the door of the Grand Duchess¡¯ bedroom. ¡°Ga. It¡¯s me.¡± There was no answer from inside. ¡°I will go in.¡± Even after speaking, Grand Duke Roygar remained polite and waited for a while. Then the door swung open. Sk raised her head and said cautiously. ¡°Wee, Uncle. Aunt is feeling ¡­¡­ not very good right now.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this the fourth day? How is she?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there is anything I can say.¡± ¡°Thedy-in-waiting is just you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Grand Duke Roygar motioned for Sk toe out. ¡°I must go in.¡± Sk didn¡¯t bother to stop Grand Duke Roygar. For four days, Grand Duke Roygar had been patient enough. When Grand Duke Roygar entered the bedroom, he held his breath and all the maids waiting here and there stopped the sound of their footsteps and disappeared outside. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar, who had probably heard and knew what was going on right away, turned around and didn¡¯t even pretend to listen. ¡°I brought the pomegranate juice you like. Just take a sip.¡± With the juice at her bedside and sitting next to her, Grand Duke Roygar gave a friendly voice. Grand Duchess Roygar opened her mouth. ¡°Leave me alone. I¡¯m going to starve to death.¡± ¡°Honey. Don¡¯t do that. I didn¡¯t say I had anything to do with it.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar tapped Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s hand as he was about to stroke her cheek. And she looked at Grand Duke Roygar with a face full of tantrums. ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you like that?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m stupid, don¡¯t you? Or you think that thedy named Ford must have forgotten who she was talking about.¡± ¡°You know that nothing happened with Lady Ford. Your sister even confirmed it, did you forget?¡± ¡°You think I don¡¯t even have ears? So what kind of money did that Terry Ford woman have to buy herself a title, so she could properly pretend to be noble?¡± Grand Duchess Roygar tried to get up and was dizzy. Grand Duke Roygar hurriedly supported her and sat her leaning against the cushion. Then he put pomegranate juice on her lips. ¡°Ga, don¡¯t be stubborn. And if you copse because of this, what do I and the kids do?¡± Grand Duchess Roygar flinched. However, from the beginning, she was raised to be precious, and she had a temper that could not tolerate suffering well. If she had been stubborn for four days, she would have endured enough. She was very thirsty and the pomegranate juice was so fragrant. It has been one of her favorite drinks since forever. Grand Duchess Roygar finally took a sip of the juice. Then, she tried to make her voice cold and hard. ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t trust you. You liked that girl.¡± ¡°Terry Ford and I have nothing to do with each other. Really. Didn¡¯t you hear people say it was all Lawrence? To frame your sister.¡± Grand Duke Roygar sighed and said. It was an idea that Grand Duke Roygar had never imagined. In case there was any misunderstanding, he wanted to keep it out of the ears of the Grand Duchess if possible. But as Lawrence¡¯s arrest and further action seemed to be taking ce, the socialites and salons were aze with the story. Grand Duchess Roygar also heard that the assassin of Queen Eimmel, Mrs. Lexen, was a woman named Terry Ford. And Grand Duchess Roygar remembered the name of Lady Ford. Her husband¡¯s interest in another woman remained as a rare and painful memory of her life¡¯s ups and downs. ¡°Don¡¯t me my sister. What my sister did was always for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to deny it.¡± Grand Duke Roygar spoke as softly as he could. Grand Duchess Roygar said with eyes reddened by her tears. ¡°So, you didn¡¯t do it because you were sorry for what my sister did?¡± ¡°Your sister did nothing. She said that woman¡¯s sistermitted suicide. Perhaps she was deceived by Lawrence, too. Poor thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But I guess the woman was invested such a huge sum for whatever reason and was given a business in the South. His Majesty said either Lawrence had done it, or that he would have gone with the Duke of Iantz. Don¡¯t believe what people say without knowing.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar was silent. Then she burst into tears. ¡°I am upset.¡± ¡°Then, stop crying and drink more pomegranate juice. Your pretty face will be swollen.¡± ¡°You keep giving me a hard time.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that it was all a misunderstanding?¡± In the end, Grand Duchess Roygar nodded her head. ¡°Then are you going to eat right now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make me so sad.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar did not answer this time again, but her mood had softened considerably. Grand Duke Roygar patted her hair once more and stood up. He was astonished and bewildered when Terry Ford¡¯s affairs were revealed. He was only concerned about the involvement of his faction nobles through Viscount Weave. He never thought that Grand Duchess Roygar would misunderstand it this way. It really was an unexpected spark. As he stepped outside, he said to Sk, who was waiting outside the door. ¡°Bring her some soft soup or something. Now, if you rmend it several times, she¡¯ll eat because she can¡¯t win.¡± ¡°Will aunt be okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay because she¡¯s just ranting. Pleasefort her. Doesn¡¯t Ga like you very much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sk bowed her head in obedience. Grand Duke Roygar sighed heavily and strode towards the study. Originally, he could have yed a big part in this. As a means of attacking Lawrence, or as a means of expanding his influence over the southern provinces. But now he could not reach out his hands or feet. No matter what he did, the Grand Duchess must have misunderstood and wept when she heard the news. ¡®Tsk.¡¯ He loved his wife. But he wondered if it would have been better if he had had a moreradely spouse than the innocent and loving wife at this time. ¡°A guest is waiting for you.¡± The butler said, ¡°I made him wait in the library.¡± There were not many guests who were greeted directly to the study rather than the parlor. There was no oneing tonight. Grand Duke Roygar looked at the butler curiously. The butler said in a low voice. ¡°He was from the Duchy of Riagan. He came here right from the Empress¡¯ pce, so I took him to the study.¡± Grand Duke Roygar clenched his fist. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Proofreader: somnium As Grand Duke Roygar entered the parlor, the guest stood up. He was a man who looked to be in his thirties. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duke Roygar. I am Boertz from Riagan.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Duke Riagan is my uncle. My father is the fourth younger brother of Duke Riagan. I am now the mayor of Meld.¡± Boertz introduced himself like that. He has been living in the South since birth. In the South, he had a fairly good name due to the fact that he was from the background of the Duchy of Riagan¡¯s family, but Grand Duke Roygar did not know about it. ¡°If it¡¯s the city of Meld, isn¡¯t it a transportation hub in the South? It¡¯s surprising that a young man like you is the mayor. I can see how capable you are.¡± At Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s words, Boertz was astonished. The city of Meld was a transportation city that could be said to be quite well-known in the South. However, it was not arge city that would have been known to other regions. It would be known to business or those who travel all the way to the South to trade, but it was surprising that someone in a high position like Grand Duke Roygar knew it. As Mayor of Meld, Boertz became a little proud. And a little respect for Grand Duke Roygar also developed. ¡°Thanks to my uncle for trusting me and giving me the opportunity.¡± ¡°You must be very grateful to Duke Riagan.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Boertz replied with his head slightly bowed. Usually, such a career was possible only for the rtives of the great nobles, unless it was a very outstanding person. And Boertz was the most capable among the nephews of Duke Riagan, and was trusted by the Duke. Therefore, Boertz knew how important it was to him that the Ducal couple remained in the position of Duke Riagan. If in the past the Riagan Ducal couple had betrayed their predecessor and did not attach themselves to the Emperor, he would have been at best a distant rtive of the Riagan Ducal couple. The boundaries also vary. Although they continued to interact and sometimes maintain rtionships by sending in children as servants or maids, this was not the case with the Boertz¡¯s family. Even if Boertz were actively seeking out anding and going to greet, he wouldn¡¯t have been any better than the rest of the guests. But Boertz is now the nephew of Duke Riagan. Duke Riagan adored his capable nephew, giving him a great opportunity and has his back. He certainly deserved to devote himself to. Therefore, when the Duchy of Riagan was surrounded by the Eimmel Kingdom Army, Boertz immediately abandoned the city administration and headed to the Duke¡¯s House. And he took the risk, staying nearby and trying to get in touch with the inside. And he managed to get in touch with the duke. The Duke wrote to Boertz: [I¡¯m worried that the response ising toote from the capital. It¡¯s been a long time since the Southern Conquest Army went out, but don¡¯t tell me they turned around. His Majesty may be halting it, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s going to believe in the cause of the Eimmel Kingdom.] Boertz knew that the Southern Conquest Army had not returned, but that they had stopped en route. But he had no way of telling the Duke about it. He goes to the capital and appeals to His Majesty. He wrote a letter, but that alone is unsettling. If there is a war, they will be able to protect the face of the Empire. However, the Duchy of Riagan would be destroyed, so only war must be stopped. If the Empire deres war, Prince Cadriol will start by burning and plundering the Duchy of Riagan. Therefore, he must persuade the peace and reconciliation faction, but he must not allow the Duchy of Riagan to admit their faults and conclude that they will reconcile with the Eimmel Kingdom by paying a reasonable level ofpensation. If that happens, the Ducal couple will be responsible for all the sins. If that happens, even if the name of the Duchy of Riagan may be preserved, it will no longer be entrusted to the present Ducal couple. And if the current Duchy of Riagan falls, Boertz¡¯s family will also fall. It was not simply a matter of blocking the path to sess, but they could also be the family of a sinner. First of all, it is most important to convince His Majesty. His Majesty may again want to turn people around and strengthen his influence. It wouldn¡¯t be strange to think that the Ducal couple had covered His Majesty¡¯s eyes and acted however they wanted in the South. He has to tell His Majesty that the Ducal couple did not have any genuine disloyalty, but that they were only greedy for a little wealth because they were a small person. As long as His Majesty forgives the Ducal couple, the subjects and aides will n the rest. The Duke sent his seal and power of attorney together to make sure Boertz could draw as much money and personal connections as he needed from the businesses of the capital. So Boertz ran to the capital. But he did not want to meet the Emperor, as Duke Riagan said. Instead of entering as Duke Riagan¡¯s agent, he quietly entered the capital. Duke Riagan insisted on persuading the Emperor, but Boertz didn¡¯t think it would be possible. As soon as he entered the central region, the first news he heard was about the Southern Conquest Army. Lawrence¡¯s involvement in the assassination of Queen Eimmel left the Southern Conquest Army in a state of unable to move. If so, it would not be easy to convince the Emperor. Even though Duke Riagan had not intervened in the central power struggle and was not in a position to do so, it was not that he was not interested in the future of the Empire¡¯s heirs. How far will the Emperor cover his son¡¯s mistake in trying to make him his heir? The central problem was neither Queen Eimmel nor the war, but that. Lawrence did something worthy of questioning, even if it was the Emperor¡¯s deficit. Therefore, no matter how much the Emperor loved him, he could not easily turn it into something that had never happened. If the Emperor was determined to protect Lawrence, he wouldpletely deny the ims of the Eimmel Kingdom and wage war. Otherwise, everything will be dealt with by Duke Riagan. If the Emperor had decided to save the Duchy of Riagan, then something would have already been done when he received the petition written by Duke Riagan. If not, it is likely to be thrown away. Boertz interpreted it that way. In that case, it is not the Emperor who he has to convince. He had to force the Emperor to decide to save the Duchy of Riagan. The first thing that came to mind for Boertz was the Empress¡¯ Pce. The butler of Duke Riagan¡¯s residence in the capital informed the news about the Empress. [¡°Her Majesty the Empress has softened.¡±] [¡°What do you mean she has softened?¡±] [¡°She opened the door to the Empress¡¯ Pce and had herdy-in-waiting open a salon. At the wedding of Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Evron, she attended as the elder of the Grand Duchess, and she was escorted by His Majesty the Emperor.¡±] Boertz listened to what happened after that, and considered it carefully. If that were the case, rather than fighting for the Duchy of Riagan now, he could have revoked the old feelings and chose to protect the name of the family. The Empress was a proud member of the Duchy of Riagan. So she would not want the Emperor¡¯s will to control the fate of the Duchy of Riagan twice. If he had known that the Riagan Ducal couple were involved in the assassination of the predecessor Ducal couple, Boertz would not have thought so foolishly. But he didn¡¯t know. So it felt like a win-win. Boertz ced a huge bribe in the Empress¡¯ Pce. It was because he hoped that the people around the Empress would even add a single word to the good words. However, it was not the Empress, but herdy-in-waiting, Countess Martha, who appeared in the difficulty epted audience. [¡°I am Martha.¡±] The old, faithfuldy-in-waiting replied briefly. Boertz had noints. Because he knew Countess Martha was from the South and has served the Empress since her unmarried days He thought there was a possibility, but Countess Martha was apathetic even when she saw the seal and power of attorney of Duke Riagan that Boertz showed. [¡°Her Majesty has decided not to engage in any political affairs anymore.¡±] [¡°However, the Duchy of Riagan will go extinct if she doesn¡¯t do it.¡±] [¡°If it is the result of a mistake, it would be unavoidable.¡±] [¡°The Riagan Ducal couple are thinking of preserving the family. If Her Majesty the Empress saves them, they will return the things that belong to Her Majesty to Her Majesty¡¯s hands and apologize.¡±] Bohrtz said earnestly. [¡°Please arrange an opportunity for an audience. I will prove to Her Majesty the sincerity of the Duchy of Riagan.¡±] He opened the gift box dedicated to the Empress. It contained a ne and earring set made by dividing a fist-sized sapphire into three pieces. Such noble items were notmon in the Empire. When it was mined in a certain sapphire mine in the South, Duke Riagan bought it secretly and made it. Heter had ambitions to debut his granddaughter in the capital as Riagan¡¯s legitimate descendant. It was saved for use at the time. Aside from that, a carriage full of artworks Duke Riagan had prepared in the capital was waiting outside. In addition, Boertz bribed Countess Martha with a box full of polished gems. Still, Countess Martha remained with a pitiful face. [¡°I¡¯ll take the gift. However, the Empress will not ept the audience.¡±] [¡°Countess, please¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°I¡¯ll give you some advice with sincerity.¡±] Boertz cleared his mind. It was advice given by ady who lived her whole life as ady-in-waiting of the Empress in the imperial pce in return for the treasure. She deserved to be listened to. Countess Martha said, [¡°Of the remaining assets of the Duchy of Riagan, none of them will be able to convince other influential people on the issues that concern the capital most.¡±] It meant that he was not in a position to express his support for the next Emperor and be treated as a great noble. She was right. If not, the Duchy of Riagan would immediatelye to the capital and y a part in the session battle. [¡°But the management of the huge business that supports the imperial treasury is still entrusted to the name of Riagan. Think about who will covet it.¡±] Boertz wasn¡¯t foolish, so he quickly understood what she was saying. The Duchy of Riagan has no rights or powers as a great noble. Therefore, it is impossible to enter a faction and receive its protection. However, they were in charge of several national projects in the southern provinces, from shipbuilding to trade of salt and mines. And some of them were irreceable in other regions. Who will covet it? Who can recognize its value? Who can ept this issue as a transactional issue rather than a political one? There was no room to think. So Boertz headed straight to the mansion of Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°I havee to appeal to Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Boertz said in an earnest tone. Grand Duke Roygar stroked his chin once. ¡°The Empress did not listen to you?¡± Boertz cleared his mind in surprise. Grand Duke Roygar was the first heir to the Empire and a powerful man in the capital. It shouldn¡¯t be difficult to figure out where Boertz came from. Chapter 175 Boertz bowed his head deeply. ¡°Countess Martha said that Her Majesty will never get involved in politics at all.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Grand Duke Roygar let out a sigh of relief. If Countess Martha had said it, it must have been true. He had a rough guess. Up until now, she had remained silent in the affairs of the Duchy of Riagan, and quiet in the affairs of Lawrence. In the end, the reason that the Empress attended herdy-in-waiting, Grand Duchess Evron¡¯s wedding was to separate Mira and Lawrence. And the result is now proved by Lawrence¡¯s plight. ¡®But. It was unlikely that Her Majesty would recognize anyone not of her blood as heirs of the Empire.¡¯ Grand Duke Roygar nodded his head. Only the foolish Lawrence was trying in vain. It wasn¡¯t new information, but it was good information to be able to confirm like this. ¡®The problem is with Grand Duchess Evron. Was Grand Duchess Evron also deceived by the Empress? Or was she trying to mediate in an appropriate way?¡¯ Otherwise, there is something else going on inside her mind. Recently, Grand Duke Roygar has been feeling increasingly pressured by Cedric. The duel pistol that Cedric gave was in the drawer of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s study desk. Since then, Cedric hasn¡¯t threatened or done anything in particr. The Emperor kept Cedric in check by giving him honor and difficulties at the same time. For now, it seemed that Cedric was struggling to adapt and fulfill his duties in central politics. Even when he encountered Grand Duke Roygar, he only greeted with the same calm face as before. However, one side of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s heart was always anxious. It wasn¡¯t the kind of sense of crisis he had when he was fighting Lawrence or when he was afraid of being rebuked by the Emperor. He can¡¯t win even if he fights. It was like a boy-like anxiety before he was about to make a fist fight. He cleared the depths of his heart. And he looked at Boertz. Now was not the time to think about the problems of Grand Duchy Evron. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you meet His Majesty the Emperor first? If it is news from the Duchy of Riagan, the Imperial Pce must be waiting for it.¡± ¡°Actually, Duke Riagan also told me to plead with His Majesty.¡± Boertz did not hide his sigh. ¡°But, His Majesty, will he save the Duchy of Riagan just because of my appeal? If that was the case, it must have been decided when the Duke¡¯s petition went up.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°So I havee to ask Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°Why will people like us do the things that neither His Majesty the Emperor nor Her Majesty the Empress will do?¡± Then he opened the box that Boertz had brought and showed to him. What was in it was nothing like a bribe. It was the seal and power of attorney of the Duke Riagan. ¡°First of all, I would like to tell you that the promise I make to save the Duchy of Riagan will have the same effect as what the Duke has done.¡± ¡°This is not simply a matter for the Duchy of Riagan to get involved in a difficult task. It¡¯s an important affair, and nothing less than an international dispute. The Duchy of Riagan is even med for the assassination of Queen Eimmel.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Your Grace think that it¡¯s unfair? We are just pleading for help in clearing the false usations.¡± said Boertz. And he bowed his head. He found it difficult to speak this way to the great nobility of the capital. It was because if it was a noble who valued face more than the real profit, he would be yelling at Boertz for what he saw Boertz as. ¡°The Duchy of Riagan faces not only persecution in the Kingdom of Eimmel, but also another fear. At this rate, the heavy duty that His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted to the Duchy of Riagan will be disrupted.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Duke Riagan fears it. No matter how we finish this task safely, if next year prices soar and damage the health of our people, how will we be able to withstand the continuing usations and responsibility that follows?¡± Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s eyes lit up. It was because he now knew that what Boertz was talking about was the story of the South Sea salt. The Duchy of Riagan had monopoly rights on the South Sea salt. Strictly speaking, it belongs to the Emperor. In order to not be told by the outside that he robbed it while purging the predecessor Duke Riagan, he merely established the present Duke Riagan and entrusted it to him. And South Sea salt was used in the central, eastern, and southern parts of the empire. The profits from it were enormous. To the extent that it is necessary to discuss the percentage of South Sea salt in Emperor Gregor¡¯s vital natural treasury. That was one of the biggest reasons why the Emperor did not have time to mourn the death of his children and hit the Duchy of Riagan. And it was also the reason why the enterprises and the greatndowners who now support Grand Duke Roygar, sped their purse strings tightly, and no matter how hard they tried, they could not shake the Emperor in the slightest. It came out of the mouth of the one who had Duke Riagan¡¯s power of attorney. Grand Duke Roygar couldn¡¯t help but pay attention. Boertz said. ¡°Even if measures are taken from this very moment, salt distribution next year will be disrupted. If Your Grace listens to this petition, I believe you will also be able to introduce people who can be trusted and entrust the distribution in the eastern region.¡± It meant that he would entrust the official salt distribution of the eastern region to the businesses within the reach of Grand Duke Roygar. So far, it has been evenly distributed at the businesses of several ces, and the price is also controlled. Even if the salt was resold, it was possible only because the state did not manage all the retail items. However, this meant that they would stop the practice and leave it entirely to Grand Duke Roygar; to add one more distribution process. Grand Duke Roygar was able to estimate the gains toe from there. It wasn¡¯t just about profit. It meant that he could strengthen the influence of the merchants that had been distributing salt in the eastern region so far. Of course, Grand Duke Roygar had no intention of crossing the dangerous bridge on his own. ¡°His Majesty must have given you instructions, do you mean to break them recklessly?¡± ¡°The guidelines given by the central government do not always fit the situation. His Majesty is not aware of all the salt making and distribution.¡± said Boertz. ¡°I would like to entrust it to Grand Duke.¡± It meant the salt that the Emperor was not aware of, that is, coarse salt. Grand Duke Roygar also understood. It has been 18 years since Duke Riagan took over the management of South Sea salt. The coarse salt he made himself and its distribution. He couldn¡¯t help but covet it. £ª£ª£ª ¡°Is this really enough?¡± Countess Martha asked. Artizea bowed her head. ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± ¡°He visited the Empress¡¯ Pce. How dare Fernando¡¯s nephew.¡± Countess Martha could not hide her displeasure. She received an instruction from Artizea, and she endured and agreed to meet him as it would eventually lead to the Empress¡¯ wish. Words like spoken advice were also put in her mouth. But she was terribly offended that the traitor had brought the bribe from the Duchy of Riagan that was umted from the stolen wealth, and she could not stand it. Artizea decided to immediately take the property that was in the carriage and dispose of it. However, she threw the jewelry she had received out of the window. She hated holding it. ¡°Because Fernando Riagan and his wife kept the fact that they were involved in the ident of the former Ducal couple a secret. Especially in the South.¡± Of course, it was not a secret to those close to power. But that was 18 years ago. And in the meantime, the Riagan Ducal couple kept their silence in the South. Eighteen years ago, when he was only nine years old, Boertz could never have not heard of the truth. He was aware of the fact that his uncle and his wife had betrayed their predecessors. However, he knew only that the betrayal was attached to the Emperor after their idental death and he had been given the title in exchange for the transfer of important rights of the Duchy Riagan. Artizea knew that for sure. After more than 10 years, he became a dignified bureaucrat and was called up to the capital. So it wasn¡¯t difficult for him toe to the Empress¡¯ Pce. He first bribed the butler of Duke Riagan¡¯s residence in the capital so that he would hear about the Empress. In addition, through several routes, the story of the Empress missing the Duchy of Riagan in the middle of her life was blown into his ears. Boertz was a thoughtful man in his own way, so he fell into a trap. If he had met the Emperor or visited the Chancellor ording to the secret order from Duke Riagan, things would have been a little moreplicated. ¡°However.¡± Countess Martha, who had chewed on her hatred for a moment, calmed down and looked at Artizea. ¡°What are you going to do by having Grand Duke Roygar intervene in Southern affairs?¡± Rather, wouldn¡¯t it be better to just keep doing nothing like now? Lawrence has ruined the Southern Conquest Army. If Grand Duke Roygar does a great contribution of wisely resolving disputes with other countries in the South, he will establish himself as the Emperor¡¯s sessor. Considering Artizea¡¯s purpose to raise Cedric to the throne, it was something she shouldn¡¯t have done. Conversely, it was difficult for Grand Duke Roygar to make a big mistake. If only Grand Duke Roygar was killed, it would not be easy to think that Cedric would be the next sessor. If that happens, the Emperor¡¯s suspicions and checks will be concentrated on one person, Cedric. It would not have been enough to prepare for that yet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Grand Duke Roygar is a good negotiator.¡± ¡°His Majesty has been very sensitive to Sir Lawrence¡¯s affairs, and suspicions have been heightened. Grand Duke Roygar must know that it is not good for him to intervene.¡± ¡°So it was requested by the Duchy of Riagan. If it wasn¡¯t for the South Sea salt, he wouldn¡¯t be able to move.¡± The South Sea salt flickered in front of his eyes, and so there was no way Grand Duke Roygar would not do anything. Even if the name Lady Ford is rted. For Grand Duke Roygar, it would be just a bit of a gritty matter, like a stone in a shoe. ¡°Are you nning to tie up not only the Eimmel problem, but also the coarse salt? Would that be simple?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. His Majesty the Emperor knew that Fernando Riagan had another pocket, but he must have thought that it was only contributing to the old man¡¯s livelihood.¡± Above all else, the Emperor does not know how greedy Grand Duke Roygar is. Artizea smiled. ¡°So Grand Duke Roygar would want to go down south to do it himself.¡± As long as Grand Duke Roygar goes down south personally, Artizea¡¯s purpose is achieved. It was hoped that the coarse salt smuggling would not be revealed. It is a mortal sin to tamper with the Emperor¡¯s finances, but it would end up being a personal sin of one Grand Duke Roygar. He couldn¡¯t do that. The power of Grand Duke Roygar has deep roots. The wealthy and powerful nobles and the enterprises who entered politics had to bepletely lifted for the sake of future reign. ¡®What is needed is that much justification.¡¯ Artizea thought so. Chapter 176 Finally, the Emperor made a decision. ¡°The Eimmel Kingdom was the first to dere war. If we are invaded, we cannot help but defend.¡± The Emperor dered. ¡°If they really wanted to uncover the background behind the Queen¡¯s assassination in the Eimmel Kingdom, they should have politely requested cooperation in the investigation, rather than raising an army to invade.¡± And he said this too. ¡°Although the truth is not certain, it is difficult to tolerate the act of using a subject of the Empire as an assassin and then assaulting us. The Prince of Eimmel does not want to reveal the truth, but raises an army recklessly, so the truth is deeply questionable. As a protector who protects the subjects and honor of the Krates Empire, I want to rify the truth of this matter clearly and hold the Eimmel Kingdom ountable.¡± In addition to the will of the Emperor, the temple added points. Its main content was to raise suspicions that the assassination of Queen Eimmel was rted with Prince Cadriol. What ability and power did a woman who was a silk merchant have, that she could havemitted such a mortal sin? Rather, did he frame Madame Lexen and kill her so that she couldn¡¯t reveal who was behind her? There was one more condemnation. ¡°With what qualifications does a prince, not a king, dare to send a letter of state? This only proves that the state of the Eimmel Kingdom has been disturbed.¡± It also meant that they wanted to drive a wedge between the rtionship of King Eimmel and the prince. Papers and intellectuals shaped public opinion. Grand Duke Roygar thoroughly followed it. All papers criticized the Eimmel Kingdom at once. Not only in salons and coffeehouses, but wherever people gathered, it became an atmosphere of praising the bravery of the Emperor. It wasn¡¯t difficult. There were many people whose self-esteem was hurt by the fact that they were being defeated by a small country like the Eimmel Kingdom. ¡°He should have done this earlier. Since when did the Empire care about things like Eimmel?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a country infested with pirates after all. I wish we could sweep it away on this asion.¡± Over time, people forget the pain. The same is true of personal suffering experienced by a person. It was more than two generations ago that there was a war in the center. It was not strange that there were many who cried out for all-out war. After all, what flows is someone else¡¯s blood. And as the numbers gathered and a little incitement was added, a voice calling for an all-out war swept public opinion. *** An air of anxiety and concern flowed through the Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. In Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, few people knew what war was. It was not something that could be ignored just because the effects of the war did not directly reach because it was so far away from the South and the North. Hayley couldn¡¯t hide her worries and asked Artizea. ¡°Will there be an all-out war?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea replied. ¡°The reason for forming a public opinion calling for war is to threaten the Eimmel Kingdom. Even in the Eimmel Kingdom right now, they must be doing their best to understand the atmosphere of the imperial government.¡± ¡°Are you saying they¡¯re not actually going to send an army?¡± ¡°They will send it. In the beginning, intimidation must be apanied by actual actions, only then will it be really scary, right?¡± ¡°I heard that the supply ns for the Southern Conquest Army have already copsed. It would be a huge undertaking to connect the supply routes from the central part.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, it is the Empire, they can do it.¡± Artizea said, recliningfortably on the sofa. ¡°Whether the people fall into chaos, monsters sweep and ruin the farm from time to time, or the soldiers shed thousands or tens of thousands of blood¡­¡­, if squeezed, they can continue to mobilize the military and get supplies.¡± When she started ying with numbers, the Empire was a really huge country. Even if the Eimmel Kingdom and the wealthy Iantz Kingdom joined forces to create an army, it was impossible to mobilize more soldiers and supplies than when parts of the Empire were squeezed out. No matter how meager and miserable the materials that go to each soldier are. ¡°But it¡¯s okay. What makes up the Southern Conquest Army is His Majesty¡¯s elite army. Even if he meant to use it to support brother Lawrence, he wouldn¡¯t want to waste it on something unexpected like this.¡± ¡°But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to be easy to sumb to the Eimmel Kingdom, which is gaining momentum right now¡­¡­. Are they trying to send a fact-finding team?¡± Hayley asked. Artizea nodded her head, fiddling with the corners of the cushion. ¡°Perhaps they are.¡± And the fact-finding team will probably aim to estrange King Eimmel and Prince Cadriol. Artizea said. ¡°It has been three months since the Queen died. King Eimmel¡¯s sorrow will have gone away to some extent.¡± And then, slowly, other thoughts began to arise. Like that he gave too much power to the eldest son whom he should be wary of. ¡°It¡¯s only been three months. Didn¡¯t King Eimmel say that he loved the Queen very much?¡± In the meantime, Sophie, who had been by Artizea¡¯s side and picked up a lot of stories, intervened. Hayley replied. ¡°It ismon for an old powerful man to fall for the young wife, who is of his daughter¡¯s age, but how sincere the love can be.¡± ¡°It must have been sincere at that moment, but¡­¡­.¡± Artizea muttered like that. ¡°Anyway, from the King¡¯s point of view, he may have given all power to Prince Cadriol without thinking at first out of sadness, but he must havee to his senses by now. The King must be well aware of the rtionship between the Queen and Prince Cadriol.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If he adds the excuse that it is for the Queen, it bes easier for the King to change his mind.¡± And the leader of the fact-finding team will be Grand Duke Roygar. In order to go beyond Prince Cadriol and have a conversation with King Eimmel on an equal footing, it was necessary to have a proper status. Artizea was hearing more details from the informationwork in the pce. Grand Duke Roygar insisted to the Emperor that he felt responsible for the affairs of the Ford family. [¡°Terry Ford¡¯s misunderstanding is absurd. However, that misunderstanding eventually led to death. I also feel a sense of responsibility for not actively resolving the misunderstandings.¡±] Of course he said that, ostensibly to assert that he had nothing to do with Terry Ford. However, in reality, he implicitly revealed that this had something to do with wealth, indicating that he and the Emperor had the same goals. It makes Terry Ford meaningless. After all, only a few within the Empire know of the grudge between Terry Ford, Marchioness Camellia, and Grand Duke Roygar. So they can bury it. Digging into Terry Ford¡¯s background will inevitably lead to him being held ountable for having the Queen of another country be involved in the political situation within the Empire. So it was time to focus their attention on Queen Eimmel, and not on Terry Ford. Grand Duke Roygar persuaded the Emperor to attack Queen Eimmel¡¯s assassin from this angle first, iming that it was Prince Cadriol. [¡°It is Prince Cadriol who will benefit the most from this assassination. Even if he¡¯s not, it must end up being someone from the South.¡±] Grand Duke Roygar insisted. In the beginning, there was no one in the center of the Empire who would have a grudge with Queen Eimmel, and no one had a cooperative rtionship. There was no motive to kill. Even the im that the Duke of Riagan had a connection with Queen Eimmel and assassinated her is not convincing. Why would Duchess Riagan use up the disguised identity created through such meticulous craftsmanship only for everything to be revealed in the end? [¡°Above all, the wealth that Madame Lexen Terry Ford made came from the Kingdom of Iantz.¡±] [¡°I know what you mean.¡±] The Emperor immediately nodded his head at Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s words. The truth doesn¡¯t matter. They were able to attract the Kingdom of Iantz. The Kingdom of Iantz was a small but wealthy country. Many of the luxury items used in the Empire were made by Iantz. If pressure can be used to gain diplomatic supremacy, huge profits can be obtained. To Raise an army and threaten the Kingdom of Eimmel and Iantz. At the same time, demand cooperation. Even the Kingdom of Iantz would know that it would be better to cooperate. Because the sudden presence of a prince of a neighboring country who is belligerent and strong heading an army at their own border will not be surprising. The odds were good enough. Thus, the Emperor epted Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s proposal. Hayley asked. ¡°Grand Duke Roygar is resourceful¡­¡­. You don¡¯t seem to care much.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s not that important. After all, the real power of the Eimmel Kingdom has already passed to Prince Cadriol. Even if Grand Duke Roygar goes, the situation cannot bepletely reversed. From the beginning, the real purpose was not to investigate the truth.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Hayley vividly remembered Artizea being kidnapped by the people of the South Sea. How could she forget about it? Cedric buried the matter. The South Sea people are pirate mercenaries, and the main culprit is a person who had a grudge against the Marquisate of Rosan. Since Cedric said it was over, the people of Evron epted it as all over. They wouldn¡¯t have had any doubts. Hayley was one of them. But the Grand Duchess was a foreigner, the Marquis Rosan. There was nothing strange about the fact that someone had a grudge against Marquis Rosan. She tried to find out, but there was no way she could. But when she thinks about it now, the South Sea people who came at that time must have been from the Eimmel Kingdom. Hayley never thought that Cadriol himself would be among them. But at that time, it was clear that an agreement had been made between Artizea and Cadriol. What is happening in the South right now is through Artizea¡¯s hands. Hayley was sure. Without that being the case, Artizea could not have been so leisurely like this in the face of such an important event. Artizea said whether or not she knew Hayley¡¯s heart, as if teaching. ¡°Hayley, keep one thing in mind. Whether in war or diplomatic negotiations, the politics of the capital have only one purpose.¡± It was the same for Artizea herself. ¡°It is the imperial family and power.¡± ¡°The imperial family and power¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What happens in the South is, of course, an important thing for the Empire, but it is not important in politics. Now, think about what is most important to the imperial family and politics.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Is that Sir Lawrence?¡± ¡°Yes. His Majesty¡¯s most important thing is to ask if brother Lawrence was involved.¡± The fear and upliftment when the word war was evoked, and the hostility toward Eimmel, swept away all suspicions about Lawrence. That was what the Emperor wanted the most. ¡°Grand Duke Roygar made it clear that he would not attack brother Lawrence by proposing to His Majesty to shift the me for the assassination of Queen Eimmel elsewhere.¡± It was that part of the negotiations that took ce between the Emperor and Grand Duke Roygar that had the most significance. In return, the Emperor agreed to allow Grand Duke Roygar to step up and exercise some influence in the southern provinces. That was all that mattered. *** And three weekster, Cedric, who had made the change to the newmander of the Southern Conquest Army, returned. Chapter 177 Cedric entered the capital and first stopped at the Imperial Pce. But the Emperor did not meet him. The chief attendant came out with an apologetic face and said politely. ¡°His Majesty is resting right now.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a few weeks since His Majesty could properly rest. Please understand that His Majesty did not mean to undermine Grand Duke Evron.¡± Originally, he didn¡¯t have any temper thinking that this hurt his pride. And in fact, even if the Emperor did it on purpose, Cedric wasn¡¯t in a position to criticize it. The chief attendant said. ¡°I will tell His Majesty that Grand Duke Evron has arrived. If there is nothing urgent, maybe the Grand Duke would like to go back to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence and rest today?¡± ¡°I would be grateful if I could.¡± ¡°Yes. If His Majesty allows, I will ask to schedule an audience for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and let you know.¡± Cedric nodded his head and turned around. He didn¡¯t even have anything to report. He simply stayed in the camp of the Southern Conquest Army, upheld the discipline and watched the training. He didn¡¯t really have much to do as they were already an elite soldier and Gayan already had the system in ce. So he thought it was rather good. As he left the pce early, his lieutenant asked: ¡°Didn¡¯t you meet His Majesty?¡± ¡°It seems that the Emperor is not in a good condition.¡± Then the lieutenant kept his mouth shut. Cedric smiled bitterly. If it had been Freil, he would have spoken inly andined about the Emperor in a few words. Although he always rebuked him not to do it, he realized again that he had been quite amused by that attitude. ¡°Go to the integratedmand and report that the shift was sessful. I will go back first.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The lieutenant made a military salute. Cedric also responded with a military salute and got on the horse. *** Artizea was in the garden when Cedric arrived at the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. The guards caught Cedric at the front door and informed him. They were afraid that the sound of horseshoes would surprise the mistress who was pregnant. Cedric got off the horse on the spot. He ordered his men to disband. He walked into the garden alone. The garden, which the gardener put great effort into, had be quite beautiful within a year. Cedric felt it all over again. It seems like yesterday that Artizea tripped her foot in a mound of grass and almost fell. Artizea was plucking the flowers. Beside her, one of the maids was following her with arge basket. The other maid shaded her with arge embroidered parasol. Cedric, deliberately not showing himself, stood for a moment and watched her. He hasn¡¯t seen her in a few weeks and her stomach has been very swollen. At the time he left, he wouldn¡¯t have noticed if she was wearing loose-fitting clothes, but now anyone could tell she was pregnant. Artizea cut some of the flower stalks with pruning shears and threw the flowers into the basket. Then she straightened her back and tilted her upper body, and let out a long sigh. Her appearance seemed peaceful, and his heart was pounding. Cedric was ovee with strange emotions. He thought about when he first got all his memories back. He wished it was his side that had the memories return first. No, it would have been better for Artizea not to have the memories back at all. If so, he would have saved her before she touched the harm. Before she came to believe that profit and loss rather than good and evil make rtionships, and before she came to believe that love only brings profit. Had he done so, there would have been no need to pay the price for this serenity. Cedric let out a long sigh. And he approached Artizea¡¯s side. ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea heard the footsteps and turned her head. And she was surprised. ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric swallowed his words once, as he had no idea what to say. And he said. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything much. Artizea herself didn¡¯t know why it made her ears tingle. She already knew that he would arrive either today or tomorrow. It was thanks to the fact that Cedric had sent people ahead of time before he began handing over to the newmander of the Southern Conquest Army. But it was very new. The fact that Cedric is here. As if there was no time apart. Cedric reached out and took the pruning shears from her hand. And he handed it over to the maid. Artizea¡¯s fingertips, which were cold, warmed up a little. It was vivid. ¡°Should you do this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to walk without any purpose. Now that I¡¯m in a stable phase, they say it¡¯s good to move my body a little for a while.¡± Artizea lowered her gaze slightly. Not only did she say this, she thought she should greet him, but she seldom spoke easily. Misunderstanding that, Cedric asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t it hard on your body?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯t walk long, but it¡¯s natural. The baby too¡­¡­ it¡¯s growing well.¡± Cedric looked shy. ¡°I think it¡¯s very active.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. You and the baby are healthy.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± The maid with the basket bowed her head and walked away without speaking. The maid holding the parasol hesitated for a moment, but soon retreated as she folded the parasol. Artizea didn¡¯t care. Her hand was still in Cedric¡¯s. She thought she shouldn¡¯t pull it out, but she didn¡¯t yet have the courage to face him. Artizea hesitated, she said. ¡°I hope¡­..you had a good trip?¡± It was a greeting no different from before. But it was different. When she said it before, it was a word that asked for meaningful information. She was wondering if there was an incident that had an impact on the future situation or anything that happened in the ce he went to visit. But what she said now was because she wanted to. When asked whether he had a good trip or not, she greeted him like an ordinary family. Cedric smiled. He bowed his head. Artizea¡¯s face turned red. Their lips met. Cedric¡¯s hand wrapped around her back. £ª£ª£ª The news of Cedric¡¯s arrival soon spread to many ces. The same was true for Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°What about the news of the Southern Conquest Army?¡± ¡°I heard that Grand Duke Evron¡¯s lieutenant has issued a detailed report, so we will soon find out. By now, they should have started marching south.¡± In that regard, Grand Duke Roygar had no authority to intervene. However, since he is the Emperor¡¯s envoy to the South, he was also able to receive news through the official line. Until now, Grand Duke Roygar had little to do with the military. The Emperor held the central army very tightly, and he had never been involved in the military himself. He used unofficial routes, and he always paid a fair amount of bribes and heard only one stepte. The military will take care and bring the news on their own. The practical utility was also useful, but the satisfaction was also great. There were also key personnel who were able to be recruited through this event. ¡°Good. Very good.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said with satisfaction. And he pushed the thick paperwork he had been reviewing sincest night to his secretary. It was a list of attendants to follow along his southbound trip. As the Emperor¡¯s special envoy, he will go to the center of trade with other countries. Opportunities like this were rare, even if it was not for trade issues. Even if it was one attendant, he was able to hold a fairly high level of authority. It was an opportunity to borrow the power of the Empire to negotiate trade. So, among the top ranks in Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction, there was no one that did not want to y a part. If the upper statesmen were in a position to speak with Grand Duke Roygar, they woulde in person and ask for a favor. Otherwise, if it was a small business lord or a small noble, they would request it through his secretary or butler. The bribes piled up like that were pretty good too, so Grand Duke Roygar was smirking every day. He, of course, did not decide his attendant on the bribe alone. ¡°The proportion of silk items is too high. They say they¡¯re going to make contact with the Kingdom of Iantz, but I don¡¯t know how they all think like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Try to reduce it to about 60 percent, and fill the vacant space with small enterprises and nobles. If you think about the future, you have to think about diversifying the trade sector.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If anyone brings an interesting proposition, I will meet them in person.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said. That was then. A knock was heard. It was the maid chief. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The Madam said that she must see the master¡­¡­.¡± The maid was at loss. Grand Duke Roygar sighed and stood up from his seat, and told the secretary. ¡°Don¡¯t wait, go and do your job.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The secretary stood up after him and bowed his head politely. Grand Duke Roygar kicked his tongue and headed towards the Grand Duchess¡¯ ce. ¡°Ga, it¡¯s me.¡± The ce was flipped upside down. Cushions were thrown here and there, and there were vases and clothes scattered. The maids sat around, each kneeling. Marchioness Camellia was standing in the corner with her head bowed. Grand Duchess Roygar sat in an armchair, huffing with a blushed face. Grand Duke Roygar sighed inside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ga? What made you spout horns again?¡± ¡°I will go too.¡± ¡°Ga¡­¡­. I¡¯m not going to y¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I heard you were going to solve the Ford family problems.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar said sharply. ¡°Did I not exin it? It was done to dispel rumors and persuade His Majesty.¡± ¡°So, it might take a few months or even half a year, but you¡¯re going alone?¡± Grand Duke Roygar nced at Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia shook her head slightly so as not to be noticed by the Grand Duchess. She meant that she couldn¡¯t stop it herself. ¡°There¡¯s no reason why I can¡¯t go with you unless you¡¯re going to do something suspicious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to do things that aren¡¯t fun for you.¡± The Grand Duchess said sternly. ¡°Am I a child? You¡¯re busy with work, are you afraid that I¡¯ll hold onto you and ask you to y?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t let you go alone.¡± Grand Duchess Roygar dered. She had been living as if she had forgotten about it for quite some time, but in fact, she hasn¡¯t. How could she have forgotten that her husband, who she only knew to love her, had his eyes on another woman. Chapter 178 Grand Duke Roygar had a very perplexed face. ¡°If I go, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be busy, and I don¡¯t have time to take care of you, so I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll be sad.¡± ¡°Lies.¡± said Grand Duchess Roygar. ¡°Is it because I am not helpful?¡± ¡°Honey.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Like my sister¡­¡­ It would be helpful if I was smart, so you would definitely have asked me to go with you.¡± Without saying anything, Grand Duchess Roygar burst into tears. In fact, it wasn¡¯t her sister whom she was talking about, but Lady Ford. She knew she wasn¡¯t born very smart. She was educated as ady. She liked music and dance, and she was good at etiquette. However, her studies did not improve at all. Even if she memorized history and literature, she couldn¡¯t quite figure out what this had to do with reality. Moreover, unlike Marchioness Camellia, by seeing and hearing one or two things it was not enough for her toprehend the ten hidden things behind them. When she sat in the ce where political investigations took ce, there were many times when she couldn¡¯t understand the meaning even if she listened intently. Grand Duchess Roygar was ustomed to sitting with a smile on her face in a ce where stories she did not understand came and went. Then, whenmon topics such as food or drink or the weather came up, she intervened. Then, her husband or older sister prepared delicious food and drew words of blessing from people. And it was allowed anyway. From the age of six her fate had already been decided as the wife of Grand Duke Roygar. She was loved and raised beautifully. Her life¡¯s job is to love and be loved by her husband, to depend on and support her parents, and to have healthy children, she learned. And she was told not to rush anything else. If she ever wanted to do something, it was that she should consult with Marchioness Camellia. She never had any doubts about the life she had lived, the life she was going to live. Until she heard the name, Lady Ford. Grand Duchess Roygar was ustomed to hearing the socialites in one ear and letting it out in the other. Marchioness Camellia was always concerned that she would hear bad rumors with her ears. She nevertheless heard it eventually. Grand Duke Roygar is obsessed with the daughter of that nobleman. Grand Duchess Roygar did not believe it at first. Unlike other men of high rank, Grand Duke Roygar did not have a mistress. While engaged to her young self, he did not have a single child out of wedlock until she grew up and married. So, she thought, it was clear that these stories were made up by jealous people. But it was true. Grand Duchess Roygar saw her husband handing flowers to Lady Ford. She also saw him dismissing his attendant and sending the carriage away first to walk with her. She also knew that he had arranged for an important meeting, which he hosted, for a nobleman without baron title, not even a family head, but one of the daughters. Marchioness Camellia said with an unconcerned face about herint. [¡°It was a performance, Your Grace. Even if His Grace the Grand Duke likes to talk to Lady Ford, he only cares about her wit.¡±] [¡°I see. She is a witty person. She must be smart. Right, sister?¡±] [¡°Yes, if she was able to attend the gatherings of Grand Duke Roygar, she would be a talented person.¡±] Marchioness Camellia replied without changing her expression. But, unfortunately, Grand Duchess Roygar learns of her sister¡¯s lies. She thought. Lady Ford is undoubtedly the kind ofdy who gets along well with her husband and can advise him on what matters most to him. [¡°There are plenty of people as smart as Lady Ford.¡±] [¡°But¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°His Grace the Grand Duke has not changed from what he was before.¡±] Grand Duchess Roygar nodded her head. She tried to convince her. She¡¯s smart and charming, so he might stare at her for a second. Just as she sees a handsome man and sometimes whispers in her sister¡¯s ear that he¡¯s cool, so can her husband. But she was different. Where she was different, Grand Duchess Roygar could not exin. But they were clearly different. She had dreamed of a romance, not an arranged marriage, even when she was a girl. But in reality, she never thought of giving a gift to another man. Without her attendant, she never even thought of going for a walk alone. She had never thought of using power to make room, even worse. In the end, she secretly went to see Lady Ford, even from Marchioness Camellia. As soon as Lady Ford saw her, herplexion turned pale blue and she knelt down on one of her knees. [¡°I am innocent, and so is His Grace the Grand Duke. I have never been close to him where dozens of eyes were not watching.¡±] Lady Ford was genuinely afraid. There was no more definitive answer than that. It was all the responsibility of her husband, not Lady Ford. So Grand Duchess Roygar returned home without saying a word. [¡°I¡¯m worried, sister. I¡¯m so anxious. Lady Ford is so good. I am so envious.¡±] If it was herself, she would never have behaved so wlessly and brilliantly, nor would she have done exactly whatdy Ford had said while oveing such a status gap. Sheined only to Marchioness Camellia, and as she wept, sheined. And she decided to forget. Because it wasn¡¯t something she could do to hold it back. When she heard the news that Lady Ford had died, she had no doubts. She felt guilty because she hated her. But at the same time, she was relieved that she would never lose her husband¡¯s love. It was only after the Terry Ford incident happened that Grand Duchess Roygar knew that Marchioness Camellia had dealt with it secretly. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to kill her. I didn¡¯t mean to kill her.¡¯ What else does she not know? ¡®Because I¡¯m not smart.¡¯ So she wasn¡¯t told everything. She doesn¡¯t need to know anything Everything she knows is a misunderstanding as an unwise brain, and the truth lies elsewhere. Her sister will take care of all her dislikes, and her husband will talk about the future with people he can talk to elsewhere. As the lid that had been forcibly covered copsed, the umted doubts and broken self-esteem began to boil. Does her husband really love her? Maybe he actually wanted to marry someone like Lady Ford? As her sister said, her husband has not changed. Could it not be that he didn¡¯t love her before and he still doesn¡¯t love her? It¡¯s just that she¡¯s the daughter of Marquis Luden, so maybe he¡¯s only nice to her? Could it be that she¡¯s just his wife because she¡¯s the mother of his children? Grand Duchess Roygar finally bawled. The Grand Duke was startled and stretched out his hand to her. ¡°Ga. Why are you crying? When did I say that?¡± Grand Duchess Roygar then wept bitterly. ¡°But it is true. You think I¡¯m useless for anything you do.¡± ¡°No. How is that possible?¡± Grand Duke Roygar gently stroked her back. The maids, not knowing what to do, bowed their heads hastily. Marchioness Camellia beckoned the maids to leave. And she closed the door when she was thest toe out. ¡°Hooo.¡± A long sigh came out. In the end, Grand Duke Roygar will be defeated. Whether or not he goes with his wife is a trivial matter for Grand Duke Roygar. There was nothing wrong with going together. He said no at first because he was afraid that the trip would be dyed. But for Grand Duchess Roygar, her whole life was at stake. Because she had only her husband in her life. It was a trivial matter for one, and a matter of life for the other, so it was obvious which one would win. So Marchioness Camellia had no choice but to sigh. ¡®It¡¯s always up to me to take care of the rest.¡¯ She must leave Sk in the capital. Shees out, thinking in her head how she¡¯s going to pack her clothes, and her close maid rushes to her. ¡°Why are you making such a fuss in front of Her Grace¡¯s ce?¡± Marchioness Camellia scolded her maid. The maid held out an envelope with a pale face. And she said, ¡°A man named Ian Camellia has filed an inheritance suit against Master.¡± Headache came. £ª£ª£ª Another change urred during Cedric¡¯s absence. There was a baby room. ¡°It is not too early to prepare for childbirth. There are so many things we need.¡± Ansgar said so and showed the nursery. A cot, armchair, and table for adults were ced against the wall. There were also small items such as diapers, wraps, and swaddles that were being made. The floor was covered with soft carpets, and on the walls were tapestries embroidered with the coat of arms of Grand Duchy Evron. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress sent it. It¡¯s something that Lord Ced hung on the wall when he was young¡­¡­.¡± Of course, Cedric couldn¡¯t remember. ¡°The deceased Empress hung it while making Lord Ced¡¯s room in the pce, and it seems that it has been kept in the Empress¡¯ Pce since it was put away.¡± ¡°That¡¯s something to be thankful for.¡± Cedric patted his bare cheek. He was also installing a cradle, but he never realized that it was soon toe. Artizea sat in the armchair with a weary attitude. ¡°Are you tired?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Ah, then¡­¡­.¡± Artizea hesitated a little. To her surprise, the surprisingly active baby moved again around her right navel. ¡°¡­¡­ Would you like to touch it?¡± Cedric¡¯s face was even more reminiscent. He sat down on one knee in front of Artizea. And put his hand on her stomach. His big, warm hands wrapped around her navel. Artizea controlled her breathing so as not to be too nervous. Just in time the baby was kicking her. Artizea flinched. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Ah, I feel it too. It kicked me, right?¡± Cedric looked up at Artizea with a curious face. Ansgar looked at the two of them with a happy face. ¡°It would be nice if you could talk a lot more closely. They say babies hear everything in their mother¡¯s womb.¡± But the free time did notst very long. Cedric¡¯s lieutenant knocked on the door nervously. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt while you¡¯re taking a break, Your Grace. It¡¯s not urgent, but I thought it would be better to inform you sooner, so I interfered.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°An inheritancewsuit has been filed against Marchioness Camellia. And there was an allegation that Marquis Luden had murdered the eldest daughter of the predecessor Marquis Camellia.¡± Cedric looked at Artizea. Chapter 179 Artizea did not answer Cedric. She had no intention of hiding it. However, there was nothing appropriate to be talking about in front of the lieutenant and Ansgar. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Cedric said so, and reached out to Artizea. Artizea grabbed his hand and stood up. When they came out of the nursery, Alice was waiting. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I have received news from Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence.¡± Alice lowered her voice and whispered in Artizea¡¯s ear. ¡°I heard that Grand Duchess Roygar has decided to apany him to the South.¡± ¡°Who makes the preparation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Viscountess Weave.¡± Alice gave the name of anotherdy-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Roygar. Artizea nodded her head. ¡°I see. If you have any other news, please let me know.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Alice retreated, Cedric asked. ¡°Any other important news?¡± ¡°It looks like Grand Duchess Roygar will follow the fact-finding team.¡± Cedric made a thoughtful look on his face for a moment. It was no surprise that Grand Duchess Roygar went with him. Although it is called a fact-finding team, it is actually for diplomatic negotiations. Going with the spouse would greatly help to soften the mood. Cedric entered the study, closed the door, and sat Artizea on the sofa. And he asked. ¡°Is that what you did, too?¡± ¡°I was going to, but before that, there was good news.¡± In order to send Grand Duchess Roygar to the South, Artizea had devised various ways. It had something to do with when she told Sk to convince Grand Duchess Roygar that she would be the next Empress. Grand Duchess Roygar feels inferior to her position. To cherish and love is still an affection, but the way the affection was is not much different from treating a child. Grand Duke Roygar used tough at drinking parties at times and joked that she was his eldest daughter. In fact, Artizea also thought it was effective. Grand Duchess Roygar is an ordinary person. And she was thoroughly brought up as a flower in the greenhouse. The token of alliance who do not have their own will are more reliable. Marquis Luden did not want his little daughter to have her own will and betray her parents by holding hands with her husband. On the contrary, Grand Duke Roygar did not want his wife to master the skill to lie and act as a spy for her inws. Grand Duchess Roygar grew up naively ording to their wishes. But she didn¡¯t turn out like a tool in the pocket, since she was, unfortunately, smart enough to be aware of the world revolving around her. Artizea intended to touch her inferiorityplex. She intended to continue to inform her of her political role as the future Empress and her role as thepanion of Grand Duke Roygar. Inferiority is a fairly powerful driver that drives people¡¯s behavior. And the more Grand Duchess Roygar tries to get involved in a political career, the more variables that Grand Duke Roygar can¡¯t handle. It would be even better if it could separate Marquis Luden and Grand Duke Roygar. ¡®I haven¡¯t done anything yet. Is it because of Terry¡¯s sister?¡¯ It was unexpected. Artizea knew of Grand Duchess Roygar¡¯s inferiorityplex, but she did not know before what triggered the inferiorityplex. She just thought she was influenced by the environment around her. After meeting Terry, she could guess that Lady Ford was entangled in it. Since Marchioness Camellia stepped up to take care of it, it would not have been a small blow to Grand Duchess Roygar¡¯s heart. However, it seems that the wound was deeper than expected. As a result, she owed another debt to Terry. At Cedric¡¯s words, Artizea escaped from that thought. ¡°Are you the one who made the Marquisate Camellia inheritancewsuit?¡± ¡°Yes. I found the eldest grandson of the predecessor Marquis and helped him with the expenses.¡± ¡°Is the purpose to remove Marchioness Camellia from Grand Duchess Roygar?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric¡¯s question was only made for the sake of fact-checking. He sighed a little inside. It is not that he is particrly opposed to what Artizea has done. He just thought she was going to be tired of work again. He hopes she could rest at least until she gives birth and she prepares her body. But there are some things that should not be missed. Cedric knew that too. ¡°Tell me what pact you made with Prince Cadriol.¡± It must have been since then that Artizea began to use her hands on the southern side. Cedric could barely guess. Cadriol has memories. If so, he would havee to Artizea right away. He had previously killed Grand Duke Roygar with Artizea. He knew Marquis Rosan. If he had no memory, he would have obtained her through kidnapping, or would have tried to kill her to eliminate a menacing enemy. But something was negotiated. Cedric reflected on the conversation that had taken ce earlier that morning between Artizea and Cadriol. [¡°I will keep my promise. If you do not believe me, I will swear in the name of the Empress.¡±] Artizea said so. That promise has been fulfilled in the present state. Artizea sighed lightly. She wasn¡¯t trying to hide it, but because she had so much to say that she had to clear her mind. ¡°I have decided to assassinate Queen Eimmel. The price was letting me go.¡± ¡°Whoa.¡± Cedric rubbed his forehead with his hand. ¡°Then you must be behind Terry Ford.¡± ¡°Yes. She came to me to get revenge on Grand Duke Roygar and Marchioness Camellia.¡± Artizea briefly described the assassination process. She bribed the servants of Eimmel¡¯s Pce to buy poison, and Terry used it to poison the Queen. The n was simple, as there was no intention of hiding the identity of the assassin in the first ce. ¡°Then, Prince Cadriol decided to use that as an excuse to attack the Duchy of Riagan.¡± ¡°Since the monopoly of salt is involved, you have calcted that Uncle Roygar will be interested?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Queen Eimmel is connected with the Duchy of Riagan and the organization of the South Sea Salt. It is burdensome to distribute coarse salt directly from the Duchy of Riagan. For this reason, Queen Eimmel¡¯s organization received arge amount of coarse salt and transported it to ports in the eastern region. And from there, they supply it to the coarse salt merchants who have their ownwork. For the profit that came from it, Queen Eimmel was running it with the Royal Guard. ¡°The Royal Guard is actually meant to keep Prince Cadriol in check.¡± ¡°Did King Eimmel know what his Queen was doing?¡± ¡°King Eimmel has degenerated into a petty person. He¡¯s burdened by his grown son, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s not confident enough to face him directly. He has a vague idea of ??where the Queen¡¯s money source ising from, but he won¡¯t find out the details. Because he doesn¡¯t want to do anything responsible.¡± In the end, he handed over the task of confronting his eldest son to the Queen. Queen Eimmel also married the King because of her lust for power, so they were not a bad match. Cedric thought for a moment. ¡°There was a question as to why Uncle Roygar came to this point. If Lawrence were to be surely overthrown, the session position would naturally be in the hands of my uncle.¡± ¡°Yes. But an appeal came from the Duchy of Riagan.¡± ¡°The salt of the South Sea is at stake, so he has no choice but to touch it.¡± Of course, Grand Duke Roygar does not know that the reason Queen Eimmel and the Duchy of Riagan joined hands was because of the salt. Coarse salt is the holy grail of poison. He gained huge financial gains and the cooperation of the Duchy of Riagan. In addition, it is easier to use Prince Cadriol of the assassination by covering up the fact that Queen Eimmel was involved in the smuggling. This is because if he reveals that fact, he will inevitably have to investigate the guilt of the Duchy of Riagan and Queen Eimmel. Then it bes a matter of relevance to politics within the Empire. Soon, Lawrence will be brought back. This was a checkmate. He should not go south at all if he didn¡¯t want to get caught. Exposing the salt organization goes against the Emperor¡¯s will to wipe out Lawrence¡¯s sins. Lawrence himself is not the problem. Living with the Emperor¡¯s displeasure was the problem. However, if he hides and takes over the coarse salt issue, he takes a great risk. Cedric looked at Artizea with aplicated face. Perhaps Grand Duke Roygar would choose thetter. Artizea must also have a n for that. ¡°Now, Lord Cedric must protect His Majesty.¡± Artizea waited for Cedric¡¯s thoughts to finish and said so. There was no emotion on her face. Cedric looked at her without a word. And nodded his head. When Grand Duke Roygar found himself in danger, he will surely consider assassination as ast resort. ¡°Get His Majesty¡¯s trust. Even if you are mentally reluctant, you have to be patient. You don¡¯t have to be ttering, but if you do this, you need to be faithful enough for His Majesty to feel that you are worthy of entrusting as his heir.¡± ¡°Even if it was, it felt like an impossible task to stop an assasination.¡± ¡°Now, it will be possible. If brother Lawrence is dismissed, His Majesty will have to hoist someone up to match Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Cedric flinched. ¡°Are you sure Lawrence will be dismissed?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lawrence was still under probation in his home. There were no visiting attempts from the outside. Perhaps, it was because the Emperor had prevented it in advance. ¡°His Majesty was greatly disappointed in my brother. Since my brother doesn¡¯t even earn the trust from the bureaucrats, he won¡¯t be able to push the session issue as he pleases.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Probably when he¡¯s sure there won¡¯t be any more stories about my brother, he¡¯ll quietly send him somewhere.¡± Perhaps, he had set asidend somewhere in the East. And after he has sent Lawrence there, he will quietly send Mira that way. ¡°There are very few people who have the status to confront Grand Duke Roygar. There is no one better than Lord Cedric. It would be even better for His Majesty, if he was certain that Lord Cedric wouldn¡¯t engage in deception or betrayal.¡± ¡°Betrayal¡­¡­.¡± Cedricughed bitterly. He has already closed his eyes to the deception. And he intends to betray. When he tried to earn trust, he couldn¡¯t get it, and when he thought that he would get it now, he couldn¡¯t help but think it was strange. Cedric closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh. And he said, ¡°Even if we don¡¯t give the names of the dead right away, let¡¯s go to the temple to light candles sooner orter.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing to remember.¡± Artizea hesitated. But she answered in a low voice. ¡°¡­¡­Yes¡­¡­.¡± Even if it was hypocrisy, Cedric had no excuses. But there was nothing he could do but remember the names and save his honor in the future. So he closed his eyes for a moment and offered silence for the dead. Chapter 180 Lawrence sat and stared into the air without turning on the lights in the study. It had been three weeks since he was brought and imprisoned in his home. The Guard soldiers guarded the inside and outside. Lawrence could speak to them, but by what order they had been given, there was no reply like a stone statue. He was free to act in the house. The meal came out as luxuriously as before. He was not disturbed wherever he went. He could be alone in the bedroom. The management of the mansion was wless, and in the morning the attendant came to change his clothes. However, going out into the garden was also forbidden. There were no visitors, and no one to carry the news. The butler didn¡¯t show up. Not just the butlers, but most of the senior employees. They were probably taken away for investigation. Lawrence could have guessed. Even if they are not charged, they will nevere back. It also has a purpose of preventing him frommunicating with the outside world. Lawrence didn¡¯t talk to maids or servants from the beginning. However, as the attendant and butler to whom he spoke directly disappeared, he felt that fact anew. When the soldiers didn¡¯t say anything and there was no one to talk to, he didn¡¯t open his mouth all day long. ¡°Whoo.¡± Lawrence sighed as he poured his drink himself. There must be some among the soldiers who observe him and report to the ones above. However, he did not receive an answer to his request to call a superior who could speak to him. Whether it¡¯s Gayan or Keyshore, he¡¯d have to meet any one of the Guards before he could do anything, but that possibility was blocked at the source. ¡®Are you nning on killing me like this, Father?¡¯ He wouldn¡¯t have the guts to do that. Lawrence snorted. The Emperor had no other option than him. One of the two half-brothers, fearing the capital¡¯s political and social circles early on, fled to a distant provincial town. Countess Eunice was greedy in her own way, but after regaining favor from her father and gaining some exclusive interests, she was satisfied there. Grand Duke Roygarined that his childhood was ruled by fear, and as he grew up he was deprived of his rightful rights. There was no way he could reconcile with the Emperor now. So will he raise Cedric? ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ It felt like a possibility. When the story of the Southern Conquest Army first came out, he remembered what the Emperor had said. [¡°You are not qualified. Cedric, of course, but Roygar is worse.¡±] If those words were sincere, it was true that the Emperor had high regard for Cedric. Poweres from the tip of the sword. Cedric already has his sword. Lawrence had a headache. He stopped thinking. He couldn¡¯t judge anything withoutmunicating with the outside anyway. But, like every day, his headache was severe. Lawrence couldn¡¯t tell if it was the same migraine that Mira suffered from, or if it was just stress. That was then. A servant quietly opened the door and entered without permission. And left the cheese te behind. Lawrence pulled the te. There was a small note attached to the bottom of the te. [The Southern Conquest Army ns to attack Eimmel. Commander-in-Chief General Boyden. The special envoy is Grand Duke Roygar.] Lawrence crumpled the note. If so, it means that Cedric remains in the capital. Whatever the case in the South is, one thing is certain; it will take a long time. It takes months just to lead the army back and forth. Considering that negotiations with other countries would take ce, it could take at least half a year, or at most a year or more. In the meantime, Cedric can inte enough of his own power in the capital. ¡®If this is what Father is aiming for, then Grand Duke Roygar must have made a mistake in his judgment.¡¯ The faithful are hard to obtain, but those who seek profit are everywhere. So, it is unquestionably clear who can more easily usurp the opponent¡¯s sphere of influence. And Cedric has already begun topromise. Lawrence thought so and burned the note with the candle. Despite the headache, he was quick to judge and changed the way he thought. It was as if there was ice inside his head. He wasn¡¯t quite sure how it came to be. Maybe, it¡¯s because he¡¯s really in trouble. But whether Grand Duke Roygar was at fault or not, or whatever Cedric did or not, now that Lawrence had lost his favor, he could not do anything. ording to thew, he is still not recognized as a bloodline of Krates. It wasn¡¯t until he couldn¡¯t turn back that Lawrence realized it. £ª£ª£ª After dinner, Artizea was restingfortably in the living room. Until something happened on Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s part, Artizea¡¯s side had nothing to do for the time being. She was going to check the situation and make sure nothing unexpected happened. Cedric was sitting with a headache over the homework Ansgar had brought him. He first had to rewrite his will. Since Artizea has no parents, he had to select several people, except for the nanny, who could act as patrons and guardians of the baby in case of emergency. He had to ask not only the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron, but also the reliable great nobles of the capital. She will give birth in the capital, so she must remain in the capital until the baby grows up to some extent. ¡°First of all, I will ask Chancellor Lin.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good appointment.¡± ¡°To Countess Martha.¡± ¡°Not bad. It is less burdensome than speaking directly to the Empress.¡± ¡°Next to General Ain and Sir ncy.¡± ¡°If Lord Cedric thinks they are reliable, then they¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you willing to think with me?¡± Cedric askedmentingly. When he thought about choosing, most of them leaned toward the military. He didn¡¯t know if this was the right choice for the baby. ¡°I¡¯ve never had a rtionship with someone with mutual trust in each other like that. Even if there is, it¡¯s just a friendship that shouldn¡¯t be revealed to anyone.¡± When Artizea said so, he had nothing else to say. He also had to form a new guard force. Just because she had a baby, he couldn¡¯t unconditionally let Artizea¡¯s escort go. It had to have several limbs so that it could continue to function even if one was cut off. Remaining vassals of the Duchy also wanted to see the face of their young new Master, so they had to be allowed toe to the capital in turns. ¡°I know you decide on Hayley as a nanny, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to leave it to someone older, even formally?¡± ¡°Because having someone else as a nanny, even formally, won¡¯t let Hayley make decisions about important things.¡± Artizea let out a small sigh. Had nothing happened, Margaret would have naturally been called in to be the nanny. It would have been nice to do so and ask Hayley to do several other things. But he is now unable to do so. Being in charge of nurturing an heir is a powerful position. If the position and real power were dualized, a dispute would arise if anything happened to Artizea herself. ¡°Let me think about it a little more. Hayley doesn¡¯t seem to mind either.¡± ¡°Yes. I told Ansgar to tell me if there¡¯s anyone he can rmend. I n to add a couple moredies-in-waiting.¡± ¡°Have you thought of anyone?¡± ¡°The Belmond family¡¯s Hazel is smart, so I would rmend her. I think it would be fine to establish a formal rtionship with Lady Mielle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of Sir Keyshore.¡± ¡°It may seem a littleplicated, but for a child, Sir Keyshore is a man worth noting.¡± As she was talking like so, a maid knocked on the door. ¡°Lysia is here, Your Grace.¡± Artizea, who was half lyingfortably on the sofa, got her body up. Then she looked at Cedric involuntarily. When she learned that he had his memories, she couldn¡¯t help but be more conscious of Lysia. Cedric didn¡¯t realize why she was looking at him at first. But he only noticed that Artizea pretended to be okay and turned her eyes again. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Tell her toe in.¡± Artizea spoke first. Soon the door opened. Lysia was dressed in simple trousers and a shirt with an evening shawl. There was depth in her face. This was often the case. For a while it seemed that she didn¡¯t even have much of an appetite. She often went out to ride her horse alone, avoiding people. Hayley was worried. She would have been mad that they had been disloyal if someone else had done so, but it was Lysia and she wasn¡¯t the person who would be like that for no reason. She was also concerned about Artizea, but she left it alone. Artizea knew that Lysia had almost turned her heart to Lawrence. She didn¡¯t know why Lysia felt that way. She didn¡¯t even want to go into detail. She was afraid that she might touch Lysia¡¯s memory. Lysia may have been attracted to him for a moment because Lawrence is handsome. In fact, it was verymon among thedies. But she didn¡¯t even know that maybe it was Lysia¡¯s old times, when she tried to love him, were subconsciously influencing her. Artizea felt guilty for not doing anything. It was because she couldn¡¯t tell if it was right not to touch, or if she just wanted to avoid it. Lysia politely greeted Cedric and Artizea in turn. ¡°What happened?¡± Artizea asked cautiously. Lysia had a soft smile on her pale lips. Artizea looked at her lips again and again. She¡¯s always had fair-toned lips, but she looked pale after a few weeks. ¡°I have something I want to ask you, Your Grace.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I want to go back to the West.¡± Artizea could not hide her surprise and looked at Lysia. ¡°You entrusted me with the Western Rebirth Project. I went back on my own¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Lysia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°His Grace has returned, so I think I can go. It¡¯s time to start nning the harvest soon. I want toplete the job.¡± Artizea was hesitant to answer. There was a feeling of wanting Lysia to be by her side, a feeling of lingering behind, and aplicated feeling of whether this was because of Lawrence. Then Cedric said. ¡°Tell her to do that.¡± Artizea looked at Cedric in surprise. Chapter 181 It was a good idea for Lysia to go west. As Lysia said, the beginning of the harvest was an important time. It is as important to fill the warehouse as it is to distribute grain. Now is the time for the real work to begin, so it would be better to have someone trusted watching over. Nevertheless, Artizea could not easily say so. Lawrence was expected to leave the capital. So she didn¡¯t have to let Lysia go. But Cedric looked at Lysia and said. ¡°You think you should?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°You are not someone who does meaningless things.¡± Having said that, Cedric looked at Artizea again. When he said that, Artizea couldn¡¯t say no. As Cedric had said, there was no way that Lysia would have said such a thing for nothing. And if Lysia thinks that¡¯s a worthwhile job, she deserves to be let go. ¡°Do that.¡± Artizea took a deep breath and answered. ¡°Take about anything you need. You cane back whenever you want.¡± ¡°I am not going anywhere forever, I am going to do the work entrusted to me. As soon as I get there, I¡¯ll figure out the situation and report back to you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Artizea nodded her head. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lysia looked at Cedric. Cedric waved his palm lightly. That meant she didn¡¯t have to return the gun. Lysia understood the meaning and nodded her head. And she bowed again and withdrew. She closed the door and let out a long sigh. In time, everything will be fine. But for now, she wanted to rest her mind a little, leaving everything to Cedric and doing what she wanted. £ª£ª£ª Artizea did not understand Cedric¡¯s gesture. She nced, wondering what that meant, but Cedric said something else. ¡°Lysia will do well.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she sent because she is needed in order to maintain the hospitality of the West?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ . It is highly likely that next year will be dry, so I want to stock up on grain this year and read through it before the public sentiment bes atrocious.¡± ¡°Lysia is the right fit. It¡¯s something she wanted to do for herself.¡± Cedric put down the pen he was holding and turned towards Artizea. And he said, ¡°It¡¯s something we¡¯ve been working on together, and I¡¯ll thank you for giving me the opportunity to prepare for a disaster.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea did not readily answer. And she hesitated, and she looked down at only her fingers. Cedric wiped his face once with his palm. And opened his mouth. But Artizea spoke first. She had her head down, so she didn¡¯t see what Cedric had on his face. ¡°I have to tell you, there is something I haven¡¯t told you yet.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°It was Lysia¡¯s will. ¡­¡­ She wants me to tell you that she lived with no regrets¡­¡­.¡± Her breathing was shaky and she could hardly speak. It was almost 10 years ago. And now it is gone. Still, that day¡¯s voice resounded in his ears. [¡°Subtract as much weight as mine from the burden you are carrying.¡±] Had Lysia known how heavy it was, she wouldn¡¯t have said that. At first she was just a saint to be exploited. She was just like everyone else. Once her outer shell was peeled off, she thought that beneath the shell would be nothing more than an ugly, ordinary human. But after she got to know Lysia, her days grew heavier. After Lysia¡¯s death, it became such a burden that she could not escape. Nothing like her own life could have been able to rece Lysia¡¯s life. In the first ce, Lysia¡¯s death and her own death had never been at a crossroads. But she never escaped from the thought that she should have died, not Lysia. Cedric pulled Artizea¡¯s wrist. Artizea was taken helplessly and put in his arms. ¡°Did you still have that in your heart?¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Lysia is alive.¡± Cedric lightly stroked her hair. ¡°And she wouldn¡¯t have really regretted it. I know, apart from the grief and sorrow I felt at losing that child¡­¡­, that, no matter how hard it was, no matter how painful it was, even if she did not achieve what she wanted, she would have thrown her whole life away so that she would not have any regrets in her life.¡± And Lysia did not fail. When Artizea wept, Cedric knew it. She must have had no regrets when she closed her eyes. Artizea held her breath. She wasforted to the point of tears. But at the same time, the warm affection in Cedric¡¯s voice made her heart pound and beat. Cedric ced his hand on Artizea¡¯s chin. Her head, which had been bowed down, naturally lifted upwards. Cedric sighed a little. It was not easy for him to say such a thing. ¡°I think you¡¯re misunderstanding, so I¡¯m just saying this.¡± ¡°What¡­¡­ ?¡± ¡°I never thought of Lysia as a woman. I¡¯ve been watching her since she was too young to do that. Lysia will not consider me more than her brother.¡± Artizea sat quietly on hisp. But her muscles were pulled so tight that her whole body jumped up. Cedricughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°Why are you surprised? From a standpoint like mine, isn¡¯t it more rare to have a non-political marriage? Would it be surprising that we offered a contract to impersonate a love marriage with the intention of causing a stir?¡± ¡°But the other person is Lysia.¡± ¡°It is not a marriage alliance between powers, but it was decided because the circumstances matched. If it was Lysia, she was someone I could count on.¡± The marriage was not a bad n. If anything happened to Cedric, she would have been able to lead Evron if it was Lysia. Conversely, if there was even the name Grand Duchess Evron attached to her, the temple would not have been able to wield Lysia at will. There were several more practical reasons. Lysia did not want to receive financial support from the temple. Because she wanted to be free. Cedric wanted to hand over the property in the Central and East to Lysia. But even if he gave it all, the name of Barony Morten could not protect it. Even if manpower was used to solve the problem with property, reliable force could not be easily obtained. The area in need of a saint was mainly because of poor security. Both power and force were needed to control the situation. And there was also the risk that Lysia was a young and beautiful woman. There were not a few nobles who coveted her. Cedric was determined to support Lysia, but he couldn¡¯t pour his favor on her without a good cause. So he concluded that it would be better for her to just get married. Then it won¡¯t look weird no matter what he does. And Lysia could protect herself and use his resources without Cedric¡¯s concern. The name Grand Duchess Evron could be a suitable fence for Lysia. In addition, Cedric himself was able to get away with talking about marriage. ¡°It was a careful decision. You would have known better than me what the security and benefits of that marriage would be.¡± Cedric said. ¡°But for me personally, it didn¡¯t matter whom I trusted.¡± If it was Lysia, they would be able to lean on each other and live. He was convinced that she could be of assistance to his work, and that she was worthy of the title Grand Duchess Evron. But he did not ept it as his own marriage. If it weren¡¯t with the woman he loved anyway, she¡¯d be like everyone else. Artizea realized the meaning and stammered. ¡°No, but¡­¡­. You loved her?¡± It must have looked that way. She had no doubts. It could never be said that the misunderstanding was a small part of Lawrence¡¯s madness. It still is. Even then, she doesn¡¯t doubt that he loved her. But even though she was determined to believe, what she believed to be true did not go out of her mind in an instant. Cedric sighed. ¡°Affection and love are not synonymous, and faith and devotion are not always apanied by passion.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is true that I believe in Lysia. At that time, I would have been willing to give my life if Lysia needed it.¡± Now, it was a little different. He still trusted and cherished Lysia, but could not give his life. The position of the beloved husband and father was only hers and their child¡¯s. But then it was like that time. ¡°Because I lost so many things. And I thought I¡¯d rather just end it than lose another. And I believed that I could achieve something with my life as a footstool.¡± In the end, the opportunity never came. Cedric thought that he was lucky and sometimes he felt sad. He had both a desire to be at ease by handing over his burdens to Lysia, and a desire to make her feelfortable. It wasradeship, and it was also familial love. These were the emotions that came from sharing the heavy responsibility and sadness. And empathy never went beyond that. Because he was already in love with someone else. He was not adept enough to turn a mind once inclined and pour it out on another. Artizea couldn¡¯t utter negative words. She drew her body, holding her breath. She tried to lower her head back, but Cedric wouldn¡¯t allow it. There was a bitter, faint smile in her eyes. ¡°You say you are loyal to me, but there are too many things you don¡¯t believe in.¡± Saying so, Cedric ced his lips lightly on Artizea¡¯s. The breath tickled Artizea¡¯s throat. The delicate movement made Artizea¡¯s lips twitch. Artizea clenched her hand on Cedric¡¯s chest. But soon the power was released from her hand. Feeling like she was about to crumble, Artizea pressed her hand again and grabbed Cedric¡¯s cor. Inside the gaping lips, sweet taste lingered. Cedric covered her cheek with his hand again. Artizea looked up at him with a dazed mood. Cedric leaned her face against his chest again. ¡°I¡¯ll be in trouble, so let¡¯s stop.¡± ¡°Wh, what?¡± Cedric sighed again. ¡°Please don¡¯t be naive at times like this.¡± Artizea bowed her head with a blushing face. It was because she understood. Cedric¡­¡­. Chapter 182 Cedric did not believe that the Emperor was ill. It wasn¡¯t the first time the Emperor had refused an audience like that. He sometimes made people sit in the waiting room and wait for hours. Sometimes it¡¯s to humiliate, sometimes it¡¯s to let others know how lowly the waiting person is. So he thought it would be the same this time. However, the appearance of the Emperor whom he had an audience with two dayster looked bleak. Cedric looked at him strangely. Considering his previous life, the Emperor would have lived quite healthily for the next 10 years or so. The cause of death was a sudden seizure. It wasn¡¯t strange, because he had been suffering from heart disease for a long time. But until he copsed, he took good care of his health. He was always upbeat and full of confidence. But what about now? Hisplexion was gloomy, and his skin looked shriveled due to the atmosphere. He seemed to be years older than he was in a month. ¡°How about the Southern Conquest?¡± The Emperor asked first. Cedric politely bowed his head in reply. ¡°After Sir Gayan left the camp, there was a bit of agitation, but the discipline was well established and there was no desertion. I trained them in anticipation that their presence would be prolonged. General Boyden was trusted by the soldiers, so there was no disturbance at all after taking over.¡± ¡°Has there been any rumors about the situation in the South?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t hide itpletely. But rather than being curious about the details, the mood of anger prevails at the fact that they have been invaded by the Eimmel kingdom.¡± He deliberately induced such an atmosphere. The reason was that he could not lower the morale of the soldiers anyway. The Emperor spoke slowly. ¡°I see. Do you think Sir Boyden can do it?¡± ¡°General Boyden is serious and will be able to live up to Your Majesty¡¯s expectations.¡± ¡°Actually, there were differences of opinion even among the high officials. Although Sir Boyden is from the South Sea, he never served in the Navy, and that he doesn¡¯t seem to be versatile in military strategy.¡± ¡°I am not well versed in the circumstances and geography of the South, so I cannot tell you the tricks of it, but I know how not to be defeated under any circumstances. It is about securing sufficient supplies, not neglecting intelligence, not recklessly increasing the front line, and maintaining the morale of the soldiers.¡± Cedric said calmly. ¡°General Boyden knows the principle. I think he is a great choice.¡± The Emperor tapped the armrest with his finger. ¡°Your position is not simply a military officer, but you have also continued to serve in the military, so howe you¡¯re only thinking of not losing instead of winning?¡± ¡°Because not losing is the most important thing.¡± Cedric replied. ¡°Isn¡¯t it Your Majesty¡¯s wish to keep the South from further chaos until the end of the negotiations?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°When we put the pirate subjugation as a pretext, we could have asked for support from the Southern Sea Kingdoms. But if it is a war against the Eimmel Kingdom, we should be concerned that they might form an alliance and fight the Empire.¡± In the event of a war, the frontline will be established within the imperial territories. Whether they win or lose, they will take damage. If so, it was the most important thing to contain the damage to a minimum. Even so, it would be foolish to try to conquer the Eimmel Kingdom. There was no valuable resource in the Eimmel Kingdom. ¡°Prince Cadriol looks like a warrior, but I know he¡¯s actually a daring strategist. Regardless of the will of Uncle Roygar or King Eimmel, there is a good chance that he will try to divide the Empire.¡± There will not be just a few kingdoms who agree with it. There was also a considerable amount of power within to respond. The Emperor looked at Cedric with wrinkled eyes. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too far ahead.¡± ¡°There are risks. The South is thest region to be subjugated.¡± Due to the convenient transportation, cultural homogeneity spread quickly, but the sense of unity as part of the Empire was not so strong. If the South is now torn into pieces, the entire area around the South Sea will be swept away. Although the rule of the Empire was a mess, it was better than that state. At least there is no war. Cedric suddenly thought of Lawrence¡¯s reign that was now gone. The first to perish was the South, not the North. Because there was no firm ruling power like the Grand Duchy Evron in the South. Even now, the pirates moved in secret. There was also the rule of the unknown pirate king. Severe punishment suppressed the urrence of pirates. Large cities and rtively ind viges were able to escape the threat. The trades moved safely along the route secured by the Navy. But by that time, the state, the trades, and the pirate were no longer distinguished from each other. Trade and looting have reached a point where there is no distinction between them. Protection for civilians was alsopletely lost. As trade was neutralized, the economy plummeted. As long as Emperor Gregor is alive and well, that will not happen. But as long as he reminisces about that time, Cedric couldn¡¯t help but be concerned. ¡°I thought that demonstrating a mighty force was not only to threaten the Eimmel Kingdom, but also to give the Empire a presence throughout the southern regions. General Boyden is the right person for that. Not only is he gifted in battle, but he won¡¯t touch politics or anything like that.¡± The Emperor nodded. It was also a decision he made because he was concerned about the division in the South. Even if the odds were slim, he had to be vignt. But he didn¡¯t know that Cedric, who wasn¡¯t even at the meeting, was thinking about it. ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful. I thought you would be sad or worried about empowering Roygar.¡± ¡°I know that you entrusted it to me because you thought it was appropriate.¡± It is a matter of negotiating and reconciling the various interests of the South. In addition, the Duchy of Riagan was entangled. It went beyond Prince Cadriol and had to deal with King Eimmel directly. So, the authority of the Emperor¡¯s special envoy was not enough. ¡°Because a lot of things happened.¡± ¡°It is a thing of the past. And even if it¡¯s not, it¡¯s a national interest. My uncle is the right person, would my opinions be important?¡± As he said that, Cedric clenched his fist once and then loosened it. It was to calm his mind. The Emperor looked at Cedric with aplicated mind. If Lawrence had only grown this far, he couldn¡¯t help but think about it. ¡®Dumb boy.¡¯ His heart was pounding again. An unidentified sense of defeat and frustration spread from the bottom of his heart. It seemed that the dead Leopric was smiling inside his grave. The Emperor let out a small sigh and changed his mind. And he asked. ¡°Does your wife think the same way?¡± ¡°She promised me that she wouldn¡¯t think about it until after giving birth and finished taking care of herself.¡± ¡°Huh, haha.¡± The Emperor chuckled. ¡°You are holding on tight.¡± ¡°It was me who made her promise, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you say so, will Tia listen to you?¡± ¡°There is nothing I can do aboutplicated thoughts, but she is not one to take my promises lightly. She is well aware that it is time to take care of herself.¡± ¡°If you think so, then that¡¯s that.¡± The Emperor already knew about the inheritancewsuit of Marquisate Camellia. Ian Camellia¡¯s background is cleverly hidden. But in the eyes of the Emperor it was clear that Artizea was his backer. He didn¡¯t even feel the need to find a motive. He suspected that she had done it in retaliation for the attempts to assassinate her using Bishop Akim. He had a suspicion that Cedric was involved in such a thing, but apparently Cedric didn¡¯t know. If so, that¡¯s good. Judging by Cedric¡¯s personality, he won¡¯t hold a grudge for long. The Emperor smiled with a pretend smile and said. ¡°Treasure your wife.¡± Cedric looked at him curiously at the fresh advice. ¡°You¡¯re not stupid, even though you¡¯re straightforward, so you know that your temper doesn¡¯t really fit the life of this capital, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°To protect your wife and children, you now know that being locked up in the military is not a good thing.¡± ¡°I feel it.¡± Cedric said in a cracked voice. ¡°Tia is a clever kid.¡± said the Emperor. ¡°Her body is weak, and there are obviously weak parts. But she has the determination and boldness to make up for that. She will make up for what youck.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Cedric¡¯s answer, the Emperor nodded his head. Then he opened his mouth and then closed it again. Cedric had no idea what he was trying to say. The Emperor finally waved his hand without saying a word. ¡°Return. I am tired and I have to lie down again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thankful for your grace.¡± When it was time for Cedric to step back. ¡°¡­¡­ Do you still have the determination from when you called me your uncle?¡± asked the Emperor. Instead of an affirmative answer, Cedric turned and bowed politely to the Emperor once. The Emperor again beckoned him to go away. Cedric stepped out. The Emperor tapped his armrest again. And he buried himself deeply in his chair. He asked Countess Eunice what it would be like for Cedric to sit on this ce. However, Cedric was not decided on with certainty in the Emperor¡¯s heart. However, he had few options left. He had to keep Grand Duke Roygar in check anyway. Raising Cedric is not a bad choice. Cedric alone would have been hesitant. Even if he tries to raise Cedric, he doesn¡¯t know if it will work. And if his power grows, he will be an uncontroble trouble. But there is Artizea by his side. He understood Artizea well. Artizea was also good at figuring out what fit the Emperor¡¯s heart. Among the old servants, no one was as quick-witted and heart-warming. Above all else, Cedric will not threaten the blood of his beloved wife. He would rather be affectionate to Artizea depending on the situation. But even if Cedric hated his opponent, he was a man who would do his best. ¡®Maybe I can give you a little hand.¡¯ Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s power is not the kind that Grand Duke Roygar can encroach upon. Even a little help from him will quickly increase their power. However, their base is in the North, so it can be controlled. In any case, it was easy for Grand Duke Roygar and Cedric to collide. Because they already had a grudge once. In the Emperor¡¯s hands, there was also evidence found in the residence of Bishop Akim. It wasn¡¯t a solid proof of the murder, but it was enough to ignite Evron¡¯s anger once again. ¡®First of all, let¡¯s start with that.¡¯ Sess in life is known only when it is time to die. And although he was old, he was not yet old enough to contemte death. £ª£ª£ª When Cedric came out of the study, the chief attendant was waiting. He stood alone, holding a gold tray with medicine and honey in his hand. Cedric bowed to him and tried to walk past him. Then the chief attendant whispered in a low voice. ¡°There is a movement in Sir Lawrence¡¯s mansion. It is Sir Bellon who is putting the information in.¡± Chapter 183 Cedric paused. He did not know the chief attendant¡¯s intentions. Until now, the chief attendant had only belonged to the Emperor. He is the second son of a Barony, and has served Emperor Gregor since the days when he had not yet obtained the title of prince. Now, he could hand over difficult tasks to his subordinates and enjoy wealth and glory. However, he still delivered medicine and water by the Emperor¡¯s side. If he wished to enjoy the power, he could do so, but he did not. Because he knew well where the Emperor¡¯s trust and favor came from. Such an attendant gave the information. It was impossible for the Emperor to order him so. He doesn¡¯t know if it¡¯s about Grand Duke Roygar, but it¡¯s about Lawrence. But before Cedric could ask, the chief attendant went inside. Cedric headed out as if nothing had happened. There was a saying that there are eyes and ears everywhere inside the walls of the Imperial Pce. Even the forgotten caretakers and dusty rooms were no exception. ¡®Lord Bellon is giving Lawrence information. Does His Majesty know?¡¯ Cedric thought, keeping his expressionless expression. It was the Emperor¡¯s Guard that was imprisoning Lawrence. And perhaps among the employees, the Emperor¡¯s secret investigators were mixed in and were monitoring. If Bellon had secretly tried to work with Lawrence, he would have done his best to avoid the Emperor¡¯s eyes. The chief attendant knows that. Does this mean that Bellon is moving ording to the will of the Emperor? Or, does it mean that the Emperor knows and is acquiescing? If not, then did he secretly whisper as he passed by so as not to inform the Emperor and only to Cedric? The chief attendant is not an easy person in the first ce. When he came out, Freil was waiting. Cedric beckoned him to go back. And he said it only when he went out to the pce garden. ¡°Lord Bellon is passing information onto Lawrence.¡± ¡°You mean Sir Bellon of the Treasury? Then what of His Majesty?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. The chief attendant passed it to me in secret.¡± ¡°The chief attendant?¡± Freil widened his eyes. Cedric asked. ¡°Did Tia use her hand?¡± ¡°As far as I know, she probably didn¡¯t do anything more than the disy of sincerity. But I¡¯m not sure. There are a lot of things I don¡¯t know about what Her Grace is doing.¡± Freil replied. ¡°Didn¡¯t His Majesty know that Your Grace was informed through the chief attendant?¡± ¡°Information about Lawrence? I don¡¯t think that¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°But the chief attendant is not one to act hastily. Maybe something has changed in His Majesty¡¯s mind, and he thinks it¡¯s advantageous to make a string for Your Grace.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a quick-witted person.¡± It was like that in the past as well. He was in a position to move power within the Imperial Pce. However, as soon as the Emperor died, he was defeated. This was even before Lawrence¡¯s coronation. Cedric felt remorseful. Had the chain not put a line on Lawrence then? Freil said. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s talk about Sir Bellon. If His Majesty secretly leaves Sir Lawrence to organize things, he will not be doing it alone.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Many of the high-ranking officials who had been leaning towards Lawrence have changed their minds about this. Some, including Amalie, are secretly contacting Cedric themselves. However, there are those who have invested in Lawrence enough to not be able to change his position. Or, there may be some who have reasons not to support Grand Duke Roygar or Cedric. Cedric could think of a few such people. It¡¯s likely a rivalry with the important faction of Grand Duke Roygar, and the case of corruption with Cedric. But now what can they do? Without legitimacy, the future cannot be promised unless the Emperor¡¯s favor is restored. Freil asked. ¡°Can I tell Her Grace?¡± ¡°Whoo.¡± Cedric sighed. He promised her a rest, and he didn¡¯t want her to be distracted byplicated problems again. But that doesn¡¯t mean he could stop talking about these important things. Artizea¡¯s opinion was also needed. ¡°I guess so. You go back first and tell Tia.¡± ¡°Where are you going, Your Grace?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to stop by the Chancellor¡¯s Office and meet Chancellor Lin.¡± He was going to ask about the role of guardian of the child. He was also nning to find out about Bellon as well. £ª£ª£ª When Sk returned from her outing, Marquis Luden visited Marquisate Camellia. From the maids, she could guess so, because they had an anxious face like a criminal. In front of the middle door leading to the inner room, Marquis Camellia stood there with a look of restlessness. ¡°Father.¡± As Sk called, Marquis Camellia looked back at her with a startled face. ¡°Ah, Sk. You¡¯re back. How was the meeting with your friends? Shall we go and have a cup of tea together?¡± ¡°Did maternal grandfathere again?¡± ¡°Sk.¡± Marquis Camellia called Sk with a perplexed face. He had a face that could not hide all his signs of weakness. Sk sighed a little. Marquis Camellia loved his children. She thinks he was a good father. But he was not someone to depend on. Sk sometimes thought that if her father had been a stronger person, her mother would have been better off than she is now. Well, that¡¯s why Marquis Luden chose such a person. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Father, please go to the sunroom first.¡± ¡°Sk.¡± ¡°My maternal grandfather is here and I have to say hello. You will tell me to do so. After I say my greeting, I¡¯ll go there. Father, please make me some tea.¡± Sk said so, and she opened the door. After a little hesitation Marquis Camellia followed after Sk. Sk didn¡¯t bother to stop him. The living room of Marchioness Camellia was also closed. Sk formally knocked and opened the door. Marquis Luden sat at the top. Marchioness Camellia was standing beside him, not in front of him, with her hands folded. She was not a mistress serving guests, but rather the servant. Marquis Luden turned to Sk. He had eyes as cold as a snake. ¡°What rudeness.¡± The voice was as cold as ice. But Sk didn¡¯t care and walked over to the sofa and she sat down. And she grabbed the arm of Marchioness Camellia. ¡°I am so d that my maternal grandfather is here.¡± ¡°Sk.¡± Marchioness Camellia sat down next to her, stumbling over, as she cautiously called out Sk¡¯s name. ¡°What are you doing here at a time like this? Is your aunt being stubborn again?¡± Marquis Luden stared at Sk. Sk pretended she didn¡¯t know, and said, ignoring the gaze. ¡°When I told her that it would be difficult for my mother to go with her because of thewsuit, she was about to cry. Even though she insisted on going to the South, she must have been anxious because she thought that she might go alone.¡± ¡°The cheeky thing.¡± Marquis Luden looked at Sk with a cold face. He was about to rebuke Marchioness Camellia for problems with the inheritancewsuit. She was instructed several times at the time to get rid of the repercussions by killing them to be sure. Still, Marchioness promised that he would have to do nothing, and she would take good care of it, so he wouldn¡¯t worry. So he trusted her. Had he known she would handle things this way, he wouldn¡¯t have done so. It was hard for him to forgive her for not listening to what she had been told to do and for messing things up. However, he even suffered serious damage to his reputation. At the time, the case did note to the surface. Because it was only a fight between the children of the ex-wife and the children of the second wife. And it was not umon for a spouse¡¯s family to lend a hand for their son-inw or their daughter-inw. It was not umon for assassinations to intervene in the inheritance process of the great nobles. But now it is treated like a different matter than it was then. Ian Camellia imed that Marquis Luden, a noble, unterally killed and persecuted the descendants of the previous Marquis Camellia. The argument worked convincingly, since Marquisate Camellia now had no power. First of all, it was brought to trial. It was as if he had given permission to anyone to discuss. At the time, it was a story that was only passed around quietly among the most powerful in the social world. In that conversation, Marquis Luden was victorious and a cunning victor. But now, the nobles who are not rted were making a fuss. Even the newspapers treated it as a scandal. Intellectuals argued that it was normal to have such a brutal fight despite the fact that there was an inheritancewsuit. Even the lowly people that were curious about the inheritance of the noble family were mixed in and talked about it. The name of Marquis Luden was tattered as if it had been lying on the street. Because of the trial, he was not able to retaliate harshly against a few as an example. Grand Duchess Roygar was also in trouble. [¡°Is the rumor true, Father? Did father really kill the people of his family to make brother-inw the marquis?¡±] Grand Duchess Roygar asked, with her eyes wide open in disbelief. His daughter was the only one who believed it was a false rumor no matter what scandal circtes in the social world. But maybe she was saying that she is an adult now, so she listened to the outside rumors and immersed herself in useless thoughts. Marquis Luden could not arbitrarily say anything to Grand Duchess Roygar, unlike anyone else. As the future Empress, isn¡¯t she a jewel that was carefully cultivated by Marquis Luden? He managed to calm her down, but when Sk tried to threaten him with her, he couldn¡¯t tolerate it. Even as Marquis Luden stared at her coldly, Sk smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t help it. My aunt was around mother almost all her life. She¡¯s not just going on a trip to the South, she¡¯s going on an important political campaign, and how anxious she must be if I say that my mother can¡¯t go with her.¡± Sk¡¯s intonation was as soft and graceful as singing. She was the perfectdy figure enough topliment her as usual. Of course he couldn¡¯t do that now. Marquis Luden looked at Sk fiercely. But he could not rebuke her any further and stood up from his seat. ¡°I¡¯ll just go back. Make sure you take good care of it.¡± ¡°Yes, father. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Marchioness Camellia answered with an ufortable face. Marchioness Camellia went out to see Marquis Luden off. Then, Marchioness Camellia looked at Sk and sighed. ¡°What rude behavior is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my grandfather¡¯s side who is rude.¡± Sk said sharply. Chapter 184 Marchioness Camellia looked at Sk with a worried look on her face. She knew that Sk didn¡¯t like Marquis Luden. But her attitude today went too far. She didn¡¯t just rebel, but brought up Grand Duchess Roygar, and it would have intensified the wrath of Marquis Luden. ¡°But not like that, Sk.¡± ¡°Why? If maternal grandfather¡¯s approval is lost, mother and father will not be the masters of Marquisate Camellia?¡± It didn¡¯t seem like a problem that could be solved with just a few words. Marchioness Camellia looked at her husband. The marquis quickly noticed the Marchioness¡¯ will and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll ask them to bring some tea.¡± ¡°Please.¡± The door closed as Marquis Camellia left. Marchioness Camellia let out a sigh. She then made a soft voice as if trying to appease her daughter. ¡°Sk. I understand why you are angry.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m not angry, I¡¯m just giving you some advice.¡± Sk said. ¡°No matter how hard mother tries, no matter how obedient you may be, my maternal grandfather will not treat mother more than a servant.¡± ¡°Sk¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Mother¡¯s attitude makes Marquisate Camellia less than a vassal of Marquisate Luden. Even mother knows. Maternal grandfather does not keep his trusted vassal as a servant as he did to mother today.¡± Perhaps Marquis Luden knew it, too. To make Marchioness Camellia feel her own position was the way he could keep her in his hands and rule her for so long. ¡°Maternal grandfather is taking advantage of what mother wants to be recognized for. Even mother knew it yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No matter how hard you try, you will never be epted.¡± Sk said coldly. Marchioness Camellia would have known it herself. However, this was the desire that the Marchioness had cherished from a very young age, and it could not simply be thrown away. Marchioness Camellia let out her sigh. ¡°It¡¯s only natural that he treats me differently from Her Grace. And it was your maternal grandfather who made your father Marquis Camellia.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean that maternal grandfather owned Marquisate Camellia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about simply borrowing the power of the Marquisate Luden during the inheritance process. Even if your father had taken the title, without the support of Marquisate Luden, he would not have been able to enter the social world.¡± The noble society is closed. If you can be a nobleman just because you have a title, what are the new nobles worrying about? The most important thing is blood ties. If there were no blood ties, there had to be an educational rtionship. If you studied under the same teacher as a traditional noble from childhood, orpleted your studies with the support of a great noble, you could be incorporated into the noble society as a vassal of that family. If not, there must be some dy. You can only be called ¡®someone in a certain region¡¯ until about three generations after you be the Lord, exchange greetings in the local social circle, and establish a rtionship with the localmunity. Marquisate Camellia couple did not have it. The Marchioness was the second wife and was an illegitimate child at the time of birth. It is fine now. Even Marchioness Camellia knew. Even if she cuts off her rtionship with Marquisate Luden, her current authority does not disappear immediately. Marchioness Camellia was well aware of her own usefulness. Grand Duchess Roygar was not one to abandon her sister in the first ce just because she had a fight with her father. Grand Duke Roygar would be satisfied with the split of his subordinate powers, and will use Marquisate Camellia as a tool to keep Marquisate Luden in check. However, Marquisate Camellia will be alienated from the noble society. The greatest goal of a noble family is to preserve the lineage and pass on prosperity to the next generation. If they were alienated, they can no longer be called a true noble. That is why no family can live as a single family. They will be a family of illegitimate children who have risen from the traditional marquis family. Then, unlike before, they could not act as a real great noble. Like the present Duke Riagan who became loyal to the Emperor and became the ruler of the South, but still was not treated as a Duke by the nobles. It just took a little bit of patience. At least until the children are all married. All secrets will end with Marquis Luden and Marchioness Camellia. Marquisate Luden Heir Apparent, the eldest son of Marquis Luden, was weak in character, far from conspiracies or secrets. So were his children. In Sk¡¯s generation, Marquisate Camellia will remain purely a family connected with Marquisate Luden. It wasn¡¯t that hard to be patient. It was nothingpared to the time when she slept and woke up in a small room under the attic with theundry servants and wondered how to get into her father¡¯s eyes. But Sk spoke with an upright attitude. ¡°No. Mother misunderstood that, too. The world has changed. Look at what the world is talking about right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is it so desperate for Marquisate Camellia to be the vassal of the infamous Marquisate Luden?¡± Marchioness Camellia sighed again. ¡°Sk, it¡¯s not that simple.¡± ¡°Mother. I just want my mother and my family to be treated with the respect they deserve. Mother has already served Marquisate Luden long enough¡± Marchioness Camellia was silent for a moment and looked at Sk. She knew her daughter well. So she realized that what Sk said wasn¡¯t just saying. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ nothing.¡± Sk bit her lips. She went to meet Ian Camellia today. But she couldn¡¯t tell the story to Marchioness Camellia. At least, not until Marchioness Camellia cut herself off from Marquis Luden. Marchioness Camellia said. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about doing anything. For now, the highest priority is to raise the Grand Duke to the position of Emperor.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± Sk replied. With those words, she has been crushed by all the conflicts so far. So Sk became even more frustrated. Because even if it was a victory, it would not be the Marquisate Camellia¡¯s victory. £ª£ª£ª Ian Camellia couldn¡¯t hide all of his nervousness and he froze. Then he sat down again. The amodation, the hotel, was luxurious. More than 20 guards guarded him tightly. He had three servants to take care of him directly. The rich scent of summer fruit filled in the basket refreshed the parlor. However, it was not the case with his heart, which Sk had stirred up. [¡°I¡¯m here to propose an arranged marriage.¡±] Sk said so. At first, he didn¡¯t think much of it because a woman iming to be his cousin, whom he didn¡¯t even know the face of, came to visit him. He thought she would ask him to drop the case at best. If she wanted to negotiate properly, Marquis Camellia or the Marchioness would havee. Thinking she was a woman who looked down on the world, he met her. He intends to send it back to her. He was going to tell her piece by piece, asking if she knew what her parents did. But more than that, Sk didn¡¯t even lower her eyebrows and listened to Ian¡¯s words with a cold face. She then said [¡°I understand your grudge. It¡¯s normal. Is that all?¡±] Ian was perplexed. [¡°There must have been someone who paid for all these. That person even hired a reliable guard.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Sir Ian is the party involved in this, but you don¡¯t even know what it is for.¡±] Ian tried not to let Sk know that he didn¡¯t know. Even Ian, who had no experience in such things, knew that information was the basis of negotiations. However, Sk seemed to know the answer just by cracking down on Ian¡¯s expression. Ian couldn¡¯t help but react. [¡°You mean you know?¡±] [¡°If you don¡¯t know why this is happening or who is doing it, you cannot survive even if you be Marquis Camellia.¡±] Those were words that urately pierced Ian¡¯s anxiety. Who is behind him? He thought he knew before. Ian was sure it was from the Lawrence faction. But Lawrence was dismissed. Ian did not know the exact reason. However, he was dismissed from his post as the Secretary of State and he was ced under house arrest. If so, who the hell is behind him? Is it Duke Riagan that Lawrence was trying to bring down? Or is it a fight within the faction of Grand Duke Roygar? Is it Grand Duke Evron, who has nothing to do with the current conspiracy? Or does he have a personal grudge against Marquisate Luden and Marquisate Camellia? Ian couldn¡¯t decide. There was too little information. The capital¡¯s socialites sent him numerous invitations. But they were all sent out of curiosity. Is Ian real? To what extent is the content of thewsuit true? How far will thiswsuit affect Marquisate Luden and Marquisate Camellia? It was difficult to dig up information and make correct judgments in conversations with people that covered the inner intentions and thoughts with a smile. In fact, Ian had a hard time even staying in it. Sk was right. Even if he wins thewsuit and reims the title, he will not be able to survive as Marquis Camellia. So Sk¡¯s suggestion was reasonable. In order to survive as a nobleman, both real power and legitimacy were required. Her enemy, Ian, had legitimacy, but no practical ability. Raised as the Marquis of Camellia Heir Apparent, Sk has real power, but her legitimacy has been damaged. So thisbination wasplementary. If you look only at the title and family name, that is. However, Marquisate Camellia was intertwined with Marquisate Luden, and behind Ian was a mastermind with a purpose. [¡°What is Lady¡¯s purpose? Even if my purpose was not revenge, the fact remains that this will be a blow against Marquis Luden and Lady¡¯s parents.¡±] [¡°Yes. My purpose partially oveps with that. To defeat Marquis Luden and take over Marquisate Camellia.¡±] [¡°Are there any problems with Marquisate Luden?¡±] [¡°I¡¯m sure Sir Ian knows what it¡¯s like to fight for power within a family of great nobles.¡±] Sk said so and stood up. [¡°I¡¯m going to go down south with my aunt soon. Please remember that you don¡¯t have a lot of time to think about it.¡±] Ian¡¯s mind was moreplicated than that. Thedy who brought him here refused to bring him to her faction. He had no contacts or information. So he now felt as if he was groping in the dark and finding his way. It might have been better to ept Sk¡¯s proposal, even if it meant to sleep with the enemy. Of course, the first thing to do is to understand exactly what Sk¡¯s purpose is and to see if there are anypromises. Before he did that, he had to decide what his own purpose was. If it¡¯s revenge, what¡¯s the scope of that revenge? The reverberation Sk left behind lingered in the parlor for a long time. Chapter 185 When Cedric returned home, Artizea was building a castle on the table with a block the size of a finger. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m bored.¡± Artizea answered. She decided not to work, and she couldn¡¯t read a book because that was tiring and there was no one to send and receive letters with when there was no work. She ofteny down and took naps, but it was also too early to spend the entire day sleeping. So now she has nothing to do. ¡°Have you given up sewing?¡± ¡°Even if I finish it, I don¡¯t think I will be able to use it anyway. My head hurts when I look into it.¡± Artizea replied sullenly. At first, she was nning to make a baby swaddle by hand. But she wasn¡¯t on the dexterous side. Cedricughed. ¡°No way. I think I¡¯ll do it better than you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s harder than you think. The fabric is thin, so the needles are thin¡­¡­.¡± Artizea meant that it would not work with the skill of sewing torn sleeves on the battlefield. Well, Cedric wouldn¡¯t be making baby clothes himself. ¡°You just have to do what you are good at.¡± Artizea let out a sigh. In fact, she even tried to make her own educational materials. Her handwriting was rather elegant, so it suited for transcription. Copying something like a spelling manual seemed like a good way to pass the time. However, a textbook for children is different from that of an adult. Before she could write, she said it would be good for an illustrator to draw, but that never came back. Come to think of it, it was enough to write down a few letters and words anyway. It wasn¡¯t something that would be used for a long time. When she could afford it, she wanted to make something. She could say she wanted to leave it to the baby. In this case, no valuable judgment has entered her mind. It has to be usable over the years, and it has to be the same no matter what person made it. So, it¡¯s still too early, but when she started making oldnguage textbooks, it was taken away by Ansgar. [¡°You are struggling too much. Madam says you¡¯re not tired, but when we watch from our side, it looks like you¡¯re getting ill right away. Aren¡¯t you sweating too?¡±] He said so, and she couldn¡¯t resist. Ansgar said kindly. [¡°You need to rest well and take care of your body. After that, you will have time to take care of all the things yourself.¡±] Artizea thought it was something she didn¡¯t know deep down, she smiled bitterly. But she couldn¡¯t say it out loud. It was boring to sit still, so she was looking for something like a baby toy and pulled out a colored block. ¡°How was it? The audience?¡± ¡°It seemed true that His Majesty was ill.¡± ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be angry, but bad things happened one after another.¡± Artizea spoke inly, as if speaking about someone else. Cedricughed bitterly. ¡°It felt a little weird. If it were you, you wouldn¡¯t have met me in that state.¡± ¡°Some fish cannot live in water that is too clear. What did Chancellor Lin say?¡± It was about Treasury Bellon¡¯s passing information to Lawrence. Of course, Cedric didn¡¯t tell Lin all the information itself. He has only asked for character reviews about Bellon. ¡°Chancellor Lin did not speak badly of Sir Bellon. He¡¯s bright and meticulous with numbers, but he¡¯s not good at improvisation.¡± Artizea nodded her head calmly. ¡°What do you think? If he is very loyal to Lawrence, he must be in for the throne.¡± Even now, if he was a bureaucrat of the Emperor and a loyal follower of Lawrence, he would have been widely used for his privilege. But in Cedric¡¯s memory, the name has never been active. He may not have been well aware of it, as it was the job of the Treasury Department. Artizea said. ¡°I got my throat cut early. Because I¡¯m ignorant.¡± Cedric flinched. Artizea put down the block she was fiddling with. ¡°It¡¯s not that brother Lawrence doesn¡¯t have the ability to grasp that the prospects are slim¡­¡­. I think there must be a different story.¡± ¡°Another story?¡± ¡°Belonging to an organization you can¡¯t get out of.¡± Saying so, Artizea fell into thoughts. The chief attendant said that. It means that the source of the information is not from the Ministry of Finance or the Guards, but from within the Imperial Pce, perhaps from the Ministry of the Interior. He did not use his own hands to create an organization within the Imperial Pce. However, there was no guarantee that an organization interested in the next Emperor would not have arisen within the pce. Inside the Imperial Pce, there were many supporters for Lawrence. Lawrence¡¯s bad handed habit is only a minor matter. The servants were all those who had brought the Emperor up till now. Unlike bureaucrats and nobles, he was not a person who could negotiate and share power. At the same time, they were too deep to be ignored, like servants and low-ranking officials. If Grand Duke Roygar became Emperor, they were just something that had to be beaten out of course. It was the same with Cedric. Even now, there were people who had Cedric sitting in the waiting room or brewing bitter tea that could not be put in the mouth without frowning in front of the Emperor. It was a little worse in his childhood. Even if the Emperor had suppressed Cedric, there was no way he would have ordered such petty bullying. Cedric is not the type to hold such personal grudges for long. By nature, people use their own image as a mirror to reflect on others. However, many of the servants spent their entire lives in the Imperial Pce. In doing so, they saw the little things they did confirm their superiority as a person. Talking about your own experiences is what most people do. However, there were especially many of the royal court servants. There were those who could not distinguish between the authority of the Emperor and their own power. Moreover, it was only natural that they were inclined to Lawrence, who had been favored by the Emperor in the Imperial Pce since childhood. Artizea also had an informationwork inside the Imperial Pce. However, for a long time, she could not figure out all the powers that took root in Mira¡¯s favour. Rather, Artizea¡¯s informationwork was dependent on that power. It was because the beginning formation was based on the servants serving Mira. ¡°It could be a good opportunity. Being associated with a treasury bureaucrat means being able to track the money.¡± ¡°It means that those who are simply inclined to know will not know, but those who are actually involved can find out.¡± ¡°If you have a rtionship with the Treasury, it would be a good idea to open it up.¡± ¡°The opportunity to look into the Treasury is rare.¡± Cedric nodded his head. If that was the case, it was something worth reporting to the Emperor. ¡°Can I afford to not doubt the chief attendant?¡± After receiving Cedric¡¯s gaze, Artizea made a slightly embarrassed face. ¡°It¡¯s not that I know and control everything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ really?¡± ¡°Just because the chief attendant is trying to do that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s a good person. If it were, I would have taken him a long time ago.¡± She couldn¡¯t deny what she was trying to do. Artizea said with a red face. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a meaning behind it. The inside of the Imperial Pce is like a swamp that you can¡¯t see.¡± Perhaps even the Emperor did not know how the floor of the pce he lived in was moving. ¡°All right. Then I will meet with Sir Bellon separately.¡± The only problem left was Lawrence¡¯s side. ¡°His Majesty will react sensitively, so it would be best not to touch brother.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bit intimidating to just let it go. It¡¯s not like Lawrence doesn¡¯t have any organization at all.¡± ¡°Yes. You must not take your eyes off of it.¡± Lawrence had many friends. They were often criticized for being dissipated and thoughtless young people, but they had the power to act. Artizea reached out her hand and picked up the block again. Cedric reached out and grabbed her hand. Artizea flinched and looked at Cedric. ¡°Are you bored of what I¡¯m doing?¡± ¡°Oh, no.¡± Why did he ask such a thing? Cedric pulled the block out of her hand. ¡°I heard you were bored and that was why you were ying with it. If you were concentrating, it wouldn¡¯t bore you.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡­¡­. I mean, I¡¯m bored right now¡­¡­ no. It¡¯s just in front¡­¡­.¡± Artizea blushed as she said so. Then Cedric stood up, holding her hand. ¡°Would you like to go for a walk before dinner?¡± Artizea followed him. The evening sun was long and the sun was still setting in the garden. £ª£ª£ª A few dayster, a special envoy for fact-finding, organized by Grand Duke Roygar, departed for the South. With Grand Duchess Roygar, the special forces will move at a slower pace. By the time they arrived in the South, the Southern Conquest Army, which started first, would have cleared up the situation to some extent. And the news will fly south much faster than that. And two weekster, when things were quiet, Lawrence left for the East. The Emperor called Lawrence the day before and met him. ¡°Would it be because I hate you?¡± The Emperor said in a calm voice as if tofort him. He made the decision, but the thought of sending him away made the Emperor sad again. He was a child born in his old age. He was also the youngest from the Emperor¡¯s point of view. He was very pretty and cute from a young age, and the Emperor loved him especially. So he got angry again. How much better would it have been if Lawrence had been a little more careful and thoughtful. There is nothing to be done at the child¡¯s will, but the corners of his chest feel stuffy. ¡°Go east and rest for a while. By the time people¡¯s eyes fall, I¡¯ll take your mother out too¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s because you hate me or to hold me ountable, there is no difference in that you are ordering me to be dismissed.¡± ¡°Am I holding you ountable?¡± ¡°Did you know it wasn¡¯t me? If you¡¯re going to remove me from responsibility, it¡¯s better to do a thorough investigation as well. Otherwise, you should havepletely covered me.¡± Lawrence said quietly. ¡°To chase me away with the excuse of covering me up, Father is trying to avoid criticism. If you do an investigation, you cannot avoid saying that you made a person, who might be responsible for the southern conflict, amander of the Southern Conquest Army, and if youpletely cover me up without an investigation, you will be used of putting favoritism ahead of national affairs.¡± ¡°Lawrence¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If I get dismissed like this, I will be responsible for the conflict, and Your Majesty has punished me.¡± Lawrence said so. It was the first time he had called the Emperor Your Majesty instead of father. So the Emperor looked at Lawrence in shock. ¡°I will take my leave.¡± Lawrence bowed coldly and withdrew. The Emperor let out a long sigh. Although it was his decision, he was somehow upset and ufortable. Chapter 186 Fall [My Dearly missed Duchess The days are getting colder. Are you doing well? You wrote that you are okay in yourst letter, but I¡¯m concerned because you are always saying you¡¯re okay. Since the Grand Duke is by your side, nothing bad will happen. The wheat is already starting to be harvested here. This year¡¯s harvest is not very big, even though it is said to be a little better than usual. The wheat fields are endless and spectacr. Depending on the region, there are ces that start in a month or so. It is said that Sir Forb, an agricultural overseer, deliberately set a timeg between nting so that the harvest could be continued without interruption. It is said that this is because less areas were damaged byst year¡¯s Monster Wave. If the area affected by the Monster Wave wasrge, the wheat would have to be harvested all at once to pay the tax at the first harvest. However, it is said that this year¡¯s leisurely harvest made it possible for the westerners to consume food non-stop. There is an association of small grain merchants, which is very cooperative. Each house has a little something to store, and there are supplies from His Majesty, so it seems that even if we rest in winter, the consumption will not be able to empty the warehouse. Since you might be interested in Sir Forb¡¯s record, I asked him to write a report. In order not to overburden you, I am sending it to Sir Ansgar instead of Your Grace. There really isn¡¯t much time left now. Thest time I had received four of the letters at once, as Sister Hayley wrote and sent a series of crying letters. I think she would be a good fit, too. After the baby is born, I will go see you. I wish you good health, even from afar. Lysia.] Lysia nced at the letter once more. There were no problematic sentences as she had already written it three times in a practice book and copied it here after checking it. She wiped off the remaining ink by pressing the letter with a blotter paper. She lit both the blotting paper and the practice papers. Then she smiled bitterly. When she was writing, she couldn¡¯t quite remember when she started lighting the candle. She closed the envelope and sealed it with wax. Knock, knock. A knock was heard. ¡°Come on in.¡± ¡°Excuse me, Baron Morten Heir Apparent.¡± It was her secretary Ranie. When she hade here before, she wondered what kind of secretary she would need. But now her position is a little different. Lysia wanted to do her best. She was different from her old days, when she thought that she had to clumsily get supplies and heal the patients. She also knew a little bit about the way the world was going now. Ranie said. ¡°Sir Forb hase.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lysia put the letter on a tray and went outside. Forb was waiting in the parlor. A smile filled his wrinkled face. ¡°How are you? I heard that you were on a trip, when did youe back?¡± ¡°I came back this morning. I brought some news that Baron Morten Heir Apparent might want to know as well.¡± Lysia tilted her head. Forb was a low-ranking official. It was good to hear that he was an agricultural overseer officer, but his original job was to predict the yields of various ces and report them to the center. This was not done to calcte taxes. This was done to identify the causes of poor and bountiful harvests by region. If the cause of the good harvest was a new farming method, it was studied and spread widely. Education and support were provided to areas with poor yields. In principle, it was so. In reality, there was no follow-up from the center at all. So it meant nothing. There was an official position in the Imperial Law, so he was just selected and left alone. However, Forb did not neglect his role. For decades, with or without the Monster Wave, with or without warlords in power, he researched, studied, and published statistics on the farnds of the West. And finally, those efforts were rewarded. Thanks to the Monster Wave that was stoppedst year, it gave the Western region a breath of fresh air. The recirction project began to be overhauled. Forb thought, as he always did, that the tune would be broken in the middle this time, too. It was like this every time the central government appointed a new person in charge and sent them down. They first repair the warehouse and fill it with crops at harvest time. But the grain was never distributed to starving peasants for more than two years. Most of it turned into money and went into the pocket of the person in charge. Although the straw-mixed-grain was distributed and milled wheat was harvested, the warehouse did not fill up again. Sometimes the person in charge tried to do right. Then the grain from the warehouse hid into the houses and temples of middle officials. Forb used to think that it would be better for the warlords to load the whole thing and put it in their castle¡¯s warehouse. Then, they¡¯ll at least not have a hungry army confronting the Monster Wave. But this time it was different. It was thanks to the Western Army that was overhauled first. None of the Western Army generals tried to rob the warehouse with the excuse of military supplies. The same was true for officials and nobles. It was clear that the Western Army would not stand still if Grand Duchy Evron took charge of the warehouse. In fact, in the spring, one of the provincial officers took grain from the warehouse and tried to use it, but was caught by western soldiers guarding the area and was hung on the wall. The person who thought that the person in charge was just a young woman disappeared at once. It was around that time that Forb was called. He also met Lysia for the first time at that time. [¡°Her Grace has asked me to meet the agricultural overseer officer. Even if we can block the next Monster Wave once more, it will not be easy for the West to be abundant if the current situation is the same.¡±] [¡°That¡¯s right.¡±] Forb stuttered. Even though she was a local baron, she was from a family with a title. She had a higher status than Forb. Needless to say, she was thedy-in-waiting who had been directly ordered by Grand Duchess Evron. [¡°So, if there are any agricultural overseers who arepetent and have sufficiently thought about ways to improve the crops in the West, I asked them to apply.¡±] Lysia smiled softly. [¡°And when I came here to look into it, everyone agreed and rmended Sir Forb.¡±] That¡¯s how the rtionship started. A significant portion of the manpower and funds invested in the Rebirth Project supported Forb. When it became known that he was supported by Grand Duchy Evron, the local officials were forced to help him. The Western Grain Merchant Association and the Western Army also contributed. As a result, after only half a year, the situation became quite manageable. Wheat yield increased. But that was only a small part. Eyes, of those who knew everything about the harvest in the area Forb is in charge were watching him, but they found no prospective holes that they could exploit blindly. Behind him were Grand Duchy Evron and the Western Army. The capital and the Imperial Pce were too far away to y a political trick. The trading volume of wheat skyrocketed as there was a surplus of food. The members of the Western Grain Merchant Association, which had been formed by at least a dozen trade associations, were now passing rumors. Forb did not foresee this situation. But he was able to respond. He knew every crop that thrived in each region of the West. The old crop was no exception. Poor peasants who needed money were able to subsist on something else and sell wheat instead. The warehouse filled up quickly. Considering that the harvest is still going on, the good news is not over yet. It seemed like it would continue for the next few years. There was no reason for the smile to leave Forb¡¯s lips. Lysia smiled, too. ¡°What is the good news?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the temples having a harvest festival soon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I was able to put the Melbon crop on the altar. It is said that the bishop has given an affirmative answer today.¡± said Forb. If he had stood, he would have danced. Lysia smiled brightly as well. ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Yes! Because it¡¯s a crop from Monster Land. In order to spread it properly, it is better for the temple to acknowledge it.¡± Forb said excitedly. Melbon was the name of a saint who fed a million people with ten sacks of wheat. Forb discovered the karam crop and named it after the saint. This is because he did not wish to be unconditionally hostile in the temple by calling it with apletely new name. It was a crop that grew well even in that barren and cold area. In the West, just sprinkle it and it will grow quickly in the fall. Forb quickly recognized that it was an edible nt. Being able to grow it in winter was an indescribably great advantage. Just nt it and it will grow on its own, so it doesn¡¯t require muchbor and doesn¡¯t consume a lot of manpower. It was easy to guess that it came down from the North considering the growing environment. Forb thought that it was probably spread through the feces of beasts or buried on the body of monsters by chance in areas infested with monsters. If they could spread this widely, they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the winter destion. Lysia knew how it spread. Forb had discovered that some of the Western soldiers had either nted them under their walls or secretly nted them in the fields. But, pretending to know nothing, she smiled mischievously. ¡°That¡¯s good. Her Grace will be delighted.¡± ¡°Praise the chairman of the Western Grain Merchant Association. That friend used a lot of effort.¡± ¡°Sure. I need to rewrite the letter. I will praise both of you.¡± Having someone like Forb made things easier. When Artizea told her to look for an agricultural overseer, did she know that this matter would be easily resolved? At that time, Lysia did not yet fully understand Artizea¡¯s meaning. She was ordered, so she just followed it. But now that she thought about it, Artizea probably already knew about Forb¡¯s existence. So did the Western Grain Merchant Association. It must have been made by Artizea, Lysia thought. If industrial development itself does not follow along, the West cannot escape from hunger no matter how well the system is reorganized. By developing agriculture, there is a surplus of food. And even if it is managed, ifmerce does not grow on its own, it will be robbed by the enterprises of the central and eastern regions. Only when they are freed from exploitation and starvation can the people stay in their ownnd. Only then can thend be defended. All things are interconnected. The change had just begun. But it started moving. As long as the Emperor doesn¡¯t take the Rebirth Project out of Artizea¡¯s hands or change the person in charge to remove Cedric¡¯s influence on the Western Army, it¡¯ll continue to be better. Hopefully, they will be able to survive the next Monster Wave without Cedric. They may even be able to survive floods and epidemics. [¡°What should I do in the West?¡±] When she asked, Artizea replied: [¡°Believe that people have the power to ovee.¡±] Lysia thought that the answer was not enough now. It needed something other than faith and courage to ovee. What Artizea saw at that time, she should have been able to see it, too. Chapter 187 The harvest festival is held on the day thest wheat is harvested. The custom arose when the great temple had not yet been built. There were temples back then, but they were not as organized as they are now. Early temples worshiped the same god, honored saints, and followed the same customs, but each led their own faith. The rituals were also slightly different. Areas of influence were a few viges or a city or two. So it was possible to offer sacrifices on the very same day after thest harvest in thend. With the centralization of temples and the consolidation of secr power into the imperial court of the Krates Empire, this was no longer possible. The imperial family did not want to consolidate its influence on the residents through the rituals of the temple. The temple¡¯s bishops wanted to establish the temple¡¯s authority by controlling the ceremonies. Therefore, the New Year Festival and Harvest Festival were to be held only at the great temple. And in these two ceremonies, the Emperor must personally attend and light candles. Even in this era, when the center of wealth is clearly shifting tomerce and industry, the importance of agriculture has not diminished at all. It was no exaggeration to say that the imperial power came from the fact that it upied all the fertilend. Even if there are disced people due to disasters every year, the poption as a whole has steadily increased. Even if it was devastated by war and exploitation, it was restored after two or three years of abundance. When the Empire stopped trading and seized food and raw materials, no country could survive. Not to mention the North, which was subjugated to the Empire due to food problems in the first ce, even the wealthy Iantz Kingdom, whose poption would all have worn silk socks, even anymoner along the way, was bound to starve to death if the Empire blocked the port. And the Emperors of the past were well aware of that fact. When the Emperor personally came to the Great Temple and offered an offering, the nobles were also expected to follow. Now, there were few nobles who were interested in the New Year Festival or the Harvest Festival itself. The important thing is that this is arge-scale official event with the Emperor as a head. After all, it is a ritual. It was to show the direction of power by who appears in what kind of outfit and stands next to whom. The nobles who arrived early scattered around therge garden of the Great Temple in groups of twos and threes and ate light refreshments. There was still a lot of time before it started. There was no news that the Emperor¡¯s family had even departed. ¡°Will Her Majesty the Empress not attend this year?¡± ¡°I wonderedst year, too, but in the end she didn¡¯te.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different fromst year. Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Evron are also in the capital.¡± Whispers echoed all over the ce. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s very refreshing to not see Mira.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know about banquets, but it was really rude to go out at an official event like this.¡± ¡°His Majesty was too much. No matter how Sir Lawrence¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± ¡°What? There is no need to be careful anymore.¡± Thedy who brought it up at first responded coolly. The person who had been careful, spoke with a lowered voice. ¡°Still, you have to be careful. It is said that His Majesty seldom goes out of the pce these days, but who can guarantee that he is really depressed?¡± Then people started to join in. They did not know where they were or who they were, but everyone knew that the Emperor had a secret organization. It was not a story that could be shared in such an open ce. Thud! Thud! At that moment, there was a sound of heavy footsteps resounding. The fallen leaves on the ground trembled. The eyes directed towards that way. Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s carriage entered the garden. They did not carry any weapons, but the knights in armor were wrapped around the carriage in the front and back. The people who were chatting became quiet. The carriage stopped. From inside, Grand Duke Evron got off first. The youngdies raised a small cheer at the tall figure dressed in ck and blue robes. Grand Duke Evron reached into the carriage and held the Duchess with his own hands. The Grand Duchess was in full bloom. Despite the fact that it was something to celebrate because she was originally fragile, she looked a bit gloomy. The tense atmosphere in the garden loosened. Originally, no horses or carriages were allowed into the gardens of the Great Temple. The only exception was the carriage of the Emperor and the Empress. However, for some other reason, it seemed that the knights and carriage were allowed. ¡°It¡¯s safe.¡± Viscountess Pasto covered her mouth with a fan and whispered in a low voice into the ear of Marchioness Camellia. Artizea had not gone out after she was 5 months into pregnancy. She didn¡¯t know in the early days of her pregnancy, and she had to return the congrattions, so she still met people. However, after Lawrence returned from being dismissed from the Southern Conquest Army, she did not go out and did not receive guests. Because of that, there was a lot of rumor to say. The Grand Duchess is weak from the beginning, so she¡¯s hiding the fact that she had a miscarriage, or maybe she¡¯s never been pregnant in the first ce. But it turned out that it was all nonsense. Marchioness Camellia smirked. ¡°If it¡¯s time to give birth anyway, everything will be revealed, so why would she lie?¡± ¡°Hmm, but¡­¡­. It was a mess. She almost had a miscarriage. Because of the temple.¡± ¡°If she lied to get on the offensive, then she would have said she had a miscarriage.¡± And Artizea could do it, but Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s vassals wouldn¡¯t have been able to tell a lie. Even more so when they bet on an heir. In any case, it was obvious why the carriage was able toe in. The temple had once put Artizea in danger. This time, she was in full-term. They would have had no choice but to provide convenience. It was a situation where words could note out, so their eyes were fixed on it. Cedric carefully wrapped Artizea¡¯s shoulder as if trying to hide her from gazes. And he asked. ¡°Is there anywhere ufortable?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. There are still more than two weeks left until the due date.¡± ¡°I said I coulde alone.¡± ¡°It is an official ceremony. It¡¯s good to show my face once in a while.¡± It wasn¡¯t very easy to move, but she decided it¡¯s better toe out. It was Cedric¡¯s first major official event since he became Secretary of State. Grand Duke and Duchess Roygar have left the capital as the special envoys. At this time, Mira and Lawrence, who were always by the Emperor¡¯s side, even in informal moments, were absent. In other words, Cedric was the only imperial family to follow the Emperor to the altar. He couldn¡¯t miss this moment. Cedric can make a much better impression standing together with his spouse than alone. And the topic was the same. Artizea was well aware of the rumors circting outside. It was clear without even asking questions. Showing a full-term appearance at this time will help to leave a strong impression. Cedric and his men were all overly concerned. However, even if thebor pains suddenly came, it was a time when the baby would not have any problems. Bishop Nikos came out to meet them. ¡°Wee, Grand Duke, Duchess. We set up an awning and set upfortable chairs.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea thanked him and, following the guidance of Bishop Nikos, headed to the chair under the awning built near the altar. Cedric said. ¡°I¡¯ve brought a doctor and a midwife, just in case, Bishop.¡± ¡°I see. I will order a room to be cleared.¡± Bishop Nikos had a slightly bewildered face. But it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t take care of. ¡°You worry too much.¡± ¡°We came here in a carriage for a short distance. You don¡¯t have to worry too much.¡± Cedric said so and sat Artizea in the chair. She said she was fine, but her legs and back were throbbing, so Artizea leaned slowly in the chair with Cedric¡¯s support. And she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s much better to get some fresh air outside.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m d.¡± Cedric sat next to her and supported a cushion on her waist. ¡°Aren¡¯t you thirsty? Can I bring you something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s water here, too.¡± Artizea held up a ss of water from the small table next to the chair. Cedric looked around. He was looking for something else to do. Being used to this, the escort knights stood there without thinking. Embarrassed by the feeling that his presence had only been a hindrance, Bishop Nikos bowed slightly and walked away. Artizea waved her hand saying it was really fine. ¡°There is nothing particrly ufortable today. I will rest quietly while smelling the fall wind, and return as soon as the ceremony is over.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a promise.¡± ¡°I can rest, but Lord Cedric shouldn¡¯t rest.¡± Artizea said, pointing to those who stood from a distance and anxious to greet. Cedric let out a small sigh. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°No matter what you see today, don¡¯t forget that Lord Cedric knows nothing.¡± ¡°I am mindful. I was so busy with military affairs that I didn¡¯t pay much attention to the other business in the Grand Duchy.¡± Artizea smiled at Cedric¡¯s words and nodded her head. ¡°I also have to greet the wives I¡¯ve known for a long time.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t want to leave Artizea alone, but he had no choice. It was also promised in advance. Finally, after receiving Hayley¡¯s re, Cedric mumbled and stood up. As if they had waited, several people came to greet him. Few people approached Artizea. It was because she hardly had any personal acquaintances, she had too high a status to just talk leisurely, and it was not easy to get close to the pregnant Grand Duchess. Countess Eunice and her daughter Fiona were the first to approach Artizea. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Your Grace. It¡¯s normal to have aches and pains here and there even when you¡¯re still, are you okay?¡± Countess Eunice said with a kind face. Artizea also answered with a smile on her face. In fact, it still hurts everywhere. ¡°The fetal movement is severe.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it time to gradually decrease?¡± ¡°I heard that it will decrease at the end, but I think our baby is still doing it. Because it was very active in the beginning¡­¡­. When the maid saw it, she said it was going to be a son.¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with that. My second daughter also kicked me so hard.¡± Countess Eunice shook her head. ¡°She still looks like a tomboy. Taking apart clothes with frills.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nice to see her lively.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not like she¡¯s really good at martial arts or horseback riding. She just likes to y outside. Her face is charred.¡± ¡°Lady Larnie is still young. Isn¡¯t it best to be healthy?¡± Artizea said so. However, as she had already begun to care for the education of the baby in her womb, she could understand Countess Eunice¡¯s concerns. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Then, they were interrupted by Marchioness Camellia. Countess Eunice looked at her with a vignt face. Chapter 188 Even if the Emperor did not say it directly, it was conceivable that he had Cedric in his mind based on various circumstances. And Countess Eunice believed that he had a considerable influence on the Emperor¡¯s will. Naturally, she could not help but be concerned about what Marchioness Camellia, a key figure in the faction of Grand Duke Roygar, hade to say. Isn¡¯t Artizea even in full-term? What will she do if something happens? But before Countess Eunice greeted on her behalf, Artizea spoke first. ¡°Would you like to sit down for a moment, Marchioness Camellia?¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± Countess Eunice called Artizea as if trying to stop her. Artizea let out a sigh. Not for any other reason, it was because her body was hurt. ¡°It¡¯s hard for me to look up. At the two of you.¡± Artizea said sincerely. Marchioness Camellia sat down in slow motion. Some of thedies who had followed as if protesting Marchioness Camellia took a few nces and then fled from the ce. It was because they realized that there was no ce for them. Countess Eunice hesitated. She then sat down next to Artizea. ¡°How is your health? It must be difficult for you to be pregnant, but I was worried that something was going to happen.¡± ¡°I am not very healthy, so there are a lot of concerns around me.¡± ¡°Grand Duchess Roygar, was saddened. Shortly after your marriage, she didn¡¯t have a chance to build a friendship with you because of your honeymoon, but she was hoping she¡¯d get a chance to act as an aunt this time around.¡± Artizea smiled faintly. If it was Grand Duchess Roygar, she might have thought so with pure intentions. But Marchioness Camellia couldn¡¯t have said that with pure intentions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if my husband stands right behind His Majesty, he is not the one who will forget about his uncle. So do I.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°He¡¯s head of the Empire¡¯s important envoy, so it¡¯s unavoidable. But, it is surprising. I can¡¯t believe that Marchioness Camellia did not go with her.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Marchioness is wise, also experienced in the world, and the affection and trust between sisters is deep, but you do not go with her on important matters. Is something wrong?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t just take a month or two, even if it¡¯s a sister¡¯s business, how can we go together so easily?¡± Countess Eunice interrupted her restlessly. It was because of the inheritancewsuit that Marchioness Camellia could not follow Grand Duchess Roygar. Rather than responding to thewsuit itself, she could not be with Grand Duchess Roygar with such a scandal. There¡¯s no way Artizea had said it without really knowing the reason. But Marchioness Camellia exhaled a mix ofughter and sighing. ¡°I was trying to insult Your Grace for something insignificant, but I ended up saying something stupid.¡± Countess Eunice looked at them in turn. Artizea did not change her gentle expression. Marchioness Camellia said, ¡°Still, I am not worried. Ga is no longer young, and there are several people who can help.¡± Frankly, it was true that the more she tried to be a good Grand Duchess, the more difficult she was to deal with. Marchioness Camellia didn¡¯t think it was a bad thing in itself. Grand Duchess Roygar was a good-natured person. She can¡¯t say she has a very good brain. It was also true that she was immature. Whether she could be entrusted with important work, it was never so. But Grand Duchess Roygar knew how to acknowledge the existence of people superior to her. She had no prejudices. She thought it would be nice if she could gain experience in the world and broaden her horizons. Her work is done by the people below her. She will be fine this time, too. Thedies who followed her asdies-in-waiting were all cautious people. Grand Duchess Roygar surrounded herself with experienced and thoughtful people in the social circle to prevent herself from making a big mistake. She has Sk, too. If she consulted with Sk and the elderly Viscountess Weave, she couldn¡¯t have made a big mistake. Marchioness Camellia was very upset when Sk first told her that she would be thedy-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Roygar. Grand Duchess Roygar had been begging to have the daughter of her favorite sister, and her clever niece as herdy-in-waiting. It was not strange considering her status or her rtionship. Marchioness Camellia continued to decline. She kept making excuses that she was young, that she had a lot to study. She did not want Sk to serve her, despite the fact that she had affection for Grand Duchess Rogar, and that it was an important job to take care of her. If she was thedy-in-waiting to the Grand Duchess, then she would be more like an attendant, rather than an aide. [¡°I¡¯m going to be aunt¡¯sdy-in-waiting. I know mother doesn¡¯t like it. I also know that my aunt is not particrly likely to get involved in political affairs. But there are things that she can only see from the position of the Grand Duchess. Even if aunt can¡¯t see it herself.¡±] That was right. Even if Marchioness Camellia could exin it to her in words, she wouldn¡¯t be able to experience it for herself. When Sk said that herself, she couldn¡¯t help it. But she was d to see it now. She would not be at peace without Sk. Artizea spoke as if she had made up her mind. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry because Lady Sk is by her side. You must be happy that you have a wonderful daughter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ yes.¡± Marchioness Camellia answered. While Artizea was preparing for the Empress¡¯ birthday banquet, she knew that there was an exchange between Sk and Artizea. There was also a bit of agreement. She thought it was a good thing. Although Artizea may not be an ally, for Sk and Artizea to make friends, she can learn a lot. But now, things were different. At the time, Marchioness Camellia thought her real enemy was Lawrence, and that Artizea was trying to win both sides. She¡¯s not an ally, but she¡¯s not an enemy either. But what about now? Grand Duke Evron was no longer a Kingmaker, but Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s strongestpetitor. If Duke and Duchess Roygar had not been to the South, they would stand side by side behind the Emperor today. Now that Cedric has a big role to y as the Secretary of State, it was clear what that would look like to the people. This situation could not have been created simply by the Emperor¡¯s will to bnce power in the political world. If it were Cedric, as everyone knew until now, he would have chosen not to attend the ceremony, rather than standing behind the Emperor. And that changed after he married Artizea. Although they couldn¡¯t understand the story of the couple¡¯s rtionship and Cedric¡¯s change of heart, it was clear that the real enemy was Artizea. ¡®Not good.¡¯ Sk is devoted to Artizea. She was her peer and the easiest target of jealousy. Still, there was no sign of resentment over the high regard Marchioness Camellia personally had in Artizea. If her parents valued a person so consistently, she could consider beingpared and offended. ¡®When she gets back, I think we should talk about this seriously.¡¯ Above all, Marchioness Camellia wished that Sk would not bend her heart to anyone. In order not to show theplexity in her head, Marchioness Camellia consciously kept her expression smiling. Anyway, it was true that Sk was reassuring. However, Artizea brought out her words in a direction that she did not expect. ¡°Away from the eyes is out of the mind. But she¡¯s got Lady Sk, so there¡¯s nothing for the Marchioness to worry about.¡± ¡°Tell me how strong the friendship is between Grand Duchess Roygar, and Marchioness.¡± Countess Eunice replied. She thought she had to protect Artizea, but somehow things turned the opposite. But she was worried that this might get into an argument. Artizea said, smiling, without denying Countess Eunice¡¯s words. ¡°Of course. I know it well. So Marchioness Camellia wouldn¡¯t have to worry about the cauldron being heated.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°It is said that power is inherently inseparable between parents and children.¡± Countess Eunice tilted her head, but Marchioness Camellia understood. She unknowingly tensed her fingers. She was reminded of Marquis Luden¡¯s recent behaviour. It was usual for him to treat Marchioness Camellia coldly. But apart from that, he was also an important discussion partner. Marquisate Camellia was the highest-ranking family under the Marquisate Luden faction, and the Marchioness was also an adviser to Grand Duke Roygar. But recently, something has been different. Marquis Luden stayed away from Marchioness Camellia. After she disobeyed his orders to assassinate Ian Camellia. She couldn¡¯t help it. Assassination is not something that can be done so easily. If he died as he is now, she was in a position where she would be immediately pointed at as the culprit. In the first ce, the reason she had to kill Ian Camellia was because of Marquis Luden¡¯s wounded pride. ¡®I can¡¯t figure it out.¡¯ Marchioness Camellia did not have a separatework of information concerning Marquisate Luden. It was natural. Marquis Luden was not one who would allow Marchioness Camellia to dig into his direction. So she was even more worried. It was because she was well aware that Artizea would have a fairly high level of informationwork. What does she know and what does she say to her? Is it just a general theory? Is it a trick or just a thought? She couldn¡¯t make up her mind. Marchioness Camellia intended to investigate the circumstances of Grand Duchy Evron. She wanted to know how far they were involved with Ian Camellia¡¯s affairs. But instead, she backed away from Artizea with a dark expression, with only her heart confused. After that, thedies approached to greet her as if they had been waiting. Words of blessing were hurriedly thrown. ¡°Her Grace is not feeling well, so please don¡¯t make such a fuss.¡± Countess Eunice organized the people. She felt exasperated. At the beginning ofst year, Artizea was Mira¡¯s delinquent. She even tried to p her. She was d she didn¡¯t p her on the cheek and yell at her as much as she really wanted back then. £ª£ª£ª The Emperor¡¯s carriage arrived. Cedric walked over to it. The head of the escort, Sir Keyshore, saw him and bowed his head slightly to greet him. Cedric paused, sighed once, and took control of his mind. When he nced at Artizea, he couldn¡¯t see her at all because she was covered by the parasol thedies were wearing. A guard knight dismounted from his horse and opened the carriage door. Cedric reached out his hand to support the Emperor. ¡°I¡¯m not that old yet.¡± The Emperor gave him a scolding. Cedric replied calmly. ¡°Among the people in this location, I have the highest rank.¡± ¡°This is the etiquette.¡± ¡°It is better to get off before the weing arrives.¡± The Emperor murmured and, supported by Cedric, dismounted from the carriage. Bishops in robes made a procession with holy relics and candlesticks in front and approached the carriage. Chapter 189 Old priests and monks in yellow robes sang hymns. The chorus that started from the depths of the abbey filled the front yard in an instant. In the New Year¡¯s Festival, young peasants sing, but in the Harvest Festival, on the contrary, the older ones sing. It was a ceremony to give thanks for the fruits of the harvest and to confirm that winter wasing. It is also right for people to express their gratitude to those who have produced fruit. Hearing the song, the Emperor narrowed his eyes for a moment and looked around the gardens of the great temple. Wherever their eyes met, nobles knelt and bowed their heads. All of their clothes were splendid, and they were more gorgeous than the waves that reflected the sunlight. The Emperor breathed out something, not knowing whether it was augh or a sigh. And the bishop, who was at the forefront of the procession, drew a sign on the holy relic that was being held up. The bishop turned around without a word. He was normally supposed to say a greeting, but it was an exception when he was holding a relic. This is because at that moment he is not a human priest, but a vessel for the divine. So did the procession and the singing priests behind him. After weing the Emperor, the procession turned around and headed towards the altar. The Emperor walked slowly in the back. Cedric followed. After Cedric, Chancellor Lin, high-ranking nobles and bureaucrats followed in line. As the procession drew closer, thedies around Artizea also knelt down so that their knees touched the ground. The skirt hem spread like a flower bud. Artizea was unable to kneel, so she tried to stand up after all the relics had passed. But it was not easy to bnce. As she struggled and grabbed the armrests, one of the escort knights hurriedly moved forward, risking being in front of the Emperor. Before that, Cedric came up first and reached out his hand to grab Artizea. Artizea leaned on his arm and barely lifted herself up. Perhaps surprised by the chant, the baby moved, unusually from before, in her stomach. She was in a cold sweat. ¡°Forgive me for not kneeling when the sun of the Empire rises at the highest. Artizea of ??Evron greets you.¡± ¡°Befortable. Do you think I will tell a full-term pregnant woman to kneel?¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your grace.¡± Artizea bowed her head. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. I¡¯ve heard of the news so far, but I¡¯m relieved to see you well.¡± The Emperor nced at her once and smiled. He appreciated Artizea, she was bright in politics and thatbined with her prudence and determination. However, the impression of her young age did not disappear easily. The Emperor remembered that Artizea, when she was five or six years old, crumpled up the hem of her soiled skirt and followed Lawrence. Now, Artizea was already the Marquis of Rosan, and she also held the ce of Grand Duchess Evron, and next year she will turn twenty. The Emperor heard reports that the fillings of warehouses for recirction in the western region were proceeding smoothly, each taking three different routes. Undercover investigators reported that Marquis of Rosan¡¯s estate was not declining. Even though she was spending a fair amount of money. Thedies-in-waiting, brought from Grand Duchy Evron, one was bright and the other was good, and despite their low statuses, they had a good reputation. At first, there were many whoughed at them foring from the provincial aristocracy, especially from the northern corners, but now there are many more who want to associate with them. And now she has an heir. As long as the child to be born is healthy, it is the sessor. The chant of blessing the fruit filled therge abbey and overflowed, filling even the heart of the Emperor. But, on the contrary, his inside felt nauseous as if it was empty. So he listened to Artizea¡¯s brief reply. ¡°It is all thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s grace.¡± ¡°Standing on the altar to bless the fruitage, the baby will be blessed as well.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your grace.¡± The Emperor gave words of blessing and turned around. It¡¯s harvest day. There was nothing wrong with saying good things to a pregnant woman on the day of the ceremony. The Archbishop, standing in front of the altar, greeted the Emperor. Cedric held Artizea¡¯s arms and climbed onto the podium. Only then did he see the things that were ced on the altar. Agricultural products sent from each region wereid out little by little. Knowing that Cedric¡¯s gaze was ced over the sacrifice, Artizea gently pulled his arm. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Cedric struggled to remove an intention from his gaze. [¡°Lysia sent me a letter, saying that a new crop called Melbon has been selected as a sacrifice for this year¡¯s harvest festival.¡±] It was two weeks ago that Artizea had told the story. [¡°Melbon?¡±] [¡°It is said that the western agricultural officer discovered a crop that could be harvested in the midwinter and gave it that name.¡±] Just hearing the word midwinter, Cedric knew immediately what it was. But before he could speak his words of emotion, Artizea put her index finger to his lips, preventing him from speaking. This was an excuse to be attacked unterally if discovered, and could endanger the entire northern region. It had to be dealt with more carefully than any other political issue. There was no need to discuss or do anything more than this. Cedric understood that too. And he turned the topic to a story that even a person who had no knowledge of the circumstances could follow. [¡°However, it must not be an easy task for a new crop to appear on the altar.¡±] [¡°They said the Western Grain Association used a lot of bribes. Wheat is a staple crop in the West that is the basis for transactions beyond currency. If farmers can sell the wheat instead of consuming it, the grain dealer can make a huge profit.¡±] [¡°You, too?¡±] Artizeaughed. The now-grown Western Grain Association did not act ording to her will. However, seven of the grain merchants affiliated with it belonged to Artizea. Even considering the money spent as bribes, if she could profit from both wheat price and trading volume for two or three years, she could see that she would make a good profit. [¡°It is said that the officer who named the crops is very old and sincere. He had no authority, but he knew quite a few people here and there. There are many people whopletely trust him.¡±] Artizea only knew Forb as a candidate. In the past, after Lawrence ascended to the throne, Artizea searched and found several capable men to rebuild the West. At that time, Forb was also on her list. She didn¡¯t actually use it. Because Lawrence was more focused on crushing the warlords than rebuilding the western industry. It may have been a harsher affair because it was the ce Lysia had an affection with. Forb,pletely distraught, did note out no matter how many times he was called. Sheter learned that he had fallen ill and died of poverty. The person who delivered the news also brought a will. Since the Emperor is the sky, there was a written mourning within the will about what would change under the sky if the Emperor¡¯s heart did not change. Artizea burned the will by hand. Forb¡¯s family probably handed over the note to the messenger, hoping that it would be found out. However, all family and rtives could be annihted for nder. She thought he was someone that Lysia could put to good use. And she was d that she was not wrong. [¡°It is said that there are quite a few provincial officials who put a request in the temple separately because of the sincerity of the officer.¡±] [¡°What is the name of the officer?¡±] [¡°The name is Forb. You won¡¯t have to remember it now.¡±] Now. Cedric nodded his head at that. [¡°Well, you¡¯ll remember anyway, so if I¡¯m curious, I can ask you.¡±] [¡°Lord Cedric.¡±] [¡°Even if I forgot to ask, you will tell me.¡±] Artizea sighed and shook her head lightly. Cedric knew that it was Artizea¡¯s own light response. It was a story he had heard in advance, but when he saw it lying on the altar, he couldn¡¯t stop his heart from pounding. Melbon was thicker and thinner than when it was raised in the North. But Cedric could recognize that it was the same crop. Artizea pulled his arm back a little. Cedric erased his expression and gently stroked the back of Artizea¡¯s hand to signify that he understood. However, the new pulling this time did not mean that Cedric should take care of his facial expressions. Artizea¡¯s breathing was disturbed. Cedric nced sideways at her. Artizea bowed her head slightly. She was holding her belly with her right hand, not her left hand, which was holding Cedric¡¯s arm, giving it strength. ¡°Are you hurting?¡± There was only the Emperor and the two of them on the altar. Cedric couldn¡¯t help but ask, even though he knew people¡¯s eyes were on him. Artizea said in a low voice, while sweating in a cold sweat. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s the pain, it could be, it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s realbor, it will be like this for a few hours anyway.¡± Artizea took a deep breath. Cedric almost screamed, but before that, Artizea pulled his arm again. This time hisplexion had returned a bit. ¡°It will be over soon. It¡¯s bearable.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be nice to see them chattering during the ceremony. Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s arm again. In the meantime, the Archbishop continued the ceremony by reciting a blessing. Long prayers blended softly like a song into the melody of the hymn. Cedric was nervous. It was not easy for him to not show it on his face. ¡°Your Majesty, the wine.¡± said the Archbishop, stepping away a little in front of the altar. Cedric bit his mrs. In any case, the ceremony had to be held, and in this ce he was responsible for assisting the Emperor. Artizea let go of his arm. Cedric walked over to the Emperor. The Emperor knelt before the altar on one knee, so he knelt down on both knees and poured the wine from the bottle, handed over by the Archbishop, into the wooden goblet the Emperor was holding. The Emperor sprinkled the wine from the cup evenly over the offerings. And lit the fire. The offerings were on fire. Cedric held his breath and looked at the fire. No one paid attention to the crops they had seen for the first time. In the first ce, no one watching the altar was aware that such a crop had never existed before. Perhaps, only the priest who prepared the sacrifice and those who received the bribe would know. The Emperor finally lit a long candle with the mes. The Archbishop took the candle and ced it in antern made of gold and ss. This fire would not be extinguished until the next New Year¡¯s Festival. The bishop, who had taken the candle from the Archbishop, this time stood at the front of the procession. He was followed by the bishops carrying the relics used in the ritual. The Emperor looked at the procession. All of his roles in the ceremony were over. The Archbishop bowed his head to the Emperor and expressed his gratitude. ¡°Not a single mistake was made this year.¡± ¡°Should I even make a mistake in this matter? It¡¯s only my first year.¡± The only thing that bothered Cedric was that he did what Lawrence didst year. Now, it was time for the celebration. That was then. ¡°Oh, oohh!¡± The Archbishop cast his gaze over the Emperor¡¯s shoulder, opened his mouth and shook his body. The Emperor was surprised and looked behind him. Cedric shouted while hugging the copsed Artizea. ¡°Doctor! Midwife!¡± A green light shed around Artizea¡¯s body. Chapter 190 Cries of astonishment and surprise erupted everywhere. The Archbishop covered his mouth and groaned. The most recent manifestation of divinity was in Saintess Olga two hundred years ago. Since then, miracles have asionally appeared in Olga¡¯s legacy or in the relics left behind by previous saints. But such miracles werergely uneptable for official records. Those who believe believe, but those who do not believe thought it was an illusion and sneer at that phenomena. But what is happening now is different. However you looked at it, the holy energy enveloped Artizea. Because it happened during the ceremony, the Archbishop was even more surprised. Wasn¡¯t the divinity manifested directly during the rites, not through the saints? Among those who were under the altar, the most devout ones fell to their knees and put their foreheads to the floor. Even the Emperor could not hide his surprise and held his breath. Meanwhile, Cedric waspletely normal on his own. No, he was the most crazy of them all. ¡°Didn¡¯t I have the doctor on standby? Which room?¡± Didn¡¯t he see healing powers manifest once or twice? The holy power instilled in the body by the blessing is expressed as a healing power when needed in the future. This was Lysia¡¯s specialty. Cedric himself had his life saved with this power. Conversely, the fact that this healing power enveloped the body meant that life was at stake or was about to be. If it¡¯s an injury or illness, it wasn¡¯t something to worry about. It will be cured with healing power. But now, it is the childbirth that is driving Artizea¡¯s life to death¡¯s doorstep. This does not end with healing. The first to jump up were the attendants of Grand Duchy Evron. The maid chief came to her senses and jumped up. And she shouted. ¡°The hall, it¡¯s the hall! Master!¡± She had previously followed Bishop Nikos to a clean room. ¡°Make hot water and get the cotton cloth down from the carriage! Hurry!¡± The maid led the way and shouted at the attendants as they ran. A knight moved to the carriage with the maids. The maid chief didn¡¯t think this would happen. Even this morning, the baby was in a stable state. Still, the reason why the doctor and the midwife apanied her and prepared various supplies was to prepare for anything. Cedric hurriedly followed her. He couldn¡¯t see the people talking, nor the priests kneeling in prayer. Fortunately, Bishop Nikos took good care of it. The prepared room was quiet and clean. The doctor and the midwife, who had been bored, thinking they had nothing to do, were astonished and greeted the two of them. The devout midwife saw the holy powers surrounding Artizea¡¯s body, and knelt down and drew a sign. But it didn¡¯tst long. Her amniotic fluid ruptured and blood flowed, staining the hem of her skirt bright red. Cedricid Artizea down on the bed. A weak hand grabbed the hem of Cedric¡¯s sleeve as if she had regained her senses a little. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Artizea struggled to answer, perhaps thebor pain had subsided. But less than two minutester she groaned again in a painful groan, and she clenched Cedric¡¯s hand so tightly that her joints could break. The midwife looked into Artizea¡¯s face and said. ¡°Madam, breathe slowly. You must breathe through your nose.¡± The maid ran up to her with scissors and cut off the clothes from Artizea. Following the doctor¡¯s instructions, the knights grabbed Cedric from both sides. ¡°I will stay here.¡± ¡°This is not what Her Grace wanted.¡± This was something Artizea had told them in advance. Whatever is toe will happen anyway, and even if Cedric is in the birthing room, there is nothing he can do. So she said, don¡¯t pay attention to her giving birth and do what needs to be done. That is, if Artizea isfortable with that, they have promised to do so. But isn¡¯t that the story of when she passed the day and entered the birthing room without any problems? There were no urgent national affairs right in front of him, so he had no intention of leaving the ce. The maid stopped Cedric firmly and spoke again. ¡°If the master is here, how can doctors and midwives fulfill their rolesfortably? They may have to do something tough.¡± She was right about that. Cedric wasn¡¯t the type to disrespect the doctors¡¯ authority, but just being there could be a burden. Cedric wiped his face with his palm. And he told the doctor. ¡°My wife takes precedence over the baby.¡± ¡°Yes. Yes.¡± The doctor took a deep breath and answered several times. ¡°While the healing power is manifested, she can recover as long as she is alive. Don¡¯t hesitate to put a knife on her body and save her.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The doctor answered. And went to wash his hands. Cedric was half pushed out of the birthing room. The narrow hallway was crowded with people. The knights blocked both esses of the hallway, but not for the Emperor and the Archbishop. The two caught Cedric. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°The bleeding is significant. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s normal or not¡­¡­.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t finish his answer, but realized from the look on the Archbishop¡¯s face that what he was asking wasn¡¯t Artizea¡¯s conditions. Hatred soared. He once believed that the Archbishop was a fair and faithful man, and that he would always stand by him without wavering. But now Cedric knew that he was forgetful of justice in the face of temple power. It was not Akim alone that tried to use the saint? He knew that it was rare for people to have such an upright good faith. However, his disappointment arose anew, perhaps because the Archbishop was the person he trusted when he was young. One Lysia¡¯s sacrifice is enough. Does the Archbishop think Cedric will let his wife and child be taken advantage of? Cedric said coldly. ¡°Well. God doesn¡¯t want my wife to die in the temple.¡± At Cedric¡¯s words, the Archbishop¡¯s face hardened for a moment. It was because he realized that in those words he meant not to forget what Akim was going to do. The Emperor said, ¡°It¡¯s a premature birth, and it¡¯s a good thing and fortunate to have been looked after by God. Do you really not know what happened?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I do not know.¡± Cedric answered honestly. It seemed obvious that Lysia had blessed her. But he didn¡¯t know when that would be. Maybe it was in the previous future before going back in time. Cedric did not know whether the blessings resided in the body or in the soul. It may or may not be that divinity can flow from the future to the past. No, there was no guarantee that the present time was the past. Or, Lysia may have regained her memory. Cedric saw a high possibility. On the night he came back urgently from the North, Lysia was crying, and not knowing why she was crying. It was certain that the fragment of memory had returned. So, it¡¯s not strange if all the rest of the memories came back. ¡°Ah, aah!¡± A scream was heard from beyond the door. Cedric clenched his fists. His misceneous thoughts and his hatred of the Archbishop were all blown away. He had all kinds of thoughts. He thought he persuaded her to have the baby for nothing. They got married and became a couple, so naturally he expected to have a baby. It seemed to him that it was all his vain greed. The Emperor lightly tapped the Archbishop¡¯s shoulder. And he signaled to go. The Archbishop was restless. However, he did not have the heart to open the door of the birthing room and enter to check the holy power. ¡°It will be fine. Isn¡¯t it something everyone goes through as well?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric responded briefly to the Emperor¡¯s words. The Emperor led the Archbishop out of the birthing room hall and ordered some of the knights. ¡°Take care so that nothing bad happens.¡± ¡°I will obey your orders.¡± The Emperor nodded at the faithful answer and stepped out between the Archbishop and the people. The priests were still kneeling and praying together. There were not one or two believers who shed tears. ¡°Speak to me.¡± The Emperor said to the Archbishop. ¡°What will happen to this?¡± Unlike the Archbishop, it was not important to the Emperor how this happened. Of course, he was curious. However, it was much more important to the Emperor how the people received the fact that Grand Duchess Evron received a miracle at the ceremony and also on the altar. And that Evron¡¯s sessor was born by God¡¯s grace. The Emperor realized that his palms were wet with sweat. If he had a crown prince, this was something not even needed to think about. He had to kill it immediately on this spot. But what about now? There was no particr reason to do so, except that the temple would use this as an excuse to increase its momentum. One thing was certain. The Archbishop read it from the Emperor¡¯s face. He hastily bowed his head. The damage suffered by Bishop Akim¡¯s work is only beginning to get better. Far from thanking Cedric, he had no intention of fighting directly with the Emperor as he was looking at him with a cold gaze. ¡°A baby is also a fruit. Although it is unprecedented, it is not unusual to say that God¡¯s grace came down from the altar of the Harvest Festival.¡± ¡°There is no precedent.¡± ¡°There are several instances of miracles appearing during various rituals dating back to hundreds of years.¡± The Emperor clicked his tongue and walked away. He had to think carefully. If he was really going to make Cedric his sessor, this isn¡¯t a bad thing. Or even if he wants to get rid of Cedric and get another sessor. It was something worth thinking about. *** It had been three hours since the Emperor had left. ¡°Uwaaa!¡± Finally, the loud cry of a baby was heard. Cedric grabbed the doorknob, but couldn¡¯t open it. It was because he was afraid that he might have a bad impact. It wasn¡¯t long before the midwife came out, embracing the baby, which had been washed in warm water, wrapped in a cotton cloth. The midwife¡¯s face was drenched in sweat and tears. ¡°She¡¯s a very healthy princess.¡± ¡°What about Tia? What happened to my wife?¡± Cedric asked, turning white. It¡¯s not too short of a time for the first childbirth. The midwife smiled with a weeping face. ¡°Madam is unharmed. She was bleeding so badly that she couldn¡¯t stand the pain of childbirth and fainted, so we dared to use a knife.¡± ¡°Then!¡± ¡°Wherever the doctor sews a wound, grace is healing it.¡± Saying so, the midwife drew a sign. Cedric finally sighed in relief. Artizea lived. It was not until he was convinced of it that he saw the baby¡¯s face. It was impossible to recognize who the wrinkled face resembled. Her hair was ck, resembling him. Cedric carefully took the baby and hugged her. This baby was the daughter of him and Artizea. He felt like he was about to cry. ¡ª¡ª T.T T.T T.T T.T Chapter 191 Artizea opened her eyes dazedly. It was the familiar bedroom of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. The sight she saw was a little different from what she had been ustomed to for a while. She has never slept well since she became full term, and she has never been unconscious of her belly. So this time, as usual, she turned her gaze towards it. ¡®Ah¡­¡­.¡¯ It was slimmer. Deep in her stomach was throbbing and painful. There was a long burning sensation on the skin of the lower abdomen. ¡®It¡¯s not stillbirth, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ She onlysted nine months. ¡°Madam!¡± ¡°Miss, miss, are you okay?¡± Alice, who was next to her, raised her body in a hurry and asked. The maid chief hurried outside. Artizea looked at Alice without energy. ¡°The, baby?¡± ¡°She¡¯s safe. She is a very healthy princess. Don¡¯t you remember? You went to the Harvest Festival and startedbor.¡± Artizea nodded her head. In fact, her memory faltered afterbor began in front of the harvest altar. The doctor who was in the room right next to her ran in. ¡°Your Grace, excuse me.¡± The doctor examined Artizea in order. He listened to her heart, took her temperature, checked her pupils, and opened the gown she was wearing to see the wounds. It was then that Artizea saw that there was a stitch wound on her stomach. When the mother died, there were quite a few cases of slitting her belly to get the baby out. He was a doctor from Evron, so he was good at treating trauma, so the scars were small and well stitched. ¡°You slept all day. The wounds are healing well. You will probably be in pain, but it will be fine.¡± ¡°A day¡­¡­?¡± Artizea asked curiously. Although she was not versed in medicine, it could be easily believed that this wound was made at least two days ago. However, the doctor did not answer her question and spoke first of what was necessary. ¡°You are dehydrated, so drink a little water and juice. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine, but if you have any fever, you should tell me.¡± Artizea nodded her head. ¡°You¡¯ll probably have pain.¡± He said hesitatingly, in an attitude he wasn¡¯t sure about. ¡°If you can¡¯t stand it, I¡¯ll prescribe a pain reliever. However, this is a normal reaction, so don¡¯t worry too much. It means that the organs are finding their ce well.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Alice took a cup of warm water and ced it in Artizea¡¯s hand. She took a sip and she seemed to liven up a little. ¡°The midwife will help you with any other inconveniences thate with childbirth.¡± Click. Then the doorknob suddenly turned. Then she heard shouts of rebukes from outside. It was Ansgar. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say that Madam will be surprised?¡± ¡°Uwaaangg!¡± And then there was the sound of a baby crying. Artizea gave strength to her hand holding the ss of water. Because she didn¡¯t know what to do. Artizea didn¡¯t say anything, and there was no response from the doctor, the maid chief, and the maids. Because they knew that some of thedies were reluctant to show their husband how they looked after giving birth. Some of thedies who suffered so much from childbirth did not want to see their baby at all. Alice moved. It was because she knew that Artizea was not reluctant, but that she was just frozen. Cedric and Ansgar were wandering about in front of the door. The awake baby was crying very well as Cedric wasforting it and swinging it. Cedric couldn¡¯t even get his hands and feet out in a mixture of worries about Artizea, the thought of having to show the baby, and the fear that the baby¡¯s cry might be bad. Ansgar, who could not stand it, took the baby and held her. Then, like magic, the baby stopped crying. ¡°You will have to work harder.¡± ¡°Wow, it¡¯s amazing. Why is it okay when you hold her?¡± Cedric, who is prone to the baby cringing whenever he holds her, asked awkwardly. It was at this time that Alice opened the door. Just by looking at the two of them standing, it was easy to guess what was going on. Alice said as she tried not tough in front of her superiors. ¡°Madam is healthy.¡± Cedric stepped inside. The maids put the cushions and pillows on Artizea¡¯s back to raise her torso up. Cedric saw Artizea¡¯s face pale, but otherwise normal, and sighed in relief. Then he came over to the bed and sat down. Ansgar held the baby and followed. ¡°How is your body?¡± Cedric took her hand and said. Artizea¡¯s eyes fluttered, unable to focus on the baby. ¡°Thank you for your effort. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I almost killed you because of my greed.¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea answered in a cracked voice. ¡°I wanted to give birth.¡± Her gaze moved towards the baby several times. But she couldn¡¯t get her focus straight and her eyes shook again. Cedric reached out to Ansgar. Ansgar carefully gave him the baby. This time she did not cry. ¡°She is our daughter.¡± Cedric showed Artizea the baby¡¯s face. ¡°She was born prematurely, but she is said to be very healthy. It is said that there is almost no difference from babies born on appointed days. If it were dyed, you would have been in danger.¡± Even though it was not toote, it was dangerous, so Cedric feltplicated as he spoke. ¡°Hold it.¡± Cedric held out the baby for her. However, Artizea did not readily reach out to her. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± It was only Alice who realized the meaning behind those words. Alice risked being rude and bent over opposite of Cedric and crouched down next to Artizea. And she said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Miss. The baby won¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°That, that¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even remember what you did when you were this young.¡± Tears welled up in Artizea¡¯s eyes at those words. ¡°I¡¯ll hold it.¡± Cedric smiled brightly. Ansgar, afraid that the clumsy master might make the baby cry again, intervened and helped. Artizea still had no strength in her arms. Ansgar ced a cushion under her arms and rested the babyfortably on Artizea¡¯s chest. Artizea was captured by a strange feeling at the small weight and body temperature that reached into her arms. She didn¡¯t realize that the baby was in her stomach just the day before. ¡°She looks like Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Cedric said with a puzzled face. Everyone said she was, but he thought it was just apliment. But Artizea doesn¡¯t have to say such things. ¡°It was simr. How amazing.¡± Artizea spoke in a low voice, as she lightly touched the baby¡¯s cheek with her index finger. It was fortunate that she had nothing to worry about. Artizea was worried that the baby¡¯s face would resemble hers, but she was very worried that she might resemble Mira. But it¡¯s good that the baby looks like Cedric. She was more than happy. There was nothing more she could wish for if the same goes with her personality and physicality. ¡°Have you thought of the name?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡± Cedric let out a worried moan. He had already been urged three months ago. He would like to prepare a few name candidates. But there was nothing on his mind. Old vassals wished it to be named after its ancestors, and some suggested that they pass on the names of their own ancestors. Cedric didn¡¯t want to do that. Even if he doesn¡¯t do it that way, the baby will eventually carry Evron when it grows up. ¡°The naming ceremony should be done within a month.¡± ¡°Think about it with me, too.¡± Cedric said, holding the baby again in Artizea¡¯s exhausted arms. The baby mumbled her mouth. Cedric looked at Ansgar in bewilderment because her face was on the verge of crying. Ansgar said as he took the baby from Cedric and held her. ¡°I will take her to the wet nurse. Please talk to each other.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea tried to reach out her hand. Because she thought she might have to breastfeed her. The midwife who was attending said. ¡°You won¡¯t be breastfeeding yet. Your health is also important, so leave it to the wet nurse for now.¡± Artizea nodded her head. She was just thinking that she should be, but she already knew that breastfeeding in her own condition would be difficult. Ansgar went outside tofort the baby who began to cry. Artizea looked at his back. Alice ced the sugar water in her hand again and urged her. Artizea wet her throat little by little. Cedric carefully took Artizea¡¯s other hand and kissed on the palm of her hand. And he asked the doctor. ¡°Does she need to see more treatment?¡± ¡°Oh, no. Please speak to each other. But don¡¯t overdo it. Her Grace has been starving for more than a day, and she¡¯ll be in pain.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cedric replied. Following the doctor, the midwife and the maid also withdrew. Alice closed the door atst and checked the room. This was to prevent any words from leaking out. ¡°Are you alright? The healing power worked, so there won¡¯t be any major problems.¡± ¡°Yes. It hurts, but¡­¡­.¡± Artizea let out a long sigh. The pain, as if her stomach was shaking, attacked her. But for now, it was tolerable. Then she opened her eyes wide. ¡°Healing power?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? Healing power came into your body when you startedbor on the altar.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes and recalled her memories. The pain was so severe that she felt the memory did not belong to her. But she remembered the warmth and light that circted in her hands and feet. People kneeling under the altar. It was obviously a holy power. And it was a blessing full of warm heart, wanting to help and heal, unlike Artizea¡¯s own power. Artizea staggered in dizziness and thenid down on the pillow as if she had fallen. Cedric, who thought it was because she was sick, was surprised and quickly looked into Artizea¡¯s face. ¡°Are you okay? Shall I call the doctor?¡± ¡°No. No, it¡¯s okay. I understand. So that¡¯s why the wound healed so quickly.¡± The scars from the operation could not be considered a wound that was only a day or two old. The pain itself was definitely the same. Artizea stuttered and said. ¡°Miss Lysia, this¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It seems that Lysia¡¯s blessing has now manifested itself.¡± ¡°Then, did her memoriese back?¡± Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s arm and asked. ¡°It is not a blessing I received before I died. That blessing was already used up when I was charged with treason.¡± So it meant a new blessing was bestowed. Chapter 192 Cedricforted her. ¡°Lysia is fine. Do not worry. I said this because I thought you should know. I didn¡¯t mean for you to worry.¡± Cedric said, gently caressing Artizea¡¯s cheek. ¡°I will write her a letter. You and the baby are healthy. She will be delighted.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If Lysia had blessed you without your knowledge, it would have been because she wanted you to be healthy. Do you understand?¡± Artizeaboriously nodded her head. And as she walked through her thoughts about Lysia, this time real concerns came to mind. ¡°Please find and let me know where Brother Colton is.¡± ¡°I have already contacted him. Because he knew you, and got you helpst time.¡± For Cedric and Artizea themselves, it was clear that the blessing of healing had only moved to save Artizea, who was in critical condition. But what about others? It was not yet the time when Lysia received the oracle and appeared as the Saintess. The miracle that appeared after 200 years, even though it happened at the altar of the Harvest Festival, could not be overlooked at the temple. Even the gentle and neutral Archbishop had twinkling in his eyes. Cedric had no intention of letting Artizea and the baby be exploited in any way. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Akim¡¯s problem has just ended. Even the temple won¡¯te out to the extreme.¡± They were going to try to use it for propaganda, but he left that out on purpose. Fortunately, Grand Duke Roygar is in the South. The Emperor would certainly take this as a political matter, but he did not say that either. Anyway, from the moment the heir was born, he was at risk. The Emperor already knew very well that children were very effective as hostages. But there is nothing urgent to think about. ¡°I will protect you and my daughter. So, think about getting a good rest and recovering your body.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Cedric lightly kissed Artizea¡¯s dry lips. £ª£ª£ª The great temple recorded the story of the divine blessing descending on the altar of the harvest festival as an official document, and sent messages to the temples and monasteries to inform them. Word of mouth was faster than that. More than a thousand people witnessed it firsthand. In less than a day, it had spread throughout the capital. And in about a month, it would have spread all over the central region. Aside from major ceremonies such as the New Year¡¯s Festival and the Harvest Festival, other worship services were not normally held at the great temple. But this year was different. From that evening onwards, small-scale ceremonies and services were held continuously. Other temples also held worship services in gratitude for the grace, and chant continued throughout the day and night in the monastery. Devotees prayed in the temple all night long. Even those who were not active believers, even those who were not particrly ardent, light candles with reverence. Donations lined up. Offerings skyrocketed, and treasures were offered. In the hope that the blessings of the Harvest Festival would fall on theirnd, they also dedicated a portion of the annual produce. At the same time, praise for Grand Duchy Evron continued. ¡°Is the child born with grace the next Grand Duke Evron?¡± ¡°The Grand Duke did not lose his upright and straight character even after he lost his parents when he was young, so God is also blessing him.¡± ¡°It is said that not only in the North, but in the West as well, Grand Duke Evron is served as a pir.¡± ¡°He is a hero who has protected humans from both Karam and monsters, so there is no one more faithful to God¡¯s will than that.¡± ¡°So is the Grand Duchess. She donated the huge farnd she had in the West to the temple and used it to help the poor.¡± ¡°It is because of her that the western part of the country has had a good harvest this year.¡± As these stories were told and retold, excitement and anticipation spread together. And the expectation at the end was this. ¡°How great will a baby born with such grace be?¡± There were people who couldn¡¯t talk about it like other people. Gayan said worriedly to Amalie. ¡°It¡¯s too early. Will His Majesty not be vignt? Do you not know how much Evron will respond?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been two days now, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Is the temple burning with this?¡± ¡°Because they can¡¯t bury what actually happened.¡± Amalie sighed. ¡°Besides, isn¡¯t Her Grace still ill?¡± ¡°My wife gave birth and she was already well on the second day, even though it¡¯s her first childbirth. Her Grace was still kept in her sickbed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say it so easily. Will your wife say she can attend the meeting on the second day?¡± At Amalie¡¯s words, Gayan bit his lips. Amalie spoke again. ¡°Isn¡¯t Her Grace weak by nature? Besides, they said she had an open surgery.¡± It was by no meansmon to have a baby removed by surgery. It was only done when it was decided that the mother was in danger of dying if they did not do so. It came to such a situation. Even if the wounds in the incisions were well closed and healing, they would have suffered serious damage to the body. Gayan said, surprised. ¡°That I didn¡¯t know. Is Her Grace safe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that the recovery is going smoothly.¡± Amalie answered. She received no further information. Now, the Grand Duke¡¯s residence was guarded without a leak. People were also banned from entering. Merchants who supplied food were also prohibited from entering, so the servants went to the store in the morning. There was not one or two people snooping around saying they wanted to see the Blessed Grand Duchess and the princess. It was only a little noisy, but it¡¯s not a big deal. But there was no guarantee that there would not be a fanatical believer. It was a bigger problem when someone pretending to be a fanatic and trying to work a trick appeared. ¡°Because it became a burden for Grand Duke Roygar.¡± It wasn¡¯t strange that he had made the decision to get rid of her in one day. The right to session to the throne is not governed by public opinion. But the grace of God goes beyond customs andws. What more legitimacy than God¡¯s choice? Even more so if they were blessed as a fruit at birth. Amalie said with a serious face. ¡°To be honest, I am not concerned about Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar is in the South, and even if someone from that faction decides to act, it will be difficult to break through the defense of the mansion now and harm the princess.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s right.¡± But the two didn¡¯t talk about issues that really bothered them. It was because they did not dare to speak of doubts about the Emperor. * * * Marquis Luden thought the rumors were nonsense. [¡°I know you want to think of it as a scam or a y. If I hadn¡¯t seen it myself, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it.¡±] But he couldn¡¯t help but believe what Marchioness Camellia said to him. There was no way she could have been swept away by petty delusions or by collective hallucinations. But if it¡¯s God¡¯s grace, it just sounded crazy. Thest saint appeared 200 years ago. People¡¯s memories were oveid with the colors of legend. Enough time had passed for what was said to be evidence to lose credibility. It was an era of atheism. There were not a few people who thought that sincere religious faith was something that only the elderly had. So did Marquis Luden. He was not an active atheist. He also didn¡¯t think that he was worthy of faith. Now, at the Harvest Festival, a divinity has appeared? He couldn¡¯t understand it, and that shouldn¡¯t be the case. ¡®It¡¯s troublesome.¡¯ But it has already happened. Marquis Luden had no intention of questioning the authenticity. It will just put the temple at the center of the debate and inte the rumors even more. The inted rumors will strengthen the temple and cause the devotees to attack Marquis Luden. Rather than doing such meaningless work, it was more productive to just reduce the aftermath and think about the future. ¡°His Majesty the Emperor Gregor Avanasi Nestor, who became the sun of the earth with the pir of Krates, the scepter and orb from the gods, enters.¡± Even knowing that Marquis Luden was alone, the reception room attendant spoke loudly. Marquis Luden struggled to straighten the small wrinkles between his brow and stood up from his seat. It goes without saying that the official title is to be shouted at official events or for the suppression of the audience at such a simple interview. The Emperor strode into the reception room. Marquis Luden knelt down and bowed politely. ¡°Luden¡¯s Pavel is here for an audience with the Imperial Sun.¡± ¡°Get up. Aren¡¯t Sir and my knees in danger?¡± Said the Emperor with a smirk. It didn¡¯t sound very pleasant, but Marquis Luden stood up immediately. In fact, his knees hurt. The Emperor offered a seat. Marquis Luden sat down cautiously and asked politely. ¡°What did you call me for?¡± It¡¯s been a really long time since he¡¯s been alone with the Emperor. The Emperor picked up the teacup and took a sip. Although there was little change in his expression on the surface, Marquis Luden could see that he was preupied withplex thoughts. Finally, said the Emperor. ¡°About what happened at the Harvest Festival.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do anything.¡± Marquis Luden had to try hard not to frown. ¡°What was I going to do? It is the temple side that is doing something.¡± ¡°I witnessed the manifestation of a miracle in front of me that day.¡± ¡°No way that Grand Duke Evron¡¯s daughter was truly chosen by God. You don¡¯t mean to say that, are you?¡± ¡°You are exaggerating, Marquis. There is nothing to be wary of already.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°It means don¡¯t deny what happened in front of my eyes. While I was watching from the altar during the Harvest Festival, God¡¯s favor was bestowed upon the newly born imperial family¡¯s member. A grace that has never been bestowed in two hundred years.¡± Marquis Luden could not directly counter that statement. After 200 years, blessing was bestowed on the rites the Emperor held. If he denied it, he could be denying the reign of the Emperor. Of course neither the Emperor nor Marquis Luden knew whether or not God had blessed the Emperor¡¯s reign. But he couldn¡¯t say that outright. Marquis Luden reluctantly bowed his head. £ª£ª£ª ¡°You have a badplexion, Marquis.¡± Marquis Luden¡¯s secretary, who was waiting at the entrance of the Imperial Pce, asked with a cautious face. ¡°Damn it.¡± Marquis Luden spit out swear words and walked out quickly. There was another meaning when the Emperor said ¡°the imperial family¡¯s member¡± who had been blessed with grace. Marquis Luden sniffed a conspiracy. But there was nothing to be done there. ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± Saying so, the secretary opened the carriage door. The carriage waiting was different from the one he was riding on when he came. To the floor higher than the normal carriage, Marquis Luden stepped on the small footstool and climbed into it with all his might. The secretary got on and closed the door. Then he turned over the carpet on the floor of the carriage and put his finger into the hole in the board and pulled it as hard as possible. ¡°Upph! Heupp!¡± Ian Camellia tied tightly in an empty space created under the floor of the carriage. Chapter 193 The carriage began to roll. The secretary pulled Ian Camellia out and threw him down on the seat across from Marquis Luden. Then, the floor lid was closed and the carpet wasid back. ¡°Fu-ha!¡± Marquis Luden removed the gag from Ian¡¯s mouth. Ian, who was gasping for breath because his mouth was covered, barely sucked air into his lungs and then coughed. ¡°You worked hard.¡± Marquis Luden patted Ian on the shoulder and said intimately. The secretary poured some fine brandy into a long ss. Marquis Luden was about to hand it over to Ian, he saw his hands tied and scolded the secretary. ¡°What are you doing? Without releasing Marquis Camellia Heir Apparent.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± The secretary quickly cut the rope that bound Ian¡¯s wrist with a knife. His hands, which had turned white because the blood did not pass through them, were circling blood. Ian shook his wrist. He was out of his mind. Marquis Luden handed him the ss again. Then Ian looked at him in shock. It must have been Marquis Luden himself who ordered them to tie his hands and feet and gag him, to kidnap him. And his ankles are still tied. Still, there was a gentle smile on the face of Marquis Luden, as if seeing his nephew whom he had not seen in a long time. Had it been Ian before he came to the capital, he would not have noticed that his eyes were not smiling at all. But now, Ian knew what kind of human beings were called great aristocrats. ¡°Oh my, are you suspicious of me?¡± Marquis Luden moistened his lips a little with the brandy from the ss. Ian then took the cup. After hours of being trapped under the floor of the carriage, his body was cold and unbearably thirsty. After passing a sip of brandy, he felt a little better. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ian said, staring fiercely at Marquis Luden. He had already guessed that Marquis Luden might use assassinations, threats, and various other illegal means. Because of that, he spent a lot of money and stayed in a luxury hotel. He was also using a reliable escort. But in the end it was impossible topletely block the hands of Marquis Luden in the capital. Ian wasn¡¯t entirely sure what had happened. Considering that he was kidnapped while he was sleeping, it is highly likely that the entire hotel fell into the hands of Marquis Luden. Ian tried to calm his mind. If he hadn¡¯t heard Sk¡¯s warning in advance, he would have been more perplexed. [¡°You were still young when you were in the capital, and it seems that Marquisate Camellia at the time of the previous Marquis has faded quite a bit, so you may not realize it. Most nobles do not hesitate to resort to violence. In fact, in many cases, I think that cruelty shows one¡¯s dignity.¡±] [¡°I know.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m relieved if that¡¯s the case.¡±] It was clear that Sk thought Ian didn¡¯t understand. So Ian felt ufortable. But Sk was right. He really didn¡¯t think people would kidnap him so openly. And to smile and hand him a drink. ¡°I tried many things to meet you, but you rarely meet me.¡± ¡°What did you try? How many call letters from the secretary? Am I crazy? Will Ie to you because you call me?¡± ¡°This young friend is not polite. Do you know how much money and effort is being put into my house and the salon of Marquisate Camellia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the people who want to tter you. I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°You have quite a bit of spirit.¡± Marquis Luden narrowed his eyes and looked over Ian. When they were thrown into the carriage floor, most of them were terrified and trembled for life. Ian was also shaking. But his eyes were burning with hatred. Marquis Luden thought it would be troublesome. But he wasn¡¯t bad either. In any case, Ian¡¯s mother was the eldest daughter of Marquisate Camellia, and his father was the second son from County Dorell. Both were families that did not understand the new era, stuck in the old ways, and copsed. In other words, Ian was unquestionable if it was only by blood. Isn¡¯t that the most important thing? He¡¯ll just have to leave a seed anyway. ¡°What are you talking about? If you kill me, a petition will be sent to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty the Emperor wouldn¡¯t care about things like me, but it can be used as an excuse to use you, Marquis Luden.¡± ¡°Are you just threatening me with those words?¡± ¡°It is you who is threatening, and I am trying to survive.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Well, that¡¯s good. Even though you didn¡¯t learn it properly, you¡¯re a descendant of Marquis Camellia, so you¡¯re not a very thoughtless person.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t even guess what he was trying to say. Marquis Luden said. ¡°I¡¯ll give you Maideline.¡± Not knowing who it was, Ian thought for a moment. And after thinking through the Marquis Luden¡¯s family tree that he memorized, his eyes widened. Maideline was the name of the second daughter of the eldest son of Marquis Luden. ¡°She¡¯s 17 this year, so first of all, if you just get engaged, get married next year and inherit the Marquisate of Camellia, it would be perfect.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°What is so surprising? The way to get rid of an enemy isn¡¯t just to kill it.¡± If it is an enemy that cannot be eliminated by killing, there is also a way to attract it as an ally. Marquis Luden looked at Ian with a twisted smile. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? After all, isn¡¯t your aim not to take revenge, but to reim titles and property?¡± ¡°Not like this.¡± ¡°Neither do I ever intend to leave Marquisate Camellia to the lowly ones.¡± At the time, the most important objective was to first create a suitable status for Marchioness Camellia to be the chiefdy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess of Roygar. It was not an easy task in itself to infiltrate and take control of the family of a stranger. So he created a strife within the family and secured dominance by supporting the weakest link; the present-day Marquis Camellia. But now things are different. Marquisate of Camellia was almost in the hands of Marquis Luden. If they faithfully performed their role as vassal, there was nothing he could not continue to acknowledge in the future. Grand Duchess Roygar believed and relied on them too, so he was willing to ept it as coteral. But seeing the arrogant Sk and her trust in her aunt¡¯s favor, it wasn¡¯t meant to be. ¡®Tsk, we need to change at this point.¡¯ Even if Ian wasn¡¯t there anyway, Marquis Luden had no intention of making Sk Marquis Camellia. Rather than the rebellious Sk, her younger brother Luca, who resembled his father and was passive and docile, was easier to deal with. He was going to marry Maideline to Luca so she would inherit Marquisate Camellia. Then, in the next generation, the low blood will be a little diluted. But he didn¡¯t care if it was Ian, not Luca. Although Ian grew up lowly, his bloodline is a true noble. So he might as well be Maideline¡¯s husband. In the meantime, if a child is born, Ian can be removed, change the child¡¯s surname to Luden, and inherit the Camellia family. Of course, he didn¡¯t mean to reveal that. If Ian is obedient, he can stay there for long. Ian looked at him with a tired face. ¡°What are you going to do to your daughter and granddaughter?¡± Marquis Luden¡¯s brow furrowed. Marchioness Camellia was publicly his daughter. But never once did he ever think of the illegitimate child, born by touching a maid, as his real child. It is the result of a mistake and nothing more than excrement. And even if it is his own excrement, it was dirty. ¡°They can retire. If you give them a decent pension and retirement work, they¡¯ll dly step down.¡± Marchioness Camellia may haveplied, but the Marquis might not. ¡°Sk and Luca just need to find a suitable marriage mate and marry them.¡± ¡°What if I say no?¡± ¡°Well, that wouldn¡¯t be a wise choice.¡± Marquis Luden grinned. There was only one thing he liked about what happened at the Harvest Festival. The topic was so big that Ian¡¯s disappearance wouldn¡¯t even be a topic of discussion. Marquis Luden¡¯s carriage stood in front of a small farm in the suburbs. Inside, Ian¡¯s face was covered and he got down. Marquis Luden¡¯s secretary took him to the back door. Outside the back door stood a small carriage. It was a cheap rental carriage with no features. Ian rode there. The carriage soon departed. Count Brennan and Marchioness Camellia were watching it from afar. ¡°Follow him. If you think he¡¯s going to be killed, bring him back alive.¡± Count Brennan said. The subordinate gently bowed his head to greet and set off quickly. She then turned to Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia had turned white. ¡°With this, the information I have given you has gained considerable usibility.¡± Until now, Marchioness Camellia was Count Brennan¡¯s greatest rival. She was not yet an enemy. This is because Marquisate Camellia and County Brennan are from the same faction of Grand Duke Roygar. But they wouldn¡¯t be together for a long time. Marquis Luden valued small traditions and ancestry, and Count Brennan was a person who seeded in transforming the enormous wealth her family had umted during her grandparents¡¯ time into power and status. Although they arepelled to cooperate now, they will be enemies at the moment Grand Duke Roygar ascends to power. It was only natural that Count Brennan had established an informationwork against Marquis Luden. Marchioness Camellia knew it. So she visited Count Brennan to get information about Marquis Luden. [¡°I¡¯m d that you still have a mind to be vignt.¡±] Count Brennan said, weing Marchioness Camellia. [¡°I¡¯m going to share with you some surprising news that I recently learned. Marquis Luden is considering marrying Ian Camellia and Maideline.¡±] Marchioness Camellia could guess what Marquis Luden was doing just by that. [¡°No way¡­¡­.¡±] It couldn¡¯t have been that simple. Marchioness Luden, or her eldest son, who loves Maideline, would oppose the marriage. Even if it was made possible by pressing it with the authority as the Master, that alone could not rece Marchioness Camellia. Above all else, Grand Duchess Roygar would object to her recement. And she was also the strategist of Grand Duke Roygar. [¡°Marquis Luden must be looking further than Marchioness. Anyone can see that Ian Camellia is the easiest to remove, so there is no pressure to leave it alone.¡±] Count Brennan said so. [¡°If Marquis Luden had made up his mind like that, there would be no better opportunity than now. With the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are in the far south.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°If Marchioness bes the chiefdy-in-waiting of the Empress, he will then be told that touching you is treason.¡±] Chapter 194 Eventually, Marchioness Camellia informed Count Brennan the location of the safe house. It was to match the information Count Brennan knew with what was actually happening. The fact that Marquis Luden abducts Ian and returns him safely suggests several things. ¡®It¡¯s not easy to kidnap without a trace. He can¡¯t do it twice.¡¯ If he decides to remove Ian, it makes the most sense to remove him this time. The decision not to do so means that Marquis Luden decided to use Ian, and in that case, the only opponent is Marchioness Camellia herself. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± Count Brennan asked. Marchioness Camellia looked at her with nk eyes. ¡°I need to check some more.¡± She could not rely solely on Count Brennan for information. Cross-validation was mandatory. Even if Lawrence was ousted, the session structure was not established for Grand Duke Roygar. Cedric is different from Lawrence, who has a big weakness. He was rather difficult to push out in the sense that he had popr and military support. The prospect of Cedric bing a newpetitor might have been a sensitive concern for Marchioness Camellia. It was clear that the Emperor would lift him up and contain Grand Duke Roygar. But Cedric himself has never expressed such greed. But in thest few days, the position has changed dramatically. Because of what happened at the Harvest Festival. Now, even if Cedric isn¡¯t greedy, the world won¡¯t let him do that. To make a princess blessed by God the future emperor. ¡°Now is not the time to stir up a strife.¡± ¡°You seem to have forgotten which one is urgent, Marchioness.¡± Count Brennan responded to the words of Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Count¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There is no reason to fight Marquis Luden now. However, if I had to choose between Marquisate Camellia and Marquisate Luden, I would only help Marquisate Camellia because I think that the one whose survival will benefit the Grand Duke.¡± Count Brennan smiled as Marchioness Camellia grabbed the hem of her shawl. £ª£ª£ª Artizea was very ill for three days. The ce for the surgery was quickly healed. But the stomach pain was unavoidable. When she was in extreme pain, she screamed in pain. Cedric hardly slept during those three days. The baby is taken care of by Ansgar and its wet nurse, and a doctor and a midwife are next to Artizea. In fact, all he could do was rub her stomach as the midwife told him to do. However, the baby cries frequently in the nursery, and Artizea¡¯s pain did not stop at night. So Colton, who visited ten days after that, could not help but be surprised. ¡°You are emaciated, Grand Duke.¡± ¡°It seems like I haven¡¯t slept in a few days. Thank you for your concern.¡± Cedric patted the baby on the back and thanked him. Brother Colton was invited to the nursery. It was still a little too early. However, it was not umon for a child to be blessed by a trusted priest. That was not the purpose of Brother Colton¡¯s visit, but it served as an appropriate excuse for the outside world. The baby burped. Cedric put the towel on his shoulder and put the baby in a morefortable position. Brother Colton looked at the baby¡¯s face and smiled. ¡°She looks like Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He himself didn¡¯t know very well, so Cedric answered awkwardly, stroking his cheek. ¡°If she¡¯s as healthy as I am, I can¡¯t ask for anything.¡± ¡°There is nothing more precious than good health. How is the Grand Duchess?¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°She¡¯s a little bit better now. But just two or three days ago, it was a big deal. I thought the pains only existed duringbor.¡± ¡°It is about cutting one¡¯s own body and bringing a new life into the world. Could it be easy?¡± Cedric nodded at Brother Colton¡¯s words. ¡°You want to have a naming ceremony next week.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Cedric stood up, holding the baby in one arm. And he handed the card he had prepared in advance to Brother Colton himself. Brother Colton pulled out a card from the envelope with a dark blue seal. The baby¡¯s name was written inside. [¡°Leticia Maureen Evron¡±] It was justst night that Cedric finally decided on a name for the baby. There was still a pile of papers with names of candidates on the desk. Brother Colton said with a soft smile. ¡°It means happiness and love. It¡¯s a good name.¡± ¡°It was not easy to coin it without taking the name of our ancestors and avoiding excessive expectations from those around us.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t next week too soon? The naming ceremony can be done as long as it¡¯s within a month, so it would be better to prepare a little more. The princess is in good health, and Her Grace¡¯s body must not be in a good condition, so she will not be able to hold a big event.¡± ¡°There is an opinion that it would be better to finalize the will as soon as possible. And if it¡¯ste, there will be people who will give me a name instead.¡± Cedric smiled bitterly. Brother Colton looked embarrassed when he understood whom he was talking about. While they were talking like that, the door opened slightly. There was no sound in the nursery. He was afraid that something like a knock or a screech would make the baby cry, so a cloth was padded over the door. Alice checked inside, looked silently on Cedric and Brother Colton, and opened the door wide. Artizea, with a cane and support from Sophie, walked in cautiously. Brother Colton stood up from his seat, made a cross toward her and greeted her. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see you in good health, Her Grace.¡± ¡°Thank you foring, Brother Colton. As you can see, I can¡¯t move my body at will, so please forgive me if I act against etiquette.¡± ¡°No. You are not feeling well, but thank you for meeting me like this.¡± ¡°It was nothing. I asked for it.¡± Cedric walked over to Artizea. ¡°Are you okay? We¡¯re just going to go to your living room.¡± ¡°It is said that the person who walks recovers faster. And we have to look at the blessings the monk has given us.¡± Artizea said, lightly stroking Leticia¡¯s cheek with her index finger. The mistress¡¯ bedroom and the nursery room were in the same hallway, but even that level of walking was not yet easy. Sophie and Alice supported Artizea by her sides and leaned her back in thefy chair. Cedric tried to put the baby in Artizea¡¯s arms. Her eyelids trembled and her mouth babbled. Cedric quickly grabbed the baby again and patted her. Then the baby smiled. Artizea smiled unknowingly. ¡°Now, you are holding her well.¡± ¡°I am still a little anxious. I thought she might break if I held her wrong.¡± As he said that, Cedric again ced Leticia on his arm and shook her lightly like a cradle. Just because he had a baby, he was not able to take a break from work. During the day he had to work as the Secretary of State, and in his spare time he had to watch Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s work. He never knew when an emergency might arise, so he was trying to hold her a lot when he had time. Still, perhaps the effort was worth it, the baby showed a good response to Cedric¡¯s voice. Leticia fell asleep not long after. Cedric carefully ced the baby in the cradle. Brother Colton took holy oil from his arms and walked over. ¡°I don¡¯t think the Princess will need such a blessing, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No. Please.¡± Neither Artizea nor Cedric believe in the sacredness of the temple¡¯s sacraments. But there was nothing bad about it. One way or another, it is a wish for the health and happiness of the child. They would be happy to receive anything. Brother Colton anointed the baby¡¯s forehead and cheeks with oil. As he put his hands together, the wet nurse and the maids fell to their knees. Cedric and Artizea also joined hands. The prayer for the newborn baby ended briefly. Cedric looked into the cradle for a moment and said. ¡°Then let us move.¡± He didn¡¯t know when she would wake up and start crying again, so they shouldn¡¯t discuss it in the nursery. Leaving the baby to the wet nurse, Cedric personally supported Artizea. The three returned to Artizea¡¯s living room. Artizea leaned her body against the cushioned sofa, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Alice brought her water. ¡°Make sure the door is locked, and keep the front door. There is no need for refreshments.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss.¡± Alice closed the door onest time and went out. Artizea asked only then. ¡°How is the temple these days? All I heard was that they were holding a special service several times.¡± ¡°We are still holding worship services for believers who are purely rejoicing that a miracle has been revealed. There was talk of raising the thanksgiving ceremony, but I suggested that we postpone it for now.¡± Brother Colton said. And made excuses for the temple instead. ¡°There are very few instances in which miracles have been so clearly manifested in rituals. The temple does not know the actual facts, and they are only doing what they know.¡± ¡°Brother¡­¡­.¡± Cedric hesitated. It was because they thought that the ¡°actual facts¡± that Brother Colton said was that Lysia was a saintess. If so, does Brother Colton have any memories? If that was true, Brother Colton couldn¡¯t have acted out in favor of Artizea, considering their old rtionship. Cooperation was even more absurd. Brother Colton looked at Artizea. Artizea hesitated a little. But it was time for her to speak. ¡°I had an oracle.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t immediately understand what that meant. Brother Colton thought it was because Cedric didn¡¯t believe her, so he added. ¡°It is true. Through this body, God has called the Grand Duchess directly.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t mean that I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Cedric looked at Artizea with a confused face. ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°Since it actually happened, I don¡¯t think it can be said that it is impossible. However, it wasn¡¯t my ability that appeared at the Harvest Festival. I want to make that clear to Brother Colton as well.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make assumptions. Because I can assure you that any thoughts Brother has juste up with are not true. God does not protect the saint.¡± Brother Colton bit his mouth. Artizea looked at Cedric and said. ¡°I have no power. The contents of the oracle also do not seem to be significant. For now.¡± Artizea took a deep breath without speaking. ¡°Why I¡¯ve been hiding it so far is because I don¡¯t want to waste energy and increase risk on issues that I have practically no role to y.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°However, this has to be fixed. I am going to announce that I am a saintess.¡± It was better to risk herself than for Leticia to be in danger. Chapter 195 It was no longer necessary to think now that the healing powers were exposed to the eyes of so many people on the altar of the Harvest Festival. It has already happened Without it, Artizea would have died. In all likelihood, Leticia would not have seen the light of the world. However, a risk has arisen. Attracting attention carries its own risks. The saint was granted nothing else, but God¡¯s grace. Even Lysia, who was Baron Morten¡¯s Heir Apparent, had to go through numerous checks and dangers after bing a saint. Even before Artizea forged the oracle. It is known that Grand Princess Evron received the equivalent. From the moment she was born, she already assumed both political significance and danger. Even while in the womb, the Emperor made it clear from his mouth that she was an imperial family. It is true that the main culprit died abruptly, but it is also true that those who put them in danger were defined as treason. Whatever the cause, in the end, it all imprinted on the people that Leticia was an imperial family. It was fine up until that point. It was also an opportunity to let people know that Cedric has the right to the throne. However, it was too dangerous to add to that with being blessed as a fruit in the Harvest Festival. The opinion that the imperial family¡¯s member, who had been favored by God, should be made the next emperor was bound to arise. The temple will fuel there. Although not as aggressive and outspoken as Bishop Akim was, this opportunity could not be missed. Cedric looked at Brother Colton and said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Brother. Could you please allow me and my wife to talk for a while?¡± ¡°Of course. You two can talk.¡± Brother Colton stood up. If Cedric had only now found out that Artizea was a saintess, it was natural for him to be surprised and bewildered. He went out of the living room. Cedric then let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. Artizea forced her worries down. Even if Cedric was angry, she couldn¡¯t help it. Cedric let out a long sigh once more. ¡°You are in danger. Do you know that this is not normal?¡± ¡°Yes, I know. How well I know, Lord Cedric knows.¡± Artizea was more in danger than the past Lysia. In the past, when Lysia first appeared as a saintess, she was no one¡¯s enemy. All those who tried to take advantage of Lysia coveted her. But Artizea already had many enemies. She is Grand Duchess Evron, and there is no other means to take her. Above all, her powers were so weak that it was unclear whether she would even receive the respect worthy of the title. Like Brother Colton, there must have been people within the temple who could think that a saint was simply an oracle recipient, not one who wielded healing powers or miracles. There will be many who want to kill her. Still, it was the best way. ¡°I have no idea what God was thinking, oracles are meaningless, and I can¡¯t do anything as a saintess.¡± Artizea took a deep breath. ¡°But I can make excuses for this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If I be the interested party, not Leticia, I am the one who has been blessed by God. It¡¯s also about getting attention.¡± ¡°You are the target for the assassination instead of Leticia.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what I want. Leticia is a newborn baby. Even if she dies suddenly, it¡¯s not easy to even tell if she¡¯s murdered or not.¡± Artizea gave strength to her lower jaw. It is difficult to protect a newborn child from assassination. Artizea knew it to the point she got tired of it. No matter how hard she tried, even when she was the Emperor¡¯s most important servant, she couldn¡¯t protect the prince from the depths of the imperial pce. Artizea felt that she smelled blood from the inside of her mrs. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust the vassals. But objectively speaking, it is true that the people of Evron are vulnerable to intrigue.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even if you entrust it to someone trustworthy, it is not enough. Not because I can¡¯t believe in their loyalty and character, but because I¡¯m not sure whether they will be able to make timely judgments in urgent situations, or whether they will have the right authority to make those decisions.¡± Inparison, Artizea was able to protect herself. She could use all the resources she had at her discretion. Including herself. Basically, a spear is stronger than a shield for this kind of thing. The attacker only needs to find one gap, but the defender must have none. It¡¯s almost impossible. In order for the defense to work properly, when the spear de pierces the gap in the shield, it must be caught and the attacker itself must be knocked down. For that, it was much more efficient and stable for Artizea herself to be the target. ¡°No can do. I will not use you as bait.¡± ¡°I am at risk anyway. What if His Majesty wants Leticia as his heir.¡± The sessor of a powerful person does not simply mean a bloodline that will inherit material and human assets. It was meaningful that they taught a philosophy of governance and should allow them to maintain and develop what they had aplished throughout their life. To do that, they have to take the baby from their parents when they are young. Nor would they allow the biological parents to live and influence their sessors. Consequently, if the Emperor decided to make Leticia his sessor, killing the parents was an essential step. Thinking like that, even if Artizea didn¡¯t announce that she was a saintess, the risk was always there. However, announcing that she is a saintess leaves Leticia at least out of the interest of the Emperor and Grand Duke Roygar. Conversely, if Leticia is known to have received a favor at the Harvest Festival, it only puts her at an additional risk. Cedric interlocked his fingers and looked at Artizea with shady eyes. ¡°I am aware of the danger. Yet, it is the opposite.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°I understand your heart. If I, and not you, could act as bait, I might be willing to do so.¡± Cedric raised his inteced hand and wiped his face once. ¡°But that shouldn¡¯t be the case. I think I¡¯ve talked about my hopes before, Tia.¡± Cedric said. ¡°I don¡¯t want Leticia to live like me.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Losing my parents at a young age, knowing from an early age that my life was in the hands of the Emperor, struggling between revenge and safety, putting many lives on my shoulders from an early age, and taking a sense of duty to protect Evron¡­¡­, I hope to prevent it.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°It is enough to have that kind of responsibility from the age of bing an adult. When she bes an adult, she will bear that burden until she dies.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°For that to happen, we must live. Do you understand?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t answer. Deep inside her was aching. She couldn¡¯t tell if the pain was physical in her stomach or psychological in her chest. Cedric spoke again. ¡°To be clear, I don¡¯t want you to sacrifice yourself to give me a justification.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you do that, I will regret it for the rest of my life.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t answer this time. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t really have a n like that.¡± ¡°I know. And I can imagine that you think that all you can do for Leticia is to protect her from the outside.¡± Artizea bit her mouth again. Cedric held out his hand. Artizea hesitantly stood up. It was right not to do anything that shakes her heart when he says things like this. But what to do when her heart is already shaken? Cedric pulled her back and hugged her and put her on hisp. And he said kindly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to try to do anything for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°It would be happier to give her a hug once while alive than to hear that you risked your life to protect her. If it were me, it would have been. Don¡¯t you know?¡± Artizea took in her breath. From the time she gave birth, her emotions, which had been constantly unstable, fluctuated. As if Cedric knew, he buried her face in his shoulder and patted her head. His shoulder got wet without a sound. Feeling it, Cedric said softly. ¡°A few years will be fine. His Majesty knows well that it is more secure to bring up the baby under their parents than to take the newborn baby. At least, it will be okay until then.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There is no way to be framed for something like treason. He cannot make the daughter of a traitor, the heir to the imperial family. And if His Majesty really wants Leticia to be his sessor, he doesn¡¯t want to incite a grudge either.¡± That was one of Cedric¡¯s wishes. He knew it was a selfish hope. But even if Evron had a new grudge, he didn¡¯t want Leticia to inherit it. Still, he thought it would be a nice thing to do. Artizea finally answered with a voice the size of an ant. ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Cedric gently stroked her hair further. Artizea struggled to raise her head. Her eyes were red. Cedric ran his thumb around her eyes. And he said in a bright voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to draw conclusions about it anyway?¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I thought you were suggesting a two-year contract marriage to finish the plot in two years and run away?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ no way. Just¡­ ¡­ I was just trying to give Lord Cedric some time to understand.¡± In two years, she was confident that even if she failed several times and was dyed, she could push Mira away. Artizea licked her lips, and said. ¡°Just because you get a divorce, you don¡¯t necessarily have to end the master-servant rtionship.¡± ¡°It was a stupid idea.¡± Cedric touched Artizea¡¯s lips. ¡°If it was a rtionship that was really only for profit, it cannot be between you and me.¡± ¡°I, I know¡­¡­.¡± Artizea knew it by now. So she meekly closed her eyes. His lips touched gently. Chapter 196 Cedric called Brother Colton to meet him before he left. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t trust the temple very much. I believe in the character and sincerity of Brother, but in the end, it is believing in Brother¡¯s individual personality.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to apologize to me. You¡¯ve been through enough. Rather, I should apologize.¡± Brother Colton bowed his head and apologized. Cedric looked at him bitterly. Contrary to what Brother Colton thinks, he was not referring to Bishop Akim¡¯s attempt to weave Artizea into heretic. It was personally very disappointing and upsetting. However, it was not to the point of disappointment to the entire organization of the temple. Artizea was close to an unbeliever. She built a deep rtionship with the temple, but that rtionship was built on bribes in the name of donations and patronage. She was involved in politics outside the temple as well as inside the temple, so she could be attacked by the opposing faction. But they shouldn¡¯t be like that to a saint. Cedric knew all too well how the temple treated the saint. He vividly remembered how those who worshiped gods treated oracles and saints. Had it not been for safety issues, Cedric would have asked her not to reveal herself, even if Artizea had powers over the skies. ¡°I don¡¯t care how this happened. I don¡¯t really care about God¡¯s will. I don¡¯t even want to know what role has been assigned to my wife.¡± ¡°Your Grace, the oracle cannot be disobeyed.¡± ¡°It is my wife who has heard the oracle that decides it.¡± Cedric said softly but firmly. ¡°I hope the temple never takes any interest in my wife.¡± ¡°Grand Duke.¡± ¡°As Brother believes, an oracle cannot be disobeyed, and if God protects my wife, then my wife will follow it by her own will.¡± Brother Colton could not deny Cedric¡¯s words. ¡°Until then, do not even think about using the manifestation of the saint in the temple, or interpret the fate of the oracle as you like, and bring it to earth to make ite true. I believe Brother will understand what I mean.¡± Brother Colton had to bow his head and promise that he would. Cedric said that Artizea would follow her own fate if it was a fate that cannot be disobeyed, but he sincerely hoped she would not to. God does not protect the saint. If the oracle is the fate of a saint, isn¡¯t it too harsh? Perhaps it is because the life of a single human is not important from God¡¯s point of view. ¡°What kind of oracle did you receive?¡± Cedric asked. Artizea sat on the sofa and read a letter that was pushed back as she looked at him. And she was silent for a moment. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to say it, it¡¯s that it¡¯s hard to exin.¡± Artizea gathered her thoughts in her mind without saying a word again. ¡°To put it bluntly, ¡®Return¡¯. It was like that.¡± ¡°What is that, what do you mean?¡± Cedric asked. Artizea hesitated again, and then she answered. ¡°I do not know.¡± To undo the sins she hasmitted, that was certainly not what it meant. If that had been the case, Artizea would not have been dumbfounded or surprised. She would have epted the fact that it was her fate. That didn¡¯t mean she was going to turn the time back on. ¡°If Brother Colton is right, we will know when the timees.¡± Cedric spoke slowly, immersed in his thoughts. ¡°If Lysia¡¯s blessing was given after the return, then she can still use her holy powers, but what happened? Do two saints appear in the same era?¡± ¡°There is no recorded precedent.¡± Artizea confirmed. ¡°But not everything is recorded. There is no guarantee that the divinity will only run from the past to the future.¡± It was clear that the previous future did not disappear even after time had turned. The memory of ¡®the returners¡¯ proved it. Maybe God simply bestowed the oracle twice. ¡°To Lysia¡­¡­.¡± Cedric was about to speak. The closest person to God at this point would be Lysia. It would have been her who knew best about oracles and saints. Artizea guessed what Cedric had swallowed, but didn¡¯t ask. It is too harsh to ask Lysia for advice. ¡°Not yet¡­¡­ It¡¯s not important yet.¡± Artizea murmured. She was curious. The meaning of the oracle and how the divinity works in the passage of time. But that doesn¡¯t mean it was threatening Artizea right now. It has nothing to do with the current reality. To only solve her doubts, she didn¡¯t want to remind Lysia of her painful memories. Get her advice when she really needs it. Until then, she wished for Lysia to forget all about the affairs and live freely and at ease. There was nothing more important than that. Cedric nodded his head. And he asked. ¡°Come to think of it, you said you had no holy powers, so what happened to Lady Keyshore?¡± Artizea looked perplexed. She didn¡¯t think Cedric would remember that. ¡°There is. It¡¯s just too weak and undirected to have any effect.¡± ¡°I know that it doesn¡¯t necessarilye with healing power, so¡­¡­. Maybe it¡¯s the kind of thing you haven¡¯t considered necessary yet.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t think so. But she didn¡¯t bother to object. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what the temple is like, and I have no intention of sacrificing myself for the oracle.¡± If she makes a sacrifice, it¡¯s for Cedric or for Lysia. Or even for Leticia. It wasn¡¯t for God. Cedric kissed her forehead once. Artizea reached out again to the pile of letters. ¡°Any important news?¡± ¡°On the surface, it¡¯s all just congrattions.¡± Some more secret stories were hidden between the lines. Artizea read it and decided to pretend she didn¡¯t know for the most part. Leticia¡¯s birth could not be without political significance. But she didn¡¯t want to use it as an opportunity to devise other schemes. ¡°If there is nothing urgent, shall we go see Leticia for a moment?¡± Cedric held out his hand. Artizea grabbed his hand and stood up. ¡°If it¡¯s hard, I¡¯ll take her here with me.¡± ¡°I like to walk.¡± Artizea, supported by him, slowly walked towards the nursery. ¡°I will postpone showing Leticia to the guests until after the naming ceremony.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Can the people from Evron arrive before the naming ceremony?¡± ¡°We got a report that they had arrived at the port the other day. It looks like they can get there by a hair¡¯s breadth.¡± ¡°You could dy it for a few days.¡± ¡°There are a lot of thingsing out, so I want to finish it quickly.¡± The naming ceremony was a ceremony to announce the existence of the baby to the world and establish a legal rtionship. And at this time, the rtives and other adults made various promises about the future. Thanks to that, many people¡¯s eyes were focused. Cedric was determined not to make an exception. He didn¡¯t mean to show a ceremony where the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron gathered to swear allegiance. He was going to do it the same as everyone else, making nothing as special as possible. ¡°Because we can face each other at home.¡± ¡°There may be people who feel upset.¡± Artizea was not interested in such a morous and special ceremony. It was best not to be noticed. However, it would be a disappointment for the vassals who had long hoped for the stability of Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s family while carrying the old wounds. Cedric smiled. ¡°Everyone will be delighted that Leticia was born.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Artizea bowed her head and replied. Cedric probably didn¡¯t know how strange, special, and reassuring it was to Artizea. Aside from the political risks, so many people are celebrating Leticia¡¯s birth with pure joy. She knew it would be. But knowing it and actually experiencing it are two different things. Artizea felt joy and gratitude as if she had been blessed. The nursery door opened slightly and the wet nurse stood up. Leticia was lying in her cradle. Artizea looked into the cradle. Leticia rolled her ck eyes. Her nose pricked up. Artizea murmured as she watched her mouth rattling. ¡°Is she hungry?¡± ¡°She ate a while ago. She¡¯s just like that.¡± The wet nurse said politely. Artizea nodded her head. Her milk eventually turned little. Everyone advised her not to try too hard. It was notmon for ady to breastfeed and raise a baby herself, so Artizea didn¡¯t even bother trying. A healthy wet nurse would be better than the unhealthy mother. ¡°It must be difficult, but you did a great job.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, the wet nurse smiled. ¡°She is a very sweet baby. I have four children, and I have taken care of many babies, but this is the first time I have seen someone so gentle.¡± ¡°After the naming ceremony, we will decide on a nanny. It will lighten your burden a little.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hayley came toin to me.¡± Cedric said. Artizea groaned, ¡°Ummm.¡± It is true that she has no intention of entrusting her with a job she does not want, but it is also true that it is difficult to think of a suitable person otherwise. Leticia opened her little mouth and yawned. Artizea put her hand into the cradle and stroked the chubby cheek with her finger. Leticia grimaced at something ufortable. As she was about to burst into tears, Artizea looked around her, restless and anxious. Cedric hugged Leticia up. Then the baby groaned and grumbled. It was very lovely to see the father holding the daughter who looks just like him. It was tooplicated when she was pregnant and she didn¡¯t realize it when she just gave birth. She could only now understand that Leticia was her baby and Cedric¡¯s daughter. And that she was born into the hopes and blessings of Evron. That fact seeped into her heart, like water. Chapter 197 South Grand Duchess Roygar Ga wore only a chemise and sat in front of the dressing table in the powder room. The maids were busy ironing petticoats and dresses. It was the second day she arrived at the Duchy of Riagan¡¯s residence. The dinner was held first before she could relieve her travel fatigue. Neither Ga nor Ga¡¯s maidsined. Nearly half a year has passed since the assassination of Queen Eimmel. It took a long time for news to reach the imperial capital, and it took a long time for the Emperor¡¯s special envoy to reach the South. Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Eimmel waited long enough. In the context of taking control of the Duchy of Riagan. Of course, a considerable amount of military storage was robbed, and ships entering the southern part of the Empire had to pay a protection tax. Some of the business of the Duchy of Riagan was taken away, and the influence that prated the region was indescribable. However, instead of sweeping away the South, looting and retreating, Eimmel¡¯s forces withdrew, slowly giving way to the Southern Conquest Army sent from the center. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the Kingdom of Eimmel showed considerable sincerity. It was even more so when we think about how violently they criticized the Empire and drove the Empire¡¯s army in the first ce. Grand Duke Roygar had this conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Riaganst night. [¡°Prince Cadriol said he was amunicator, so it must be true.¡±] [¡°You must not be deceived. He is like a pirate.¡±] Duke Riagan, who had been intimidated for a long time, replied with a shiver. [¡°On the surface, it is said that no one knows, but everyone in the South knows it. We know that he rules the pirates.¡±] [¡°Then, isn¡¯t it even more amazing? Even if he can use the resources of the Kingdom of Eimmel, that still means that he can control those who are nothing more than unbridled beasts.¡±] [¡°The only thing he can do is avoid an open conflict because he is afraid of an all-out war. If the Empire really wants to conquer, it will only ruin him.¡±] Duchess Riagan also tried to convince Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar was changing his mind a bit. He nned to visit the Kingdom of Eimmel and negotiate directly with the king as it had originally been nned. If the King agrees to put Prince Cadriol under the charge of assassination of his Queen, the army he has will be dismantled by the Imperial Army. If they remove the backing of the kingdom, the military is, after all, nothing more than an illegal armed group. They can drive them as pirates and subdue them all. No matter how elite Cadriol¡¯s troops are, they cannot survive without supplies. And if they continue to loot for supply, they will be a real pirate. In addition, they nned to gain an advantage by making the Iantz an aplice to the assassination. But if Prince Cadriol could bemunicated with, he could change his mind. An alliance with a young and strong prince wouldst longer than an old and weak king. Grand Duke Roygar had no doubts that the alliance would be established. Prince Cadriol is a pirate. He couldn¡¯t refuse the invitation to eat the flesh of the Iantz Kingdom together*. Perhaps, it was because of that, Grand Duke Roygar made ns to visit the Duchy of Riagan as soon as he arrived. So the dinner was held immediately. Grand Duke Roygar said, stroking Ga¡¯s shoulder gently. ¡°If you are tired, you don¡¯t have toe out today. In a few days, Duke Riagan will hold a ball, so you can show yourself that day.¡± Anyway, today was just an expedition. Ga answered without turning her gaze away from the mirror. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I heard that Prince Cadriol would also be present. It¡¯s against the etiquette for me to be absent.¡± ¡°He must not be so arrogant as to be dissatisfied with the fact that thedy who hase a long way is exhausted and resting. Getting rid of fatigue is a priority.¡± ¡°Is it better for me not to go out?¡± At Ga¡¯s question, Grand Duke Roygar shook his head in great bewilderment. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you go with me. Didn¡¯t I say? You are like a symbol of peace.¡± ¡°Then I will prepare. That¡¯s my role.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Grand Duke Roygar lightly rubbed Ga¡¯s shoulder and lowered his head to kiss her temple. ¡°I¡¯lle pick you up when I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When Ga answered, Grand Duke Roygar went out. ¡®Well, what can I do here?¡¯ Looking through the mirror, Ga thought so. The mirror wasrge and clear enough to upy the entire front wall. Even if it was not decorated with gold and jewels, a mirror of this size could be called a precious thing in itself. It was not this room that Duchess Riagan originally intended to give to Ga. The Duchess was about to give the best rooms in the house, her own powder room and toilette room. Ga refused. It would not be that there were no rooms left in the Duchy of Riagan, for she did not want to hear that a guest had taken over the host¡¯s room. Then, the Duchess said she would give the room that was originally used by the eldest daughter of the Duke for generations. The present-day Duke and Duchess of Riagan have no daughter. So this room was kept as the Empress had used in her girlhood. Even so, it was decades ago that the Empress stayed. The breath of the Duke of Riagan¡¯s wise daughter would not remain in this room. Even if she stayed here, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to know it. Ga has had several chances to meet the Empress, but she always finds it difficult. Ga was gripped with a feeling of helplessness, even when she decided to follow the envoys. She believed that soon it would be fine. Lady Ford¡¯s incident is a thing of the past. Her husband eventually epted her will. Then, it should be enough. Here, Grand Duke Roygar will do a good job of dealing with matters and will do his best for her and her children. Still, she couldn¡¯t figure out why she was so frustrated. ¡°You¡¯ve been tired. Since you have a paleplexion, wouldn¡¯t it be better to use red clothes to look lively?¡± Viscountess Weave rmended. Ga contemted the few dresses the maids were holding. ¡°It¡¯s my first meeting with Prince Eimmel.¡± The assassination of Queen Eimmel was the cause of the dispute. Unless she¡¯s trying to provoke a fight, red clothes are not a good choice. ¡°I like ivory.¡± Ga made her choice and the maids got busy. Light pink powder is applied to the skin that will be exposed to hide blemishes and give vitality. She wore a short petticoat over it. The bulging from the waist down to the hips was not to give the skirt a voluminous bell shape, but to grace the flowing curves. Meanwhile, Sk stood beside Ga, holding the jewelry box. ¡°What would be good?¡± ¡°I think this will suit you.¡± Sk opened the lid of the jewelry box to reveal the ne, made of two tiny peridots woven together. ¡°Won¡¯t it look too young?¡± Ga didn¡¯t like seeing the age difference between her and Grand Duke Roygar. She knew that her husband¡¯s age difference made him more acquainted with her. But she no longer wanted to hear him say that she is a cute little bride, but that she is a wife who does her part. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect color for the clothes. If you don¡¯t want to look too shy, I think this is fine.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ga sticks her neck out to Sk, so she can put the ne on her. Sk hung the peridot ne around Ga¡¯s neck. ¡°It really suits you.¡± ¡°Because Her Grace has a long and slender neck, it¡¯s elegant.¡± ¡°You are gentle and dignified, yet you are as neat as a flower. The Grand Duke should be very nervous today.¡± The maids poured their praises. Ga¡®s face brightened a little. She seemed to be feeling a little better. Sk looked at her and she felt strange. She couldn¡¯t understand why Marchioness Camellia sometimes felt sorry for Ga, until after she took the role herself. In fact, whether she looks mature or not, Ga¡¯s role hasn¡¯t changed. Grand Duke Roygar was not wrong when he said that she was a symbol of peace. Just by being here, Ga could indicate that Grand Duke Roygar did not want a settlement by force. However, Ga¡¯s role there was very sparse. Even if she went out in a splendid dress embroidered with gold thread on red silk, the war would not recur unless Grand Duke Roygar and Prince Cadriol were willing to fight . Ga probably knew that, too. She knows it¡¯s important, what people around her say she should do well, that the things she cares about are far from thews that move the real world. All that mattered was the fact that she was the wife of Grand Duke Roygar and the mother of his sessor. Putting all those feelings down, Sk said with a smile. ¡°How about looking young and beautiful? Her Majesty the Empress was already in a position to lead the Empire as the Crown Princess at aunt¡¯s age.¡± ¡°Lady Sk.¡± Viscountess Weave cautiously called out Sk. The story of the Empress was not something to be taken lightly. It was even more so, considering that this was the Duchy of Riagan. Sk said as if she had made a mistake. ¡°My story means that aunt is already the bestdy in this Empire, no matter what she looks like.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ga replied. She went out of the toilette room. The maids had already finished dressing up, so they quickly checked each other¡¯s messy areas and smoother each other. And they followed Ga out. Ga and Grand Duke Roygar were thest to arrive at the banquet. The banquet hall was spacious. A separate long table was prepared for the attendants. However, the only real guests the Duke and Duchess of Riagan had to entertain were Grand Duke and Duchess of Roygar and Prince Cadriol. At least, the outward appearance was friendly. ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess.¡± Prince Cadriol smiled as he kissed the back of Ga¡¯s hand. Ga, frankly, was a little terrified as she heard many words such as ¡®pirate¡¯, ¡®ruffian¡¯ and so on. The young, handsome prince was clearly unstoppable in his actions. But Ga did not get the impression that he was vulgar. ¡°Since we¡¯re greeting each other today, let¡¯s just eatfortably.¡± ¡°Because there is a lot to talk about in the future. I think it¡¯s fortunate that the nobleman, who was frozen by the north wind and blocked in the front and back, was not the special envoy.¡± Grand Duke Roygar smiled broadly at Cadriol¡¯s words. Because he knew Cadriol was talking about Cedric. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know much about the north wind.¡± ¡°When you get around on a boat, you meet a lot of people and hear stories.¡± Cadriol said, furrowing his eyebrows. Grand Duke Roygar sensed something. But he didn¡¯t reveal it. They¡¯re not supposed to talk yet. While the high-ranking people greeted each other warmly, the attendants found seats with their name tags on them and sat down. It was when Sk sat down. Something fell from between the napkins. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Fortunately, it was caught in her skirt, not the floor. Sk, without looking surprised, unfolded a napkin and ced it on herp. And she picked the item up as she pretended to tidy up. It was a small key and a note. ¡ª- Note from Somnium~ : *Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s n was to make a deal with the King at first; iming that it was Prince Cadriol with the help from Iantz that responsible for the assassination. However, it seems that Prince Cadriol can be negotiated with, so Grand Duke Roygar prefers to make a deal with young and vigorous Cadriol. He n to instead me the assassination on Iantz; working together and make Iantz pays. Chapter 198 Sk finished her meal early. Despite her position as Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent, Sk was not one of thedies-in-waiting in a very important position. She was Ga¡¯s niece, though she was a favorite. She, however, was young and it is not long since she came in as thedy-in-waiting. She also med Marchioness Camellia for Ga being harsh on her because she didn¡¯t want her to be said to be favored as thedy-in-waiting. Marchioness Camellia asked the other maids, including Viscountess Weave, to do the same. Thanks to that, no one bothered holding her even if Sk stood up first. Only the secretary of the Duke of Riagan, who was sitting next to her, asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about the luggage I haven¡¯t sorted out yet.¡± Even if the maid was left to organize the luggage, the superiors could not let go of their hands. The secretary didn¡¯t even think about it as an unfitting chore because the youngest was supposed to do these chores. Lady Dway, who was sitting across from her, also nodded her head. Sk walked out of the dinner hall. She went into Ga¡¯s toilet room, and then she came out again in a modest shawl. To entuate Ga, she deliberately wore a rustic-grey, modest dress, and her skirt didn¡¯t swell either. Thanks to that, she would be able to cover her identity with a ruffled top. Sk took an undecorated bo and went out again. The guard guarding the hallway tilted his head slightly. ¡°Where are you going, Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent?¡± ¡°To get some air.¡± Sk replied only like that, and she went out of the hallway. As she moved away from Ga¡¯s quarters, Sk put on the bo. Now, in the Duchy of Riagan, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s party and Prince Cadriol¡¯s party were mixed. It was crowded as there were people who came from other cities for the announcement of the news and then sat down. So, even if a strange woman passed by, she raised no suspicions. ncing at Sk¡¯s modest bo and dress, they only thought that she was the attendant of someone unimportant. Sk headed to the top of the mansion. Then she looked around a few times in front of the wooden door and then put the key in. As if it was well greased, the key turned without a sound. Sk went inside. It was a warehouse for small items. Some of the chairs wereid out as if the employees would rest there. An old maid was sitting and she stood up, startled to see Sk. ¡°You don¡¯t have to act.¡± Sk gave the key to the maid. It¡¯s a warehouse, so the key is only worked on the outside. Had it not been for being bullied and detained, an aplice would have locked her in. It meant that she was waiting for Sk toe. In the first ce, the maid wasn¡¯t even that good at acting skills. The maid bowed her head politely and she took the key from Sk¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Marquisate Camellia Heir Apparent.¡± ¡°Reveal your identity.¡± ¡°I am Felona of the Iantz.¡± Sk knew the name. The Felona Firm was a famous textile dealer that even Sk knew. ¡°Are you saying you are the owner of the Felona Firm?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Felona showed her identity card. There was no way for Sk to confirm the identity of the Iantz at this ce. Sheter had to find out about it. Apart from that, at least the other party would cooperate in the identification and there was no hostile intention. As such, it¡¯s probably true that she¡¯s an Iantz. Sk sighed deeply inside. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t worried as she took the note and sneaked out on her own. Of course, if Ga¡¯s nephew and daughter of Marquisate Camellia herself were to be killed in such aplicated situation, it would be a huge diplomatic problem. There was no guarantee that no one would be aiming for her. Even if the chances are low, Sk has only one life. Luckily, it didn¡¯t seem like that was her intention. ¡°Why did you call me?¡± ¡°I would like to make a petition to His Majesty Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± ¡°I am just the youngestdy-in-waiting. If you are trying to influence the Grand Duchess through me, I want to tell you that is a bad idea.¡± ¡°But Lady is the niece of Grand Duchess Roygar. You are also the daughter of Marquisate Camellia.¡± Felona said kindly. Her attitude was to the point of being servile. It was Marchioness Camellia that the Kingdom of Iantz first tried to target. Considering her influence on Grand Duchess Roygar, and considering her position as an adviser to Grand Duke Roygar. Their initial ns were thwarted when Marquisate Camellia¡¯s problems abruptly removed the Marchioness from the entourage. Contacting Sk was the inevitable choice. Not enough information was avable. So, first of all, she decided not to offend. Sk noticed it. If it was the Felona Firm owner, she was like a noble in the Iantz Kingdom. Even if it was Marchioness Camellia herself here, she would probably have shown some respect. It was not unusual for such a person to approach so cautiously. ¡°Tell me what you want. If it¡¯s something worthy of Her Grace¡¯s hearing, I¡¯ll arrange a meeting for you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Felona bowed her head. and she said ¡°We, the Kingdom of Iantz, have not involved in the assassination of Her Majesty Queen Eimmel.¡± ¡°That is the external position of the Kingdom of Iantz.¡± Sk said coldly. ¡°The assassin was the imperial citizen, and she was also an imperial noblewoman. But the money spent on buying her title came from Iantz. It would be more urate to say that it was the intention of the one behind the money, rather than the powerless low-ranking nobleman doing such a big thing on her own.¡± ¡°I know that is the position of the Empire. But what would it bring the Kingdom of Iantz to attract the Empire and assassinate the Queen? There¡¯s no reason to do it, but if, for a reason, it had to be done, it would be far better to deal with the Southerners without bringing in the Empire.¡± Felona said quietly. The first thing that was revealed about Mrs. Lexen¡¯s identity was that she was a merchant from the Kingdom of Iantz. Naturally, from then on, in the Iantz, all efforts were made to trace Mrs. Lexen¡¯s career. The money that Mrs. Lexen spent to buy her title in the Krates Empire and to build her business was certainly moved right through the Iantz Kingdom. But her origins go back to the Krates Empire. She went through a number of routes, as the Merchant Association of the Kingdom of Iantz traced it. No more could be traced. It was because it was decided that it was too dangerous to search the inside of the Empire now. In the end, the conclusion of the Kingdom of Iantz was as follows. The assassination of Queen Eimmel was due to a power struggle within the Krates Empire. If so, the culprit would be either the Duke Riagan, as Prince Cadriol ims, or one who could profit from ruining the Duchy of Riagan¡¯s coarse salt business. But it was difficult to think that it was the former. Mrs. Lexen met Queen Eimmel through the introduction of Duchess Riagan too openly. If it¡¯s thetter, it would be too difficult. No matter how much they thought, Grand Duke Roygar was the only one who could intervene in such a huge interest as the coarse salt business. If it were not by Grand Duke Roygar himself, it would be one of his entourages. Either way, it was equally difficult. He was an opponent the Kingdom of Iantz couldn¡¯t even dare to touch. In addition, he was even entrusted with the handling of this matter by the Emperor. In the eyes of the Kingdom of Iantz, the investigation was entrusted to the criminal. Even so, they could not plead with Emperor Gregor. It was like driving out a wolf and summoning a tiger. In the end, they could not do anything more than assert their country¡¯s innocence from the standpoint of the Iantz Kingdom. ¡°We want Her Grace to pass on our plea to the Grand Duke.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you visit the Grand Duke in person? It goes without saying if that is really the will of the Kingdom of Iantz, you will be able tomunicate directly with the Grand Duke as a Firm owner or a person with high status.¡± Felona then smiled. Because she knew that Sk had tried. ¡°There¡¯s Prince Cadriol, how constructive can we have a conversation if we go out?¡± Even the Iantz Merchants Association did not understand Prince Cadriol¡¯s actions. Was it because he took the death of the Queen as an opportunity, or was it a conspiracy from the beginning? There was a reason for wanting to meet the Grand Duchess first. At least the Grand Duchess certainly wouldn¡¯t be a conspirator. Sk thought for a moment. She understood the intention of the Kingdom of Iantz to make a secret transaction. It didn¡¯t matter in the slightest to anyone that Queen Eimmel died. It was a question of who and who would join hands, and who would devour whom. ¡®My uncle is the one who eats it from either side, but¡­¡­.¡¯ Holes arise inplex transactions. Sk became dizzy. She decided to bet on Artizea. When she thinks of her mother, there were many times when she hated Ga blindly. But when she thought of making a hole with her own hand, it felt like her heart was rolling in her stomach like grains of sand. But in the end Sk said. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Her Grace about you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°How do I contact you?¡± ¡°Put a nk piece of paper between the pillowcases in the morning and we wille to you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Sk nodded her head. She returned the key and walked out of the warehouse. And as she originally said to get some fresh air and arrange the luggage, she went back to the Grand Duchess¡¯ room. £ª£ª£ª The dinner continued in a light atmosphere from beginning to end. From the point of view of the Duke and Duchess of Riagan, it would seem that they are at the tip of a precarious needle. Cadriol spoke with Grand Duke Roygar in an interesting mood. In his previous life, he had contributed to the downfall of Grand Duke Roygar. But he had never actually mixed words with the Grand Duke. He didn¡¯t know who had ruined him, and it felt ironic to give him an intimateugh and a drink. ¡®This time, let¡¯s see.¡¯ Cadriol has yet to make a decision. He knew that it was dangerous to fight against Artizea; so well that he would never forget it even if his head was cut off. It also meant that it would be dangerous for a long time toe by putting Artizea in the center of the Empire. But thinking differently, Cedric is based in the North and West. It will take some time to reach out to the South. If Grand Duke Roygar bes Emperor, like hyenas, the great nobles and giants of the eastern part of the Empire will infiltrate the South. But politically, it was more usible. In the end, the problem is Artizea. Artizea is right. Cadriol didn¡¯t trust her. For a brief moment, there was a mutual agreement of interests, and there was an implied cooperation. But the moment she judged it to be a detriment to her Master, she would try to tear Cadriol apart. ¡®But I don¡¯t want to be allied with Evron.¡¯ As he was thinking about it, he heard Grand Duchess Roygar speaking to Duchess Riagan. ¡°Grand Duchess Evron will soon be giving birth. Still, because I¡¯m a rtive, I wanted to take care of them, but I couldn¡¯t¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Cadriol intervened and asked without realizing it. Chapter 199 As soon as he spoke, Cadriol regretted it. Officially, he had never visited the imperial capital. He had never met Cedric or Artizea. Grand Duke Roygar stood up and looked at him. Cadriol didn¡¯t bother trying to fix hisplexion. It is only when he changes his facial expression that he confirms that his true intentions are revealed. So he consciously showed more surprise. As if he was doing it to make the conversation enjoyable. ¡°I heard something went wrong with the heir.¡± He hadn¡¯t heard of it, but Cadriol said so calmly. The news that Artizea was imprisoned in a temple and nearly charged with heresy swept the entire empire. Naturally, the news spread to other countries as well. But Cadriol didn¡¯t really ept that Artizea had been pregnant. He thought she had lied to escte the situation. If so, there was no reason not to say she had miscarried. That way she can tie the temple to a stronger noose, and no lies will be uncovered. Ga said softly. ¡°You have heard the wrong news. Fortunately, both the baby and the Grand Duchess are safe.¡± ¡°It was a difficult situation to hear.¡± ¡°It was a blessing.¡± The Duke and Duchess of Riagan also said. They only knew that there had been a treason case. Since then, they had been surrounded by Eimmel, so they had not been able to obtain proper information. Grand Duke Roygar said. ¡°I was always worried because Cedric didn¡¯t take care of his safety, but isn¡¯t it fortunate? It is true that Evron has an heir, but now that he has a wife and child, he seems to be finding stability.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The atmosphere soon became lively. The story of marriage and baby was always a topic that everyone could share with a smile. Even more so if it¡¯s a story about someone else¡¯s family where interests are not entangled. Only Grand Duke Roygar was the only one who could have his mind troubled with the matter at this point. . Outwardly, it was like that. In fact, however, it was Cadriol¡¯s inside that was most noisy. What happened? Cedric was the fiance of the saint? Cadriol had no doubts that the two were lovers. It¡¯s not umon for a man to give his all for a woman. ¡®Well, I should have known when I saw those upturned eyes.¡¯ Artizea was so calm that he was deceived. The world has already changed. There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll live a second life the same way as the first. She was already married. There was nothing strange about anything between a man and a woman, but he couldn¡¯t help but say that he was an ignorant bastard. He should¡¯ve taken her back on that day, no matter what happened, he should have secured her recruitment first. Or kill her on the spot. If she really had an heir, the option of going to seduce her after the situation was settled disappeared. Cedric does not need the legitimacy granted by a saintess to be Emperor. His marriage has already been established. If Cedric seeds, Artizea¡¯s child will be the next Emperor. Even taking a political risk was unreasonable. It was unlikely that Artizea, hungry for a family¡¯s affection, would give up her child. ¡®Conscience-less bastard. That weak bodied woman; I was going to wait three years, though.¡¯ The drink went down like water. *** After the dinner, there was usually a drinking party. But today, it was disbanded. Cadriol and Grand Duke Roygar each had their ownplicated thoughts. He came out with Grand Duchess Roygar with his arms crossed, and when he was convinced that the only one left around him was his subordinates, he said. ¡°See if Prince Cadriol has ever visited the Northern or Central regions.¡± ¡°The North, you mean?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the sea route connected? If you try to go there, it¡¯s not that you won¡¯t be able to visit.¡± There is no reason to go all the way to the North with the developed South and East. But Cadriol must have met Cedric before. ¡°I will inquire. But the results will note quickly.¡± ¡°Hurry up to investigate.¡± The secretary withdrew in haste. Ga looked up at her husband with an anxious attitude. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing. If Prince Cadriol knew several people in the Empire, he could negotiate differently.¡± If Cadriol had a rtionship with Cedric, he could define his rtionship with the Duchy of Riagan differently as well. The Empress hates the Duchy of Riagan, and Artizea is the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting. ¡®Grand Duchess Evron has a political sense.¡¯ At the time Artizea opened the door to the Empress¡¯ pce, everyone knew her as Mira¡¯s poor, ugly daughter. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t even think to associate her with the Duchy of Riagan in the matter. But now that he thinks about it, there was nothing strange about Artizea being involved in this. Ga wanted to say something more. However, Grand Duke Roygar did not notice her and escorted her to her toilette room. ¡°Get some rest. No one will bother you until tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see.¡± ¡°The day after tomorrow, I have to show people how lucky I am with you appearing as the prettiest person in the world.¡± Ga only nodded her head. Grand Duke Roygar kissed her lightly on the lips, and turned around. The attendants, who followed at a distance, clung back to Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar called another attendant and spoke quickly. ¡°Is the northern intelligencework still alive?¡± ¡°I have lost contact with it since the Bishop Akim incident.¡± ¡°That means you can do it again. See if anything has happened in the stronghold.¡± ¡°Since entering the wartime period, there is nothing to note. What shall we focus on? Can I take a general look?¡± ¡°Yes. And¡­¡­ I think I heard that the merchants from Eimmel, who were trying to steal, died in their stronghold.¡± Grand Duke Roygar thought for a moment and said: At the time, it was not a very important story. Southern merchants are inherently half-thieves. They trade in cities with military power and well-maintained facilities, and when they meet a ship that they can swallow without worrying about the next day in the open sea, they turn into a pirate. It was not strange if such a person appeared in Evron¡¯s stronghold. Besides, there was an attack by Karam right after that. Because it was a war, it was almost buried. But obviously. ¡®Even County Jordyn was punished.¡¯ He was told it was because the daughter had leaked information of the stronghold to the Eimmel merchants in the dangerous situation when Karam had been attacking. He didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, as it could be natural in a ce with strict discipline like Evron. He didn¡¯t even think that it could be used against Cedric. Moreover, whatever information he took, he thought it would be useless to him. It wouldn¡¯t be a big deal to know what the Count¡¯s youngest daughter¡¯s information was. But what if it has to do with Cadriol? He knew it was too much of a leap. But at least it was clear that Cadriol knew something about the North. ¡®The war against Karam ended too easilypared to what was said in the first ce.¡¯ Even now, there was a confrontation with Karam in the North. Military reports are stilling in. But there was no guarantee that it had not been tampered with. In the North, Grand Duke Evron holds the same status as a king. Very few people paid attention to the North. The Emperor may be different. But, at least until this moment, Grand Duke Roygar had never thought deeply about the North. ¡°Aside from that, if you have anything unusual, bring it with you. It¡¯s a quiet area, so there won¡¯t be much talk about it.¡± ¡°It will take quite a while for people to get to the North.¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m not asking you to finish gathering information before negotiations areplete here.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said. In any case, it was necessary to secure a weapon to use against Grand Duchy Evron. £ª£ª£ª Sk returned after Ga had bathed and changed into her pajamas. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you during the dinner. Where have you been?¡± ¡°I think I need to organize my luggage for a moment.¡± ¡°There is no official schedule for tomorrow, so it was okay to just postpone it.¡± ¡°I ate dinner separately. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°I was going to introduce you to Prince Cadriol, but it¡¯s a pity. Or not. You went out today without thinking about anything, so it might be better to dress up properly at the banquet and meet.¡± Sk shook her head. ¡°I have no interest in that prince.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a very attractive man, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave the capital. I am not interested in a rtionship like ying with fire.¡± Rather, Sk was not interested in men in general. It had been a long time since she had decided that her marriage would be with someone suitable for stabilizing Marquisate Camellia. But she didn¡¯t seem to be able to convince Ga of that. Still, it was good to hear that her personal happiness is also important. ¡°More than that, Aunt.¡± Ga tilted her head. Because Sk looked at her with a serious face. ¡°The people in the Kingdom of Iantz want to see Aunt.¡± ¡°Iantz?¡± Ga tilted her head again. She did not understand all the meanings contained in Sk¡¯s words. If they want to meet, they just need to apply for an audience. There were only two people in the bedroom, but Sk lowered her body and knelt next to Ga¡¯s bed. Then she lowered her voice and spoke quietly. ¡°It was from Felona Firm. Does Aunt know about the Felona Firm?¡± Ga nodded her head. The items of the Felona Firm were also frequently used by her. ¡°She said she came as a representative of the Merchant Association.¡± ¡°Why does that person want to see me?¡± When Ga came around this time, she could understand that the word ¡®secretly¡¯ was omitted while saying that she wanted to meet her. ¡°The money that Queen Eimmel¡¯s assassin used to buy the imperial title came from the Kingdom of Iantz.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s what worries them. Maybe, they¡¯re trying to appeal to Aunt.¡± Ga hesitated. The pleas for help in alleviating sins were something she often received. Ga also considered it her job to some extent. As a nobledy of high rank, it was her natural responsibility to take care of the difficult affairs of her subordinates. But this is a matter of international rtions. Maybe she should get her husband¡¯s permission first? She also had a fear of meeting foreigners alone. If she had had her sister at a time like this, she¡¯d tell her what to do. Sk said. ¡°Why don¡¯t you meet first and then decide?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course. Aunt is the one who will soon be the Empress. There will be many such petitions from other countries in the future. If you think it is a difficult matter to judge, then you can discuss it with Uncle.¡± Sk¡¯s words seemed usible. It didn¡¯t seem like it would harm her if she was just meeting anyway. Ga nodded her head. Chapter 200 Leticia Maureen Evron¡¯s naming ceremony took ce modestly at home. A naming ceremony was a ceremony in which the baby was named as a human being who would receive divine protection. Therefore, if a newborn baby did not grow properly and died, their parents immediately came up with any name and ran to the temple. For the nobility, it was a ceremony with meaning apart from faith. After the naming ceremony, the baby could be listed in the family genealogy. Inheritance rights also bestow. They are finally recognized as a member of the family. Therefore, the naming ceremony of the eldest child who will be the heir has always been an important event. It wasmon for the great nobles to rent thergest chapel even in the great temple. Of course, the reception in the mansion is held separately. But Cedric and Artizea did not. The two had no intention of taking the baby out of the house and exposing it to the public eye. However, just because the event was modest, it did not mean that the face of the attendees was small. Some important officials from the government and the military, including Chancellor Lin, whom Cedric had asked for guardianship of the baby, were of course to attend. As a family, the vassals of Grand Duke Evron, who had departed in time for childbirth, arrived. Although no one hadmanded them, the knights wiped their te armor till it shone and lined spears with spears. From the time of Leticia¡¯s birth, the momentum began to rise and continued for several weeks. Morale was rising as if it was possible to go out and break through the wall like this. Cedric was embarrassed and told Artizea. ¡°Won¡¯t it look like it¡¯s just provoking the Imperial Pce by making a fuss?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the problem. The knights are fine. It¡¯s Evron.¡± Everyone will do that. He can¡¯t say that he¡¯s not nervous, though. Even though ess to the nursery was prohibited, the vassals and knights often stood in front of them openly. It was useless to say that there was nothing to happen before the 100th day. Marcus, who was officially appointed as Leticia¡¯s nanny, shouted resolutely every time. It was said that the sound of footsteps echoed through the floor, waking the precious baby from sleep. After that, the knights raised their heels. A few dayster, Ansgar took pity on them and spread a thick carpet in the hallway. On the temple side, Bishop Nikos and several other bishops visited with holy relics. It was no exaggeration to say that it was the bishop-level activity. Since he had politely refused the Archbishop¡¯s visit in advance, that was enough. Above all, the Emperor was present. With this alone, the status of this naming ceremony was determined. ¡°The Sun of the Empire ising down to this lowly ce, I don¡¯t know where to ce myself.¡± Cedric and Artizea knelt politely in front of the Emperor and said, ¡°How can I note to celebrate the birth of such a healthy child in the midst of the imperial family?¡± ¡°I am grateful for your grace. Had I known that Your Majesty wasing, I would have prepared a better revenue.¡± ¡°If your home is a lowly ce, the only thing that can be called home in this Empire is the Imperial Pce.¡± The Emperor said jokingly. ¡°Did the temple say anything?¡± ¡°It is only because of His Majesty¡¯s grace that God¡¯s grace was bestowed upon the altar of the Harvest Festival. Thanks to that, Leticia¡¯s and my lives are saved, and we are blessed. What will we do?¡± Artizea said, bowing her head deeply, almost with her forehead on the floor. The Emperor looked at Artizea¡¯s head, then turned to Cedric and asked. ¡°Do you think so, too?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s will is my will.¡± The Emperor knew that Artizea¡¯s words could not be sincere, Artizea herself knew, and Cedric knew it. But if they are afraid of the Emperor, he will let it be. The Emperor was willing to do that. ¡°God must have blessed you to live a good life. It¡¯s a good thing, I want to give her a name.¡± Cedric unintentionally tried to clench his fist. However, it was Artizea¡¯s hand that was held in his hand, so he struggled to get rid of his strength. Artizea¡¯s finger lightly touched his palm. Cedric released the strength from his hand. It was one of the things expected when the Emperor announced his attendance. ¡°Let¡¯s call her Hellge. She has been blessed with a divine blessing, so we must leave that meaning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good name.¡± Bishop Nikos, who was listening by his side, intervened with a smile. On Leticia¡¯s matter, the bishops¡¯ conference reached an agreement that a miracle appeared during the ceremony and saved the lives of the Grand Duchess and Princess. In fact, they wanted to know more than that, but there was no way for them to find out. So now, they hoped that they could show people how precious the divinity is by getting into a high position worthy of the same blessings the princess has received. Cedric said with his head bowed. ¡°We cannot afford that.¡± It is conceivable for the Emperor to give a name. But they were not usually given a third name. It is the imperial family that has three names. The direct line of the imperial family is a member of the Krates family, but since they dare not add the name of the Empire to their own name, thest name that was used instead is the family name. If there was an imperial prince and a princess, it wouldn¡¯t matter. It is because it is possible to grant glory of the third name on special asions. However, Emperor Gregor now has neither a prince nor a princess. Giving only Leticia three names bes symbolic. The Emperor smiled softly. ¡°It is natural for the parents to be honored through their children.¡± Artizea grabbed his hand again before Cedric could harden his face. And she answered instead of Cedric. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your grace.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s do that.¡± Bishop Nikos manually rewrote the documents for the altar of the naming ceremony in gold-colored ink. After the documents were ced on the altar again, Marcus in a dark blue robe came out holding Leticia. A newborn baby wrapped in white linen might not have looked great, but the knights cheered. He tried to warn them several times, but to no avail. ¡°Huweee!¡± Surprised, Leticia burst into tears. The knights stopped shouting. The first knight to shout was punished from both sides. Seeing this, the other attendeesughed out loud. Marcus held Leticia and headed towards the altar. Cedric and Artizea also went with him. The naming ceremony simply ended by pouring the blessed wine on the documents ced on the altar and burning them. After that, the short procedure waspleted by recording Leticia¡¯s name in the genealogy of Grand Duchy Evron kept in the noble house, and adding a new record to the documents kept by Grand Duchy Evron. Cedric then hurriedly took Leticia and held her. Ufortable, Leticia struggled with her arms. Marcus took the baby back from him and held her. After hugging her for a long time, Leticia stopped crying and rolled her tears-soaked eyes. Bishop Nikos looked into Leticia¡¯s careful face, as if trying to find any sacred marks on her face. Leticia made a sound like a grumbling. The Emperorughed. And held out his hand. ¡°Let me hug my granddaughter.¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s too much, I¡¯m grateful.¡± Artizea intervened in embarrassment. Marcus didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Are you afraid I might drop the baby? I¡¯ll be better at this than you or your husband.¡± There was no way they could stop the Emperor. The Emperor skillfully took the baby and embraced it as he had said. He didn¡¯t hate babies. He had never raised them himself, but he used to hold all of his children and grandchildren. ¡°Let¡¯s see. You got Cedric all the way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric answered with an ufortable attitude. ¡°Oh my. The vassals of Grand Duchy Evron are very impatient.¡± The Emperorughed as if it was funny. Then, he lifted Leticia up and down. It was clear how it would appear to people¡¯s eyes. £ª£ª£ª After the naming ceremony, the first guests invited to the nursery were Hazel and Mielle. Artizea had been nning to take the two of them as herdy-in-waiting from the start. In Hazel¡¯s case, she was equipped with agility, inquisitiveness, and observation. She was well aware of how rumors in the social world worked. She also had the peculiarity of being the daughter of the Belmond family. The fact that they have thergest press in the capital, she had the power to make even a family member, not technically noble, a member of the social circle. Such changes are recent. Hazel herself had a useful talent, but more than that, Artizea decided to keep Hazel in her entourage, hoping Leticia would understand the new world from an early age. Mielle was epted for stability as opposed to Hazel. It was clear that Mielle could not function properly as ady-in-waiting. However, by bringing in the two cousins ??and sisters together, she relieves Hazel of the burden of her new status that she feels, and she fulfills the Keshore couple¡¯s wish that Mielle can enjoy a little bit of an ordinary life. And there was the trust that both of them could not be persuaded by other powers to harm the baby. Being used unknowingly is another matter, though. ¡®Right now, I can¡¯t be part of Miss Leticia¡¯s surroundings because I don¡¯t want to betray her or even think about being used without my knowledge. In fact, no matter how loyal a knight is, it is inevitable.¡¯ Hayley thought so as she guided the two of them. ¡°I heard about the naming ceremony. Did they say that the princess resembles the Grand Duke that much?¡± Hazel asked in a cheerful voice. Hayley replied bluntly. ¡°Yes. To be honest, I thought the faces of newborns were indistinguishable, but she really looks the same as the Duke.¡± ¡°His Grace looks very manly. But since he¡¯s handsome, the princess must also be a beauty, right? I look forward to it.¡± ¡°Hazel.¡± Mielle patted Hazel¡¯s arm lightly and stopped her as if embarrassed. Hayley looked at them with a frown. Artizea seemed to have high expectations for Hazel. However, from Hayley¡¯s perspective, who does not know Hazel¡¯s future, she only thought that she was a bright, sociable, and conversation-lovingdy. In many senses. [¡°Until she learns how to restrain her mouth and how to suspect and not spread disinformation, I will have to pay more attention on her.¡±] Freil, who had been quietly listening to Hayley¡¯sment that things were getting worse, asked. [¡°But honestly.¡±] [¡°Honestly?¡±] [¡°Aren¡¯t you jealous? Of Lady Hazel.¡±] [¡°Are you crazy?¡±] Hayley answered immediately. Freil shrugged his shoulders. The words ¡®if not, nevermind¡¯ were written on his face. Hayley thought she had answered too soon, but it was toote. Chapter 201 The wet nurse returned from behind the veil with Leticia. ¡°I will burp her.¡± Marcus held out his hand. The wet nurse refused. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mister Marcus. I will do it. The Princess has already be quite heavy¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I have to do it even more. You are a mother, too. How easy is it to feed two babies?¡± ¡°I am not doing it all alone.¡± ¡°You go to Ken. Don¡¯t think about overdoing it. When you have free time, get some sleep.¡± The wet nurseughed. She gave birth ten days before Artizea. Ansgar arranged for her young son¡¯s room next to Leticia¡¯s. Fortunately, she has a lot of breast milk, so she had no problems raising both children on her own. If there was a shortage, they were supposed to find another wet nurse for her son, Ken. It was because it was not easy to get Leticia another wet nurse again in consideration of security, identity, and health. ¡°It¡¯s not that hard. The Princess is gentle, and Ken has a lot of people looking after him.¡± ¡°It makes me feel at ease when you say it like that. It¡¯s okay though, so go ahead. There are a lot of people here to take care of Princess, and I am one of them.¡± Marcus said, stroking the baby¡¯s back. ¡°How many days can I get to hold you like this?¡± The wet nurse smiled sadly at the old man¡¯s words. Leticia licked her tongue a few times and she spit back out a little. Marcus stroked Leticia¡¯s back more quickly and wiped her lips. The wet nurse hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should breastfeed her again. Marcus said. ¡°It¡¯s very little. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll call you if she¡¯s hungry.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She bowed her head and walked away. Leticia burped. Marcus wiped Leticia¡¯s face again and walked over to the window, holding her in his arms. Long sleeves made of thin cloth hit Marcus on the cheek as she struggled. Even that was lovely, and Marcus smiled warmly. He thought he had nothing more to do. Management of Marquisate Rosan¡¯s property or cracking down on blood rtives was something he had already passed on to his children. There was no need to take care of the Mistress, and it was Ansgar¡¯s job to manage the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. If he wishes, he can retire to afortable cottage and rest, as Artizea said. Still, he remained by Artizea¡¯s side. Because he wanted to see Marquisate Rosan came back to life Leticia was also the future Marquis Rosan, although she would be overshadowed by the title of Grand Duke Evron. For Marcus, it was the greatest pleasure to hold the baby, who would be the master of the family in a very long future, in his arms. Would he have thought that there would be such joy in thest years of his life? He was also genuinely grateful to Margaret, who rmended him for the job. Normally, the nanny position would be taken by ady-in-waiting, whom the mother had brought from her home. As a man and a butler, it wasn¡¯t his job. But Margaret rmended him. Margaret was included in the vassal group heading to the capital this time to coincide with Leticia¡¯s birth date. Viscount Agate of Evron¡¯s stronghold seems to have been quite concerned about sending Margaret to the capital. It wasn¡¯t about what he thought Margaret was going to do for her revenge. But don¡¯t tie your shoces in the field, and don¡¯t fix your hat under the apple tree.* Newborn babies are fragile and die easily for unknown reasons. There was no reason to reopen the barely sealed problem because something unfortunate happened. Mel Jordyn, who was in charge of Grand Duchy Evron under the pretense of being Chief of the Grand Duchess¡¯dy-in-waiting, also advised Margaret not to go. But Hayley sent her mother a pleading request over and over again. She didn¡¯t feel that she needed her mother¡¯s advice for most of her work. However, she was desperate for advice on Leticia¡¯s nanny problem. More precisely, she was looking for a reason why she was inappropriate. Artizea said that Cedric would give permission as well. Although not as a nanny, Margaret was one of those who looked after him as a child. He wanted to show the baby to her. Artizea nodded her head willingly. And she said to Margaret, who hade to greet her with a cautious look. [¡°I am well aware of what Mel and Viscount Agate were concerned about. Hopefully, if anything happens, this time, Evron and Jordyn will not be crossing a river they can¡¯t cross.¡±] [¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°But it doesn¡¯t have to be like that. You and your husband were like family to Lord Cedric. Someday¡­¡­ When you can let many things flow into the water, please love Leticia a lot.¡±] Margaret lowered her head deeply and she had to say yes. Artizea had already made Mel her chiefdy-in-waiting, entrusting her with responsibilities, and brought Hayley as part of her entourage. The day wille when it will all truly heal like flowing water and trust will be built up once again. And the two talked about Leticia¡¯s nanny. [¡°Hayley is not suitable with parenting.¡±] [¡°Do you think that Hayley won¡¯t be able to do it, too?¡±] [¡°With all due respect, but it seems that Her Grace is only thinking about the Princess¡¯ education. Hayley is just as smart as she is, and she might be able to help with the Princess¡¯ education by figuring out Her Grace¡¯s heart, but¡­¡­.¡±] Margaret said cautiously. [¡°Because the nanny needs to hold her with love more than to teach.¡±] [¡°Is that so¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°The Princess was born with so many blessings and expectations, so I know that Her Grace is more vignt and concerned. Who knows better than my husband and I how unrestrained affection can ruin a child?¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°However, strict raising is not a good thing. It is love that strengthens the body and mind of the child.¡±] Artizea thought for a moment without saying anything at Margaret¡¯s words, and then she asked. [¡°I understand what you mean. Then who would be better?¡±] [¡°What about Marcus?¡±] [¡°Marcus?¡±] Artizea was startled. Naturally, she was thinking of one of the vassals of the Grand Duchy. Margaret nodded her head. [¡°Although his status is a little nted, he has served Marquisate Rosan from generation to generation, and he is a person of merit.¡±] [¡°Well¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Isn¡¯t Marcus the only one that Your Grace brought from your parents¡¯ house, believed in him, and put him right next to you? All of the maids are young, and it would be difficult to trust one now, even if they brought someone as a colleague.¡±] [¡°I see.¡±] [¡°All of Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s vassals will serve the Princess with all their heart. But she is hesitant when asked if Her Grace can leave her right by the Princess¡¯ side and entrust everything to her.¡±] There was no one who could harm the precious baby they had been waiting for. She is still only one princess, so she doesn¡¯t have to worry about session disputes or factions split within the Grand Duchy. However, if it is about whether enough trust had been built up between Artizea and the Grand Duchy¡¯s vassals, this was not the case. [¡°There¡¯s a reason as to why bring a nanny from one¡¯s home.¡±] [¡°Even if they have the position of a nanny, it is rare for a man to take care of a child like this and raise her.¡±] [¡°When ites to bathing and breastfeeding, the wet nursees in and takes care of her. And when she bes a young girl, there are manydies-in-waiting who will look after her. Marcus is already old, so it will look good to others.¡±] Margaret said calmly. She¡¯s been struggling with this issue ever since Hayley sent her a letter asking for help, and that¡¯s how she came to the conclusion. [¡°And even if Her Grace wants to put Hayley on teaching. If the nanny¡¯s status is higher than that of the teacher, cooperation is bound to fail.¡±] [¡°That is true, too.¡±] Still, Artizea hesitated. If she was to take on the role of teacher for a stranger¡¯s child, she was confident she would do well. But when her child became a problem, she couldn¡¯t easily decide, even though she knew Margaret¡¯s words made sense. Margaret said with a soft face. [¡°The Grand Duke was also raised by Ansgar in ce of the nanny, but didn¡¯t he grow up wonderfully?¡±] Artizea nodded her head at those words. Artizea frankly told Marcus the process of the conversation. Marcus was truly grateful to Margaret. Up until now, he had felt alienated from the people of Grand Duchy Evron. It was also because Artizea was using Marquisate Rosan¡¯s assets too much for Evron. She was less interested in Marquisate Rosan, just as she was not interested in herself. It was but one of the powers she could wield, and it was, to thest, nourishment for Evron. Marcus didn¡¯t know how Evron¡¯s vassals were taking it. He always felt that theycked appreciation for Artizea. But when they showed this trust, his heart was relieved. Raising an heir was one of the most important issues in the family. Artizea said that she would entrust that authority to Evron. However, they even persuaded the Mistress saying that he was helpful. ¡°Our baby. Just grow up healthy.¡± Marcus whispered softly into Leticia¡¯s ear. Knock, knock. A very cautious knock was heard. ¡°You may open it.¡± Marcus replied. Leticia groaned and whined. Hayley opened the door slightly. Behind her, Hazel and Mielle had faces full of excitement. ¡°Is Her Grace here? They said she would be here.¡± ¡°A precious guest came to visit and went for a walk with her for a while.¡± ¡°A precious guest?¡± Hayley asked. Marcus only smiled and didn¡¯t answer. It was such a precious person that his mouth was not worthy of speaking it. ¡°She told me to tell Hayley to wait here when she has guests. If you feel ufortable, you can go to the parlor.¡± ¡°Can I stay here?¡± Behind Hayley, who had decided to go to the parlor, Mielle asked with a bright voice. Marcus suggested a seat. Hayley sighed. £ª£ª£ª Marcus said she went for a walk, but Artizea was in an outbuilding. The Empress took off her veil, which covered her up to her chin. Artizea tried to kneel on her knees. The Empress beckoned for her not to do that. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished the postpartum care yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your grace.¡± ¡°Sitfortably. Why else did I evene all the way to this ce by myself and avoid people¡¯s eyes?¡± Artizea got up without hesitation and sat down on the sofa. ¡°How is your body?¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, it¡¯s okay. I am also eating the medicines you sent me.¡± ¡°Is the Princess healthy, too?¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you for taking care of the things that are needed for the care of the body, even for the wet nurse.¡± ¡°After giving birth, taking care of your body is the most important thing. I brought up a difficult story at such a time.¡± Artizea looked at the Empress. She walked all the way here personally. It wasn¡¯t an easy thing. ¡°I am ready to listen.¡± ¡°Gregor came to me yesterday and asked if I could adopt Cedric.¡± Said the Empress. ¡ª *It means don¡¯t do anything to invite suspicion or cause a scandal, however innocent you may be. If you bend down to retie your shoces in a melon field, who knows? You could be stealing melons. If you fix your hat under an apple tree, one may think you¡¯re sneaking away with apples hiding under your hat. Chapter 202 Cedric is the Emperor¡¯s nephew. He deserved to be adopted. That alone establishes his right to session to the throne as the first person in line. It was not umon for a head of the household who could not have children to adopt his younger sibling¡¯s eldest child as his heir. It is a generational change without going through the younger sibling. In that way, the stability of the family can be achieved by establishing the position of an heir early. Usually, the biological parents were also happy because it meant passing on everything in the family to their children. Adoption does not mean that the rtionship with the biological parents is denied. The inws usually wanted it rather than adopting their spouse¡¯s illegitimate child. It wasn¡¯t just the emotional problems with the mistress and illegitimate children. In many cases, arranged marriages includedplex contracts for property and interests. Inheriting to siblings rather than childrenplicates matters. It is because the family of the spouse of the younger sibling is also entangled. It was usually decided in childhood. Only then can the sessor be educated as desired by the head of the household. Marriage could also be influenced. But Cedric¡¯s age didn¡¯t make it impossible. If he was adopted, he would be the one and only prince. He would immediately be regarded as the Crown Prince. Artizea raised her eyes and looked at the Empress. Her expression was suppressed, but in her blue eyes, aplex heart fluttered. The Empress said. ¡°You better know that Gregor didn¡¯t mean it in a good way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely unexpected. After all, even Grand Duke Roygar was brought down and only Cedric remained of the imperial family, it was a story that would surelye out at that time. At that time, the Emperor had to think about where his name would be ced in the imperial genealogy, not power and checks. Emperor Gregor had aplex about legitimacy. He will not be able to bear the lineage that follows, not from himself, but from Princess Floe, Cedric¡¯s mother. So he thought he would try to protect his pride by any means. But that would only happen after the inheritance was already decided. At that point, it would be possible to refuse from an equal position or to pressure the Emperor. But not now. At this time of nning, she had no idea that such a story woulde out at this point. ¡®The Leticia problem is veryplicated.¡¯ Artizea felt a migraine as if pricking her right eye with a needle, and touched her forehead. The Empress took up her teacup and took a sip. ¡°It¡¯s likely that Gregor doesn¡¯t have any concrete ns, yet. It is a habit for him toy paving stones.¡± ¡°Yes, I know. Whatever it is, it¡¯s a situation that won¡¯t harm His Majesty yet, so he¡¯s going to want to take a stab first.¡± Artizea felt her throat burning. But she didn¡¯t feel like drinking the tea. Either way, it would not harm the Emperor. All the reasons are ready. [¡°It is natural for parents to be honored through the child.¡±] At Leticia¡¯s naming ceremony, the Emperor said so. In order to make the collective imperial family blessed by God, the father is used to naturally inherit the lineage as the Crown Prince. In the process, Evron¡¯s resentment will be quelled by Cedric. It is also convenient to keep Grand Duke Roygar in check. At the same time, it was possible to make it clear that Cedric was a stepping stone to handing over the crown to Leticia. If he obeys, he will be used. If he does not obey, he can be excluded at any time, and let Leticia be crowned as the Crown Princess directly. ¡®After raising the Crown Princess to the right age, if Cedric and I are assassinated, that naturally leaves only Leticia in the Imperial Pce.¡¯ Getting rid of Cedric by using him of treason would not be very effective. In the days of the previous Grand Ducal couple, they could be controlled by a hostage named Cedric. But this time, the goal is to take the Princess. It was obvious that Evron would resist fiercely. And bigger problem than that, it was likely that Leticia would have a grudge against the Emperor. If her biological parents are high treason criminals, it¡¯s an obstacle to making Leticia his grandchild. Someday, the story will surely enter Leticia¡¯s ears. So he can¡¯t attack that way. He has to pretend she is outwardly favored and empowered. ¡°He might not go that far. Gregor is old now. He oftenments that he has no children to share the responsibility with.¡± The Empress said calmly. ¡°There is such a thing as being favored. When ites to Roygar or Cedric, I think Cedric would be more relieved.¡± ¡°He said that to Countess Eunice as well. But I can¡¯t just believe that.¡± Artizea said in a subdued voice. ¡°If His Majesty wants Leticia as his heir, isn¡¯t there another way?¡± It was also possible to adopt Leticia as the adopted daughter of the deceased imperial princess to give her an inheritance. In fact, Artizea saw the possibility of this side highly. Of course, even in this case, Cedric and Artizea must be killed to get rid of the influence of her biological parents. Considering this possibility, the Empress could not be said to be on the same side. She would want her dead children to be revered as Emperors in the imperial lineage. Knowing what Artizea was talking about, the Empress put down the teacup. ¡°There is a possibility.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t answered Gregor yet. It¡¯s not something that can be decided right away.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Because I haven¡¯t even received the interim settlement yet.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Interim settlement refers to the Duchy of Riagan. Because her promise to the Empress was still long overdue. ¡°After receiving it, I will think about what to say.¡± ¡°You will not be disappointed.¡± Artizea answered in a subdued voice. £ª£ª£ª ¡°Cute!¡± As soon as she opened the door to the nursery, she heard an exmation. Artizea widened her eyes. Hazel and Mielle looked into the cradle and cheered. Leticia wiggled and opened her mouth. Despite being warned several times not to touch her recklessly, the two girls seemed to keep reaching out. Marcus, who was standing at the bedside of the cradle, was watching with delight. Then, he noticed that Artizea had arrived and bowed his head. Hayley, who had been sitting some distance away, sipping her tea and resting, also stood up. It was only then that Hazel and Mielle found out that Artizea had arrived. ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°The Princess looked at me and smiled.¡± Mielle said with red cheeks. Artizea hesitated, not knowing what to say. As a mother, it didn¡¯t seem right to say that she wasn¡¯t old enough to recognize andugh yet. Marcus replied with a smile. ¡°No matter how young she is, she knows everyone who loves her.¡± It was a pleasant answer, regardless of the baby¡¯s development or anything like that. Artizea finally smiled. Mielle looked into the cradle. ¡°The Princess has a really good smile. She must be in a good mood.¡± Mielle nced at Marcus¡¯ gaze at her and secretly held out her finger to Leticia. Leticia squeezed her finger. ¡°It¡¯s soft and fluffy¡­¡­.¡± Mielle muttered in a happy voice. Hayley shook her head. She didn¡¯t mean to say it out of her mouth, but she never thought of a human baby as cute. Her nephew wasn¡¯t cute either, and her master¡¯s baby couldn¡¯t be cute either. She could cherish and adore her, but the baby couldn¡¯t be cute. She couldn¡¯t feel the cuteness in her heart, so she couldn¡¯t pretend it was there. ¡°Has the guest left?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll talk about thatter.¡± Hazel quickly cushioned the armchair and prepared Artizea¡¯s seat. It¡¯s because Artizea didn¡¯t bring a maid. She now ranks lowest among thedies-in-waiting. Mielle was an outlier. Artizea wasn¡¯t even bringing Mielle, who was weak, to use her. ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea sat down in the armchair. She hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, and she was more exhausted after talking about aplicated story. Hazel said politely. ¡°Lower your voice down. We are already thedies-in-waiting of Her Grace.¡± She was determined to ept it, and said she would. So from the moment she set her foot in this house she was already ady-in-waiting. Artizea smiled at her. ¡°Yes.¡± She was used to making new rtionships with people she knew. And she will find her new ce quickly as Hazel is also adaptable. ¡°I made a room for two people¡­¡­. Hayley, did you guide them to it?¡± ¡°No. Greeting Your Grace is the first priority.¡± Even after she confirmed that Artizea was gone, she didn¡¯t have time to guide them. It was because Mielle was clinging to Leticia¡¯s cradle and did not leave. Artizea nodded her head. ¡°I see. Then guide themter. If you are busy, you can leave it to the maid chief.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I want to leave Hazel with the simple things Hayley does. Or sort the newspaper.¡± Saying so, Artizea turned her head. Hayley answered. ¡°Yes. First of all, they are going to take over the newspapers, letters, and the management of the maids.¡± ¡°I will do my best without any mistakes.¡± Hazel said in an excited voice. ¡°You don¡¯t know how happy my mother was.¡± The Belmond family is not a vassal of Grand Duchy Evron, nor is it a traditional noble. Nevertheless, she became the handmaiden of the Grand Duchess. As a new noble, it was no exaggeration to say that the rank of her family had risen by one level. Artizea said softly. ¡°I¡¯m sure she won¡¯t disappoint.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Mielle helps Hazel.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mielle replied. She didn¡¯t ask what she had to do. She was well aware that she could not take on responsible tasks. Perhaps, she would go to Artizea¡¯s side, brewing tea, or bring her a book. ¡°And then¡­¡­. I have something I want to ask.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°When I have free time, I want to visit the Princess often.¡± Mielle wriggled and smiled. She fell in love at first sight with Leticia. She has never seen such a lovely baby. Artizea smiled. ¡°Do that. You cane and y with Leticia any time by herself.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mielle said with a d look. Artizea thought she, herself, was more grateful. Chapter 203 The Merchant Association who went to the North, has returned. ¡°You mean you haven¡¯t even met Count Jordyn?¡± Marquis Luden asked sharply. The Head of the Merchant Association bowed his head. ¡°Even though there is a stalemate, Evron¡¯s stronghold has not allowed in any outsiders, saying that the fight with Karam is not over yet.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. You are a foreigner who has been doing business with them for over 15 years.¡± ¡°At least, we were able to enter the vige because we had been trading with them for a long time.¡± ¡°Have they ever been like that before?¡± ¡°The new Count Jordyn is a very strict person. And I think¡­¡­.¡± Negil said, ¡°Unlike Sir Aaron, they don¡¯t seem afraid to be told that they are wary of southerners.¡± Marquis Luden closed his eyes for a moment. Negil is not just a merchant. In the past he worked as a central treasury official, and after his retirement he seeded in setting up the Merchant Association. He was capable of both sides, and was particrly good at making unfair situations fair and hoarding money. Marquis Luden enlisted him. The two conspired to monopolize the northern leather and fur trade. On the central, Marquis Luden pressured the other leather merchants, preventing them from opening a deal with the North. In the North, Negil took advantage of Aaron¡¯sck of trade knowledge and forced the price down. Even if there was a person withmercial talent, they wouldn¡¯t be able to find another leather merchant besides Negil in the North with ease. Leather merchants do note directly to the North, and they would be worried to look for another Merchant Association from this side, it would be like reaching out to the central. From the point of view of Marquis Luden, it wasn¡¯t something he did for money. He was trying to obtain information as it became Evron¡¯s main trading channel and even a little bit of economic influence. Thetter was not very sessful, though. Rather, they only took control of the leather dealers in the central and made great financial gains. ¡°It¡¯s a word with multiple meanings. They are no longer afraid to be openly wary of southerners¡­¡­.¡± It may have to do with a change in Cedric¡¯s attitude. ¡°By the way, aside from that, isn¡¯t it true that we havepletely given up on our leather sales this year? With the Merchant Association?¡± Marquis Luden asked, thinking that there must be another Merchant Association behind it. Negil sighed and said, ¡°The Grand Duchess was said to be in full control, so I was told to go there and negotiate.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Marquis Luden put down the pipe. An unpleasant feeling slowly crept up. ¡°Well, that¡¯s right. The Grand Duke and his wife are both in the capital, so there¡¯s no reason for an agent to manage exportation in the North.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been doing it for a long time, so I thought it would be the same again this time.¡± ¡°What are you sorry for? I didn¡¯t even think about it. Even if the Grand Duchess is a young girl, she is not an ordinary person. The Grand Duke is still staying in the capital, unlike before.¡± He felt frustrated. After the naming ceremony, Leticia¡¯s presence became a thing that was no longer negligible. So he was hoping to get some information from the North that could be Cedric¡¯s weakness, but he was wrong. ¡°You must have spent only traveling expenses toe this far.¡± ¡°It was notpletely without merit.¡± Negil spoke quietly and ced a small box in front of Marquis Luden. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°There seems to be something unusual going on in the North.¡± Unlike before, there were too few permitted areas, so it was difficult to obtain information. However, there were connections that he had built up while going back and forth with the North for over 15 years. Negil said, ¡°It is said that one of the priests died suddenly. Additionally, he had an object that was not worthy of a priest.¡± Negil pointed to the box. He meant that the thing was in it. ¡°It is a seal made entirely of silver. The altar server stole it, kept it, and sold it to me.¡± Marquis Luden opened the box. Inside the box was a seal with a rose pattern. Marquis Luden with his gloved hand lifted it up and turned it around, pressing and twisting the decorations in turn. Click. As the pattern changed, a poison sting came out of the handle. Marquis Luden knew these things very well. He would never get stabbed. He put down the seal. After about 20 seconds, the sting came back in. ¡°It¡¯s a pretty well-made thing.¡± ¡°We also investigated the poison applied to the sting.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me.¡± Negil looked at him with a puzzled face. Marquis Luden frowned and looked down at the seal. Then he lifted the pipe and took another long sip. ¡°For the time being, let this be done quietly.¡± ¡°Understand, Marquis.¡± ¡°We take care of the leather trade. I cannot interfere with your business.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± Negil bowed his head. Marquis Luden remained silent and smoked until all the tobo in the pipe had burned out. He knew about this seal. This type of assassination tool has been around since ancient times. However, the seal itself was designed by Marchioness Camellia. It was also useful when changing Marquisate Camellia. Marquis Luden¡¯s mind becameplicated. ¡®She was always paying attention to Grand Duchess Evron. Has she prepared a n in advance to nt people in the North and self-destruct if they fail? Or, did she give this seal to Grand Duchess Evron?¡¯ Either way, it was uneptable for Marquis Luden. If she wanted to extend her hand to the North, she should have asked him for permission first. Then, a beautifully dressed woman came in after Negil, who had left first. Marquis Luden then nced at her. ¡°Marquis, you¡¯re smoking like this again. It is not good for your health.¡± The woman sat on her knees in front of Marquis Luden, and with both her hands took the pipe from his hand and stashed it away. It was almostpletely burnt anyway, so the Marquis let the woman take the pipe. ¡°Are you going to sleep?¡± The woman rubbed her cheek against the Marquis¡¯ thigh. After a small exhtion of hisst smoke. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been here, but if you leave like this, then what should I do?¡± ¡°Okay. I get it.¡± Marquis Luden answered. It was alreadyte at night. Since the stress has piled up, it would be good to get rid of the hustle and bustle. At some point, the woman sneaked up and loosened Marquis Luden¡¯s cravat. Marquis Luden reached out his hand and wrapped it around the woman¡¯s waist. It was that night that Negil¡¯s house was burned. £ª£ª£ª ¡°Haha!¡± Upon hearing the report, Count Brennanughed softly. A woman in a ck veil sat in front of her with her head bowed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt?¡± ¡°It hurts.¡± The face inside the veil was half burned. The woman was wearing a sleeveless dress. It was because she couldn¡¯t wrap her arms through the sleeves, even with bandages. The safe house was burned down. Marquis Luden, who had been sleeping deeply drunk, did not wake up in time. Marquis Luden¡¯s bodyguards jumped into the fire to rescue the Marquis. However, when he came out on the back of the bodyguard, the Marquis was already utterly paralyzed. No one doubted the woman. Not to mention that Marquis Luden was so drunk that he couldn¡¯t wake up even after the screams, and that he suffocated, as the fire started from deep inside. Her beautiful face and pearly skin were all scorched with terrible burns. The woman ran out of the house alone, naked. No one believed that the beautiful woman could have done it herself. ¡®If beauty is a means, throwing it away can be a means enough.¡¯ So Count Brennan did not dare to say anything of constion to the woman. The woman was Negil¡¯s mistress. Marquis Luden liked the woman, so Negil no longer touched her. He did let go of her. But he kept the bribes clean for Marquis Luden. ¡°Are you satisfied with the results?¡± ¡°It will depend on whether the Count pays me properly from now on.¡± The woman answered Brennan¡¯s question calmly. Brennan gave the woman an envelope. Inside the envelope were bundles of bonds from various small shops and a key. The key was to a small boarding house in the center of the capital. What it had were pieces of gold. It was the woman who wanted to receive such a price. Smaller shops were not able to track down the debtor, even if they knew the debtor had changed. No one pays a constant attention to these tiny bonds. Even if she collects a lot of small debts and gathers a lot of money, no one will notice. It was the same with the gold pieces. The broken corners and ornaments are inconspicuous, unlike gold bars and jewels. It was to prove how long she had been crafting the ns in her mind, hoping for an opportunity like this. ¡°If it is not the promised amount or if I can¡¯t meet the person I was promised after a week, the user will run to Marquisate Luden with a confession.¡± ¡°I know. As long as you¡¯re not trying to double your payment, I won¡¯t need to make a fuss.¡± Count Brennan said. The woman checked the inside of the envelope. And she stood up from her seat, bowed and went out. The secretary who had been hiding behind the veil came out. ¡°Shall I track her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind her. That woman is going to disappear. I¡¯ll see if she¡¯s hiding properly, I¡¯ll check it out in a few days.¡± Count Brennan was a powerful person, but she was a woman, so she understood that the woman¡¯s purpose was not just money. She shouldn¡¯t have to worry about it. ¡°Marquis Luden?¡± ¡°Still breathing.¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± Count Brennan clicked her tongue. Then she noticed that the secretary was looking at her with an anxious face. ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you understand?¡± ¡°Yes. Can¡¯t I just say that things are not good right now? The Princess of Evron was given her third name by His Majesty the Emperor¡­¡­. Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s position is dangerous, so if internal strife arises¡­¡­.¡± The secretary said in a confident manner. ¡°But there is no time to get rid of Marquis Luden other than now.¡± Defeating Marquis Luden is not the most urgent task. But once Grand Duke Roygar ascended to power, there would be no chance. ¡°Remove it while you can, right?¡± ¡°Yes. And, in my opinion, it is already difficult for Grand Duke Roygar to inherit the throne.¡± The secretary looked nervous. Count Brennan turned her gaze away and looked out the window. ¡°In such a case, the answer is to be His Majesty¡¯s loyal servant.¡± There is an imperial family where God had granted favor and the Emperor gave a third name. Princess Leticia has won the will of the Emperor and the temple, and the people will follow her blindly. But that means for Leticia, not Cedric. There is plenty of room for digging. Aren¡¯t parents supposed to just y the role of agent for the young emperor? It¡¯s something that even the father¡¯s uncle should be able to do. And it would be even better if that was the limit of the power that Grand Duke Roygar could have. Even better if there were no rtives to support him. Count Brennanughed. Chapter 204 Marchioness Camellia arrived at Marquisate Luden and got out of the carriage. Two full days have passed. Marquis Luden was still breathing. But his consciousness did not return. In lieu of prayers for the sick, the priest, who had been solicited secretly, performed thest sacrament. If even a miracle did not happen, he would die like this. Marchioness Camellia went immediately to meet the eldest son of the Marquis. ¡°You¡¯re here. Sit down.¡± Luden Heir Apparent greeted Marchioness Camellia with a parched face. ¡°How is father?¡± ¡°Not good. I wonder if he can hold out until tomorrow.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Marchioness Camellia answered formally. She actually didn¡¯t really care about it. Whether he lived a few more days or less, it was already known that Marquis Luden would die. There were probably only a few people who were truly sad. ¡®I¡¯m d that Her Grace isn¡¯t here.¡¯ Ga, who loves her father, will not be able to stand the terrible sight. Luden Heir Apparent looked at Marchioness Camellia with a weak face. He is a man who lived his whole life as the Heir Apparent until the age of forty-five. He probably couldn¡¯t imagine himself bing the Marquis. He would be confused about what to do now. Marchioness Camellia knew it, so she did not wait for him to ask. ¡°I will try to stop the rumors as long as I can. But I can¡¯t say for sure. The fire was so big and there were eyewitnesses.¡± ¡°I see. Still, just until the funeral, please. If mother knows¡­¡­.¡± Luden Heir Apparent stuttered and said. It was a really terrible scandal. It would have been better if it was the house owned by Marquis Luden, and the woman he was sleeping with was the Marquis¡¯ mistress. But the house belonged to the Head of the Merchant Association, and the woman was the Head¡¯s mistress. A great noble, like Marquis Luden, had an affair with the Head¡¯s mistress. He also deceived the eyes of those around and sneaked in. At the end of it, he fell asleep and then burned to death. The woman even ran out of the house naked. What could be more filthy than this? The most terrible thing for a noble like Marquis Luden is not being told that they are cruel; being the object of fear was even something to be proud of. What they didn¡¯t like was being told they were dirty and ugly. Because ugliness arouses contempt, not fear. Marchioness Camellia nodded her head. She didn¡¯t think it was going to go well, but she was determined to do her best. If the scandal of Marquis Luden spreads, there¡¯s nothing good for Marquisate Camellia. ¡°Take care of yourself, brother. There will be an attack.¡± ¡°Attack?¡± Luden Heir Apparent asked with hazy eyes. ¡°Yes. Businesses or vassals¡­¡­. All because Father dominated them.¡± Killing Marquis Luden is only the primary goal. She didn¡¯t kill him because she hated him, but what could be the purpose of the death itself? The purpose was to take advantage of this opportunity to swallow up Marquisate Luden¡¯s power. ¡°Even so, there was a lot of agitation. Because father has suffered like this, there must be some who have changed their minds, and there will be others who will take advantage of this opportunity to take it away.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ you too?¡± At Marchioness Camellia¡¯s words, Luden heir Apparent asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, too? Father was very harsh on you, and he must have left nothing for you in his will.¡± Ludens Heir Apparent asked, shaking his hand. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you wanted me to rebel against father when you told me about Maideline¡¯s arranged marriage?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why I did it.¡± Marchioness Camellia read the fear in Luden Heir Apparent¡¯s eyes. If he¡¯s trembling like that, he shouldn¡¯t have to say anything like that to make himself nervous. Eventually he couldn¡¯t say a word for Maideline. As he calls her his beloved daughter. He couldn¡¯t do anything for his daughter, how can he call himself her father? If he couldn¡¯t, it¡¯s probably because he¡¯s afraid she¡¯ll be the next target. Marchioness Camellia was heartbroken. ¡°I don¡¯t need father¡¯s legacy. You know. From the time I was originally registered, I wrote a memorandum of renunciation of inheritance.¡± ¡°Yes, you did.¡± Luden Heir Apparent was silent. Marchioness Camellia waited quietly until he spoke his words. Luden Heir Apparent hesitated for a while, and then he managed to open his mouth. There was blood in his eyes. ¡°Negil, the merchant who owned the house¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He said that my father had a stinger seal that day¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camellia had to try to hide her bitter smile. The merchant must have been suspicious of Marchioness Camellia. Seeing that he met with the Heir Apparent directly. Luden Heir Apparent looked at Marchioness Camellia with an anxious face and then lowered his head. ¡°Forget it, I was talking nonsense. I remember hearing that someone had died of a stinger installed on the seal of Marquisate Camellia before.¡± ¡°It may be hard to believe, but I never wanted father to die.¡± Marchioness Camellia said so, ¡°As I said, right now there are problems with Princess Leticia, there is also the problem of Ian, and the situation isplicated. When father dies suddenly, everyone is in danger. Even brother knows that much, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Right¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that I designed a seal with the hidden stinger. But these tools are not the only ones I have created.¡± This was an indulgence. It means that there is no need for Luden Heir Apparent to worry and doubt any more. Luden Heir Apparent soon understood. Because he wanted to. ¡°That is true.¡± ¡°Do not worry. Brother, don¡¯t think about anything else and just focus on controlling the household. You are now the master of Marquisate Luden.¡± Luden Heir Apparent nodded his head saying that he understood. Marchioness Camellia patted his back a few times as sheforted him, and then stood up. She ran into the maids in ck cloth in the hallway. The maids didn¡¯t even make eye contact with Marchioness Camellia, so they swerved to the left and right of the hallway and bowed their heads. Marchioness Camellia walked slowly. The maids hurried behind and made a rustling sound. Marchioness Luden¡¯s ce of residence was quiet. ¡®I thought Maideline would be here.¡¯ If she wasn¡¯t here she would be in Marquis Luden¡¯s room. The lovely girl will be crying as she grieves that her grandfather, who loved her dearly, suffered such misfortune. The maids of Marchioness Luden looked at Marchioness Camellia and frowned slightly. But they did not block her path. Marchioness Camellia went inside quietly. Marchioness Luden had an embroidery frame on herp and sat looking out of the window. ¡°I¡¯m here, Madam.¡± Marchioness Camellia bent her knees politely in front of her, like a maid. Upon her registration, their titles changed. She called Marquis Luden not as her master, but father, and Heir Apparent as her brother, not her young master. However, only Marchioness Luden was the Madam. It would be until her death. Marchioness Luden looked back at her with a skinny face. There was no glimpse of sadness on her face. The long-umted fatigue was also well hidden, making it difficult to notice. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I just came to greet you.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to look?¡± Marchioness Camellia couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°There is that, too.¡± ¡°You have nothing to worry about.¡± ¡°Madam treated me well.¡± Marchioness Camellia said in a low voice. ¡°Actually, there was no need to forgive the illegitimate child, whom the maid gave birth to.¡± This person is the only person in this world who can point the finger at Marchioness Camellia¡¯s existence as dirty. Marchioness Camellia thought so. But Marchioness Luden did not. She always closed her eyes. Even knowing that she lives in the attic of this house, stealing the lectures during the Heir Apparent¡¯s studies. It might have been a denial. She wasfortable pretending she didn¡¯t even know the child existed. As she pretended not to know of all the other illegitimate children. But even when Marchioness Camellia seduced Ga to use her as a springboard for her career, she closed her eyes. Marchioness Luden said, ¡°I never forgiven you for being born.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But Sarah was a poor kid.¡± Marchioness Camellia did not answer ¡°yes¡± this time. She didn¡¯t think so. Marchioness Luden looked down at the embroidered frame for a moment, then turned her gaze away. ¡°I know. The fact that Sarah didn¡¯t erase you or get the money the butler gave was because she was trying to fix her fortune after giving birth to you.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re stupid doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re not pitiful.¡± Marchioness Luden murmured. She¡¯s gone through too much of it to even think about it. ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. Afterwards¡­¡­I hope you canfort Ga. Because she didn¡¯t know what kind of person her father was until the end, even when she looked at you.¡± ¡°Because father treats me well in front of Her Grace.¡± ¡°Mia.¡± Marchioness Camellia¡¯s body trembled. She changed her name when she was registered. Because she thought the name Mia was not noble. But she would be Mia until her death to Marchioness Luden. Just like Marchioness Luden was the Madam. ¡°You are not my daughter, and you have never been Luden¡¯s daughter. But you are Ga¡¯s one and only friend.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So there is no need to beg for my forgiveness. Please lead her well.¡± Marchioness Camellia bowed her head and promised that she would. She turned and came out, and her mind is indescribablyplicated. Marchioness Luden seemed to know that she was involved in this murder. In fact, it was Marchioness Camellia who told Count Brennan about Negil and Negil¡¯s mistress. ¡®I did not know that such radical means would be mobilized.¡¯ She thought that it was enough to cause a scandal to narrow the position and to leave Grand Duchess Roygar¡¯s heart. She is not arguing over dividing the pie. Because she hasn¡¯t even taken it yet. Count Brennan¡¯s thoughts were guessable. If they can¡¯t touch Princess Leticia, they must grab towards being the regent. However, there is no way Marquis Luden, who has worked so hard to be the Emperor¡¯s outlier, would agree with it. Therefore, she chose to destroy the problem by eliminating them in advance. Count Brennan would take this opportunity to suppress Grand Duke Roygar and take the initiative. ¡®A monarch would only need to be a symbol of helplessness.¡¯ The same applies to Leticia and Grand Duke Roygar. At least for Count Brennan. Marchioness Camellia did not agree with it. It was natural to wear the halo of Grand Duchess Roygar. Regardless of her feelings, her political stance has always been consistent with Marquis Luden. ¡®By the way, I didn¡¯t know you would assassinate him?¡¯ Marchioness Camellia answered the question, which suddenly springed from the depths of her heart. ¡®No. I wanted him to die ugly, so I told you all about the house, information, and when father was going there.¡¯ That was the truth. Chapter 205 Artizea told Cedric exactly what the Empress had told her. She thought he might be offended when he heard that the Emperor wanted to adopt him. However, Cedric epted it with a calm face. ¡°I was thinking it could be.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not right now. Because Her Majesty has not yet answered.¡± Even if the Emperor can do everything in the Empire as he pleases, it is only the authority of the Empress to ept the adoption. It wouldn¡¯t be impossible to take her hostage and threaten her. But the Emperor had no reason to do that. ¡°What I¡¯m talking about now is simply for you to think about how to answer in advance. Even if you say no, it shouldn¡¯t be extreme.¡± ¡°If His Majesty really makes such an offer, I will ept it.¡± Cedric answered without hesitation. Artizea looked at him in surprise. Cedric replied calmly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that we should win the favor of His Majesty? I was prepared.¡± ¡°But, it¡¯s not that much of a problem.¡± ¡°You have been underestimating the level of my resolve from before.¡± Cedric reached out towards Artizea and lightly touched her forehead. Artizea panicked and lowered her head, and stroked her own forehead. She thought there was something. Cedric chuckled. ¡°Just.¡± ¡°Just?¡± ¡°Yes, just.¡± Saying that, he again lightly stroked Artizea¡¯s forehead with the tip of his index finger. Artizea awkwardly covered her forehead with her hand. Cedric lowered his hand and picked up the teacup. ¡°You don¡¯t have to take it so seriously. Haven¡¯t we already talked about the need to absorb His Majesty¡¯s administration?¡± Emperor Gregor¡¯s officials, though corrupt, were not ipetent. Administrative power is a mess because they are not working for the general people, they are only ttering power. There were not enough educated intellectuals to be bureaucrats. If they try to remove them all at once and fill their positions instead, they will end up unable to shake off the influence of the nobles and the colossus who have already entered the social world. Because graduating from college means having a wealthy family or wealthy patrons. A rare exception to that was those who studied on schrships from the Emperor. They form the backbone of the bureaucracy. [¡°It cannot be said that the current government is clean, but it can be said that it is a ¡®power independent of the nobility¡¯ that His Majesty has developed over the past 30 years.¡±] Artizea said so. Cedric had agreed to it. He said that it would be better to repair the affected area little by little than to cut it out at once and suffer bleeding and contamination. ¡°The purpose is not to overthrow the current His Majesty¡¯s regime. I don¡¯t think it matters whether legitimacy is passed down from mother or from His Majesty.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t answer for a moment and kept her mouth open. She, of course, agreed with that opinion. But Artizea also knew for sure that it was a thought she could do, because she was not of Evron. Cedric continued. ¡°No matter what happens in the process of establishing the imperial power¡­¡­, to deny the legitimacy of His Majesty itself is to leave a room for controversy for the future generations. I will be denying the inheritancew out of a sense of personal revenge.¡± ¡°You mean to set a clear precedent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Assessing that what the Emperor did was not right and saying that he wasn¡¯t the Emperor are twopletely different things.¡± Artizea recalled that Cedric had said he didn¡¯t want revenge. So her heart pounded. Her body seemed to be getting hotter. ¡°I understand that you mean to think about the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No matter who takes the throne, I have to do the same thing. It is of the utmost importance to bleed less and produce good results.¡± ¡°Evron won¡¯t be able to ept it like Lord Cedric did.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help it.¡± Cedric said, ¡°Because I want to be the emperor. I can¡¯t just think as the head of Evron.¡± Artizea did not answer for a moment, then lowered her head. Cedric ced her forehead on his palm and looked at her curiously. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just.¡± ¡°Just?¡± Artizea seemed to understand why Cedric had touched her forehead for nothing. He just wanted to. Her heart was pounding. ¡®A little bit.¡¯ Because they can do that now. She knew from the beginning that it was going to happen. Even though she knew it, she just thought that he wasn¡¯t hers, so she shouldn¡¯t have dared to touch him. But now she can¡¯t stand the overflowing inside. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was the psychologically unstable effects of childbirth, or if her will was weakened by the thought that he would ept her. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Well, that.¡± Artizea hesitated and said. She spoke as if spitting out the water that had been churning in her chest since before. ¡°Is it okay to kiss?¡± Cedric opened his mouth like a flower bloomed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to ask that. Even if this is the Grand Hall of the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°That¡¯s I¡­¡­ I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll like it.¡± Artizea hesitated a little more even after saying it. Cedric tilted his head and brought his face closer to Artizea¡¯s face, making it easier for them to kiss. Artizea¡¯s tense breath tickled his face. Cedricughed softly. ¡°Did I tell you that I feel like I¡¯m living when I¡¯m like this?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea answered as thin as her breathing. There was no way out because Cedric was still waiting. Artizea closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. £ª£ª£ª Hazel was tense. Ian Camellia said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lady. I guess I¡¯m too nervous right now.¡± ¡°What? Ah yes!¡± It was Hazel¡¯s side who was too nervous. She replied with a shrill voice in surprise. ¡°Some warm water or tea¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± The teapot in front of Ian was already empty. It was because Ian was so nervous that he drank nonstop. This was also not polite. But Hazel didn¡¯t realize that and med herself for leaving the guest¡¯s teapot empty. She looked forward to doing her important work as she assumed the post of Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting. But in less than a week, isn¡¯t this too much work? This was Ian Camelia. Hazel could not have known what insults Marquisate Camellia and Marquisate Luden suffered because of his appearance and thewsuit. It was rare for a family that had already inherited the title, let alone a Marquisate, to be swept up in an inheritancewsuit again. It was a problem that was being watched not only by Marquisate Camellia, but also by several families who had disputes over the session of the title. Then, not long ago, Ian suddenly disappeared. There were also stories that Marquis Luden¡¯s patience had finally run out, and there were stories that he disappeared because he was afraid. Then, he appeared at Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. ¡®This is not my job.¡¯ But neither Hayley nor Ansgar were present. There was no one else to take the ce of weing the guests. Ian Camellia himself is not such a great guest. But the inheritancewsuit is still ongoing. As it was a politicalwsuit that would be concluded by reflecting the interests of the nobility, there was no way to determine right and wrong in a short time. In short, it was a matter of how far to weaken Marquisate Camellia and undermine the prestige of Marquisate Luden. Soon, this is also directly rted to the question of how close Grand Duke Roygar drew to the throne. ¡®I thought he woulde to an agreement. This man hassted a long time.¡¯ Then, from the time Leticia was born, she lost sight of the situation again. Shortly thereafter, Ian disappeared. Hazel¡¯s father said: [¡°The reason Marquis Luden endured so far was probably to find out who was behind Ian Camellia.¡±] [¡°Looking back these days, I thought that there might not be such a thing as backing. Or was it that the one behind him was Sir Lawrence? If there was really a backing, there would be no way it could have been left like this.¡±] [¡°Or, they may have already achieved their purpose.¡±] [¡°You mean to tarnish the honor of Marquisate Luden and Marquisate Camellia?¡±] Hazel thought that the risk was too great to do just for that. It could be personal revenge. Because scandal annoys people. But that will not bring down either the Marquisate Luden or Marquisate Camellia. It is only the weak who would suffer the decisive blow from the scandal of morality. Those with real power are not greatly affected by such things. After all, their power and influence were not supported by moral purity. It is a high risk low return. It wasn¡¯t worth risking a life for, Hazel thought. Hazel¡¯s father shook his head. [¡°They have at least two purposes. The first is to get rid of the advisors from Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Roygar¡±]. Because of thewsuit, Marchioness Camellia was forced to remain in the capital. [¡°You are wrong to think that Marquisate Camellia will not be hurt by this. Unlike Marquis Luden, Marchioness Camellia has no backing by her lineage.¡±] [¡°Ah.¡±] [¡°Actually, the greatest weakness of Marchioness Camellia is that she was born lowly. In a situation where her reputation has gone down, she won¡¯t be able to stick with Grand Duchess Roygar. That was obviously the main purpose.¡±] Having traveled all the way to the South, it became impossible to meet secretly or seek advice by letter when necessary. [¡°The second is to create divisions between the two families.¡±] When things go well, everyone is of one mind, but when things go badly, divisions happen. Now, when old things that they want to forget keeping up, everyone gets stressed. The stress of Marchioness Camellia would not have been small. There was no way Marquis Luden would have been considerate to her in such a situation. [¡°Ian¡¯s backer has already achieved its purpose, so it has already released its hand. It doesn¡¯t necessarily have to result in awsuit. Then Ian Camellia himself¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s highly likely that he didn¡¯t know his purpose. So, he didn¡¯t get out at the right time. From his point of view, it is most advantageous to reach an agreement at an appropriate level. In fact, there was no other way.¡±] [¡°Yes. He didn¡¯t find the right time.¡±] [¡°And if he thought he couldn¡¯t find his backer, then there¡¯s no reason to put up with Marquis Luden¡¯s anger.¡±] The conversation meant for Hazel, who was going to an important position, such as thedy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Evron, so that she may know the situation of the Empire. Not because they thought she¡¯d really get involved like this. Chapter 206 Hazel didn¡¯t call a maid, but brought hot water and prepared tea by hand. It wasn¡¯t because she couldn¡¯t trust the people of the Grand Duke¡¯s residence, but to show Ian that she was keeping security well. Ian was haggard. His clothes were luxuriously made, but it was clear that he had suffered. ¡°May I ask why you are here?¡± ¡°Is it safe to assume that this is a question asked by Grand Duchess Evron?¡± ¡°No. Sorry.¡± Hazel touched her lips, ming her mouth. Neither her mother nor her father advised her to take part in important positions unless she learned to control her curiosity. Hazel apologized again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No.¡± Ian shook his head saying it was okay. He was so exhausted that his head didn¡¯t work well enough. ¡°If you think you¡¯re sorry, may I ask you a question instead?¡± ¡°Please ask.¡± ¡°Is the rumor that Marquis Luden died true?¡± Hazel didn¡¯t hesitate. Everyone knew that Marquis Luden was in critical condition. Although not many people knew the deep details. Seeing Ian ask that too, he must not have been one of the people who knew. ¡°I heard he¡¯s not gone yet. But he wouldn¡¯t be far away.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°He has no consciousness at all. Right now, Marquisate Luden must be in a state of emergency. Marquis Luden was a dictator, so he rarely shared power with his eldest son. At this opportunity, there were a lot who were trying to be independent or to take even a small share in Marquisate Luden.¡± The Luden Heir Apparent has a passive personality. There were many who believed that what he now upied would be maintained for at least several decades, until the death of the current Luden Heir Apparent. ¡®No one thought that Marquis Luden would be destroyed.¡¯ The history of Marquisate Luden is older than the Empire. There are several families like this among the great nobles of the East, who never lost the productive power of thend and had no fiercepetition. The only threat to them was the power struggle between themselves. And they seemed to think it would be the same in the future. ¡®Even though the world is changing now.¡¯ One of the evidence that the world had changed, Hazel thought the belief was ridiculous. Ian found that Hazel¡¯sments were quite valuable information. So he was honest with her. ¡°If nothing could be done, I was told to go to Her Grace, Grand Duchess Evron.¡± That was Sk¡¯s advice. [¡°Grandfather and mother are more brutal and outspoken than you can imagine. If you get caught by grandfather, please do whatever they ask for unconditionally.¡±] [¡°Unconditionally?¡±] [¡°Yes. Because surviving is much more important.¡±] While saying that, Sk made a slightly puzzled face. She wondered if Artizea had given him such a warning in advance. But there was a possibility, and she couldn¡¯t let it go. [¡°You are already hurting both families to a certain extent just by being alive. So, make surviving unconditionally a priority. Unless you think that if you ept the request, you will be killed, then you should do the opposite.¡±] [¡°If I grant their request, won¡¯t all of my rights be taken away? If you¡¯re thinking of using me too, you shouldn¡¯t be advised me that.¡±] [¡°If they are dismissed, Grand Duke Roygar can be overthrown.¡±] [¡°Do you think they will be dismissed?¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] Skr asserted. At the time, Ian didn¡¯t know why Sk was convinced. But if she, an insider, said so, he couldn¡¯t help but believe. So he signed all the documents requested by Marquis Luden. He also signed an engagement paper to Maideline Luden. He was then left with a watcher attached. Ian immediately hid his whereabouts through the route that Sk had provided. Sk had some secret transportations that her mother didn¡¯t even know about. She also recently prepared it for Ian. Since Ian had not prepared anything for himself, Marquis Luden could not track him down. Even Marchioness Camellia didn¡¯t think that Sk would have been involved. Ian didn¡¯t even step out of the house. He had money, but he was afraid of spilling traces, so he hid while buying minimal necessities with small changes. Then, hearing rumors that Marquis Luden had been engulfed in a fire, he was finally able toe here. Only after Ian had two more cups of tea did Artizeae out to the parlor. Ian jumped to his feet. ¡°I heard that you are unwell, thank you for meeting me like this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to turn away from people whoe through a friend¡¯s introduction.¡± Artizea spoke briefly and sat down at the head of the table. She gestured for Ian to sit down, and then she did too. Ian hesitated. He did not yet inform her that he hade because of Sk¡¯s advice. So, was there something like a prior arrangement between Sk and Artizea? Suspicion rose suddenly. Ian pressed it down. He now understood the noble society of Krates a little more than before. What matters is not the truth. It¡¯s about who can give what to whom. ¡°My story is quite famous, so I am sure Your Grace already knows.¡± Ian said bluntly. ¡°Help me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what help you want from me.¡± Artizea swallowed the tea slowly, immersed in thoughts. Ian has already exhausted his utility. She considered it a sess if it went only to the point where he made visible the division that originally existed. What happened was that the division was elerated by Leticia¡¯s events, and the death of Marquis Luden arose. It was enough. Even if he had more use than this, there was nothing to use him for. If he could survive to the end on his own, she was thinking of seeding the title to him after the fall of Marquisate Camellia. That did not mean that Ian could be any symbol. As long as wealth and power are attached to titles and families, the fight over inheritance cannot be stopped. However, it is not good to get rid of too many great noble families at once. It will have to be done someday, but a change that is too abrupt would force the nobles to unite and resist. They fight with each other over and over again, but they always fight against external pressure with one mind. ¡®Did Sk know that I had used Ian as a card to throw away, or did she send him because she didn¡¯t know?¡¯ Either way, it was true that he was introduced by a friend and that he could not be ignored. Ian entered through the front gate of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. This gave her an excuse to be publicly involved in this. She had nothing to lose. It became difficult for Marquisate Luden to maintain the status quo. Marquisate Camellia must help defend Marquisate Luden. It wouldn¡¯t be bad for her to earn anciry ie either. Ian bowed his head. ¡°I want personal protection.¡± ¡°Are you going to continue thewsuit? If you agree to settle it now, I will mediate.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Ian looked at Artizea. As he lost weight, a brilliance revolved in his eyes deepened. ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± ¡°It is my right to inherit Marquisate Camellia. I have no desire topromise with the one who stole it.¡± Artizea looked at him with a smile involuntarily. ¡°There is no one in the world who gives help without payment, Sir Ian.¡± ¡°There are several documents that were written by Marquis Luden.¡± Ian brought out the list he had written down beforehand. They were some of the most important Marquisate Camellia¡¯s fortunes. Marquis Luden made him write a contract to give it as a gift to his wife when they got married. ¡°I will give everything on that list to Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°You mean you can give yourself to others, but you can¡¯t give it to the usurper?¡± ¡°It may seem unreasonable, but after doing this, all that is left is mine.¡± This is a deal. When the transaction isplete, the give and take disappears. Better than being coerced by intimidation or writing debts in the name of favor. ¡°Well, it will be difficult to get it back anyway with the power in Sir¡¯s hand.¡± At Ian¡¯s words, Artizea spoke to herself, immersed in thoughts. At that moment, Ian suddenly realized that Grand Duchess Evron was the woman in the veil. ¡°Ah.¡± He moaned unknowingly. Hazel turned and looked at Ian. Ian swallowed the question that had risen to his throat. He must pretend not to know. Even revealing what one knows is the privilege of those in power. Ian bowed his head. Artizea smiled. ¡°I know that you have juste to the capital, but you seem to have had a lot of worldly experiences during that time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°To write a contract. Even if the documents from Marquis Ludene out, if the prerequisites are not met, it will be just a piece of paper anyway.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I will ensure that Sir¡¯s whereabouts are protected until thewsuit is over.¡± It was unnned, but there was nothing wrong with raising extra ie. Even if they keep Marquisate Camellia, they don¡¯t have to leave it as wealthy as before. ¡®It is enough to add just enough to maintain honor, tradition, and proper dignity.¡¯ Artizea checked half of the items in his list and returned it to Ian. ¡°If Sir seeds the title in the future, please dedicate it to the country; for Sir yourself. It will also be a good example for other families.¡± Ian understood the meaning of her words. He bowed his head and said ¡®yes¡¯. This was the first time he knew that he wasn¡¯t in a business where he dared to get involved. ¡°Hazel.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Let Sir Ian stay in the guest room of the annex. Sir Alphonse, please choose a suitable knight and attach him as Sir Ian¡¯s escort.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Artizea looked at Ian this time and said. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be deaf, so you probably know what kind of situation the Grand Duchy is in these days.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Greeting guests is prohibited. Only go out when consulted with the escort knight. Still, it would be safer not to go out as much as possible.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Due to the risk of poisoning, do not put anything in your mouth except from the kitchen of the Grand Duchy, and do the same with objects. If you need anything, ask to get it from the butler or through Hazel here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ian took a deep breath. It felt like a hurdle had been crossed. Artizea leaned on the armrests and stood up slowly. Then she asked, ¡°Do you trust Sk?¡± Ian looked at her with an ambiguous face. ¡°I don¡¯t know her intentions. But she definitely understands that we are on the same boat.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea¡¯s silence made Ian uneasy. ¡°Sk is wise, but she still doesn¡¯t know what it means, yet. Just like Sir Ian.¡± ¡°I have learned it now.¡± ¡°You will have to learn more.¡± Artizea said so and left the room. Chapter 207 Before the news of Marquis Luden arrived, Grand Duke Roygar and his party had left the Duchy of Riagan and arrived at the Kingdom of Eimmel. The royal pce, built where the coast was visible, was pure white. ¡°It¡¯ll be blown away by the sea breeze.¡± Ga, who thought it was made of marble, muttered unknowingly. The head of Felona, ??who was standing nearby, answered. ¡°It¡¯s not marble, it¡¯s the salt crystals that reflect the white light.¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s like a jewel.¡± Ga replied. Inside is probably not a good ce to live because of humidity and salinity, but it would not be polite to ask such a question about a royal pce in a foreign country. It was also true that they were as beautiful as Riagan¡¯s salt crystals. ¡°By the way, why doesn¡¯t the Kingdom of Eimmel make salt? There was enough salt to form on the outer walls of the building?¡± ¡°Because there is a shortage of lumber and manpower.¡± The head of Felona replied. Sk muttered. ¡°Good salt is made by boiling seawater in arge cauldron over a fire. I know that it is difficult to find enough firewood in the Kingdom of Eimmel. Is there also a shortage ofbor in the Kingdom of Iantz?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s more profitable making yarn than watching salt cauldrons.¡± The head of Felona replied with a smile. ¡°We are just producing what is consumed domestically. Common people are more likely to just use seawater.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°But wealthy people buy salt from the Duchy of Riagan and use it. The salt tastes savory instead of bitter, and when you break the crystallized salt and put it in a ss bottle, it looks beautiful. When we wee a special guest, we always put it on the table.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why each person has a salt bottle set on the table.¡± Ga, who had never paid much attention to things like salt, answered with a bit of surprise. It was a specialty of the Duchy of Riagan, so she thought that¡¯s why they had it, but she didn¡¯t know there was such a culture in the South. ¡°Your Grace, please go into the cabin now. Getting the sea breeze for too long is not good for your skin.¡± Viscountess Weave said in a hard voice. She didn¡¯t like Felona¡¯s head staying by Ga¡¯s side. She didn¡¯t like her since in the first ce Sk didn¡¯t even ask for her opinion and passed the story directly to Ga. The same was true of Ga¡¯s favoritism on Sk, Marquisate Camellia had a higher status than Viscounty Weave, and her bloodline was closer to Marquisate Luden. In the end, Sk was the youngestdy-in-waiting, so she was like the chief maid. Even Marchioness Camellia asks for a favor in taking good care of Sk. But that didn¡¯t mean she could go over her head to Ga. Above all else, it was Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s will to masquerade the head of Felona as Ga¡¯s maid and blend in with the party. ¡®Why are you making me do such a dangerous thing?¡¯ Viscountess Weaveined in her heart. She could not be taken as the maid of Grand Duke Roygar. She knows that. When a stranger suddenly appeared around Grand Duke Roygar, there would surely be someone who would trace her background. If that¡¯s a problem, shouldn¡¯t they make her the maid of a trusted person among the attendants? It was not that there were no women among those who came to represent each family or upper ranks. [¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re all in one ord. If you want to make room under someone else¡¯s name, you have to reveal the identity of the head of Felona to that person. His Grace the Grand Duke would of course want to avoid that.¡±] Sk said it like she was a loyal person. Viscountess Weave didn¡¯t like it either. She didn¡¯t know why, so she felt repulsed. Nevertheless, she wanted to eliminate any hazard from Ga alone. The problem, though, was that Ga felt close to the head of Felona. It was fun to talk to new people. Ga used to ask the head of Felona about Southern culture and history that she was not familiar with. Then the head of Felona kindly answered. She would have liked it, if it was under usual circumstances. If they were on a normal trip right now, and if they¡¯ve been asked to go out with the head of Felona who had publicly identified herself. Viscountess Weave had a hard face, but Ga didn¡¯t care. ¡°Let¡¯s look around a little more. When will I have another chance to visit the Kingdom of Eimmel?¡± Ga said so and pressed her hand to her tousled hair. And she looked up again at the pce where the white sunlight shattered. Grand Duke Roygar came out of his cabin. He was holding Ga¡¯s shawl in his hand. With the attendant far away, he strode alone. And he said as he wrapped his arms around Ga¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s windy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not cold. It is rather hot.¡± ¡°What did you find so interesting?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the pce. If it had been in Krates, I thought it would have had a nice name.¡± ¡°Do you want a pce like that, too?¡± ¡°No. I already have several pretty vis.¡± ¡°But there is no pce. Do you like a white marble pce?¡± Grand Duke Roygar smiled softly and lightly rubbed her shoulder. It was not something to say so hastily. Pces belong to the monarch. Even if Grand Duke Roygar was of imperial family, even if he built the most beautiful house in the world, he could not pronounce it a pce. For anyonepletely unrted, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but it was dangerous for a person with the right to inherit the throne to do such a thing. But this was the South. On the deck stood only Ga and Grand Duke Roygar, thedies-in-waiting and attendants, and the head of Felona. The sailors were preparing to call in the port, and the sea breeze was so strong that only the voices of people nearby could be heard. Ga suddenly had a thought of her old days. When she was young, she thought that if she married, she would live in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Then she would make the Empress¡¯ Pce the most beautiful pce in the world, she used to n that way. She was so young, so there was nothing dangerous about it. Like children dreamed of bing princesses, she took it for granted that she would be an empress. ¡°I don¡¯t need a marble pce.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°I wish there was a tree big enough for a swing. It¡¯s a big swing that me and the kids can all lie down on.¡± ¡°It would be a huge tree.¡± Grand Duke Roygar smiled. ¡°The garden needs to change its style, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡­ . Shall we make it in the vige?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it good to change things after a long time? If I send them a message now, by the time we get home, they¡¯ll be able to hang the swing.¡± ¡°What about the kids?¡± ¡°Please ask mother-inw for a moment. Or wouldn¡¯t it be okay to go to the vi before winter?¡± ¡°Shall we?¡± While talking like that. The ship entered the port. Cadriol was watching people disembark from the ship through a telescope on the lighthouse. ¡°Certainly, that¡¯s the head of Felona.¡± He departed from the Duchy of Riagan at the same time as Grand Duke Roygar and his party. His ship was much faster than that of Grand Duke Roygar, who was carrying the nobles. Although he came at a leisurely pace, he was able to buy more than a week¡¯s time. It was enough time for an internal crackdown. ¡°Since there was no way she could have joined in the middle of the sea, she must¡¯ve contacted them while in the Duchy of Riagan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Highness. I didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I guess we¡¯re not as good at gathering information as the Iantz.¡± At those words, the subordinate¡¯s head bowed even deeper. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard to do delicate work with rough guys. It seems that she was in contact through the side of Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± Cadriol looked at the faces of the maids around the head of Felona and said. ¡°Then, it would have been more difficult to know.¡± Cadriol had no subordinates to take control of the collection and management of information. There were no women either. Because his power base was pirateering. Not all of the trustworthy subordinates were men, but none of them had the talent to approach the wives and dig up information. So that¡¯s why he wanted Artizea even more. ¡°I know that Grand Duchess Roygar is not very involved in this.¡± Cadriol murmured and lowered the telescope. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Grand Duke Roygar want to meet the head of Felona anyway?¡± ¡°Right. In any case, would it be of no use to have separated Marchioness Camellia?¡± Or maybe Artizea had other ns. Cadriol was unaware of the details. The only thing he had dealt with Artizea was the life of the Queen. ¡°The head of Felona must havee to represent the Iantz Kingdom. The fact that Grand Duke Roygar hasn¡¯t said a word of it to me means that the talk is going well.¡± Anding this far means that there was something to tell King Eimmel. ¡®I didn¡¯t mean to y in the hands of Marquis Rosan.¡¯ If Grand Duke Roygar took his hand, he was going to try and coolly hit Artizea in the back of the head. However, if he joined hands with the Iantz Kingdom, there¡¯s no helping it. At the very least, the Iantz Kingdom will try to solve it by putting everything on itself. There was no choice but to counterattack from this side. ¡®Should I wait a little longer?¡¯ Perhaps, the King would not ept Grand Duke Roygar and Iantz¡¯s offer. The Queen is no more now. Well. Despite the wait, the result was clear. He knew it well enough to lose his life. And even if his father did not ept the offer, since Grand Duke Roygar had chosen the Iantz Kingdom, he had to fight back. Cadriol, in aplex mood in many ways, threw his telescope at his men and put on his cloak. ¡°Do you want to go back to the pce?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to meet the Grand Duke. Organize the army.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Because there might be things that need to be moved. It will take quite a bit of preparation to deal with Father¡¯s army and the escort knights from the Empire at the same time.¡± ¡°Will it be okay? Otherwise, it will be a war with the Empire.¡± ¡°The Grand Duke and his party will send them back without touching a single fingertip. This is our internal Eimmel problem. Unfortunately, he got involved in a fight between the father and the son.¡± ¡°Then, I will send the prepared national letter to the imperial capital. So that we won¡¯t be at fault.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± In the letter, a detailed description of the smuggling rtionship between the dead Queen and the Duchy of Riagan was written. That will be the first spark. Once they get to the capital, Artizea will pour oil on it. After all, Artizea¡¯s purpose must be to defeat Grand Duke Roygar. He can trust that part. Chapter 208 A wee ball was held at the Royal Pce of Eimmel. Thousands of candles lit up the ballroom. Fresh flowers the size of a fist, rather than crystals or jewels, adorned the hall splendidly. All the attendees were adorned with splendor like the flowers of the South. Men were no exception. Ga was a little surprised. It wasn¡¯t long after the national mourning was over. The opening of the wee ball itself was a bit surprising. But she didn¡¯t know that the dress could be so morous. All the members of the delegation group were wearing in clothes of achromatic colors. This is because they were in the position of mourners. The robes of Grand Duke Roygar were neither decorated nor embroidered. Even the buttons were only fitted with unzed silver. Ga herself was dressed in a low-saturated purple dress. There were no ruffles, no jewelry, and no exposed parts. Although it was a luxury item, it was deliberately tailored separately by choosing a non-morous fabric. She didn¡¯t even wear a ne around her neck. ¡®If I had known this would happen, I would have worn that red dress like Sk as well. That¡¯s the prettiest.¡¯ Ga was sad. She advised Sk to only wear a bright dress. [¡°I can¡¯t, Aunt. It¡¯s a diplomatic mission. You look like a mourner, so no attendant can¡¯t stand out.¡±] [¡°A youngdy without a fiance doesn¡¯t have to worry about that. They already said that they¡¯re holding a ball because they¡¯re already finished the national mourning.¡±] [¡°Aunt, you¡¯re not serious about tying me up with the Prince, are you?¡±] As Sk spoke with a serious face, Gaughed. [¡°Unbelievable. I have no intention of leaving the capital.¡±] [¡°You don¡¯t have to take it so seriously, do you? I¡¯m not necessarily talking about His Highness Cadriol. Don¡¯t you happen to know anyone? The faces you see all the time in the capital, where you¡¯ll have a lot to worry about, but what if you meet a really cool guy here?¡±] [¡°Aunt.¡±] [¡°What if I regret that you didn¡¯t decorate at that time?¡±] Ga said sincerely. [¡°It¡¯s something you can¡¯t do when you get engaged and get married, so you should try dating a lot before that.¡±] [¡°I am not interested in men.¡±] Sk said so, but Ga hung a pink sapphire around her neck. Still, right here, she felt so in that she would be buried. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Grand Duke Roygar asked in a low voice. Ga said with a smile. ¡°Everyone is gorgeous. I dressed up Sk, I would have done it better if I had known the guests would be so morous.¡± At that time, King Eimmel, the host of the banquet, appeared. The King also wore a white robe adorned with gold and jewels. Compared to him, Cadriol, who can be seen from time to time, was dressed in a dark blue robe. He was following him. Grand Duke Roygar politely bowed his head. Ga also raised her curtsy gracefully with her knees half-bent. The special envoys then bowed their heads in unison. ¡°I was going to wee guests from afar, but I don¡¯t know if I made them ufortable.¡± ¡°How can that be possible? Thank you for your hospitality.¡± The King held out his hand. Ga put her hand on it. The King smiled at Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°You must be disappointed to lend me the hand of such a beautiful woman.¡± ¡°Actually it is. This is a special concession.¡± Grand Duke Roygar replied with a brisk smile. Ga covered her mouth with her hand andughed. ¡°It would be nice if I had a daughter, and it¡¯s a pity that there are only men like this.¡± Even after receiving the King¡¯s gaze, Cadriol did not budge, with a smile on his face. The King took Ga¡¯s hand and headed down the stairs. The attendant cried out. ¡°His Majesty the King and Her Grace Grand Duchess Roygar enter!¡± All the participants in the hall knelt and bowed in unison. Cadriol and Grand Duke Roygar refused to go down first. The guest, Grand Duke Roygar, stepped first. Cadriol was fiddling with his sleeve. A few of the attendants nced at him. It¡¯s not the time yet. Cadriol shook his head. *** Sk, not interested in dancing, was touching the tea cozy by the table. ¡°His Majesty the King and Her Grace Grand Duchess Roygar enter!¡± She turned her gaze to the sound of a cry. Ga was descending gracefully, holding King Eimmel¡¯s hand. Although her hem was long, there was no danger to her steps as she walked down the stairs. It was a light step, as if dancing a waltz, but there was nothing against the etiquette. It was as if she had practiced it all her life. And to some extent it was true. Not a fewdies practice walking lightly without stepping on the hem of their dress from a young age. Sk also practiced it. It was also due to the contradictory psychology of Marchioness Camellia. She didn¡¯t want Sk to be the person she didn¡¯t have to be. At the same time, however, wanted her to learn everything that she had not learned at the same time. Among them was the appearance of ady of an eastern noble family. ¡®Hoo¡­¡­.¡¯ Ga also had such a contradiction. Ga sometimes said that she was envious of Sk. Sometimes, it meant envy that she was the daughter of Marquisate Camellia, and other times it meant envy that she looked free. Both were difficult for Sk to understand. If she is envious because she looks free, why is she so stubborn about wanting Sk to dress up and dance with a man? ¡®Because it encourages even Viscountess Weave.¡¯ Of course, Viscountess Weave didn¡¯t do it to make Sk beautiful. She couldn¡¯t have thedy-in-waiting dressed morevishly than her master. So, Viscountess Weave was keeping Sk in check. She had lost her chance, so it didn¡¯t feel veryfortable. It was a heavy task for her to induce Ga to make a mistake. However, Ga did not move enough to provoke her in the slightest, so she was just nervous. It was the same when she met the head of Felona. [¡°I understand that you were saying that Mrs. Lexen was not moved by the will of the Iantz Kingdom.¡±] After Ga had listened to what she had to say, she replied calmly. [¡°But it¡¯s not something I can do to determine the truth. I¡¯d let you meet my husband.¡±] In this way, the head of Felona had the opportunity to secretly contact Grand Duke Roygar from Ga¡¯s side. Sk thought Ga would be a little more agitated. There was no way that the suspicion that it was Grand Duke Roygar who sent Terry Ford to the Kingdom of Iantz could have been dispelled. Wasn¡¯t that why she came all the way here? But in the end she decided to press it and trust her husband. At least from the outside. After that, Ga spoke only once. At that time, she was lying on her bed and closing her eyes as if tired. [¡°Do I look stupid?¡±] [¡°What?¡±] [¡°You are a clever and smart kid. I will look boring and stupid. If my husband had an affair, I would have just divorced him.¡±] Sk didn¡¯t answer quickly. [¡°¡­¡­ I know you can¡¯t.¡±] There were too many things that were entangled in arranged marriages. Fortunes, sessors, and such things were intertwined. However, the union of the Roygar Grand Ducal couple was a bit different from an arranged marriage between the great nobles. If the rtionship between Marquisate Luden and Grand Duke Roygar is divided, the control Grand Duke Roygar had over the entire faction will decrease. Then, he bes the prey of the Emperor. Even if victory was achieved, Grand Duke Roygar would be a scarecrow, and then it would be a war between the backers. It was clear that Marquisate Luden would be the first to attack and tore him to pieces. But that¡¯s not what Ga said with her eyes closed. [¡°My father is also a father, so there is nothing I can do about it. I know he¡¯s my husband, and we have kids. There¡¯s also my mother¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Aunt¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°I just had to pretend that didn¡¯t happen. Only believe that it¡¯s not really an affair, so I¡¯ll have to forgive him once and move on. Isn¡¯t it better for me than before?¡±] Because she can¡¯t continue living unhappily. Ga added in a very low voice. But in Sk¡¯s eyes, Ga already looked unhappy. In fact, it was the first time she had ever felt that way. [¡°But I feel sorry for that person.¡±] Sk couldn¡¯t understand Ga¡¯s apologies. But she seemed to understand half the reason why Marchioness Camellia had killed Terry Ford¡¯s sister. Sk thought Artizea had made the wrong ns. Had it not been for the name Ford entangling in this work, it might have seeded. Ga could have forgotten the old days and she could have wanted something bigger. But now Ga recognized her misfortune. So she won¡¯t do anything. Because she fears that even what she is holding now will melt away like pieces of snow. It is simply because she is anxious that she has followed this far. Even if she could be the Empress, that is not something Ga desires. When Grand Duke Roygar gave in to her insistence on going with him, Ga¡¯s purpose was aplished. To make sure that Grand Duke Roygar does her will, to prove to those around him that they are a couple by apanying him in his important duty, and to feel respected. The mission was a failure. What¡¯s the point in encouraging her more? With that thought in mind, Sk raised her eyes. A fewdies came closer with their fans open. ¡°Why are you so lonely all by yourself? Not even dancing.¡± ¡°This is what our gentlemen are doing wrong. We need to scold them a little. To keep a young prettydy standing by the table like this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really like dancing in the first ce.¡± Sk said calmly. Whether they were speaking favorably or trying to fight, she didn¡¯t feel very worthy of dealing with them. She had no intention of doing reputation management. It¡¯s a foreign country anyway. Besides, she wasn¡¯t in the marriage market. Thedies¡¯ faces turned red as if they had been reprimanded. Sk didn¡¯t pay much attention to them, turned around and realized. Several men are moving outside the ballroom. There were men in ambiguous attire who she couldn¡¯t tell if they were a participant or not. ¡®What is this?¡¯ Sk was startled. She hurried to Ga. Someone was blocking her way. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Your Highness Cadriol.¡± Sk hastily bent her knees and raised her curtsy. Cadriol scratched the tip of his nose. He didn¡¯t think he had done anything wrong. It was clear that blocking the way in the first ce was unintentional. ¡°Well. It¡¯s Lady of Marquisate Camellia.¡± It didn¡¯t seem that he knew who she was from the start and was unwittingly blocking her way. Cadriol nced around the ballroom without hiding his perplexed face. Sk was nervous. But Cadriol suddenly reached out. ¡°Would you like to dance for a song?¡± ¡°Sorry. I have to go to Her Grace.¡± ¡°I heard rumors that Lady is a talented woman, but I didn¡¯t think there was a way that you could not have figured this out.¡± Cadriol waved his outstretched hand. Sk looked up at him with a pale face. She could guess what was going to happen. Cadriol must have been trying to hold her in a moderate manner until then. Chapter 209 King Eimmel and Roygar Grand Ducal couple danced two songs and left the ballroom early. Immediately after arriving, they greeted each other in the audience chamber and held a reception. With this, the formal mannerism that should be provided to each other was over. The three headed to the small parlor attached to Ga¡¯s ce, with only one or two of their most trusted attendants. And there, the head of Felona was waiting. She took off her maid clothes, which she had been wearing until now, and put on her ck robes. King Eimmel was not surprised. It was because he knew that a diplomatic representative woulde from the Iantz Kingdom. ¡°We¡¯ve met before.¡± ¡°It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.¡± The head of Felona raised her greeting by kneeling on one of her knees and cing her hand on her chest. Grand Duke Roygar beckoned. ¡°Sit down. It waste.¡± King Eimmel first reclined in the armchair. It waste. After a banquet or dinner, it was normal to move around and continue the conversation like this. But he was the king. He came here on the pretext that he could note and go easily, but he also could not stay long in the residence of a foreign envoy. He could not, however, call them into his own parlor. For among his escort and his attendants would also be mixed with Cadriol¡¯s spies. Grand Duke Roygar himself brought a small bottle of brandy. It was plugged tightly with cork and sealed with wax. ¡°It is my treasure. Only 30 bottles were produced at the most famous brewery in the East and aged for 80 years. His Majesty the Emperor will not be able to have it now either.¡± He broke the seal on the spot and poured it into a ss. ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s grace gives my tongue a luxury.¡± The head of Felona took the first drink. Grand Duke Roygar handed the second cup to the King¡¯s attendant. And he lifted his third cup. The attendant double-checked the ss and drink before presenting it to the King. The King took the cup. Ga said softly around that time. ¡°Then, I will leave now. Please speakfortably.¡± ¡°Are you going alone?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right next door.¡± Grand Duke Roygar nodded his head. Ga withdrew from the position. Grand Duke Roygar moistened his lips with the brandy. ¡°I heard that the Iantz had already told Your Majesty about the circumstances.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°There is already an agreement at the macro level between the Iantz Kingdom and me.¡± said Grand Duke Roygar. The head of Felonaid down the one-page agreement on the table. King Eimmel did not bother to review it. What was there was not about Queen Eimmel, but a trade agreement between the Kingdom of Iantz and Grand Duke Roygar. If he signs it, the Kingdom of Eimmel will also have a ce in the pact. This is an agreement between the Krates Empire and the Iantz Kingdom. He couldn¡¯t miss it here. But King Eimmel spoke with a gloomy face. ¡°I want to punish the criminal who murdered the Queen and free her resentment, not to talk about money.¡± ¡°Am I too impatient? Pardon me.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said with a smile. He wasn¡¯t surprised. It was because Grand Duke Roygar knew that it was only for the sake of appearance that King Eimmel said that. King Eimmel coughed. ¡°Well, after all misunderstandings are resolved, I think we can go ahead and talk about this.¡± He did not make a foolish attempt to gain a rtive advantage by scolding him foring to visit for the issue with the Queen and discussing economic interests, instead. Judging from his formal status, he was now respected as the King of a country. However, in terms of actual power, Grand Duke Roygar was far stronger than him. Considering he was the next emperor of the Empire, he didn¡¯t even have to distinguish between substance and form. The head of Felona said softly. ¡°How can the Grand Duke not understand His Majesty¡¯s grief? But it¡¯s also important to build trust with each other.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I came here alone even though I was entrusted with the full attorney power of the Iantz Kingdom. Because I know that the murderer of the Queen is inside the Pce. Please consider that even the Kingdom of Iantz has made a difficult decision.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Still, King Eimmel was silent for a moment, fiddling with his drink. Grand Duke Roygar said, ¡°Please make a decision. I will be able topletely get rid of the suspicion that the Iantz Kingdom is behind the assassination of the Queen, and I will get the credit for solving the problems with the Duchy of Riagan. And Your Majesty will find stability by eliminating oppositions.¡± ¡°I should point out the wrong part in Grand Duke¡¯s words and move on. I only want to find the one who harmed the Queen. What do you mean by opposition? There is no one in this country who can match me.¡± ¡°Yes. I was wrong. You may be able to free the resentment of the Queen, who was assassinated by the opposition.¡± Grand Duke Roygar corrected his words. He wasn¡¯t even going into the contract, and he wasn¡¯t the type to quarrel with every word. Besides, it would be good to respect the pride of King Eimmel. Even if he is a person who wants to show power by dressing up like this as soon as the national mourning is over. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing to negotiate with someone who couldn¡¯t openly say what they wanted to protect was their pride. They wouldn¡¯t say much, even if they recovered from the damage. ¡°It is only because the deceased Queen shared salt business with the Duchy of Riagan, so this agreement is included.¡± Grand Duke Roygar tapped the agreement. ¡°The Emperor attaches great importance to the salt business. He also trusted Duke Riagan. If His Majesty the Emperor knew that a foreign country was involved in the business, it would not matter in the least as to who murdered the Queen.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So you should sign it. This is a necessary procedure to keep the matter of the salt business clean and confidential.¡± King Eimmel hesitated. He knew that, too. The reason that the Duchy of Riagan had Queen Eimmel as a partner was to keep the coarse salt business from being discovered in the center of the Empire. But since it was already known, they could not leave it solely in the hands of the royal family of Eimmel. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry. Just by sharing a certain portion of the profits from the volume that goes to the eastern continent by a few small countries adjacent to the South Sea, it was an ie that exceeded the amount that came into the royal treasury every year. In the end, he couldn¡¯t help but put his desires into words. ¡°I heard that Grand Duke Roygar will take the coarse salt business and receive a tax equivalent to seven years¡¯ worth of tribute from the Iantz Kingdom to the Empire.¡± ¡°It is given to those who will be emperor after all. It¡¯s just a little bit ahead of time.¡± The head of Felona said softly. Although it was a bribe, it clearly had implications as an investment. It was also decided because Lawrence was dismissed. This agreement was also the price. The key content was an agreement on the abolition of tariffs and a significant increase in trade volume. Half of the distributors had to be limited to the merchants designated by Grand Duke Roygar. 70% of the profits from the elimination of tariffs had to be given back to Grand Duke Roygar. However, even if it was unfair, it was absolutely necessary for the growth and expansion of the Iantz Kingdom. Since the Iantz Kingdom could only survive through trade, there was nothing wrong with supporting Grand Duke Roygar. King Eimmel looked at the agreement and tapped his tongue on his upper teeth. Because he couldn¡¯t make a clicking sound. Grand Duke Roygar said leisurely, ¡°Your Majesty does not have to sign this agreement. Whether you sign it or not, we will catch the Queen¡¯s assassin, and Your Majesty will be able to free the resentment without any political burden.¡± ¡°What if I inform His Majesty the Emperor about this agreement?¡± said King Eimmel. Grand Duke Roygar then smiled. ¡°The Imperial Capital and the South are quite far away. And it¡¯s not just His Majesty that I can support.¡± The head of Felona said as if arbitrating. ¡°The Queen¡¯s assassin is inside the Pce, so it will take a lot of hands to clean it up. There will be a lot of money going in.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°For the time being, the southern seas will be empty. Without the help of His Majesty King Eimmel, will we be able to sail even a single boat properly?¡± Now, Cadriol ismanding the South Sea with the Eimmel navy and the pirates. When a merchant ship encounters a pirate, it pays a toll to pass through. A ship carrying arge merchandise or precious treasure, which could not resolve it on its own, requested protection from the Eimmel Navy. Once Cadriol is eliminated, the pirate who has lost their leader will run wild. For that reason, the agreement included consultations on the management of the South Sea and the subjugation of pirates. As Grand Duke Roygar said, King Eimmel didn¡¯t have to sign. It is thanks to Cadriol that the Eimmel navy is currently strong. King Eimmel could not have imagined that he would be able to exert such leadership. Sooner orter, the naval power itself would weaken and it would not be worth it, the Iantz Kingdom was specting. Nevertheless, the purpose of the agreement with the item about paying the protection fee to the Eimmel Kingdom was to obtain the King¡¯s signature. For the Iantz Kingdom, by increasing the number of people involved, they tried to prevent Grand Duke Roygar from turning the agreement into a piece of tissue paper. For Grand Duke Roygar, he was obliged to keep it a secret until he obtained the throne. King Eimmel remained silent for a few more moments. But he soon took up a pen and signed. ¡°You thought well. This is my favorite thing to do. Negotiations where everyone benefits.¡± It was subsequently signed by Grand Duke Roygar and the head of Felona. ¡°I will send someone to discuss the details while you are in the South.¡± said the head of Felona. ¡°Then the Queen¡¯s problem¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If Your Majesty makes a decision, my escorts will always move with you.¡± King Eimmel nodded his head. ¡°Then, shall we have a toast first?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Grand Duke Roygar first raised the ss, King Eimmel followed behind him. King Eimmel, who was able to rx, sighed deeply. ¡°It¡¯s a really fragrant drink.¡± ¡°After making an important decision, the taste of alcohol is special.¡± Grand Duke Roygar poured the second cup. After emptying the first ss, the head of Felona stood up from her seat. ¡°I will leave early.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to have another drink?¡± ¡°I am going to greet the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°I see.¡± King Eimmel beckoned as if he had to go, too. Grand Duke Roygar bowed his head slightly in gratitude. The head of Felona bowed politely to the two of them and stepped back from the parlor. A worker sent by the alliance was waiting in her room. ¡°Did the agreement end safely?¡± The worker greeted the head of Felona with his back straight and only his waist bent. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You worked hard. You even yed the role of a maid¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the country. I am the right person, can I decline?¡± The head of Felona said in a cold voice. This man was the one who hade up with a concrete n for this. She thought it was a good n, so she took it, so there was nothing wrong with it. Chapter 210 The identity was certain. He was the fourth generation working in the hereditary Hussey Merchants that was as big as the Felona Merchants. Even now, most of the family rtives were working in the business. With the exception of his younger brother, who is still in school, and his cousin, who has gone on to be an official, almost all of them were high-profile employees. To search even the most distant rtives, there would be no room for doubt about this. Despite this, the head of Felona could not erase the feeling of difort whenever she faced this man. Maybe it was because she was getting stubborn and older. The head of Felona has recently learned that she ces too much emphasis on impressions when evaluating people. However, it was unlikely that this man coulde up with a ploy, filled with analysis and keen intuition, even to little-known facts about international rtions. Look at him even now. He was anxious with a face that was not confident. Like a kid worried that he might be caught stealing. ¡®The Crown Prince has already adopted it. And the response of Prince Cadriol, the response of the Duchy of Riagan, and the prediction that Grand Duke Roygar woulde down as a special envoy were correct.¡¯ There were some minor mistakes. However, when viewed from a broad perspective, the world was moving ording to Izar¡¯s thesis. If this man had such a talent, it would have appeared like an awl in his pocket earlier. The Kingdom of Iantz prided itself on being the most meritocratic than anywhere else in the world. He started working at the age of twenty, but there was no way he could have been an assistant store owner at Hussey by the time he reached the age of thirty-five. If he had tried to hide himself, he would never have written such a ploy. The head of Felona stared at the man with a gaze that seemed to pierce through. He curled up like a frog standing before a snake. She closes her eyes now. Neither the Crown Prince nor the Associations simply epted the argument with any dispute. After a head-to-head discussion between the wisest people in the Iantz Kingdom and the most experienced Merchant heads, they came to the conclusion that this was a reasonable ploy. Supporting Grand Duke of Roygar and expanding trade in the future had been considered for a long time. He was greedy, though. However, from the point of view of the Iantz Kingdom, an emperor greedy for profit and money was much better than an arrogant and aristocratic emperor. They were able to get along well with Grand Duke Roygar. It was far better to offer gold and silver to Grand Duke Roygar than to lose the vast market known as the Empire. It was good to use this as an opportunity to even obtain an agreement. The head of Felona turned her gaze away to the worker. And she asked, ¡°Are the working-level negotiations going well?¡± ¡°If an agreement is reached in a broad framework, there is no problem in practice. The budget that the Crown Prince allowed is huge.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about using it all. Because what the Crown Prince was saying was to make sure that, in any case, the agreement would never be broken.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The worker felt sweat dripping down his back. ¡°The gift?¡± ¡°I have it ready.¡± The head of Felona tried to open the box provided by the worker in advance. Inside was a jewel box. She opened it. ¡°Good. For now, you can go back.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There is nothing good about staying in this Pce for a long time. Or are you going to see Grand Duchess Roygar?¡± ¡°Oh, no. How dare I?¡± ¡°Go back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The worker bowed his head in a sullen attitude and stepped back. *** The ploy was not his own, as the head of Felona thought. His brother, who was studying in the Imperial Capital, came home and threw it to him. [¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether Brother analyzed it or I analyzed it by collecting rumors floating around in the Capital. Don¡¯t be too cheeky.¡±] [¡°What do you mean by cheeky?¡±] [¡°I¡¯m saying this because I knew that Brother wanted to get ahead of the cousins? Anyway, it wasn¡¯t written by Brother, so if it goes on for too long, it¡¯s going to show. Such a ploy, if I read it correctly, I thought you might be able toe up with it, but it¡¯s not something just anyone cane up with. First of all, the amount of information required is huge.¡±] His pride was hurt. His younger brother studied well and went to the Empire to study abroad. However, he wasn¡¯t even a brilliant genius. But now he is a bit regretful. He was going to say it belonged to his brother. So far he¡¯s been doing so well. He memorized it and worked hard to analyze the situation in his own way. It was simr to studying to put together a solution with the answer sheet, so he was able to do it, too. Looking at it, he felt like he could see a world he had never thought of before. But he went too high. That¡¯s what his brother had said on purpose, and it¡¯s only bing a situation because he¡¯s naive. When he returned after finishing this job, he decided that he would have to confess the truth before the second working-level negotiations. He has already sent a letter to his brother telling him toe back. But in his eyes, he could notprehend that it could not have been his brother who really wrote the ploy. It¡¯s also true when his brother said that it wasn¡¯t something anyone coulde up with with pride. *** The head of Felona took the jewelry box and headed to Ga¡¯s bedroom. It was after Ga had removed her makeup and changed her clothes. If she hadn¡¯t been a maid over the past few weeks, she would have been considered a guest and she wouldn¡¯t have been weed at all. But now the head of Felona wasn¡¯t entirely her guest. The maids anddies-in-waiting got to know her and vice versa for weeks. They felt a sense of intimacy as they huddled together in the cramped cabin. One of thedies-in-waiting brought the news to Ga. Ga led her into the bedroom. ¡°Is the talk over?¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks to Your Grace, I was able toplete my mission and return home safely.¡± ¡°It must be because the talk brought by Head, not me, was also important to my husband.¡± The head of Felona had a smile on her face. ¡°I want to give a gift as a token of my gratitude.¡± ¡°What do you mean gift? I don¡¯t need that.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t deny my sincerity. If I left without showing any sincerity, even our King will rebuke me.¡± Viscountess Weave took the jewelry box from the head of Felona¡¯s hands and set it down in front of Ga. Ga opened the jewelry box. Inside were several cameos with all kinds of beautiful craftsmanship. The master artisan¡¯s signature was also engraved on the back. ¡°Because you had all the precious gems with you. Just think of it as sincerity and ept it.¡± ¡°It was made by the masters of the Iantz, and I can¡¯t say it¡¯s just for sincerity.¡± Ga said in a dignified manner. ¡°Thank you. However¡­¡­.¡± The head of Felona bowed her head. Ga fiddled with the lid of the jewelry box. In fact, the most valuable thing was the jewelry box itself. It was carved out of translucent green jade. When it came to this size, it was a huge price for even a rare gem. Needless to say, the craftsmanship was superb. It was no exaggeration to say that this was a jewel in itself. But it wasn¡¯t because it was too expensive that Ga hesitated. In terms of expensive things, she was given a gift more expensive than this on several asions. The moon with three stars was engraved on the lid of the jewelry box. Even the moonlight shining on the mountains and rivers was embossed with delicate touches. And the writing was iid with gold. ¡º¡°Long live the Moon, illuminate the whole world.¡±¡» Moon and star patterns aremon. However, the imperial moon means the Empress. ¡®Long live¡¯ is a blessing dedicated only to the Emperor and Empress. It took little knowledge or reasoning to understand that the moon with the three stars meant Ga herself and her children. Ga covered the lid. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too early¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is a gift given in advance. In the sense that we are convinced that there is a glorious future for Grand Duke Roygar and Your Grace.¡± The head of Felona smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ga answered and closed the lid of the jewelry box. And she gave a gift in return to the Head of Felona. £ª£ª£ª Sk wanted to stop, but Cadriol didn¡¯t let go of her hand and danced with her four songs in a row. The fourth dance was a fast-tempo polka. By then, she was exhausted. ¡°Your Highness, please.¡± ¡°Oh my, Lady doesn¡¯t have much stamina.¡± ¡°How many people, hoo, dance four times without a break, haa?¡± At first, no one was very interested. Because Cadriol wasn¡¯t the type of person who didn¡¯t want to dance. But he had never danced four times with a single woman before. When they found out that the other person was the Marquisate Lady of the Empire, the attention was even more focused. Sk couldn¡¯t even afford to pay attention to such interest. Cadriol¡¯s lead was excellent, and Sk was also a good dancer. But she was wearing high heels today, and her dress was quite heavy. It was even more difficult because the tension didn¡¯t go out from her body. It was not until the end of the fourth dance that Cadriol stopped. p, p, p! Apuse echoed through the hall. Cadriol held Sk¡¯s hand like a dancer and greeted the apuse. ¡°The prince greeted, but you¡¯re standing still.¡± Cadriol said in a sultry voice. Sk had no choice but to bow after him. Cadriol led her towards the table. Sk had finished it and wanted to drink cold water first. ¡°Did you have enough time?¡± Sk quenched her throat and then said sharply. Cadriol said leisurely, ¡°I thought I did enough to be considerate of Lady. Grand Duchess Roygar, too.¡± ¡°Considerate?¡± Sk¡¯s words were not a question, but a criticism. Cardriolughed. ¡°If Lady goes to the Grand Duchess and tells her that something suspicious is going on, the Grand Duchess will go and tell the Grand Duke, in the midst of an escting armed conflict, either the Grand Duchess or Lady may get hurt.¡± ¡°An armed conflict?¡± Sk asked in surprise. That was the moment. Bang! A gunshot rang outside. ¡°Kyaaak!¡± Several of thedies in the ballroom screamed and fell to the floor. There were many people like that. Some tried to tear off the heavy decorations and run outside. But they were blocked at the entrance. Sk looked at Cadriol in astonishment. ¡°What are you going to do?!¡± ¡°It is very unfortunate. Father, along with thete Queen, were involved with the coarse salt business of the Krates Empire.¡± Cadriol stroked his chin with a serious expression on his face. ¡°You must have heard from somewhere that an ignorant child was trying to tell His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°Is that a scenario written by Your Highness? Who believes that?¡± ¡°The consistency of the scenario is not important.¡± The question is whether or not it is a story worth writing to Emperor Gregor. And it is probably true that King Eimmel is involved in coarse salt. Sk took a breath. ¡°Lady is special. I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re talented¡­¡­. Come to think of it, Lady was the daughter of Marchioness Camellia.¡± Cadriol said. Then he looked at Sk and said, ¡°Come to me when you have nowhere to go.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the future Marquis of Camellia, so I can¡¯t seduce you with a title, so I¡¯ll try to recruit you if anything fails.¡± Sk looked at him in a bewildered way. Cadriolughed. ¡°It¡¯s not a joke. Eimmel is still a country with a lot of room to expand. We need a lot of talent. It will not be swept into the grave and rotted in needless strife like in Krates.¡± Having said that, he left Sk behind and went out to check what was going on. Chapter 211 Cadriol¡¯s army moved like a lightning bolt. The key was to secure the King and Grand Duke Roygar before the Royal Guard and the Krates Empire army noticed. ¡®It¡¯s possible.¡¯ Inside the Pce were only the royal guards and the guards of Grand Duke Roygar. The closest is the Royal Guard troops. However, after the death of the Queen, the Royal Guard had apletely disorganizedmand system. Originally, their employer and object of allegiance was the Queen. There were instructions from the Queen to listen to the King¡¯s orders when she was not avable. However, the King was never involved in the formation of the Royal Guards, from training and discipline to establishment. The name was the Royal Guard, but they had no rtionship with the King at all. After the Queen¡¯s death, the King ended the national mourning too soon. He spoke outwardly of sorrow, but few believed that he was genuinely grieving. Perhaps the story of remarriage woulde out again before a year had passed. The members of the Royal Guard who loved the Queen could not help but feel sad about it. Even their sry was dyed as Cadriol attacked the Duchy of Riagan. This was because the Royal Guard¡¯s finances were being maintained by the Queen¡¯s salt business. Naturally, the Royal Guards only sat in the barracks. It was not disbanded because there was no other suitable ce to go, and their tribute to the Queen was not finished yet. If the Royal Guard does not waste time defending the King and Grand Duke Roygar, it is a sess. It was because the work would all be finished before the Krates Empire army at the port reached here. Cadriol has been drawing ns in his head since returning to the past. No, he thought before going to sleep every day since he was betrayed by his father and imprisoned. What should he do so that he can take control of the Royal Pce at once? How can he turn it over with minimal damage? What should he do to prevent a civil war and maintain his royal mandate in the future? And the day hase when it will really work. ¡®If it¡¯s someone else¡¯s job, it¡¯s really easy.¡¯ He considered it like Artizea cutting off her ankles from Mira and Lawrence who held her. If she wants to live, she has to let go of her lingering feelings for the two. However, he couldn¡¯t let go of his regrets, so his neck fell. At that time, the rtionship between father and son had already ended. And this time, the father tried to make the same choice. The gunfire didn¡¯tst long. The captain of the Royal Guard was already under Cadriol¡¯s payroll. The King and Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s guards resisted, but the numbers themselves were not many. Cadriol¡¯s men took control of every major location. The nobles were all gathered in the ballroom, so all they had to do was close it down. Soldiers roamed the pce to search for the nobles who had escaped from several ballrooms. Those who do not attend will also be house arrested within tonight. ¡°What about the Royal Guard?¡± Hearing that they had seized the control of the King and Grand Duke Roygar, Cadriol asked as he headed there. ¡°The suppression is over. The captain surrendered. There were only three casualties on both sides.¡± ¡°They must have had no intention of fighting at all.¡± ¡°They seem to understand that it is already toote. Without their Queen, they would have had no reason to risk their life to resist.¡± Cadriol clicked his tongue. ¡°What about the Krates Empire army?¡± ¡°A battle broke out in the harbor.¡± ¡°Raise the bridges and defend thoroughly. It¡¯s hard when it expands. In two hours, I¡¯ll take Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s answer.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Themander who reported politely responded and ran outside. ¡°What¡¯s of the Iantz?¡± ¡°We are still searching. Sorry.¡± ¡°You must have missed it. It¡¯s fine. They¡¯ll be back as soon as the situation is over.¡± Cadriol first visited the residence of Grand Duchess Roygar. It wasn¡¯t Ga that came to meet him, but the pale blue Viscountess Weave. The maids and thedies-in-waiting stood in a determined manner in front of the bedroom door. Cadriol ordered his men toy down their weapons and retreat. Ga¡¯s attendants had already been investigated. There would be no resistance. They never knew how to wield a weapon. In fact, modesty was the virtue of noble women in the East and the Central regions. However, unlike the Central, which is influenced by the northern and southern parts, the conservative East noble families still use the word tomboy frequently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will never do any harm to Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± ¡°Oh, do you think you¡¯ll be safe aftermitting such an inhumane thing?¡± Viscountess Weave said with strength on her neck. Cadriol smiled. ¡°Please tell Grand Duke Roygar not to be rmed, as there will be no danger in a single hair.¡± Viscountess Weave stared at Cadriol, her lips tightened. Cadriol left Ga alone and went to see Grand Duke Roygar and King Eimmel. The two moved from Ga¡¯s parlor to the King¡¯s living room. It was to have a morefortable drinking party. When he opened the door to the living room, the smell of blood mixed with the smell of alcohol hit him. The bodies of the guards were now being carried away. The blood that had pooled on the marble floor was still red and sticky. Broken wine bottles were scattered on the floor. The two men looked pale even though their faces were red from drunkenness. King Eimmel had lost hisposure. ¡°You, what are you doing!¡± King Eimmel, foamed in his mouth, shouted. Cadriol scratched his ear with his little finger. He looked like he was ying a joke. ¡°Cadriol!¡± ¡°Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Cadriol ignored King Eimmel and looked at Grand Duke Roygar with a kind face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to get you involved in this.¡± ¡°What is all this?¡± Grand Duke Roygar looked at him with a hardened face. Cadriol smiled. The reason he is able to maintain his dignity unlike King Eimmel is probably because he is convinced that Cadriol can never harm him. And it was also true. A sullen temperament and yfulness erupted from within, but Cadriol resisted it. And he said with a serious face. ¡°It is a shame for the country as well as a shame for the family, so I am sorry to tell the Grand Duke. But it¡¯s not something that has nothing to do with the Empire.¡± Cadriol ced a hand on one of his chest and bowed his head politely. ¡°Even though Emperor Gregor made it strictly forbidden, Father made such a riot by taking a part in the distribution of Riagan salt. I am sorry. If I had known in advance, I would have informed His Majesty the Emperor first and followed the proper procedure.¡± Grand Duke Roygar realized he was cornered. If everything went ording to n, before dawn tomorrow, he was going to summon the Imperial Army and attack Cadriol together with the Royal Guard. But it was counterattacked. Even if Cadriol was pointed out as the assassin of the Queen while being overturned by force, it was difficult to expect the effect. It¡¯s going to be a war. The Emperor will avoid it. From the beginning, Queen Eimmel¡¯s affair was nothing to the Imperial Capital from the beginning. Moreover, Cadriol must have already sent news to the Emperor about the coarse salt business. He sends evidence of the salt business, and his scapegoat, King Eimmel, as the person involved. In addition to that, if the adequatepensation was paid, the Emperor will manage to save face and achieve benefits that the Emperor had hoped for. Including the fact that Grand Duke Roygar made a mistake instead of an achievement. ¡°Grand Duke, please return to your residence and rest. I¡¯ll see you again tomorrow morning when things get better and greet you.¡± Grand Duke Roygar clenched his fist. Then he turned his gaze away from the King and quietly left the room. King Eimmel looked at Cadriol with an angry expression on his face. He understood what he was going to do now. ¡°Don¡¯t you think the crown you took after killing your father wouldn¡¯t break your neck?¡± ¡°I think about it sometimes. Why is it a greater sin to kill the father than to kill the son?¡± Cadriol lightly kicked the shard of ss caught on the tip of his feet. ¡°This, this brat¡­¡­ !¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going to assassinate or dethrone Father. Well, I can¡¯t guarantee what the greedy Emperor Krates will ask for.¡± ¡°I know nothing about the business!¡± ¡°Father must know at least one thing.¡± Cadriol said with a vain smile. ¡°At least you should have known why the Queen was afraid of me.¡± ¡°How could I ever imagine that my child would be such an arrogant bastard! I should have followed her will long ago!¡± King Eimmel eximed. Cadriol¡¯s men were furious. ¡°Don¡¯t be rude, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Why did you hold up until now?¡± ¡°Who was it that brought in foreign powers to kill His Highness the Prince!¡± The simultaneous shouts were interrupted by Cadriol¡¯s hand gestures. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything reckless.¡± Cadriol said in a low voice. The anger that had umted inside him was not something that could be said through others¡¯ mouths. King Eimmel was a little frightened and lowered his voice. ¡°What are you going to do? Grand Duke Roygar was the one who would be Emperor of Krates. Will you really go to war with the Empire?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Grand Duke Roygar will never be emperor. I don¡¯t need to regret that I was stupidter on. Even in the Iantz Kingdom, it is unpredictable now.¡± Cadriol said so and beckoned to his men. Two of Cadriol¡¯s aides moved and crossed arms at the King¡¯s sides. ¡°Take him to the room I have prepared. The ce must be cleared.¡± That didn¡¯t mean removing the corpse, it meant removing the king¡¯s attendants and turning all the furniture over to find out all the secrets in the room. The king was dragged out and cried out curse words. Cadriol looked down at the bloodstains on the floor for a moment, then said, ¡°Give them a respectful funeral. They are loyal people.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The atmosphere was never bright. £ª£ª£ª Albert, an international student from Iantz, politely bowed his head and asked. ¡°How did you know that Prince Cadriol would endure this far?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange to have such a question.¡± Artizea asked back, looking into the ripples inside the teacup. ¡°Why did he persevere, when he knew how to get ahead?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It was a stupid question. Sorry.¡± Albert bowed his head. ¡°Compared to you, it is clear why Prince Cadriol was unable to advance first. As soon as the Queen dies, then he finds out about the salt business and if he mes the King for the cause, the cause is small. He will eventually be caught up in usations that the son attacked the father.¡± Therefore, Cadriol expanded his situation. So that even the vigers of the fishing viges in the South of the Empire know that Prince Eimmel has waged a war to find the Queen¡¯s assassin. So they will know that King Eimmel has resigned as a result of that war. In addition, he attacked the South and took enough profit to take advantage of it. He sweptrge merchants and traditional families once, and even robbed the supply depots of the Imperial Army. Resources are also resources, but merchants and nobles in the South cannot form a cartel. Solidifying the ruling system like the East would be impossible for the next half a century. ¡®He must have thought that far, if it was Prince Cadriol.¡¯ The turmoil has always favored Eimmel over the Iantz. Chapter 212 Albert could not fullyprehend even after hearing Artizea¡¯s exnation. ¡°Aren¡¯t you concerned that Prince Cadriol might not be able to act as Your Grace had envisioned? I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t know at the time.¡± ¡°It is not that difficult to guess and guide the behavior of a rational person. The ploy I gave you is the same thing that moved the Iantz Association.¡± ¡°Even so, I think it¡¯s too adventurous. Even if Prince Cadriol had decided to overthrow the regime, he could have failed, right?¡± ¡°It could be.¡± Artizea responded that way. Albert made a confused face. It was because Artizea didn¡¯t seem to be imagining such a situation at all, unlike her words. ¡°¡­¡­ Can I think about it and ask you againter?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Artizea epted Albert¡¯s two requests in return for sending the ploy to the Iantz Kingdom. One was that he wanted to be Artizea¡¯s close aide, and the other was that he wanted her to answer the question without being rude. They both serve the same purpose. He wanted to know the secret behind the ploy. It wasst year that Albert was recruited to Artizea¡¯s intelligence organization. At that time, he was only at the end. He didn¡¯t even know whose pocket the silver coins he was given were reallying from. But he noticed that the South¡¯s organization was growing in size incredibly quickly. The price paid to the informants was always urate. They seemed to already know the identity of the other person, his family, and what he wanted. In which direction to expand and where to stop. The organization did not hesitate, nor did it fail. There was no trial and error, as if doing something they had done once again. It was very strange to find out. Because it was something that could not have been known from Albert¡¯s position. Albert was nervous. This is because it felt like the story behind the novel, which people already knew the plot, and was developed in a simr way, but in a different manner. He dug into the organization. In fact, there was a hole in Artizea¡¯s organization. It grew up in a short time, so it was inevitable However, like Albert, it was impossible for an individual to track the top of the organization while erasing his tracks for a long time. It was this summer that he was brought before Artizea. Artizea was wearing a veil, and the color of her hair was covered with a brown. But Albert recognized her right away. [¡°Marquis Rosan.¡±] His breath was choked. It was unknown why the name Marquis Rosan came to mind rather than Grand Duchess Evron. And he recognized her. But she couldn¡¯t have been Marquis Rosan. Albert felt that way. Artizea looked surprised. Albert gasped for his breath. This was an opportunity. Not knowing exactly what the opportunity was, Albert knew he had a great opportunity worth risking his life. [¡°My family has been working at the Hussey Merchants since the days of our great-grandparents. My two cousins ??are bureaucrats. Among themoners in the Iantz Kingdom, there are not many cases that are as reliable as ours.¡±] [¡°Do you know who I am and why I called you?¡±] [¡°You are the one who made the Emperor.¡±] Albert surprised himself as he spoke. He knew how dangerous and absurd it was. However, Artizea looked at him with an observing gaze instead of scolding him and kicking him out. She said, [¡°Go back. I will call you again.¡±] Albert returned to the boarding house that day in a frenzy. He knew he was on surveince, but he couldn¡¯t afford to care. But he wasn¡¯t wrong. He was sure. While he was tracking the organization, he once had a dream. He dreamed of throwing away the one chance that had been given to him, and returning to the Iantz Kingdom and living a boring life as his parents wanted him to. His family was righteous. Parents believed that it was best for their sons to stay by their side and live together in harmony. They considered it their life goal to be storekeepers at the Hussey Merchants. Parents were not jealous of the sess of their cousins ??who became bureaucrats, but rejoiced as if their children had seeded. Albert was tired of such a family. He used to love them, but after decades of being together, struggling that his life will end like this has only grown stronger. But the opportunity he once missed neveres back. He couldn¡¯t even get out of the life he had beencent with. And when he woke up from that dream, his youth and opportunity had suddenly returned to his eyes. This time, he wanted to sharpen himself like a blue de. The second call was about a fortnightter. Artizea was not wearing a veil. The face was the same as Albert remembered. Albert was convinced that his dream had meaning. There¡¯s no way someone like Albert would have seen Artizea before. Unlike the royal family whose portraits were circted and the nobility frequently published in newspapers, it was only at the wedding that the face of Grand Duchess Evron was portrayed in an illustration. Still, Albert could see her face clearly. Artizea made some offers to him. [¡°I can¡¯t promise to protect your family. Your family must remain in the same ce in the Iantz Kingdom to be meaningful as a spy.¡±] [¡°I know. But I also know that after I achieve sess, we will be rewarded more than that.¡±] Artizea looked at him with a subtle face. For three reasons Artizea decided to keep him by her side. The first was because of the possibility that he was a ¡®returner¡¯. Albert didn¡¯t tell her his dream story, but Artizea was suspicious. It was clear that his old memories were affecting him in some way. It would be safer to put him right next to her and observe it. The second was because of the argument. Artizea originally intended to publish the ploy under a fake name. In the Iantz Kingdom, they spared no effort in examining the trend of what the Empire thought of the Iantz. Even if only twenty copies were printed through Belmond magazine and ced at the salon, a copy would immediately enter the hands of the Iantz Kingdom. However, it was better to go in secret through the Iantz Kingdom than to increase the number of readers by doing so through the magazine. She knew the high risk of being suspected, of course. However, the n was thought to be safer than creating variables within the Empire. And finally, because Albert was a really useful person. In the past, Albert had stepped on the end of Artizea¡¯s intelligence organization. Artizea called Albert himself to meet him and even tried to recruit him. He wanted power rather than money, and he was a person who wanted to know the secrets that moved the world rather than power. His head was also on the smart side. Such a person is difficult to deal with, but once he is loyal, he is very capable and self-sufficient. However, he turned down Artizea¡¯s offer and returned to his hometown. This is because Artizea proposed a position for the West Organization. If he goes there, the day he will return to the South bes far away. And as far as Artizea knew, he kept the secret until the end and never opened his mouth. ¡®It was more fortunate for him to go south.¡¯ Had he epted the offer, he would have been a target for Lawrence. Now it doesn¡¯t matter. No matter how many more charges were added to or removed from Artizea, the oue would have been the same. Of course, she had no intention of sharing a really important secret right now. If Albert wanted to get to the heart of the Empire, he would have to answer the exact question Artizea had to answer with his own reasoning. Duchy of Riagan Prince Cadriol¡¯s second letter departed on the day the Eimmel Pce was overturned and reached the Imperial Capital in two weeks. The first letter arrived only more than a month after several ports were captured and the Duchy of Riagan was besieged. Considering the speed of this time¡¯s arrival, it was clear that the letter was sent strategicallyte the first time. However, the Emperor did not say a single word about the arrival date of the letter. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t know that Cadriol had made a sleight of hand. It was because he was so angry that it wasn¡¯t a problem. ¡°Tell Sir Boyden to clear out the Duchy of Riagan immediately! Rtives, friends, guardians, and everything, take them away!¡± ¡°Please calm down, Your Majesty. It is harmful to the body.¡± The chief attendant went down on his knees, but the Emperor, far from quelling his anger, threw the papers at him. p! A fairly thick bundle of documents fell from one forehead to the next and scattered on the floor. Some of the priests who were present shrank their heads. Only Chancellor Lin asked with a calm attitude. ¡°What about the fact-finding team?¡± ¡°What about what? Call them right now!¡± Cadriol did not write the name of Grand Duke Roygar in the letter. However, the evidence of the coarse salt business was also attached to the national letter. Having this amount of data, there is no reason not to have used it as a negotiating material. Sending it meant that there was no consensus in the South. In other words, Grand Duke Roygar is also ying a part in this. ¡°Haa.¡± The Emperor felt his backbone tingle and leaned over andid his head on the backrest. He had already guessed that the Duchy of Riagan would siphon off the salt. He thought that he would tolerate it. But isn¡¯t he supposed to do his best? When the Emperor closes his eyes, it means to keep an eye on it on their end, and secretly do it little by little. In a way that does not mean to attract foreign countries to do business internationally.* ¡°It¡¯s surprising. To do business with Queen Eimmel, not in textiles or sericulture, nor in grain, but in salt.¡± So did Grand Duke Roygar. When the Emperor sent him by appointing him as the Emperor¡¯s envoy, he admitted that a significant part would be moved for Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s own personal gain. The huge bribes to be received in the South, the increase in influence on the merchants of the South, and themercial gains to be reaped by using that authority to negotiate trade deals with the southern kingdoms as the Emperor¡¯s envoys. He also knew that the Duke had taken a bribe from the Duchy of Riagan. It was easy to guess that salt was included among them. But, wasn¡¯t he trying to acquire the whole coarse salt business, not just to obtain and sell the finished product? ¡°You dare to touch the salt and interfere with the session of the Eimmel throne?¡± That was then. Bellon, a treasury official, crouched behind Chancellor Lin and said cautiously, ¡°It is devastating toe up with these stories at a time like this, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What else? Do you intend to disturb me at a time like this with little things?¡± ¡°How dare I think like that? But¡­¡­ I was going to say it anyway, because it¡¯s about Duke Riagan¡­¡­.¡± Bellon said while muttering. ¡°The amount of money he was paying was correct, but he actually made adjustments to the books¡­¡­ Please spare me!¡± The Emperor jumped to his feet. Not only the servants but also the priests knelt all at once. The teacup on the desk spilled out. The letter was soaked with tea. Chapter breakdown from Somnium~ : The Emperor understands that some corruption is inevitable. He doesn¡¯t mind if Riagan illegally trades salt just a little. The extent of the trades is toorge, that¡¯s why he is angry. HOWEVER, even at this volume, it is not an entirely unforgivable crime. Unfortunately, the Duchy went over the line by involving a foreign entity. The salt that belongs to the Empire, now enriches another Kingdom. And of course, Roygar who finds out about this and decides to go a step further by involving Iantz Kingdom is pretty done. Chapter 213 In the past, salt tax was a t-rate payment, simr to a permit tax for a salt business. However, as the Emperor became de facto controller of the Duchy of Riagan, it was changed to a profit-sharing system. The standard of salt tax is now 90% of production. Most of the manufactured salt is sold. Salt is a daily necessity, and the only salt sold as amodity throughout the Empire is produced by the Duchy of Riagan. In addition, there have been cases where an individual mines rock salt little by little or produces a small amount in an area where there is no salt merchant at all. Usually such salt was of poor quality and was consumed only in small quantities in the vicinity. So, the stock is reserved for emergencies, not because it cannot be sold. It was the Emperor himself who decided the market price anyway. So, just by grasping the production volume, they could know the size of the sales. The remaining 10% was left to the Duchy of Riagan to fill in errors in the ledger or to be used for business expenses. The book maniption Bellon said was that the Duke had manipted the ledger that identified the amount of production. ¡°We have closed a few small factories and warehouses. To offset this, we corrected the number by saying that we increased production at arge manufacturing nt.¡± However, in reality,rge manufacturing nts did not increase production to match the closed ones. Due to the limitation in the supply of wood, each manufacturing nt has a limited production capacity. The number was fixed by saying that production was increased in a ce where it could not be increased further. ¡°Duke Riagan has filled the reduced amount with his personal finances.¡±* Bellon said in a cold sweat. The Emperor did not check the ledgers one by one. Neither did Bellon. The lower-ranking officials of the Ministry of Finance, who really matched the number in the books, were rather happy that Duke Riagan filled it in, even though the production was actually reduced. They were afraid of angering their superiors because they could not maintain as much tax revenue as the previous year. But from Bellon¡¯s position, this was apletely different matter. Paying the salt tax in money is a temporary expense, and the business is continuous. The Duchy of Riagan made it impossible for the Imperial government to determine the exact scale of salt production. This has been going on for at least five years. Since the salt tax has gradually increased every year, they have never looked directly into the ledger. When Bellon learned of this, he felt a chill in his spine. There is no guarantee that the closed manufacturing nt is really closed. The Emperor¡¯s face turned red. As he leaned against his desk and clenched his fists, some of the papers were crumpled. The chief attendant hurriedly ran and supported the Emperor. The Emperor gasped for his breath and sat down on the chair. ¡°When did you find out about that? Why are you only reporting it now?¡± ¡°I beg your mercy, Your Majesty. I was foolish ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Who told you to apologize! Didn¡¯t I ask when did you know?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long. After this incident, while investigating other businesses of the Duchy of Riagan¡­¡­. I couldn¡¯t tell you right away because I thought that it was true that Duke Riagan filled the treasury with his personal expense, or maybe there was a real business problem and he could not tell His Majesty, so he might be paying with his own money.¡± Bellon trembled as he spoke, ¡°But if it is true that the coarse salt business has been so big, this ledger¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Stop it now.¡± The Emperor waved his hand violently and touched his head. His back was stiff and he felt dizzy. ¡°Confiscate all the ledgers from the Duchy of Riagan. No, no. Just go through all the documents in the treasury and bring the results.¡± Other parts were intended to be investigated by the secret police. ¡°Go away. Get away!¡± The Emperor half-roared. The officials rushed out of the office like driven goats. Bellon took out his handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his palms, and wiped his forehead as well. It wasn¡¯t hot anymore, but from his face to the cor of his neck he was wet with sweat. Others looked at Bellon with concern. Everyone knew that he was timid. Chancellor Lin asked softly. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the troublesome appearance. It was all my fault.¡± Bellon made excuses as if muttering. ¡°I was going to check with Duke Riagan first and then tell His Majesty.¡± ¡°Because there were a lot of things.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bellon bowed his head. ¡°Anyway, be careful. This is not a political issue. He will feel betrayed as much as His Majesty had trusted Duke Riagan.¡± The reason Chancellor Lin gave such advice was because he knew Bellon had no talent for politics. Joining Lawrence¡¯s faction was the opportunity of a lifetime. But he failed without a hitch. The reason Bellon is still here is probably because the Emperor did not feel the need to do anything. The officialsforted Bellon with a few more words. And they decided to move to the Ministry of Finance together. On the side of the Duchy of Riagan, the Emperor would issue an order after investigation, but he would have to hold a meeting with Grand Duke Roygar on the matter of the Eimmel Kingdom. Bellon said he would go out of there. ¡°I have to hurry up and go back to the Treasury to match the old ledgers and documents. Because His Majesty has not specifically ordered us when to go back.¡± They¡¯ll probably have to go through everything from thest 18 years. ¡°Okay. You must hurry. Go on.¡± Bellon bowed his head to greet the others and left the ce alone at a quick pace. He went to the carriage he was riding in, and a middle-aged attendant approached him. ¡°Are you on your way back to the Treasury, Sir Bellon?¡± Bellon hardened his face. ¡°Attendant Cobb.¡± ¡°It looks like you have something important to do.¡± Cobb asked softly. Bellon¡¯s jaw trembled. On the surface, Bellon, a bureaucrat of the Ministry of Finance, is of a much higher rank. However, Cobb was the Emperor¡¯s attendant and an officer of the secret police. Besides, Cobb had some of his weaknesses. Bellon secured the budget with the power of the Treasury when Cobb formed an organization within the Ministry of Interior and the secret police for Lawrence. Things that wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal before Lawrence was overthrown. The Emperor would have regarded it as Lawrence¡¯s ability. But Lawrence was dismissed. That being what happened, what Bellon had done would be a problem retroactively. The Treasury issue is sensitive. So, Bellon was more guilty than Cobb, who gathered people. All the more so because he knows that Cobb must have had a proper excuse for himself. Bellon wanted to somehow prevent Lawrence¡¯s downfall. That¡¯s why he sent the information to Lawrence as Cobb told him to while he was in custody. Lawrence, however, was driven helplessly, unable to do anything. And he himself was caught by Grand Duke Evron in which it became a weakness. [¡°I have no intention of making a request to Sir. It¡¯s hard to say what kind of weakness this is.¡±] Cedric said calmly, [¡°Even if I actually tell His Majesty, I¡¯ll hear people say that I am trying to use those who love Lawrence by fussing over the smallest things.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡±] [¡°However, I need to know who measures the weight between the Imperial Order? Pce? and Lawrence.¡±] Bellon made a list as he was requested and handed it over. Cedric invited him to dinner. The dinner was also attended by the Gayan couple, and the pregnant Grand Duchess presided over the table as hostess. It was a sign that they could put Bellon in their shadow. Bellon decided to believe it. He hadn¡¯tmitted any major sin anyway. Compared to this case of coarse salt, handing information to Lawrence was not a problem. ¡°Your Majesty will inform Attendant Cobb if necessary.¡± ¡°Sir Bellon.¡± Cobb raised his eyebrows slightly. Bellon sticks out his belly with pride. He didn¡¯t say anything wrong. The coarse salt incident was not something anyone could talk about. ¡°I have told His Majesty everything. You don¡¯t have to try to find out first, Attendant Cobb.¡± If Cobb needs to get the information first, what else would he do other than send a message to Lawrence? He informed the Emperor, and he did his duty. Bellon recalled that fact. Cobb frowned. It was not the attitude of an imperial attendant who had to be kind to everyone. It was to press Bellon. But Bellon greeted him and turned around. To be honest, Grand Duchess Evron was four times more terrifying. [¡°Your wife is from Southern nobles, isn¡¯t she?¡±] [¡°Yes. That¡¯s right. I can¡¯t even say that she has a high title.¡±] [¡°Then, you must be familiar with the situation in the South. Do you often interact with your inws?¡±] [¡°It¡¯s rtively like that. Because my parents aremoners. I get a lot of help from my inws for living and educating my children.¡±] Artizea said with a bright smile, [¡°You¡¯re probably close with Duke Riagan, right? Are you worried about the recent events? Is everything okay with your inws?¡±] [¡°Fortunately, they didn¡¯t get caught up in the battle because they weren¡¯t living near the beach. They were worried about the incident of the Duchy of Riagan. The Duchy know that we have a rtionship even though we are not very close.¡±] [¡°I heard that the Duchy of Riagan is very active in expanding friendships. There are probably very few families that are not rted to the Duchy of Riagan when ites to families that are stepping into the social world.¡±] It was an ordinary conversation. Saying hello to family and rtives and finding out where connections areing from was, of course, everyone¡¯s job when they started making a rtionship. It was the same with the story of the Duchy of Riagan. Was there anyone who didn¡¯t talk about the Duchy of Riagan back then? It was just before farewell that the insignificant conversation suddenly took on meaning. [¡°Come to think of it, the Ministry of Finance will have a hard time because there is no salt taxing from the Duchy of Riagan.¡±] [¡°We have ample national treasury, so there is no need to worry.¡±] [¡°However, it is difficult to match the numbers in the ledger, so once His Majesty begins to pay attention, it will be difficult in a different way.¡±] And Artizea said, [¡°What is the probability that a family who wanted to dominate the social world and with aplex in their lineage will not be obsessed with wealth and power?¡±] [¡°Yes?¡±] [¡°The profits His Majesty allowed to the Duchy of Riagan are enormous. But they say power is like salt water. The Duchy of Riagan wants more than a wealthy life.¡±] Combining Artizea¡¯s words clearly led to a warning. To Bellon, it felt like a threat. Bellon¡¯s wife has a connection with the Duchy of Riagan. The Duchy of Riagan wanted more than a wealthy life, perhaps bing the ruling family of the South, like the old Duchy of Riagan. If the number in the ledger had not been properly matched and provided the basis for it, and if it was discovered by the Emperor, there was no way for Bellon to call it safe. If so, he had to find it and tell the Emperor first. It was for this reason that Bellon began to search the ledgers. ¡ª Somnium¡¯s weekly chapter breakdown: *So some of you might be wondering how the Duchy of Riagan makes money by paying the Crown out of their own pocket. This financial scheme is ratherplicated (and some of it is a spection on my part). First thing first, we need to understand that as long as the supply of Sea Water is constant, the Duchy doesn¡¯t really pay anything. If say a production nt that used to produce 10 units of Salt was closed and the Duchy opened a new one off the book that also produces 10 units of Salt, the Duchy effectively paying nothing. The only difference is that now there is a production nt that is not within the Empire¡¯s ount. And the big production nt somewhere is rger¡¯ on paper. Now, the Empire expects monotonically increased tax revenue. So, the moving of this production nt might seem like a hassle for no gain. But we need to understand that the logistics of the medieval era are very different from ours. For one thing, there is no pipe or high output pump. Carrying a ton of Sea Water ind is mostly a dream. So the location of the production nt will be quite important. If you can move a nt to somewhere that is easier to supply it with Sea Water and Wood, the production will increase. My guess is that Riagan who knows and understands all of this improves the production capability of his region as a whole. And while doing so some old nts were shut down, a more productive new nt was established. And instead of reporting an improvement, he reports a steady production. He pays some money out of his own pocket, but those weren¡¯t his to begin with. He pays what is needed, and reap all the profit from any improvement. Chapter 214 The first thing the Emperor¡¯s investigators did was confiscate the residence and vi of the Duchy of Riagan in the capital. ¡°Confiscate, what do you mean all of a sudden?¡± Duke Riagan¡¯s younger brother and rtives, who lived in the capital and managed the mansion, asked in surprise. However, the investigators did not give a proper answer. ¡°Take them all out and arrest them. The head of the household is to be taken to the interrogation room, and the family is detained. Only children under the age of five are admitted to designated temporary nurseries.¡± The mansion was alreadypletely under siege. Those who knew the situation shut their mouths as soon as they heard the word coarse salt. Those who did not know were moring and crying. ¡°Employees are no exception!¡± Boertz was the first to realize that things were wrong. As soon as the Emperor¡¯s investigator opened the mansion gate, he changed clothes with a servant and tried to run away. He was not sure exactly what was going on, but he knew that he shouldn¡¯t have been caught. He was the one who brokered the secret agreement between the Grand Duke Roygar and Duke Riagan. If the information was blown open, there were too many people to get hurt. But he was caught in a warehouse with a secret passage. This is because the Emperor¡¯s investigators had already known about all the secret passages in Riagan¡¯s mansion from 19 years ago. The junior investigator who caught him eximed with excitement on his face. ¡°I have caught a servant trying to escape through the secret passage!¡± Investigators rushed in. To know a secret passage that even the Duke¡¯s younger brother, who was now acting as the owner of the mansion, didn¡¯t know, he must have been a big fish. Boertz squeezed his eyes shut. £ª£ª£ª The coarse salt crisis spread throughout the Capital on the same day. But even the nosy pokers shut their mouths all at once. Because it was such a terrifying situation that it was impossible to speak of it as a matter of interest. They were more afraid now than when the temple was used of treason for trying to kill the heir of Grand Duchy Evron. At that time, it was clear who was involved. Even if the gates were blocked by soldiers and knights surrounding the temple, no civilians were taken away. But now those involved are taken away every day. Bloody wind blew in the very street where the citizens walked. From treasury officials who took bribes from the Duchy of Riagan to help with the ledger maniption, to those who once worked in salt mills were taken to prison. Investigators obtained a confession by inflicting torture regardless of the severity of the crime. If they were questioned for about three or four days, not just one or two people died even after being found not guilty. The Emperor did not treat this as a political matter from the outset. He was bitten by a dog he raised. His anger was immeasurably deep apart from the financial loss. ¡°I bestowed great favor on Duke Riagan. He would have been nothing if I didn¡¯t help him build up the crumbling Duchy by inheriting the title, and entrusting him with the country¡¯s most important business.¡± The Emperor chewed and spoke. ¡°Even after paying the salt tax, the remaining ie would have still been enormous. In addition to that, I gave him the freedom to use 10% of the salt from the South Sea, so he would have been able to do business for his family with that amount. How dare he deceive me?¡± A confiscation order was issued for all the family fortune of the Duchy of Riagan. It was only a matter of time before Duke Riagan was captured from the South as soon as the decree had been issued. This would not have been possible if the Empress¡¯ parents were still alive. Even if the Capital tried to confiscate the family fortune, the resistance would have been extreme. The nobility and the court would have stopped it, saying that the Emperor¡¯s investigator should not act in this way. Even to protect their rights. The Southern Army wouldn¡¯t have listened even if they were asked to bring everyone from the Duchy of Riagan. However, the present Duke Riagan was nothing without the support of the Emperor. The Southern Army was in a state of disintegration. At this time, the Southern Conquest Army was an army sent from the Capital. Everyone looked at the Empress¡¯ Pce. When the Duchy of Riagan was attacked by the Eimmel Kingdom, the Empress turned away. But this time, it was the Emperor who wanted to wipe out the Duchy of Riagan. In fact, he is trying to dispose of the Duke as his own ve. There were many people who thought that even if the Empress was angry, she would stop it. But no one dared toe forward to the Empress and ask what she would do. The Empress was quiet as usual. She took walks, read books, drank tea, and looked after the Peschers¡¯ children. The attendant delivered the Emperor¡¯s letter, but the Empress did not reply to it. No one knew what was written in the letter. The Empress¡¯ Pce was as quiet and gentle as always. It¡¯s like a world out of touch with reality. Until the third daughter of Duke Riagan, who had married the Capital¡¯s nobleman, bowed in front of the Empress¡¯ pce, carrying her six-year-old child, to beg for their life. ¡°Please have mercy, Your Majesty the Empress.¡± When the Emperor¡¯s investigators arrived, her husband and inws risked their lives to let the mother-and-son escape. The other families were fine. They were nobles. The interrogation was not an excuse to kill all the nobles just because they were rtives. They will be questioned and their house will be searched. However, if it bes clear that they were not involved in the coarse salt business, they will be deported from the Capital for a certain period of time or the additional property will be deprived. However, Duke Riagan¡¯s biological daughter and grandson were different. It was a friend of the inws who hid the mother-and-son in the carriage and took them to the Empress¡¯ pce. The way out of the Capital was a long one. If they try hiding in the Capital, they will not be able tost more than three or four days and they will be taken away. But if the Empress takes them, she will be able to save their life. It rained that day and the weather was cold. The Emperor¡¯s investigators could not invade the Empress¡¯ pce, so they surrounded from a distance and watched the mother-and-son. So were the Empress¡¯ old friends and Riagan¡¯s vassals. They would rather tear their mouth than to call her the Lady of Duchy of Riagan, but still the Empress¡¯ Pce could not have a person who ims to be a blood rtive of Riagan be led away to the Emperor. The woman cried out loudly in front of the Empress¡¯ Pce for a long time. ¡°Please have mercy! Save the child!¡± Only the ignorant child whined to go home. She put her head on the ground, lifted it, and she cried again. The gates of the Empress¡¯ Pce were opened when the rain that had been falling all night stopped, the morning sun rose, and the rainwater that soaked the ground had dried up in the sun, leaving only puddles in ces. The Empress was wearing a ck dress. The dress, embroidered with dark gray silk thread, and with a wide open cor and cuffs made of bright silver fabric, was noble and morous. But everyone who saw the dress remembered the mourning dress the Empress had been wearing for a long time. ¡°How long are you going to make a fuss?¡± Countess Martha scolded her. ¡°This daughter will pay for her father¡¯s sins! Please forgive my son!¡± As the woman cried, she pleaded. The voices that shouted all night were broken and cracked. The Empress looked down at her with cold eyes. ¡°With what qualifications can you, who is neither a representative nor an heir, be able to rece your father? If you¡¯re guilty, why have youe to ask for forgiveness now?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s a shameless plea. So I will not dare to ask you to have mercy on me.¡± The woman held out her six-year-old child. The child was exhausted and was asleep. ¡°But this kid was only six years old at most. Please save him. Please understand a mother¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°¡­¡­. ¡° ¡°What is wrong with your child?¡± ¡°The child is not guilty.¡± The Empress looked down at the woman¡¯s tear-soaked face. And she said in a low voice. ¡°By the way, where were you when my child died?¡± ¡°I, I¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Where and what were you guys doing when my parents died?¡± ¡°Your, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So whether your parents, or your child die, I will not be there.¡± The woman screamed in a fit. ¡°That was what His Majesty the Emperor did. What could we have done!¡± ¡°Yes. This is also the work of His Majesty the Emperor. What could we have done?¡± And the Empress turned back. Thedies-in-waiting followed the Empress first, followed by the former vassals of the Duchy of Riagan, who had guarded the mother-and-son until then. The door to the Empress¡¯ Pce was closed. That was the answer. The Emperor¡¯s investigators pulled out the mother-and-son. £ª£ª£ª Cedric returned home at dawn and was very tired. ¡°I heard you stayed up all night.¡± Artizea met him up in the lobby and asked. Cedric pulled Artizea¡¯s waist and kissed her on the cheek. And he sighed. ¡°What were you doing without sleeping?¡± ¡°In this situation, can I fall asleep so easily?¡± Cedric sighed again. ¡°What else are you working on?¡± ¡°No. A little while ago, I got a call from the Empress¡¯ Pce. One of the daughters of Duke Riagan is holding her child and begging for forgiveness in front of the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­. Is it a child over five years old?¡± ¡°He is six years old.¡± ¡°Oh my¡­¡­.¡± Cedric sighed. In fact, it was because of that problem that he was in the Imperial Pce until this time. He had nothing to do with the subsequent handling of the incident. The ledgers will be handled by the Ministry of Finance, and the investigation will be carried out by the Emperor¡¯s investigators. Pressure was being put on the whole government organization. However, the Ministry of Finance could not draw up a budget, and the security forces were all supported by the Emperor¡¯s investigators, so Cedric¡¯s work was almost suspended. But it was impossible for him to let go of his hand. Chancellor Lin and he were begging the Emperor to abate at least the collective punishment. [¡°It is a serious crime to deceive Your Majesty and embezzle national tax, but the system of collective punishment is originally applied only to treason. It would be too much to take in close blood rtives of Duke Riagan and not only those who were directly involved in the crime, but also the rtives of the employee.¡±] [¡°It was deceiving the monarch. If that¡¯s not treason, what is treason?¡±] [¡°How about if the person who has a long-standing rtionship be investigated by the Public Security Office?¡±] [¡°If there is no guilt, what does it matter where the interrogation takes ce?¡±] The Emperor¡¯s will was clear. It seems like he was dealing with this emotionally, but that¡¯s not all. The Emperor was also setting an example of how to execute the traitor. Both Cedric and Chancellor Lin knew it. However, they couldn¡¯t give up there. At least, he had been kneeling in front of the Emperor¡¯s office to raise the age of the collective punishment to at least ten, not five. ¡°Do you think Her Majesty the Empress will take it in?¡± Artizea shook her head. Cedric sighed. It would be nice if she had mercy, but no one could make such a request to the Empress. Chapter 215 Even if the Empress takes it in, only one child would survive. Even if the Empress actively intervenes to end this situation, the fundamental problem cannot be considered resolved. As Cedric made a tired face, Artizea said softly, ¡°First, wash up and get some sleep. Ansgar keeps warming the bath water, not knowing when you will be back.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric sighed once more and headed towards his room. Artizea turned around and stopped at the nursery. Leticia was asleep. Marcus, who was staying in the nursery, woke up to her presence. ¡°Mistress, what are you doing at a time like this?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to get up.¡± Artizea waved her hand. Still, Marcus couldn¡¯t haveid downfortably. Marcus got up, took his handkerchief from his arms, and roughly wiped his face. And he fumbled and reached out his hand to light a candle. Instead, Artizea lit the candlestick, which she had first held in her hand. ¡°Lord Cedric has juste home, and I think he wants to see Leticia¡¯s face.¡± ¡°He should. It¡¯s been a few days since he came home.¡± Marcus tidied his appearance. Artizea looked silently into her cradle. The baby, who is growing day by day, is now eating quite well and moving actively. She slept well at night without waking up, perhaps because of her good movement. Her curiosity was strong from the beginning, so after opening her eyes, she liked to be taken out for a walk. When the grass-scented wind touched her face, sheughed so excitedly. Ansgar evenughed that she looked like Cedric. But there was a time when they were reluctant to even leave for the garden. The risk of assassination had not diminished in the slightest. No matter how hard the mansion¡¯s defenses were, there was a limit. The garden is exposed to the outside. There was nothing safer than not going out at all. Leticia, as well as Artizea herself, rarely stepped out of the mansion. The nanny was also banned from going out just in case. Unlike her or Cedric, Leticia has no ability to defend herself. ¡®Since the coarse salt incident has exploded, I have bought some time for now.¡¯ Marchioness Camellia did not agree with Count Brennan. Assassining Cedric is very difficult. Attacking and killing him is almost impossible. It was also impossible to bribe or recruit his entourage. It means that it is difficult to cause an ident as in the days of Marquis Luden. Artizea was particrly concerned about poisoning. If so, they must kill Leticia, not Cedric, to thwart the Emperor¡¯s ns. The key anyway was Leticia. Without Leticia, there is no reason for the Emperor to adopt Cedric. Then, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s inheritance rank remains number one. However, when the Emperor took the cause and released the investigator, no one could move. ¡®It¡¯s ironic. After all, the power of the Emperor is the most powerful shield.¡¯ Artizea had that thought in her head as she looked at the baby¡¯s face. By now, Marchioness Camellia must have regretted it. Marquis Luden was the second-inmand of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction, recognized by others. With his death, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction lost a central point to deal with this incident. Instead, Marchioness Camellia openly gave Count Brennan her weakness for nothing. How will Grand Duchess Roygar react to the fact that it was Marchioness Camellia who provided the information for the assassination of Marquis Luden? She probably won¡¯t forgive her easily. This hurt the price for sending Sk with her to the South. Marchioness Camellia was not involved in the pact with the Iantz, as she did not depart to the South. If she separated herself from Grand Duchess Roygar and separated from Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction, there would be a chance to be revived. But can Marchioness Camellia herself be able to do that? A sister¡¯s affection is very esoteric. Artizea was deep in her thoughts, a hand reached out from behind her, lightly tapping the back of her hand. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± Cedric asked in a low voice, as if whispering. His hair was wet. Artizea looked at it for a moment. She then lowered her gaze and answered. ¡°It¡¯s just some thoughts.¡± Unorganized thoughts were not worth talking about. ¡°Ooongg, ngggaaa!¡± As the number of people increased, Leticia burst into tears as she woke up from the crowd. Cedric hurriedly stretched his arms into the cradle. ¡°Oh no. I¡¯m sorry. I was going toe quietly and see your face.¡± He patted Leticia on the back. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be nice to wake up at night like this. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Cedric also apologized to Marcus. Marcus shook his head. ¡°No. She still wakes up often at night.¡± ¡°You are working hard.¡± ¡°I am only thankful that you trusted me.¡± Marcus said sincerely. Leticia stopped crying. Cedric also apologized to Artizea, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There are many days when I say I would raise her, and I can¡¯t even see her face.¡± ¡°You are busy.¡± Artizea was at home more often but not by the baby¡¯s side. Leticia grabbed Cedric¡¯s bangs. Then she started tough as if something made her feel better. Cedric sighed again as he coaxed Leticia. ¡°Since Leticia was born, more children are visible in my eyes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a cognitive thing.¡± ¡°I thought you would stop it.¡± ¡°Save them? It¡¯s not like we¡¯re on the same side with Duke Riagan.¡± ¡°It is true, but¡­¡­. Because you could encourage His Majesty¡¯s favor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a tactical proposition anyway. You can¡¯t acquire what you think is right because of the political expedient. As things are, it¡¯s really not that dangerous.¡± ¡°His Majesty is quite displeased.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there is going to be anything to use as an excuse to harm youter on as long as you only ask for an easing of the collective punishment. If it was dangerous, then Chancellor Lin would have stopped you.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± ¡°His Majesty will feel a sense of crisis if officials try to support Lord Cedric even if it¡¯s for a life-saving issue, but Chancellor Lin and Lord Cedric are only pleading as individuals right now.¡± Rather, it was positive in terms of maintaining the impression of being righteous and gentle. Of course, Artizea didn¡¯t say that. Because in that way he could not speak out and evaluate his own actions. He just has to carry out his own life the way he wants. ¡°Awawoong.¡± When Cedric made eye contact, Leticia struggled and babbled, then began toin. ¡°She must be hungry.¡± Marcus said so. Cedric returns Leticia to Marcus¡¯s hands. Marcus bowed his head to greet, and took the baby to the nanny¡¯s room. Cedric stood up first and reached out to Artizea. Artizea grabbed his hand and stood up. The two returned to the bedroom. Cedric asked, lighting a candlestick on the side table. ¡°Since when did you know?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I knew you advised Sir Bellon something. As for what Prince Cadriol blew up¡­¡­.¡± Without speaking, Cedric looked at Artizea with a strange expression for a moment. Artizea lowered her eyes. ¡°That guy¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That guy?¡± ¡°No.¡± Cedric swallowed his words. It was because he recalled Cadriol. But he didn¡¯t say anything. Artizea didn¡¯t care at all, because she didn¡¯t like the fact that he was being conscious. He changed the subject. ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t know it was thisrge. Everyone can roughly guess that Duke Riagan is distributing coarse salt.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t even think that he was only digging salt out of the warehouse, let alone that they had tricked the Treasury¡¯s ledger into securing a separate manufacturing nt. Even if they knew that Queen Eimmel was running a salt distribution business, many people would not have known that it was not the salt that she made in her own country, but that it was something she did in partnership with the Duchy of Riagan. ¡°Since when did you know?¡± ¡°It was not difficult to guess. Duke Riagan was originally an opportunist and he really wanted to be the proper Duke Riagan.¡± Although he was not a very close rtive, Duke Riagan had earned the trust of his predecessors. Nevertheless he betrayed the Emperor. It wasn¡¯t money that was the problem, it was desire. His goal was neither to be the Emperor¡¯s favorite nor power, but to be Duke Riagan himself. However, neither the Emperor nor the imperial nobles treated him like the previous Duke Riagan, who was the Empress¡¯ parents. In the first ce, neither lineage nor respect can be obtained in a short period of time. Duke Riagan¡¯s desire to be proper was something that could not be fulfilled. ¡°A person who betrays once for profit can betray for profit a second time as well. If he has a chance to do it, there¡¯s no way he wouldn¡¯t. If you think about it that way and look at it, it¡¯s pretty clear.¡± ¡°I see. I was frankly surprised because it had never been revealed before.¡± ¡°In the past, there was no need to instigate His Majesty¡¯s anger. Duke Riagan was cooperative¡­¡­. I was nning to touch it when the Ministry of Finance was reformed, but the time never came.¡± Artizea grabbed the cold fingertips and quietly looked at the tips of her fingernails. Duke Riagan was taken out before that. Not because of the coarse salt, but because he defied Lawrence. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°It was a pretty good idea for Duke Riagan to report a small increase in salt profits each year. Because lower-level officials are afraid of being reprimanded for reporting that tax revenues have gone down. And His Majesty is old.¡± It takes a lot of energy to see things as they are; not as it suits one¡¯s mind. So the older he gets, the harder it is to fix what he once judged, and the less sensitive he is to notice the changing rtionship. The same goes for overconfidence in his own judgment. ¡°I think that was why he was angrier than usual. He must¡¯ve been angry at himself for trusting Duke Riagan without realizing it.¡± No one lives forever. Even if they did not harbor any particr resentment, as the Emperor grew older, his subjects naturally thought about the future. It is therefore dangerous for the sessor not to be established. In order not to disturb the state of affairs, the transfer of power must begin at the right time. The Emperor didn¡¯t. Now, following his failure, he has even shown that he can be deceived. Artizea made up her mind. The Duke is all over. Now only the unshakable remains. Cedric rubbed his forehead once, then lightly stroked Artizea¡¯s hair. Artizea was lost in thought, then flinched and raised her head. Cedricid down on the bed and looked up at Artizea. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Because the sun is about to rise. I need to close my eyes now.¡± ¡°Yes, ah¡­¡­.I see.¡± Artizea froze. And she carefullyy down beside Cedric. Cedricughed silently. And he pulled her in and hugged her. Chapter 216 It was two weeks after the arrival of Cadriol¡¯s national letter that Grand Duke Roygar arrived at the port closest to the Capital. There was a difference of two days, between the Duke and the letter, from the date of departure from the Eimmel Kingdom. However, the number of special envoys led by Grand Duke Roygar was not just one. Even if he used the ship provided by the Eimmel Kingdom in the sea route, his movement speed was inevitably slow. Still, Grand Duke Roygar urged the captain to go as quickly as possible. The only time they had been on the ground over the past three weeks was to stop by a port of call to resupply. Gained of pain, and the other nobles carefully asked for a day off. Grand Duke Roygar himself suffered a lot. But he didn¡¯t have time to rest. He didn¡¯t even have half a day to spare. During the rest, he had no idea what was going on in the Capital. But it wasn¡¯t a wise choice. They had never met even one of the messengers that Marchioness Camellia had been sending. That is why Prince Cadriol originally picked four of Eimmel¡¯srgest and fastest ships and sent him on board. He was deceived by his ability to get there so quickly that Grand Duke Roygar missed something else important. As soon as he called and disembarked from the ship, news flooded in. ¡°Marquis Luden has passed away.¡± That was the first news that came out. This is a message from a messenger sent by Marquis Luden Heir Apparent, Ga¡¯s eldest brother, who will inherit the Marquis title after the procedure ispleted. Ga blinked her eyes and listened nkly. She didn¡¯t feel it. Even Grand Duke Roygar was greatly surprised and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°That is¡­¡­.¡± The messenger was very flustered. It was because he could not bear to tell Ga about the dishonorable ident that Marquis Luden had suffered. Grand Duke Roygar noticed the messenger¡¯s fluster and asked. ¡°Is it an ident? Someone who was healthy would not have suddenly died of an illness.¡± ¡°Yes. He visited the house of a merchant he had a rtionship with, and then there was a fire¡­¡­.¡± For Grand Duke Roygar, that answer was enough. He knew roughly about the filthy private life of Marquis Luden. It wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal if he simply had a fire during a secret conversation. It would not have been an ident if there was a sudden fire that was sorge that it was impossible to escape safely without being defenseless. In the end, it means that he was defenseless. And if you think about what it means to be defenseless in a merchant¡¯s house, the conclusion was obvious. He couldn¡¯t tell such a story in front of Ga. He looked back at Ga, pondering what to say, and Ga jumped to her feet. ¡°Well, something like that¡­¡­.¡± Ga couldn¡¯t breathe properly and spit her words out, then fainted. ¡°Ga!¡± Grand Duke Roygar was shocked and embraced her. Even so, he could not stand the shock of his body exhausted from the long voyage. His aides came rushing in. Grand Duke Roygar, with the help of an escort, took Ga andid her on the sofa. Fortunately, she was breathing properly. ¡°Go and call a doctor.¡± Grand Duke Roygar gave the order and moved. He wanted to be by Ga¡¯s side, but now he didn¡¯t have time to waste. The second messengers he met were sent by Count Brennan and other nobles in his faction who remained in the Capital. A lot of news was piled up, but to summarize, there were two things. One was about the salt incident, and the other was the news of Leticia¡¯s birth. Severe warnings arrived from each family after the coarse salt incident. It was that anyone who, like Duke Riagan, tried to embezzle the national tax and use bribes and power to trick the state, will not be forgiven. The Emperor had quite a bit of data on the absurd actsmitted by members of the noble family and the efforts of the family to cover it up. Closely, there was the bribe ledger Baron Yetz had dedicated to running his gambling house. And as far away as the list of those who had gone missing or died suddenly on their own farms and manors for decades. Until now, as long as they did not challenge the Emperor¡¯s authority, most of the nobles did almost anything with no eyes looking There was no perfect cause, and it was foolish to fight a noble family over such a thing. Rather, annihting the family in the dark can cause fear and division at the same time. It was also what the Emperor did as a member of the nobility himself. However, if this unspokenw of the country is vited, the nobles will unite and resist. Soon, the Emperor had chosen the method of protecting his authority, but not diminishing his power. That didn¡¯t mean he didn¡¯t even have a weapon he could use someday. But now there is a precedent like the Duchy of Riagan. Now, if anyone gets caught again, the Emperor will drive up his momentum and attack them all at once. Up to this point, it was still within the thinking of Grand Duke Roygar. He hade to know that Prince Cadriol had sent evidence rted to the coarse salt business in the national letter. Throughout all the time on the way home, Grand Duke Roygar made ns. Just because he tried to take over the coarse salt, he cannot be treated and punished like Duke Riagan. He himself was not the mastermind of the coarse salt business. He was also not involved in the maniption of the books of the Ministry of Finance¡¯s ledgers. It is true that he had agreed to take some coarse salt from Duke Riagan, but he intended to im that he thought it was a normal bribe. And the Emperor could not ignore his excuses. He was not established by the hands of the Emperor like Duke Riagan. He was a natural born prince of the imperial family, and the great nobles stood behind him. A much clearer cause and evidence were needed to get rid of him. If the noble forces firmly protected him, he could have endured it well enough. But now he wasn¡¯t sure. It was even more so when he heard the news about the miracle that appeared at the Harvest Festival and Leticia¡¯s naming. There was no way that Marquis Luden¡¯s death had nothing to do with it. In some cases, he lost his power due to division and became isted. Grand Duke Roygar regretted his hasty return. He should havee up slowly, disembarking at a port away from the Capital and listening to the news. If he had, he would have been able to flee to the East in any case. Grand Duke Roygar stayed at the port for one day. The Emperor ordered a quick return, but thanks to the arrival in the afternoon, there was enough leeway. He was due to leave the next day. It was past midnight that day, when Count Brennan and Marchioness Camellia came running. ¡°I am d you came back safely. I have been waiting.¡± Count Brennan had a pale face. Grand Duke Roygar looked at Count Brennan. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the progresster. Upon hearing the news of Father-inw, my wife fell.¡± Count Brennan said nothing and left. Marchioness Camellia remained with Grand Duke Roygar. Her face had also turned blue. ¡°Her Grace copsed?¡± ¡°When she heard the news that Father-inw had passed away, she fainted and had not yet woken up.¡± Grand Duke Roygar cut off the troublesome greeting and asked, ¡°Tell me honestly, Sister-inw. Was it Count Brennan who assassinated Father-inw?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Marchioness Camellia took her breath. And she was sure. Grand Duke Roygar was inherently suspicious, and he was already suspicious of her. If she was wrong, it would deepen his suspicions. Grand Duke Roygar sighed deeply and looked up at the ceiling. Then he looked down at the floor and sighed again. ¡°His Majesty¡¯s heart had decided on Cedric¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°He attended the naming ceremony and gave her a third name. It would be right to see it that way.¡± ¡°Whoo¡­¡­. What were you nning to do, Sister-inw?¡± Count Brennan¡¯s thoughts were guessed. In any case, there was nothing wrong with getting rid of the most powerful supporter of Grand Duke Roygar, Marquis Luden. Grand Duke Roygar himself was absent, so no one was held ountable. She must have nned to increase her power within the faction before the return. And it was a very effective n. As long as it runs properly. Grand Duke Roygar knew that his supporters were not all of one ord. Nobles have always wanted to weaken the imperial power. They wanted to somehow reduce the imperial power, which had be powerful during Emperor Gregor¡¯s long reign. A young Emperor is better than an older Emperor who has his own strength and a solid session. It is better to have a distant rtive rather than the Emperor¡¯s illegitimate child as a regent. If the will of his supporters unite and put pressure on him, then Grand Duke Roygar will inevitably bepelled. This is because his power is not made up of subordinates who are loyal to the master, but a coalition of nobles and enterprises. Grand Duke Roygar could only guess from the information he had heard. What could not be understood was Marchioness Camellia¡¯s side. Her interests were all on the same side as Marquis Luden in that they were all intertwined with Ga. Just as Marquis Luden had to make Grand Duke Roygar Emperor in order to exercise power as his father-inw, so Marchioness Camellia had to make him Emperor in order to wield her power as the Empress¡¯ chiefdy-in-waiting. That meant she couldn¡¯t stand in the same position as Count Brennan. ¡°I¡­¡­ I intended to eliminate Evron¡¯s Grand Princess. With only one Grand Duke Evron, it will be hard to break the order of the Emperor¡¯s session. I¡¯m sure it will be emotionally¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camellia said so. Whether she was involved in the assassination of Marquis Luden or not, he did not dare to ask it out. Anyway, what Grand Duke Roygar is curious about is what kind of political views she holds. Not his own personal mind. ¡°But neither Count Brennan nor I have been able to move right now because of the coarse salt incident. Forgive me.¡± ¡°You made a big mistake. If Father-inw was alive, we would have united around him and spoken out to His Majesty.¡± Marchioness Camellia bowed her head. Grand Duke Roygar touched his forehead. But he didn¡¯t criticize any more. It was far more important to go beyond the immediate problem. ¡°I would argue that the coarse salt was my personal bribe.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Can you take Father-inw¡¯s ce? Please crack down on the forces and support them. Lest His Majesty use me in the charge of deceiving or treason of the monarch.¡± ¡°Can you trust me?¡± ¡°If Sister-inw had betrayed me, you would have run to His Majesty instead of helping Count Brennan. That would be a much greater achievement.¡± Marchioness Camellia grabbed the hem of her skirt. Grand Duke Roygar clenched his teeth. He had no other reliable blood ties, so he could only leave it with his inws. Marquis Luden Heir Apparent had no ability. In any case, only Marchioness Camellia was left. ¡°I will leave the work of Father-inw to you. Be careful not to let Ga know.¡± ¡°Yes. I may not have Father¡¯s authority, but I will do my best.¡± ¡°And take care of it yourself if possible, but if things don¡¯t work out that way, Sister-iw either eliminate or hide all of the attendants who were at the heart of the negotiations in the South.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Marchioness Camellia replied with her head bowed deeply. Grand Duke Roygar let out a long sigh. It was inevitable that his power would shrink, but he would be able to endure it somehow. Chapter 217 As soon as Sk heard the news that Marquis Luden had died, she escaped from the envoy. She was sorry for the copsed Ga. But the situation was so dire that she couldn¡¯t afford to think about it. The Emperor¡¯s investigators would not be able to suddenly attack the special envoys. But since she returned to the vicinity of the Capital, she had to think she was within the Emperor¡¯s sight. ¡®You have to hide it before it¡¯s toote.¡¯ Fortunately, Sk was good at horseback riding. From the port to the Capital, it could be reached in less than half a day by a skilled rider on horseback. Sk barely reached the Capital before the gates were closed. She headed straight for the house. As expected, Ian had left a letter in the house. He briefly wrote about the things that had been done to him, and it was written that he went to Grand Duchy Evron. ¡®Haa.¡¯ Sk was exhausted and sat there for a moment. She herself advised Ian so. Ian will be safe, but by putting Ian in Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, she intends to keep the ties with Artizea. But she didn¡¯t know back then that Marquis Luden would be dead. The coarse salt crisis is progressing too quickly. The death of Marquis Luden also had an effect on this. It was reckless. Marquis Luden knew that Grand Duke Roygar had decided to take over the coarse salt business. Had he been alive, he would have defended the Duchy of Riagan in advance. But he died. Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction was fragmented. They were trying to not let their own family get entangled, far from working together to protect the Duchy of Riagan. Her mind went round and round. Marquis Luden was like a huge wall that had been there since Sk¡¯s birth. Sk used to dream of breaking it down. She also thought that if only Marquis Luden died, her mother would be liberated. But Sk had no intention of assassinating Marquis Luden. She wasn¡¯t really prepared for that. If Marquis Luden were to copse, she thought it would be the result of aplete defeat in a dispute. He was either defeated and purged in the session battle, or he was purged after Grand Duke Roygar ascended to the throne. Conversely, Marquis Luden had to be alive until a conclusion was reached. What the hell was her mother thinking? ¡®I need information.¡¯ Sk did not yet have a personal informationwork. If she has any questions, she has been using the informationwork created by Marchioness Camellia. She couldn¡¯t decide now. And she has no information, so whatever she thinks is just spection. It is dangerous to act on baseless reasoning. Right now, Sk was as good as standing on a single wooden bridge. She felt her arms getting hot. Of course it couldn¡¯t be, but she was overly sensitive, so it bothered her. Eventually, Sk went to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. ¡°You¡¯re back so early, Miss Sk? I thought you went as a special envoy.¡± Having received a contact from the secret contact line, Alice came out to greet her with a bewildered face. ¡°No outsiders are allowed to enter the mansion. Madam doesn¡¯t go out of the mansion anymore. I¡¯m sorry, but if you have something to say, write it down and I¡¯ll deliver it to her.¡± ¡°No. I didn¡¯te to see Her Grace. Sir Ian Camellia. He must be staying at this Grand Duke¡¯s residence, please tell him of my visit.¡± Alice also had a slightly awkward face this time. She knew that Ian hade to Artizea because of Sk¡¯s advice. But it was not in her authority to bring people into the mansion. She also knew that Artizea was advising Ian not to meet people. ¡°I¡¯ll tell him right away.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I hope it doesn¡¯t take too long.¡± Sk bit her lower lip and held back her energy. It wasn¡¯t good. Suspicions grew and spread. She didn¡¯t want anyone to know that she was meeting Ian, if possible. Ian was thest card she held. But since she had to go to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, she couldn¡¯t hide it from Artizea no matter what. ¡®It would have been the same if I had made another contact. I do not have time.¡¯ This issue must be resolved tonight. Sk waited quite a long time in the warehouse where she met Alice. It was already dark when Alice returned. ¡°Follow me.¡± Sk wore her hood up to her head and followed Alice¡¯s footstep into Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. Each stonentern in the garden was lit up brightly. She didn¡¯t even need to light her way with amp. Instead of guards everywhere, knights were standing with guns. It wasn¡¯t about patrolling, it was about having people¡¯s eyes stay in all ces. Even when Artizea copsed in the great temple and the treason charges were mentioned, the guards weren¡¯t this tight. Along the way, the knights held Alice several times and confirmed her identity. There were also several guards in the annex where Ian was staying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there aren¡¯t that many people inside.¡± Alice said so. As she said, the inside of the annex was quiet and dark. They were only cleaning near Ian¡¯s ce because they had sent out all the employees, leaving only the trusted ones. Ian was waiting in the living room. He had a look of relief when he looked at Sk. His face was a little thinner than before. ¡°Miss Sk, when are you back¡­¡­, ugh!¡± Before Ian could finish his words, Sk ran to him and hugged him. Ian was shocked. He almost reflexively put his arm around Sk¡¯s waist, but before that he could barely stop his hand. Sk spoke quickly in a low voice. ¡°Pretend to be happy.¡± Being between a man and a woman is convenient at times like this. There was no more convenient excuse for them to be alone than this. Alice won¡¯t be fooled anyway, though. Ian hesitated and finally embraced Sk. The escort knight averted his gaze. ¡°Would you mind leaving the room?¡± Ian asked awkwardly. The escort knight was a little hesitant. ¡°Because she¡¯s my fiance.¡± Ian spoke again. Until then, Sk was still burying her face in Ian¡¯s chest. Ian¡¯s embarrassment was getting bigger and bigger. The escort knight smiled with a slightly red face. Even Ian could roughly guess what he was thinking. Ian, who was about to lose his life at the hands of Marquis Luden after fighting Marquisate Camellia, is secretly meeting with Lady of Marquisate Camellia. For an escort knight who did not know the circumstances, that alone would have been romantic enough. ¡°I will leave the door open.¡± ¡°Please.¡± The knight opened the door and went out into the hallway. He couldn¡¯t hear a small voice, but his figure was in a position where he could see whenever he lifted his head. Of course, the knight was a polite person, so he wouldn¡¯t deliberately keep an eye on the lovers. Alice would not have been deceived, but she withdrew with the knight. Perhaps she went to report to Artizea. Sk then lowered her arm around Ian¡¯s neck. Ian let out a tense breath. And he tried to clear his blushing face. Sk took off her cloak and sat down on the sofa. She then grabbed Ian and sat him next to her. ¡°You can talk in a lower voice. There will probably be a sound collector. The Grand Duchess may be listening directly.¡± ¡°It seems that I have outlived my usefulness for Grand Duchess Evron.¡± ¡°Not yet. Even if she decides she doesn¡¯t need you anymore, she¡¯ll wonder why I¡¯vee to see you in such a hurry.¡± Ian nodded his head to signify that he understood. Sk could only speak then. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°Thanks to Lady, you saved my life. I regret that I did not take the advice sufficiently.¡± Ian bowed his head. Sk let out a small sigh. ¡°Did nothing happen in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence?¡± ¡°Yes. There is no difort in food, clothing, and shelter, and there is no restriction in actions. Outings and guest visits are restricted, but that is unavoidable because of the Grand Princess.¡± ¡°The cost was substantial.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not overdone. I wonder if it was because of the Grand Princess that Marquis Luden was assassinated.¡± Sk looked at Ian in surprise. Ian was also surprised. It was because he thought Sk would have known what happened at the Harvest Festival. He told Sk about this because he wanted to see if his guess was convincing. ¡°Tell that story in detail. No news reached the South. After leaving that, while I wasing here, I was on the ship of the Eimmel Kingdom the whole time.¡± It was the first time she heard the news that a girl was born. Why is the birth of the Grand Princess rted to the assassination of Marquis Luden? If it weren¡¯t for a real ident, Sk thought that it was caused by the faction¡¯s infighting with the absence of Grand Duke Roygar. If not, someone has a grudge. There was not one or two people who harbored resentment on Marquis Luden. Either way, something happened. Ian lost in thought for a moment. Sk thought that he was measuring, just as she had measured him thest time. She got goosebumps. Sk also had a n, but the n was built on the premise that she could lead Ian to the end. Ironically, the n is meaningful while there is power in Grand Duke Roygar. Marquis Luden died. Grand Duke Roygar is entangled in a smuggling case. Ian established a rtionship with Artizea. Ian may have decided that he would betray her in a situation like this. For a moment, Sk regretted it, even though she had advised him, she knew that Ian had nothing to do with her if he wanted to survive. But before she waspletely engulfed in anxiety, Ian said, ¡°The Grand Duchess told me that I should learn to be more mean.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ So, did you decide to learn?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ian looked down at his hand for a moment. His hand was rough. He was born of the bloodline of the great nobles, but it seemed that he could not have even the heart of a nobleman. ¡°I don¡¯t feel like I want to be a person like Marquis Luden.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s a real noble, then I wouldn¡¯t be a noble.¡± ¡°Sir Ian¡­ ¡­ .¡± ¡°You saved my life, Miss Sk. This time, it is my turn to help you.¡± Ian said so and looked into Sk¡¯s eyes. ¡°I am now under the protection of Grand Duchess Evron, but that was also by your arrangement. I am in your boat.¡± Strength slowly drained from Sk¡¯s body. She rested her head on Ian¡¯s shoulder as if copsing. Ian cautiously ced his hand on Sk¡¯s shoulder and leaned forward. ¡°Did you have a hard time in the South?¡± ¡°I thought I was going to die. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s the worst, though.¡± Sk closed her eyes and mumbled in reply. Chapter 218 Grand Duke Roygar entered the Pce on the third day after arriving in the Capital. He had been urged by the Emperor to enter the Pce at once. However, to keep Ga¡¯s sickbed served as a good excuse. Anyway, Cadriol¡¯s second letter would have already entered the Imperial Pce. Even if he hastily made excuses here, the Emperor would not dispel his doubts. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s better to prepare enough before going in. ¡°May you be blessed with infinite glory. Roygar meets the Sun of the Empire.¡± ¡°You worked hard to travel a long way.¡± ¡°This is an important task entrusted by Your Majesty. How can I say that the road is a bit rough?¡± Grand Duke Roygar answered without hesitation. And he sat down on the chair the attendant had brought to the other side of the office desk. The Emperor twisted his lips and smiled. ¡°You have been to a foreign country as an envoy, so it would be right to meet in the audience room, but this is not an official report, so I called you to the office. I wouldn¡¯t want you to say that you failed your mission in the presence of many officials.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed by your grace.¡± It wasn¡¯t a good feeling. However, he could not deny that he had failed, as he could not finish the agreement at the end, and the King, the target of the negotiations, was captured in a rebellion and he was also forcibly repatriated. ¡°Did the Eimmel Kingdom go through hardships, too?¡± ¡°It is true that the royal family has suffered a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°Your wife must have been surprised.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, but nothing happened. Prince Cadriol may be radical, but how could he dare to threaten the Grand Duke of the Empire when the sun is illuminating the sky?¡± Grand Duke Roygar said politely. The Emperor tapped his armrest with his fingertips. Grand Duke Roygar thought, ¡®What was written in Cadriol¡¯s letter?¡¯ There is no doubt that he must have obtained the pact that the King had agreed on. He had to respond differently depending on whether the Emperor was informed or not. ¡®He did not dwell on anger. This time heunched a coup to defend himself, but in the end it was a domestic issue of Eimmel.¡¯ He did not have any feelings for Cadriol personally, although he himself tried to help the King to me Cadriol for the sin. Cadriol would know that. It is unwise to meddle in internal conflicts within the Empire. He has limitations in attacking other countries. Then, even if he seeds in taking the throne without being overthrown, he is literally umting resentment. Even if he wasn¡¯t, there was a possibility that the Emperor would be angry if he dared to attack the imperial family as a small country. So, wouldn¡¯t it be the reason why Cadriol took care of him and sent him back without touching even a single hair? ¡®If he tries to dismiss me because of this grudge, he would shift the focus to trying to get me involved in the affairs of the Eimmel Kingdom or something.¡¯ Grand Duke Roygar made up his mind. The Emperor tapped his armrest with his finger. Even though it was only past lunchtime, the corners of his eyes were sunken and he looked very tired. ¡°Right. It¡¯s impossible for the Eimmel Kingdom to threaten my brother.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The royal family¡¯s internal strife¡­¡­. Prince Cadriol imed that King Eimmel was the one who killed Queen Eimmel, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s right to use the death of his stepmother as an excuse to raise an army and detain his biological father. Isn¡¯t that still a rebellion?¡± The Emperor spoke slowly, ¡°What do you think? Was it really the King who killed his Queen?¡± Grand Duke Roygar took in a small breath that was barely noticeable. It was to rx. ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed, Your Majesty. I don¡¯t want to make excuses for my ipetence, but it was on the very day I arrived in the Eimmel Kingdom that the Prince raised an army. We have not been able to determine who was behind the assassination of the Queen.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°But even if the King liked the Queen and the rtionship was good, I think it was a political gesture to keep the Prince in check.¡± Queen Eimmel was eighteen years younger than the King. She was rather at the age to hang out with Cadriol. It would not be a lie that the King loved the Queen. Because there was no way he could have been a greedy, snobbish man who didn¡¯t like his young, pretty, wealthy wife. In addition, the Queen has been faithful to her role as the King wants her to. But aside from whether the affection was true, did itst long? The probability of that happening was low. The Queen was capable, and the King hated even his son for being capable. Had he continued to show affection, it would have only been because she was helping in threatening Cadriol. ¡°I think it will be either the Prince, the King, or both.¡± The man standing behind the Emperor moved. His name was Ferguson. He was one of the few known identities of the Emperor¡¯s investigators. Grand Duke Roygar nced at him and said before he opened his mouth. ¡°But it is true that Queen Eimmel and the Duchy of Riagan smuggled South Sea salt, but the King was the actual influencer.¡± Grand Duke Roygar struck first before being questioned. It was also a sign that he had no intention of antagonizing Cadriol. This is what justified Cadriol beating King Eimmel. In addition, it was a sign that he had no intention of hiding the incident from the Emperor. ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor made an ambiguous sound. Ferguson said, ¡°I am sorry that a lowly investigator would dare to speak about foreign affairs, but if Queen Eimmel is involved in a big problem such as coarse salt, then it cannot be said for certain that she was assassinated because of the internal affairs, right?¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Grand Duke Roygar looked at Ferguson. Ferguson said calmly, ¡°The salt business is a huge industry. The Duchy of Riagan insisted that there was no enmity between the Queen and them, so why would they kill her. However, it is not umon for conflicts of interest between business partners to escte into fights. Sometimes, it even leads to murder.¡± ¡°If the Duchy of Riagan was really the culprit, would they have put their names with the assassin to meet the Queen?¡± The Emperor said in a rxed manner. Ferguson replied, ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty, there are many foolish killers in the world. It may not have been an assassination nned by Duke Riagan himself, but rather an assassination carried out by his subordinates.¡± Ferguson paused once, then smiled. ¡°If not, it could have been done by someone else who wanted to get involved in the salt business.¡± Perhaps, thest sentence was Ferguson¡¯s main point. Grand Duke Roygar red at him. But Ferguson spoke softly, ¡°Come to think of it, this is a personal question, but didn¡¯t Duke Riagan petition the Grand Duke to clear the frame for the death of Queen Eimmel? By the way, are you saying that he didn¡¯t tell Grand Duke, who is going to investigate the truth, the important information that could be the motive for the assassination of the Queen?¡± ¡°Shut up. You dare to look at me as a suspect and interrogate me?¡± Grand Duke Roygar spat out. The Emperor tapped the armrest. ¡°Ferguson, don¡¯t argue over merit and say groundless things.¡± ¡°Forgive me. When I started an investigation, I often forgot myself, so I was disrespectful.¡± Ferguson apologized. The apology was not directed to Grand Duke Roygar. Even if he said it to the Emperor, it was only a formal word. After all, Ferguson was the Emperor¡¯s mouth and hands. He was here to represent the Emperor and to interrogate him. Grand Duke Roygar stood up. Then, he ced his right hand on his left chest, bowed his head, and said to the Emperor, ¡°As I said before, Terry Ford has nothing to do with me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It is true that the gift received from the Duchy of Riagan contained salt. It is also true that I decided to save the Duchy of Riagan and share some of the salt business interests. However, what I was promised was the ability to give priority to the merchant alliance I designated in the East.¡± Grand Duke Roygar insisted. ¡°I had no idea about the maniption of the Treasury books. It was only when I went to the South that I found out that I had joined hands doing trafficking with the Eimmel Kingdom.¡± There was a mixture of truth and lies. It is true that he did not know about the books of the Treasury. He knew that Queen Eimmel was involved in coarse salt, but it was only when he went to the South that he knew exactly about the scale. And the only evidence left was the right to trade and the salt that was given to him directly by the Duchy of Riagan. This was not at a level that would be a major blow if raised as a problem. It was up to the Duchy of Riagan to decide which wholesaler to hand over the salt to. It was more rare for a closed room contract of that magnitude to not exist. It is enough to say that they believed that the received rights and goods were granted from within the authorities of the Duchy of Riagan. There was no mention of salt in the agreement. The petition of the Duchy of Riagan was granted, and an agreement was reached with King Eimmel, and such things will be judged by political logic. The Emperor looked at him silently. Grand Duke Roygar felt sweat welling up in his hands. However, he maintained a seemingly unshakableplexion. The Emperor then spoke softly, ¡°I understand what you mean. Let¡¯s talk about the rest after we receive an official report.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Your wife must have been shocked by what happened to Marquis Luden so suddenly, so pleasefort her.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you.¡± Grand Duke Roygar straightened his body. The Emperor said, ¡°Charlotte ising over for dinner tonight, what do you think? If your wife is okay with it, would you like to have a meal with your family after a long time? As a constion.¡± ¡°I am sorry. Today, we have decided to hold a memorial service for Father-inw, albeit informal.¡± said Grand Duke Roygar. ¡°Because we couldn¡¯t even attend the funeral, let alone stay on his deathbed. It¡¯s not that the shock of my wife is usually a big deal, but I thought she¡¯s going to need a farewell ceremony like this.¡± ¡°I see. Do it well.¡± The Emperor just said so. There must be other things he wanted to say, but he couldn¡¯t add other words to the memorial service for the father-inw. Grand Duke Roygar bowed to the Emperor and withdrew. His secretary and his attendants followed. Grand Duke Roygar didn¡¯t say a word until he left the Pce. Ferguson¡¯s humiliation spread through his body, making it unbearable. He went straight to the memorial hall. Hundreds of people gathered at the memorial hall for Marquis Luden. All were high-ranking nobles, their direct descendants, and most important aides. In the reception area set aside outside, low-ranking aristocrats, merchants, and intellectuals who could not directly enter the memorial hall gathered. Almost everyone who had been associated with Grand Duke Roygar had gathered here. Marchioness Camellia, who yed the role of the hostess, approached him and bowed her head. ¡°Time is running out, but you did a great job, Sister-inw.¡± Grand Duke Roygar said with a smile to Marchioness Camellia. He had no intention of confronting the Emperor head-on. But the people gathered here were his strength. If there was no evidence and all that was left was political logic, the Emperor would never easily push him away. Chapter 219 For a time after that, the Emperor¡¯s investigators did not touch Grand Duke Roygar. A secret organization was working undercover to investigate the attendees of the special envoy. Before that, some who were in charge of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s key duties returned to their hometown or went missing with their family. Such a battle under the water was fierce, but at least in the state of public affairs, there was no formal discussion of Grand Duke Roygar as a criminal. The press was also quiet. Artizea suggested through Hazel that it would be best not to touch this as much as possible. ¡°Even on the Harvest Festival, they say that a miracle has been revealed to Leticia, but it¡¯s a baby who was just an infant.¡± ¡°Is Her Grace joyful?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like there is an oracle that Leticia would be an Emperor? If such an oracle hade down, I wouldn¡¯t have been very pleased.¡± ¡°Is it just openly stimting Grand Duke Roygar?¡± ¡°Right. Although the Belmond magazine has a fairly high level of authority in the salon and in the universities, there is nothing good about being the object of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s hate.¡± At Hazel¡¯s question, Artizea smiled and nodded, as if seeing a student who answered well. If you are a pious person, the shock of seeing the miracle for the first time hase to pass. Grand Duke Roygar now gathers all his forces to stand up against the Emperor. If they hastily investigate and try to punish him as an aplice in the smuggling incident, the nobles will rise up. Even if they supported Leticia, there were many who sided with Grand Duke Roygar on this issue. At best, he didn¡¯t take a bribe. That kind of bribe, that kind of preferential treatment, and that kind of closed-room contract were granted to them as a matter of course. He had a weakness held by the Emperor, so he kept his mouth shut. But Grand Duke Roygar stepped forward. They could do anything behind it. No matter how much the bureaucracy is made up of emerging aristocrats andmoners, if the aristocrats fight altogether at once, state affairs will not work properly. Even if they finished their studies by the Emperor¡¯s schrship and became a bureaucrat, there is no one who did not form a rtionship with the nobles in some way. In the case of a low-ranking official, they could not dare to confront the nobles without being entangled with the connection. Paralyzing state affairs was itself undermining the authority of the Emperor. Even so, the military force could not be used to deal with it. There was no justification. Hazel asked. ¡°Until now, Grand Duke Roygar has never faced His Majesty head-on, has he ? Does he have the confidence to win this time?¡± ¡°That is the wrong word choice.¡± Artizea put her index finger to her lips and signaled to be careful with her words. ¡°His Majesty is never defeated.¡± Hezel couldn¡¯t quite figure out whether it was justified or if it really meant that the Emperor would win. ¡°Your Majesty must be very troubled. The cause that can wipe out the great nobility must be at least a treason or internal treason.¡± Artizea smiled. * * * A few weekster, Duke Riagan¡¯s family was finally escorted. The charges had already been confirmed. Evidence was piling up. It must have been that the Treasury¡¯s books had been tampered with, at least, for thest five years. Investigators confirmed that salt was produced continuously at dozens of salt factories that had been officially closed. Every time new news arrived, the amount of salt embezzled increased tremendously. Even if Duke Riagan was the main line of descendant of the Duchy family, it was impossible topromise at a reasonable level. The Emperor faced Duke Riagan. He didn¡¯t have to be, but it was so astounding that he couldn¡¯t help but meet. ¡°Did I treat you that badly?¡± The kneeling Duke Riagan was terrified. When things were going well, it felt like everything was going to go well. He didn¡¯t even think he would go downhill when he did the expansion, and even when he joined hands with Queen Eimmel. The influence of the salt business was enormous. Anyone interested inmerce treated him well. He reigned supreme in the southern social circles, and when he came to the Capital, he took the seat next in the rankings of Grand Duke Roygar and Grand Duke Evron. He had some who despised him. Duke Riagan believed that they were not only old-fashioned and stupid, but that they also had a grudge against his predecessor, the Riagan ducal couple. Or believe that they are jealous of the wealthy Duchy of Riagan. In fact, he was often caught up in a sense of inferiority. As such, he acted like he was the real Duke Riagan. Glory seemed to be upon him. But when he faced the Emperor¡¯s angry face, from the bottom of his unconsciousness the appearance of himself from 18 years ago suddenly resurfaced. He also remembered things he had forgotten. [¡°I chose you because you are ambitious, yet you know fear.¡±] The Emperor looked down at him and said so. He had a face too cold to be a young father who had just lost his child. [¡°What I want from you is the loyalty the throne deserves. If you are faithful to me, I will reward you ordingly. Do you understand?¡±] Duke Riagan¡¯s fingertips trembled. He thought he never knew until now. Who in the world assassinated Queen Eimmel? Had it not been for that, the incident would not have happened so suddenly. Those around him said that there was no way the Duchy of Riagan wouldmit such a horrific assassination of the Queen. It is said that it is the result of an ovepping unfortunate coincidence. But Duke Riagan knew one person who could devise such a scheme. It was Emperor Gregor. From the beginning, the Emperor was a person who did not discriminate against the weight of means in order to achieve his goals. He must have known everything from the beginning. When did he start preparing? As if by squeezing his neck, the Emperor conspires from all directions and uses himself as bait to catch the real target. It was not a judgement made with a sane mind. This was not in a time when there were rivals, nor was it a time when he was purging political enemies to secure imperial power. The Emperor now had no reason to conspire like that. But Duke Riagan still thought so. A tremor ran through his veins, and his whole body trembled. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry. Forgive me.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I, I was blinded by greed, so I dared to touch Your Majesty¡¯s belongings. Please, please forgive me just once.¡± ¡°Fernando.¡± ¡°I, I don¡¯t think this, this is your purpose, right? I, I was disloyal, but you have already taken away everything you were going to take away, so please forgive me now.¡± The Emperor looked at him with a dismayed face. It would not have been so surprising if Duke Riagan had even openly shown his ambitions. The Emperor gestured as if he did not want to speak. The investigators who had escorted Duke Riagan pulled him back out again. ¡°Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I was wrong! Your Majesty!¡± The cries of Duke Riagan was cut off as they moved farther across the hallway. The Emperor buried himself in the armchair and touched his forehead. ¡°I chose him because he was a small boat, so there is no need to be disappointed that he was a small boat.¡± But the Emperor was very disappointed. Rather, if Duke Riagan had been properly ambitious and prepared to risk his life, the betrayal would not have been so disappointing, though still painful. ¡°I knew he couldn¡¯t see far, but I thought he was a guy who could calcte the level of danger that could be inflicted on him.¡± He was nothing more than an idiot who mistook the light reflected by the salt crystals for glory. And he had trusted the idiot and entrusted him with an important business, and he was stabbed in the back of the head. Ferguson, who was standing, asked, ¡°How do I dispose of him?¡± ¡°Behead him for deceit and internal treason of the monarch. The family is¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor thought for a moment. Cedric would still be standing in the hallway, even now. A ten-year-old child can remember his parents. If he¡¯s a five-year-old, he¡¯ll most likely not remember his roots if the name was changed and was sent to an institution, but if he¡¯s ten, he¡¯ll definitely have a grudge. But the Emperor closed his eyes and waved his hand. ¡°Keep them alive unless they are over ten years old, but have them change their names and surnames, and send them to the monasteries in the West to disperse them.¡± After all, it is not him who will bear the resentment that those children will have when they grow up. ¡°Can we hang him without extracting further information from Duke Riagan?¡± ¡°Do it. Didn¡¯t everyone say it was a person named Boertz?¡± ¡°However, that alone cannot reliably implicate Grand Duke Roygar.¡± The Emperor tapped his armrest with his fingernail. As Artizea said, he was struggling. In the hands of the Emperor was the testimony of Boertz, and a copy of the pact between Roygar-Iantz-Eimmel sent by Prince Cadriol. But that alone was not enough evidence. Grand Duke Roygar included in his official report the pact originally intended to be kept secret. This was to assert that he was merely negotiating trade with the two kingdoms as the Emperor¡¯s envoy. In fact, in preparation for such a case, it was taken care of to not leave any nuances in the agreement itself that it would be the trade policy after the ession of Grand Duke Roygar. It was only natural that there was not a single word written about the promise of support or salt from the Kingdom of Iantz. The Emperor knew he took a bribe from the Kingdom of Iantz, but that too was nothing more than a bribe for the Emperor¡¯s envoy. The Emperor thought carefully about these things and said, ¡°It¡¯s something Fernando doesn¡¯t even know about anyway.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ferguson bowed his head. The Emperor beckoned him to leave. And he fell into thought again. Should Grand Duke Roygar be considered as involved and get purged in the first ce? Had Lawrence been there, he would have never thought twice. But now, there was no need to do so. Of course, it was uneptable to gather forces and dare to face him. Therefore, it would not be a bad choice to stop at simply moderately weakening the power and keep Grand Duke Roygar alive. Now, they are united to survive. But if the pressure is released, internal strife is inevitable. Now that Marquis Luden is dead, there was no one to stop the infighting. Grand Duke Roygar himself could do it, but by personally doing so it is impossible to move forward with the power of the supporters. If the Emperor chooses Leticia as his heir, he needs someone to check Cedric¡¯s power so that it doesn¡¯t grow too much. ¡®There¡¯s also my brother.¡¯ Without thinking about it, the Emperor smirked. He never thought he had done anything wrong, but neither was he unaware of what he had done. Knock, knock. A knock sounded. ¡°Come in.¡± It was the chief attendant. ¡°Your Majesty, it¡¯s about time.¡± ¡°Already.¡± The Emperor raised his body, which had been buried in his chair. The medicine was taken for minor illness and health. It didn¡¯t seem to be very effective, but as he got older and his energy wasn¡¯t what it used to be, he was trying not to skip it. The chief attendant himself tested for poison. The Emperor drank the bitter medicine and received the honey water from the chief attendant. ¡°Did Charlotte send it?¡± ¡°Yes. It is said that she and Fiona made it with herbs.¡± ¡°I see. Why so little?¡± ¡°Did you forget the doctor told you to watch out for sweets?¡± ¡°Nevertheless. It¡¯s a granddaughter¡¯s sincerity.¡± The Emperor grunted and emptied his small cup. Chapter 220 Where there are those who fall, there will also be those who rise. Duke Riagan¡¯s punishment was confirmed. Next, a meeting was held to discuss the disposal of property and the salt business confiscated from the Duchy of Riagan. Officials looked at each other. Who will get the salt business this time? It was clear that the Emperor would not entrust the entire monopoly to the noble family this time. In the past, Fernando Riagan was given a monopoly after bing the Duke because it could not be ignored that the Duchy of Riagan had practically dominated the salt business for a long time. In addition, the former Riagan ducal couple were said to have died in an ident. There was no justification to forfeit their privileges and properties. But this time it was different. The Emperor would probably want to appoint an officer to rule directly. If so, who will be in charge? It is impossible for the central government to directly control the business of the South. Even if the business sites were divided into several groups and operated by the state, in the end, a proxy deputy was needed. It is not a family property that can be hereditary. However, the impact that can be exercised on the spot will be enormous. Even taking into ount the strict supervision of the Emperor, they would be able to seize great power in the South. Not to mention the umtion of wealth. On the other hand, it was also difficult. After this happened for the first time. When the owner of the throne changed, it was easy to experience storms and waves . If Grand Duke Roygar ever ascended the throne, it was certainly a position to be purged. As a result, the meeting was dyed. It was a time when the Emperor had to make a decision, but he had an indifferent attitude. The Emperor has been disappointed with his subjects one after another recently. The other official who sat in this position didn¡¯t seem to be any different from Bellon or Amalie. When he gathered only those kinds of officials and discussed important things, of course, there was no reason to be motivated. ¡°If they have to stay in the South for a long time and take over the salt business right away, it won¡¯t be easy. It is difficult for those whose families have taken root in the Capital, and it is difficult for them if they are old, so I will choose young and capable people without considering their current status.¡± said the Emperor. ¡°Let me rmend it without hesitation.¡± Even though he seldom spoke openly, Chancellor Lin spoke, ¡°How about appointing it as a temporary job?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°This year, we have inventory secured by confiscating the embezzled salt from the Duchy of Riagan. The Ministry of Home Affairs will assist and solve the problem somehow.¡± ¡°The investigation into the distributor is not over.¡± Ferguson intervened, ¡°In many cases, the licensed wholesalers supplied through the Eimmel Kingdom already knew that it was coarse salt. They are clearly aplices.¡± ¡°If we want to investigate and punish even the wholesalers and select a new merchant, distribution will only be possible at the end of next year, Your Majesty. Aside from the skyrocketing prices of the salt, think about the spread of coarse salt across the country in the meantime.¡± Chancellor Lin said seriously. An interior ministry official added anxiously, ¡°It cannot be controlled by a crackdown on daily necessities. At this rate, it is no different than building up the soil for coarse salt merchants to take root.¡± ¡°Besides, for normal production next spring, we need to hire a manager right now and get the factory running properly.¡± ¡°Then, are you saying that after all, we should entrust the distribution of salt to those who have served as coarse salt merchants?¡± As soon as the words started to burst, remarks pointing out the problem followed. The Emperor opened his mouth only when the chaotic circumstances were about toe. ¡°I know, so please stop.¡± The speech ceased. ¡°Is this a problem that can be solved by fighting? As the Chancellor said, I should send temporary workers for now. But don¡¯t think of it as a simple temporary position, but think of it as the opportunity to choose a major responsibility if you do a good job.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do not think about taking charge of it, there will be young people who say they are capable in each department, right? Take a good look and rmend them one by one.¡± ¡°I will obey your orders.¡± The officials bowed their heads and answered. If it was a rmendation with such restrictions and benefits, it was rtively easy to rmend. It was then that the door creaked open. The attendant hurried in without knocking. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked the Emperor. The servant bowed his head in a bewildered manner. ¡°Her Majesty is here now.¡± ¡°Empress?¡± Before he could finish speaking, the door to the conference room opened. The twody-in-waiting, who came in and opened the door by hand, bowed their heads from the left and right. The Empress entered at a slow pace. The officials in the conference room jumped up in surprise. The Emperor was surprised and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The Empress showed no interest in this at all, except on the day it happened. In fact, that day too, the daughter of Duke Riagan visited the Empress¡¯ Pce and did not back down, so she stepped outside and ounoced her decision. So, he thought she wouldn¡¯t get involved in this. Cedric pulled out his chair and moved it to the seat next to the Emperor. The Empress gave a brief thank you, and she sat down. The Emperor asked without hiding his surprise, ¡°I thought you had decided not to get involved in this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care anything about Fernando. But I need to get my inheritance back.¡± ¡°Inheritance?¡± The Emperor was dazzled. There was a chill in his voice. ¡°You have already lost your inheritance of the Duchy of Riagan when you were crowned the Crown Princess.¡± ¡°Property is separate.¡± said the Empress. ¡°I will take back thend, including art and jewelry handed down through the Duchy of Riagan, mansions and vis, 72 salt manufacturing mills, nearby mines and logging farms. This is something my parents should have handed down to me in the first ce. It wasn¡¯t Fernando¡¯s, so you have no right to confiscate it.¡± ¡°Catherine.¡± ¡°There are many other small things, but it is not worth it as a family history. Use my fortune as seed money and take everything that Fernando has grown.¡± The Emperor¡¯s face contorted. The Empress¡¯ words were not wrong. What she gave up was the title of Duke Riagan. It wasn¡¯t the property. A mansion ornd was probably fine. Of course, it was a huge asset, but it was not confiscated as a part of the state management n to establish any business with. But the salt mills were different matters. Currently, there are 150 salt factories operated by the Duchy of Riagan. If it was 72 factories, it was almost half the number. As with the numbers alone, the problem was more serious with the scale. All nine of the Empire¡¯srgest salt mines belonged to the Duchy of Riagan. Salt produced there ounted for 40% of the total production. Without that, it was impossible to supply salt throughout the Empire. The officials held their breath. The Empress¡¯ im could not be denied unconditionally. They would be able to forcibly detain other nobles in the name of the national interest, but the other person was the Empress. ¡°What are you going to do with the salt mills? The private production and distribution of salt is now prohibited.¡± ¡°It belongs to my parents, so I just want to get it back. It would not be against thew of the Empire to only own the salt business and not do it. Whether to blow it up or leave it alone, isn¡¯t it to my heart?¡± ¡°No, Empress.¡± Cedric, who had been silent until then, intervened. It was at that moment when the Emperor¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Salt is a daily necessity. If those salt mills are shut down, the proper way for the salt to circte bes difficult.¡± He bowed his head deeply to the Empress. Essentially, these daily necessities should be released from the monopoly system and made into a permit system. In this way, people¡¯s lives will not bepletely destroyed in times like these. After all, if they control the manufacturing sites and distributionwork, they can reap huge profits. Just like Duke Riagan did in the past. However, Cedric could not say that, and he kept his mouth shut because he was not in a position to be directly involved in the business. ¡°Please look at the lives of the people.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Chancellor Lin knelt in front of the Empress. ¡°Even now, prices are already skyrocketing. Considering that salt is amodity that is stored and used, it will be unmanageable next year.¡± The Chancellor fell to his knees, and the Minister of the Interior and the Ministry of Home Affairs could not sit still. They lined up and knelt down on their knees. All that was left was Ferguson. The Emperor was quiet. Cedric may have said it with a pure heart, but Chancellor Lin was certainly trying to create an atmosphere where he couldn¡¯t fight. The Empress stifled augh. ¡°Cedric, you are making me a very bad person.¡± ¡°Forgive me. How can I not know how much we value our parents¡¯ heritage? But the governmentes first.¡± ¡°Nevermind. I really didn¡¯t mean to blow it up anyway.¡± The Empress spoke promiscuously and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor asked in a calm voice, ¡°What are you going to do? There¡¯s no way you¡¯re really interested in the distribution of salt.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just like I said. It¡¯s my parents¡¯ inheritance, so I¡¯ll take ownership. When I die, I n to pass it on to my ward and rtives.¡± ¡°Umm.¡± The Emperor patted his chin and fell into his thoughts. If the Empress¡¯ purpose was to inherit ownership, there was room forpromise. The issue of inheritance rights has always been a sensitive issue for the nobles and the temple, so if there is a fight, the chaos in state affairs will be longer. The Emperor said, ¡°I will give you the rent for the manufacturing site and equipment. Do not directly engage in any operation or distribution.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take a portion of the mine¡¯s profits in salt.¡± ¡°Only the salt crystals that are of value as ornaments. If what you want is a symbol of the Duchy of Riagan, then that should be enough.¡± ¡°No. Even if the distribution is through your agent, I need to get the proper salt first. And I want my heirs to be able to properly own mills.¡± ¡°Catherine, that is uneptable. Your heirs, like you, will receive the proceeds from the mills and the rent of the salt mills.¡± ¡°If I can¡¯t control my inheritance rights and the heirs of my family, neither can you.¡± The Emperor¡¯s face hardened slightly. The Empress spoke out, ¡°But if you give my heirs the rights they deserve, I can grant what you suggested before.¡± ¡°Catherine, that is¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you need time to think, do it.¡± The Empress said so and stood up. ¡°Ah, Empress.¡± Cedric panicked and called her. But the Empress left the conference room without looking at him. The officials were perplexed. Except for the Emperor himself, Cedric was the only one who knew what was the ¡®proposal¡¯ that the Emperor had made to the Empress. The one that Cedric was officially supposed to not know. The Emperor looked at the Empress¡¯ back and said in a subdued voice. ¡°Today¡¯s meeting ends here.¡± It was when the attendees heard that that they stood up. The knock on the conference room door resounded again. The Empress was in the conference room, but the person who was waiting outside immediately asked for an audience. The Emperor asked nervously, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There is a messenger from the port.¡± ¡°Is this urgent?¡± ¡°Not urgent, but important.¡± The Emperor motioned to bring in the messenger. The messenger knelt down on one knee and spoke politely. ¡°King Eimmel has arrived.¡± Indeed, it was a serious matter. Chapter 221 The carriage stopped. On the way from the port to the Capital, King Eimmel had his eyes closed the whole time. Because he didn¡¯t want to show that he was agitated. So, it was only when the servant opened the door that he knew where he hade. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the Imperial Pce?¡± King Eimmel asked in a subdued voice. The servant, who was reaching out to escort him, replied politely. ¡°It¡¯s not going to be a short stay. It will be more convenient here.¡± King Eimmel frowned at those words. From calling in the King of another country and saying that he would stay for a long time as if it was natural, to not preparing a separate ce for the esteemed guest at the Imperial Pce, everything was disgracing him. Even though Emperor Gregor had sent his escorts and guards to be polite, it was only an appearance. But the King had no way to resist. This was the heart of the Empire. ¡°Please take refreshment inside. After you have relieved your fatigue, you will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.¡± ¡°Umm.¡± The King groaned briefly and got off the carriage. The mansion was splendid, so it was somewhatforting to his heart. The servant said as if he understood his feelings. ¡°This is the mansion where His Majesty stayed before being appointed Crown Prince. There was a time when it was called the Spring Pce.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Thinking back, it might have been better to be here than to be in the Imperial Pce, where there are many people¡¯s eyes. Besides, in the Imperial Pce, he would have to greet and bow his head. Even if the Empress or ady greeted him, he had to bow his head daily to the Emperor. He didn¡¯t like it either, but in actuality, even those like Grand Duke Roygar or Grand Duke Evron could not be said to be inferior to him. Even if they respected him outwardly, it was never possible on the inside. He came here because the interests of Emperor Gregor and Cadriol were aligned. The Emperor sought to restore his damaged dignity by cing King Eimmel in the Imperial Capital. Cadriol wanted to seize the throne without getting his father¡¯s blood on his hands. For now, he took full control of the armed forces within the Kingdom and the nobles conformed. The King was suspended. However, if the King survives as another monarch, the Kingship will eventually be split in two. One day, there will be those who will follow him and fight against Cadriol. The fact that the King lived in good health and was in the Eimmel Kingdom itself was a risk factor. [¡°You brat, no matter how much Krates is as an empire, they cannot demand that the King of another country be sent there! You are going to sell the country!¡±] [¡°Well, what would you do? The Empire is arge nation, and we are a small country. Even if the wind blows a little bit in the South Sea, if the Empire decides to put pressure on us, no country in all directions will trade with our country.¡±] No country could grow without the wealth of the Empire. The severance of ties was fatal for the small countries in the South Sea, where they could not survive without interacting with neighboring countries. If that happens, within two years there will be a lot of starvation. [¡°All the force and financial power that Father possessed and wielded over the past few years had been, in part, stolen from the imperial salt business. I guess you forgot. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t think you would be able to face the owner of the salt.¡±] King Eimmel trembled. But his only objection was this. [¡°Even if the Emperor is that great, your disloyalty is the same.¡±] [¡°I¡¯m still trying to protect Father¡¯s honor.¡±] [¡°Honor?¡±] [¡°Father is going to the Empire only for testimony, not as a criminal. The Empire also promised to honor Father.¡±] [¡°Cadriol¡­¡­ !] [¡°Did you not like luxury? You didn¡¯t even like to take care of the state affairs.¡±] [¡°You, you dare¡­¡­ !¡¹ [¡°The Imperial Capital is iparably splendidpared to Eimmel, so don¡¯t worry about anything, go and live in luxury. We will also send you a generous amount of money so that you do not feelcking in life.¡±] Cadriol smiled, bowed his head, and spoke with his face close to the King. It was no longer the face of a son. [¡°Isn¡¯t it better to be the misfortune King than to be killed by your son and be the dead King?¡±] So, he was put on a ship headed for the Imperial Capital. As Cadriol said, courtesy was sufficient. On the surface, King Eimmel was visiting the Capital of the Krates Empire. But he will be detained here. After a year or two, he will be demanded that an abdication be written on the grounds of the vacancy in the state affairs of the Eimmel Kingdom. Cadriol said that would make he, himself, an ill-fated King who had fallen under imperial pressure; it would appear that he did not want to drive out his father, but that he was forced to ascend the throne because of the Empire. And Emperor Gregor¡¯s status was elevated, regardless of whether or not he was criticized. ¡®Hmm, how long do you think it will be like that?¡¯ The King thought to himself. The attendant guided him and showed him arge hall where a ball could be held, a spacious drawing room, a profound study and arge dressing room. The mansion was satisfactory. Although small in size, the quality was better than that of the Eimmel Pce. The King admitted it frankly. ¡°There is a cook and a gardener. If you have brought anyone, I will take them back.¡± ¡°No, they can stay as is.¡± Just because it was a cook from Eimmel, there was no guarantee that they would be reliable. Rather, it would have been better to have a cook that Emperor Gregor took care of. As soon as he arrives in the Empire, the Emperor will be in trouble if he dies. There was something more important than that. ¡°Since I¡¯vee all the way to the Imperial Capital, I¡¯ll have to contact people I know.¡± the King said so. He was thinking of making contact with Grand Duke Roygar. But the servant said with a soft, obedient face. ¡°In two days, you will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. Until then, rest well. It¡¯s a long journey, and you must be tired.¡± The King could not correct hisplexion and hardened his face. But even though the servant would have recognized it, he did not change his face or apologize. ¡°I reheated the water from the hot spring and prepared it in the bathroom. His Majesty sent a masseuse. After taking a bath, I will prepare a meal for you. Shall we do it Eimmel¡¯s way?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ alright.¡± The King finally realized that he was imprisoned. £ª£ª£ª Only one candle flickered in the dark attic. Marchioness Camellia sat on the dusty old bed, her gaze fixed under the candlestick, immersed in her thoughts. King Eimmel was moved from the port to the mansion under the strict escort of the Guard. He had no chance of contact with outsiders, and the same was true of the mansion now. But that couldn¡¯t stop the news that he had arrived. ¡®I made as much excuse as I could by disclosing the agreement in advance. There is no way I can use my hands on this.¡¯ She was going to hold on like this and wait for the case to pass. If she does something, it¡¯s only after the aftermath has passed. She had to assassinate Leticia first, and then conspire against Grand Duchy Evron. However, if King Eimmel was ttering with useless noise, it was all in vain. ¡®No way, he won¡¯t say anything to discriminate against himself either.¡¯ However, King Eimmel has a different position from Grand Duke Roygar. He came here after being pushed out of his home country, but on the contrary, he will no longer be threatened with his life. He could have even confessed to anything, depending on what Emperor Gregor suggested. ¡®I have to contact him by any means before the audience.¡¯ Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door ¡°Mother, it¡¯s me.¡± It was Sk who called out the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Marchioness Camellia said so. Sk opened the door and entered. She was holding arge candlestick with six candles in her hand. The narrow attic was brightened in an instant. ¡°Why are you alone in such a dark ce? It¡¯s cold and humid.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good here to think alone.¡± Marchioness Camellia said in a subdued voice. ¡°How did you know I am here?¡± ¡°I was looking for you because you weren¡¯t anywhere, so maternal grandmother told me to go up here.¡± She was now staying at Marquisate Luden. It is because Ga wanted to remain at Marquisate Luden even after the memorial service. She wanted to console her mother¡¯s grief and add a hand to cleaning up her father¡¯s belongings. She seemed unaware that she was the one who mourns the death of Marquis Luden the most. And it was for Ga herself that Marchioness Camellia remained in Marquisate Luden. Marchioness Camellia was thus in aplicated mood. She stayed by Ga¡¯s side, not purely tofort and strengthen her, but to prevent anyone from spilling useless words into Ga¡¯s ears about the death of Marquis Luden. ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± Sk asked, sitting on the floor in front of the Marchioness. Marchioness Camellia looked down at Sk for a moment, then realized that she had already known about the truth of the assassination of Marquis Luden. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about what I¡¯ve already done.¡± ¡°It may have been a failure strategically, but you didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± ¡°It is wrong to kill people, Sk.¡± Marchioness Camellia said in a subdued voice, ¡°Especially because it doesn¡¯t have any strategic value.¡± ¡°If my mother hadn¡¯t done it, I would have one day done it.¡± Of course, Sk¡¯s dream of revenge did not end in an ident. What she wanted was that Marquis Luden would be driven away to a remote country, and he would dig and plow the fields with those whom he despises so much, where he could barely earn 10% of the crop needed to survive, and then die alone. ¡°Maybe, it could be a good thing.¡± ¡°Good thing?¡± ¡°Now that maternal grandfather is gone, no one has ambitions in Marquisate Luden.¡± ¡°Therefore?¡± ¡°Separate from Aunt.¡± Sk took a deep breath and said, ¡°You know. After Princess Leticia was born, the situation became very difficult.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you endure this, will you have a chance? It¡¯s the same even if you make more time by assassinating the Princess. Have you forgotten what happened with Bishop Akim? The Emperor will use that as an excuse to use Mother and Uncle of treason.¡± ¡°Sk¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Or, is it possible to exterminate Evron and the Princess? The Grand Duchess is not holding up?¡± Sk said, ¡°After all, this is a matter of the Emperor¡¯s heart. And the Emperor will not take Uncle as his sessor. Especially since this happened.¡± ¡°Aaahh¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camellia couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Because it was something she had thought about, too. ¡°It¡¯s not toote, Mother. Everyone knows that Aunt wasn¡¯t involved in politics. Separate yourself from Aunt now, and negotiate with Grand Duchess Evron. There may be humiliating conditions, but that is the only way for our family and Marquisate Luden to survive.¡± Sk sped her hands tightly and said earnestly. Chapter 222 Marchioness Camellia said in a low voice, ¡°You are the one who advised Luca to go east.¡± ¡°Yes. Even if things go wrong, it¡¯s not Father¡¯s or Luca¡¯s responsibility. I told Luca to be ready to go into hiding at any time while in the East.¡± ¡°You did something stupid. His Majesty would have been suspicious.¡± ¡°Anyway, His Majesty must be suspicious of everything. Mother doesn¡¯t say anything because you think so too, and you also told Father to do so.¡± Sk took a deep breath and said, ¡°Be patient and earn time. What do you do after that? Are you going to assassinate His Majesty?¡± Sk lowered her voice so that no one could hear it. In the past, it was enough to keep Lawrence in check and then drive him out. Grand Duke Evron waspletely out of the race for session. He was the one furthest. Grand Duke Evron himself seemed to have no intention of staying in the Capital under the favor of the Emperor. So, at that time he just had to hold on. The Emperor had no other choice, as he had no children. But it is different now. Inheritancew is not driven by public opinion. However, it is about determining the Emperor¡¯s sessor. The people¡¯s wee and the support of the temple are justifications. How much more can they say than God had given grace? Now, Grand Duke Roygar had no choice but to hold on. The Emperor had to die before the session ranking could be overturned for any other cause. The only way to ensure that is to assassinate him. ¡°Do you think that would be possible?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± To Sk¡¯s words, Marchioness Camellia responded in a whispering voice. Both the mother and daughter did not feel repulsed against the idea of assassinating the Emperor. If they are a member of Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction, they must have thought about it at least once. Why they haven¡¯t done it so far is not because they have loyalty or because it¡¯s wrong, but because it¡¯s not easy. ¡°In a situation where Princess Leticia is not able to affect anything?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be right now. If His Majesty had in mind Princess Leticia as his heir, then he would not remove His Grace Grand Duke Roygar. We have to contain Grand Duke Evron.¡± That is the Emperor¡¯s tendency. They don¡¯t know if they can remove both at once, and if they can¡¯t, they won¡¯t remove either. And neither Grand Duke Roygar nor Marchioness Camellia were confident that they had enough power to remove both at once. ¡°I don¡¯t know what King Eimmel will say.¡± ¡°Yes. But no matter what King Eimmel says, His Majesty will not kill Grand Duke Roygar right away.¡± ¡°Even so, he will cut off his limbs! Mother, by gathering people to the memorial service, Uncle challenged His Majesty head-on.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Because that would be the story of failure.¡± As Marchioness Camellia said so, she stood up from her seat. Sk tried to follow her, flustered. And she cried out in surprise, ¡°Mother. Mother!¡± Because Marchioness Camellia had closed the door in front of her. ¡°I understand what you mean, Sk. I knew you betrayed me.¡± ¡°Mother!¡± Click. The door is locked. ¡°I hoped it wasn¡¯t like this.¡± ¡°Mother! Eliminating King Eimmel won¡¯t change anything! It¡¯s just a matter of time!¡± ¡°I understand your concerns. I¡¯m thankful, and I felt like you¡¯re already all grown up.¡± said Marchioness Camellia. ¡°But I will never separate from Her Grace.¡± There was no obligation to take care of Ga until the end. She made a deal with Marquis Luden, but she didn¡¯t even think the deal was justifiable. She was jealous. There were times when she felt unfair. There were times when she felt deprived. If she had been born as the legitimate daughter of Marquis Luden, she was confident that she would be superior to the Marquis Heir Apparent, to Ga, and to any other he called his child. In such a position, even if she had not received the same education as the Marquis Heir Apparent, she could not have had any feelings toward Ga, the daughter of Marquis Luden. When she was younger, she thought many times if she had been born into Ga¡¯s position. However, she has been watching over Ga for all her life. There were not only duties and transactions there. ¡°As long as His Grace and Her Grace are alive, we can still fight. Legal inheritance is a powerful thing.¡± If it is before the Emperor establishes an official session scheme, they can overturn it in just one shot. ¡°Mother! No! Grand Duchess Evron has made all the preparations!¡± Sk eximed, ¡°Free me, Mother! I am now¡­¡­!¡± Sk was unable to speak until the end and gasped for her breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll send someone soon, so go to the East after your father and Luca. You¡¯re smart, so you¡¯ll know when to disappear and when toe back.¡± Marchioness Camellia said so and left. Sk heard the sound of stepping on the stairs going down to the attic. Sk took a deep breath and sat down in her seat. Her eyes turned round and round, and she grabbed her hair with both her hands. She was going to try anyway. It was just thest thing she was going to ask. She wanted to stop and discuss with her mother if she ever wanted to turn around. ¡®No. No. Unless Mother changes her mind, I have no choice but to do it anyway.¡¯ Sk thought as she crouched down. Marchioness Camellia did not go to the South. She could not have been directly involved in this. If it¡¯s the collective punishment, she can cover it with her family¡¯s merit. The first to betray will be able to escape. Didn¡¯t she intend to do just that? She had nothing to suffer from. Whether or not her mother had the will to strike Marquis Luden was no longer important at this point. Had she known much earlier, then could something have been different? It won¡¯t be. After all, it was up to Ga. Sk sighed and grabbed her head again. £ª£ª£ª It was three dayster that King Eimmel¡¯s weing party was held. This was Ian Camellia¡¯s first time attending an official banquet at the Imperial Pce. Ian stood in front of the mirror and checked himself once. And he said to Hazel, ¡°Thank you for taking care of me.¡± It was not an easy task for Ian just to wear a in robe. At Artizea¡¯s order, Hazel took care of his outfit. ¡°I just called in a seamstress. It looks good on you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ian saw that he had a paleplexion as he looked into the mirror. And the fact that Hazel is looking at him like that. ¡°I¡¯m surprised.¡± ¡°That I decided to go out?¡± ¡°No. When you first attended an official banquet, you decided that it would be a weing party for the King of another country. Usually, people pick something like a New Year¡¯s Eve party. It¡¯s easy to be alienated in diplomatic banquets or banquets with guests.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really want to get too much attention.¡± Ian said sadly. Until now, banquets had to attract attention, so it didn¡¯t make a very good impression because it was a banquet stained with scandal and insidiousness. Hazel tilted her head. But Ian didn¡¯t bother to reveal what he was going to do. He did not want to attend the banquet. However, his request to visit the Emperor was rejected by Artizea. [¡°It¡¯s impossible for Sir to attend an audience alone with His Majesty.¡±] [¡°So, I am asking you to write a letter of rmendation.¡±] [¡°In that case, it seems that you have forgotten that all the work done by the audience is the responsibility of the rmender.¡±] Ian didn¡¯t really think of that part, so he bowed his head to Artizea. [¡°Hazel will get you an invitation to the banquet.¡±] [¡°That Your Grace will be attending?¡±] [¡°I am not feeling well. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a dinner party, but I¡¯m not in a position to attend the party.¡±] Ian couldn¡¯t help but nod his head. He did onest check on his outfit and went out. He offered Hazel to be his partner, but she declined. From the time he was told by Artizea that it was the responsibility of the rmender, he had been thinking about going alone. He made his own decisions to repay her favor, so he didn¡¯t want to involve the one he was trying to do a favor for. He got on a carriage alone and arrived in front of the main gate of the Imperial Pce. He also separated from the escort knight there. He was not a member of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s family anyway, so he couldn¡¯t bring an armed escort knight into the room. The lesser nobles attending the banquet, each adorned with jewels and splendid clothes, lined up and entered. Ian headed to the door through which the high-ranking nobles came in alone. ¡°Sir Ian of Marquisate Camellia has arrived!¡± the calling officer shouted loudly. Hearing a not-so-honorable title, Ian entered. People¡¯s eyes were painfully pierced. It seemed that Ian was the only one who could be called a high-ranking nobleman at the moment. Ian slowly looked down from above the lobby. Sk wasn¡¯t here. He thought that she might havee in disguise as a lesser noble, so Ian joined the crowd. Because of his simple clothes and not many faces he knew, he was quickly forgotten. ¡°County Brennan couple and the Lord have arrived!¡± ¡°Chancellor Lin and the Madam have arrived!¡± ¡°County Eunice couple and the Lady have arrived!¡± As time passed, the other high-ranking officials also arrived, and the calling officer called out one after another. But Sk never came. She was nowhere to be seen. [¡°If I fail to convince Mother, I may not be able toe. I may probably be detained somewhere.¡±] Sk said. [¡°Still¡­¡­ , no, then all the more, do not hesitate to present this to His Majesty. Just don¡¯t forget to mention that I was the one who brought this.¡±] The calling officer shouted. ¡°His Majesty King Eimmel has arrived.¡± And thest one came. ¡°Pir of Krates, who received the scepter and orb from the god and became the sun on the earth, His Majesty Emperor Gregor Avanasi Nestor has arrived!¡± Everyone knelt on the spot. People in all directions were lowered as if an ebb was going down. Ian took in his breath. And, putting up with the feeling of a stiff neck, he moved forward. Gossip and questionable gaze stabbed Ian. As the Emperor and King Eimmel approached the front of the stairs, the guards blocked Ian¡¯s way. King Eimmel frowned at him, and the Emperor said something. Ian was nervous out of his mind and he didn¡¯t hear it. Instead, he knelt down in front of them and recited the words he had prepared, ¡°I would like to report a treason.¡± Chapter 223 The banquet hall was filled with silence. Even King Eimmel held his breath. The Emperor slowly opened his mouth, ¡°Yes, can you take responsibility for that?¡± The Emperor¡¯s wrath was vividly transmitted to Ian, who knelt down with his head bowed down the stairs. Ian felt his spine cool. He was several dozen times more afraid than when he faced Marquis Luden. Emperor Gregor ruled the Empire for twenty years. From the time Ian grew up, he was the Emperor. And although he lived far from the Capital and lived like amoner, Ian was a citizen. The ingrained dignity and reflex fear made Ian tremble. Ian was thinking of the possibility that he might not be able to ovee this fear and conduct himself wisely. The Emperor nced at Ian with cold eyes and said to King Eimmel, ¡°I prepared a banquet for the first time in a long time, but I¡¯m sorry that something like this happened.¡± ¡°No.¡± King Eimmel lowered his head with a pale face. There was no ce where he felt that the Emperor had weed him and made him feel better. He didn¡¯t think it was a coincidence that this had happened less than a few days after he had arrived. The Emperor stood up and spoke, ¡°Proceed with the banquet. You follow me.¡± So, he turned his body and went inside. Gayan followed him. Ian stood up as if being pulled up by the guards. Ian had to walk on his own feet. However, as the guards from both sides followed closely, the pressure was enormous. He followed right up to the Emperor¡¯s lounge. The Emperor sat down on the sofa. Ian knelt on one knee in front of him. The guards then pressed him on the shoulder, causing him to kneel on both knees. The Emperor said, ¡°You¡¯re arrogant. If there is anything to use, it is to be reported quietly, to tarnish my face like this in the presence of King Eimmel.¡± Ian couldn¡¯t move and bowed his head. ¡°Tell me in detail what your status is and who plotted the treason.¡± ¡°My name is Ian, son of Camellia. The used is Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°What nonsense!¡± The Emperor mmed down his armrests and shouted at him. Even though Ian was prepared, he flinched. The servants hurriedly knelt on their knees. ¡°Roygar is my younger brother and holds the title of Grand Duke. He is also the first heir to the throne. How could you do something like this!¡± The Emperor waved his hand. ¡°How dare you try to use the imperial family! Was it because you were blinded by a grudge against Luden and Camellia? Take him away and charge him with sphemy!¡± ¡°There is proof!¡± Ian screamed and put his hand to his arm. The guards quickly grabbed him from both sides, immobilizing his hands. And they took his things directly from Ian¡¯s chest. It was a jewelry box. He couldn¡¯t entrust it to anyone, and he couldn¡¯t bring it in openly, so he put it in his arms at the risk of his clothes looking weird. The servant took the jewelry box from the guard¡¯s hand, showed it to the Emperor once, and checked it. The Emperor¡¯s anger subsided. After examining it, the guards released Ian. Ian said, ¡°My wife followed to the South as thedy-in-waiting of Grand Duchess Roygar, and, knowing that she could not handle it by herself, she secretly entrusted me with the evidence of treason.¡± ¡°Who is your wife?¡± ¡°Sk of the Camellia family.¡± At these words, the Emperor could do nothing but keep his mouth shut. He didn¡¯t know Sk closely. He had, at best, only met her when he was greeted by her with her parents at a few banquets. Other than that, he only knew that she had visited several times to prepare for the celebration at the Empress¡¯ Pce, that she had an acquaintance with Artizea, and although rumored to be clever she was still under the influence of her mother. However, she is the Heir Apparent of Marquisate Camellia. She would be in opposition to Ian, who filed an inheritancewsuit. ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°You can tell right away if you check it, what would I lie about?¡± ¡°In which temple did you sign your marriage vows?¡± Without hesitation, Ian stated the location of the temple. The oath was written before Sk headed for the South. Rather than taking effect immediately, certain conditions must be met to be registered in the temple¡¯s marriage register. In addition, some restrictions were ced on the marriage contract to be canceled by either party if the mutual promise was vited. Therefore, they deliberately left the Capital and chose a temple in a small suburban vige and left it there. However, when Sk returned and she spent the night in the same room as he, the marriage was fully legal. The Emperorughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°The Marquis Camellia couple would be very stunned if they found out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s between people who have alreadye of age. We decided this was a way to fix the fight without making it bigger.¡± Ian said so, because the Emperor didn¡¯t seem to like a person who would believe him if he said he was in love. It was the words he had matched with Sk. Meanwhile, the servant confirmed that there was no device in the jewelry box. He then presented it to the Emperor. The Emperor opened the lid of the jewelry box and clicked his tongue. ¡°Who did you say you got it from?¡± ¡°It is said to be a personal gift from the official of the Kingdom of Iantz, who signed the agreement on behalf of the king.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± If there was only this one thing, Roygar would have been able to make excuses somehow. It could have been argued that the Grand Duchess received the gift as she was immature, or that she had never opened it. However, looking at the agreement as well, it was impossible to do so. He really didn¡¯t like it. He was unaware of what was in the heart of Grand Duke Roygar. If given the chance, he would have wanted to assassinate him. There must be a lot of resentment, but more than that, it was unavoidable in order not to lose his position. However, the Emperor could not get rid of Grand Duke Roygar now. Then, there will be only Cedric left in the imperial family to be the heir. To say that he was the only sessor would mean he was the second-inmand, and it also meant that he was a being who could stand up to the Emperor. How many monarchs in history have had a positive rtionship with their eldest son. Moreover, if there was only one sessor, it could not even be eliminated. ¡®Even if Leticia is there, it¡¯s still early.¡¯ The Emperor closed the lid of the jewel box. Ian made a wise choice. If Ian had gone through a covert channel, the Emperor would have removed Ian, leaving only the jewel box. So that he can use this evidence whenever he wants. ¡°¡­¡­ Pretty clever.¡± The Emperor muttered in a hoarse voice. It was annoying. Ian and Grand Duke Roygar. But there was nothing he could do. Ian filed a treason charge at an official banquet. This thing cannot be covered. The word is treason, so it is impossible to pass by with his eyes closed. Even more so if it is entangled with other countries. He had to check even the smallest things that were really insignificant. The Emperor put down the jewelry box and ordered his servant. ¡°Give Ian Camellia a guest room in the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°Ah, I have a ce¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Go.¡± The servant interrupted him with a friendly face. Ian realized that this meant that he would take custody of him, not providing amodation for the convenience of the procedure. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Anxiety surged. But he endured. He did not think that he would be able to return without incident after making these usations. ¡°Call the Chancellor and Ferguson. No need to make a fuss¡­¡­. They must have got their ears up anyway. Tell those two toe in.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Emperor looked at Gayan this time and said, ¡°You take the guards and besiege Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence and Marquis Luden¡¯s residence. Don¡¯t let a single rat escape.¡± The Emperor ordered, ¡°A traitor who dared to go abroad and im to be the Emperor. I will personally interrogate him.¡± ¡°I take the orders.¡± Gayan bowed his head, greeted, and walked away. The Emperor rubbed the back of his neck. The servant who remained by his side asked quickly, ¡°Shall I call a masseuse?¡± ¡°That would be great.¡± The Emperor closed his eyes and stood up. He needed to quietly clear his head by himself. The chaos that urred that night was beyond words. The Emperor ordered the banquet to continue, but there was no way the banquet could continue properly. The musicians continued to y awkwardly, but no one was dancing. Everyone gathered together with people they knew and murmured about what was going on. Grand Duke Roygar was gripped with an ominous foreboding. It was even more so after hearing that it was Ian of Camellia who used him of treason. Up until now, he had not been as concerned as Marchioness Camellia. Once the first hurdle has been crossed. He made impable excuses for the salt incident and the agreement issue. If King Eimmel was also a thoughtful man, he wouldn¡¯t say nonsense. Since the pact had been signed with his own hands, King Eimmel could not use Grand Duke Roygar. Unless Cedric and someone in the dark are conspiring. The Emperor wouldn¡¯t let it all go like this. However, the investigation was conducted only under the water. Grand Duke Roygar, being careful not to touch the investigation, cracked down on his subordinates. The Emperor could not kill him. What Count Brennan had done was unforgivable, but her judgment of the situation was right. Now, it was Leticia who was supported by the temple and the people. Not only Count Brennan, but also the Emperor would be concerned about the power Cedric would hold as Leticia¡¯s biological father. But what does he mean by treason? There¡¯s no way Ian Camellia would have had ess to important information. So, the treason was something that had nothing to do with him. Count Brennan came up to him and said, ¡°It is said that the information has note through my aide at all. But considering Ian Camellia¡¯s past, this is a story from Grand Duchy Evron.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He is now under the protection of Grand Duchess Evron.¡± Grand Duke Roygar hesitated. As the two of them lowered their voices, Ga interrupted, ¡°Is this serious?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it. No, you¡¯d rather go home. Today¡¯s banquet will probably be canceled as it is.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I have to stay here and look at the situation.¡± The Chancellor and Ferguson were called inside. Some people went back knowing that the banquet had be a big sensation, while others stayed to exchange information while murmuring. And the guards moved. ¡°You are here, Grand Duke Roygar.¡± Gayan bowed his head politely to him and said, ¡°His Majesty is calling.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Grand Duchess, it would be better for you to return.¡± And he spoke kindly to Ga, who was anxious. Chapter 224 The aftermath of this treason case, which urred before the coarse salt incident was over, was like a tsunami. Grand Duke Roygar assumed the title of Emperor andmunicated with other countries. Those who followed the envoy as entourage and were in charge of the work could not have not known about it. So, all of the attendants were caught in the treason charge. The family to which the entourage belonged and the merchants were also implicated. It was no exaggeration to say that these were all those who had the power to secure their share in the Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction. In other words, they were those who increased their financial strength and power to the Emperor¡¯s opposing factions to the extent that the Emperor felt burdened. The Emperor did not want to purge Grand Duke Roygar. But he had no reason to let go of the nobles involved in this work. Rebellion was almost always the report of imputation. In the early days of the ession, even though the Empress Dowager was still alive, the Emperor, who killed his sister and her husband with treason charges in order to strengthen his power, wouldn¡¯t have not known how to wield it. However, it was done out of practical necessity at the time, this time the reason was for face and the displeasure was greater. Aside from the actual decision to keep Grand Duke Roygar alive, others were made out of unpleasantness and disappointment. He could see what Grand Duke Roygar had in mind when making such an agreement. Although he had a lot of ups and downs, he lived for over 18 years as the legal first-ranked heir. At first, he started his political life as a check against the Empress, and now he has gathered nobles and has grown to the point of publicly expressing his will of resistance to the Emperor. If there was no big picture of how the Empire would be governed in the future, that would be the biggest problem. ¡®I told Lawrence that.¡¯ The Emperor thought bitterly. But that¡¯s it, he¡¯s still alive with his eyes wide open, and the problem was that Grand Duke Roygar dared to do it. He did not entrust a deputy for the cleanup, nor did he at all dere an heir. It could be sphemous to even say that one had a right to session. So, the Emperor did not dare to speak more publicly. It was a time when he needed to be politically prudent. If he revealed that he was angry, he would not be able to get the desired result. He couldn¡¯t even express his intention to cover it up, though. The incident itself was so big that it was not what the Emperor wanted. The Emperor¡¯s investigators and guards moved quickly. On the way home from that night¡¯s banquet, there were dozens of people arrested. The envoys who followed the delegation were entangled and taken to the dungeons of the Imperial Pce. Undercover investigatorspiled and submitted a list of the missing attendants. So far, even though they know that Grand Duke Roygar is hiding his attendants, they have not been able to openly find or arrest them. But this usation allowed them to catch them all at once. The Emperor¡¯s secret organization had long since had practically nothing to do. Thest big thing they did was 18 years ago. It was to investigate the deaths of the Prince and Princess, and to trap the then Duke Riagan. Since then, they have continued to gather information and devise small plots. However, the Emperor¡¯s authority was already elevated. Even if there were people who internally opposed the Emperor, they gathered around Grand Duke Roygar at best. Since the size of the imperial power and the secret organization was proportional, the organization continued to expand. Conversely, the enemy disappeared. Minor conspiracies and plots were everywhere. However, they were unable to respond promptly. It was because the organization had grown toorge, and the goals were unclear. At one time, the members of the organization that the Emperor trusted also disappeared one by one. Among subordinates of the Emperors who had such an organization, there were many people who obsessively struck out usations and conspiracies against each other. However, Emperor Gregor was proud of himself. He was not deceived by the existence of the enemy created by the secret organization. He bnces power and promotes checks between powers. He made all the judgments himself. 18 years in that condition. The organization has fallen into inertia. They only reacted to treason and sphemy against the Emperor. No matter what other information came in, they looked at whether or not this existed ording to the will of the Emperor. As long as there was no silencing for the Emperor, the way to gain achievements was already blocked. It was because they were reluctant to report it even though the Emperor already knew or had a purpose for it and left it behind. It was thanks to this that Artizea was able to focus on size without being careful while creating an organization in the Capital and the South. If the Emperor¡¯s secret organization mechanically responds only to certain keywords, it is enough to avoid using those. However, with Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s treason, they had enough firepower to wipe them all away. Once the organization began to move, its power was terrifying. Finance, scale, and manpower will be invested indefinitely. It wasn¡¯t just those who followed the delegation as attendants. It was intended to overthrow all those who were close to the Grand Duke Roygar, those who were entangled in interests, blood ties of rtives, and the intellectuals and artists who visited the salon. In that way, not only the noble families in the Capital, but also anyone with some degree of wealth could be said to be rted. Grand Duchy Evron was no exception. Cobb, a servant of the Imperial Pce and a secret investigator, had previously considered Grand Duchy Evron to be suspicious. Today¡¯s incident must have continued from the treason of Bishop Akim. There was no evidence. If they look at the objective facts, it is only the Grand Duke Roygar, who continued to eliminate other members of the imperial family and covet the throne. But Cobb¡¯s senses continued to tingle. If he does his research, he will surely find something. He had enough reasons. Although Ian was in a detached house, he was staying in Grand Duchy Evron. Grand Duchess Evron was a friend of Sk Camellia. It was Ferguson who received the order to investigate this matter, but the investigation by the secret investigator was originally conducted at the same time as the overt investigation. There has never been a second chance like this. So, as soon as the incident broke out, he rushed to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. Because he saw this as an opportunity when the Grand Duke was still in the Imperial Pce. However, he was blocked by the knights in front of the gate. Since the birth of the Princess, the security of Grand Duchy Evron has never been rxed. Even if the other person came to investigate the treason case as an investigator of the Emperor, it was no exception. Cobb said sharply, ¡°Do you know what this is? Not even Grand Duchess Evron could say that she has nothing to do with it.¡± The knights didn¡¯t even respond. There wasn¡¯t even a crack on their face. There was no sign of fear even when he said that they might get caught up in treason. No, it was closer to the feeling that it didn¡¯t matter anyway. The answer came from behind. ¡°So, you are going to lead an unknown group into my house?¡± Cedric spat coldly over his words. Behind him were five more elite knights of Grand Duchy Evron. Cobb first greeted Cedric politely. Cedric said without receiving the greeting, ¡°Did you receive an imperial order?¡± ¡°Grand Duke Roygar has been used of treason. With such a serious situation, of course, the user should also be investigated.¡± ¡°I asked if His Majesty had issued an order for you directly. There must be evidence, whether it be an order or a token.¡± Cedric said coldly. Cobb, of course, had nothing to offer. Knowing that the master had arrived, the gate was opened. Cobb tried to follow Cedric, but the knights blocked him. ¡°This is going to get you in trouble, Grand Duke!¡± ¡°What right do you have to trouble me?¡± Cedric looked back to the knights and said, ¡°Don¡¯t let a single rat go in and out.¡± It was clear who was the rat he was talking about. The knights answered in a loud voice, ¡°Yes!¡± Cedric drove his horse inside. * * * Artizea was standing by the window on the highest floor of the mansion at that time. Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence had arge lot, but the height was not very high. But just by looking at the shing torches, she could tell that things were getting bigger. ¡°Did you know that this was going to happen and told me to disband the intelligence organization?¡± Freil asked. ¡°Once His Majesty¡¯s organization begins to move, there is no organization that will not be caught. And there hasn¡¯t been much work to be done for a long time.¡± Artizea¡¯s order to disband was just before the coarse salt incident. It was an organization with a need-to-know basis from the beginning. Most informants didn¡¯t know what they provided was meaningful and where the information was going. Thanks to that, dissolution was easy. Most of the informants were scattered just by cutting off the funds. Most of the people who were giving the money did not know who the real leader was. It was an organization created to examine the target¡¯s movement andy the pavement. The risk was very low, as not many were actually used to conspire. Artizea still did not know what evidence Ian had presented. This is because she has been deliberately ignoring the evidence of his involvement in this kind of thing after the coarse salt incident happened. ¡°May I ask? I understand that Lady Sk was the first to betray and try to survive by usation of treason.¡± Hayley said, ¡°It must have been Lady Sk who came out with the evidence. If it¡¯s Lady Sk who can be said to be an insider among insiders, she might be able to steal key evidence.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Your Grace told Lady Sk to instill the idea of bing an Empress to the Grand Duchess, which would lead to a mistake for her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± It was also one of several paving stonesid by Artizea. Grand Duchess Roygar is bound to make a mistake one day. Because she¡¯s not the kind of person who thinks carefully politically and organizes things around her. She just wanted to advance it a bit. ¡°But that wouldn¡¯t have been a treason for that mistake alone. After all, isn¡¯t the agreement the main problem?¡± ¡°That is an easy-to-understand story. Grand Duke Roygar headed south with a delegation of hundreds of members of his official supporters. As he went down, there¡¯s no way he won¡¯t do anything, right?¡± So, the key was to send Grand Duke Roygar to the South itself. After Lawrence¡¯s dismissal, Grand Duke Roygar believed that his session had be rtively stable. He¡¯s been patient and waited too long. Now, even if he was anxious to portray his reign in reality, there was nothing strange about it. Then, all that¡¯s left is to figure out how to package his mistake and send it to the Emperor. Artizea thought as she looked out the window. As Cedric returned, theyout of the knights moved, and the investigators turned around. ¡®Leticia is a variable that no one could have thought of, but not thinking about the change in the Emperor¡¯s emotions was the biggest mistake done by Grand Duke Roygar.¡¯ Artizea thought so and looked down at Cedric. Chapter 225 Numerous things happened during the night. However, the nobles of Grand Duke Roygar faction were notpletely unbothered. It was impossible to prevent the envoy party member from being dragged away. However, in the case of those who were simply sending in a distant rtive or employee of a coteral, the procedure for obtaining a confession was waiting. Of course, if they were taken to the Emperor¡¯s investigator, it was only a matter of time. ¡°In broad daylight, the body of a dignified count, gathered like a mouse, what is this?¡± Count Lesden came in wearing a gray hood and sighed. Count Brennan, who had provided the ce, invited him to sit down without a word. He was thest to attend the meeting. Count Lesden looked around the audience and said, ¡°There are many who have note.¡± ¡°If they weren¡¯t taken to the Imperial Pce, it would be either a betrayer or an escapee.¡± ¡°I checked in the morning just to be sure, and Count Luther was taken away.¡± Even after reading what Count Brennan wrote, he said so with a distorted face as if he had chewed it. ¡°County Luther is a mess right now. It is said that the investigators shoved their feet into the ground and overturned the Count¡¯s study and bedroom.¡± ¡°What about the family?¡± ¡°The Count¡¯s Heir Apparent and his second daughter were taken together. The youngest son seems to have run away. Both the elderly Grand Madam and the Madam were detained in their guest rooms.¡± Everyone on the spot seemed to be in shock. Count Luther was not like a small noble who had lost his authority. He was a venerable family among the Eastern nobility. ¡°What a tyrant¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Has Grand Duke Roygar returned?¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯te back yet. His Majesty seems to be just saying that he will hold him in the Imperial Pce and we¡¯ll find out soon.¡± said someone who was trying to contact him. ¡°It cannot be like this. He imed that he was acting as if he was the Emperor, but His Majesty did not show any evidence.¡± ¡°It¡¯s absurd that he was talking about a foreign country. Didn¡¯t the Grand Duke just bring the results of the negotiations as a special envoy into the written agreement?¡± ¡°At the beginning, when he went to the South as a special envoy, it was promised that he woulde back having diplomatic rtions with small countries, and His Majesty himself said that he was also looking forward to it!¡± ¡°The identity of the user is also unclear!¡± The one who said that stared at Marchioness Camellia. Considering Ian¡¯s association with Camellia, they were suspicious of Marchioness Camellia. ¡°If Ian Camellia, with his grudge against me, got involved in this, does that matter? He wasn¡¯t the main culprit in the conspiracy, anyway.¡± said Marchioness Camellia. The crowd was quiet again. It was because they were thinking about the main culprit of the conspiracy. Marchioness Camellia had other thoughts on one side of her head. Ironically, Marchioness Camellia was the least used of treason among them. She did not send any of her people as a delegation with the envoy. She sent her daughter as thedy-in-waiting, but she could not be the suspect, as it was the daughter who was the user. Of course, those who attended this meeting did not know, yet. Her mind was also confused as to whether she should hide this or not. Perhaps, it was Sk who had used Ian as the user. If Sk decides to survive by giving in to Artizea and betraying her, it must also be Sk who finds evidence of the treason and hands it over to Ian. It hurt Marchioness Camellia more than anything else. Making Sk an impable and ruthless Marquis has been Marchioness Camellia¡¯s lifelong goal. It was the greatest sign of Marchioness Camellia¡¯s love for her daughter, and it was also the desire to fulfill her own dream through her daughter. But then her daughter herself held hands with Ian. With Ian, Sk¡¯s legitimacy is bound to bepromised no matter what. Even if she survives, besides, ¡®Once a stigma is put on it, it never goes away.¡¯ She will be branded ady-in-waiting who betrayed her mistress, just as she cannot remove from herself the stigma that she was the illegitimate child born from a maid. Marchioness Camellia was as tormented as if grinding her five internal organs in the millstone. Bitter water came up inside her stomach without a break, and the food didn¡¯t go over well. She knew Sk and she understood why Sk made such a choice. For Sk, it was a choice to protect her family, and she had also guessed that it was a decision Sk made because she loved her mother. But betrayal is betrayal. Sk made that choice even though she knew what Marchioness Camellia wanted the most. This betrayal has no value. Far from making her pay with revenge, she had to protect Sk. And it¡¯s not just what she wanted to do, it¡¯s something she gives in return for the other person¡¯s heart, as Sk did. However, no matter how much she loves or is loved, in the end, she realizes that her child is not her own alter ego, but a separate human being. At Count Brennan¡¯s question, Marchioness Camellia tried to concentrate. ¡°How is Her Grace?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because they haven¡¯t invaded the Grand Duke¡¯s mansion yet; she¡¯s just nervous. So I¡¯ll go back there when the meeting is over.¡± After that, she was silent again for a moment. The level-headed Viscount Hamelton said, ¡°For now, let¡¯s all go together and protest to His Majesty. Perhaps, His Majesty does not really n to purge Grand Duke Roygar.¡± ¡°Umm¡­¡­.¡± Shouts erupted from everywhere. No one agreed. ¡°Even if His Majesty does not purge the Grand Duke, there is no guarantee that he will leave us alone.¡± Count Lesden spoke on behalf of everyone¡¯s feelings. The Emperor cannot miss this opportunity. They were the greatndowners of the East and were the de facto local rulers. The Emperor has long struggled with them over the question of supremacy in the East. There had never been a justification like now, so there was no way he could just skip it. Perhaps, he was conspiring treason for that. ¡°But, what are you going to do if you don¡¯t do what I say? Are you really going to assemble an army and start treason for real?¡± ¡°It will be a rebellion, not treason.¡± said the militant Count Brennan. There were quite a few who flinched. They were all people who thought about it at least once. And one of them said, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk nonsense. Where is the guarantee that there will be no more traitors?¡± Then, the room was filled with silence again. Rebellion was realistically unlikely. If they had military power, a civil war would have erupted in no time. However, the policy that the imperial family has pursued most strongly for hundreds of years has been the abolition of the private army of the nobility. They still held vast amounts of money and had countless privileges. It wasn¡¯t even a sin to kill people one by one. It was natural that nobles with titles would not be punished unless they weremitting sphemy against the imperial family or treason. But they could not have armies. Only Grand Duchy Evron, the shield of the Empire, could own the Northern Army as an exception. Nevertheless, only a limited number of knights were able to operate on the central. ¡°But it can¡¯t be like this, can it? Do you want us to go to the Imperial Pce and beg for mercy like themon people?¡± ¡°How about the escort troops used by each family?¡± ¡°Even if we hold to the maximum limit, there will be around fifty people. Even if we gather all the escorts of the families gathered here, it will be less than five thousand.¡± If they mobilize all servants and merchant employees, and hire thugs, they can fill the number usibly. But they can¡¯t help with weapons. Swords and spears were avable, but gunpowder weaponries were limited to pistols and shotguns at best. It waspletely impossible to supply and demandrge quantities of gunpowder. Even if that were the case, how could they possibly rebel against the Emperor¡¯s army? They didn¡¯t forget. In the past, Grand Duchy Evron was trampled down overnight even with a banner of elite knights. If the army had not been recruited, the rebellion would have been unreasonable. Count Brennan said, ¡°Let¡¯s not hide it, and take out all the cards we have in our hands. How far can we put our hands inside the Imperial Pce, and how many bureaucrats can we sabotage for us?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°In some cases, retreating to the East might be a good option.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, too.¡± There were many who agreed with thest statement. Once they fled east, they would be able to defend themselves. The leaders, including themander of the Eastern Army, were directly dispatched by the Emperor. But no one, from the officers below him to the foot soldiers, was not unaffected by them. If theymand the Eastern Army, they can resist. To be a separate and independent entity would also be possible. The Eastern part was a self-sufficientnd. Although the enterprise stockholders whose main business is distribution would be against it, real nobles like them could survive for decades onnd. The loss of the East, the raw material production center, is even more painful to the Central, which contains an expansive market, and the Southern part, the center of trade. ¡°Well, in the future, how many decades do you mean ¡­.?¡± After the Emperor¡¯s death, they can rekindle the controversy over the right to session. They could do that easily enough. Even before the Empire existed, they were the greatndowners and nobles of the East, and became more afterwards Compared to the years and months the family has lived so far, ten years is not even a long time. ¡°It is His Majesty who is pressed for time, not us.¡± said Viscount Hamelton. This is because the Emperor¡¯s achievements are aplished by the Emperor alone, but the prosperity of the noble family is achieved by the whole family holding on to it. ¡°I will send my son to the East.¡± ¡°Then, do you intend to stay here, Viscount?¡± ¡°Fortunately, all of my sons are at the age of having children, so they will take care of themselves. I am here to assert His Majesty¡¯s injustice and die. Wouldn¡¯t it be worth doing if the life of this old man could give his descendants a cause in the future?¡± Viscount Hamelton¡¯s words caused a stir in the audience. Most of those whose children had grown into adults nodded their heads. Viscount Hamelton looked at Marchioness Camellia and said, ¡°It would be good for Her Grace, the Prince and the Princesses to take refuge as well.¡± ¡°I will say something.¡± ¡°Not with such ack of determination, Marchioness. Even if something happens to the Grand Duke, if only the Prince is alive, we can somehow pursue the future.¡± Marchioness Camellia nodded her head. It wasn¡¯t because she sympathized with Viscount Hamelton¡¯s words. But she was preparing to escape with Ga. Maybe, it was thest thing she could do. Since then, the meeting has not reached a very concrete conclusion. However, the participants parted with faces that each made their own decisions. Chapter 226 Marchioness Camellia had been much more deliberately prepared to flee than she was before the meeting. Although the investigators and the guards moved, it was not that there was no room for wiggling. The bribes that have been sown so far and theworks that have been built up should be used in times like these. Although they could not im that Grand Duke Roygar did not rebel against the Emperor, or block the investigators seeking evidence, there were many who could close their eyes for a moment. She prepared three camouge carriages and knew in advance the soldiers patrolling on the way out. She bribed a junior officer and hid the cash to spend on the way in several ces in advance. Onedy-in-waiting and two maids will risk their lives. Thedy-in-waiting will wear Ga¡¯s clothes and veils and will stand in the mansion. The maids would each disguise themselves as Ga and ride in the carriages. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Madam. We are alive by Madam¡¯s kindness.¡± ¡°We will hold out so that you can go as far as possible.¡± The two maids bowed to Marchioness Camellia. In order to use them at times like this, she selected two women with simr body types to Ga in advance and was gracious to them. Even knowing this, the maids said sincerely. No matter how desperate they were, it was rare that they were paid their full money and lived a poor life. One saved her family from sickness and starvation. One escaped from a hellish life. And if they survived this time, real freedom would be waiting for them. And Marchioness Camellia picked up children of a suitable age from the orphanage, which she had sponsored. The children were not old enough to understand what had happened. They were thrilled by the fine clothes and the nice carriage. These children would run away disguised as the Princesses and the Prince. It was time to check all the final preparations and go to Ga. Ga sat nkly by the window. Marchioness Camellia approached her. ¡°Your Grace.¡± When she called, Ga didn¡¯t respond. Marchioness Camellia tilted her head slightly to find Ga¡¯s gaze. ¡°What are you watching?¡± ¡°The guardsmen.¡± Ga said as if muttering to herself. She then continued her speech without giving a gaze to Marchioness Camellia. ¡°I was walking around the garden¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camelia had nothing else to say, so she mumbled like so. Despite being the main used for the treason charges, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence avoided a harsh search. The charges were unconfirmed, and there was no Imperial order. It was burdensome for the guards and investigators to search indiscriminately in the mansion of an imperial family. Besides, the only ones at home were Ga and her children. They didn¡¯t feel the need to threaten. Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence was surrounded. Entry of people was strictly controlled, but not prohibited. It was a relief. Otherwise, Marchioness Camellia would have dressed in maid clothes and she would have had to go in and out through secret passages. It is natural to take risks. Of course, even now, it was not without risks. The Guardsmen who had followed Marchioness Camellia were watching from a reasonable distance. ¡°Your Grace.¡± Marchioness Camellia took a deep breath and made her resolve. And she said in a low voice, ¡°I prepared an escape.¡± Ga¡¯s gaze first returned to Marchioness Camellia. Her eyes looked tired. Marchioness Camellia whispered, ¡°You are going east to Marquisate Luden¡¯s estate. Your mother will go with you. Maideline, too.¡± ¡°There is no¡­¡­ hope, is there?¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re telling me to run away? Sister knew everything was going to happen, so Brother-inw, Sk, and Luca had already run away.¡± ¡°No.¡± Marchioness Camellia denied it. It was Sk who sent her husband and son. She had no intention of doing that far on her own. But she made a guess. When she learns that Sk had disappeared somewhere alone the day the envoy¡¯s ship called in, she had returned the following afternoon, as foreboding as when Artizea had returned from the North and threatened her. It goes further when Artizeaes to her and asks for Olga¡¯s heart. She knew she would be a threat. She couldn¡¯t me others. It was her own responsibility that she told Sk to establish an acquaintance with Artizea, that she was still young and that she believed that Sk would have to grow up at least ten more years to be her equal. In any case, it was difficult to change the situation now. Marchioness Camellia found it difficult to agree with those who said they should retreat to the East to shape the future. She has already betrayed her future. Prioritizing her own wishes over the prosperity of her family might be because she wasn¡¯t a true noble. ¡°If Your Grace remains here, you will get in the way.¡± ¡°Sister.¡± ¡°If Your Grace is taken hostage as it is now, Grand Duke Roygar will find it difficult to act. You should go east and wait. As for the Grand Duke, I will somehow¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to get into Sister¡¯s carriage.¡± Ga looked at her with radiant eyes. Perhaps, it was because of the water in her eyes, Marchioness Camellia thought. ¡°I heard. Sister is a traitor.¡± ¡°No, Your Grace!¡± Marchioness Camellia raised her voice in surprise. The guardsman looked at her. Ga wiped the tear-soaked corners of her eyes with her fingers. ¡°They told me never to get into Sister¡¯s carriage.¡± ¡°Count Brennan? What did she say about your sister¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about my father. I told Sk to throw the jewelry box into the sea.¡± Ga said in a hoarse voice. Then, she bowed her head. Marchioness Camellia¡¯s neck was choked for a moment. It meant that Ga already knew that she had a hand in the death of Marquis Luden. What Sk did. Marchioness Camellia did not know how to make excuses from there. Ga rather said, ¡°Count Brennan doesn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t tell.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Sister knew, right?¡± Marchioness Camellia was silent again. She already knew the story of the jewelry box. Because she had asked Viscountess Weave about all the affairs while they were in the South. When she heard Ian Camellia had used them of treason, she guessed that the jewelry box would be put out as evidence as well. But Marchioness Camellia denied it, ¡°It¡¯s not because of the jewelry box.¡± What about the jewelry box? Ga wasn¡¯t really greedy. While Grand Duke Roygar embraced the greed. Although he did not publicly say that he would be emperor, he made the agreement on the premise that he would be the next emperor. If he was guilty in the usation, it was Grand Duke Roygar, not Ga, who was the sinner. That¡¯s the truth. All responsibility rested with Grand Duke Roygar, as well as other nobles, and heads who decided the will of the family. Also she, herself. Ga was neither. Because she has not chosen anything on her own to get to this point. Even if there is something she seems to have chosen, it is mostly driven by others. Marchioness Camellia knew better than anyone. But Ga shook her head. ¡°I will not run away.¡± ¡°Your Grace!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to even ride in Count Brennan¡¯s carriage. If I run away, what will they do?¡± Ga said so. Her heart was hot. Something big happened beyond her control, so it was emotional. Her older sister helped kill her father. Her nephew betrayed her. It felt like the ground she had been standing on until now was copsing. There have been times when Ga has been gripped by the feeling that her own life doesn¡¯t seem to be hers. She loved her husband, she loved her children, and her father and sister. Sometimes she is angry, desires something, and sometimes she is very happy or sad. But even with all of that, her life was fuzzy and empty, like a cloud hanging in the air. There were times when she felt like she could get out of her body when that feeling reached its extreme. When she was kicked out of thefortable mansion, she felt as if a different life was waiting for her somewhere. Even if she couldn¡¯t draw a concrete picture of that life, it was. But now Ga seemed to know that she had to take care of her own life. Strangely, her heart hardened, and her head was clear as never before. Shees to understand that this is not her duty, which has always seemed insignificant, but that this is her real responsibility. ¡°I don¡¯t want to me Sister for what happened to Father. Thinking about it, it was obvious¡­.. Father hadn¡¯t been so nice to Sister.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I never thought about it. I¡¯m sorry that I¡¯m the Marquis¡¯ Lady¡­¡­. Had Sister been in this position, you obviously wouldn¡¯t have been like this. Father must have achieved what he wanted.¡± Ga said, ¡°Because I¡¯m like this, maybe it¡¯s because of that even Sister doesn¡¯t have anyone to protect Sk.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°Still, I am his wife.¡± Ga tried not to struggle for wise choices. No matter how much she rolls her head, she won¡¯t be as wise as Marchioness Camellia suggests. But it¡¯s her business, so she decides for herself. ¡°The children, take them.¡± Ga lowered her head enough and whispered in a low voice, ¡°I hope they don¡¯t do anything dangerous, don¡¯t be greedy, live just like ordinary people, meet people they like, start a family, and live happily.¡± Marchioness Camellia took a deep breath. ¡°I know it¡¯s difficult, but please. If I stay, it will be a little easier, though¡­¡­.¡± Ga grabbed her hand once and then she let go and stood up. ¡°I will never see Sister again. I wouldn¡¯t me you, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can forgive Sister.¡± ¡°Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camellia couldn¡¯t stop her. Ga looks like a person with little will, but that doesn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t stubborn at all. Like when Marquis Luden said she couldn¡¯t be Ga¡¯sdy-in-waiting, she cried and starved herself every day for the whole month. She wished she would, so she purposely showed her the attic she was living in. But it was Ga herself who made her wille true. Even if it was a trivial and profitable matter for Marquis Luden. Chapter 227 Ga walked around like a ghost in the main house for several days. She spends most of the day in her bed, and when she can¡¯t stand it, she goes out into the living room and looks out the window. Guardsmen were still standing in the garden. Looking at them, reality has returned. The number of employees decreased by about a dozen per day. Ga could feel it even in the main house. The house, which was always crowded with guests, became quieter than it was at midnight. Thedies-in-waiting were also gone. Like the rest of the envoys, they were taken away as an attendant who followed the special envoy. Ga didn¡¯t stop it. It would have been no use trying to stop then. Chancellor Lin visited once and offered words of constion, ¡°His Majesty may be angry, but he would not think Your Grace was conspiring. In times like these, you have to harden your heart.¡± Ga didn¡¯t answer him. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know that Chancellor Lin was genuinely concerned about her. She thought she was trying to look insane, though. That way they won¡¯t suspect why she isn¡¯t looking for her children. She had to buy time. Ga believed in Marchioness Camellia. Although she didn¡¯t reply that she would when Ga asked her to take the children, Ga was sure that she would. As she stared out the window without answering, Chancellor Lin offered a few more meaningless words of constion and left. Ga stayed in bed for two more days after that. She woke up the morning after it was twelve o¡¯clock and took a bath and changed her clothes. It was because there was an investigator mixed with people who came and went in the garden. Right then, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hide any more that the children had run away. Ga pulled out the ne and tiara, which she had used on her wedding day, and put it in a packing case and just set it down. Those two were what she had received as a wedding gift from Grand Duke Roygar. [¡°In such a case, I should give jewelry that has been passed down from generation to generation, but I cannot give you what I inherited from my mother, so I made a new one. Starting with you, I hope this will be a treasure for our family.¡±] Those two were truly beautiful gems. Ga wore these two frequently as a newlywed. But since the birth of her first child, she has kept it in a box and treasured it. This was because she was nning to pass it on to her child when she grew up and got marriedter. Ga stroked the box once and came out. The guard, who was guarding the main house, said with an apologetic attitude, ¡°You can¡¯t go out, Your Grace.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to the Imperial Pce.¡± As if it was not forbidden, the knight hesitated for a moment. ¡°I will apany you.¡± It was another expression of monitoring. Ga nodded her head and slowly moved her steps out. The cloak draped over her shoulders and dragged to the floor. * * * Grand Duke Roygar was imprisoned in the Imperial Pce. Even though he was incarcerated, he wasn¡¯t in prison. He stayed in a spacious, colorful room overlooking the garden. He was forbidden from going out or receiving any visitors, but he was served faithfully. The meal was also delicious. He dined with the Emperor three times in the meantime. It was a conciliatory measure. [¡°There is no problem with the agreement itself. The solicitors under you did a pretty good job.¡±] [¡°At the beginning of the actual three-way-negotiations, I was just in a hurry to subdue the rebellion of the Eimmel Kingdom.¡±] [¡°Roygar, there is no need to try to make excuses. Do I not know that you signed the agreement with great ambitions?¡±] There was no way the food could pass through the throat of Grand Duke Roygar. The Emperor smiled and said, [¡°I already knew when you brought out the agreement. A number of provisions must have been necessary to shut the mouth of King Eimmel, like a piglet.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°If I had intended to punish you, I would have coaxed him well and took over the Kingdom of Iantz. If I didn¡¯t do that, I might have kicked some of your entourage. Nevertheless, I closed my eyes.¡±] Grand Duke Roygar couldn¡¯t answer that either. Because saying sorry or saying thank you is an acknowledgment of sin. However, it could not be said that it was because the Emperor did not want only Cedric and Leticia as thest remaining imperial family with the right to session. [¡°I really want to save you. However, Ian Camellia¡¯s public usations made it impossible to cover the matter. You are also the head of the Grand Duchy family, so do you understand what I am saying?¡±] [¡°What do you want me to do?¡±] Grand Duke Roygar asked sternly. The Emperor beckoned. The waiting attendant ran and set the jewelry box in front of Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar did not dare to open it. He had never seen it in person. But he had already heard the story from Ga, so he could guess that this was the evidence. ¡®I was told she threw it into the sea. In the end, Sister-inw betrayed.¡¯ If Sk stole it, Grand Duke Roygar thought it was by order of Marchioness Camellia. The Ian Camellia problem may have been a disguise as well. Grand Duke Roygar regretted that he had misced his trust in the person. He should have removed her when she appeared to have an inclination toward Grand Duchess Evron. When Marquis Luden offered to get rid of her for the Ian Camellia problem, it was wrong to hesitate, thinking of Ga. The Emperor said, [¡°Your wife received it because she was immature and greedy. Do you understand what I am saying?¡±] It was a story about putting all the me on Ga. From that moment on, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s body began to shake. No matter how hard he tried to pretend to be calm, what he had once thought of did not easily disappear from his mind. The front and back of his palms were wet. It must be a cold sweat, but Grand Duke Roygar felt like his body was on fire and his life was draining away. [¡°Then, will my wife be able to live?¡±] Grand Duke Roygar squeezed his stiff tongue and asked. [¡°She was not mature enough to understand the full meaning, and her aides could not fulfill their roles. Punishment is appropriate, but she is not greedy.¡±] [¡°It has already be a public debate, Roygar. Shouldn¡¯t someone be held ountable?¡±] The Emperor said slowly, [¡°Whether it was the aide¡¯s fault or she was greedy, she tantly tried to be the Empress. Those who question the Iantz Kingdom on this matter as well as those who inflict vain thoughts on this should be punished, but apart from that, the person who vited the imperial family can¡¯t pass without any problem, right?¡±] [¡°What about the children? Our youngest is only three years old!¡±] Grand Duke Roygar asked in a half-roaring voice. The Emperor said while fiddling with the wine ss, unmoved. [¡°The children of a traitor are traitors. The first is already eight years old, so the sin is inescapable. However, I will forgive the second and third to the extent of sending them into exile as they are deposed.¡±] [¡°Your Majesty!¡±] [¡°You are also guilty of failing to crack down on your wife as the family head, so you will have to go into exile for a while. But I promise. I will let you back within three years.¡±] That wouldn¡¯t be a lie. Three yearster, Leticia would be three years old. Cedric must have grown quite a bit of power in the Capital. Now, if he uses Ga as an excuse to destroy all his factions and make them empty-handed, he will be a useful tool for the Emperor again. After losing all of his own children, there will be no reason to get rid of Leticia. That would be the Emperor¡¯s idea. He could live if he endured until the death of the Emperor. There was a possibility that he would survive to the end and seize power as regent. [¡°You can get another wife. You are still at the age to have children. If you don¡¯t get it again, I¡¯ll fully forgive the third one.¡±] Those words sounded like a devil whispering. Grand Duke Roygar couldn¡¯t say no. ¡®I cannot survive by selling my wife and children.¡¯ Those words weren¡¯t that difficult. But he did not speak until the Emperor left, telling him to think slowly. Only after that did he repeat it a few times. But in front of the Emperor, no words came out as if his tongue had hardened. Death, even as a traitor, was what he feared the most when he saw the death of his sister. His mother, who was the Empress Dowager, hair turned white on the day the execution was carried out. At best, she was starting to have gray hair. He would sometimes find and pluck his mother¡¯s gray hair. His mother was white-haired and mad, and she cried out curse words all day long. The servants shut the pce door firmly and pretended that no one had heard it. At that time, fear took root in his bones. The Emperor smiled as if nothing had happened and patted him on the shoulder. [The Empress¡¯ heart is broken and needs recuperation, so it would be better for you to stay away for a while. I will call you when the time is right.¡±] He left the pce in a carriage prepared by the Emperor. It was then that he saw his brother-inw¡¯s head for the first time. They had only seen each other a few times. But Grand Duke Roygar used to hear his story from his blushing sister. ording to his sister, he was like the best and most admirable man in the world. If such a man¡¯s neck is also stuck on a pole in the execution room, it will only be a parched mummy. There was nothing more important to him than to live. Many years have passed. The Emperor was old and he thought it was different from before. He thought he was too old and was different. But the Emperor had the same face as then. He thought he had long since forgotten, but it was vivid in his mind. It was then. Amotion broke out in the garden where he was staring nkly. Nobles had gathered in the garden. Creating a cause is important. They were going toin about the unfairness and injustice of the treason usation. Even if they die, if there is a justification, the sessors who retreated to the East canter regain their legitimacy and fight for power in the central political world again. They already had a history of changing the Emperor by doing so. It won¡¯t take long. Justification has always been with the nobility. They considered themselves as empires. Who ruled thisnd before? Who gathered power and established the authority of the imperial family? Who promotes economic development, increases productivity, pays taxes, and protects the Empire? They considered it all to be their power and role. The Emperor was the ruler of the Empire, but had no authority to destroy the Empire. The Emperor, despite hearing such ims, has not yet put out the jewelry box and swept them away. It was because he was waiting for the answer from Grand Duke Roygar. Ga appeared among them. Instead of riding the carriage to the Imperial Pce, she got off at the front gate. The nobles split in halves and opened a path for her. Grand Duke Roygar looked down at it from his confinement room. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Proofreader: somnium Ga entered the Imperial Pce with an upright posture. Her resolve was firm. But inside the carriage, it seemed like she was about to cry. However, unexpectedly, she was able to walk resolutely when she got off in front of the Imperial Pce. She walked withoutpromising her long-trained elegance. The old nobles who had gathered opened the way. ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°Why did youe to this ce?¡± Several nobles who were close to her asked her with a concerned face. This was no ce for Ga to appear. Even those who did not have the idea that she should take refuge in the East to shape the future, agreed with it. Rather, she could have given the Emperor only weakness. She was something to be protected. Both in a symbolic sense and practically. But Ga raised her pale face straight up and said, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Her voice went straight through the crowd. All those who mumbled their worries orints and talked about why Ga was here shut their mouth and listened. ¡°Thank you foring all the way here for my husband and sharing this difficult moment with me. Although I came here as a sinner¡­¡­.¡± Ga took a deep breath and said, ¡°Roygar will fulfill his responsibilities. So, as you have always done, please take care of my husband and children.¡± Ga lowered her head. She had little experience in speaking. So, she said as honestly as she could. If this really could end with one person punished, these are the people who will continue to be her husband¡¯s strength. If even her husband cannot escape the punishment, their family will support the children in the future. They may run away or betray, but these are the people who did not. So, Ga trusted them to the extent that it was naive. A smallmotion spread. She was Ga, the daughter of Marquis Luden and with the status of Grand Duchess Roygar. The only people she could bow her head to to greet were the Emperor and Empress. There was no need to be so polite with, even to her parents. Ga raised her head and moved her steps. People gave way. Without hesitation, Ga headed to the Imperial Pce. After her, she was followed by several nobility. It meant that they would be with her until the day they died. It was enough to show their intentions just to have the heads of each family gather and walk behind Grand Duchess Roygar. And it will be a pressure on the Emperor. Ga said she came as a sinner. However, even if she came to ask for forgiveness, this collective action was meaningful. Those who realized it followed again. Until a while ago, they were going to im this was a conspiracy. The Emperor has yet to present any evidence. They thought there must be no real evidence. So, they didn¡¯t want to back down until they investigated Ian Camellia and his background. If it¡¯s true that Grand Duchess Evron is really behind it, then from then on, this will be a political affair, not a treason. But with the arrival of Ga, things changed. People thought she hade to beg for life. So, she was going to appeal the injustice on the spot. Ga entered the main pce unhindered. The Imperial Pce¡¯s security was carried out ording to the wartime standards, so this made no sense. Ga didn¡¯t find it strange. This was because she was naturally Grand Duchess Roygar, and there were no restrictions on her ess to the Imperial Pce. In front of the audience room, Ga met someone blocking her way for the first time. It was Cedric. Ga looked up at his face in surprise. ¡°Go back, Aunt.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. ¡°What rudeness is this?¡± Viscount Hamelton, who had been following right behind her, stepped forward and made a big fuss. It was as if he was trying to protect Ga. ¡°Even though you belong to the same status of Grand Duke, there is a difference in quality, Grand Duke Evron.¡± ¡°Looking like this, you are finally showing your ambition.¡± Viscount Hamelton¡¯s words were followed by usations from behind. Cedric didn¡¯t listen to the usation at all. Instead, he spoke in a soft voice so that Ga was not afraid. ¡°You must not go in, Aunt.¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with Grand Duchy Evron.¡± Ga said, contorting her face as if she was crying. She had little contact with Cedric. Even if they met and greeted each other at an official event, it was at best a few ceremonial greetings. When Artizea returned from their honeymoon, she thought this time she was going to have a real kinly rtionship. Even when she found out Artizea was pregnant, she thought so. Their children will be cousins, and she still has few rtives that are close to Artizea¡®s age, so she wants to interact like siblings. A lot of things happened over and over again, and she couldn¡¯t even step up, but even at this moment, she still thought the same. But Cedric spoke like an older brother. ¡°I know that it was a decision with a sincere heart. But it¡¯s not Aunt¡¯s responsibility.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it right that the person who did it bears the responsibility?¡± ¡°It is right, but¡­¡­. Acting with the right heart doesn¡¯t always produce the right results.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Now that Aunt is acting like this, you are only creating the situation His Majesty wants.¡± Cedric said so. [¡°His Majesty¡¯s unresponsiveness is probably in order to save Grand Duke Roygar.¡±] Artizea said, [¡°Some people seem to think that His Majesty has not presented it until now because there is no real evidence, and is trying to capture those involved in the agreement to obtain a confession.¡±] It would be ridiculous for them to point it out behind Ian, Artizeaughed in vain. If they had used him of conspiracy, he would have to forge an evidence so sophisticatedly that he would never be caught as a fraud. Or maybe he has created a situation that is so heartbreaking that the Emperor wants to forge it for him. [¡°The evidence is rted to the Grand Duchess. It would have been impossible for Sk to steal important evidence from the surroundings of Grand Duke Roygar.¡±] [¡°It means she¡¯s trying to make her aunt a scapegoat.¡±] If so, he can im that it was a mistake made arbitrarily even if it is a big enough mistake to conclude it as treason. He could get a good cause to spare Grand Duke Roygar. It is also possible to eliminate the imperial family that followed the lineage of the Eastern nobility. The power struggle of the Empire eventually ensues over the position of the Emperor. Eastern nobles lose their way of iming legitimacy by losing the imperial blood. [¡°It could also have the side effect of splitting the forces of Grand Duke Roygar and the Eastern nobility. His Majesty will have the opportunity to touch Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s weakness and the East.¡±] The resentment will be directed at Grand Duke Roygar. The Emperor could present him as a shield or as a cause. [¡°Do you think so, too?¡±] [¡°I am not a person who decides whether or not to judge.¡±] Artizea said so in a quiet voice. [¡°The purpose is to borrow His Majesty¡¯s hand to clear the East before Lord Cedric ascends to the throne, or to create a possibility for that. It doesn¡¯t mean that Grand Duchess Roygar must be sacrificed.¡±] Artizea said, [¡°Do what you think is right.¡±] So Cedric stood here. He hoped that Ga would not be forced to be sacrificed because of the Emperor¡¯s intended political situation. He wanted to show that what they thought was right did not always turn out to be right. Even if they acted as they should, it could have just been the result of the conspirators moving the strings. Krates¡¯ political world is a world of one-eyed monsters. Ga should have known that. ¡°The facts are not always the same as the truth. What Aunt did may have sparked the situation, but it was never caused by Aunt. Aunt is not responsible.¡± The desires and circumstances of many people, and the face of the Emperor, were intertwined. And it was Artizea who made it into a bomb. On the contrary, only Ga was innocent. If someone had to take responsibility, it was Artizea and himself. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ga knew that Cedric was telling the truth. So, she pressed the manyplex words in her mind and said a sincere thanks. ¡°But I have a responsibility. Responsibility as a wife to love her husband, as a mother to her children. It was my choice.¡± Ga looked up at Cedric with clear eyes while saying so. ¡°It was probably something that I wouldn¡¯t want Aunt to get hurt either.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric spoke onest time. But he knew Ga would not back down. And a person with such a will deserves respect. The fact that he had first failed didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t stop Ga¡¯s will. So Cedric stepped aside. Ga walked down the open path with a graceful gait. She was followed by the old nobles. Several nobles cast strange nces at Cedric. Even if they didn¡¯t fully understand the conversation between the two, they understood that Cedric didn¡¯t speak to Ga with bad intentions. Finally, the tail of the procession was visible. In a way, the procession felt even majestic. Freil, who was waiting a little further away, came to Cedric¡¯s side. ¡°It feels strange that it is the Grand Duchess, not the Grand Duke, who is standing in front of that ce.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°I must go to my uncle.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± Freil replied, ¡°I have already sent an attendant at themand of Her Grace.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cedric didn¡¯t say anything else. And he headed out with a heavy feeling. * * * The Emperor was sitting in the audience room. He had already heard that Ga hade to the Imperial Pce. He heard that the nobles followed behind her. ¡®What is she here for?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t guess. The Ga he knew was very helpless. If others had encouraged her, and she had been driven by the momentum, she would not havee alone. ¡®She would not be foolish enough to plead for life, thinking that it was only her husband¡¯s fault regardless of hers.¡¯ It didn¡¯t convince him at first that Marquisate Luden left her to move on her own. ¡®Is the Marquis Heir Apparent less-than-capable?¡¯ The Emperor frowned when he recalled the eldest son, whose impression was less than that of Marquis Luden, who was quite troublesome. ¡°Grand Duchess Roygar has asked for an audience.¡± ¡°Bring her in.¡± said the Emperor. Chapter 229 The audience door was wide open. Ga was the first toe in and knelt down on her knees. The nobles who followed her knelt down and filled half of the wide audience room. The Emperor couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Ga was not crushed by those standing behind her. That doesn¡¯t mean it looked like she¡¯s having their strength as a backing. Ga said in a slightly shaky voice, ¡°Ga greets His Majesty the Emperor.¡± The greeting was brief. The fact that she did not announce her title meant that she hade to this ce as an individual. ¡°I havee to plead guilty.¡± Then, after a while, there was amotion. Ga continued talking, not paying any attention. ¡°I am the one who assumed to be the Empress. I was greedy for a precious jewelry box, and even though I knew it was treason, I received it without any hesitation. It has nothing to do with my husband.¡± ¡°Your Grace?¡± One of the nobility called her in a trembling voice. This was not what they thought. ¡°Please punish me. Punish me, and only hold my husband and others responsible for not properly disciplining me.¡± Gay down with her forehead touching the floor. The Emperorughed. * * * Grand Duke Roygar nervously circled his room. The nobles in the garden followed Ga and did not return. ¡°Hey. Ask His Majesty that I would like to attend an audience.¡± The guards didn¡¯t even budge when they heard that. They seemed to be given a separate order. Grand Duke Roygar, not knowing what to do, circled his room again. He couldn¡¯t even guess what Ga hade to do. If she¡¯s simply asking for life, she¡¯d be better off not doing it. Was she motivated by others to im that this was a conspiracy of Grand Duchy Evron? That¡¯s something Ga shouldn¡¯t have done. ¡®Jewelry box, jewelry box¡­¡­.¡¯ Grand Duke Roygar knew that Ga hade herself. She would have had a different attitude if she had been forced. His head felt like it was going to explode. Ga should not have been in the Capital. It was then. An attendant came to change the jug in the room. There was also a basket of fresh fruit instead of a usual flower vase. Grand Duke Roygar nced at him and sat down on a nearby sofa. The attendant put the fruit basket on the table and said in a low voice to Grand Duke Roygar, ¡°Her Grace the Grand Duchess hase to plead guilty.¡± ¡°What?¡± Grand Duke Roygar rose to his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore than that.¡± The attendant took the old water bottle and spoke calmly and went outside. Grand Duke Roygar tried to follow him. The guards crossed their spears and stopped him. Grand Duke Roygar was frozen in ce. If he had screamed and forced himself to run, it might have helped. He was still royalty. The blood flowing through his body was something others would not shed without an imperial order. So, he was not afraid to face the spear, and he could lean forward. He could have said he was going to see the Emperor. The Emperor said he would wait for his decision. He could have told the attendant that now he would make the decision. If he is to go to the audience with surveince, it is probably possible. However, Grand Duke Roygar did not step his feet forward. Ga pleads guilty. She may be sacrificing herself for him. The Emperor¡¯s proposal was fulfilled even if he did not ept it. Grand Duke Roygar returned to the couch and sat down. His limbs were as heavy as lead. No more news was delivered. Even the servant who brought dinner did not open his mouth. The conclusion was made long after the sun had set. Grand Duke Roygar was released. £ª£ª£ª Count Brennan prostrated before the Emperor. The Emperor slowly opened his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°How could I? I have nothing to say.¡± Ga¡¯sing to confess was something that Count Brennan had never imagined. She didn¡¯t even report to the Emperor about the possibility. ¡°They say that nurturing children is the most difficult thing in the world, but Marquis Luden also failed.¡± The Emperor clicked his tongue. He had previously thought that Marchioness Camellia looked a lot more like Marquis Luden than Marquis Luden Heir Apparent. ¡°Well, if Marquis Luden were still alive, the Grand Duchess wouldn¡¯t have been able to do this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it interesting? Marquis Luden had more than ten children, and among them all, the children with clever and judicious judgment were illegitimate. The legitimate ones were ipetent and did not know how to think with their own head.¡± The Emperor crossed his arms and leaned back, resting his stiff neck briefly against the back. ¡°Among these, the daughter, whom the father thought the least thoughtful and foolish, possessed the most important qualities.¡± Count Brennan only bowed her head. It was because the Emperor was not speaking specifically towards her. The Emperor twisted his lips. In the end, it was bittersweet to think about whether Marquis Luden himself had twisted the innate qualities of his children so that they could not be disyed. It was because they kept thinking of the saying that they ruined the child by teaching them the wrong way. The Emperor shook his head to clear his thoughts. And he looked down at Count Brennan and said, ¡°However, in the end, Count failed to cause division, failed to raise an army, and even after looking for more than ten years, you could not get any correct information from the Grand Duchess¡¯ aide.¡± ¡°I have nothing to say¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did you want an audience to give an excuse?¡± said the Emperor coldly. ¡°Why? Now, even if Grand Duchess Evron herself ims the work, it seems that the situation cannot be overturned, so don¡¯t you feel motivated?¡± ¡°How is that possible? His Majesty, I am certain that Grand Duchess Evron was involved in this.¡± Count Brennan insisted firmly even as shey down. ¡°It was Grand Duchess Evron¡¯sdy-in-waiting who got Ian Camellia an invitation to the banquet. Where he was staying is also the annex of Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. In all probability, it was Grand Duchess Evron who brought him to the Capital.¡± ¡°Do you think I didn¡¯t investigate?¡± ¡°I heard that Grand Duke Evron dared to not let Your Majesty¡¯s investigators into the mansion.¡± ¡°The official investigators and the guards have searched the annex.¡± In short, they will only ept investigations that have undergone public procedures. It was something Cedric could do. ¡°Actually, there was nothing to do. Because Grand Duchess Evron is not poor enough to leave evidence of such an event.¡± ¡°I¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y shallow tricks on me, Count Brennan.¡± Count Brennan gave strength to her stomach and tried not to disturb her breathing. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Now, even trying to bring in Grand Duchy Evron, it is over. Grand Duchess Roygar has confessed.¡± ¡°I¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter now whether Grand Duchess Evron was involved or not.¡± said the Emperor. ¡°Grand Duchess Evron called in Ian Camellia. She could have him file an inheritancewsuit, or she could have financed Ian Camellia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The only result is that the original conflict between Marquisate Luden and Marquisate Camellia has be visible. And in the end, it was Sk Camellia who caused the current situation. ¡± The rest were all derivative results. ¡°The Dame who assassinated Marquis Luden without missing the opportunity would know best.¡± The Emperor leaned his body at an angle and rested his chin, looking down at Count Brennan. ¡°Then, does that mean that Dame was also deceived by Grand Duchess Evron?¡± Count Brennan was speechless at those words. She was originally trying to state the fact that Marquis Luden was digging for the weakness of Grand Duchy Evron. There was a good chance that Grand Duke Evron would take the throne and attack Grand Duke Roygar. But the assassination of Marquis Luden was entirely her own decision. ¡°The opportunity arose to bring in Marchioness Camellia, and just in time, Roygar vacated the Capital. Count is nothing more than an opportunist. It must have been just an attempt to reorganize the Eastern faction into something else.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I have never forgotten your secret order.¡± ¡°Then, it is your ipetence. You mean that the rift that Grand Duchess Evron had created by summoning a man could not be created by you even after being an insider for ten years?¡± Count Brennan felt humiliated. She didn¡¯t think she couldn¡¯t make a crack. Within the faction of the Grand Duke of Roygar, she faced Marquis Luden and made a number ofrades. But she was ipetent. She meant something different from what the Emperor meant, but it must have been so, she thought to herself. She killed Marquis Luden and tried to get into ce. She tried to secure her influence over Grand Duke Roygar, and im her achievements to the Emperor. As a result, none of them seeded. Grand Duke Roygar entrusted his memorial service to Marchioness Camellia. By confessing to the Emperor, the Grand Duchess made even the n to bring Grand Duchy Evron into a muddy fight useless. She failed, so she had to give in. Count Brennan asked meekly, ¡°What should I do next?¡± The Emperor narrowed his eyes. He nted her in Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction to cause division, but he was rather offended by Count Brennan¡¯s actions, who tried to wield and seize power. However, the results of this work were quite satisfactory. Grand Duke Roygar himself did not abandon Ga. However, in the end, Ga took all the responsibility, and Grand Duke Roygar was able to survive. Count Brennan was a good fit for the necessary follow-up. Now that things havee to this point, there is no need to worry about betrayal. ¡°Dame, run away to the East. There¡¯s nothing to do here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Let the rumors spread that Grand Duke Roygar did not protect the Grand Duchess, but instead offered her as a scapegoat.¡± Besides that, the Emperor gave Count Brennan a few minor orders. Ga¡¯s resolute attitude and the actions of the old nobles who decided to follow her docilely, despite her unexpected confession, will certainly be problematic in the future. After Count Brennan left Ferguson entered the study. ¡°Grand Duchess Roygar was imprisoned in the dungeon. She has been treated with courtesy.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Emperor also ordered Ferguson to spread false rumors about Ga through a secret organization. He could not leave pride in the East. Chapter 230 Grand Duke Roygar returned home. The mansion was empty. Guards were still guarding the gardens and entrances. Some investigators remained. But the house was empty. Grand Duke Roygar first went to find his children¡¯s room. The room was empty. Toy boxes and bookshelves were turned upside down, and all the wallpaper was torn. That¡¯s what the investigators did. ¡®Ah¡­¡­.¡¯ It meant that the children had escaped, not taken away. Considering that Ga walked into the pce on her own in a calming manner, it was probably Marchioness Camellia who took the children. Because if it weren¡¯t for her, Ga wouldn¡¯t have such a firm faith. With that in mind, Marchioness Camellia did not betray him. It¡¯s just that she was not loyal to Grand Duke Roygar from the beginning. Grand Duke Roygar took amp in his hand and trudged around the mansion. Neither the butler nor the familiar employees remained. Instead, he was followed by servants sent from the Imperial Pce to serve as surveinces. Grand Duke Roygar didn¡¯t even care about that. Now, whether to monitor him or not, what does it mean? There¡¯s nothing left. He didn¡¯t even have the energy to think about how it happened. The interior was clean. Unlike the children¡¯s room, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything to search for. Well, Ga confessed. The evidence that she hadmitted a crime was enough from the jewelry box. As the Emperor had tried to save him, it would be rather difficult if more evidence came out. Grand Duke Roygar entered Ga¡¯s bedroom. Servants split on both sides and lit the bedroom. Grand Duke Roygar saw a velvet box on the table. He slowly walked towards the table. When the lid of the velvet box was opened, the tiara and ne radiated a brilliant light. Ga was just 18 when she walked into the wedding hall wearing this tiara and ne. Until then, Grand Duke Roygar had only regarded her as cute. Since they were engaged, he treated her as a fiance. But she was too young to be seen as a woman. Although her actual age was the same as her mental, there was also an aspect of Ga herself acting younger as she grew up pampered. He was worried as he entered the newlywed room. He was old enough to have to see his sessor quickly. The presence of children would solidify the alliance. But he couldn¡¯t even imagine that Ga would be a mother. [¡°Honey!¡±] In the newlywed room, Ga said so with an innocent smile instead of being shy. [¡°I will call you that now.¡±] Grand Duke Roygar was awkward. He wondered if Ga understood the meaning of being married. Realizing that he was awkward, Ga tilted her head and said. [¡°Since we¡¯re married now, that¡¯s right, isn¡¯t it?¡±] [¡°Right.¡±] [¡°Then, call me that now. Now, I am the Grand Duchess, not Lady Luden.¡±] It seems that she had kept in mind what Grand Duke Roygar used to call her from an early age. It was a honeymoon that was like a child¡¯s y. Grand Duke Roygar treated Ga as the Grand Duchess, but he did not differ much from how he treated his six-year younger fiance. He loved his wife, but the form of love was not so different from when he saw the cute Lady. But Ga walked into the Imperial Pce truly as the Grand Duchess. Grand Duke Roygar dropped the box. He was still afraid, and he still wanted to live fiercely even now. But when his first child was born, he was determined to live differently now. He didn¡¯t live to survive, he would live for his family. However, he himself drove his wife into a limbo and, without taking any responsibility for his children, saved his life and he returned to an empty house. It was a life that he only lived to survive. £ª£ª£ª Seeing Mielle trying to hold Leticia, Hazel said, ¡°Then, you¡¯re going to say that your arm hurts again at night.¡± ¡°Still.¡± ¡°Still not.¡± When Hazel stopped, Mielle made a shriveled face. ¡°Boooo.¡± Leticia made a sound to herself, andughed, as if it was funny to see her lips quivering. Mielle looked into the face and she felt relieved in no time. ¡°Look, Father. The Princessughed really well, right?¡± ¡°Right.¡± Keshore chuckled. He was worried. Although investigators said they could not enter Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence, the treason case was still in full swing. No matter how much Cedric guarded and Artizea cracked down on it, there was no way there would be nomotion inside. However, there was no news from Mielle. Even if she stayed in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence as she was Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting, she said she would go home and sleep two days a week. Because of the circumstances, even if she can¡¯t move, and she stays in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence, she should send a letter. In the end, Keshore decided to visit in person. It was a difficult time to get the Emperor¡¯s permission while he was busy. But Mielle is enjoying herself in the nursery with such a bright face. ¡°You should have sent a letter.¡± Keshore muttered to himself. Hayley, who was serving him tea, made an apologetic face. ¡°A lot of people at Mielle¡¯s age, forget that her parents are waiting for her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you. Even if I visit suddenly like this, you wee me and even let me see the Princess.¡± ¡°Sir Keshore¡¯s visits are always wee, Her Grace said. And she wanted to show you that Mielle is doing well.¡± Keshore looked at Hayley and smiled. Hayley would have been nothing but Mielle¡¯s older sister, but she was already mature. ¡°Mielle always liked babies. She always volunteered for the caretaker role when rtives brought a baby. Still, it¡¯s the first time she¡¯s ever been so engrossed.¡± It was sad. If she were in the body to get married and have a baby, Keshore thought that Mielle would have lived very happily. Hayley understood his heart. ¡°It seems like they are more affectionate as they are not parting after a few days. Our princess is also following Mielle well. Thanks to her, the mood is always bright.¡± As they were talking like that, Artizea came in. Keshore stood up. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen you, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Sorry to have youe all the way here while you are busy, Sir Keshore. I have made you concerned for Mielle.¡± ¡°No. Seeing her doing well gives me peace of mind. Well, she¡¯s old enough to bother her parents.¡± ¡°I wrote you a letterst week.¡± ¡°Your mother and I wish we could see you more often.¡± ¡°Really. If something had happened, Father would have known sooner.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I want to hear the news that way, right?¡± ¡°Everyone says something big is going to happen, so they keep the ess to a minimum and take care of themselves, so how could I send someone out to send you a letter?¡± ¡°I think it would be good to go home at that time, Mielle.¡± Mielle could do that anyway. She was frail and Artizea would have no particr doubt of what she would have done, and she was the daughter of Keshore. Mielle spoke slowly as she bit her mouth, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Keshore looked at Mielle with astonished eyes. Artizea smiled. ¡°I think the time hase to stop overprotecting.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I know.¡± Keshore said sadly. Mielle stood up with a slightly sulky face. Hazel gave Keshore a slightly sorry face. Artizea asked, ¡°What about the Imperial Pce? I even heard yesterday that Grand Duchess Roygar had gone to plead her sins.¡± ¡°Did the Grand Duke not say anything?¡± ¡°He couldn¡¯te home. Sir Keshore just visited us, so I would love to hear from you.¡± Artizea¡¯s words were vague of whether or not she was aware of what actually happened. It wasn¡¯t particrly secretive, so it wasn¡¯t something Keshore couldn¡¯t tell. Anyway, the Emperor would have known that this conversation would happen when Keshore asked for a rest because he wanted to go see Mielle. ¡°Grand Duchess Roygar was very determined.¡± Keshore said without hiding his admiration. ¡°Those who have followed her seem to have expressed the injustice at first, but they all shut their mouths and decided to share their fate with Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± ¡°That is the power of the Eastern noble families.¡± In front of the sake of family prosperity and perpetuity, personal sacrifice is natural. To honor it is a noble attitude. Artizea thought that Ga would not have had such a thought. Maybe she did it for her family. But by doing so, she secured the future of the Eastern aristocracy. ¡®People are very difficult.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t known before. When Grand Duke Roygar was purged, the entire family was executed together. Ga drank the poison without going mad or crying. At that time, Artizea had never met her personally. All that remained was an impression that Ga had neither the strength nor the ability to resist. Has she changed? Or did she resolutely ept her death even then? It was unknown to her now. Keshore said, ¡°His Majesty has also ordered Grand Duchess Roygar to be treated with courtesy.¡± ¡°His Majesty likes dignified people.¡± ¡°Yes, really.¡± Of course, whether Grand Duchess Roygar would be honored to the end was another matter. Hayley asked, ¡°Since His Majesty has epted it, so will the matter of the agreement be different now?¡± ¡°Yes. In order to save Grand Duke Roygar, the agreement must be justifiable.¡± In reality, most of the parties had already copsed. Starting with thedies-in-waiting close to the Grand Duchess, there was no significant difference when it came to the fact that the faction nobles became involved in treason. The upper forces will be able to move on safely. But it will be greatly reduced. The Emperor would have a n to make it his own. It was then. A knock was heard on the door. Surprised, Leticia burst into tears. It was a young knight under Freil who came. He said hurriedly, ¡°Grand Duke Roygarmitted suicide.¡± Aaaah, this is one of the chapters that surprised me terribly! We always see Roygar as some annoyingpetitor than needs to be eliminated asap, but this chapter gave us some insight into his ¡®humane¡¯ side. And I never would have expected him tomit suicide, I always thought he would die in battle (as in thepetition), so thest line is really something! What do you readers thought? ^^ Chapter 231 Keshore jumped to his feet in great astonishment. Hayley and Hazel, as well as Mielle, who did not know much about it, opened their mouths in surprise. Artizea lowered her gaze into the teacup to hide her agitation. And she asked calmly, ¡°What else did he say?¡± ¡°There is not. I was only instructed to go and let you know as soon as possible. The Grand Duke is going to the Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence with the Chancellor.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The knight saluted and withdrew. Keshore said, ¡°I escorted Grand Duke Roygar to his house yesterday. He was devastated, but I didn¡¯t think he would choose death¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did he feel guilty untilte into the night?¡± ¡°It could be. Anyway, I¡¯ll have to go back to the Imperial Pce. Excuse me.¡± Keshore greeted Artizea, and told Mielle firmly, ¡°If anything happens, you have to contact me right away. Never go out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± And Keshore hurried out. Hayley looked at Artizea. Artizea was still peering into her teacup. ¡°Did you guess?¡± ¡°No. I never thought he would have the courage to die.¡± Grand Duke Roygar is a selfish and quick-witted man. Those who covet interests are usually ferocious. Those who love wealth want to live to enjoy them. Even if he loved his family. His love is ultimately his own. In order for him to think and judge based on others beyond the limits of himself, he needs to train continuously. It is even more difficult for a person whose narcissism is strong. Grand Duke Roygar, the master and head of the Grand Duke¡¯s family, couldn¡¯t have done such a training. It is often thought that the family protects the members of the family, but in reality the family members are only engaged for the family¡¯s purposes. This rtionship was also between the head and family members. Moreover, he was a member of the imperial family. As it descends from generation to generation, his lineage moves away from power and glory. He was of the main imperial bloodline. But unless he ascended to the throne, his children were nothing but coteral. In other words, the counting method was different from that of the noble family who tried to perpetuate the family through their own sacrifice. He must have been well aware that his death would not keep his wife and children alive. Yet, he chooses to die. Artizea drank all her tea and stood up without a word. It was because her mind was tooplicated to be in the nursery. Hayley followed behind her. Hazel hesitated. Mielle pushed her lightly. ¡°You go, too.¡± ¡°Oh, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t, they¡¯ll tell me to go. I just need to be next to the Princess.¡± Hazel hesitated a bit, but she soon said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± and quickly followed Artizea. Artizea returned to her own living room. Hayley nced at Hazel briefly, but she let her inside with her and closed the door. Artizea said, ¡°Hayley, get ready to go out. I want to sneak out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Things got difficult.¡± Artizea made a blurry face. The death of Grand Duke Roygar was not profitable in the long run. It was also a problem that the Emperor¡¯s pressure would be focused on one person, Cedric. However, above all else, the problem was that they did not have the room to clean up the East yet. For a time they had to put all their efforts into cleaning up the salt business, and then they had to deal with diplomatic issues. There was no situation where any force could be used. It had been less than half a year since the Southern Conquest Army was sent. No matter how enormous the productive power of the Empire, it could not raise an army one after another. This was even more so in a situation where the national treasury revenue was declining due to the suspension of the salt business. Moreover, the opponent was the rich East. Therefore, the Emperor must have kept Grand Duke Roygar alive and alienated him, trying to keep the cause of projecting power to the East at any time. However, this case was closed when Ga kept her pride and Grand Duke Roygarmitted suicide. When the East finishes mourning and memorial service, and gathers strength, it will surely be a source of trouble. ¡®Once this has happened, even the Princesses and Prince must be found and killed.¡¯ If the evidence of death is not certain, even an imposter will appear. To use it to unite the East. ¡°Hazel, take Mielle home, and I want you to go home, too.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I will write you a letter, so go and give it to your father.¡± ¡°Ah yes!¡± Hezel answered with enthusiasm, knowing that she was not trying to exclude her, but that there was a real purpose. Artizea immediately took out the paper and began to write the letter. * * * When he heard the news, Cedric was with Chancellor Lin. The two headed straight for Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s residence. They didn¡¯t have any special thoughts otherwise. It was because they were so surprised and thought they should check the facts. One of the guards came out to meet the two with a pale blue face. Chancellor Lin asked, ¡°Are you sure it was a suicide?¡± ¡°Yes. There was also a will.¡± He said that the will was sent directly to the Emperor. ¡°You mean there were so many people that you couldn¡¯t stop it? They should have been watching.¡± ¡°The search was already over in the study, so we were not worried and guarded outside. When we heard the gunshot and ran in, it was right after the Grand Duke put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.¡± ¡°No way, hoo¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The investigators, servants, and knights who were in charge of the mansion search all went to get a check.¡± The Emperor made it impossible to leave a single de in the mansion just in case. He changed even the bottles and sses to silverware and took away all the paper knives. But it seemed that something was missing. The guard knight who was in charge of the security of Grand Duke Rougar and the investigator in charge of the search were stunned and arrested all those involved. Grand Duke Roygar was still lying in his study. The attendant spread his arms and legs straight, took a nket, and covered his head as well. Because the Emperor¡¯s order had not yet been issued. The pistol used for suicide was lying on the desk. The blood was dry. As Cedric looked at it, the guard said with a sorry face, ¡°The investigator said that he thought it was a valuable item rather than a weapon, so he left it alone. It¡¯s a gun that only fires a single shot, and it¡¯s useless without gunpowder and ammunition anyway.¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t have left the ammunition box in the house, would they?¡± ¡°Yes. All was cleaned away. But it is said that a bullet was hidden in the candlestick.¡± A candlestick split in half was thrown across the desk. There was an empty space. Originally, it seemed to be a space made to hide documents and jewelry. It was said that the servants, the investigators, and the knights fought fiercely. ording to the investigator, all objects that could hide something were dismantled and confiscated. A candlestick with a secret space is no exception. ording to the knight, no outsiders had evere in. The servant said that he had no idea that there was such a thing as a secret space in the candlestick, and that he considered it only as an object like other candlesticks in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. Hearing that, Cedric opened the desk drawer. ¡°You must not touch anything, Your Grace.¡± The guardsman said in surprise. But Cedric didn¡¯t mind, and he found the sealing wax and took it out. He then lit a candle on one side of the desk to melt the wax. Realizing what he was going to do, the knight shut his mouth. Cedric knelt down next to Grand Duke Roygar, who was lying t on the floor, and rolled up the quilt slightly. Then, he closed his wide-open eyes and glued them together with wax. Still, his face seemed to be staring at something he was afraid of. ¡°The Grand Duchess will be shocked¡­¡­.¡± The official of the Ministry of Finance who followed the two of them murmured. Cedric covered Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s face again. And he asked. ¡°Is it because of responsibility?¡± ¡°Responsibility¡­¡­.You mean?¡± ¡°The will probably contained a confession. Isn¡¯t that what he was doing to save Aunt¡¯s life?¡± At those words, Chancellor Lin contorted his face. ¡°Well¡­¡­ . If the Grand Duchess hasmitted a crime, even Grand Duke Roygar would not be quick to get involved. Grand Duke Roygar is the Prince. But the treason has not yet been established.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Shame¡­¡­ Or is it fear?¡± said Chancellor Lin. ¡°I know His Majesty put a lot of pressure on me. His Majesty must have been trying to save Grand Duke Roygar, but¡­¡­.¡± He blurred his words. Cedric understood what he meant. Grand Duke Roygar may have resisted fear. Or he might have fled to death. It is unknown whether he was cold enough to think of overturning the table upside down with his own death. However, there was clearly a desire to save his wife and children. Cedric had aplicated mind. Just because he was his uncle did not mean that he had special affection. When he was really young he hated and despised him. As he got older, his understanding grew. But apart from that, when he threatened Artizea and Leticia, he had serious intentions to kill him. He was determined to be Emperor, so he knew very well that one day he would have to fight. Even so, he was also dizzy. ¡®There is no such thing as an honorable death¡­¡­.¡¯ Cedric stood up. ¡°I am very worried about how to inform the Grand Duchess.¡± Chancellor Lin said sullenly. Cedric nodded his head gloomily. ¡°First, go back to the Ministry of Finance. It would be better to request an audience with the Emperor.¡± ¡°Yes. That would be good.¡± An official from the Ministry of Finance said cautiously. Lin agreed and suggested that Cedric go. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric followed the two outside with his mouth shut. Before he went to meet the Emperor, he wanted to meet Artizea first. He hesitated, however, as he thought it would not be wise to be exposed outside while discussing with her. And it was when he arrived near the Chancellor. Cedric saw a ck carriage parked. The pattern hanging on the carriage window looked familiar. He told Lin to go in first, got off his horse and headed for the carriage. As he approached, the door opened from inside. Artizea was riding it. Chapter 232 Cedric got into the carriage, not surprised. Artizea lifted the veil. A faint warmth spread across her smileless face. ¡°You got used to it.¡± ¡°You should have done it much earlier so that I get used to your method.¡± Cedric said. Artizea couldn¡¯t smile this time. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not trying to be sharp. It felt strange to recognize it as if it was natural.¡± Cedric said softly. And he asked, ¡°Can youe out like this? There must still be secret investigators roaming around the mansion.¡± ¡°Because the situation was awkward. I heard that Grand Duke Roygarmitted suicide.¡± ¡°Yes. I just got back from the mansion.¡± ¡°Did he reallymit suicide?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric was unsure and hesitated. Not because it was something he couldn¡¯t tell Artizea, but because his emotions were messing around in his chest. ¡°It is true that Uncle himself had pulled the trigger. It was a pistol suicide. There is also a will.¡± ¡°What happened? His Majesty couldn¡¯t have let him die.¡± ¡°The pistol¡­¡­. The pistol has little value as a weapon.¡± Cedric said in a cracked voice. Artizea looked at him with surprised eyes. It didn¡¯t seem like Cedric was simply reviewing the weapon. ¡°It can only fire one shot because it is very inconvenient to load. Because it¡¯s for a duel. In fact, it is more meaningful as a collectible.¡± Even if they have more bullets, it is intentionally designed so that it cannot be reloaded and to fire the opponent again. ¡°I gave it to Uncle as a present.¡± It was a threat. He didn¡¯t think it was going toe true. No matter what he did, the day would nevere when Grand Duke Roygar could shoot him with that gun. Because he has no chance of winning a duel with Cedric. He didn¡¯t think at the time that Grand Duke Roygar would put it in his own mouth and pull the trigger. Even if that happened, he never thought of Grand Duke Roygar as someone to do that. ¡°All bullets were removed, but they said there was one in a candlestick with a secretpartment.¡± Cedric even told Artizea that the investigators imed to have removed all such candlesticks. Artizea said as she thought deeply, ¡°There¡¯s no way the investigators couldn¡¯t find such a thing, so maybe¡­¡­ It must have been brought in from outside.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°It must be Marchioness Camellia. If there is one who had the exact same thing as the one used in the Grand Duke¡¯s residence, it would be Marquisate Luden or Marquisate Camellia. And Grand Duke Roygar must have recognized it.¡± The bullet may have fueled guilt. Or it was felt as a means to forcing him to die to secure the future. Cedric remained silent for a moment with his head bowed. Because it was difficult for him to tell Artizea what he had decided. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have to save Aunt and the children.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Do you know how much risk it carries?¡± Artizea asked in a hard voice. ¡°I know. If we do it wrong, we too will be involved in the treason case, and even if it goes well, we will leave an element of civil war in the East. Even if Aunt had absolutely no intention of doing that, it would be so just by being alive.¡± Cedric said, ¡°If Aunt was determined to minimize the situation by sacrificing herself, I tried to respect that. If Uncle was still alive, it would have been possible to negotiate with His Majesty over the issue of the lives of the children.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°But if Unclemitted suicide, things would be different now. Furthermore¡­¡­ I made a promise.¡± Artizea silently asked for an answer. Cedric answered in a low voice, ¡°Even if we take each other¡¯s life, let¡¯s take care of the family.¡± It was not a mutual promise. It was just a message he unterally threw out. But when Grand Duke Roygar chose the gun and risked his own life, did it really have anything to do with the message? Maybe it was because it was the only weapon that could be used. But he was probably conscious, Cedric thought. The dead Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s face didn¡¯t look like he was desperate. He was drenched in fear. Cedric felt that hemitted suicide for a reason rather than running away to death. It would be an illusion. Death is just death. Anyone who has made a big decision, or who has given up on life, will be afraid at the moment of death. Still, if he ever believed in Cedric andmitted suicide, he had toply with that belief. Cedric said quietly, ¡°I believe you can help.¡± Artizea let out a deep sigh. Then, she rested her head on the back. ¡°If you have the courage to endure it even if a civil war breaks out.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the world going to just run ording to the order? Conversely, my aunt might be able to help meter.¡± ¡°It will never happen. The reason Grand Duchess Roygar has a symbolic value is that she is the daughter of the oldest and most powerful family in the East. She can¡¯t be of any help in dismantling the Eastern factions. Wouldn¡¯t using her for alienation be better.¡± Cedric smiled awkwardly. ¡°But, yes¡­¡­. Because there aren¡¯t too many royalties. If we can get it right, it could be a good thing for the future.¡± Artizea said. And she sighed again. ¡°I will discuss the matter of the children with Marchioness Camellia. The older two will never officially be kept alive, but since they have already escaped, they will be able to hide it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If possible, try your best to reduce the punishment of Grand Duchess Roygar to that of exile. If it¡¯s impossible¡­¡­ You will have no choice but to change it in prison.¡± Artizea continued her words, ¡°Fortunately, no one would find it strange that the Grand Duchess could not stand his imprisonment and died¡­¡­.¡± However, the present Imperial Pce ispletely different from that when it was under Lawrence. There was no way they wouldn¡¯t be caught. Moreover, at that time, Venia was able to extract the key as an insider. But this time she had no one to y that role. ¡°If you fail to lower it to exile, then go think about it. At any rate, now you have to face His Majesty directly.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It must havee one day anyway.¡± Artizea let out a long sigh. Cedric lowered his head. £ª£ª£ª [Unable to contain my greed for precious possessions, I persuaded my wife to ept the unexpected gift. All her responsibility lies with me.] There was only one sentence in the blood-stained will. It was hard to read from the middle because of how shaky his hand was. The Emperor crumpled the will and threw it on the desk. The investigator who brought the will and Gayan, who was in charge of the night before, shrank in preparation of the Emperor¡¯s wrath. Even Keshore, who escorted Grand Duke Roygar the day before, could not hide his tension. But instead of roaring, the Emperor sighed and leaned back against the backrest. ¡°My head hurts.¡± Those words were more like talking to himself rather than asking them to listen. Everyone in the office was frightened and knelt down. The Emperor felt a headache and touched his temple. The fatigue that could not be hidden made his body heavy. He can¡¯t hide that Roygar has a will. Otherwise, rumors will spread that Grand Duke Roygar was murdered. It will create new problems again. Will he forge a will? But that too leaves a cause for concern. Just thinking about it made his head hurt. ¡®Even though I said I¡¯d save you, you idiot.¡¯ In any case, as long as he endured and survived, he would have been able to live with imperial bloodline for the rest of his life. ¡°Gayan.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Find the missing Princesses and Prince. If you kill them, bring me the corpse. I will check it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°I will obey your orders.¡± Gayan gave a military salute and went out. The Emperor said this time to the chief attendant. ¡°Make sure the person who brought in the bullets is investigated.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Emperor hesitated for a moment toward the investigator. He wasn¡¯t sure if he could believe it or not. However, in the end, he had no choice but to order that the investigators who entered the pce be checked. Then, he closed his eyes and pondered. The future was bleak. When was thest time he had to think so fiercely? Even though there was a time when he thought that all he could do was put the Emperor¡¯s crown on his head. The Emperor twisted his lips. ¡°This is an imperial decree.¡± The secretary took out arge piece of paper and prepared to write it down. ¡°Roygar exposed his remorse by having his wife wear the things of the Empress, and he is unforgivable. I deprived him of the title of Grand Duke, abolished him, and confiscated all of his property. I beheaded his head, but his body was allowed to be buried.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, wouldn¡¯t it be good to make a decision after resting for a while?¡± The chief attendant said cautiously. The Emperor said with his eyes closed. ¡°You have to do what you have to do.¡± ¡°I am saying this because you look very tired.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you try to get involved in an official affair. What, do you have anything to ask for?¡± The Emperor opened his eyes and looked at the chief attendant curiously. If it wasn¡¯t a big deal, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t listen to. The chief attendant has been serving him for a really long time without a private heart. Perhaps, his rtives were mixed with Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction. At first nce, such a thought came to mind, and the chief attendant shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re tired while making important decisions and I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll regret themter.¡± ¡°Hoo. Right.¡± The Emperor didn¡¯t think so. If Grand Duke Roygar was the culprit anyway, the punishment to be given was obvious. However, because of the attendant¡¯s sincerity, he decided to have a cup of tea for a while. It was true that he was so tired that the back of his neck stiffened. ¡°Now, the remaining problem is the Kingdom of Iantz. I have to ask the Chancellor and Foreign Ministry officials to pick it up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think for a moment and close your eyes.¡± The chief attendant made hot tea. There was no sugar bowl on his tray. Before the Emperor murmured, the chief attendant said, ¡°You have to listen carefully to the doctor¡¯s rmendation.¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± It was when he had his first sip. A servant came in and announced that a visitor had arrived, ¡°His Grace, Grand Duke Evron, is asking for an audience.¡± The Emperor sighed again. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Proofreader: somnium The Emperor moved his seat to the parlor. After a brief pause and a sip of tea, he realized he was overly agitated. The advice of the chief attendant, who had been serving him for decades, was hardly ever wrong. But the headache did not go away. A cold sweat broke out on his back, and he lightly mmed the armrest with his hand. ¡°Bring honey water.¡± He was advised not to drink, but he was prepared. Soon the honey water came. A light refreshment was prepared along with it. Cedric passed the parlor door after he gulped down the honey water. It seemed he wanted to have a lot more when sweets were added. ¡°Secretary of State Evron greets Your Majesty.¡± Cedric knelt down on one of his knees. The Emperor beckoned to him. ¡°Get up and sit down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your grace.¡± ¡°I was just about to drink tea.¡± The Emperor offered him a seat. Cedric sat down on the sofa without being too awkward. Soon the teacup was ced and fragrant tea was poured. A milk bottle and a sugar bowl came out. The Emperor looked at it with a new feeling. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I envy you. Being young. Now, the servants seldom give me a bowl of sugar.¡± ¡°If there was a meaningful rmendation, wouldn¡¯t it be unavoidable? You have to take care of your body.¡± Cedric said in an awkward mood. Talking like this with the Emperor itself was unfamiliar. The Emperor sighed. As sugar began to flow through his body, his condition improved. The Emperor rxed his body and said, ¡°Did youe here because of the foolishness that Roygar did?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I have nothing to say to you. When you have finished drinking the tea, go back and do what you have to do.¡± ¡°Please reconsider Aunt¡¯s execution.¡± ¡°Treason is thew that annihtes one¡¯s entire family and rtives. There are no exceptions. Besides, the Grand Duchess is a self-proimed Empress.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know that it wasn¡¯t something Aunt did out of her heart? Since Unclemitted suicide, the dynasty of Grand Duke Roygar is already over.¡± Cedric said, keeping hisplexion and speech soft. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you spare their life and spread Your Majesty¡¯s mercy?¡± ¡°Cedric, you probably aren¡¯t old enough to be dreaming anymore.¡± The Emperor said, as if spitting it out. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that the Grand Duchess is innocent and has no other intentions, and that she is determined only to save her husband and children? But the Grand Duchess alone is not a problem.¡± In order to spare Ga, he must follow it and spare all those who dared to challenge the Emperor. This was not something he would deal with mercy. ¡°Authority is like a wall. You must¡¯ve known that since you have ruled thend of Evron. If you save one who was to be killed for the sake of cheap sympathy, and your authority is overthrown, it will take an infinite amount of blood and time to rebuild it.¡± ¡°Even if you execute Aunt, you will not be able to defeat the Eastern nobles. From the beginning, they are the ones who will im to have stood up before His Majesty to the end by death.¡± The Emperor slightly raised his body, which had been buried deep on the sofa. ¡°Anyway, your aunt is just a symbol. A symbol can function more strongly with death.¡± Cedric said without hesitation. ¡°If Uncle is still alive, you might be able to make the fight between the supporters and the resentful of him by spreading the rumors that he abandoned Aunt to death.¡± The East tried to hold the Emperor¡¯s crown through Grand Duke Roygar. As long as Grand Duke Roygar is alive, there will be those who consider the goal to be valid. There were also those whom Grand Duke Roygar himself could take over and ce in power under hismand. But it all failed. The East has now lost the means to fight ording to the rules of politics over the Emperor¡¯s crown. Then, they will resist in a different way. ¡°Whether she is alive or dead, there is no difference in that she bes a vehicle for inciting hostility toward His Majesty.¡± ¡°She will be a hindrance.¡± ¡°Aunt has no ability to be a descendant. She will be unable to voluntarily organize the East nor be able to resist.¡± Cedric said, ¡°Even alienation will not actually help solve the problem in the East.¡± If Grand Duke Roygar was alive, he might have been able to exercise his influence indirectly. But as long as he¡¯s dead, it¡¯s impossible. Both the Emperor and Cedric were outsiders. And even if the Eastern nobles were fighting with each other, if an external force tried to stretch out, they would immediately unite and face it. To restore eastern administration to normal, therge farms must be dismantled and the central government must take control of thend and the people. It was something that could not be solved by conspiracy. Even if there was a justification for confiscating the family¡¯s property due to treason like this time, they could not achieve practical results without projecting military power. ¡°Even conspiracies and nderous schemes are only auxiliary means. Rather, I think the opposite.¡± ¡°The opposite?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the nobility in the East, is it? Your Majesty must rule over the people.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is an area where the authority of the imperial family has not yet reached. Symbols are needed to stabilize public sentiment and earn the trust of lower-ranking officials. Aunt has no desire for power, so it would be a good choice for Your Majesty.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking into the distance and talking. I thought you were only concerned with the Northern affairs, but it seems like you were devising a way to rule the country.¡± At the Emperor¡¯s words, Cedric tried not to show tension. The Emperor looked right through it. ¡°I will not rebuke you. You struggled toe up with a reason to save the Grand Duchess.¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But that is no reason to have to spare the traitor mother and children. How could it be simply a matter of policy to annihte the traitor¡¯s entire family and rtives? We have to have the will to establish the authority of the throne and to be wary of the world.¡± He said in a cold voice. ¡°It¡¯s not just about this time, my reign, it¡¯s about the unity of the Empire and the future of the imperial family. If you want to convince me, tell another story.¡± ¡°I ask of you.¡± Cedric bowed his head honestly. The Emperor narrowed his eyes. Cedric said, ¡°The pistol that Uncle used tomit suicide was a gift from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s something we¡¯re going to do against each other, we said to only do it to the person concerned and take care of the family.¡± The story was told in a salon, an open space. He doesn¡¯t know if the Emperor had heard of it, but he didn¡¯t have to hide it. ¡°Even though Uncle¡¯s death is said to have been suicide because he hadmitted a sphemous act, he must have wanted something from me when using that pistol.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s stupid. But that is what I promised first.¡± Cedric sped his hand, which was resting on hisp. ¡°Since Uncle has asked me to keep my promise by dying, I know it is my duty to try my best.¡± The Emperor looked at Cedric. It was a foolish hope that Cedric could keep it. Even if it was blood and flesh, there would not be enough justification to cross the dangerous bridge for Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s sake. But it strangely relieved the Emperor¡¯s heart. The Emperor picked up a teacup. And he said in a more rxed voice. ¡°As long as Roygar has be like that, you are the only legitimate sessor left to me. Leticia exists, but after all, she belongs to you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°You must have guessed it when I gave Leticia her name.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Even if the Grand Duchess is a threat to none, the Princesses and Prince will be a threat to you and Leticia in the future. But will you still protect them?¡± ¡°Because it is not right to kill a child who has to be protected to eliminate a danger that has not yet arisen.¡± ¡°Cedric.¡± ¡°It is about treason. How can I pay the price? All I can do is ask you to save their lives, and even if you cannot do that, release the youngest child and save it.¡± Cedric lowered his head again. ¡°Like you saved me.¡± The Emperor drank the tea again in silence. Then, he looked at Cedric¡¯s teacup, which had cooled untouched, and said, ¡°Empty that cup.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric looked at the Emperor once, then looked down at the teacup. And the cold tea was emptied at once. The tea was just tea. It did not taste bitter, nor was it poisonous. Although it was cold, it was very fragrant, and there was a floral scent in the aftertaste. The Emperor said, ¡°Go away. This is not appropriate to talk to you.¡± Cedric took a deep breath. He had a thought that it wouldn¡¯t go well. He was determined. Today is not the only day. The Emperor apparently seemed to have a slight change of heart. Execution does not happen all at once. There will be another chance. ¡°I wille back again.¡± He stood up, knelt down on one of his knees, bowed, and then stepped back. The Emperor watched the scene silently and gestured to the chief attendant. The chief attendant served hot new tea and snacks to fill the stomach. The Emperor was hungry, so he reached out to the te. And he said, ¡°Send someone to Grand Duchess Evron to tell her to enter the pce quietly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Tell everybody to stop and take a break. I need to rest, too.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The chief attendant withdrew and gave instructions to others at the doorway. For Artizea to enter the pce, it will take a couple of hours. The Emperor stood up from his seat. He was going to close his eyes for a while in the break room next to the study. His cold sweat stopped, but he was so tired that his eyes were closed. As the chief attendant said, he needed a break. He intended to close his eyes for a moment until Artizea came. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Proofreader: somnium Artizea entered the pce in an hour. She came back from meeting Cedric and immediately changed her clothes. It was because she had to move quickly, whether she received a call from the Belmond editor or the situation in the Imperial Pce changed. She didn¡¯t know that the Emperor¡¯s call would be the first, though. ¡®It means that something has changed.¡¯ She didn¡¯t think Cedric had created a headache. It is Cedric who decides what he has to do. To make him Emperor does not mean to simply put the Emperor¡¯s crown on his head. She wants the world to move the way he wants it to. The ideal was not originally achieved easily. It is her role to bring down the dreamlike ideas to a realistic level and to achieve the goal by making up for the deficiencies. Didn¡¯t shee to his side to be his wife? Hayley asked anxiously as she climbed into the carriage alone. ¡°Are you really going alone?¡± ¡°If the Emperor is trying to harm me, you can¡¯t stop it anyway. Even if Evron is fully mobilized.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No worries. Going alone is an honor.¡± Artizea said so. But she couldn¡¯t guess what the Emperor was trying to say. When she arrived at the Imperial Pce, Artizea was guided to the Emperor¡¯s private parlor. The chief attendant greeted her in person and apologized to her, ¡°I am sorry. His Majesty is sleeping without anticipating that you will arrive so early.¡± ¡°I see. I dide too early.¡± Considering that preparations for ady¡¯s entrance usually take a couple of hours, it was true that Artizea, who arrived in less than an hour, was too quick. It was because she entered the pce in a simple dress without being morous. The chief attendant bowed his head. ¡°I am sorry. In the meantime, His Majesty has been under a lot of work every day, so I want to make sure he gets a good sleep.¡± ¡°Of course, I have to wait.¡± ¡°If you need anything, please tell me. Shall I bring ady-in-waiting to apany you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. If there are books in the library, I would like to borrow one.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The chief attendant took note of the title of the book she was talking about and entrusted it to an errand runner. And he brought snacks and honey tea by himself. Aside from his birth status, the position of the chief attendant was never low. Only the Empress could serve the Emperor, alongside him. So, it was very special for him to kneel down on one of his knees beside Artizea and pour the tea. It would mean that the Emperor is sorry for making her wait so long. Artizea and the attendants watching all thought so. The chief attendant had the authority to act on behalf of the Emperor to that extent. But Artizea held her breath. The chief attendant poured the pale yellow honey tea into a transparent ss until it almost overflowed. Then, he stopped his hand and added two more drops. Now the honey tea was on the verge of overflowing. The water, held by surface tension, formed round on the teacup. If he pours even one more drop, it will upset the bnce and overflow. The chief attendant stopped his hand just before that. Of course, teas shouldn¡¯t be served like this. If she tries to drink it, she will spill it. But the chief attendant spoke in a calm voice, ¡°This is herbal honey sent by Countess Eunice. His Majesty is also cherishing it.¡± Artizea opened her eyes wide and looked at the chief attendant. Not a single word came out of her throat. The chief attendant had a calm face. Artizea barely opened her mouth. ¡°I¡­¡­ heard that mydy-in-waiting went to Countess Eunice¡¯s house and made it together. I drink almost the same thing.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s good for your health.¡± said the chief attendant softly. ¡°Then, I will bring the book to you.¡± Artizea nodded her head. He withdrew. Artizea was looking down at the honey tea for a long time. She didn¡¯t have much acquaintance with the chief attendant. It was the same before she came back. The chief attendant had a tendency to be indifferent rather than meddling in political strife. She doesn¡¯t know if he may have been like this in his youth, but once he decided to serve the Emperor, he made his ce by devoting himself to the Emperor for the rest of his life. When he gave Cedric the information, she wondered if it might have been different. She may not have been able to recruit him in the past because it was Lawrence whom he was serving. Just like Chancellor Lin did. She told Cedric that if he could, he should try to get acquainted with him. But then, even after he had said the name of Lord Bellon, the chief attendant did not change. Far from recruiting him, Cedric couldn¡¯t get more than a polite rtionship based on their status. The question of why he had given the information about Lord Bellon continued to remain within Artizea. The position of the chief attendant was too important to ignore. Now, Artizea fully understands why he is unapproachable and unwaveringly loyal to the Emperor. And why did he tell her about it? ¡®Alone¡­¡­.¡¯ Artizea could understand the servant¡¯s mind. It is better to cross the single wooden bridge alone. Even if he identally falls, he doesn¡¯t drag anyone into it. Soon the errand runner brought the book. In order not to look suspicious, Artizea opened it to some page and ced it on herp. But not a single word of the writing caught her eye. Artizea stared at the honey tea. The inside of her eyes swelled up. This was the most difficult thing she had to do from now on. She was able to put the ends of the puzzle pieces together. Artizea clenched her teeth. With so many cards, she could not fail. She knocked the teacup down. Because she couldn¡¯t get rid of it by drinking without spilling. ¡°I identally knocked over the cup, so bring me a new one.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Grace.¡± The servant bowed his head deeply and withdrew the teacup that had fallen over. * * * The Emperor woke up after sleeping for more than four hours. His body was warm and he felt good. The soreness that had been resting heavily on the nape of his neck was also significantly reduced. When he woke up, the attendants, who knew he often woke up numb, rubbed his hands and feet. The chief attendant came in with a basin full of hot water. ¡°I think I have been sleeping for a long time.¡± ¡°Yes. Dinner ising.¡± ¡°You must have kept Grand Duchess Evron waiting for a long time. Without waking me up.¡± After wiping his face with a warm wet towel and washing his face in the water from the basin, the Emperor said. ¡°I did not want to wake you while you were sleeping. I also told the truth to Grand Duchess Evron and asked for her understanding.¡± ¡°Is she still waiting?¡± ¡°Yes. I brought her to the parlor. She is into the books.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Well, you must have taken good care of it.¡± The Emperor said so and wiped his wet hands. The servants cling to him, change his wrinkled shirt and trousers, andb his hair. The Emperor soon regained his usual appearance. He regained his confidence and made his way to the parlor. The parlor door opened. Artizea was flipping through the book, then she put it down and stood up. ¡°Artizea of ??Evron greets His Majesty the Emperor.¡± She politely raised her greetings. The Emperor motioned for her to sit down, and he sat down, too. And he said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you since the naming ceremony.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you still in good health?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a lot better now.¡± ¡°After giving birth, you should take good care of yourself, but I didn¡¯t take care of you.¡± ¡°It is by the grace of His Majesty that I am able to rest well at home without doing anything.¡± Artizea said. ¡°What about Leticia?¡± ¡°She is healthy. Because she resembles Lord Cedric, she is very active.¡± ¡°Yes. She must have grown up a lot now.¡± The Emperor paused his words for a moment. Artizea was nervous that she might be asked to take her to the pce. Leticia was healthy and she grew up a lot, but she was not yet able to bring her to the Imperial Pce. The Emperor tapped the armrests with his fingers a few times, then said in a subdued voice. ¡°Be careful. Protecting them from predators is something parents can do their best, but what God collects cannot be stopped by manpower.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± What the Emperor thought of was probably the incident of his dead children. Artizea did not think that the Emperor would have grieved at all when the Empress¡¯ children died one after another. However, his power must have been more important to him than his sorrow. The Emperor pondered the old remorse. But he soon shifted his focus. He looked at Artizea for a moment with wrinkled eyes. Artizea was still young. But she was no longer a girl. That child grew up in an instant. If he wasn¡¯t always watching, he would find her as an adult at some point. The Emperor had never experienced it in his own children. Grand Duke Roygar grew up and became an adult, and Cedric returned from the battlefield as an adult. With those eyes, he saw the moment when Grand Duke Roygar was no longer a young bird in his nest, but had grown enough to cover it with his own wings. But his children did not. Children who died young were buried in his heart. Lawrence left as an adult. Countess Eunice gave birth to two children, but she was still a young daughter to him. And Artizea, who was younger than her, was not sitting here as a clever girl, but as a nobledy of the Imperial Pce. The Emperor felt that he had seen her grow up. ¡°I wish you were my daughter.¡± The Emperor said impulsively. Artizea smiled faintly. ¡°Her Majesty said that she would have made me a friend of thete Elder Princess. I know that you are saying it because neither Your Majesty nor Her Majesty believe that it will ever happen.¡± The Emperor couldn¡¯t help butugh. That was it. Artizea knows what the power of the throne can do and fears its majesty, which causes her to try to be loyal and to win his heart. That¡¯s why her limbs feel like they move in sync. Naturally, there is no way that people¡¯s minds are united as one. If there is a match, it means that the opponent is being deceptive. And to do that to yourself also meant that the other person was greedy for power. The Emperor rxed his seated position and leaned towards Artizea. And he asked, ¡°How far have you been involved in the Roygar problem?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea smiled embarrassedly. Chapter 235 The Emperor looked at Artizea¡¯s expression and smiled softly. ¡°Don¡¯t try to deceive me. I already know that you are friends with Sk Camellia.¡± The Emperor had guessed that it would not be a friend in the honest rtionship sense. Some people are inherently unable to make friends on equal footing. The Emperor himself was such a person, so he knew it well. It is not simply a story of identity or ancestry. It was a temperamental problem of calcting interests. And Artizea was definitely that kind of person. ¡°The idea of ??bringing in Ian Camellia was great. Even a wise man who killed three people by throwing two peaches would not have been able to overthrow the country with one person.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed.¡± Artizea did not dare to object. The expression on her face remained calm. ¡°It is true that the seeds of discord were about to sprout. How could I have known that it was already taking root all the way to the bottom?¡± ¡°You mean all you did was bring Ian Camellia in?¡± ¡°Rather than Sk relying on Marquis Luden. I also advised that reinstating legitimacy would be better for eliminating future problems.¡± Artizea continued. ¡°It¡¯s a different time now, and Sk¡¯s position is different from that of Marchioness Camellia. Sk has been raised as the eldest daughter of the family, and she knows no fear of being ostracized from society.¡± ¡°Even so, there¡¯s no way that Lady Camellia wouldn¡¯t have known that the prestige of her own family had ultimatelye from Marquisate Luden and Grand Duchess Roygar? If it hadn¡¯t been for the betrayal, today¡¯s situation would not have happened.¡± ¡°Yes. But if she thinks she can build her own power outside the shadow of Marquisate Luden, of course she would. Because Marquis Luden hated Sk.¡± Artizea spoke softly and lowered her eyes. ¡°And these are all seeds sown by Your Majesty.¡± ¡°I have never touched Marchioness Camellia.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you neglect Marquisate Camellia in anticipation of the feud between Grand Duchess Roygar and Marquis Luden and further division of Marquisate Luden?¡± ¡°Do you think so?¡± ¡°Because Marquisate Camellia had too many weaknesses.¡± ¡°It was not as easy as you thought. At the time, I was doing a lot of other big things, and the Eastern nobles were united. It¡¯s not easy to just secretly nt people in it.¡± The Emperor smiled. It felt like this conversation was teaching Artizea. ¡°It is a matter of title. The exclusion of outsiders is on a different level than that seen in the Capital¡¯s social circle.¡± Even though they are not family members, they are all rtives and are intertwined through family tree and association. That is how they have ruled the East by maintaining family fortunes and forming bonds. ¡°But now, Sk was not afraid of it. Not just Sk, but a lot of bright young people.¡± The Emperor blinked his eyes. As an older man, he did not readily ept Artizea¡¯s words. ¡°I have be Grand Duchess Evron, Your Majesty.¡± Artizea said while sping her hands neatly. ¡°Lady Belmond, on my rmendation, helped thedy-in-waiting in the Empress Pce. Although Lady Keshore is weak, I deliberately prevented her from being around, otherwise she will suffer from the interest of many noble Lords.¡± In addition, Artizea could cite numerous examples. Although Gayan¡¯s son is a soldier, he is now one of the most promising bachelors in the marriage market. Even though Gayan¡¯s title was not hereditary. Chancellor Lin¡¯s wife was one of the most valueddies at the party. Their children were not very sessful, but they were still treated as members of the social circle. Even though they were not nobles with a very high rank, or nobles who marriedmoners. It was moremon now formoners to enter the social world and be respected as much as nobles. ¡°Now, less and less people are reliant on a venerable family and believe that they can gain power even if they don¡¯t be entangled in the family tree. It must have been that Sk hade to believe that if she only reimed her legitimacy, she would be able to maintain the rest of Marquisate Camellia with her own strength and wisdom.¡± At any given time, the rule of Marquis Luden would have been challenged by Sk. And the world has changed that way because the Emperor has treated themoners with great care for decades. It was not that the Emperor was unaware that the world was changing. However, he did not know that it had an effect on the heirs of high-ranking nobles like Sk, and was really turning the world upside down. ¡°The world has changed, but I didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°It is all by Your Majesty¡¯s grace.¡± Artizea said so, but what the Emperor felt was that he had grown old. The Emperorughed in vain. ¡°So, I can see that just by encouraging Lady Camellia a little bit, it brought the present result. So how about this?¡± When the Emperor reached out his hand, the attendant came and presented the booklet he had brought in beforehand. The Emperor put it down on the table. Artizea looked at the Emperor while maintaining a painted smile. ¡°Do you know what this is?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± ¡°This is a thesis written by an international student from the Kingdom of Iantz, which you sponsor. That student¡¯s older brother lied that he wrote it and dedicated it to the superior authority.¡± The detailed process was different, but the general idea was true. ¡°And as a result of this thesis, it seems that the Kingdom of Iantz proposed an agreement to Roygar. There was also a n to entice the Grand Duchess to win her favor, rather than Roygar, who wants a real profit.¡± ¡°He looked like a wise man. I am d that the sponsorship was not wasted.¡± Artizea said without opening the booklet. ¡°As you may know, I¡¯m in the sericulture business. I am always interested in the trends of the Kingdom of Iantz. With the intention of entrusting the business as a favor to excellent students, we are sponsoring a number of them.¡± The excuse was wless. The Emperor restedfortably on the backrest and looked at Artizea silently for a moment. There is no doubt that Artizea sought the throne and sought to divide Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction. The Emperor wondered if Artizea had started doing this from the start, aiming for the empress position, or if it was a trap she had begunying for Lawrence. He won¡¯t be able to figure out what¡¯s going on now and at that time. It may be possible if he threatens her and digs it out, but there is no reason to even do that. After all, Lawrence was already gone. But the Emperor was astonished. Putting her hand on the Kingdom of Iantz means that her gaze is elevated above the imperial courts and social circles. It was great. Artizea didn¡¯t even get proper education as the Heir Apparent. Much of the education she received as a nobleman came over Lawrence¡¯s shoulder. She made it all the way up there. Even though she was still young. ¡®It is God¡¯s will.¡¯ The Emperor suddenly thought of the grace that Leticia had received. He did not believe in divine intervention. Although he believed in the existence of God, he did not believe that the world worked ording to God¡¯s will. However, some kind of luck, which cannot be exined by manpower alone, often acts on the throne. The Emperor remembered the past, which was now a thing of the past. There was a time when such luck came upon him as well. When the previous Empress, who had no children of her own, selected him from among the Emperor¡¯s many illegitimate sons. When it rained miraculously as soon as he gambled on the investment in the West, which was swept away by a monster wave after a long, long drought. When themander of the Eastern Army secretly handed him a cup of fragrant wine. And when the eldest daughter of the Duke of Riagan knocked on his bedroom door. Now, the luck seemed to be on Cedric. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Unable to guess what the Emperor was thinking, Artizea cautiously called him. The Emperor quickly changed his expression to a gentle one. It was to entrust her with a task that Cedric couldn¡¯t do in the first ce. Not to threaten. He can¡¯tpromise with Cedric, but he can with Artizea. She knows how to put her interests and fears on a scale. She will also be well aware that she has to moderately break her husband¡¯s beliefs and convince him. ¡°Cedric said he wanted to save Grand Duchess Roygar.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°You are not surprised.¡± ¡°Because she deserves it.¡± ¡°You know it¡¯s not that simple. The Grand Duchess is the Grand Duchess, but if you keep the Princesses and Prince alive, you and Leticia will be in danger in the future.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea answered. In fact, it was no different than preparing to go out for this job. ¡°It is easy to say that treason is an unforgivable sin. It is easy to say that we must solve the problems of the East, but spare the poor.¡± Artizea said, ¡°But Your Majesty is the one who must rule the Empire. You cannot give priority to protecting the name of the Empire by organizing the salt business so that the necessities of life are fully distributed to the people, and still by holding the Kingdoms of Eimmel and Iantz ountable.¡± The Emperor nodded his head. Artizea¡¯s way of speaking was ttering, but what she said was very right. ¡°Then, the answer is to keep inducing divisions until Your Majesty can get your hands on the East. It¡¯s a shallow thought, but how about executing half of those, who are in prison with Grand Duchess Roygar now?¡± The Emperor leaned towards Artizea. ¡°Half?¡± ¡°Your Majesty has nted a person in a position that can be said to be the key figure of the Eastern nobles?¡± The Emperor looked at Artizea with careful eyes. Artizea knew in fact that Count Brennan was the Emperor¡¯s man. But she didn¡¯t show that she knew it. She looked at him as if she believed that he would have done so because he was the Emperor. ¡°Let¡¯s say it¡¯s so.¡± The Emperor answered with a look of interest. Artizea continued to speak with confidence, ¡°Execute half, save half, and release some of the half for no reason. And, using the information Your Majesty possesses to your heart¡¯s content, you attack your opponent and usurp their advantage.¡± ¡°Will they be deceived?¡± ¡°Most of the people in the world are far more foolish than Your Majesty, and if you sow the smallest seeds of disbelief in their heart, they will water it themselves.¡± Artizea answered. She had no doubts that the Emperor would see the world through her eyes. ¡°They will fight tirelessly, believing that there will be traitors among them. When the battle reaches its climax, save the people and make them feel that the Imperial favor is ruling the world.¡± This was a n that Cedric could nevere up with directly. However, the Emperor was delighted enough to keep a wide smile. ¡°You are right. Fighting the living can lead to division much longer than executing the Grand Duchess and spreading rumors in the air.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful.¡± Artizea bowed her head and answered. The Emperor grinned. ¡°Are you ready to move in as soon as possible?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to clean up the Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± Artizea kept her body on high alert. It was a topic much faster than she expected. She thought they were going to y some more tug of war. The Emperor¡¯s children, who have not reached adulthood, live in the Empress¡¯ Pce. When they get married ore of age, they are given the title of Grand Duke or Duchess and be independent outsiders. Therefore, the Prince¡¯s Pce was a Pce that was only opened for one person. The Crown Prince. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Proofreader: somnium Artizea returned to the mansion with a heavy heart. And after washing her hands and face, she went to see Leticia¡¯s face first. She wanted to regain her bnce of mind. Mielle came out to meet her with a worried face. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal.¡± With a light answer, Artizea sat down by Leticia¡¯s cradle. ¡°Do you want to hold her?¡± Marcus asked. Artizea shook her head. And she asked Mielle, ¡°Didn¡¯t you go home? I told you to go.¡± ¡°When I went home, my mother was not there.¡± ¡°Still, wait at home. You¡¯d better stay home for a few days.¡± ¡°Is it that dangerous? Or is it because it seems unnatural for Hazel to go home alone?¡± Artizea looked at Mielle with a subtle face. Mielle spoke maturely, ¡°I¡¯ve been home once, so it wouldn¡¯t seem too strange for Hazel to leave. And I like the Princess, Your Grace, and the people of the Grand Duke¡¯s residence.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ thank you.¡± Artizea lowered her eyes. Leticia smiled at her mother who didn¡¯t hold her in the cradle. It would be really appreciated if Mielle went to the Imperial Pce with that kind of heart. As a Guard Knight, Keshore is one of the pirs of the Imperial Pce¡¯s security. Few people will be as safe as Mielle in the Imperial Pce. ¡®I thought Leticia had to be at least three years old for the topic toe out.¡¯ Moving to the Prince¡¯s Pce was another matter even if they had an adoption rtionship. Considering safety, of course, Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence was better. So she thought Leticia would not leave it until she was of a stable age. It wasn¡¯t until she reached the age at which she wouldn¡¯t need her parents that Artizea thought he would bring the couple into the Prince¡¯s Pce to carry on the lineage and then get rid of them. But when he told her toe into the Prince¡¯s Pce, it really meant that Cedric was going to be the Crown Prince. ¡®If I had consulted with the Empress, I would have heard the story first.¡¯ On the positive side, he may have decided to reconcile, since he had no other choice anyway. It wasn¡¯t even that unlikely. The 1st priority heir to the throne. The onlypetitor is the baby in the cradle. Anyway, it¡¯s still Cedric¡¯s child. It was obvious how it would look to other people. ¡®If it¡¯s not Lord Cedric, it¡¯s a perfect situation to be swayed by.¡¯ Since the Emperor is old, those who lust for power and are greedy for achievements will say that it is for the sake of the Empire to inherit the throne as soon as possible. But Cedric isn¡¯t like that. Because the Emperor knows that he is the one who gives back to his opponent as much as he receives; both affection and trust. If so, that was really good. ¡®If possible, it is better to make the hierarchy itself peaceful. If His Majesty falls right now, the South will be at war.¡¯ Cadriol will never miss that opportunity. There was also a high possibility of civil war in the East. Among those who want to suppress the dominance of Marquis Luden, there must be some who would take sudden action. That is why the chief attendant is maintaining the Emperor¡¯s health in this critical situation. If even a single drop of a risk factor is dropped, it will copse immediately. ¡®In the end, he will have to enter the Prince¡¯s Pce. If His Majesty also feels that his health is limited, he will hand over the internal affairs to Lord Cedric.¡¯ Cedric only needs to take control of the bureaucrats while the Emperor cleans up Southern affairs. And he himself will be a useful limb of the Emperor. So that there is no reason to throw him out. If the Emperor changed his mind, he could be overthrown at any time. ¡°Peekaboo!¡± Mielle covered Leticia¡¯s face with a thin silk handkerchief, then lifted it up. Leticiaughed softly. Artizea looked into her face. ¡°Ah! Ma! Ma!¡± Leticia smiled as she shook her arms and legs. There was no worry in her smile. Artizea looked into the baby¡¯s face and smiled at her as she was in a strange mood. As she put her hand in the cradle, the smooth hand grabbed Artizea¡¯s finger. ¡°It will be fine.¡± Artizea murmured. ¡°By the way, Mielle, have you ever had an audience with the Empress?¡± ¡°Yes. I went there twice with Hazel. I couldn¡¯t help you prepare for the birthday party.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go take Leticia with us once. I¡¯ll go with you at first, but after that you take the initiative to enter the Pce whenever you can afford it and show Her Majesty Leticia¡¯s face.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Mielle made a nervous face. ¡°Although her nanny is Marcus, Marcus alone can¡¯t have an audience with the Empress, right? I¡¯m busy too, and if I go to see the Empress, I have to pay attention to the outside gaze in various ways.¡± ¡°I see what you mean.¡± Mielle nodded her head with a determined face. She understood that she should be able to take Leticia with her to the Empress¡¯ Pce and ask for her protection in case of trouble. Artizea said, ¡°No need to worry so much. There are now twodies your age in the Empress¡¯ Pce, and the Empress also has a favor for Leticia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Do you think you will go to the Imperial Pce?¡± Marcus asked with a worried face. ¡°It¡¯s not confirmed, but you should be mentally prepared.¡± Artizea only spoke that much. As the Emperor said, it was as if it had been decided. But she found it difficult to speak to anyone before consulting with Cedric. The maid came knocking on the door, and she handed Artizea a letter. It was Hazel¡¯s letter. Mielle asked, ¡°Hazel iste, is something wrong? Will she sleep at home?¡± ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know.¡± Artizea answered and opened the letter. After a brief greeting, it was written: Father wants to see you. Below it was a drawing of a map. Artizea sealed the letter with a new envelope, adding that she would meet as soon as she was ready. And she stood up, leaving the maid to send it to Hazel. It was time for her to go out again. * * * The shop designated as the meeting ce was a ce that sold tea by day and alcohol at night to poormoners. It was not a ce to sit down and eat properly, but to take a sip while standing to appease your weary body with warm tea or cool alcohol for a while. Of course, it was difficult to say that it was clean. It was difficult to even enter the bustling store without wrinkling and rubbing the hem of someone else¡¯s clothes. The bar was made by cutting arge tree into barrels, and stains from tea and alcohol were piled up on top of each other. Fortunately, unlike in a tavern, the smell of food did not sting. ¡°Uhh.¡± Alice made a sound that showed her dislike. She also worked in a store like this until she became Artizea¡¯s maid. But she hated it either way. ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable toe to a ce like this.¡± Alice didn¡¯t say the word madam, andined. ¡°There must be a reason foring all the way to this ce.¡± Artizea answered. She borrowed Alice¡¯s clothes and wore a hood. It was because it seemed that there would be a problem here even if she wore her old clothes. The poor fallen nobles were the perfect prey in a ce like this. Belmond editor-in-chief came into the store when Artizea was contemting whether or not she should really drink the tea she ordered here. ¡°You are here.¡± Belmond editor-in-chief said. He was modest but neatly dressed. Hazel, who was following him, was also wearing a tweed jacket and trousers, looking quite like a reporter. People gave them a brief nce, but soon lost interest. It wasn¡¯t umon for reporters toe to these stores to find something to cover or to meet with an informant. Belmond editor-in-chief recognized Artizea immediately. He was not excessive. Because he was in trouble when he stood out in the eyes of others. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making youe all the way to this ce.¡± ¡°There must have been a reason for that.¡± She was to be treated with respect, but Artizea responded with a respectful tone. It was also to be inconspicuous. Belmond editor-in-chief smiled. He didn¡¯t know Artizea would adapt to the situation that far. It was something that could have failed if she stood out. But even if Artizea failed because she stood out, the responsibility would be hers. Few high-ranking nobles do this. In fact, she had never seen the Belmond editor-in-chief before. Belmond editor-in-chief guided Artizea toward the corner. And he gave Hazel a few coins and made her buy clean water from somewhere else. ¡°Looking at how you¡¯ve called, it looks like you¡¯ve found it.¡± ¡°Because you gave me the correct name. It wasn¡¯t that hard to track.¡± ¡°Even so, it took less than a day, so I know enough that you are a capable man.¡± Belmond editor-in-chief bowed his head slightly in gratitude. ¡°You go back now, Hazel.¡± ¡°No, Father. I came all the way here.¡± Hazelined. Belmond editor-in-chief tried to rebuke his daughter, but before that, Hazel said as she leaned closer to Artizea¡¯s side. ¡°I am thedy-in-waiting of Her Grace. It is of course the first priority to serve Her Grace.¡± ¡°Shh, Hazel.¡± Hazel shut her mouth quickly and looked around. Fortunately, her voice was lowered. No one seemed to have heard. Belmond editor-in-chief sighed, and Artizea gave a bitterugh. Suddenly, Belmond editor-in-chief¡¯s face grew fierce. Artizea nced back at him. A woman hugging arge basket came in and entered the bar. Belmond editor-in-chief took the lead and walked out of the store. Artizea followed him at a brisk pace. Belmond editor-in-chief, who had already known the back door, entered the alley without hesitation. The woman who escaped through the back door of the store entered the warehouse building. Belmond editor-in-chief followed the woman with unsuspecting speed. Then he pulled out a lockpick from his pocket. Hazel¡¯s eyes widened as she saw her father open the locked door at once. Belmond editor-in-chief said in an excuse, ¡°When you¡¯re working as a journalist, you know, all sorts of weird things happen.¡± The warehouse was empty. As if it was originally used, a lot of dried hay and trash lying around on the ground. ¡°What should we do?¡± Belmond editor-in-chief asked. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go in and fight. If that was the case, I would have brought Sir Alphonse.¡± Artizea said. And she raised her voice and called out. ¡°Marchioness Camellia, if you open the door, I will give you a chance to rescue Grand Duchess Roygar!¡± The sound echoed in the spacious warehouse. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Proofreader: somnium Artizea¡¯s voice came down through the ground. Marchioness Camellia looked at Anne, who hade in with her basket. Anne said in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s not me, Mia. As you said, I checked to see if anyone was following me, and I came back after passing by two stores.¡± But considering the time interval she came in, it was clear that Anne was being pursued. Mia let out a small sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt you.¡± If they had sold her for a price, Artizea would not havee in secret like this, but the Guards or investigators would havee. They¡¯re also a much more essible opponent for Anne to contact. The question is how Artizea could have known of Anne¡¯s existence. Anne was a maid who had been a close friend of Marchioness Camellia when she lived in the attic. They used to work together in theundry room. Laundry work was hard, and among the maids in the mansion, she had the lowest rank. Even in that small world, there were all kinds of politics and ugly human rtionships that you can see in the social world. Because of their hardship and poverty, there is not even a skin of hypocrisy and facade left behind, so it is in their stark form. It was an unbearable time without friends. And even though she hardly ever saw such a friend, this friend became someone to remember for the rest of her life. For Marchioness Camellia, Anne was such a person. When she became Ga¡¯sdy-in-waiting and she had the first money she could spend, she paid for half of Anne¡¯s wedding cost. She hadn¡¯t seen her after that. She wasn¡¯t particrly hiding to seek Anne¡¯s help at a time like this. The main reason was that her life had changed and that they had stopped seeing each other. And that she wanted to sever ties with the past. When it happened, Marchioness Camellia thought of Anne. If it was Anne, Anne would help her. And no one who has done a fair amount of background investigation would ever think of investigating Anne. So she piled up all the carriages and sent them away. She added a few more preparations to one of the carriages to instill the belief that the real Prince and Princesses were riding it. She hid herself with Anne¡¯s help and took the Prince and Princesses. With only the children, it would be safer to hide in the Capital. In case of emergency, she nned to send them one by one to an orphanage. Unlike Ga, the face of the Prince and Princesses was not widely known outside. There are portraits, but children¡¯s faces change little by little as they grow up. If they were hidden like that, it would be difficult to find them, even for the Emperor. Because there were countless orphans in the Capital, and no one ever knew where they came from. If they want to remember their bloodline and maintain their status, they have to go to the East. However, the probability of being captured during the journey was not low. Even if they arrive at the East safely, they will be a tool in the struggle for power, and they will face the threat of assassination. Ga¡¯s wish would not have been that way. So Marchioness Camellia made it her first priority to save their life. After the troubles subside, all she has to do is have wealthy guardians collect them. She had nned to hide with the children until then, without risking escaping the Capital. To hide herpletely, she relied solely on Anne. She also gave up getting information. As Marchioness Camellia, if she moved her intelligencework, it could not help but catch the eyes of the Emperor¡¯s investigators. Artizea knew Anne. Even before her return, Marchioness Camellia was eventually forced to seek help from Anne. But it was unimaginable for Marchioness Camellia. It was natural. ¡°Auntie, is a scary person here?¡± The second Princess asked with a frightened face. She is the most sensitive and quick-witted child, so even though she refined her environment and reassured her, the child was hardly reassured. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Princess. Please go inside.¡± Marchioness Camelliaforted the child and brought her into the inner room. She then tried to fix her cor and, unable to straighten the creases, decided to put a thick velvet cloak over her. It could not be called a house coat. But she thought it was better to wear clothes that didn¡¯t fit the situation than to look shabby. She hadn¡¯t thought of that in a while. But in such a situation, she was conscious of it. ¡°Anne, can you go outside and tell the people toe in?¡± ¡°What? Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Cover your face and talk, then you go home.¡± Anne had a face of relief. Marchioness Camellia did not dare to mention that those outside would already know both her name and her identity. Because it only makes the anxiety worse. Instead, she took off the ring from her finger and gave it to Anne. A piece of gold jewel the size of her thumb would be difficult for Anne to dispose of at full price. ¡°Mia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving it because I¡¯m grateful. It was the one I cherished the most. Don¡¯t ever dispose of it within 5 years because you might get involved. If you sell it after that, be careful not to forget that it should be expensive enough to be a favorite of the Marchioness.¡± Anne opened up her handkerchief and took it. Her face looked like she was about to cry. Marchioness Camellia urged Anne again to go. Anne hesitated and then she went outside. Marchioness Camellia opened the basket Anne had brought. There was a betel leaf that she asked for because her headache didn¡¯t stop. Marchioness Camellia put the tea leaves in the hot water, and a small amount of chopped betel nut. If she puts it in this way, instead of putting it in the stage of properly covering the tea, it will spoil the fragrance. But Marchioness Camellia didn¡¯t care. Soon the door leading to the warehouse floor opened. The first toe in was Belmond editor-in-chief. After that, Artizea came down. Marchioness Camellia looked at her with sullen eyes. It was surprising that the only followers were Belmond editor-in-chief, Hazel, and Alice. ¡°You are still brave, Your Grace. I may be apanied by a few escorts.¡± What Marchioness Camellia said ¡®may¡¯ was referring to the night Artizea came to see her alone. What was reminiscent of that day was that Artizea was imposing even in her shabby maid outfit. She thought it was a surprise that even that day she didn¡¯t feel ashamed of the frayed sleeves and the dress she had worn ruffled. Marchioness Camellia thought anew that dignity was not determined by an outward appearance. On the other hand, she seemed to be the one who had to ask for help. She¡¯s still wearing her cloak because she doesn¡¯t want to greet Artizea in a in robe. ¡°Sit. Can I get you a cup of tea?¡± ¡°From what I smelled, it looked like betel nut was added, so it didn¡¯t fit my body.¡± Artizea said, ¡°Please understand that there is no other meaning. I wish I could just have a ss of hot water.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Marchioness Camellia handed Artizea warm water by pouring it into a teacup. Artizea took a sip of it. Both Hazel and Belmond editor-in-chief were surprised. Both of them intended to taste it first. Marchioness Camellia could not wait for Artizea to speak. What was regrettable was her own side. ¡°Your Grace is here because you have something to suggest, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It is both a suggestion and a piece of information.¡± Artizea smiled. ¡°I hope you will not doubt what I will say from now on, Marchioness. If I had intended to take all that was left from Marchioness, I would not havee to see you alone like this.¡± Marchioness Camellia thought she had already lost everything she had. When Sk betrayed her, she had already lost all hope for herself and all her wishes. But she didn¡¯t have to answer. ¡°Did you hear that Grand Duke Roygarmitted suicide?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°They said he used a pistol.¡± ¡°Aahh.¡± A brief sigh escaped from the lips of Marchioness Camellia. Artizea said with her smile widening. ¡°I think Marchioness probably knew what my husband had promised to that pistol.¡± It was. It was because there was the best chance of saving Ga by ending the situation with the death of Grand Duke Roygar. To put an end to the situation, they need the final person responsible for carrying the crime, and someone from outside to convince the Emperor to save Ga¡¯s life. So Marchioness Camellia put the pistol box out on the study desk. A candlestick with the bullets was also ced on one side of the study. She knew that he loved his wife in his own way, and that he truly loved the children. She thought the chances were half and half. What Grand Duke Roygar was thinking as he pulled the trigger didn¡¯t matter in the least to Marchioness Camellia. He died at her will, so she was grateful. She was skeptical as to whether Cedric would keep his promise. But she did everything that could be possible. Whatever the East now was, it was no longer of interest to Marchioness Camellia. Her power and her status, which she had longed for, were lost to her. But as Sk is the first traitor, she will be able to enjoy the sweet honey. All she had left was to do Ga¡¯s favor and protect her. Artizea said, ¡°It¡¯s my husband¡¯s decision, so I have no intention of breaking it. But I can¡¯t do everything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Grand Duchess Roygar will not be executed, but will be exiled. His Majesty won¡¯t mind what happens after that. That¡¯s all we can do for you.¡± If so, they can take her out on the way to exile. Artizea¡¯s words meant that the Emperor would understand as long as they didn¡¯t do it too openly. ¡°Is there a price you want?¡± ¡°Pleasee to the hiding ce we have arranged for you.¡± Marchioness Camellia¡¯s face hardened. Artizea said as she took another sip of water, ¡°Although it is cold in the North, it is far from the capital politics and it is also the ce where His Majesty has the least eyes. Nothing to worry about. It will be difficult to live as luxuriously as before, but as ady and as children of a noble family, I will make sure that you do notck anything.¡± At the same time, it will be a hostage and a hidden card against the East. Marchioness Camellia understood the meaning. She clenched her throat. She felt humiliated. However, it was Artizea¡¯s side that held the hilt. Children who received imperial blood were political beings just because they were alive anyway. They¡¯ll have no choice but to endure that much. If she could live with the children in a quiet ce, that would be the life Ga wanted. As long as the East doesn¡¯t do something stupid like putting up fakes, Artizea will choose to just let them live as if they were dead. Marchioness Camellia said after she had made her decision, ¡°Help the Prince and Princesses get out of the Capital.¡± ¡°Let me do that.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Proofreader: somnium Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s suicide almost caused the Empire to copse. There were many among those who were the Grand Duke¡¯s faction, who believed that it must not have been suicide. But no matter what they thought in their heart, the imperial decree was a trial, and the result was epted as the truth. [¡°Roygar cannot be forgiven for having his wife use the things of the Empress. The title of Grand Duke shall be deprived of him, his position resigned, and all his property shall be confiscated. His head will be decapitated, but his body will be allowed for burial. Roygar¡¯s wife, Ga, dared to refer to herself as Empress, but only obeyed her husband¡¯s will, and it is not believed that she knew it properly. She is stripped of her title, resigned her position, and all her property is confiscated. However, her life is spared and is imprisoned in a monastery in the West. Roygar¡¯s children are blood rtives of the traitor and cannot be forgiven. They are stripped of their title, resigned their position, property confiscated, and executed. However, considering their young age, their lives spared, and if they show remorse until they be an adult, they will be released.¡±] Thus, the long order that began with the determination of the fate of Grand Duchy Roygar was published. Numerous other punishments were decided. The members of the households, including Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s and his entourage, were executed or exiled. The main entourage involved in the agreement and their families were also branded traitors. Still, the punishment was rtively mild. At the Ministry of Justice and the court, since Grand Duke Roygar realized his mistake andmitted suicide, others pleaded to alleviate the crime as much as they can. The Emperor epted most of the petition. Those who simply did what they were told to do as attendants were forgiven by serving in the Western Army for 5 years. It was quite harsh for the lower nobles, the wealthy upper authorities, and the older people. This is because, in 5 years, they will surely experience a monster wave at least once. However, it was a merciful ruling just by not getting the family and rtives involved with the incident. Whatever their intentions, they all expressed their gratitude to the Imperial Pce. There was no forgiveness for the rtionship that led to direct connections, such as the high-ranking nobles who were able to directly advise Grand Duke Roygar, Marquis Luden and their rtives. It was concluded that they would be deprived of titles and have their properties confiscated, as well as have their key members of the family executed. Of course, this didn¡¯t really happen. They had no way to try to execute those who fled to the East and those who were sitting in the territory of the family. The Emperor did not immediately order the Eastern Army to arrest and confiscate the manor. He couldn¡¯t afford the cost of them going out of the military. Moreover, the Eastern Army will certainly resist in many ways. They wouldn¡¯t rebel against the Emperor right away, but they could have rebelled in other ways by didn¡¯t obeying orders and made things worse by dragging along or leaking information. And it would be a disgrace to the Emperor. The Emperor had already decided not to do so. So, for now, even if the authority was somewhat damaged, he did not give a decree to the East. However, there were no exceptions for those caught trying to escape to the East. Among those who escaped, about half were decided to be executed. Blood flowed like a brook in the public execution ground. Themon people did not miss the great spectacle that the nobles¡¯ necks fell. The streets were colored with red excitement. In the execution room, rumors spread that they didn¡¯t know that Grand Duke Roygar was ruthless and thoughtless, and how greedy and foolish Grand Duchess Roygar was. And they spread words of praise to the Emperor. Many people hated the upper authorities and nobles who were rtively closer to them than the Imperial Pces on high ces. There were also many who suffered direct visible damage. Therefore, it was not difficult to praise the Emperor who executed the arrogant and cruel nobles and made the greedy upper authorities bow down. The fact that the East was practically untouched was forgotten. The Emperor¡¯s authority, which had lost its light for a while due to the salt incident, rose again. ¡°Let¡¯s think about the maintenance of the Eastern Armyter. Now is the time to deal with the matter of the Iantz Kingdom.¡± The Emperor said so. The foreign official bowed his head apologetically and said, ¡°It is uneptable for the Crown Prince of Iantz to dare to incite treason, but the Crown Prince himself wille and apologize to His Majesty. He presented the jewel box to the Grand Duchess as a ttering gift, but it was never intended to incite a conspiracy, and he also conveyed that he was ready to do anything to beg for forgiveness.¡± ¡°Well. If the Crown Prince and his wife are toe in person, it is worth listening to their apology.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The foreign official rubbed his cold sweaty hand with the hem of his robe. What the Iantz Kingdom suggested was that the Crown Prince woulde as an envoy. Bringing in even the Crown Princess was a hard-line strategy that was one step further. Because it meant giving away two hostages. ¡°If you look at the upper authorities involved in this matter, there are probably many people who are rted to the upper authorities of the Iantz Kingdom.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Tear the whole thing off. If you show such sincerity, I will dly ept the apology and wee the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.¡± The foreign official could not say it was difficult. Already, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offended the Emperor with the Eimmel Kingdom and Iantz Kingdom issues. He couldn¡¯t afford any more leeway. ¡°What will the Eimmel Kingdom do?¡± ¡°Honestly, it is not worth the attention.¡± The Emperor spat out as he looked at Prince Cadriol¡¯s national letter. However, King Eimmel has already been taken hostage. It was an apology for the fact that the Eimmel Kingdom upied a few ports in the South and robbed the military stock. Since the Duchy of Riagan¡¯s coarse salt smuggling was put forward, rather it was something to reward him. It could be said that Prince Cadriol was the one who gained the greatest reward in the imperial internal affairs. The Emperor clicked his tongue. ¡°But now that the criminal, King Eimmel, has been handed over, we cannot hold him ountable any longer. I will forgive him by demanding the dethronement of the King and the unconditional return of the upied territories.¡± In the end, it was also a story in favor of Prince Cadriol. He eventually dethroned his father and ascended the throne at the request of the Empire. ¡°And really push forward with the part of the agreement on the subjugation and deterrence of pirates. No, not like that, I¡¯m going to invite Prince Cadriol here once.¡± ¡°If Crown Prince Iantzes, it won¡¯t be too bad. It is impossible to solve the South Sea pirate problem without the cooperation of the Eimmel Kingdom.¡± said Chancellor Lin. Cedric was only wrinkling his forehead next to him. The Emperor then decided on a list of rewards for those who made a contribution to this treason. Among the investigators and members of the Guard, those who would receive a reward were written one after another. At the bottom were the names of the nobles who were forgiven for their merit. On the top line of the report, the names of Ian Camellia and Sk Camellia were written. * * * The door opened and the servants entered one after another. They were carrying colorful clothes and jewelry, one by one. Sk saw it and was captured in a tormented mood. She was already held in the Imperial Pce at the beginning of this incident. Marchioness Camellia had tried to send her away. However, Sk escaped from the carriage heading East on her own and she returned to the Capital. And she was caught by the Guards before she was properly informed. Sk was the user, not a fugitive. She ended up staying in the Imperial Pce, not the prison. The treatment was good. The room was excellent, and the maids who served her were alsopetent. The clothes in the dressing room weren¡¯tpletely new ones that were made for her, but they took new clothes and adjusted them to fit her body. But the only one she could meet was Ian. Even so, sharing a meal under the supervision of attendants was the only freedom allowed. There was no way she could have a proper conversation with Ian because she was under a watchful eye. She was anxious. How are things going? Did her father and brother escape safely? Wasn¡¯t it rather a hasty choice to send them to the East? What is her mother doing? Could it be that she intends to work as a strategist by Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s side until the end? Then she would not be able to free her mother from the sins, no matter how hard she tried. She saw Ga leading the nobles into the Imperial Pce. When she heard the news that Grand Duke Roygar hadmitted suicide, she thought her heart would explode. Sk barely ate. It was painful to betray Ga. But she didn¡¯t even think of betraying Grand Duke Roygar. Grand Duke Roygar was not a victim of a conspiracy. He himself was the conspirator and was in charge. He failed to make her loyal, so he did not prove himself qualified to be her master. It was just that. At least, that¡¯s what Sk thought. Still, her mind was strange. She never thought that he would end his life by suicide. Would she have beenfortable mourning if he had been executed? Or, did she think he was a loser and she would just forget? Even if it was only for the appearance, it is true that he was a kind uncle. The attendant said, ¡°His Majesty has invited Sir Camellia and Madam to a supper.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The words that she was Madam Camellia stabbed Sk in the heart. It was her decision. She herself went to Ian with wedding vows, and it was also Sk¡¯s own decision to choose a small temple that would not be noticed and submit it. However, the Emperor decided to call her ¡®the wife¡¯. Instead of calling Ian ¡®the husband¡¯. That alone showed whom he had decided to make a contributor. Indeed, it will. Sk was the niece of Grand Duchess Roygar, and cousin of the wanted princesses and prince. Marchioness Camellia was still on the run. Naturally, the Emperor would want to center on Ian rather than give her the achievements. If she didn¡¯t want to, she would have had to be a more aggressive traitor. It should be like that from now on. Nothing has been decided yet, and she could have been more useful to the Emperor than Ian. But Sk knew she couldn¡¯t. The dress that the servant chose was a light purple color that suited Sk very well. And the dress and custom made indigo purple sapphire ne and earrings were given as a gift. Jewels close to works of art shone dazzlingly in the light. Even that made Sk shabby. Because it wasn¡¯t what she wanted. As she finished dressing up, Ian came to pick her up. ¡°You look good, Sk.¡± ¡°You really think so?¡± Looking at herself in her mirror, Sk asked. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Ian did not readily answer. Her clothes matched well, and her figure was fine. But Sk¡¯s face was gray. She couldn¡¯t get rid of it even when she covered it with cosmetics. ¡°You look tired.¡± In the end, Ian spoke frankly. Sk wiped off the rouge that she had applied to her lips. ¡°I¡¯d rather look pitiful.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Sk.¡± Still, one goal must be achieved. Sk swallowed her words. And Ian held out his hand. Both of them were conscious of the servants¡¯ eyes chasing behind their backs. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Proofreader: somnium Marquis Camellia and Sk¡¯s younger brother, Luca were present in themon room connected to the banquet hall. Sk was startled and didn¡¯t know what to do. Ian was bewildered too, but he lightly tapped Sk on the back of her hand to tell her to go. Sk hesitated. There were eyes of the servants. ¡°Sister.¡± Luca approached her first. Marquis Camellia couldn¡¯t bear to do that. The image of his dead half-sister remained on Ian¡¯s face, and he couldn¡¯t even raise his head. Ian looked at him for a moment and left without saying a word. And he told the attendant that he would use the bathroom. Luca asked Sk with a worried face. ¡°Did nothing happen? Is Sister okay?¡± ¡°Can you see? You and Father¡­¡­ I told you to stay at the vi, but what happened?¡± It was quite early when Sk told the two of them to go. By the time the treason case urred, they would have been quite far away. But Luca shook his head. ¡°Father got ill on the way and our feet got tied up, and he was the first to be caught.¡± ¡°Father? Are you okay now?¡± Sk turned to look at Marquis Camellia, startled. Marquis Camellia lowered his gaze with an ufortable face. Luca answered instead. ¡°I don¡¯t think he was really that bad.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It bothers me that we¡¯re leaving you and your mother alone and going down to a safe ce¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Father.¡± The words ¡°why are you doing something useless¡± came up to her throat. She was so caught up in her heart that they did not do as they were told, and actually came here to do something? It wasn¡¯t that she was mentally supportive of her mother. But Sk persevered. Marquis Camellia said without energy, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sk said to Luca, ¡°You should have done better.¡± ¡°Sister didn¡¯t tell me anything.¡± Luca said in a voice mixed with anger. ¡°So, is it that man with whom you choose to abandon your family?¡± ¡°Be careful what you say, Luca.¡± ¡°Sister must have had a grand purpose, but do I have to understand that, too? You can¡¯t do this to Mother and Aunt. I know that Sister resented Maternal Grandfather, but ¡­¡± ¡°Shut up. Unless, you¡¯re an idiot who doesn¡¯t even know that this is the Imperial Pce.¡± Luca bit his lips with a gray face. Marquis Camellia interrupted, ¡°Stop it.¡± He had the face of a sinner. Sk sighed. If she exins, will the two of them understand? Before anything like the hatred for Marquis Luden or the desire for power, there was a judgment that Grand Duke Roygar would lose. It was originally started by making a line that could be used when losing. She failed to walk the tightrope, nevertheless, she didn¡¯t think she was wrong. Would Grand Duke Roygar survive if she hadn¡¯t stolen the treasure chest? Sk thought about it madly while she was in the Imperial Pce. It was not. No matter what she thought, she could only think of the ending in which Grand Duke Roygar was defeated. Wouldn¡¯t it have been nice if she had helped her mother with all her might to raise him to the throne? No, even then, she would have been in a miserable state. The fates of Grand Duke Roygar and Marquis Luden were to be shared. And since Marquis Luden had other options to put on the other side of the scale, Sk had no choice but to beat him to survive. She knew that Luca did not covet the Marquisate. But if the Marquis Luden had reached out to Luca because he wanted to round everything up, Luca wouldn¡¯t have refused. Because Luca doesn¡¯t understand the despair and pressure she feels. Ian¡¯s appearance only made the situation visible by adding a more effective option to Marquis Luden. But what¡¯s different now? It was as if she had lost her original right as the eldest daughter. ¡°Mother will be fine. She will make it and¡­¡­.¡± There was one other thing. She was not in a position to seek the mercy of an uncertain future power, her name was listed on the first line of the public record. Ian is back. ¡°Ah, Ian.¡± Marquis Camellia spoke to him. But Ian turned his head coldly. And he said to Sk, ¡°Let¡¯s go over there.¡± Sk also nodded her head with a stiff face. She knew well that Ian being in the same boat with her didn¡¯t mean he had forgiven her father and mother. This problem, too, had to be solved from now on. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to youter, Father.¡± Sk said in a low voice. Marquis Camellia nodded his head with a hard smile on his pale face. Lucaforted him, wrapping his shoulder and taking him to another seat. As the four of them were each trying to calm themselves, the attendant opened the door. ¡°Pir of Krates, who received the scepter and orb from the god and became the sun on the earth, His Majesty Emperor Gregor Avanasi Nestor has arrived!¡± The four of them stood up in unison and knelt down. The Emperor strode into themon room. ¡°Get up. Don¡¯t be so ufortable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Marquis Camellia. Sometimes, you enter the Pce and don¡¯t even attend my card games.¡± ¡°How can a person like me ever receive such grace?¡± Marquis Camellia¡¯s voice was trembling. The Emperorughed happily. He gave a light greeting to Luca and gave a greeting to Ian as well. ¡°You made a big contribution this time.¡± ¡°As a subject of Your Majesty, we have only done what is right.¡± ¡°But a secret marriage is not good. Isn¡¯t that your father and your younger brother staring at you over there?¡± The Emperor frowned, and finally reached out to Sk. Because the host of the dinner had to escort the nobledy among the guests. Conversely, he had given the position to Sk. Sk let out a nervous breath. And with her knees bent, she bowed her head deeply as if prostrated before the Emperor. ¡°Madam Camellia, raise your head. Don¡¯t be like a sinner. I am well aware of Madam¡¯s merits, and Marquisate Camellia will prosper with Madam¡¯s power.¡± ¡°I am sorry, Your Majesty. If you think I have merit, please grant me one favor.¡± The Emperor looked down at Sk with a curious look. It is the rank of inheritance that determines the head of the family, not the Emperor. However, at this point, the Emperor was able to prevent Sk¡¯s session to the title by influencing the inheritance litigation. She was a rtive of the traitor, so she was in a situation where he could admit the merit, but downgrade her title by one or two. He was looking forward to what this clever woman would ask for. But Sk didn¡¯t talk about the title or family. ¡°Pardon my mother.¡± ¡°Sir Camellia and the Madam have already proven that you are both loyal to me, and the tribute is enough to cover the family, so that even Marquisate Camellia who was a rtive of the traitor has been cleared of sin. Marchioness Camellia is no exception, so why are you begging her pardon again?¡± ¡°Because I am afraid. Because I knew that Your Majesty¡¯s eyes covered the sky, and I dared not escape it.¡± Sk said. The only sin the Emperor took away was for treason. So, the work that Marchioness Camellia had done for Grand Duke Roygar remained still. The evil deeds done for power are justified only while there was the power to protect it. Just because the Emperor had no reason to attack could not reassure her. Especially if Artizea is going to be a powerful person from now on. ¡°If Mother hasmitted any sins up until now, please forgive them all. All I want is not to receive an award from His Majesty, nor to give Marquisate Camellia the honor of being Your Majesty¡¯s loyal vassal, but only that.¡± Sk said. The Emperor looked down upon her. Sk had the illusion that the sound of her own tense breathing could be heard all over the lounge The Emperor smiled brightly. ¡°I had heard many stories of the Madam from Grand Duchess Evron, but I did not know that you are a filial daughter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Good. As of this time, the crimesmitted by Marchioness Camellia, whatever they may be, will be absolved forever.¡± ¡°I am truly grateful!¡± Luca quickly knelt down on his knees and thanked. Following that, Marquis Camellia, whose eyes were red, also knelt down on his knees. Sk let out a long, long breath, emptying her lungs. It bothered her that the Emperor mentioned the name of Grand Duchess Evron. However, this had incited Bishop Akim to assassinate Artizea and Princess Leticia once, it could not be officially brought up again. The Emperor reached out to Sk again. Sk grabbed his hand and stood up. The door to the dining room was wide open. The sound of the band ying came in. The other guests were the first to enter the banquet hall. The light was brightly lit. It was not the path of glory. £ª£ª£ª Artizea stayed awake until the darkness deepened and it was difficult to drive out with a single candle of hers. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too dark?¡± Cedric asked as he came in with arge five branched candlestick. ¡°Ah. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What were you so focused on?¡± ¡°I just did some tidying up. Because a lot of things have been done.¡± She ced one of the sealed envelopes on a copper te and greased it with oil. And she set it on fire. The thin envelope will burn quickly. ¡°What did you burn?¡± ¡°I have a debt to pay.¡± Artizea answered only like that. She had several more simr envelopes. Inside was a piece of paper with only one number written on it. It was a method used to aid her memory. ¡°Has the date of Grand Duchess Roygar¡¯s exile been decided?¡± ¡°After three days, they will depart quietly. We have decided to cooperate with the escorts.¡± ¡°Even so, Sir Keshore would say something to the investigation organization.¡± ¡°It looks like they are going to move on quietly now. It¡¯s better to leave a little bit more of the Guards in the Capital. Also, when I told him that I wanted to take care of her even on the way to exile, he understood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it easy. There must be a group of people who are hostile to Lord Cedric, while loyal to the Emperor.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s not yet time to rx. But the remnant of Marchioness Camellia¡¯s power alone would fail without having nted an insider.¡± Cedric said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. If they think they won¡¯t have to use their hands, of course they won¡¯t move.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea answered. Cedric reached out and stroked her hair lightly. Artizea closed her eyes and rested her cheek against his hand. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Proofreader: somnium Winter was deepening while she was busy with work. The air inside the carriage was stuffy, so when she opened the window, white breath came out. Artizea regretted for a moment that she had decided toe out in this cold weather. They should have moved a few months earlier to avoid this. It didn¡¯t matter much. The excuse was to avoid the cold, but everyone knew that it was actually to postpone the problem of entering the Imperial Pce. No one could have thought that the Empress¡¯ descent to the Southern Pce with Artizea and Leticia was purely escaping the weather. The Empress said, ¡°The northern sea must have already frozen.¡± ¡°Yes. It is said that the sea route was blocked from two months ago.¡± Artizea straightened her posture and answered. ¡°Even if it is a port in the south, they say that it will have to be warmer than it is now before it can be used.¡± The subject was not spoken, but it was referring to Grand Duchess Roygar and her three children. The Empress looked at Artizea. Artizea bowed her head to her. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s what Cedric wanted anyway. So, it¡¯s done. I am not in a position to turn down Cedric if he asks for help with this.¡± The Empress turned her gaze out of the window. ¡°It makes me feel rather grateful.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t open her mouth recklessly because she didn¡¯t know what happened in the past. Instead, Countess Martha spoke cautiously, ¡°The Empress did her best even then. And then¡­¡­ Didn¡¯t Grand Duke Evron survive?¡± ¡°What good is all that? All that was left for those who survived was a harsh fate.¡± The Empress murmured. There was silence inside the carriage. Artizea threw her gaze out the window again. Grand Duchy Evron will be covered in snow falling down to her thighs by now. Last winter she was stuck in front of a firece in a room surrounded by fur on all sides. It felt like a long time ago when she went down a frozen river and traversed the snowfield, feeling the pain from the cold that was seeping down to her bones. It was as if she had cut that part of her life with a sharp knife, immersed it in a dream, and removed it out. Artizea was able to vividly recall the touch of the lips, touching the tip of her head. Nevertheless, it still felt unrealistic. She knew it wasn¡¯t a dream. Leticia remained as evidence. Unlike having a baby in her womb, giving birth to her made it disappear like a fantasy. Still, Artizea used to be startled when she felt the passage of time. She had originally nned that she would have been preparing for the divorce by now. The Emperor would not have decided his heir so quickly. Marquis Luden would have been alive, and Grand Duke Roygar would still have been the first heir to the throne. Artizea tapped her fingertips. Although there was a growing number of returners, it has never acted badly. All the variables acted as surprising luck. ¡®As if the world was helping.¡¯ Artizea thought of that, and then she trembled. Is it really just a coincidence? It was useless for her to think. It would be better to push it to one side. But itplicated her mind for no reason. The meaning of the oracle was still not understood. The letter, which she was trying to write to Lysia, has not yet been properly sentenced, and it has been burned several times. She had too much to say before asking about the oracle. Digging up the words would not have been possible without digging up all the ground where the roots were buried, and ripping out her heart. In the end, Artizea could only write one word to her. [Thank you.] The long-awaited reply she received was also short. [May God¡¯s blessing be with Your Grace and the Princess.] She couldn¡¯t even hope that Lysia might not have regained her memory. Because Lysia must have understood all the meanings in the letter she sent. The Empress spoke to her, ¡°What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just have a lot of things going on in my mind.¡± ¡°It is not easy to enter the Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± ¡°I am going to rely on Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What strength do you think I have?¡± said the Empress. About half of those words were a joke, Countess Marthaughed. Artizea said with a smile as well, ¡°This is not a ttering remark. The Northerners are loyal, but they don¡¯t have a character that suits the Imperial Pce, so I was thinking about what to do.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Empress groaned briefly. This was no longer something that had nothing to do with the Empress. She received an interim settlement. Fernando Riagan was destroyed, and the household left by her parents was returned to the Empress¡¯ hands. And her honor will return. From now on, it was time for her to act as an ally and not as a political background to Artizea. ¡°I will send you Viscount Juven.¡± Artizea was a little surprised at the words of the Empress. ¡°Are you talking about the young Viscount? I know he is a man.¡± ¡°It¡¯s through the mother¡¯s side. Your maids are probably too young, and even if they were brought from Evron, they don¡¯t have the temperament that suits the Imperial Pce as you said.¡± said the Empress. ¡°He¡¯s one of my old friends.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea answered in the affirmative even after hearing those words. She had an attitude without hesitation that surprised the Empress. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to look at the person?¡± ¡°The Empress is the one who says he is your old friend. It is enough to know that he is a man whose heart is not swayed by power and money.¡± The Empress nodded her head with a happy face. ¡°By the way, Cedric must be very disappointed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to stay in the vi for months.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the only one who said that?¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned red. Countess Marthaughed. ¡°I must go back before the flowers bloom.¡± It was then. The carriage stopped. Artizea tried to hide the tension that spread behind her neck. She wondered if the information leaked for the next step has already had an impact? There was no way that a response coulde so quickly, and there is no way they could even attack the Empress¡¯ carriage. The escort knight came over next to the carriage. It wasn¡¯t a tense atmosphere. Countess Martha opened the window slightly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Madam Marquisate Camellia¡¯s Heir Apparent is asking for an audience.¡± ¡°In the middle of this road?¡± The escort knight said with a perplexed face, ¡°Yes.¡± Countess Martha looked at the Empress with her perplexed look. The Empress gave Artizea a gaze. ¡°I will leave and meet her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The Empress agreed. The knight opened the carriage door. Artizea was escorted by the knight and got off the carriage. The frozen road became mud as it melted by the hoofs and wagon wheels that had gone before. Artizea lifted the hem of her skirt. As they watched her get off, Hayley and Hazel tried to get off thedies-in-waiting¡¯s carriage. Artizea beckoned them not to. Sk had her carriage parked in front of the guard. She was dressed in pure white fox fur, but she looked haggard. Artizea said to the escort knight. ¡°I will go.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± ¡°No worries. Madam Camellia is my friend.¡± The knight was a little more hesitant. However, it seemed that Sk could not harm Artizea. In his view, Sk and Artizena were equally fragiledies. The knight took the other guards and retreated to a reasonable distance. Artizea said as she approached Sk, ¡°Shall we go for a walk, Madam?¡± ¡°Whoo.¡± Skughed out loud. It was more of a groan than augh. ¡°You haven¡¯t listened to my request to meet up until now, so are you a ¡®friend¡¯ this time?¡± ¡°As I said before, that¡¯s a pretty convenient excuse. Especially at this age.¡± Artizea answered in a calm voice without any mixed emotions. Sk replied sharply, ¡°That would mean that I am someone that has no obligations to Your Grace.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t have to answer. She might have felt a friendship if she had met Sk and formed an acquaintance when she was really 18. If so, it may have also be a chain that binds Artizea¡¯s heart. But not now. She looked at Sk well and appreciated it. But her obligations under Terry Ford¡¯s life-debt came first to her. ¡°Follow me. Madam will fulfill your purpose ofing here.¡± Artizea moved her steps lightly. Sk stared at her back for a moment. She then solidified her resolve and she followed Artizea¡¯s footsteps. Artizea passed four carriages. One of them was the Empress¡¯ carriage, two were thedies-in-waiting¡¯s carriage, and the other was Leticia¡¯s carriage. Then there was a carriage for servants and maids. Of course, as it was the carriage of the Empress¡¯ Pce, it had its own dignity, but even so, it was a luggage carriage without a single window. Sk looked at the carriage and grabbed her chest as if choked. Artizea knocked on the door of the carriage. There was hardly any answer from within. Sk got anxious and approached. Then she spoke earnestly towards the carriage, ¡°Please open it, Mother. My preparations are not ready yet.¡± Eventually, the carriage door opened. Marchioness Camellia came down, with a hood pressed over her cut short hair. She was wearing a maid outfit. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Proofreader: somnium Sk covered her mouth with her hand. Sk was well aware of the fact that having lived as a maid was a majorplex for Marchioness Camellia. Although it was to aplish her purpose, Sk could have guessed how much determination it must have taken to put it on. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that, Mother.¡± Sk said sadly. ¡°Mother waspletely exonerated. His Majesty has bestowed an Imperial Pardon on you. All sins have been absolved, not only for Mother, but for the family and the entire Marquisate Camellia, and it will remain in effect as long as I live.¡± Marchioness Camellia nced at Artizea. Artizea stepped aside. If she said she¡¯ll stay there, none of them both would be able to force her to step aside. But she just decided to do it. ¡°Sk.¡± Marchioness Camellia then called her daughter¡¯s name in a cracked voice. Sk said earnestly, ¡°You don¡¯t have to run away like this.¡± Sk didn¡¯t get everything she wanted. Artizea, who she believed would support her to be Marquis Camellia,pletely refused her meeting. The Emperor knew who the real informer was, but wanted to make Ian the Master of Marquisate Camellia. So in order for Sk to gain power, she had to depend on someone. Perhaps, it was to create a new Marchioness Camellia loyal to the Emperor himself. But Sk got what she wanted the most. She gained the right to decide the life and death of her mother, father, and younger brother with her own hands. The Emperor¡¯s imperial decree is not null and void even if the Master of the imperial seal changes. As long as they don¡¯t deny all of their predecessors. So there was no need to get involved in politics any longer. Conversely, she could be involved. To be a subject of the Emperor waspletely different from being a vassal of Marquis Luden. It is a submission to the sole and absolute power of the Empire. Rather than being under undue pressure from rtives who see them as dirty waste water. Her mother could only now be the real Marchioness Camellia. She still has her title as well as her father¡¯s. ¡°¡­¡­ Whoo.¡± But the Marchioness Camellia let out a long sigh at Sk¡¯s earnest words. ¡°Now, what is the point of that?¡± ¡°Why do you say it was pointless? The fight is not over!¡± ¡°If I go back, what will your position be?¡± said Marchioness Camellia. ¡°I don¡¯t know if Ian Camellia was holding hands with you, but he won¡¯t forgive me. Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Mother¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You did a good job, Sk. You saved the lives of all of your family and became the Emperor¡¯s public servant, so you might be a favorite depending on what you do in the future.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be His Majesty¡¯s favorite!¡± ¡°Is it something you made with a big decision in your heart? Don¡¯t regret it, and do whatever you want until the end.¡± ¡°Do you really have to do that?¡± Sk said with tears in her eyes. ¡°Even if I tell you that Father and Luca are worried?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your father, but¡­¡­, I want to go to the people who need me.¡± ¡°Mother¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time for Luca to choose his own life.¡± ¡°I need Mother, too.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you prove that you can do it well without me?¡± Marchioness Camellia rolled her eyes. ¡°Now Marquisate Camellia belongs to you and your husband, don¡¯t let Luca challenge that authority.¡± Sk knew that it was her mother¡¯sst piece of advice to her. So tears were about to well up. Marchioness Camellia held out her hand. Sk ran to her and held her in her arms. ¡°No need to regret. I am lucky. Even after immersing my hand in the political world and putting a lot of blood on my hand, can Ie back to a peaceful life? Besides, my daughter defeated me to save my life.¡± Sk sobbed a little. Marchioness Camellia patted her on the back a few times. But in the end, Artizea returned from her walk. Sk was forced to back off. And immediately after that, the Marchioness Camellia went into the carriage. Artizea said with a smile. ¡°Did you say goodbye?¡± Sk looked at her with painful eyes. ¡°How can you always have the same face, Your Grace?¡± ¡°Well. Maybe, it¡¯s because of the practice.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Madam saved your mother¡¯s life as you wished. What more do you need?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Sk once ran her hand over her face. However, despite all her efforts, she could not maintain a calm and radiantplexion as Artizea. ¡°Yes. If I hadn¡¯t betrayed her, His Majesty would have created another traitor.¡± ¡°I want to tell you that there is no point in worrying about things that are over.¡± Artizea said, ¡°Maybe, even if Madam hadn¡¯t betrayed her, she might have been betrayed by someone else, and Madam might have failed even if you were tempted to betray her. Or His Majesty may havepletely buried Madam¡¯s usations.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is it not foolish to believe that your own choices will always yield the best results? In the end, once you work hard, you have no choice but to ept the results.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Some people do nothing in order not to be in debt of their heart, and others choose to be trapped in love and endure suffering. Madam was just a woman who couldn¡¯t do that.¡± And she just knew it. Sk let out a weary sigh. ¡°Where will my mother be¡­¡­, please let me knowter. If we¡¯re friends, we would be able to do that, right?¡± Artizea nodded her head. As long as Grand Duchess Roygar and her three children were held hostage, there was very little concern that Marchioness Camellia would wreak havoc in the North. It would be even better to weave them all as family. Sk turned her back. Artizea returned to the Empress¡¯ carriage. During the journey to the royal vi, the carriage will be swapped for another. After that, it was no longer under Artizea¡¯s jurisdiction. £ª£ª£ª The sound of waves was heard. Not wanting to beforted by it, Ga kept her window closed. The maid kept opening the window, saying that people don¡¯t get depressed when they get sunlight even in the house. The maid, who said that she is from the North, said that if she went to the North, she could not get the sun when she wants to be in the sun like she does now, and she rmended that she get a lot of sun here. But Ga didn¡¯t like it at all. When it was said that the children were alive, she couldn¡¯t believe it at all. [¡°Uncle risked his life to save Aunt.¡±] Cedric said so, but Ga couldn¡¯t even realize it. [¡°I can take care of your life. But only Aunt can protect the children.¡±] Ga thought he was lying. He said that to save only her. Still, she did not give up and continued her life. Ga first thought her husband was a coward. If he had loved her even a little, he couldn¡¯t have died that way. And she even considered him pitiful. Although she knew what he had been through, she never thought that he had ever suffered. From the time he was 6 years old until he died, she always thought he was a bigger man than he was. After he died, neither resentment nor jealousy was in vain. She beat her chest every day, leaving only the regret that she had done nothing because she had grown up toote. She prayed that she could live again, thinking about it for the rest of her life. If she could live one more time, this time she could have done her part as Grand Duchess Roygar. Then, he might not have ended up like that. She wouldn¡¯t have epted that jewelry box. She would have thrown it into the sea herself. She wouldn¡¯t have followed him to the South. She would have asked him to forgive her and show him actions worthy of faith. She wouldn¡¯t have had a bad heart for Lady Ford. She¡¯ll apologize to her, and won¡¯t let anyone hurt her. She would have persuaded her father. She wouldn¡¯t have let her sister live like that. She could have done that because she was Roygar¡¯s wife, and the Grand Duchess. ¡®I wanted to close your eyes. I thought we¡¯d be holding hands when death came.¡¯ Nearly two monthster, when she came to think of it, Ga realized that she had epted the death of her husband. And the carriage arrived. ¡°Madam.¡± The maid called her. Ga was knitting in front of the firece. This is something she learned a few days ago by asking the maid. If her hand was moving, it seemed that she would not be immersed in her thoughts. The sound of the carriage flowed in. She thought it must havee from a grocery carriage. ¡°Madam!¡± The maid called again, and she opened the door wide. A cold wind rushed in, and Ga frowned. And she widened her eyes as she saw the children getting off the carriage. ¡°Mom!¡± The lively firstborn was the first to scream and run. Ga forgot to put on her slippers and ran outside with her bare feet. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± All three children cried. Ga hugged the first and second at once, and watched the third, who could not jump down,e down in the arms of Marchioness Camellia. ¡°Sister.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Mia.¡± Marchioness Camellia answered quietly. ¡°I think that name suits me better, Miss.¡± Her eyes were blurry, and Ga couldn¡¯t properly look at Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia lowered the third child. The third wept and hung around Ga¡¯s neck. ¡°I said I¡¯d never see you again¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to remember a maid¡¯s name or face.¡± ¡°Sister killed Father. I will not forgive Sister.¡± ¡°Do that. But Miss now doesn¡¯t seem to have the strength to shake me off.¡± ¡°I, I am no longer a Miss.¡± Ga couldn¡¯t keep up with it any longer and wept. She couldn¡¯t say what she wanted to say. Children overflowed into Ga¡¯s arms. So Ga couldn¡¯t sit down. She embraced the children with all her might. It was the first time she had hugged the three children at once. So Ga was the first to realize that her arms could be that long. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Proofreader: somnium Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony The spring breeze blew gently over the deck. The saltiness of the Capital sea and the Southern sea would be the same, but it seemed that the sea breeze was less salty because the strait was narrow. The wind was gentle. Cadriol even brought a bench to the deck andy there. In summer and winter, the maritime climate of the South is the best, but the Imperial spring is the best. He said while humming, ¡°Long time no see, Imperial Capital.¡± ¡°Last year, no, you came oncest year, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Shh.¡± To the aide that was telling the secret, Cadriol made a gesture to keep his mouth shut. It is a secret that he came to the Capital to inquire about Artizea and that he even visited Grand Duke Evron¡¯s estate. But the aide didn¡¯t care at all. On the deck in the middle of the sea, attendants were scattered here and there. There was no one to eavesdrop on the conversation. ¡°You mustn¡¯t think of useless thoughts.¡± ¡°What useless thoughts?¡± ¡°What are you going to do with a married woman?¡± ¡°This rascal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to have an affair, but kidnapping is not allowed.¡± ¡°You rascal!¡± ¡°Come to think about it, you can¡¯t even have an affair. If the new King is killed by the Empire¡¯s Crown Prince in a duel right after the coronation ceremony, what kind of embarrassment is that? It¡¯ll leave your name in history.¡± ¡°Shut up. Why would I lose? That battle-crazed bastard.¡± ¡°But you can¡¯t just float a boat on the river and ask for a duel on it, right?¡± ¡°Why the hell is a duel a prerequisite?¡± ¡°If you chase after a married woman who doesn¡¯t like it, it¡¯s a natural result.¡± ¡°Are you talking about an affair? Aren¡¯t we supposed to like each other? Why are you making the premise that she will hate it?¡± Instead of answering logically, the aidezilyforted him. ¡°Half the world is a woman. There must be a mate of Your Majesty somewhere.¡± Cadriol threw the wooden canteen he was holding at the aide. Instead of being quietly beaten, the aide grabbed it. Then, he drank the rum inside and satfortably on the floor. The boat wobbled, but it wasn¡¯t a concern for them at all. Rather, it was sweet to take a break after a long time. ¡°I like the Empire¡¯snd, it¡¯s not wet.¡± ¡°The Empire is not an empire for nothing. You have to tear it into four pieces.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious, but what about an arranged marriage?¡± ¡°With whom?¡± ¡°Even if the Emperor holds both tax and judicial powers, if you marry andowner who owns a lot ofnd, you will have the opportunity to intervene with Imperial Politics from there.¡± ¡°Ummm.¡± ¡°You need to wee a queen soon, so we can be at ease?¡± ¡°After meddling with Imperial Politics, I¡¯m going to live my life in peace.¡± Cadriol replied. ¡°Besides, if I get involved in that way, I, the King of Eimmel, would be lowering myself to the position of being the concubine of the imperial noble. The Empire is such a country.¡± ¡°Well, yes, it is. Then pick one up in the Kingdom or¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I am d that Emperor Gregor did not have an older daughter.¡± Cadriol, reluctant to listen to the aide¡¯s words, turned the topic around with absurd words. The sailor shouted from above the crow¡¯s nest. ¡°I see the port!¡± It¡¯s time to get ready to get off. It was the Empire. £ª£ª£ª ¡°Gaa! Ma! Ma! Ma!¡± Thud! ¡°Princess!¡± There was a thumping sound. The baby did not cry, but the nanny maids screamed. Countess Eunice jumped to her feet as well, horrified. Isn¡¯t she the only baby of this Imperial Pce? She was a precious baby who would cause a riot to the temple if she was injured. But Leticia didn¡¯t seem very hurt. She was groaning as she struggled to get up again. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I made the floor soft so she wouldn¡¯t get hurt.¡± Artizea said. Countess Eunice sighed and took her seat again, sighing heavily. Marcus gently grabbed Leticia and put her back near the table. The table was newly made, with the height appropriate for the baby¡¯s height. Leticia rested on the table, reached out her hand, picked up the dried fruit and brought it to her mouth. Then she shouted in excitement. ¡°Ddaa! Bba! Dda dda dda! Ee¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ohh, are you having fun?¡± ¡°Mi! Ma!¡± Leticia grabbed the toy in one hand and mmed it onto the table. She then wiggled her butt and then she fell on her butt again. This time, Marcus hugged her before she fell. Seeing this, Countess Euniceughed. ¡°It must be a good time to raise her.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take my eyes off her as she puts everything into her mouth.¡± Artizea said. Countess Eunice expressed her sympathy. ¡°Well, it¡¯s an important time.¡± It has now been about a month since they entered the Prince¡¯s Pce. Around Leticia, she selected and ced people as trustworthy as possible. However, she could not control everything from the cleaning maid to the attendanting in and out of the Pce. The area itself was not significantly different from that of Grand Duchy Evron. However, the amount of the peopleing and going was different. It could be said that it was a good thing that the work progressed quickly, but on the flip side, there was not enough time to prepare. The fact that only Cedric and Leticia were left of the Emperor¡¯s legitimate heirs did not reassure her. Cedric is not without enemies. There were not many people who felt burdened by him bing emperor. And even if he was involved in Central Politics as he became the Secretary of State, it was only recent. In the Imperial Central Politics, he was more of an outsider. Above all, there was prejudice against the North. ¡®Because I can¡¯t help it.¡¯ Artizea let out a sigh. That doesn¡¯t mean that Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion was not without problems. When he entered the Prince¡¯s Pce, there were quite a few conflicts. Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion people seldom epted that Cedric would be the Emperor¡¯s heir. There was no one who was relieved and pleased. Even though when Cedric became Emperor, the North would no longer be persecuted. On the other hand, there were those who thought that their Master was being taken away. They were so reluctant for him to even marry Artizea, a central noble. How much more when he became the Emperor¡¯s adopted son. Artizea didn¡¯t think the vassals would betray him. In particr, the loyalty of the vassals who followed even to the Capital was solidified. Just because they were opposed, they weren¡¯t the type who would betray or join hands with other nobles. But the absence of an active bacsh does not mean that there are no holes. If they want to take advantage of a little passivity and anxiety, they can do anything. In the Imperial Pce, her connection will be cut quickly. ¡®But Leticia is fine. I will risk my life to protect her. His Majesty will protect her, too.¡¯ So the biggest hole is herself. The only Marquis Rosan. There was no family rted to Marquis Rosan. In fact, Leticia was in a situation where there was no outside rtion. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if all who yearned for power joined hands and tried to kill Artizea. They first make the Crown Princess¡¯ seat vacant, thenpete amongst themselves to upy it. It was their chance to win the post of the next Empress and the divinely favored stepdaughter at the same time. If that is possible, even a humble family can jump up to the number one family in the Empire at once. It was a time when all the great noble families were exterminated or driven out because they were involved in treason, so the pressure to rise from the bottom was also strong. ¡®Still, the Eastern affairs have turned upside down so badly, I won¡¯t be able to do anything for a while. There are probably not many people who can use their hands even inside the Imperial Pce.¡¯ Moreover, in Artizea¡¯s memory, for several years thereafter, there was no natural disaster, and all harvests were above average. So all she had to do was take care of Leticia¡¯s and her own safety. ¡°Princess!¡± Again the nanny maid shouted. It was because Leticia was deliberately trying to hit the bowl of her fruit and spill it under the table. Countess Eunice said, ¡°She is no longer a princess, but the Crown Imperial Grandchild.¡± ¡°Not yet. Don¡¯t say that, because I¡¯m afraid of changing her name prematurely and causing misunderstandings with His Majesty.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not long until the coronation Ceremony.¡± Countess Euniceughed. Artizea let out a small sigh. Since she entered the Prince¡¯s Pce, it was only a matter of time before the Crown Prince¡¯s coronation Ceremony. She knew it from the first time they were told toe in. But she couldn¡¯t help thinking that it was too early. ¡°Some say time is fair to everyone, but I don¡¯t think the passage of time is always the same.¡± said Countess Eunice. ¡°Two years passed like a storm.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°By the way, the Southern Conquest Army will be withdrawn soon, right?¡± ¡°Yes, it will.¡± ¡°I heard that the salt business is going to reopen now.¡± ¡°Yes. We have several years¡¯ worth of inventory, but we¡¯ll still have to start as soon as possible.¡± Artizea said while holding up her teacup. ¡°Come to think of it, I heard that Count Eunice also received a salt factory.¡± ¡°It¡¯s thanks to Father for thinking of me.¡± Countess Eunice grinned. ¡°Thanks to this, I was able to prepare a nice present for Your Grace¡¯s birthday this year.¡± ¡°Birthday¡­¡­.¡± Artizea murmured, casting her gaze into the garden, far away. Countess Eunice asked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to say you forgot, are you?¡± ¡°Ah, no. I didn¡¯t forget about it.¡± Artizea remembered it not because of things like her birthday celebration, but because of the divorce. She remembered that she had calcted that when she turned 20 she wouldn¡¯t mind a divorce because she didn¡¯t need a guardian. Countess Eunice asked, ¡°Are you going to pass this year without a hitch? At this timest year, there were so many big things you had to do, but this year, you shouldn¡¯t feel lonely.¡± ¡°Well. I don¡¯t want to make a fuss before the coronation Ceremony.¡± ¡°I thought that might be the case.¡± Countess Eunice sighed deeply. ¡°Then, let¡¯s have dinner together with people close to us. I don¡¯t think Father will feel lonely anymore.¡± Countess Eunice said so. The reason Artizea doesn¡¯t celebrate her birthday is because she is wary of the Emperor. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Proofreader: somnium Artizea answered. ¡°His Majesty has never mistreated me.¡± It is a political statement. At times, it may be most political to speak only the superficial facts. The Emperor had never treated her harshly. In her childhood, Artizea had never received anything like a birthday present. She never had good food on her birthday. Fearing Mira, who became extremely sensitive and yelled at even the smallest things, she was locked in her room all day, reading a book or immersed in various thoughts. Why would the Emperor directly torment Artizea? He didn¡¯t have to. All feared that the Emperor would be offended, while Artizea was regarded as nothing. At the time when she did not know such a reason, there were times when she admired the Emperor. She wondered if he would be a father to her as he did to Lawrence. She was at an age she didn¡¯t know that such a thing could never happen. She didn¡¯t even know she was small enough to be dumped upon. She could not distinguish between genuinepassion and kindness from indifference because he did not have to trample on her. Countess Eunice hesitated a little. Artizea smiled faintly. ¡°I was grateful that His Majesty didn¡¯t hate me. It would have been nothing unusual to ask her to throw away a newborn baby.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Thanks to His Majesty¡¯s forgiveness, I was able to grow up to be Marquis Rosan, and I am here now.¡± ¡°I, I see. Right.¡± Countess Eunice stuttered in reply. She didn¡¯t say it with political intentions. But when Artizea reacted like this, she was worried that she had said something wrong. ¡°However, I am concerned that inviting people to the Imperial Pce right now will be taken in a political sense.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your birthday.¡± Countess Eunice said once more. ¡°Then, let¡¯s celebrate with family alone.¡± ¡°With family¡­¡­. It¡¯s not easy either.¡± Artizea nodded slightly. On the other side was the statue of Saintess Olga who had regained her heart. Countess Eunice, realizing that she was only thinking of herself, quickly bit her mouth. In the Imperial Pce¡¯s perspective, she realized that ¡®getting the family together¡¯ meant inviting the Emperor and the Empress together. ¡°I made a fool of myself. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Countess Eunice lightly pped herself in the mouth. Artizea justughed it off. She wasn¡¯t really interested in things like her birthday party. She decided not to think of such extremes like if she shouldn¡¯t have been born into the world. But she didn¡¯t even feel like it was something to celebrate. If she¡¯s having a party, she¡¯ll do it when there¡¯s a need for it. Artizea thought as she looked at Leticia. Leticia¡¯s birthday will probably continue to be the same day as the Harvest Festival. ¡°By the way, all Your Grace¡¯sdies-in-waiting will attend the Coronation Ceremony, right?¡± ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t that a matter of course?¡± Artizea tilted her head, wondering why she was asking such an obvious question. Countess Eunice said with more fuss on purpose. ¡°Our Fiona was curious. I know that Your Grace has sent her to the West with an important task, but this time, there is a ceremony to celebrate.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea groaned briefly. ¡°Well. I contacted her toe, but she doesn¡¯t seem to be able to take her hands off her work.¡± She said it as an excuse. She never really thought of Lysia as ady-in-waiting. Even when Countess Eunice spoke to her this time, she didn¡¯t count Lysia unconsciously. She said she woulde to Leticia¡¯s naming ceremony, but in the end Lysia didn¡¯te. She couldn¡¯t urge her toe back. Artizea couldn¡¯t even guess what she had in her mind. Since she had never looked at Lysia on the chessboard, she didn¡¯t even think much about how Lysia¡¯s absence would affect her. It was right that she didn¡¯t think of it. She knew that Lysia had forgiven her, that she would adore Leticia, but she was still afraid. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± When summeres, Lysia¡¯s birthday alsoes. Artizea stood up from her seat. Leticia looked at her andughed. ¡°It¡¯s Mom, Mom. Try.¡± The nanny maid told Leticia. It was an unmannered attitude, but to speak inly in front of the baby. ¡°Ma! M!¡± Leticia said as she stretched out her hand. Artizea seldomly hugged Leticia. Partly because she didn¡¯t have enough arm strength to support her weight, and she wasn¡¯t sure if she would stay in the baby¡¯s memory. And she wondered if this lovely baby was born with the wrong body, too. Marcus held Leticia and gave her to Artizea. It was when Artizea was about to hold Leticia. There was a loud bang outside the door. ¡°Oh my!¡± Countess Eunice let out a startled sound. Artizea turned to look at it while holding Leticia. ¡°What is the noise?¡± She asked in a low voice. Hazel, who was sitting a little farther away and sorting out the letters, turned to the door instead. A few low but harsh sounds came and went through the ajar door. Soon Hayley came in. Followed by Hazel with a tense look on her face. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It was no big deal, Your Grace. The maid was cleaning and she spilled water in front of this.¡± Hayley said in a cold voice. Countess Eunice frowned. There was no way she could have left someone so clumsy as a maid to clean Artizea¡¯s residence, who will soon be the Crown Princess. Someone must have sent it to steal the story. ¡°How.¡± But Countess Eunice did not finish her sentence. Hayley spoke before that, ¡°I scolded her and sent her back.¡± ¡°You did well.¡± When Artizea said so, Countess Eunice dyed her face red with anger. ¡°You don¡¯t mean to let it go like that, do you? I understand Your Grace¡¯s desire to stay quiet before the Coronation Ceremony, but that¡¯s not the example.¡± ¡°Because they didn¡¯t take anything that shouldn¡¯t be stolen.¡± Artizea said calmly. Countess Eunice flinched. ¡°No, but it is¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Just because she spilled water doesn¡¯t mean I can drive the maid out.¡± Artizea said so. Anyway, even if Artizea doesn¡¯t chase the maid out, she¡¯ll nevere back. Because exposed spies cannot be reused. Hayley would have figured it out and she would have handled it well. Artizea was deliberately leaking a certain level of information. She wanted to figure out where it was going, so she could check the flow of information within the Imperial Pce. Among the things she had now brought in, there was no information to be afraid of being seen by others. Hayley quietly approached Artizea and spoke to her ear. ¡°Lord Frey wants to deliver news from the East.¡± ¡°East?¡± ¡°I think Sir Lawrence is gone. I¡¯m not sure, but he says it¡¯s a fake in his ce right now.¡± Artizea held her breath. Hayley said quickly, ¡°They¡¯re going to check it out first. Since none of the Eastern sources knew Sir Lawrence¡¯s exact appearance, they only had a copy of the portrait.¡± If that was true, it meant that Lawrence had either deceived all the servants and knights sent by the Emperor, or turned them to his side. Artizea put Leticia down without saying a word. Hayley raised her voice a little more this time. ¡°And Marchioness Camellia set off for the port.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea then nodded her head. And she returned to her seat in a natural manner. Countess Eunice asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. It seems that Prince Eimmel has arrived.¡± Artizea said with a smile. ¡°Marchioness Camellia has headed to the port.¡± ¡°Oh. I have a feeling that it will be soon. With the Crown Prince¡¯s couple of the Kingdom of Iantz arriving, all the important guests will gather.¡± Countess Eunice¡¯s eyes twinkled. For her, with nothing to risk, the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony and the visit by the foreign princes were more exciting than intense events. £ª£ª£ª Cobb trembled and fell to the floor. Sitting cross-legged in front of him was the most beautiful man in the world. And he was also the cruelest and scariest man in the world, as far as Cobb knew. ¡°Dump the maid into the river.¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t that many people sent into the Imperial Pce.¡± Cobb said cautiously, terrified. During the events of the South and East, the number of avable people decreased. Gayan of the Guard was strangely harsh towards the attendants and maids of the Imperial Pce. Even if there is only a small string, they were implicated, dragged out and executed. Sometimes, they did it without even the slightest trace. The reason was that no one should covet anything other than the favor of the Emperor in the Imperial Pce. And only recently did Cobb find out the real reason. [¡°Because that bastard Gayan is attached to Evron.¡±] Lawrence spoke casually, as if it was nothing. ¡°If there are a few ipetent people, it¡¯s like there aren¡¯t any.¡± He said in a bored tone. ¡°I¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is better to have nothing than to be clumsy. Was your ability so great that you could think Marquis Rosan was easy?¡± Cobb didn¡¯t answer and fell. ¡°Stupid. I even taught how to get Countess Eunice to bring up the Empress¡¯ topic with her mouth, but she came back without a word.¡± Lawrence said so and stood up. Cobb said bitterly, ¡°Why do you care about Evron¡¯sdy-in-waiting? Go to His Majesty Gregor. If he knows the truth, Evron and the traitorous Marquis Rosan will all be blown away at once.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lawrence revealed this and grinned. ¡°Let them rise high. Then, there will be joy in falling.¡± And he got up from his seat. Without Lysia, there was nothing more to see in the Capital. Chapter 244 Sk was standing in front of the pier. A boat with more than thirty sails called slowly. The mast was painted red, and red and gold colors were painted around the hull. The sight was almost majestic. ¡°The ship of the Royal Family of Eimmel is very good.¡± ¡°It is a ship that only the King rides when he goes out to sea.¡± An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs answered. Prince Cadriol has not yet performed his coronation ceremony. Nevertheless, the fact that he had set sail with this ship showed his position in the Kingdom of Eimmel. It wasn¡¯t because he couldn¡¯t be crowned anyway. The previous King had already been deposed. However, since the tragic event of the death of the Queen and the dethronement of the King has taken ce one after the other, he intends to perform the coronation ceremony after he has given time to calm the grief. Of course, this was also possible because Prince Cadriol already had solid control of the government. ¡°It¡¯s really bold.¡± Sk muttered to herself. If the ship was caught in a storm and sank, the King and his entourage would be annihted. She wondered if he had confidence. After all, he must have sailed the sea since he was a boy. ¡°Go in and wait, Marchioness Camellia. It will take quite a while for the Prince to disembark.¡± ¡°No. It is better to be polite.¡± Sk said so and waited in the wind. It was not cold, so it was tolerable except for her dry eyes. It didn¡¯t take as long as expected. As soon as he was ready to disembark, Cadriol was the first toe down with a few escorts in light footsteps. From afar, it couldn¡¯t be seen as a King¡¯s march, let alone the Prince¡¯s. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs¡¯ officers panicked. Fortunately, Sk stood in ce, so no one broke their posture. Sk knelt in front of him and bowed. The flower children they brought with them gave them flowers. Instead of taking it, Cadriol pulled out a single flower and put it in his buttonhole. The lieutenants received the bouquets of flowers instead. ¡°The hospitality sent by His Majesty the Emperor was very well received.¡± ¡°Thank you for your eptance.¡± Cadriol grinned and held out his hand to Sk. ¡°You are in a very different situation from thest time I saw you in the South, Lady Camellia. Glory is as sweet as golden honey, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sk bit the inside of her lip invisibly once. In order not to be shaken, she needed to strengthen her mind. She took Cadriol¡¯s hand and stood up. And she smiled carefreely. ¡°Call me Marchioness, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cadriol looked down at her for a moment with a strange look on his face. In the meantime, she married and she became the mistress of another family? Had it been so, Sk would have introduced herself by the name of the family, of course. But Sk didn¡¯t. Cadriol soon realized why. Since she was Marchioness Camellia, she did not even mention her family name. Cadriol knew about Ian Camellia¡¯s problems. It was because it was a ploy made up by Artizea. ¡°You acted like an Imperial nobleman.¡± Sk felt ashamed. Cadriol admired her abilities. He said that she wouldn¡¯t grind people into strife like the Empire does. Is she now in a situation where she herself is torn apart in a conflict? Sk didn¡¯t know very well. She is favored by the Emperor. The Emperor bestowed upon her enormous reward, and gave her frequent summons to attend tea. People were now whispering that the Emperor was trying to make Sk the high society¡¯s first nobledy. Again, he entrusted her with the important role of hosting two princes from other countries. Nevertheless, Sk continued to feel a sense of emptiness. Was it her glory that she didn¡¯t get her own name? Was it her family that she was responsible for destroying? Was her abilities still significant? Was she disying her natural qualities as a human being? Sk couldn¡¯t answer. But, as Cadriol said, she was an Imperial nobleman. So, she replied without changing her soft smile. ¡°Because I am an Imperial nobleman.¡± ¡°My offer is still valid.¡± ¡°Please take it back. I am afraid that others will hear it.¡± ¡°My lieutenant said, you can¡¯t kidnap married women, but it¡¯s okay to have an affair.¡± His words were so light that it didn¡¯t sound like anything other than a joke. Skughed, feeling a little better. ¡°Infidelity is better than treason. But if you want to seduce a woman, you¡¯d better add a little bit of embellishment.¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t know that the Emperor would even send you to meet me. First of all, let¡¯s get off the pier, get dressed, and try to set off for the Capital.¡± ¡°Then, can I get you a ce to change right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already received all the protocols, but I think it would be better to go to the Capital and change.¡± Sk smiled at him. ¡°Then let¡¯s go. We have reserved a ce in the guesthouse, so let¡¯s go to the Capital after getting rid of your fatigue.¡± ¡°The favor will be appreciated.¡± Cadriol dly climbed into the carriage led by Sk. £ª£ª£ª The bright sunlight flooded the spacious interior. Chamber music yed to keep people from getting bored created a slow atmosphere. Cedric was wearing all of the Crown Prince¡¯s formal dress and sat with Leticia on one of his knees. After the Coronation Ceremony, there was a painting that would be hung in a gallery showing the genealogy of the imperial family. Cedric moved his body as if it was stuffy. He had already been sitting in the same position for an hour. The court painter said, ¡°If you move, the Princess will wake up.¡± Cedric stiffened his body again. It was a big deal when she started crying. Artizea smiled bitterly at her. ¡°So, it would be better to just paint her by herself.¡± ¡°I will stay still.¡± Cedric said with a remorseful attitude. ¡°Even though I already said that I will paint the princess¡¯ portrait separately.¡± said the court painter. Artizea also sighed slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not unprecedented, but I wonder if you have to.¡± ¡°But I¡¯m so busy these days that if I don¡¯t make time for something like this, I won¡¯t even have time to see Leticia¡¯s face. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll forget her face like this.¡± Cedric said sternly. Although he did not go to the North, there was no way he could rx in the winter. In the future, he will not be able to go to the Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion for a long time. Previously, there were times when he couldn¡¯t go to the North because of problems with the Western Army or for other reasons. But all were temporary. Now, it¡¯s a little different. Cedric had to reorganize his system so that Grand Duchy Evron could return to its full glory without him. The Emperor and the vassals looked suspiciously at him, wondering if he might be leaning towards the opponent. It must have been difficult for someone like Cedric, Artizea thought. But he was not at all agitated. [¡°Ultimately, it has to be done. The trust issue, and the fact that I can¡¯t stay in the North.¡±] Aside from that, a mountain of work poured into Cedric. The Emperor transferred some of the internal affairs to him. With this, Cedric was given responsibility for education and justice in addition to the security and welfare issues around the Capital, which he had already been in charge of. He was also involved in foreign affairs while coordinating the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. He was even going to organize his entourage. These days he woulde back in the middle of the night and fall straight into bed, then go out silently at dawn. Artizea recalled the past. Was he busy back then? It wasn¡¯t like that. Lawrence was perfectly acquainted with court rites and ceremonies. In fact, even if he makes quite a few mistakes, once he smiles, it doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s done anything disrespectful at all. There was likewise no difficulty in forming his entourage. Because if there was anything to consider, whether that person would be in his favor or not, there was only one thing to be sure of, loyalty. Above all else, the Emperor himself helped. ¡®Even if His Majesty removes his doubts about Lord Cedric, he will not stop testing.¡¯ Artizea thought, looking at Cedric from behind the painter. He will not be particrly suspicious of betrayal or treason, but will constantly test Cedric¡¯s morality. Like a man pounding with a hammer to make sure the diamond in his hand is real. Artizea felt tired and bowed her head. What will happen to Lawrence¡¯s disappearance? She had no idea that he had the power to disappear even from the Emperor¡¯s eyes. If so, it means he¡¯s a ¡®returner¡¯. Talented people get positions, but positions change people. Lawrence lived as Crown Prince and Emperor for nearly twenty years. Before he returned, he had a winning experience. He was also used to governing people. No matter how cruel it may be. ¡®I guess it was just luck that all the ¡®returners¡¯ moved positively with my scheme.¡¯ Contemting the need to increase the risk factor further, a soft and damp thing touched Artizea¡¯s face. ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea raised her head in surprise. Leticia eximed, ¡°Woo-, woo-.¡± She waved her arm to go to Artizea. Cedric came closer. ¡°She seems to have forgotten my face.¡± He said grimly. Artizeaughed without realizing it. ¡°What about the portrait?¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking a break.¡± Cedric sat next to her, looking like he was able to breathe. He hugged Leticia, who was struggling to be let go. ¡°I think it¡¯s okay to paint only the face and then fill in the rest nicely.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t?¡± ¡°It is an important picture. It is also meaningful to do it as real as it is.¡± Cedric sighed. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°Me? What?¡± ¡°Did you finish drawing your portrait?¡± ¡°I can draw when I have time after the Coronation Ceremony. I don¡¯t have to go in before the Coronation Ceremony.¡± ¡°Hu, goooo.¡± Leticia whined. Cedric grabbed Leticia again and sat her on hisp. ¡°No, you¡¯ll forget your father¡¯s face.¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t forgotten about it. I don¡¯t try to hold her still these days. She¡¯s so active.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I said I would raise her¡­¡­.¡± Cedric hesitated. Artizea smiled bitterly. ¡°You can¡¯t take a baby to do government affairs. And say thank you to Marcus.¡± ¡°Nevertheless.¡± ¡°When she starts walking and running, take her with you. I don¡¯t think I can handle it.¡± Cedric smiled. Artizea looked at that smile. Seeing him smile, she got the illusion that anything would be fine, and that she might be able to keep it like that. So, she closed her eyes. Cedric¡¯s lips fell to the corners of her eye and then to her lips. Chapter 245 The arrival of Crown Prince Iantz and his wife was more than ten days after Cadriol had settled in the Capital¡¯s guesthouse. The question of whether or not the Iantz Kingdom is a vassal of the Empire ends by saying ¡®of course, it¡¯s a vassal state of the Empire.¡¯ However, on the side of the Kingdom of Iantz, the situation was different. There was seldom any interference in internal affairs. The people of the Iantz Kingdom considered themselves a sovereign nation. Giving tribute to the Empire was the result of rational judgment to thest. The abundance of the Iantz Kingdom waspletely subordinated to the Empire. Gold and silver flow from the Empire to the Kingdom of Iantz. The most expensive items worn by the Imperial nobles are all from Iantz. Nevertheless, it was the side of the Iantz Kingdom that was subordinated. The Empire can survive without the Iantz product. However, if the Kingdom of Iantz cut off ties with the Empire, it was very difficult to survive. Neither the wealth enjoyed by the Kingdom of Iantz nor the superior position it enjoys in rtions with other countries can be said to have nothing to do with the Empire. The people of the Iantz Kingdom did not feel ashamed of it. It is developing the country with all the wisdom that a small country can do. However, the failure of diplomacy with the Empire to such an extent directly led to failure in domestic politics. For that reason, the position of Crown Prince Iantz was very difficult. He was the first in more than a hundred years to be asked by the Empire to be sent as a hostage. In addition, the Crown Prince couple. [¡°Sorry.¡±] Crown Prince Bernat bowed his head and apologized to his wife Natalia. Maybe he will be deposed while he is a hostage, and his younger brother may take the throne. As he was the Master, he could not bow down to his subordinates. But he had to apologize to his wife and his biggest supporter, Natalia. [¡°I already knew that it would be dangerous to meddle with the issue of session within the Empire. I didn¡¯t mean to put you in this situation, I¡¯m sorry.¡±] [¡°You did your best, but you failed.¡±] No one expected that Grand Duke Roygar would fall so suddenly in such a short period of time. The Crown Prince regretted several issues, and looking back, there were many things that he thought were hasty. The gift that could be interpreted as treason was given to Grand Duchess Roygar in order to find weakness. On the other hand, it was also a case of giving a weakness. He was forced to do something akin to signing a joint petition. The Emperor will rule the Empire for a long time toe. Then it would be dangerous to cooperate with Grand Duke Roygar under the water. The Iantz, whose position is weak, needed coercion to continue mutual cooperation. In the future, after he ascended to the throne, the Iantz supported him, and it would serve as evidence to prove his achievements. Because Grand Duchess Roygar wasn¡¯t the one to lie that she didn¡¯t get things after getting them. But without even having time to really support, Grand Duke Roygar fell. Bernat had this conversation with his entourage. [¡°Even when Mira was cast down due to the treason, and in the case of coarse salt, I feel a bit unsettled.¡±] There were things that could have happened. Although the coincidence ovepped enough to believe in the hand of God. But it was not without suspicion. A few things happened that preceded it, so it wasn¡¯t just a coincidence. [¡°However, my suspicions have grown since I was directly involved.¡±] [¡°What do you mean?¡±] [¡°Don¡¯t you think that all of this is going too far in the favor of one person?¡±] Bernat said so. Grand Duke Evron, whom no one could have imagined just two years ago, became Crown Prince. The move of the Iantz Kingdom was decided by Bernat himself. He himself adopted Albert¡¯s thesis and devised a strategy based on it. However, he kept thinking that even that must be in someone¡¯s big scheme. [¡°There is nothing strange in itself. Because there are few legal blood rtives in the Krates¡¯ imperial family.¡±] But, rather, that¡¯s what he thought. [¡°Did Grand Duke Evron really have no desire for the throne? He was so close?¡±] It was also a suspicion he could have because he was a foreigner and a southerner physically far from the Empire. [¡°He has a reputation for being honest, righteous and loving people. But could he have been trying to build that kind of reputation?¡±] For power, people can use hypocrisy endlessly. Reputation can be created with images. Trust can also be built with lies. It may not have been entirely hypocritical. Perhaps, it is true that people cherish Grand Duke Evron. But isn¡¯t it more likely that they moved with reputation and the Emperor¡¯s trust in mind? If Grand Duke Evron was cautious enough to maintain that level of reputation, it was something he had to be on guard against. Even if not all of the current situation was intentional, it was the same. He doesn¡¯t know if Grand Duke Evron would have considered the events his luck. But if it was all a coincidence, then the hand of God was at work. ¡®It means that he is a dangerous opponent as it is.¡¯ He cannotpete with the one whom God cares for, and the one with great fortune. Bernat did not believe that God would intervene in human power rtions. It was a different matter than letting a saint or a saintess go down. But there was also the blessing at the Harvest Festival, so it was unknown. That¡¯s why Bernat said to Natalia, [¡°If Grand Duke Evron bes the Emperor of the Empire, I want to go and see him with my own eyes.¡±] That¡¯s why he suggested that he personally visit the Emperor and beg for the sin. It was too demanding toe with the Crown Princess. However, as he was a vassal of the Empire and involved in treason, there was no way he could deny themand. And before Natalia was the Crown Princess, she was a knight protecting Bernat. It bothered him to leave the babies behind, but he couldn¡¯t leave a skilled knight who was closest to the Crown Prince. Even more so if the Empire would not count the number of guards. [¡°Of course, I have to go to protect His Highness. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m not good at socializing, so I¡¯m not sure if I can help.¡±] Natalia was really worried about that. She heard that the social circle of the Imperial Capital waspletely different from the court of the Iantz Kingdom. The splendor of their attire may be simr to each other, but in the Kingdom of Iantz, it was rare to talk about it. There was no way to trust the character of others enough to risk honor and family name on important things. Instead, there were clear sentences and contracts. Still, she was determined to do well. Grand Duchess Evron was five years younger than Natalia, and she gave birth to and is raising a baby. That being said, she was rtively close in age, and there was amon topic. Even though she¡¯s going to be a hostage, Natalia was still Crown Princess of Iantz. She will have the opportunity to get acquainted with Grand Duchess Evron. Her own role was very important. Bernat collected all the rumors and the hidden information about her. Evaluations were extremely divided. Many people regarded her as a pitiful girl who was saved by Grand Duke Evron while growing up being abused by her wretched mother. On the other hand, many people saw her as the Emperor¡¯s favoritedy and the new power. She was the one who at least was capable of taking the ce. [¡°If Grand Duke Evron can¡¯t be a man ording to his reputation, I think it¡¯s better to think that the Grand Duchess is also like that.¡±] If all of this had been a conspiracy by Grand Duke Evron, the starting point would certainly have been his marriage to the Grand Duchess, Bernat said, [¡°He was careful at first, but it is better to say he¡¯s a good person. Rather than approaching it prematurely, and being an insurmountable authority figure.¡±] Natalia was very nervous about it. And now, Natalia was in a different kind of embarrassment than she had thought. Cedric said, ¡°Blue purple is good.¡± Cadriol replied, ¡°In this case, wouldn¡¯t it make sense to save the guest¡¯s face?¡± It was the story of the silk flower that would decorate Artizea¡¯s hair. Bernat, who was sitting next to the two men, said to Natalia, ¡°I¡¯ll do it with orange opal.¡± It had nothing to do with Natalia anyway. Because she wasn¡¯t a subject topete. Her husband was the only one who gave her jewelry. ¡°Blue purple.¡± ¡°Abandon the misconception that a cold color would look good with tinum blonde hair, Grand Duke Evron.¡± Cadriol scoffed at Cedric. Artizea¡¯splexion was filled with fatigue. Even so, her paleplexion grew even paler. Suddenly, she met Natalia¡¯s gaze. Natalia tried her best to smile at her. At that moment, a consensus was formed between the two. ¡®I really don¡¯t want to do the toilette.¡¯ There was no social activity called toilette in the Kingdom of Iantz. Natalia was not ashamed with her physical strength, but it was awkward for her toplete the dress up in front of others, so it was difficult for her to bear it. Artizea¡¯s position itself, centered on showing her appearance in front of others, was stressful. It was no exaggeration to say that the toilette is the essence among them. But the wives from both countries gathered. As the wives of the sessor, they were able to represent each country. Besides, she was a young woman, so the social circle had high expectations. Ahead of the wee banquet, she had to open the toilette room and stand next to each other. ¡®It¡¯s difficult by itself.¡¯ She had no idea that such an unexpected stress would arise. ¡°Blue purple.¡± Cedric spoke again. ¡°A yellow butterfly decoration.¡± Cadriol continued. Sophie looked at Artizea with an awkward look. Artizea saw the faces of other guests who were intrigued. The sessors of the three countries were sitting side by side, attracting people¡¯s attention. Of course, the wise Bernat didn¡¯t even care about what was going on next to him. Perhaps in his mind, he was gathering information and judging people. ¡®If you are doing this on purpose to make a frivolous impression, then you have aplished your purpose.¡¯ It was so obvious that no one thought it was suspicious. What made her sigh was Cedric sitting next to him and doing stupid things together. Up to that point, she didn¡¯t know what Cadriol was aiming for. ¡®I¡¯m just being used as a topic of discussion.¡¯ Artizeamented. Sophie offered apromise. ¡°I think the blue-purple flowers and yellow butterflies look great together.¡± Chapter 246 Sophie held a flower and a butterfly in each of her hands and held it to Artizea¡¯s head. Ripples ofughter spread among the guests. Someone said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to decorate with butterflies? The delicate workmanship suits her very well.¡± ¡°The dress is blue-violet¡­¡­. The silk flowers are the right set.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Who matches the same color from head to toe these days?¡± Cadriol said the word as if indifferent. It was a word for Cedric to watch and listen. ¡°Yes, who is doing that these days, Grand Duke?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric pursed his lips. ¡°Pft, ah.¡± Hazel couldn¡¯t contain herughter and made a sound, then covered her mouth and ran outside. She seemed to know that she had sinned. Even if it wasn¡¯t, Hayley¡¯s hard face convulsed. It was to hide her ridiculous expression. In fact, Cadriol was right. It was normal for the husband to step down when a guest rmended things during the toilette. Because the central nobles, who believed they were free and sophisticated, were ashamed of being monopolized by one¡¯s spouse. Also, it was not considered noble to show monopoly on one¡¯s spouse. The same was true of thetter, ironically, as did the Eastern nobles, whose wives tended to be subordinate to their husbands. They had to generously tolerate the extravagant social activities of women and boast widely of their wife. Cadriol¡¯s demeanor was, to say the least, frivolous, but Cedric was equally unwise. The toilette pleased the guests in a bad way. After leaving the toilette room, there would be much to be said about Grand Duke Evron and Prince Eimmel. ¡®Is it okay?¡¯ Natalia knew such a sign and looked at Artizea¡¯s expression with concern. And she realized that she was the one who could salvage this situation. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Natalia raised her voice without confidence. In fact, she didn¡¯t know much about jewelry. She just wore what the maid dressed her, remembering what was the most expensive thing in her jewelry box. But with the exception of Artizea, Natalia, who was the highest-rankingdy in this room, had a little more say than Cadriol. ¡°Grand Duchess Evron.¡± When Natalia spoke to her, all her guests became quiet. Cedric lowered his head and pressed his forehead. Cadriol looked at Natalia with a curious face. Bernat made a worried face. Natalia said, ¡°I have a hair ornament that seems to suit Your Grace¡­¡­, but not very valuable.¡± The maid froze slightly as she saw Natalia pull her jewelry box with her own hand. ¡°Natalia, this is¡­¡­.¡± It wasn¡¯t a properly polished gemstone. It was a decoration in which pieces of raw stones that could not be polished were collected and ced like flowers in a silver calyx. When the blue gem appeared in a bright ce, it shone softly. It looked like a bunch of geraniums or hydrangeas, and it looked like a lotus flower that just bloomed. It was very pretty. However, it can be a personal gift between friends, but it was not something the Crown Princess of Iantz would give to the future Empress. Natalia said, ¡°There is a mine in the area where my mother lives. It is a ce where jewels of the same color as the sea came¡­¡­, it is actually too expensive a gem for the local people.¡± She smiled awkwardly. ¡°I heard that when Mother left the area, my maternal grandmother collected the prettiest colors and handcrafted them.¡± Emily, who epted the trinkets, spoke words of praise. ¡°Oh my God, this is a Southwest Sea tourmaline. The color is really pretty.¡± Sophie put it on Artizea¡¯s head and said with a bright face. ¡°This is perfect.¡± Artizea looked in the mirror. As Sophie said, it matched much better than a blue-purple silk flower or a yellow butterfly. Emily said with a slightly excited look, ¡°Although not polished, such a fine color is notmon.¡± It wasn¡¯t expensive, but if there was a meaningful past, that was fine in its own way. Above all, it was beautiful. Isn¡¯t that the most important thing? Artizea said, ¡°Thank you. It seems very precious, can I take it¡­¡­.¡± Natalia blushed in embarrassment. ¡°It didn¡¯t suit me very well, so I just had it, but I thought it would suit the Grand Duchess.¡± Artizea looked at Natalia with a strange mood. She couldn¡¯t tell if Natalia¡¯s shyness was because she brought out decorations made of stone ornaments that were not worthy of jewelry, or because she told the story of a poor mother who could not have jewelry or because she confided in her secret feelings. Perhaps, she doesn¡¯t know what kind of ripple she is making now. Now that she is about to be crowned the Crown Princess, she knows what it means to wear the ornament, which was made in a marginalized area of ??the Iantz Kingdom on her head. The fact that the fight between Prince Eimmel and Grand Duke Evron was not made lightly by Crown Princess Iantz. Artizea looked through the mirror and saw Crown Prince Bernat¡¯s happy and perplexed expression with a cryptic face. Emily put the ornament on Artizea¡¯s head instead of Sophie. She then took a pure white pearl ne and finished it off with a touch of splendor itcked. As Natalia said, the color matched Artizea¡¯s hair very well. The dangling pearls graced her face. Finally, Emily held a fan made of peacock feathers to Artizea¡¯s hands. Artizea turned around and Cedric jumped up from his seat. Cadriol sighed. But instead of holding Cedric¡¯s hand, Artizea smiled and said, ¡°I think today is the wee banquet, so I¡¯d like to escort the guests.¡± At those words, this time Cadriol jumped to his feet. However, Artizea didn¡¯t mind the two men and walked towards Natalia. ¡°What do you think? Shall we go in together?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Natalia was startled. Artizea beckoned to bring one of the shawls on disy. Sophie ran quickly and brought an elongated decorative shawl made of red wolf fur. Artizea smiled and held it to Natalia with her hands. ¡°How about this? I also thought that this was a good fit for the Crown Princess.¡± Artizea asked not Natalia, but the guests. ¡°It suits her.¡± Cedric, who understood Artizea¡¯s meaning, answered. However, now Cedric¡¯s influence was zero. It was the same for Cadriol. Artizea stared at one of the guests. Thedy, who had been desperately trying to use Natalia, flinched when she caught Artizea¡¯s gaze. Isn¡¯t she just a princess from a small country who was taken hostage? There was no prey this easy. But if Artizeapared herself to her and gave her stuff like this, she couldn¡¯t. Besides, Artizea said as she looked at her, ¡°Lord Cedric caught it in the spring ofst year.¡± ¡°The Crown Princess¡¯ majesty is unusual, and the wolf fur suits her perfectly.¡± Thedy tried to say it sarcastically, but in the end she couldn¡¯t. In fact, the fur suited Natalia very well. Her powerful body was not overshadowed by the fact that she was wearing a ruffled dress and her voluminous hair was loose. Natalia looked hesitantly in the mirror. In the vicinity of the South Sea, fur was not used much. It was only used for decoration little by little. Natalia didn¡¯t know it would suit her so well. ¡°Thank you, Grand Duchess. But if it¡¯s the animal that the Grand Duke has ughtered for the Grand Duchess¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The Crown Princess gave me a precious jewel that your maternal grandmother made for your mother. Besides, it increases every year.¡± Artizea smiled that most of the fur on disy was Cedric¡¯s catch. ¡°I¡¯ve never worn this before.¡± Natalia also thanked Cedric. ¡°No. If you like it, I am honored.¡± Cedric lowered his head lightly. It was because he had already realized the meaning of the gift exchanged. Bernat stood up and he approached Natalia. But he never had a chance to hold Natalia¡¯s hand. Because Artizea took her hand. ¡°The Crown Princess will go with me. Lord Cedric, please escort the two men.¡± Artizea said. As the two nobledies took the lead side by side, women from among the guests in the toilette room surrounded them like halos. ¡°The Grand Duchess¡¯ headdress is really beautiful.¡± ¡°Wolf fur is really hard to match, and it¡¯s amazing that she dressed it so nicely.¡± ¡°They both exchanged something meaningful, so everyone would be envious.¡± Praise and wee poured in. The heirs to the thrones of the three countries remained far away and looked at them from behind. Cedric looked at Cadriol with a subtle expression. Cadriol said with a distasteful face, ¡°Why? Shall we hold hands too?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Bernat said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go, too. We can¡¯t keep thedies waiting too long.¡± Cadriol and Cedric trudged, turning away from each other. Bernat took the lead with a smile on his face. Natalia wouldn¡¯t have thought that far. However, it seemed to show off her acquaintance with the Grand Duchess. In a situation where the position of the Iantz Kingdom was very weak, she did a favor. Not only did it have political significance, it was sure to be of great help to the couple¡¯s life in the Empire. Furthermore, ¡®Natalia¡¯s trinkets and wolf fur are going to be fashionable, even for a brief moment. Did the Grand Duchess even think about that, so she gave Natalia fur?¡¯ The only ce where wolf fur was produced was Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion, as far as Bernat knew. If the two of them walk in holding hands side by side, that alone was effective advertisement. Artizea was showing her willingness to cooperate. If it was really intentional. Chapter 247 The wee banquet was held for envoys from other countries. Formally, it was just a simple ball. As the main guests were certain, there was no separate arrangement. Of course, it was held for the envoys of foreign countries who gathered ahead of the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony, so it could not be said that it was just a ball for entertainment. The Emperor was sittingfortably in the seat provided on the stair railing, looking at the people. He was nning to leave early. ¡°If an old man who can¡¯t dance is sitting there for a long time, the ball will only get boring.¡± ¡°Your Majesty is still very young.¡± Duke Farren of the Sewell Kingdom, who was standing next to the Emperor, said politely. The Emperor chuckled. ¡°What do you mean? Duke and I are old. It¡¯s meant for young people to y.¡± Having said that, the Emperor pointed to the side of the crowd. Grand Duchess Evron and Crown Princess Iantz stood side by side, greeting the people. Those around him, as the Emperor said, were mostly young men and women. On the other side was a crowd surrounding the young heirs of the three countries. Duke Farren saw it and was ovee with a strange feeling. He has been going to and from the Empire as an envoy for nearly several decades. He was also present at the Emperor¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. He himself felt he was getting older. In the meantime, the Sewell Kingdom changed the owner of the throne twice. Even so, he seemed to have unintentionally thought that Gregor would live forever. Even so, it was impossible to confide in the Emperor about his feelings. ¡°Young people are pretty to look at, but that¡¯s all. Can you be the owner of a seat just because you think the decorations are pretty?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have to dance to be the master of the ball? Duke, are you confident that you will be able to dance the Mazurka with the youngsters over there?¡± Duke Farren coughed. The Emperorughed. ¡°I can tell the band to y the dance slowly, but I don¡¯t want to be that pathetic.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like a quadrille.¡± ¡°Are there any prettydies left to hold hands on Duke¡¯s either side?¡± The Emperor said jokingly. ¡°Let¡¯s just have a few drinks like this and move.¡± Duke Farren had no reason to decline. The Emperor leisurely leaned against the railing, holding a ss of champagne. Cedric was on his way to get a drink and passed underneath. The Emperor looked down at him with interest. ¡°Cedric.¡± Cedric looked up as if startled by the sound of the call. The Emperor beckoned for him toe up. And said to Duke Farren. ¡°You¡¯re not close, are you? I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a lot of things to learn, though.¡± ¡°Yes. Thest time I came, Grand Duke Evron was in the West. Even before that, he did not stay long in the Imperial Pce.¡± ¡°I will introduce you. You will see each other often in the future. Duke has been my friend for a long time.¡± ¡°I am grateful.¡± Duke Farren expressed his gratitude. Cedric immediately approached the railing. The Guard opened the way. The Emperor boasted that he was old and retired, but in reality, Duke Farren was right. He was the master of the ball. There were few people around the Emperor because no one dared to approach him ording to their will. They were all keeping a close eye on him. No one did not know that Cedric was standing by the Emperor¡¯s side. The Emperor said calmly, ¡°This is Duke Farren of the Sewell Kingdom. I¡¯m sure you know the face, too?¡± ¡°I remember greeting each other about five years ago. Nice to see you, Duke Farren.¡± ¡°Please, Grand Duke Evron. You have already be a precious person, so you do not need to speak so respectfully to someone like me.¡± ¡°His Majesty considers you close, so I cannot afford to neglect you.¡± ¡°Yes. Duke is a person who knows manners, so there is nothing to worry about.¡± The Emperor added to Cedric¡¯s words. It meant that Duke Farren knew his ce and behaved well, even if he didn¡¯t press to make sure the rtionship between up-and-down is known. The Emperor nced at Cedric¡¯s ss. There was no way that the drink could be water, so it was a strong drink. ¡°Tia seems to like the Crown Princess of Iantz.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did anything happen in the toilette?¡± ¡°It was nothing special. Tia and Crown Princess Iantz each gave each other fur and headdress as gifts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what it is.¡± The Emperor looked at Natalia¡¯s wolf fur and said, ¡°It¡¯s wise.¡± The matter of the Iantz Kingdom had be a little troublesome for the Emperor. Being involved in the conspiracy of Grand Duke Roygar, they could not be allowed to absolve without paying anything. But he really had no intention of crushing the Iantz Kingdom. With much effort, there is a possibility of solving the problem of piracy in the South Sea. If there was an opportunity to resolve it through diplomacy, of course, he had to do his best. It was for this reason that the charges of treason of Grand Duke Roygar were limited to the Empress iming. However, it was not possible to let the Iantz Kingdom or the Eimmel Kingdom take the initiative there. It would be nice if he could crush both countries at once, but he can¡¯t afford that. So bnce is always important. Now that they are whipped, it¡¯s time to give the carrots. Considering that aspect, Artizea¡¯s actions were appropriate. This diluted the fact that the Crown Prince couple of Iantz had been taken hostage. The rtionship between the two Crown Princesses will be emphasized. It also had the effect of reducing the attention on the Eimmel Kingdom by focusing the attention on the Iantz Kingdom at the ball. This will affect not only the Empire internally, but also the diplomacy between the small southern countries, which must keep pace in the South Sea issue. ¡®If it was Tia, she would have thought of that.¡¯ What did Cedric think? The Emperor looked at Cedric with wrinkled eyes. Cedric was talking to Duke Farren, holding the ss to his lips from time to time. Cedric¡¯s gaze was towards the middle of the ballroom. The dance was changed to a waltz. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and dance?¡± ¡°I want to go to the third song.¡± ¡°Why the third?¡± Duke Farren asked curiously. ¡°Before that, if I go, I think I would be kicked out because I had to do something important.¡± Cedric said without hesitation. Duke Farren misunderstood the subject andughed. ¡°Well, there is nothing more important than protecting His Majesty.¡± It was far more important to show him standing close to the Emperor than to go out and enjoy his new power surrounded by people. Even more so, considering his past. Even if he reconciles with the Emperor and shows a good rtionship, there will be doubts. Those who want the Empire to be at peace and those who want chaos. ¡®For now, it looks fine.¡¯ Duke Farren decided so. *** In fact, Cadriol was conscious of it while dancing the waltz. ¡°Did you do it?¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea asked. ¡°Grand Duke Evron standing next to the Emperor with his old friend.¡± ¡°It is a natural thing because it is the most important position. Your Majesty Cadriol, is it okay for you to dance like this?¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t do this, there will be no chance to talk secretly, will there?¡± That was right. Externally, the two were almost strangers to each other. After Cadriol came to the Capital this time, they had only met once at the Emperor¡¯s dinner. It was a fatal blow to both of them for the secret to be known. She had to hide the fact that she had a chance to meet him. ¡°Is there anything left to talk about? Do you think it would be better to not have anything to do with me anymore?¡± ¡°You should thank me.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± Artizea looked at him with a strange face. ¡°Even if I had thoroughly pretended to know you for the first time, would Grand Duke Evron be able to properly manage his facial expressions?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And now, whether I ask for a dance or an audience, or send a secret letter in a bouquet, no one will be suspicious.¡± ¡°That is true, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It also provided a topic of discussion that could bury all noise until the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony.¡± Unfortunately, Artizea had to admit that. If it wasn¡¯t for Cedric, she didn¡¯t have to say anything that would otherwise have caused a rift in the rtionship. If she was a member of the imperial family, she had to endure the rising and falling of other people¡¯s lips. It is also essential to control the mind from such rumors. It was no different from the rumors of a love marriage with Cedric. Artizea sighed and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± In the past, there would not have been such a sigh. Because it was purely a strategy. Even Cedric was acting too childish that she had nothing to say. ¡°Well, thinking about it, it¡¯s not something that deserves to be greeted. I am not lying.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ So, what do you want to talk about? I am tired right now.¡± Artizea said, paying attention to her toes. Cadriol said, ¡°If I said none, would you be angry?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there must be one, right? Because you are a pragmatist.¡± ¡°When I go to the North, there is someone I use as a guide.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He is a person who quit after working under a leather dealer in the Capital for nearly 10 years¡­¡­. Some of his oldrades are rumouring. There must have been some who said they saw Karam in the stronghold.¡± Artizea strained his body. She tends to be unable to move her head and body together. So her feet stopped. Cadriol lifted her up. The hem of her skirt was spread out. The song is over. Cadriol put her down. Artizea looked at him. And shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t know more than that.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea put her hand on her chest and bowed her head politely in thanks. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. If something wronges up while digging up rumors, I¡¯m in trouble, too.¡± Cadriol bowed his head likewise to thank her. He led Artizea to the edge of the hall. Cedric sneaked in and took Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°Grand Duke Evron, please be polite.¡± ¡°There is no way to dance with the same person for two songs in a row.¡± Cedric said. When the two men met face to face, interested gazes were focused at once. Artizea let out a sigh of relief. And after squeezing the hem of her skirt with her two hands, she said, ¡°I am a little tired.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°How about a walk instead?¡± Cedric¡¯s face brightened. Cadriol chuckled and clicked his tongue. Artizea bowed her head slightly to him and headed out. Chapter 248 Artizea hoped that somehow it would be quiet until the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. Cedric¡¯s status was not firmly established even if he had a rtionship with the Emperor or entered the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. It simply meant that Cedric had be the Emperor¡¯s son. It is said that there is nothing private about the affairs of the Imperial Family, but it was a rtively private matter, and it was a matter that could be reversed by the Emperor¡¯s personal decision. But the position of the Crown Prince was different. The Crown Prince was officially dered to be able to take the ce of the Emperor. At the Coronation Ceremony, he writes down his name to the god and announces it to all the people. The position of the Crown Prince was also sealed, and it could not be dethroned without a just cause, just as the Emperor could not arbitrarily deprive the titles of other nobles. So, they just have to sessfully hold the Coronation Ceremony. Then, there was no problem even if something happened. Honey water will always overflow from the ss. Even if the objective of inheriting the government from the Emperor without chaos was not achieved, he would be able to ascend to the throne with legitimacy as the next Emperor. ¡®Until then, nothing will happen.¡¯ Artizea lowered her head and looked at the teacup. On the day of the wee ball, she just smiled and passed the day, but the information Cadriol gave was unusual. ¡®Who is it?¡¯ Artizea wrote several names on the white tablecloth in her heart. To attack Cedric, it should be right before the Coronation Ceremony. But realistically, there was no reason to gamble with uncertainty when there was only one heir left. Now, the struggle for power had to take ce over the position of the Empress, not Cedric. ¡®If someone tries to block the Coronation Ceremony with that fact in mind, it means that the purpose is to bring down Lord Cedric.¡¯ The only reason she could think of was hatred. As long as Leticia is present, religious reasons are less likely. ¡®Brother Lawrence? Or, the opposition of the temple? Was there any coteral lineage of the Imperial Family that I did not know?¡¯ Or revenge. If not, there could be someone who is purely trying to cause confusion. ¡®Has the East already begun to seek independence? Count Brennan is moving in a different way than before.¡¯ At the time Lawrence was made Emperor, Count Brennan was in a cooperative rtionship with Artizea. But now it was different. Count Brennan is a spy nted by the Emperor, but in the end she moves for her own benefit. The Eastern Nobility is now dividing. One of them could have plotted something like this. Artizea erased the enemy names one by one in her mind. She certainly had few usible ones. However, if she lowers her standards, there are not many people who can do it on the contrary. It was then. Someone knocked on the door. ¡°It¡¯s Freil, Your Grace.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Artizea erased the name all at once and lifted her head. As Freil entered, the door closed. And he nced around the spacious living room. Outside the window, two Evron knights stood guard. Probably the same for the room on the other sides. Artizea was sitting in the middle of the living room. Freil walked closer to her, beckoning her and sat down in the seat. ¡°It seems that there are people who seek information in the stronghold.¡± ¡°Yes. It has gotten worse since you entered the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. When we started epting multiple alliancesst year, it became impossible to track the actions of outsiders.¡± Artizea let out a low sigh. After leaving Mel to run it, Evron¡¯s stronghold became more open. It was partly because of the change in Cedric¡¯s reign, and partly because of a generational change. That in itself was a good trend. However, information leakage was inevitable. ¡°There used to be a leather dealer that traded exclusively.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Those who came from his side are digging for Karam because of rumors that they have seen Karam in the stronghold.¡± Freil¡¯s face hardened. ¡°I don¡¯t think Dame Mel would have handled it so poorly. They say it¡¯s harder to manage than before, but it¡¯s not that she can¡¯t tell the outsider apart.¡± ¡°Still, if they¡¯ve known each other for a long time, they might not have been particrly vignt. Rumors may spread by soldiers telling rtives what they saw.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Freil nodded his head. And he said his opinion, ¡°The leather merchant was Marquis Luden¡¯s vassal. If anyone is looking for information, it must be an Eastern noble.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s rather a relief. They will wait until Lord Cedric ascends the throne.¡± Then they will try to be independent, saying that they cannot serve the monarch who hasmunicated with Karam. ¡°The problem is when you try to dig out the issue and other thingse up. Because there is something going on with the Jordyn family.¡± ¡°I see what you mean.¡± ¡°Anyway, nothing should happen until the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony.¡± ¡°Yes. We will also track down the leather merchant separately.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Freil lowered his head with a nervous expression on his face. Artizea motioned for him to step down. Freil retreated. Artizea thought a little more, fiddling with her bracelet. If the background is an Eastern noble, she has plenty of time. But for Lawrence, the situation was quite difficult. ¡®Especially if the Eastern noble and Brother Lawrence got together.¡¯ The Emperor was disappointed with Lawrence. But if he seeds in conspiring enough to cancel the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony and overthrow Cedric¡­¡­. ¡®With great joy His Majesty must want to hand over everything, even if it slightly harms his power and honor.¡¯ Just like it was in the past. That¡¯s why the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony is more important. Cedric always believed that she would find the best way. But Artizea herself didn¡¯t feel that way. So far, she has given up on safe and efficient methods and has chosen the precarious path. Risk factors piled up to the point of copse. ¡®In the end, you have to pay the price.¡¯ If she wouldn¡¯t hide it by covering it with someone else¡¯s body, she had no choice but to seal it with her own blood. Artizea rested her hand gently on the table. and pulled the rope. Hayley, who must have been in the room next to her, soon came with a handful of letters. ¡°Did you call, Your Grace?¡± ¡°What about Hazel, are you organizing the letters?¡± ¡°There are too many letters. I wanted to see letters from foreign ambassadors, important people, and people rted to the East.¡± Hayley¡¯s eyes lit up. She alwaysins that it¡¯s too much work and that it¡¯s hard, but honestly, for the most part, she was self-sufficient. ¡°If it¡¯s not an invitation, it would be a meaningless letter.¡± ¡°It has be fashionable. I have already received over a hundred letters of admiration from yesterday.¡± ¡°Leave it to Hazel.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried about the information leaking to Belmond, I don¡¯t mind. Because it doesn¡¯t matter at all.¡± ¡°If you say so, I¡¯ll be relieved¡­¡­.¡± Hayley set aside the bundle of thick letters. ¡°I wondered if there was a letter or something mixed with them. Some are from His Highness Prince Eimmel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a smoke screen anyway, so you can burn it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley tried to exin the other letters, but Artizea put it off so she could talkter. And she said, ¡°Write a letter, and go and invite Her Highness Natalia yourself.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll also prepare some presents. When is the time¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Go now. Her Highness Natalia probably doesn¡¯t have any important ns yet. It would be nice if she coulde early. If the Crown Princess wants toe with you, that¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As she answered, Hayley had a slightly questionable face. Artizea asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t think it¡¯s rude, Your Grace. Do you intend to have Crown Princess Natalia as a guest at the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I am against it.¡± Hayley said. ¡°If you invite only one Crown Princess, it will make sense, but if you invite the Crown Prince as well, even the Grand Duke will be denigrated for being too close to the Iantz Kingdom.¡± Even if Crown Prince Iantz wasn¡¯t directly involved in the treason of Grand Duke Roygar, it was even worse since he was responsible for the matter. But Artizea said, ¡°Because that¡¯s less important than Leticia¡¯s safety.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± Hayley was silent. Artizea waited for Hayley to interpret her words. Hayley took a deep breath. ¡°Do you think there will ever be anything that will make you need a witness?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ The Coronation Ceremony is imminent. No matter what happens, it¡¯s not strange.¡± ¡°Until now, you said that it should be quiet without any disturbance, because of the Coronation Ceremony. Did something happen?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say that.¡± Artizea took a low breath. She trusted Hayley quite a bit. But that trust was not yet enough to reveal everything. Hayley knows how to judge herself. And she could have stopped Artizea through Cedric. While Artizea was silent, Hayley seemed to havepleted her own interpretation. ¡°I am against it.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t said anything yet, Hayley.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you thinking that Your Grace, yourself, will be a bait and smash the hostile forces hidden within the Grand Duchy Evron and within the Imperial Pce? If you need a witness.¡± Artizea smiled bitterly at her. It wasn¡¯t wrong. She was aiming for it, and she was slowly spilling her tracks through Alice¡¯s side. But at least this wasn¡¯t the purpose. If the spies are aware of the Karam problem in Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion, the target is Cedric, not herself. ¡°I want to put an extrayer of safety for Leticia.¡± Artizea could speak honestly. ¡°If I am attacked while Her Highness Natalia is in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, it will turn into a diplomatic matter, so it won¡¯t be anything rash.¡± First of all, the Emperor would not stand still. Hayley asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell the Grand Duke about this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about taking guests to the Imperial Pce. Of course.¡± Hayley smiled reassuringly at the answer. And she said she¡¯ll write a letter and find a suitable gift. Artizea nodded her head. She will only tell Cedric the purpose of inviting Natalia. Now was too important a time to tell the story of Lawrence, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Cedric was focused only on the Coronation Ceremony, and there was not enough time to do estate work. It was enough for her to talk after some specific information that came out. ¡®I have to send Sir Alphonse west.¡¯ Artizea decided only that. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Proofreader: somnium Natalia epted the invitation the next day and came by herself. She was well aware that she wasn¡¯t very good at rtionships. It was even more so in politics. Natalia had guessed that Artizea wasn¡¯t calling her purely for friendship. Bernat even said this, [¡°Reply that you will free up time as much as you can for the sake of the Grand Duchess. And without seeing anyone today, go tomorrow.¡±] [¡°Then why don¡¯t I go today? Because Her Grace told me to visit today or whenever I have time. Aside from apanying Your Highness, my business is only for unimportant things.¡± [¡°It¡¯s okay to go there as if you¡¯ve been waiting, but there¡¯s no need to first meet someone else and give the impression that you¡¯ve postponed the Grand Duchess.¡±] [¡°If it¡¯s going to be a political issue that¡¯s important enough to care about, Your Highness,e with me.¡±] Bernat shook his head. [¡°That is not very wise either. If I go, it will be a ce of diplomatic significance rather than superficial friendship.¡±] [¡°Really?¡±] [¡°You may be asked to make a political decision on the spot. Before we can confront the Grand Duchess, we need to gather more information about her.¡±] [¡°If Grand Duchess Evron is an opponent to be so careful with, I might get caught up in it. What are you going to do if I identally make a decision that I shouldn¡¯t do?¡±] At Natalia¡¯s words, Bernat smiled and stroked her cheek. [¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡±] [¡°It doesn¡¯t work out as you please¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°The only reason was to have tea time for the sake of socializing anyway? Talk about gifts exchanged on the day of the wee ball, or stories of travel.¡±] [¡°Well¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°If she urges you to make a decision on something important, push it on me. Can you do that?¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] Natalia was relieved. She was not really talented in having a political conversation, considering various proposals or situations and taking into ount the subtle nuances and expressions of her words and actions. So, it would have been nice if she could put it all off to Bernat ande here to drink tea and chat leisurely. Natalia liked Artizea. She was a picturesquedy who was idealized in the Kingdom of Iantz because of her soft but upright figure and thin but graceful frame. ¡®I hope to see you again as a good person.¡¯ Natalia thought. * * * The Prince¡¯s Pce was quieter than Natalia thought. By this time, she thought it would be overcrowded with people who want to make an impression with gifts. Most of them were really stopped in front of the main gate. Natalia¡¯s carriage passed up to the garden. Hayley and Mielle were out to meet her. ¡°Wee, Crown Princess Natalia.¡± ¡°Thank you for the hospitality.¡± Natalia got off the carriage and greeted them. Natalia¡¯sdy-in-waiting handed Mielle a small, beautifully wrapped box. It was a gift. Hayley and Mielle led Natalia to a terrace facing the open garden. Arge awning made of silk allowed sunlight to pass through. The birch terrace was dyed with the five colors of light created by the awning. Artizea, who was sitting at the white table, stood up. ¡°Wee, Your Highness Natalia. It was a sudden invitation, but thank you foring.¡± ¡°Thank you for inviting me. Star of the Empire.¡± ¡°The Star of the Empire is not me, but my daughter.¡± Artizea spoke and nced at her side slightly. Leticia opened her eyes and looked at Natalia as she was held by Marcus. Natalia bent her body towards Leticia. And she smiled brightly. ¡°Hello, Princess.¡± It was an overly rude attitude. But she was cute, so it didn¡¯t look bad. Leticia waved her arm toward Natalia. The stranger looked interesting. Natalia held out her index finger. Leticia grabbed her finger and shook it wildly. ¡°Are you shaking hands? Shake hands.¡± Leticia smiled again as Natalia waved her finger. ¡°She¡¯s a smiley baby.¡± Natalia said as her smile stayed on her face. ¡°I wanted to show her your face, so I brought her with me. I hope it wasn¡¯t rude.¡± ¡°I am well aware that allowing the Princess to meet is a sign of unparalleled favor.¡± It was also a sign of trust. Natalia was well aware of how anxious it was to have a young baby meet with an outsider. It would be much more for a baby in a position like Leticia. Leticia, unaware of theplexities of those around her, smiled innocently and pulled Marcus¡¯ hair back. Artizea suggested a seat. ¡°Please sit.¡± Refreshments came out soon. The maids lined the table with tes of sweets and cakes. Hayley brewed tea. A teacup of hot water was ced in front of Natalia. Leticia screamed at her and swung her arms wildly. ¡°An! Ackk! Nackk!¡± ¡°No, baby.¡± Marcus hugged Leticia. Natalia asked, ¡°Do you want some snacks?¡± ¡°Yes. She likes to eat. She¡¯s probably going to say snacks before mom or dad.¡± Nataliaughed at that answer. ¡°Ours¡¯ first words were veryte, and the first thing they said was hungry.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Your Grace.¡± Marcus spoke softly while stopping Leticia. ¡°She seems bored, so I¡¯ll go for a walk in the garden.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Leticia groaned as she moved away from the refreshment table. She was ready to weep. Half of the escort knights followed him. Seeing Natalia¡¯s concerned face, Artizea gave a bitter smile. ¡°It will be fine soon. She likes to y outside.¡± ¡°You need to trim the garden a lot. It¡¯s only good for adults now.¡± It was a quiet and beautiful garden, but the bushes were too deep for a baby to y. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a pce that hasn¡¯t been used for a long time, so I¡¯m cleaning it up little by little from the outside. We would have to cut down a lot of trees.¡± ¡°I wish you could leave that tree behind and then put a swing on it when the pPrincess walkster.¡± Natalia pointed to arge tree nearby. And with a feeling of nostalgia for a moment, she recalled the Royal Pce of Iantz. She hasn¡¯t been away for less than two months, and already misses her children. With a smile on her face, she nced at the garden. Artizea quietly looked into her gaze. Hayley pours hot water from the teacup and pours the red tea. Mielle unpacked the box Natalia had brought in front of Artizea. Inside was a small pottery the size of a fist. When the lid was opened, a sweet scent spreads. There was a soft yellow liquid inside. Mielle said, savoring the scent. ¡°I think it has a very good ambergris scent.¡± ¡°You know well, Lady Keshore.¡± ¡°I think it smells a bit like the sea. But is this perfume?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know if it can be used as a perfume or not.¡± Natalia answered honestly. ¡°They said you could use it like this.¡± She took the pottery on the table and lightly touched the underside of the lid. Then a small hole was opened in the lid. ¡°If you put it in a living room or something like that, it has a very pleasant scent.¡± ¡°Once again, the items of the Kingdom of Iantz will be very popr.¡± Artizea said with a smile. On the outside of the pottery, borate and beautiful patterns were drawn with lyre and blue flowers. The image ovepped with silk embroidery, the new work of the Kingdom of Iantz. It symbolizes wealth. Besides, spices were very expensive. Ambergris was more expensive than gold of the same weight even as a raw material. There was no better way to show off their wealth than to put it in such beautiful pottery and put it in the living room to let the fragrance linger. cing it in the parlor of the Imperial Pce, where all the attention of the Empire is now concentrated, would have a very good publicity effect. ¡®Prince Bernat is wise.¡¯ When considering the distance and national power, the Kingdom of Iantz was not something to be wary of. If it was the Eimmel Kingdom, once national power had been sufficiently umted, they would look elsewhere to expand their territory. It goes without saying that Cadriol was militant. But it wasn¡¯t the Kingdom of Iantz. She was well aware that it was far more likely for them to umte capital and undermine culture than to wage war. Bernat was also cautious andpetent. It was not bad for such a person to be the King of an important neighboring country like the Kingdom of Iantz. It was no longer a problem that he wanted to support Grand Duke Roygar. Rather, it was better that way. She can lead the rtionship while this side has the upper hand. A bird chirping was heard somewhere. A fragrant light scent mixed with the gentle breeze. The scent of the pottery ced on the table mixed with it and softly colored the air. Natalia said, ¡°I wanted to say thank you.¡± ¡°Thank you?¡± Artizea tilted her head. ¡°You epted my mother¡¯s headdress. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to greet you properly that day.¡± Natalia said awkwardly. ¡°In my own way, I was just trying to get the Grand Duchess toe out of trouble, but I got more help.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Like you said, it suited my hair perfectly.¡± Artizea answered calmly. It was because the ornaments themselves were not very important. The important thing was to show off their friendship in order to bnce the Kingdom of Iantz and the Eimmel Kingdom. But Natalia shook her head. ¡°The invitations and letters are already piling up. In the Iantz merchants, which has a branch here, they asked for permission to make products like those ornaments.¡± Even if the Kingdom of Iantz was wealthy, not all ces were like that. Natalia¡¯s hometown was a poor ce. At one time, high-quality gems were produced, but now the mineral veins were being depleted. As the output dwindled, the money dried up in the vige. However, there is a possibility that a new industry will be created there. This will lead to revival. In addition, the fashion of the Imperial Capital¡¯s social circle spreads downwards and in all directions. Gem pebbles aren¡¯t that expensive. It meant that there was a possibility of making ornaments that could even be sold tomon people. Chapter 250 Natalia said, ¡°His Highness Bernat said that this ornament would be made for at least twenty years.¡± ¡°In the Kingdom of Iantz, once you discover one material, you have the ability to continue to lead new trends using the same material.¡± Artizea answered. ¡°That is the power of the Iantz. You don¡¯t have to thank me. It was just a good thing for each other.¡± Then Nataliaughed. ¡°His Highness Bernat said the same thing. The Grand Duchess probably thought it was in exchange for the promotion of wolf fur.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even so, I want to thank you. Even on behalf of the people of my hometown.¡± Artizea stroked the teacup without answering. She felt ufortable. It was not difficult for her to use Natalia. She was a strong person to the strong and sympathetic to the weak. Artizea¡¯s past was easy to win over her sympathy. The baby¡¯s presence will be able to buy sympathy. She was actually going to do that and that was why she had brought Leticia along. If she¡¯s reluctant in tricks, she¡¯ll be honest with her on the deal. If Bernat was the opponent, Artizea would have used both without much hesitation. The political world of the Kingdom of Iantz was as dirty and dark as the Empire, and the upper authorities systematically exercised enormous power. Bernat walked the tightrope in the midst of it, on behalf of the dull king and practically leading the state affairs. Artizea liked such a person. In fact, he was easier to deal with than anyone else. She didn¡¯t have to say much. The contract will be upheld as long as the mutual interests are met. There was no burden of deceit and betrayal. Because the one who was deceived was simply more foolish. But Natalia was different. She didn¡¯t even know that maybe this was the only change in her mindset from before she returned. She didn¡¯t feelfortable using such a person. Because she now knows that there are people with whom you can be honest and ask for help. Artizea lowered her eyes and picked up the teacup. Natalia nced at her slightly. To be honest, she had been so tempted by tea biscuits before, and it was embarrassing to eat alone. But Artizea didn¡¯t even think of lifting a fork. ¡®It should be fine. We¡¯re here to eat.¡¯ Natalia raised her fork. The flower-shaped sugar cookies were so beautiful that it was a pity to split them. Natalia carefully pulled off one of the green leaves with a fork. No matter how delicious it was prepared, she couldn¡¯t eat it all. Except in front of her family or close friends, it wasmon to eat food only as a courtesy. Moreover, she can¡¯t finish the refreshments by herself when she¡¯s invited to the Prince¡¯s Pce. She was going to save it. The sugar cookies were harder than expected and not sweet. It gently brushed the inside of her mouth like a feather and melted away. Natalia took a sip of the tea to calm her mind. It was happiness itself when the sweet and fragrant taste of sugar cookies left in her mouth blended with the tea. Natalia¡¯s eyes and lips were dazzled. She thought that the chefs of the Royal Pce of Iantz had great skills, but the chef of the Prince¡¯s Pce seemed to be more skilled. Natalia reached out with her hands this time to the lemon madeleine. Artizea tried to get her words out, but she stopped. It was because a small but certain happiness remained on Natalia¡¯s face. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Natalia made an embarrassed face. ¡°The chef is so good.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d you like it. I called for someone to retire from Evron¡¯s stronghold, and he was worried as he wasn¡¯t sure if he could do well when he didn¡¯t know the Capital¡¯s trends. He will greet youter, so pleasepliment him.¡± ¡°I think I should give thanks, not just apliment.¡± As Natalia said so, she cut the madeleine in half. The soft and fluffy madeleine was smooth. Artizea also lifted her fork. She didn¡¯t really want to eat, but she didn¡¯t want to break the mood because Natalia ate so well. The teapot was emptied while they were speaking about diplomatic envoys, who had arrived in the Capital, about the ceremony andmerce. Natalia was a bit sad, but she couldn¡¯t help but put her fork down. It felt very good. Artizea fiddled with the handle of the teacup. And she eventually decided to be honest with her. ¡°Actually, I have something to ask of you.¡± Natalia tilted her head. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you?¡± Artizea waved her hand. The employees who were nearby to attend came out like a low tide. The escorts took more than fifteen steps back and widened the distance. Hayley persuaded the surprised Natalia¡¯sdy-in-waiting to step back. It was possible because Natalia is someone that does not need an escort. Natalia tilted her head. Artizea said, ¡°Could you please stay at the Prince¡¯s Pce until the Coronation Ceremony?¡± No, this was not an urate expression either. Artizea thought that the way she spoke was wrong. ¡°Why did you ask me such a request?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand. It was no easy task to bring people into the Prince¡¯s Pce, and especially foreigners. After all, she was a princess. If she stays in the Prince¡¯s Pce with Bernat or alone, it will be a political controversy as it is. Artizea spoke slowly, as if hesitating. ¡°Because Natalia¡­¡­, because you are one of the best knights in the Kingdom of Iantz.¡± ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± Natalia couldn¡¯t hide her embarrassment and asked so. It is true that she was a knight before her marriage. She also had confidence in her skills. However, her skills have never been rumored. It was because Bernat recognized her first, and she immediately quit the Knights Order. So, even if they did a background check, they would at most be able to know only about a woman who went to the Capital from a remote area and joined the Knights Order rather than the general army and became a topic of discussion of officials. Natalia bit her lips tightly. She didn¡¯t think much of it, and she thought about making friends. But if Artizea knew who she was, the problems were different. Artizea said, ¡°There was no hole in Crown Prince Bernat¡¯s counter-intelligence. If you think I came across it by chance, it¡¯s almost certain.¡± She couldn¡¯t be honest, so Artizea said that it was just a coincidence. Natalia grabbed the fork. ¡°Don¡¯t be so wary. If I wanted to attack Prince Bernat, there would be no need to use force at all. There is no need to try to separate Your Highness Natalia.¡± ¡°What is the purpose?¡± ¡°As I said, I am asking you. I want you to stay in the Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± Artizea said in a subdued voice. ¡°So that¡¯s why I¡¯m asking the purpose.¡± ¡°Your Highness Natalia will not be the only one to watch over the baby. Even if that baby is entangled in all sorts of political interests.¡± Natalia wrinkled her nose and looked at Artizea. Aplex shadow was cast over Artizea¡¯s face. Natalia said, ¡°I know that Evron has many great knights and loyal vassals.¡± ¡°Yes. But the limits are clear. The number of Knights of Evron in the Capital was limited byw. So anyone can guess the power.¡± Even if it was increased by an expedient method, it could not be inted in a short time. Another problem was that the organization was simple and the members were homogeneous. There were people like Hayley and Freil before, and it was changing rapidly as a generational change took ce. But it was still a long way off. Artizea did not doubt Evron, but was well aware of its limitations. Now, Evron alone could not defend the entire Imperial Pce. So, she thought it was too early when the Emperor told her to enter the Prince¡¯s Pce. ¡°If there is a raider, I will fully consider Evron¡¯s strength. But if I have Your Highness Natalia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a power that no one thought of.¡± Natalia muttered. Because of that, Bernat also had her skills hidden, married her and put her by his side under the name of wife. Besides that, Natalia was the Crown Princess of a foreign country. Attacking her could be a diplomatic matter. Conversely, her defense could be a humane reason to protect the baby. She was also valid as a witness. Even if Evron testifies on her behalf, it will be ignored. But Natalia¡¯s words could not be ignored. Artizea lifted her gaze, then she met Natalia¡¯s eyes. Natalia was looking at her with straight eyes. Artizea eventually lowered her eyes again. It was then. A knight ran in with harsh footsteps. An escort knight caught him on the way, but he did not mind and shouted at Artizea. ¡°Your Grace! Please go to the audience room now!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Artizea pulled the hem of her skirt and stood up. The knight said with a reddened face. ¡°Count Eison has used Grand Duke Evron of treason and heresy!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What was the basis?¡± ¡°An internalmunication with Karam!¡± Artizea sighed. It was a sigh of relief. Natalia looked at her, half standing up with a frown. ¡°If you could do me a little favor, would you please stay until Ie back?¡± ¡°But¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Let me write a letter to His Highness Crown Prince Bernat. I think the Crown Prince will understand everything I mean.¡± Artizea¡¯s voice was cold and unfeeling, unlike before. Natalia nodded her head. Shemanded the escort knights to tighten the guards of the Prince¡¯s Pce. Hayley jumped out and followed her. Artizea spoke softly to Hayley. ¡°Did you hear the story? Go to the temple yourself. It¡¯s fine for you to summon all the bishops, and you have to bring the Archbishop as well.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Hayley answered and walked away. Artizea headed to the audience room. Chapter 251 Nichs, Count Eison, was not alone. Three nobles stood behind him. There were more people who shared the will. If this usation does not work, there will be a second usation. A third usation was then prepared. [¡°If you win just one time, you win. There¡¯s nothing to fear, Nick.¡±] The one who sent him said so. Count Eison also agreed with that statement, so he has gathered like-minded people. Still, his body trembled with fear. Count Eison was a typical small man who could only shout out to the lowly and powerless. The Eison had tradition, honor, and wealth. His great-great-grandfather was one of the public servants who supported the former Emperor when he ascended to the throne. However, he withdrew from politics early and lived the rest of his life in enjoyment. And he left teaching for his descendants. [¡°Power is gambling at the risk of life. Glory seems to be waiting for you, but in the end you will lose all your stake. I have already left behind riches and wealth, so you don¡¯t have to bother with gambling.¡±] His children were not particrly fond of the will. But fortunately, there were no ambitious descendants until Earl Eison. Count Eison found his pleasure without taking any dangerous paths. The present system also rmended such a trend. If they praised the Emperor¡¯s authority, paid taxes and enjoyed the game, the Emperor rewarded them with appropriate silver coins. As long as the joke doesn¡¯t make the country noisy. Many of the nobles gathered around Mira were such people. He thought that such a life wouldst forever, so he never ventured into politics at the risk of the fate of his family. To borrow the words of Count Eison¡¯s ancestors, he gambled with money, not with his life. Count Eison became friendly with Lawrence, but did not actively assist him when he was ousted. He did not even actively support Grand Duke Roygar. In his view, Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s faction was a foolish group of greedy and over-enthusiastic people. When Cedric was to be crowned Crown Prince, he was grumpy. Cedric wasn¡¯t friendly with any of them, and he hated the entertainment they enjoyed. But Count Eison didn¡¯t even think that the old peace would be broken. They were nobles. Even if they stepped back from politics, they were the ruling ss that supported the monarch and consolidated the status system and power structure. No matter how important the Emperor may have hiredmoners, the imperial system of rule is hereditary by lineage. At its peak is the Imperial Pce. Therefore, denying the nobility was no different from denying the Imperial Family. He thought so. Until he heard this. [¡°Why do I think so? He has plenty of powers that can rece nobles.¡±] [¡°What are you talking about? Because of this, the Eastern nobles lost their titles, so without our cooperation¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Northern people.¡±] It meant the ce of origin, but also the lineage. [¡°Cedric forgot his grudge? I would say so now. He will try to win the favor of His Majesty and ascend to the throne. But does he feel the need to be so patient even when he has reached a peak where he doesn¡¯t have to pay attention to anyone?¡±] To Count Eison, those words felt far more real and logical than saying that there are people who struggle to endure and forgive a grudge. Still, he talked about the positives as far as he knew. [¡°But didn¡¯t Grand Duke Evron marry your younger sister and start a new family?¡±] [¡°Now that he has a new family, will he be relieved and seek stability?¡±] Lawrence stifled augh. [¡°Nick, believe me. My younger sister is the best person in the world to incite and exploit others¡¯ resentment.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­ your younger sister?¡±] [¡°What about those who raised Cedric? Wouldn¡¯t they have brought any resentment against the death of his parents? As Cedric bes Crown Prince, will he just cut off the northerners?¡±] Lawrence smiled softly. A tongue peeking through the soft cherry lips moved like that of a snake. That can¡¯t be true. Count Eison moved his lips nervously. [¡°Only half of his blood is from the North, but his heart is entirely North. He¡¯s been living for the North so far, but if he was crowned with the Emperor¡¯s crown, do you think he¡¯ll suddenly be your monarch?¡±] Perhaps, he¡¯ll wipe you out and put the Northerners in your ce. Lawrence whispered. The point was also to awaken something the nobles of the Capital were deeply afraid of. The North will retaliate as much as they have been persecuted so far. Northern nobles alone would not be enough, butbining the knights and the semi-noble sses was enough to change the ruling ss. If the North came to rule the Empire, they would be annihted. It¡¯s not just the North. Count Eison recalled that Cedric was also supported by the warlords of the West. [¡°Shouldn¡¯t you attack first before being isted?¡±] At Lawrence¡¯s words, Count Eison finally nodded his head. Of course, even if there was a need, Count Eison would never have done this if there was no chance of winning. But digging as Lawrence had told him, he literally found conclusive evidence. ¡°This person is ready to confess¡± Count Eison spoke fiercely and pointed to the Witness. He didn¡¯t have hair, and his face, covered with scabs, swelled, making it difficult to recognize his figure. He could not even stand fully, and had to be held up by two men from both sides. ¡°Who is he?¡± The Emperor frowned and asked. ¡°It¡¯s a Karam captured from Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s stronghold.¡± Saying so, Count Eison approached him with his own hands and took off the hood that was on his head. His third eye was revealed. ¡°Gasp!¡± ¡°Oh my God!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a monster!¡± Screams erupted from all sides. Count Eison said with a t attitude. ¡°It is said that even those who are more terrifying than this will meet the Grand Duke in person.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Emperor vomited a sigh. ¡°I brought this one because it is the only one that can speak, but there are even more terrifying beasts! If you allow me, I will bring it right away.¡± The Emperor nced at Cedric. Cedric had a frighteningly expressionless face. The Witness looked at Cedric once, then lowered his head and closed his eyes. And he was speechless, with only tears from his three eyes. ¡°Speak quickly.¡± Count Eison said to him. ¡°Tell His Majesty what he confessed!¡± p! He swung his hand and pped the Witness in the cheek. Blood gushed from the mouth of the Witness who had just been injured. Cedric¡¯s hand stopped the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron, who stood behind Cedric, from raging. And he looked at Count Eison with dark eyes. Count Eison looked triumphant, then froze when his eyes met Cedric. His body, terrified of him, retreated without realizing it. As if he did not want to admit it, he made a stronger voice and confronted Cedric. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to make excuses?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t told me yet what you used me with.¡± ¡°Urgh! What more do you want me to say with this clear and obvious evidence here!¡± Count Eison groaned. ¡°A disgusting monster with four arms or hair from the top of the head to the tailbonees and goes without any hesitation in the stronghold!¡± ¡°They were caught and witnessed in Evron¡¯s stronghold.¡± The leather merchant who had taken a step back until then came forward. It was because it was unlikely that any logical words woulde out if he left it to Count Eison. The other three nobles were equally foolish in his eyes. Perhaps, he was surprised by Karam¡¯s shocking appearance and apparently did not even understand how to drive Grand Duke Evron into heresy. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty, will you give me a chance to speak a word?¡± ¡°Tell me. Instead of that stupid bastard.¡± ¡°This person is not just a mutant, but a hybrid of Karam and human.¡± ¡°Evron¡¯s dominion has been on the northern border with Karam for hundreds of years. It¡¯s ugly, but it wouldn¡¯t be strange to have a mixed race.¡± The Emperor looked towards Cedric and narrowed his eyes. ¡°The North is a barren and sparsely popted ce. The predecessor Emperor has abolished very, but it is not surprising that the Grand Duke captured them and used them as ves.¡± There was a subtle part in the Emperor¡¯s tone. So, it was difficult to know whether it was eptable, or whether he hadmitted a crime against the imperialw because he had ves. Perhaps, he was trying to get rid of the big sin of internalmunication and leave the small sin of very behind. Count Eison jumped. ¡°Those who cheated with the devil and even the devil bastards should all be burned to death, but what if they keep them alive! The fact that the temple of the North was blind to this means that everything was in unison!¡± Negil said calmly, ¡°It was not that Grand Duke Evron was kind enough to spare the mother and child who had a rtionship with Karam. He was actively using it tomunicate with Karam.¡± Negil gave another piece of evidence. It was several sheets of paper copied by hand, which included a nting diary with drawings. Negil didn¡¯t think that alone would be enough, so Viscount Connor, who was standing behind Count Eison, stepped forward. ¡°This is a crop cultivation diary brought in from Karam. It was said that a vige was created in order to study cultivation methods. Beyond the Thold Gate, a mix of Karam and human.¡± ¡°This person came from that vige and was caught going in and out of the stronghold.¡± Negil added. ¡°There are many doubts about the warst winter. There were too few casualties for there to have been a war.¡± Negil knelt before the Emperor and raised his voice. It was clear that it was meant to have a dramatic effect. ¡°I have been a regr visitor to Evron¡¯s stronghold as a merchant for over a decade. But there was no war in any other year that has been as calm asst winter.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Cedric spoke in a low, strong tone for the first time. Negil flinched. He tried not to look back on Cedric. However, although he seeded in not looking back, he failed in not being pushed by that momentum. Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s vassals, who stood behind Cedric, were now ready to run out and kill Negil uponmand. Negil¡¯s body trembled. Count Eison and three other nobles, who had not received the momentum head on, also broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Was it interesting that people didn¡¯t die in Evron?¡± The intonation waspletely gone from Cedric¡¯s frozen voice. ¡°Did it seem so natural to you that with every knock on the Thold Gate, young people disappear in droves?¡± ¡°Grand Duke.¡± Chancellor Lin intervened as if trying to stop him. Cedric didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Do you mean that the Northern rationale was to cut down big trees in the summer in advance and pile them up in a warehouse for fear of not having enough trees to make a coffin?¡± Cedric clenched his fist. It sounded as if there¡¯s a popping sound. ¡°How many of those who live in thend of Evron have lost their parents and children to Karam? Do you think there is a single person who has not lost a rtive or neighbor to Karam? There are also those who have witnessed the loss of both their grandparents and their parents to Karam and have their son amputated in front of their eyes.¡± The voices of the vassals who stood behind him were all oveid on his voice. Beyond that, the voice of thend of Evron. ¡°How dare you drag Karam to chastise Evron?¡± Chapter 252 There were many people in the audience hall. But no one made a sound of breathing. It was partly because they were overpowered by Cedric, and partly because the words he said stabbed them in the chest. Negil was not agitated. He was now a merchant, but was once a bureaucrat. He knew better than Cedric how the central politics of the Empire worked. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t respond so emotionally.¡± Negil said calmly. He lowered one knee with his head bowed deeply. Everything that needs to be said has already been prepared. It was better to just say the prepared words than to make eye contact with Cedric and be crushed by his dignity. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know that Grand Duchy Evron has yed a major role in defending the Empire against Karam until now? The central government also knew it, so it had provided a huge amount of support to Grand Duchy Evron.¡± Cedric tried not to twist his lips. Negil was about to mention the indulgence-privilege. The maind was paying enough for Evron¡¯s blood. No matter what God¡¯s teachings, no matter how ethical, human life has never been expensive. Especially if it¡¯s the life of a Northerner. After all, don¡¯t they defend in order to survive? It is this side that was helping them by supplying. In fact, it means that the central is feeding the northern part. That was the perception of the central. Negil was to uncover that part. ¡°So, even more, shouldn¡¯t it be made transparent even for the young people who have died in Evron?¡± Negil said, ¡°If the Grand Duke reallymunicated with Karam, he would not only betray His Majesty and turn against God, but also betray the Evron people who were loyal to the Grand Duke.¡± There was amotion in the audience room. The Emperor, who had been sitting on the throne until then, said, ¡°Bring evidence and witnesses. It is not enough just that a half-blood was in the stronghold.¡± As if waiting, Negil summoned a person. A new witness, who had been waiting outside until then, entered the audience hall with hesitation. ¡°Sir Roun?¡± ¡°You?!¡± An rming sound broke out among the vassals of Grand Duchy Evron. A knight named Roun nced, then quickly turned his head. And he knelt before the Emperor. ¡°Identify yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ My name is Roun Jaden.¡± When Roun only spoke up there, hesitating and unable to speak any more, Negil spoke instead, ¡°Jaden is a family that has served as the fourth-generation knight in Grand Duchy Evron.¡± ¡°Roun!¡± One of the knights standing behind Cedric tried to run out. Cedric motioned again to stop him. He grabbed the knight who was about to run from the left and right. The Emperor looked down at Roun. ¡°Does a person who has worked as a knight for the fifth generation try to use the master?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It cannot be said that there were no facts.¡± Roun hesitated and said this time with an unsure attitude. His grandparents died along with the predecessor Evron Grand Ducal couple. His father lost an arm to Karam in Cedric¡¯s first battle. His older sister followed Cedric to help rebuild the Western Army and defend the Monster Wave, but she never returned. The pain that had umted in his heart was great, but Roun didn¡¯t know how to get rid of it. From Cedric¡¯s marriage to Marquis Rosan, a central nobleman, to adopting an amodative policy toward Karam, it was full of things that didn¡¯t make sense. epting mixed race was tolerable. The problem with crops was discovered recently, but that was understandable. Because it was all for Evron¡¯s people. But what reason is there to promote interaction with Karam? It was different from having a poor and starving peasant barter with Karam or giving pity to a straggled Karam and saving their life. Roun still held it in. If they can¡¯t attack Karam and annihte it, it was better not to go to war to reduce the sacrifice of allies. Even Roun could make that kind of judgment. However, the moment Cedric was adopted by the Emperor, the umted anger exploded. He felt betrayed by everything he had believed and endured until now, believing that it was for Evron¡¯s sake. What did his grandparents die for? Why was his father proud of losing one of his arms? Why did the older sister be a body that even could not return as a corpse? When a subject pays loyalty, the monarch must repay him for it. Instead of reciprocating, Cedric chose to surrender and tter the Emperor for his own power and for his wife and children rather than Evron. Roun thought so and came to the Capital. He promised to pay back everything his grandparents had been betrayed. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± But in this ce, on the other side, hispanions stood guarding Cedric, and he was kneeling in front of the Emperor. He looked at his appearance, and he was rather like a traitor himself. A cold sweat was running down his back. His body trembled as he lost his confidence. ¡°Why don¡¯t you speak? If you were trying to be innocent, you wouldn¡¯t dare to use the Imperial Family with sphemy!¡± The Emperor¡¯s shouts hit his ears like lightning. Roun didn¡¯t have the courage to stand up in front of him. It took another kind of courage to pull out a weapon and jump into the enemy line with hisrades. ¡°Tell me. You can¡¯t turn back anymore.¡± Negil said. Roun swallowed his saliva. ¡°The winter ofst year, I was at the Thold Gate.¡± ¡°Therefore?¡± ¡°It was said that there was a war, but the actual battle took ce only six times, and it was caused by shes between the reconnaissance teams or just local friction.¡± Roun continued stuttering. ¡°There was an order not to fire even if Karam was within range. There was no war.¡± ¡°Hoo!¡± Someone moaned loudly as if to hear that. ¡°A barracks was built halfway between Thold Gate and Karam¡¯s camp. The Grand Duke personally met there five times with the son of the chieftain of Karam. I know that the mixed race there was an interpreter.¡± Astonished people looked at Cedric. Cedric kept his expressionless face. Roun¡¯s betrayal was heartbreaking, but it wasn¡¯t something he hadn¡¯t thought of at all. He didn¡¯t expect anything on such arge scale to bepletely secured as confidential anyway. So he did his best on the preparation. He wrote a handwritten report from Grand Duchy Evron and sent a letter to the Emperor. Even aftering to the Capital, he reported in person once again at a military meeting. However, he looked at the contents together with Artizea. Subtly change the words to disguise the truth, but notpletely lie. So, the Emperor and other important members of the military were already aware that he hade into contact with Karam during the war. In the end, the Emperor made an ufortable face. Gayan said instead, ¡°The militarymander is empowered to negotiate with the enemymander for tactical purposes during operational situations. For Grand Duke Evron, who holds all power, there is no need to say anything. If Sir is a Knight, you would know.¡± ¡°How can you negotiate with Karam! They are the seeds of the devil!¡± Count Eison eximed excitedly. It didn¡¯t matter if they couldmunicate or not. How do youmunicate andpromise with those terrible things? Even if that three-eyed monster is half-human blood, how can they be recognized as the same human being? That was the idea of ??most people except the Northerners. In fact, even among Northerners, the residents of the southern viges would think like this. The devout old Marquis ncro crossed and said, ¡°I understand your concern for the people. But there are also standards for showing mercy.¡± ¡°I think so, Your Majesty. No matter how much we try to reduce the damage from war, the opponent is Karam.¡± ¡°If you kept alive the man who had conspired with the devil and his seed to talk to Karam, what would it be, if not an apostasy?¡± Those who agreed with him came out one by one. ¡°I¡¯d understand if he had made him a ve, but¡­¡­.¡± There were people who mumbled like that. Negil sighed in relief. Negil risked everything for this. He, who was not a noble, used the heir who would be the Crown Prince, so if things gopletely wrong his neck will be cut away. [¡°If an apostasy controversy arises, no matter how set the date is, there is no way to hold a Coronation Ceremony. Even the temple will reject it.¡±] [¡°Will pushing it back solve the problem?¡±] [¡°There is nothing to be anxious about. You can¡¯t really see any tangible results with a single stab at any of these things. It is to stimte fear and hatred.¡±] The man who made him work said that was all Negil had to do. [¡°If the Ceremony is dyed, your neck will not be cut off.¡±] [¡°The Princess has been blessed by God. Would the temple consider the Grand Duke for apostasy?¡±] [¡°Don¡¯t worry. He is not the Princess who has been favored by God. That is not the final goal.¡±] Negil was drawn to his convictions. A person who is addicted to gambling only thinks about sweeping the stakes. When Marquis Luden was assassinated at Negil¡¯s house, he had no way of colluding with political power. If he closes his business and lives in seclusion with the remaining wealth, he will be able to livefortably. But Negil was a person who couldn¡¯t do that. If Count Eison¡¯s ancestors knew, they would say he was addicted to the life-threatening gambling board. He wouldn¡¯t have been with Marquis Luden in the first ce if he was going to be indifferent. It was then. The calling attendant shouted, ¡°Grand Duchess Evron has arrived.¡± Artizea raised her head straight and entered the audience room. Cedric¡¯s eyes met her for a moment, but she didn¡¯t look at Cedric. She briefly listened to the full story of the conversation inside in front of the audience door. She had a queasy feeling. In the past, she has not attacked Cedric for Karam issues. Because she didn¡¯t know. However, she alienated the North from the Empire and created the impression that Cedric was a Northerner. She¡¯s preventing him from building a base on the central. ¡®Miss Lysia stopped it, but¡­¡­, but it was half sessful.¡¯ This time too, the end purpose is not to reveal the fact that he negotiated with Karam. The purpose is to show that Cedric is a Northerner and acts and rages for the North. Even if they don¡¯t seed in driving him into apostasy, he can be branded as a Northerner. If he was stigmatized either way, not only upright believers, but also those who do not want to have Northerners over their heads, and those who want to take down the imperial power by using him in advance, will think bluntly and rush in. ¡®As expected, it¡¯s Brother.¡¯ Artizea thought to herself. This method of encouraging the evil side of a person instead of getting the desired result at once is clearly simr to hers. Cedric probably noticed, too. She made eye contact with Cedric. However, she pretended not to know, and went up to the ce where Negil and Roun stood in front of the Emperor, bending her knees to greet him politely. ¡°Artizea of Evron has something to tell you.¡± The Emperor beckoned her to straighten her back. There was anger on his face. Chapter 253 Defense is not Artizea¡¯s long-term strategy. The reason she was more likely to win in the past was because she didn¡¯t hesitate to sacrifice her people. Until Lysia married Lawrence, she had only two people to protect, Mira and Lawrence. Besides, the Emperor protected them like a strong wall, so Artizea only had to think about attacking her opponent. But Cedric could not defend himself against this problem. Whatever he says, in the end, it just sounds like an excuse. Even if he wins in an argument, his name only has the effect of deepening the stigma as the words apostate and Northerner are mentioned more often together. So she had to figure this out on her own. ¡°It is unfair to discuss this now. You didn¡¯t invite a priest to decide whether or not this is apostasy.¡± Artizea looked at the Marquis ncro and said regretfully. Marquis ncro admitted it inly, ¡°Your Grace¡¯s words are correct. This subject didn¡¯t have enough thoughts.¡± Like Marquis ncro, those who agreed with faith nodded their heads. On the other hand, those who spoke with a sense of responsibility hardened their faces. But no one spoke to the contrary. In the first ce, it was because Marquis ncro came forward and said it, so they rode on it. Artizea turned to the nobility, this time to the users, including Count Eison. ¡°The four of you really surprised and perplexed me.¡± Artizea gracefully raised her hand and pointed to Negil and Roun. ¡°I guess it¡¯s because you don¡¯t know how to properly report an apostate directly to His Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But you are descendants of a noble family. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to do a thorough investigation before making aint to His Majesty?¡± Count Eison¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Your Grace, are you saying we did something wrong?¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s okay to grow those crops or not, whether it¡¯s apostasy to allow mixed races to live in the imperialnds or not, whether they tell the great temple about this or not, there are temples and priests in the North.¡± This time, Artizea nced at the key figures in the military. ¡°How the warst year unfolded,¡± And she looked back at Count Eison. ¡°When people with the ability and status to sufficiently investigate, right now without thinking, had recklessly dragged this out in front of His Majesty, how can I not call it disloyal?¡± Count Eison looked at the Emperor in astonishment. He knew that the Emperor was aging, but he foolishly thought it would only cause wrath against Cedric. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. I¡­¡­ I didn¡¯t think enough.¡± Count Eison knelt down on one of his knees. Others followed. Negil and Roun, who had been on their knees until then, stiffened. Because they thought they would hear something about them, too. But Artizea ignored them both. As if they weren¡¯t even worth dealing with. Then, she bowed her head toward the Emperor and spoke softly, ¡°Please wait. As soon as I heard the news, I sent someone to the temple.¡± ¡°You seem convinced that your husband is innocent.¡± ¡°Yes. If I have sinned, I have done it to Your Majesty, not my husband before God.¡± Cedric¡¯s face, which had remained expressionless until then, was distorted. ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric tried to take one step closer to her. Artizea rejected it. He has to stay there. The ce he should be now is in front of Evron. Evron is his base. Apart from Cedric¡¯s ideal, realistically, he had to embrace it. It didn¡¯t take long for people toe from the temple. It was said that Grand Duke Evron was used of being an apostate, and they could not stand still. ¡°The Archbishop has arrived!¡± In a timely manner, the caller called out. The audience room door opened wide, and the Archbishop was the first to enter. He was followed by two bishops and six high priests. They came so quickly that some even wore their robes directly over the monk¡¯s robes. The Archbishop greeted. Behind him, the bishops bowed their heads following the Archbishop. ¡°After receiving the news that there was a bizarre usation, I hurriedly arrived without prior contact.¡± ¡°Thank you foring so quickly.¡± The Emperor answered. ¡°Now, one of the questions posed by Grand Duchess Evron can be answered immediately. There¡¯s no way in so many years we¡¯ve never known that something like this was going on in the northern temple.¡± The Archbishop looked towards the witness who had been brought in. And looking into his third eye, he drew a cross. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. This has been around for a long time, and there has been a time when the Northern Bishop personally brought an agenda to the Bishops¡¯ council. About whether or not to allow the naming ceremony for the Karam half-blood.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything.¡± ¡°It is about people hiding in the remote countryside or mountain viges even in the North. It¡¯s not a story Your Majesty needs to know. Some of the high priests of the temple may not know it.¡± ¡°How did the Bishops¡¯ council conclude?¡± ¡°No naming ceremony allowed.¡± A murmur spread. If no, then the temple did not recognize the mixed race as a human being. ¡°But there was no conclusion to be burned at the stake. Even though they were born of a demon, they were born to be able to follow the teachings of God. God will grant mercy such as allowing a part of the vacantnd to sustain life¡­¡­.¡± The Archbishop continued, ¡°If you follow God¡¯s teachings for the rest of your life and live a good and faithful life, wouldn¡¯t it be right to hold a naming ceremony before you die and give it to God?¡± Those words changed the mood again. Several people, including Marquis ncro, put their hands together in front of their chests and prayed for God¡¯s mercy. Of course, not everyone agreed. ¡°What does this have to do with God being merciful, and the temple being tolerant?¡± Viscount Connor protested. ¡°The problem is not that you turned a blind eye towards the Karam half-blood, but that Grand Duke Evron actively used them tomunicate with Karam. Did the bishops¡¯ council decide that it should be tolerated?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Before the present Grand Duke, when did anyone else meet Karam so many times?¡± ¡°Even if it is the discretion of the militarymander, yes. I¡¯ve never heard of anything like truce negotiations with Karam!¡± ¡°The usations of trying to ept Karam¡¯s, Grand Duke Evron said nothing!¡± ¡°This is the northern defense that Evron has been protecting! If the apostate breaks it, on the contrary, it only makes the sacrifice meaningless.¡± After Count Eison, the users shouted one after another. The Emperor mmed the armrest. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare make a fuss like a child in front of me!¡± A chilly silence descended behind it. The Emperor¡¯s voice rang out clearly. ¡°Cedric. Although I was informed of the situation of the warst year, it is inevitable that suspicions ovep like this. You will have to exin.¡± ¡°I was just doing what I was supposed to do as a defender of the North. I have nothing more to exin than this.¡± Cedric said firmly. And he looked at the users with cold eyes. Did they really take pity on the Northerners living there and tried to save them when the northern part really copsed and became thend of Karam a few decadester? Or did they even attack Karam in the name of God? No. All they did was close the gates of Elia Wall. They did not even ept the refugees. All of this was just a means to use him. It wasn¡¯t even a religious debate. It would be good if the fight could be avoided with clever words. If deception was necessary, he would do it, and if excuses could solve the problem, he could do so. But for them it was not necessary. No matter what he said, they were determined to nitpick and drag him. Cedric looked at Negil and said, ¡°Your opinion is that Evron must remain miserable before you can suck on their fortune. If you look at it after ten years, you will even get attached to a passing dog, but it is a shame that you want your neighbors to starve for the sake of profit.¡± ¡°But there will be nothing wrong with what I say. Grand Duke is someone who can even work with Karam for the sake of Evron.¡± Unfortunately, those words were convincing even to those who believed in Cedric¡¯s personality. At the same time, Negil¡¯s intention was achieved. Cedric is a Northerner and an apostate. Not because he is evil, but because he cares and loves the North. The Emperor and the Archbishop hardened their faces. Because they realized how this would work politically in the future. Rather, Cedric had a calm face. Because it wasn¡¯t the first time he had to go through it. It was something he had done all his life to stand up to tidal waves of attacks. He knew what his weaknesses were. And he had no intention of throwing it away, so he had no choice but to hold on and do what he had to do until others believed he was sincere. Artizea bit her lower lip. Defense was also a difficult task. If the attack fails, it can be restarted elsewhere. The sword of conspiracy has a chance to be stopped even before it is wielded. The sess rate increases when traps are ced in several ces. Even one or two sesses can weaken your opponent. However, it was impossible to avoid all offenses from the standpoint of the defender. Especially if you have something to lose. As long as the castle is there, you have no choice but to fight back. Now, she couldn¡¯t hesitate. After all, she had no choice but to wipe out all these stories with something else. She lightly stepped forward. ¡°All these usations are meaningless before the word of God.¡± At the same time, she raised her divine energy. At Artizea¡¯s feet, her divine energy burned brightly. The pure white light shattered as if she had stepped on glittering jewel powder, then wrapped around Artizea¡¯s body and soared up. There is nothing in her divine powers other than to shine. Only to prove itself. And that was all she needed now. ¡°I hid the truth because I could not handle it. But when things havee to this, it has be obligatory to reveal them.¡± Artizea didn¡¯t look back at Cedric. She did not look at the Archbishop and the priests who knelt on his knees as if they had waited. Artizea looked directly at the Emperor who had wide-open eyes in shock, and focused only on him. ¡°It was me, not Leticia, who received the Grace.¡± This was a direct confrontation with the Emperor. The Emperor would not want Cedric to gain a legitimacy that was not based on him. But now it was almost at the end. Even if Cedric¡¯s legitimacy was made in a separate ce from the Emperor, the Emperor could not immediately cancel the Coronation Ceremony. There won¡¯t be enough time toe up with a new scheme. If it had to be done anyway, the priority was to reinforce the fortress walls rather than thinking of a new scheme. Artizea dered, ¡°God has told me that I will be the Empress.¡± Of course, that is a lie. Chapter 254 Artizea herself did not know how she had walked to the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Her right hand, holding Cedric¡¯s hand, trembled. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was because of herck of stamina, or whether it was because he was giving strength to her hands to endure. Her vision was blurry and her back was wet. ¡°Fall down. I¡¯ll take care of the mess.¡± She heard Cedric¡¯s voice. Artizea already had no energy to judge. So she fell as Cedric told her. As soon as she rxed herself, her consciousness went out. Cedric held her steady and hugged her as she fainted. Artizea doesn¡¯t seem to realize, but he already called the doctor while she wasing back. He also rearranged the boundaries of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Cedric didn¡¯t experience this the first time. Artizea¡¯s position waspletely different from that of Lysia at the time. The rumors about the forged oracle didn¡¯t fall like a bolt out of the blue. For Artizea, the religious circles and central politics were her domain. She was also ying a leading role in encroaching on the Imperial Pce. She will not be deprived of leadership or subjected to pressure by the temple. Nevertheless, it was enough to guess what effect her oracle would have. Cedric turned to the Archbishop and priests who were following them. The Archbishop drew a cross. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is the right time for conversation, Archbishop. Because my wife looks very tired.¡± ¡°Is that so? We just want to stay by her side until she wakes up.¡± ¡°I understand the nervousness of the temple, but can she restfortably? Please go back first. It seems to me that Brother Colton had spoken to Archbishop about this.¡± The Archbishop didn¡¯t answer, but only smiled slightly. Cedric didn¡¯t know if that was Artizea¡¯s will or not, so he just said, ¡°Then, there must be a lot more for the two of you to share. Go back and crack down on the temple.¡± ¡°That, what I¡¯m saying¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Not everyone believes and follows the oracle. Don¡¯t those who have authority often believe that they are heavenly?¡± ¡°I understand what you mean.¡± The Emperor becamepletely expressionless when Artizea raised her divine powers. It was a face without shock or embarrassment. The fact that he hid his emotions that much meant that he was just that angry. The Archbishop had not seen the Emperor make such a face for decades. It¡¯s been a long time since the Emperor was in a position where he needed to manage his facial expressions. There were cases where he showed exaggerated anger or was very pleased for political reasons. Conversely, this time the Emperor was so agitated that he could not decide whether to disy positive or negative emotions. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know when my wife wakes up. Until then, never make a fuss about this, not just an internal crackdown, but don¡¯t let this oracle leak out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And please take the half-blood Karam, whom Count Eison brought as a witness and look after him. There must be other mixed races other than those witnesses.¡± At those words, the Archbishop made a troubled expression as if he felt repulsed. It was obvious whose side he should take in the audience room. Above all, he was not of such a decisive character that he arbitrarily overturned the decisions of the Council of Bishops of much earlier times. However, taking Karam half-blood was another matter. It was indirect and ideological to allow the priests of the North to show mercy and tolerance. But would he really do it when asked to take care of them? Even he himself, knowing the decision of the Council of Bishops, felt so disgusted. Cedric said as if he knew it, ¡°I will send someone to take care of them from my side.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is my wife who has received the oracle, but it is me who will be the Emperor. Be mindful, Archbishop.¡± Cedric added softly, wondering if he was speaking too harshly. ¡°The one who takes them from the temple will be able to finish this job quietly. At this point in time, we can¡¯t drag the story back and forth in the audience room.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The Archbishop nodded his head. Cedric wasn¡¯t wrong. There was not enough time to focus on the oracle that the Saintess would be the Empress. Cedric said to the knights following him as he went holding Artizea, ¡°Secure the way.¡± ¡°I have already instructed them. Can we not take action against the other users?¡± ¡°Leave them alone, they are little people.¡± Cedric exhaled and went up to Artizea¡¯s bedroom andid her down on the bed. Her face was pale and she was sweating in a cold sweat. Halyey said, ¡°She said in advance that if she falls down, she will get better if she rests well because it is a matter of divine powers.¡± ¡°Did you know?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know the specifics.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cedric sighed. After all, there was no way Artizea would have disclosed this to her husband. ¡°She said she didn¡¯t have the power.¡± She must have tried to keep it a secret alone until the very end. Until a time like this, to use it at a crucial time. Cedric stroked Artizea¡¯s forehead once. He didn¡¯t know that there was a limit to physical strength in using the divine powers. Lysia seemed to be unaffected, but he didn¡¯t even know it was because she was originally healthy. It wasn¡¯t long after heid her down on her bed that Artizea¡¯s breathing eased. She really looked like she copsed from exhaustion without any other problems. In a serious situation, she must have thought hard and alone about revealing that she was the Saintess. What was the real oracle she received? Even before seeing her divine powers, he didn¡¯t doubt Artizea, but Cedric thought it was strange, too. Lysia was a Saintess. It must have been Lysia¡¯s blessing that saved Artizea during the childbirth. So, were there two Saintesses? ¡®Aren¡¯t the oracles and divine powers moving together? Or, has Lysia¡¯s oracle been maintained and the oracle has been given to Tia again, separately?¡¯ Cedric felt resentful. If it was to save humans, it would be better for God toe directly. Instead of giving power to a single, powerless human at best, and throwing them into the hardships of life. Because the world was not something that could be changed by a single divine power. Perhaps, Artizea is hiding her divine power because it was also meaningless. ¡®There¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t have experimented with this personality¡­¡­. If she copses every time she uses her power, it¡¯s better to not have it.¡¯ Artizea¡¯s brain would be much more helpful than her helpless miracle. In the end, Cedric regretted that he had acted wrong and made her throw such an unreasonable act. Kissing her skinny fingers, Sophie and the maids had a nervous face. Cedric left Artizea to them and had no choice but to back down. Alice came to Cedric. And she whispered softly, ¡°A little while ago, news came from the main pce. It is said that His Majesty the Emperor dined in the bed chamber.¡± It was sunset time, but it was still too early to go to the bed chamber. The Emperor must have gone to rest to organize his thoughts. But anyway, it didn¡¯t seem like anything was going to happen today. ¡°Good work. Let me know as soon as you hear any news.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alice withdrew. Managing thework of the attendants and employees, she would have a lot to do today. It was when Cedric had just left the bedroom. A knight with a badplexion approached him. He raised a military salute with moderation and said: ¡°I would like to know what to do with Roun Jayden.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric was in a subtle mood. Ever since Aubrey betrayed him, he¡¯s always thought that anyone could do it. It was even more so after his memory returned. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t help feeling heartbroken. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything unless he¡¯s going toe back to Evron. Since he is a capable person, he will be able to find another post elsewhere.¡± ¡°That¡­¡­ He is now at the gates of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± The knight said, embarrassed. Cedric headed towards the front door. It didn¡¯t matter if Roun just left, but otherwise he needed to finish this. * * * Roun was standing in front of the main gate of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Those who had been his associates until yesterday were swearing at him. ¡°Get out of here, bastard!¡± The one who swung his fist was a senior who became a knight in the same year as his older sister. ¡°Are you still a knight of Evron!¡± ¡°You dare betray the Grand Duke?¡± ¡°With what kind of face are you trying to crawl in here after trying to sell the whole Evron!¡± ¡°Your sister must be weeping in her grave!¡± Knights rushed out and surrounded him. ¡°Wait a minute! Let me in!¡± ¡°Go away!¡± A senior knight grabbed him by the cor and dragged him out of the boundaries of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. It was then. Themotion subsided. The knights hurriedly straightened their posture and opened the way. Cedric appeared. Roun looked up at him with a face covered in blood and bruises. Cedric didn¡¯t bend over to make eye contact with him or reach out his hand to wipe the bloody wound. ¡°Grand Duke¡­¡­. I was wrong.¡± Roun mumbled. He felt like he was punched in the back of the head when Cedric said he would be able to hold hands with Karam too if it was for Evron. He realized what he had done wrong. If in doubt, he was free to just ask. If he really trusted Cedric and was loyal, he could have gotten down on his knees before him and exined his heart. If he believed Cedric wouldn¡¯t throw him out like that. If only he had earned the trust as one who should keep it confidential. Cedric said, ¡°I understand you.¡± Tears fell from Roun¡¯s eyes. ¡°Unless you can get everyone¡¯s consent by exining everything to everyone, it¡¯s natural for people to harbor distrust and to face opposition.¡± First of all, it was Cedric himself who betrayed him. ¡°But, my understanding is no reason for Evron to forgive you.¡± Cedric said, ¡°Deprive Roun Jayden of his position and banish him from Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s dominion. However, he did it personally, and in view of the achievements of the Jayden family, this punishment is only limited to Roun Jayden.¡± ¡°Grand Duke!¡± ¡°You have decided not to follow me, so go on your own way.¡± Cedric just said that and turned around. The knights who had been cursing Roun so far turned around. The guards crossed the spears and blocked Roun. There was no more punishment or anger. Only vignce remained, as if dealing with outsiders. He had bepletely unrted to Evron. Standing stunned in front of the main gate of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, he realized what he had left behind. Chapter 255 ¡°Bring me some cold tea.¡± The Emperor strode into the living room and exhaled coldly. ¡°No, cold water first.¡± The chief attendant hurriedly got water and offered it. The water was lukewarm, not cold. He said he didn¡¯t like drinking cold water, but today he was frustrated. The Emperor lowered the ss of water, hitting the floor and said, ¡°Bring some ice!¡± The chief attendant beckoned to the young attendant. The young attendant went back and forth without a sound. He had to hurry to get the ice from the ice house. The Emperor sat down in the armchair. Then, he untied his cor, which was holding his neck. The chief attendant came running and took off his shoes and socks himself. It was unlikely that the Emperor would want to change intofortable clothes. Instead, he carefully removed the heavy gold ornaments and insignia from the robes in a way that would not be intrusive. ¡°Call Keshore.¡± The chief attendant beckoned quickly. Another attendant ran out. The Emperor closed his eyes. He realized that he had been caught by a checkmate. The Emperor thought he was in control of the situation until now. He was still thinking like that, even if there was only one member of the Imperial Family worthy of being his sessor, Cedric. Cedric had a weak political base. The Emperor could reject him if he wished. Now, power is being reorganized around Cedric, but that was because he eventually allowed it. The Emperor could have overturned the line of session by putting his illegitimate children; his two daughters or their children. Even if the Empress did not agree, it did not mean that there were no means at all. What will the Empress do if he catches the children of Viscounty Pescher and the Empress¡¯ old friends and threatens them? He decided to take Cedric. There were many reasons, whether Leticia was favored by God, or for the future of his daughters. But above all else, it was because the Emperor himself wanted to end his reign peacefully. He was realizing that he was old. He felt even more so after losing Mira. He was lonely in his own way. The Emperor thought that it could also be due to the political events of the past few years. There were ws with his solid power. Each time he did, he felt his own aging. In the end, that¡¯s why he chose Cedric. The Emperor himself also wanted peace. He did not want to be recorded in the history books that he lost his authority due to his old age and that he could not even properly select the next ruler. But now the problem is different. ¡®Is Tia really a Saintess?¡¯ It just felt like nonsense. The Emperor thought he knew Artizea well. She calcted her gains and odds and moved on. She was not ashamed to tter the strong, nor did she consider it a humiliation to be servile in order to win. She joins hands with those whom she needs, and betrays those whom she does not need. She would have calcted the values ??of loyalty and good faith with the same form. Still, there was only one reason why she decided to present the oracle like this. ¡®Even if I am angry, it must be toote to turn it around.¡¯ After considering that it was more advantageous to carry the oracle than be the Emperor¡¯s favorite, she revealed what she had hidden. Indeed, now the Emperor has lost the right to choose his heir. Even if he changes his mind now, he can¡¯t stop the Crown Prince¡¯s coronation. It is not a matter of whether it was in a few days or that envoys from other countries have already arrived. Rather, it was a question of legitimacy. An oracle came down that a Saintess would be the Empress. Then, the Saintess¡¯ husband would be the Emperor. If that person was the immediate Imperial Family, there was nothing more to say. Cedric¡¯s legitimacy no longer lies in being the Emperor¡¯s adopted son. Even if he breaks the adoption bond and returns him to Evron instead of Krates, the temple and the people will not doubt that Cedric is the next Emperor. ¡®What a shame.¡¯ There was nothing the Emperor could do at this point. It was right after the oracle was dered. Any attempt to bring Cedric down from here would only make them an apostate. No matter how powerful the Emperor was, he could not face the temple carrying the oracle on their back. So, it would be good to be happy and relieved that Cedric was adopted as the Crown Prince before the oracle is revealed. At least, he decided to select the Crown Prince not because it was pushed by the oracle. The existence of the oracle did not remove the reason he chose Cedric as his heir. For his daughters, for a peaceful hierarchy, for a stable reign, he knew there was no other alternative. The servant brought tea full of ice. The Emperor gulped down the tea. He felt a tingling sensation in the depths of his head. The attendant announced, ¡°Sir Keshore has entered.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Keshore came in and knelt down on one of his knees in a neat position. ¡°Did you call, Your Majesty?¡± The Emperor looked at him with red-hot eyes. There is nothing in the world that ispletely believable. The Emperor already did not believe in loyalty. Nevertheless, a hot lump of heat formed on his chest. He saw it not as a sense of betrayal, but as a sense of failure. He had failed to grasp Keshore, nor to hold onto his allegiance. ¡°You know, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°From the beginning, I did not believe in the miracles of Saintess Olga. Rather, I thought Tia must have gotten some good medicine from somewhere.¡± The Emperor exhaled. ¡°It was healing through the power of the divine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you will believe me, but¡­¡­ I did not know, either.¡± Keshore said politely. ¡°When Grand Duchess Evron saved my daughter, she made me promise in advance not to want to know her way. To make it a miracle of Saintess Olga.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So I never asked what method she used as promised, and I followed the advice to only think of it as a miracle of Saintess Olga.¡± ¡°Still, you must have guessed something.¡± ¡°Thest saint appeared more than a hundred years ago. Furthermore¡­¡­. It¡¯s difficult for me to say these things, I¡¯m not even that faithful¡­¡­.¡± Keshore said with his head bowed. ¡°When asked to keep it a secret, I thought that she might have done something forbidden by the imperialw.¡± The Emperor shut his mouth and looked down on Keshore. He was angry, but he couldn¡¯t find fault. The Emperor himself thought so. Nevertheless, it was uneptable. ¡°The reason I trusted you was because you weren¡¯t close to anyone.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Now I can¡¯t trust you. I¡¯ll only let you stay until the ceremony.¡± Keshore made no excuses. Instead, he said, ¡°I am only sorry for disappointing you.¡± The Emperor beckoned him to leave. Tiredness came suddenly. The Emperor stared into the air, buried deep in his armchair. ¡°An oracle?¡± That couldn¡¯t be true. But the power was real. ¡®I had wondered how she persuaded Brother Colton, it seems that things have been intertwined since then.¡¯ If so, it is quite a long time ago that Artizea hid that she was the Saintess. The Emperor grinded his teeth. ¡®Since the time of Bishop Akim, she has already been aiming for the throne. It wasn¡¯t that she was harmed, but she used that as an opportunity to wipe out a faction from within the temple.¡¯ Perhaps, her copse was a self-made y. The things before that. Tired from the depths of his eyes, the Emperor covered his eyes with his palms. ¡°Mira¡­¡­.¡± He doesn¡¯t know how long it¡¯s been since he called that name. What the Emperor did not suspect until now was that he believed that, in the end, what Artizea wanted, no matter by what means, was recognition and love. The ambition to lust for power was ipatible with it. At least, that¡¯s what he thought so far. That premise ispletely wrong. What he thought to be a cute opponent was actually the most intimidating enemy. £ª£ª£ª Artizea had a dream. In her dream she was hanging in the dungeon. [¡°It¡¯s terrible. She¡¯s still alive.¡±] [¡°It is the power of the Empress.¡±] [¡°Shh. If the new Empress hears the story¡­¡­.¡±] One of the guards stopped his colleagues. [¡°Damn it, listen. My Empress is only the Saintess.¡±] [¡°Why did she bless such a woman?¡±] [¡°Isn¡¯t that very reasonable? Rather than dying right away and gettingfortable peace.¡±] [¡°Well, that¡¯s true, too.¡±] At the time, she didn¡¯t even have the strength to think about it. But now, looking back, it was right. The cause and effect was really terrible. It must have been a forgiveness for Lysia to bestow her blessing on her, but it was only prolonging her painful time. ¡®Why does God make oracles?¡¯ Now that she thinks about it, she couldn¡¯t even understand the oracle that had been given to Lysia. Although Lysia had enormous divine powers, she was not a being that transcends humans. Can one person save the world? Should they sacrifice that one person if she could save the world? Artizea didn¡¯t know. She was neither a philosopher nor a believer. Artizea had dreams about the ruined East and the ruined West. [¡°Is it necessary or not?¡±] Cedric said, [¡°Does that person not conscious of wanting to cherish and value what¡¯s oneself and make it a good thing?¡±] Lysia said, [¡°Please tell him that Lysia went without regrets.¡±] Come to think of it, Artizea didn¡¯t know what was the real oracle she had been given. * * * When she woke up, her body was as tired as a wet cotton. ¡°Madam, are you okay?¡± Sophie looked into her face in surprise. Artizea tried to say that she was fine, but her neck was choked and the sound seldom came out. Her divine power was too inefficient. There was no way to know how much of life force was consumed. It was far better to use magic as she was able to urately calcte the cost. If she could use magic, of course she would have. She would have had a greater effect by healing the Karam half-blood on the spot. Chapter 256 Artizea blinked a few times and then closed it again. ¡®No. It was a good oue. If the word spreads, there will be non-stop petitions.¡¯ Artizea¡¯s power could not handle it. Above all, magic leaves a trace. Even if she draws a magic circle by hiding it inside her sleeve or somewhere, the truth wille to light someday. Even after she had already decided and thought about it, there was no need to act differently. Sophie brought hot water. Artizea did not feel thirsty, but when she saw the water, she feltpelled to drink. To recover. Sophie, together with another maid, lifted her up. Artizea drank half of the water with difficulty. ¡°How long have I slept?¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t been long. About 12 hours.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea tried to ask another word, but stopped and leaned against the cushion, letting her body hang. Cedric would have taken care of the cleanup. Because he knows very well what will happen after the oracle that the Saintess will be the Empress. Upon hearing that Artizea had woken up, the doctor hurried to run. Artizea slowly drank the water. With each sip, she felt a little energized, realizing that her body was truly exhausted. The doctor looked at her with a cautious face. He has been caring for Artizea ever since she found out she was pregnant. Cedric didn¡¯t specifically rebuke or criticize him for this. However, despite being ordered to pay special attention to the Grand Duchess¡¯ health, she copsed again. Even with ten mouths, he had nothing to say. But even if he said that she should do nothing and recuperate in afortable ce with a good climate, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hear it. Artizea buried her body between the cushions. And she looked at the doctor with sunken eyes. ¡°There is no pain.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Since that was true, the doctor has no choice but to answer that way. Artizea simply lost her energy. Her body aches and hurts here and there. She couldn¡¯t digest well and her stamina decreased. But it was not a curable disease. Medicine will be invalid. ¡°You need to eat healthy food and get plenty of rest. I will give you medicine.¡± In the end, he had no choice but to say what he always said. Artizea nodded her head. The doctor sighed and stepped back. Sophieid her down again. Artizea asked, ¡°What about Leticia?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mister Marcus is taking good care of her. Last night, the master took her to sleep.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea closed her eyes. Sophie got up slightly from the bedside. She seemed to be quiet. But after a while, a scuffle was heard. Artizea narrowed her eyes and looked back. Sophie shot at Alice. ¡°I know you are doing something important. But is it enough to wake her up when she¡¯s sick?¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s for you too, silly.¡± Alice pushed Sophie away. Sophie stopped Alice again. ¡°I know Madam is not feeling well. However, if the news is dyed and you really worry about one thing, it is Madam who will suffer.¡± Alice said so. ¡°Alice.¡± Artizea called Alice with a hoarse throat. Sophie walked away. Alice ran to Artizea¡¯s side. Then, she knelt down on one knee and whispered in a low voice. ¡°The Emperor¡¯s undercover investigators have begun investigating the familial rtions of the Grand Duchy¡¯s employees as a whole. After that, they will inspect the military personnel who are close to the Master.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ understand.¡± Artizea answered in a low voice. It was good that she disbanded the intelligence organization early. On the way, she felt frustrated and she regretted it for a moment, but it was right to reduce the size before the blood wind blew. ¡°Can Sophie¡¯s family escape?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do it openly. Are you sure?¡± ¡°Madam said that you are going to the South for recuperation, and I¡¯m thinking of getting a few people out to prepare for it.¡± ¡°Now, I don¡¯t have to give detailed orders one by one. You take care of it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alice bowed her head. ¡°Do you have anything to say to Prince Eimmel?¡± ¡°Did you get any news from there?¡± ¡°Some of the sailors went in and out of the owl bar.¡± The bar was the ce Artizea had set up as a meeting ce when forming the intelligence organization. Although the contact method, location, and name of the store were changed from before, Cadriol would not have had any trouble finding the store. Maybeter, but it wasn¡¯t really necessary now. ¡°Now¡­¡­ , even if you take people out from the South, you better not have anything to do with them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is there anything else you can tell me?¡± ¡°Prince Iantz and his wife slept here yesterday. The Master told me to prepare the room for them. I¡¯m telling you because I don¡¯t think Sophie would have told you.¡± ¡°Yes. Thank you. I¡¯ll get some rest and then go.¡± ¡°Yes. Good night.¡± Alice bowed her knees slightly and walked out. Sophie closed the bedroom door. Artizea said to Sophie with her eyes closed, ¡°Don¡¯t do that too much. Because Alice is just fulfilling her role. Just like you.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Sophie answered. ¡°But¡­¡­ I hope you don¡¯t think too much about the future.¡± ¡°Sophie¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You can finally be happy now¡­¡­.¡± But even Sophie couldn¡¯t tell Artizea to just think about her husband and baby. She thought so until yesterday. But she could not tell the Saintess to do so. ¡°Even God is indifferent¡­¡­.¡± Sophie muttered. ¡°It¡¯s true that God is indifferent, but that¡¯s not the case with me.¡± Artizea replied with her eyes closed. ¡°What you think of is happiness, but I don¡¯t want to be happy that way. There is no excuse for doing that.¡± ¡°Madam¡­¡­.¡± ¡°When I die, I want to have no regrets¡­¡­I wish I could die clean.¡± No matter what others say, she hopes she can disappear this time without any regrets. It would be a luxury to want Cedric by her side at that time. Artizea cleared her mind. And as she slowly counted her breath, she went to sleep. £ª£ª£ª A yellow wind was blowing. Her hair smelled like mud. Lysia brushed her hair away and tied it back up again. And she made up her mind. What was before her eyes was andscape she had seen in the past. The wood was dry like a dead tree, but the ground was soggy. Lysia pulled the reins and pulled up without stepping on the muddy ground. The people who followed her also stopped. It was broad daylight, and few people were out in the fields. Only children aged seven or eight wereing out and digging. ¡°I¡¯ll go and find out what¡¯s going on.¡± said the official who followed her. Lysia told him not to, as she reached out her hand to him. And she told the knights that followed her, ¡°Dig a ditch around this vige and keep people out of it. Never evene into contact with people or animals.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Release people and let them look at the nearby viges.¡± Lysia spoke to the official this time. ¡°Never step on the mud, never drink the water. And when youe back, make sure youe to me right away without meeting anyone.¡± ¡°Morten Heir Apparent, those words¡­¡­.¡± ¡°This is a gue.¡± Lysia stared at the vige until her eyes hurt. It was when she was twenty-four that the gue began to circte, as Lysia remembers. This was four years earlier. Besides, it was during the Monster Wave that this gue urred. To be precise, it¡¯s not a gue, it¡¯s a bug. It was not a normal insect, but a kind of monster that sucked life directly. And when it came out, it was sticky like water. As it was different from other gues, it could not be resolved by maintaining hygiene and isting patients. It moved from animal host to human host, so they didn¡¯t even know what the source of the infection was. Because it wasn¡¯t an infection from a specific bug. Therefore, even after catching mice and chasing mosquitoes, the spread could not be stopped. It was no use being careful. Because there was nond without insects, and there was no way to stop flying insects. Lysia healed people and cleansed thend. But she wasn¡¯t infinite, just because she had purifying power. After the purification, the vige got better, but over time, the disease started again. Or it appeared in the neighboring vige. Sometimes even in a city quite far away. It was after she became engaged to Lawrence that Lysia learned of the source of infection. After she became the Crown Princess, Lysia was the first to ask Artizea for help with the matter. Artizea struck the quarantine line as if she had been waiting. She surrounded the vige, dug up the ground and burned it up to the grassroots. And there she poured oil. Lysia healed the gue and cleansed thend in it. The bug problem could not be solved, but once she learned how to prevent it, the rate of transmission was slowed enough to respond. The scars were deep, but it took less than three months to end the gue. Lysia thought despondent at the time. Artizea¡¯s calctions seem to include that Lysia will devote herself to purification and healing. To what extent was the n, to what extent was it a coincidence, or to what extent she failed to keep the n and went wrong, she has no way of knowing. Anyway, it couldn¡¯t have been without Artizea¡¯s influence at the time of the spread of the disease. So it didn¡¯t make sense for this gue to go around like this now. ¡®Not only the timing, but also the cause.¡¯ If it was a natural outbreak, it should have urred during thest Monster Wave. ¡®There was no way that ordinary people would have gone to Monster Land and returned alive, and it should have started in the military because they said it was really contagious during monster subjugation¡­¡­.¡¯ No, it started suddenly. This vige was in the western ins. However, it was closer to the middle, the opposite end of Monster Land. There was no way a viger would have gone to Monster Land and returned. It meant that someone intentionally spread it. Lysia got off her horse. Alphonse followed her. Lysia didn¡¯t have to stop him. Alphonse won¡¯t listen even if she stopped him. She headed to the vige. The children, who were digging the field, looked at her and tilted their heads. As if they had been starving for a long time, their cheeks were slender and their eyes had no luster. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 The children were startled when Lysia approached. Their haggard cheeks were thin. They held a muddy carrot in their hand. Perhaps, there were no sick people yet when nting, and green leaves were fluttering in the wide field. ¡°Are all the adults sick?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The older child answered. ¡°Since when have you been sick?¡± ¡°Thest time we prayed at the temple, the priest couldn¡¯te¡­¡­.¡± The child pointed at it with her finger. ¡°Before that, the priest prayed for the sick. But back then, there weren¡¯t that many sick people. The doctor said it was a cold.¡± ¡°You are smart.¡± Lysia said kindly. If so, it meant that it started about a fortnight ago. It almost matched the pace of progression that Lysia remembered. ¡°Isn¡¯t there anyone other than you who isn¡¯t sick enough to walk around?¡± The child shook her head. Then, she took in a few deep breaths. Lysia ced her hand on the child¡¯s head. A green light shed in her hand. Alphonse flinched. But he didn¡¯t dare open his mouth and ask what it was. ¡°Ah.¡± Suddenly, her breathing became easier, and the child was startled. Lysia also blessed the little one. And she said, ¡°Sister is from a big temple in the city. Can¡¯t you see the people over there? They are the ones who came with Sister.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go over there and wait.¡± The child hesitated. The small child tugged at his older sister¡¯s hem. ¡°Sister¡­¡­ Mom told me not to go after someone we didn¡¯t know¡­¡­.¡± Lysia asked, ¡°Where is your house? I¡¯ll tell your mom and dad first.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The child pointed to one side. ¡°It¡¯s the third from the far end over there, the house with the yellow flower.¡± ¡°So don¡¯t worry and go.¡± The children did not doubt for long. Lysia looked at the children¡¯s back who held hands and walked towards the party. Alphonse asked, ¡°Lysia , are you okay? A little while ago, it was¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t ask me anything now. I first¡­¡­have to tell Her Grace.¡± Alphonse nodded his head. He was ordered by Artizea to go and protect Lysia. So he didn¡¯t think twice. Lysia was wise. The one time he asked was just because he was personally concerned about Lysia. Lysia turned her steps towards the vige. Alphonse followed her behind half a step. The scenery in the vige was no different from the many painful things that remained in her memory. The floor and walls were soggy, and the town was as quiet as death. The smell of filth permeated the room. Perhaps, even without children realizing it, many people have died. As promised, she will first heal the children¡¯s parents, and then she will go to the temple. Still, if the priest could still do his job until the disease progressed to a certain extent, he would have gathered the patients around the temple. She just hoped it wouldn¡¯t spread to other ces. ¡®I definitely wanted to go to the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t go the day Leticia was born, and she didn¡¯t even go to her naming ceremony. It would have been better if she had gone after that, but it was her fault for dying it as she had made up her mind. Now, she can¡¯t afford to go. She should have gone and told many stories. It was then. Bang! A bang was heard from somewhere. Alphonse grabbed her in an instant and knocked her to the ground. Lysia opened her eyes wide in shock. Pieces of ck wood flew over her head. Alphonse got up. Lysia stood up to her feet. ¡°Just now, was it gunpowder?¡± ¡°Come this way!¡± Alphonse grabbed her elbow. Lysia hesitated for a moment. However, the next explosion urred. Kuang! This time, it was a sound from a distance. Lysia saw the high roof of the temple burst open. The aftermath of the explosion vibrated up to here. The fire spread. Because the parasitic monster was weak to fire, it not only swallowed the house and grass, but also spread to the tainted ground. ¡°Lysia!¡± Alphonse shouted. Lysia knew that she had no room for hesitation. She was able to heal with her powers, but she could not put out the fire. It would be impossible to take even one person out. Kuang! Again there was an explosion. Lysia ran like crazy. There was the sound of something exploding again, and there was no time to check whether it was gunpowder or the sound of a house copsing. By the time they escaped from the vige to avoid the explosions, the whole vige was already engulfed in mes. ¡°Go all the way out!¡± Lycia shouted at Alphonse. All the muddy floors will burn. ¡°Morten Heir Apparent!¡± Herpanions screamed at her and ran to her. Lysia took her breath away and looked at them. The officials were holding the children, howling and moring. The vige was already engulfed in fire. It cannot be rescued. There were only about twenty people here. The rest were all scattered ording to Lysia¡¯s orders. If it wasn¡¯t for that, at best, this party couldn¡¯t put out that fire. Lysia couldn¡¯t order to rescue people from the vige that had exploded with gunpowder when she had nothing. ¡°Ah! Look at that!¡± One of the officials waved his arm frantically. A new fire was starting in an entirely different ce. At first, she thought the sparks had sprung and spread into a wildfire, but the mes spread around the vige. It was a firewall. The knights are chasing the children. And before being trapped inside the fire line, the group ran like crazy and got out of there. ¡°You have to go further away from it.¡± The official gasped and said. The heat of the fire seemed to burn even his breath. Then, suddenly, Alphonse drew his pistol. Following him, the knights raised their weapons in unison. The officials stepped back and surrounded the children and Lysia. But it was a rural man who came running. He was riding a horse with ked skin. He, of course, was not even armed. The man was astonished to see the fire and astonished to see the knights. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry. That, there, is a, letter¡­¡­.¡± ¡°A letter?¡± Alphonse asked. ¡°Yes, yes. Uh, a gentleman entrusted me with a letter and told me to deliver it to this town, that, to somedy.¡± The man stuttered in embarrassment and barely spoke. ¡°If you see, you, you¡¯ll know¡­¡­ he say.¡± The man¡¯s gaze turned towards the vige in confusion. Perhaps, there was more gunpowder buried on the side of the vige, and the explosion was still raging. ck smoke billowed out. Lysia said quickly. ¡°Give the letter here, and you take them to your vige. It¡¯s close, right?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. In fact, it, it takes less than an hour.¡± ¡°Go and call other people. Let your neighbors know about it, too. Somebody change his horse!¡± An official got off his horse. The man was stunned and climbed onto the horse. ¡°Someone is setting the fire line, but there must be some ws. If you do it wrong, sparks will fly and spread into wildfire. Hurry!¡± Lysia has appointed a person to follow the man. The man was startled and spurred his horse. A designated official followed him. The knight pulled a re from his chest and fired it. It¡¯s a peaceful time, a peaceful area. She didn¡¯t know how well themunication would be. Administrative power in the West has not yet reached every corner. Lysia opened the envelope. [To Lysia. It feels strange to write a letter after a long time. Did you get my greetings? In order not to inflict any trouble on your work, I even finished cleaning up. It probably won¡¯t turn into a gue. The firewall is my gift. I hope it doesn¡¯t spread too much. I should go pick you up soon, but I¡¯m not ready yet. You will also need some mental preparation. I¡¯m looking forward to the day we meet. Loving you faithfully, from Lawrence.] Lysia crumpled the letter. Then She bowed her head and ced her forehead on the back of her hand. £ª£ª£ª Artizea got up and sat down two days after the day she copsed. It was the next day that she was able to face Natalia. Natalia kept her promise and she stayed in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Minor diplomatic issues were involved. But for now, it wasn¡¯t a matter of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. The Saintess bes the Crown Princess. It became a fuss as each of them contacted their respective countries on this bomb-like news. Gifts were piled up in front of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. There were many people who left freshly picked flowers every morning in front of the huge main gate of the Crown Prince¡¯s pce. This was done by believers who could not send gifts. The same thing happened when Lysia became the Crown Princess. Natalia left it to Bernat, so she could face Artizea with ease. ¡°I was very worried.¡± Natalia said, looking at Artizea¡¯s paleplexion. Still, she seemed to be fine now. ¡°His Highness Bernat must have been relieved.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Because you decided to ept my offer before I revealed that I had received the oracle.¡± Nataliaughed awkwardly. Because it was true. Artizea touched her forehead for a moment. She shouldn¡¯t have been cynical this way. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I am not ming His Highness Bernat or anything like that. You are doing what you ought to do for the Kingdom of Iantz, and I am grateful to you two.¡± Then, Hazel approached and handed her a letter. ¡°Your Grace, this is the news you have been waiting for.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you.¡± Artizea answered indifferently. And she looked at the envelope and held her breath. Lysia¡¯s name was written on it. The seal had threeyers. One of them was engraved with the coat of arms of Grand Duchy Evron. Originally, it would have been a seal that only Cedric could use. Artizea didn¡¯t even know that it was the engraving on the grip of his pistol. She hurriedly opened the envelope. And she continued to read it down. ¡°Any bad news?¡± Natalia asked anxiously. ¡°Nothing. No, yes. It¡¯s important. A fire broke out in the West and burned down a vige.¡± ¡°Is it okay?¡± ¡°Fortunately¡­¡­ It didn¡¯t spread like a wildfire. After that it rained for two days.¡± Artizea said only what she could say. The problem was about the gue and Lawrence. But it¡¯s not something she can deal with right now. The Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony was two days from now. signs of our final boss? Chapter 258 Chapter 258 The weather was very clear on the day of the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. The people even epted this as a blessing from God. Active people came out early in the morning to sweep and decorate the road. The flower girls on the street emptied their baskets before morning even came. Those who could not buy flowers cut the flowers of mountains and fields the day before or two days in advance and soaked them in water. Some even cut the flower stalks of flower pots that were grown nicely. The poor, who could not even afford it, folded paper flowers. People from the temple handed out various colored papers. Blessed beeswax candles and white bread were also distributed. ¡°Receive the blessing of the Saintess.¡± The priests drew crosses and knocked on doors from door to door. The poor family offered a prayer of thanks. Households that could afford were given candles, and expensive incense candles and butter were offered. The rich man donated silver or gold coins equal to the weight of the candle. It was a Saintess who revived the miracle of Saint Olga. She was a Saintess, given the oracle that she would be the Empress. She was a Saintess who gave birth to an imperial star, blessed by God at the altar of the Harvest Festival. Is there any more evidence that God specifically chooses and loves the Empire? The bloody incidents that had urred so far were blown away at once. The scent of flowers filled the city. Faithful people put the sacred images they worshiped at home by the window or in front of the front door and lit a blessed candle in front of it. It meant that they would dedicate the blessing not to their family, but to the Crown Prince who will be appointed today and to the Empire. ¡°Blessings to the Saintess and the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Glory to the Empire!¡± The hasty ones were shouting before the Coronation Ceremony even started. Paper flowers fluttered in the sky. £ª£ª£ª King Eimmely still in bed. Although the mansion where he was imprisoned was in a remote ce, the sound of cheers from afar could be faintly heard. ¡°How long are you going to sleep?¡± Cadriol hurriedly pulled the curtain. The King did not look at him. Because that was only one thing he could do at will. ¡°Now, get up. You must attend the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. This is thest thing you can do for your country as King Eimmel.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It is you, who killed the Queen.¡± The King spoke out of context. Cardriol grinned. ¡°Is that important?¡± ¡°Your¡­¡­!¡± The King gritted his teeth, but his voice had no power. No matter what he said, there was no way Cadriol would have said that with his mouth. And he didn¡¯t have the strength to make Cadriol confess. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go.¡± Cadriol shrugged his shoulders and left the bedroom. He didn¡¯t even expect it anyway. It was just to show formal courtesy. As he got out, he heard a louder shout. ¡°How is the atmosphere?¡± ¡°It¡¯spletely festive. It looks like the temple has decided.¡± ¡°I guessed so. Has a Saintess ever been so involved in politics?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know theology well, but probably not. Could this have happened only in the early days of the founding of the Empire?¡± The lieutenant thought for a moment and answered, ¡°So the temple must be so excited.¡± Cadriol nodded and hurriedly climbed onto the horse. As he went into the city, he could feel the atmosphere of joy in his body. In a ce that had nothing to do with the parade after the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony, there were also those who voluntarily yed instruments and sang hymns out of joy. Every temple in the alleyway was holding a worship service. Cadriol had a strange feeling. Even when Lawrence was crowned the Crown Prince, he was here as a representative of the Eimmel Kingdom. He was, even then, an ally of the winner. He knew the insidious air currents moving at the bottom of this ecstasy. ¡®Well, in the end, the winner is still the same, and the person who creates this atmosphere is the same.¡¯ But this time, the Saintess will not be troubled or afraid of this cheer. She must have already taken control of the organization by using all the means she can with the temple. ¡®I thought she was taking over the temple for Lysia Morten.¡¯ Cadriol thought. So he thought that was why she had beaten Bishop Akim. Because it¡¯s a hindrance to Lysia. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect her to receive the oracle herself.¡± The oracle must be a tant lie. However, her divine powers could not be a lie, as many people had witnessed it. But Cadriol also finds it hard to believe. That Marquis Rosan is a Saintess. ¡°It¡¯s over. Done.¡± ¡°Yes? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The world is doomed. So is my life.¡± Cadriol grumbled. And he spurred his horse. £ª£ª£ª The shouts of cheer reached the Imperial Pce. Normally, he would never have heard of it. It must have been that people were gathered towards the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce and shouted. Cedric asked, ¡°Did the temple make them shout like this on purpose?¡± ¡°The temple is overly loyal.¡± Artizea answered. ¡°Ease your brow. It¡¯s a good day, it¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Cedric replied briefly. It was really good. When he thought of all the things Lysia¡¯s been through since it was revealed that she was a Saintess, it was even more. But he couldn¡¯t help but beplicated. When Lawrence held the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. When Lawrence celebrated his coronation. Even when he decides to confront him instead of avoiding it. Even when he takes Artizea out of the dungeon and when he asks her for a n. Even when she came and offered to make him emperor. Even when entering the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. He didn¡¯t think he ever really thought that this moment woulde. Ansgar knelt before him and wrapped the belt around him. And he smoothed the shape by adjusting the angles to the hem of his trousers. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t have another attendant to help him get dressed. But since it was an important day, Ansgar went out on his own. A golden epaulette hung over his shoulders and a red belt draped him as silence fell in the toilette room. It was only natural that there were those who were happy he became the Crown Prince, those who hated him, and the Evrons, the feeling that was indescribable. ¡°Let me see.¡± Artizea looked around at Cedric¡¯s appearance as he finished dressing up. He was wless and perfect. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea wore a blue dress with tiny pieces of jewels sewn to the hem of the skirt. As she moved, the dress shone in the light. Her hair, which was braided to a moderate length and raised loosely, was sprinkled with gold dust. Perhaps, what people expect is a pure white Saintess, but she did not deliberately dress up like that. It was Cedric who should get the attention. With this one-time magnificence she hoped to show who is the master. The Crown Prince is not the Crown Prince because the Saintess has chosen him, but because he is the Crown Prince who will sit at the apex of the Empire. The official knocked on the door. ¡°Grand Duke, it is time to depart.¡± Cedric reached out his hand to Artizea. Artizea ced her own hand on his. There was a white carpet outside the door. All kinds of symbols and emblems were embroidered around the edges. The sun and moon,nd and river, the groups that symbolized it, grain and sheep, wild beasts and horses, swords and spears, and the crests of the families who first built the Empire and paid their allegiance were also engraved on it. At the end it was written in ancientnguage. ?May God bless Krates forever.? The emblem was also engraved with gold thread inside Cedric¡¯s cloak. Artizea felt the irony. If God had blessed Krates, it would have been that God did not bless the blood of the Imperial Family, but rather thend from which it was called. The two looked straight ahead and walked. The carpet stretched out to the outside of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. The knights lined up on the left and right, and drew their swords shining in silver and took a salute. The crowd shouted outside the ranks of the knights. ¡°Glory to the Crown Prince!¡± ¡°Blessed be the Saintess!¡± Those calls were soon united into one. ¡°Long live the Empire!¡± It was as if for this moment alone, the groups entangled with all kinds of interests seemed to be one whole. The door to the Luminous Hall was wide open. From there the priests were carryingmps lit with incense. Each time they passed, nobles and officials knelt one by one. The priests also knelt down. The Archbishop did not kneel, but bowed enough to pay homage to the authority of this world. So, when they arrived before the throne, only the Emperor and the Empress were higher than them. Cedric knelt on one knee before the Emperor and bowed his head. Artizea fell on her knees beside him. First, the Empress put a ring with a seal on each of their hands. The Emperor then ced a small gold crown on Cedric¡¯s head. Cedric closed his eyes tightly. The weight on his head wasn¡¯t so great. But it felt like an execution tool to Cedric. ¡°Stand up, Crown Prince.¡± said the Emperor in a low voice. ¡°Now that you are of the Empire¡¯s base, you must never kneel, never be broken, stand firm and be a pir that supports the sun and the moon.¡± ¡°The order that you have given, I will never forget it.¡± Cedric answered politely, stood up and stretched his knees. As he turned around, the Archbishop who presided over the ceremony said, ¡°Congrattions.¡± Afterwards, high-ranking nobles and officials, including Chancellor Lin, who was nearby, also congratted the Emperor. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Those who could note close shouted from afar. The words of congrattions quickly spread outside the Luminous Hall. The attendant informed the outside that the Ceremony was over. The loud cheer sound reached the Luminous Hall. Cedric took Artizea¡¯s hand and went all the way. Now, all that was left was the parade. After taking ap along the Capital¡¯s main road and returning to the Luminous Hall, the celebratory banquet will begin. The banquet was tost for three days. Whhooaa-! The moment the two went outside, the shouts of the crowd waiting outside the Luminous Hall became a single sound and resounded in the blue sky. The sound pierced Cedric¡¯s stomach and chest painfully, terrifying him. Chapter 259 Chapter 259 The celebration banquetsted seven days. The festival was also held for 7 days ordingly. Cedric was frugal, and Artizea was a pragmatist. However, they knew the importance of the ritual. With this one time event, they had to solidify Cedric¡¯s position as Crown Prince. They had to show that the people were pointing to Cedric. If he made a mistake, he might be at odds with the Emperor. The Emperor could not arbitrarily dethrone Cedric, but he could continuously change his power. Of course, the ultimate goal will be the dethronement. ¡®There are other means, but¡­¡­ you have to be careful. As much as possible, I don¡¯t want to leave any doubts about Lord Cedric¡¯s reign.¡¯ Artizea called for the release of the enormous wealth the temple had umted so far. She was different from Lysia. There were many priests who believed that the walk of the Saint should be inclined toward faith and servitude. However, by their inclinations, such people had a difficult time confronting the political factions within the temple organization. There was also the advantage of Brother Colton being the first to know that Artizea was a Saintess. Bishop Akim¡¯s work also became a blessing in disguise. By eliminating him and cleaning up the factions, the temple organization waspletely under Artizea. Even the Archbishop could not ask for anything from Artizea because of the debt the temple owed at that time. Artizea has ignored all their requests to show her divine powers due to her health. Flowers and bread were constantly offered at the festival. The silver coins were also distributed to street performers and clowns. If people go to the temple, they could eat meat and drink sugared tea at any time. Thanks to this, there was a continuous procession of blessing for the Crown Prince and his wife and offering flowers to the Saintess. Just like the temple buying supplies and distributing them, the Imperial Pce released the money directly. Gifts were bestowed not only at the Capital, but everywhere within the reach of administrative power. Low-ranking officials were rewarded. Workers who did small jobs were also given considerable wages. An unprecedented amount of aid was provided to the needy and orphanages. There was also arge scale-pardon. In the Imperial Pce, it was difficult for nobles to remain still. In particr, those who were hostile to Cedric increased. At first, huge gifts pile up in front of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce as if to show evidence of loyalty. But when they were rejected, they gave an unprecedentedlyrge donation and gave alms. The Emperor also gave hints of advice to high-ranking nobles. [¡°If we could convey good wishes to Sirs¡¯ hometown, wouldn¡¯t it double the fame of the family and my joy?¡±] Thanks to this, the festive atmosphere spread throughout the Empire. Of course, there were also shadows. ¡°It¡¯s not going to be easy to fix.¡± Treasury official Bellonmented. It might have a positive impact in the long run, but in the short term, he wasn¡¯t sure if he would be able to control the supplies and money that was released into the Capital. It goes without saying that the public security office was nervous. ¡°Take extra care so there¡¯s no trouble during the festival. It could be interpreted as an ominous omen.¡± The Emperor called and gave an order. The chief security officer nodded his head with a stiff face. There was a confusing aspect to the Emperor¡¯s attitude. He seemed to be more pleased than anyone else. At the Coronation Ceremony, he had a solemn attitude, but at a banquet heldter, he expressed his joy generously. [¡°I was worried that I had no heir for a long time, but it seems that God looked after me and gave me a wonderful son.¡±] When the Emperor said that, there must have been a few people who thought of Lawrence. But who would have dared to say such a thing? People like Hazel and Mielle, who did not know the Emperor in his youth, were even surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect His Majesty to be so happy. I was frankly a little flustered.¡± The Empress listened to Mielle¡¯s innocent words, and she even smiled faintly. ¡°If you could see through Gregor¡¯s true feelings, you wouldn¡¯t be the Crown Princess¡¯dy-in-waiting.¡± ¡°His Majesty has lived for quite some time without hiding his true feelings. Few will remember who he really was.¡± Artizea said. The Empress said as she nced at the needlework she was ruining, ¡°Rather, you seem to have recognized because of that.¡± ¡°Because I was desperate to understand.¡± Artizea answered calmly. She had many other reasons, to be loved, to be simr, because she thought it would be helpful. Perhaps there was a time when the Emperor was like that, too. He became a winner and became a strong man. So she thought he had forgotten. But it seems he hasn¡¯t forgotten. He was bowing down now. Because he doesn¡¯t want to be stigmatized for being a tyrant against the will of the people who are delighted with the saint Crown Princess¡¯ promation. It is for that reason that he revealed exaggerated joy. It would have been much better off if he had shown a displeased look. Because it¡¯s sending a signal of relieving his difort. If so, Artizea would have freed her mind if she had acted like a dog rather than the tongue in the mouth. But the Emperor did not. This meant that she was recognized as an enemy. The Empress said, ¡°Gregor asked me how far my will was fulfilled.¡± ¡°His Majesty is the one you fear the most.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ well.¡± The Empress was silent for a moment. Why did the Emperor keep her alive? The Empress sometimes questioned that. If Artizea was right, there was no reason to keep her alive. It was hard to see the ulterior motive. He didn¡¯t necessarily need to make Mira an Empress. Wherever he was, he could take a beautifuldy from a moderately powerless family and put her in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Perhaps, it was a courtesy to someone who once was his colleague. Perhaps, it waspassion for the mother of his dead children. Or, he must have been enjoying the feeling of a winner while looking at the closed Empress¡¯ Pce. It must have been all three. The Empress remembered what the Emperor had said about old age and emptiness. ¡®If you are old enough to think like that, you should use your heart right now.¡¯ Then, Cedric wouldn¡¯t be able to go against him harshly due to his personality. It is not only because of Grand Duke Roygar that the Emperor will be able to spend the rest of his lifefortably with respect. ¡®But, who can he put on his head? He couldn¡¯t tolerate even those sitting next to each other, so he threw them all away.¡¯ The Empress looked at Artizea from afar while thinking such a thing and said, ¡°You¡¯d better stop sewing. A cloth like that cannot even be used as a rag.¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned red. ¡°If the Crown Princess is good at sewing, the otherdies will have no ce to stand, Your Majesty.¡± Countess Martha let out augh. £ª£ª£ª The first incident urred before the afterglow of the festival had yet to leave the streets. A messenger from the West ran like a gale through the streets where the candle wax had not been cleared and entered the Imperial Pce. After the banquets and festivals were over, the Imperial Pce that had fallen asleep immediately woke up. Military personnel were called first. Then the administrative officials ran into the conference room. The Emperor ced the documents brought by the messenger on the table in the conference room. ¡°There is a gue in the West. Only roughly confirmed cases urred simultaneously in 17 viges.¡± ¡°The officials are doing well. All thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s usual vignce.¡± said Chancellor Lin. ¡°They say it¡¯s a gue I¡¯ve never seen before, can you say it sofortably?¡± The Emperor said coldly. ¡°If God looked after the Empire, would something like this happen?¡± His gaze slowly turned around the crowd and finally reached Cedric. ¡°Besides, what is the story of a deserter from the Western Army who burned a vige out of fear?¡± ¡°The problem of deserters in the Western Army has been around for a long time. They said they would fix it, but they couldn¡¯t solve itpletely, so I apologize.¡± Cedric lowered his head. The Emperor clicked his tongue. ¡°I didn¡¯t think we would have solved all of those problems at once. But what is this? The deserters are using gunpowder.¡± He exhaled coldly. ¡°It¡¯s unavoidable to walk around carrying a few spears and a few knives. But how did the Western Army manage such an important munition as gunpowder that deserters can ess it?¡± The Emperor rebuked him. Grayson, a liaison officer for the Western Army, flinched. He wanted to refute. Gunpowder is also used by civilians. In the West, there were few mines, so it was notmonly used. However, if they go through the caravan group in the East or central region, they can get it any number of times. How can he be sure it came from the Western Army? Besides, what about the warlords? Among those warlords, there were those who received the title of Count from the Emperor and were officially recognized. It was unlikely that the deserters would have boldly burned the town, in Grayson¡¯s mind. It is undoubtedly the work of a warlord. If a gue urred near their realm, they were those who would burn and dispose of the infection. However, the Emperor seemed to be determined to put this responsibility on the Western Army. ¡°Besides, it has already been nearly a week since this incident happened, so why was it reported sote?¡± said the Emperor sharply. ¡°I am suspicious of the Western Army and Western officials. Is there some reason to hide it without reporting it to the Imperial Pce?¡± ¡°The West is a vastnd. It would have taken a while even if the messenger had run with the fastest horse as soon as they understood the situation.¡± Cedric answered calmly. ¡°Of course, if there is a problem with the management of gunpowder, it should of course be strictly governed by the military. How about sending an inspection?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor looked at him silently. The expression could not be read. But Cedric didn¡¯t pay particr attention. It¡¯s a matter of looking at government affairs. He did not dare to think of conspiracies and tricks. He knew this news through Artizea first. After the Ceremony was over, she showed him Lysia¡¯s letter. The two talked about forces that Lawrence might have recruited from the West. But even if he hadn¡¯t, he would have responded the same way. All he had to do was do the same thing. Aside from what Lysia went through, the news came fast enough. The Emperor took a step back. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have to send an inspection. By the way, what about the gue?¡± ¡°I think we need organizational support. The temple seems to have figured out a way to deal with it, so I¡¯ll have to seek their cooperation as well.¡± said Chancellor Lin. The Emperor narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to the Crown Princess.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, that is.¡± Cedric gave a strong voice without realizing it. ¡°No worries. Do you think I will tell the Crown Princess to directly jump in among the sick?¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°However, if the Saintess goes to take care of it herself, she will be of greatfort to the fear-stricken believers in the West.¡± It was a very calm voice. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Cedric hardened hisplexion. He had a face that could not even hide that he was hardened. ¡°Your Majesty, the Crown Princess is weak, and it has not been long since she woke up from the sick bed.¡± ¡°You know that I love the Crown Princess.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t answer. His hand, which he ced under the conference table, clenched into a fist. ¡°I am sending a weak child far away, will my mind be at peace? But that¡¯s why we have to send her for the people.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That is the duty of the Imperial Family. Now that you are the Crown Prince, you should think about that, too.¡± Needless to say, those words must have caused Cedric¡¯s wrath. However, the Emperor had a calm face. ¡°Even if the Crown Princess was incapable, she would have to go and tell the will of the Imperial Family, as she is the Saintess. Besides, even if she was not a Saintess, I would have sent that child anyway.¡± The Emperor continued. ¡°She is apetent Crown Princess, she is good with people, and besides, she has had a deep rtionship with the temple from before, so there is no one better than her.¡± ¡°She is a member of the Imperial Family, I will go.¡± ¡°How many days has it been since you became the Crown Prince, and you say you will vacate the Capital?¡± said the Emperor as if berating him. ¡°Have awareness as the one who will inherit the crown in the future.¡± Cedric clenched his teeth. *** However, Artizea, who heard the story, answered calmly, ¡°I will go.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡± Cedric said without hesitation. ¡°His Majesty¡¯s purpose is to separate you from the Capital.¡± Would he simply send her that far and do nothing? It couldn¡¯t be. If he decided to get rid of her, he shouldn¡¯t stop at putting her away. There must be an assassination attempt. If the Saintess dies while caring for the gue, there will be resentment against Evron and the Western Army who should have protected her. The authority of the temple will also fall. On the other hand, sympathy votes for Leticia will rise. Then should he send additional escorts? It was equally dangerous. After that, it will be the probability of being able to handle himself as he engages in a political battle. Cedric knew he was still terriblycking in that respect. Unlike before, there were not only Evron people around. There were officials from the central region, including Chancellor Lin. There were also aides who could function as strategists, including Belmond editor-in-chief. Nevertheless, it would not have been possible without Artizea. It was as if he had lost his central axis. But Artizea spoke inly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Now, there are many ces to go for advice. I think what I can do in the Capital is practically over.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± Cedric opened his mouth. Artizea stopped him and continued to speak. ¡°Lord Cedric has to do the rest. You are to stand up and defend against the offensive. I have no more advice.¡± ¡°I am not talking about that. I cannot send you to the West.¡± Cedric was serious. ¡°As I said, the West is still in danger of security and poor administration.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried about assassination, I¡¯m not that ignorant.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea rolled her eyes and Cedric smirked. ¡°So you know, right? If there is an assassination attempt in the West, it is more likely that a military unit will disguise itself as the enemy and attack rather than disguise it as poison or an ident.¡± This time, Artizea lowered her gaze and was silent. Because that¡¯s exactly what she had done. In the end, no matter how many times she tried, it only resulted in raising Cedric¡¯s reputation. Cedric said sternly, ¡°I don¡¯t doubt your abilities, but I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much you can do in the West.¡± The conflict between the Western Army and the warlords and the Western Army and the Central Army is old. Adding one more Evron to that would only increase the number of units to fight against. Cedric himself was originally inclined closer to a military officer. He also has power in himself. So he was able to unite them together with his authority and bring them into submission. But Artizea was different. Her tactical talent had never been put to the test. And she couldn¡¯t suddenly create one without experience. She has no military experience, so he cannot make her ovee it. Even though they were loyal to the Crown Princess and respected the sainthood, the conflict between the troops was a separate matter. There will be many who would give their lives to protect her. However, there will be few who will sincerely admit her orders and follow them. ¡°Besides, if the Saintess who will be the Empress is going, there will not be one or two who will attack me.¡± Even more so if they belong to the Western Army, but have already be an independent force and upy the castle. They must have tried to kidnap her and make her their wife. ¡°It will only be a burden to Lysia and the faithful priests in the West.¡± ¡°I have no intention of going to such a dangerous ce. If I said I would only stay in the main administrative cities, would you allow me?¡± ¡°The road itself is dangerous.¡± ¡°But I¡­¡­ I decided to go. I was considering His Majesty¡¯s words even before he spoke of it.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I have to go see what my brother Lawrence is going to do.¡± Artizea held her cold fingertips and lowered her eyes. She could not understand Lawrence¡¯s purpose. If he wanted to be Emperor once more, he had no reason to fuss in the West. He had toe to the Capital and he had to be brought into the arms of the Emperor no matter what. If the memories of his past had returned, he wouldn¡¯t have not known it. ¡®Is it because of pride?¡¯ After all, after Lysia¡¯s death, Lawrence became iprehensible to Artizea as well. Before that, she could know what kind of mind he was moving with. So she could give him advice, and he could go along with her as master and servant. But after that¡­¡­. ¡®No, I can derive the results from¡­¡­ logic.¡¯ If destruction itself was the goal, it made sense. And there was no suitable ce other than the West to fight. The central and southern regions are tightly controlled by the Emperor. Considering his birth, the chances of upying a leading position in the East were infinitesimal. Moreover, the eastern region was now in chaos by the will of the Emperor. Therefore, the means by which Lawrence can acquire force in a short time is to persuade the warlords of the West. When Cedric was reorganizing the Western Army, there was no way everything went smoothly. There must have been some who hated Cedric among those who had already firmly established their domain as warlords. Because the Monster Wave was the reason they were able to maintain their power and strength. ¡®Brother Lawrence knows that in order to gain power in the end, he needs the support of force.¡¯ The imperial power that does not receive military loyalty is just a thought. ¡®Even so¡­¡­ The purpose is still unclear.¡¯ So she had to go further. ¡°If you go, nothing will change. It just increases the risk.¡± Cedric said, ¡°If it¡¯s because of the anxiety, I¡¯d rather bring Lysia back here for you.¡± ¡°To listen to?¡± Artizea said skeptically. She even had a bitterugh. ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily because of Miss Lysia. There are some things that you have to go up close to see.¡± What Lawrence does is her own responsibility. It was even more so if he remembered. All the evil deeds hemitted were backed up by her. All the evil deeds he will do in the future muste from his own head. Cedric wiped his face with both palms. ¡°All right. If you really need to go, then¡­¡± He answered heavily and let out a long sigh. And he said, ¡°I will go with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense. Your Majesty told you to stay in the Capital.¡± ¡°In the West, what I am and what I do not have will be the difference between heaven and earth.¡± ¡°Someone has to protect the Capital. And are you going to leave Leticia alone?¡± Cedric was speechless. ¡°You said you were going to raise the child yourself, so you have to take responsibility.¡± ¡°That¡­¡­Yes, but¡­¡­.¡± Artizea patted his cheek for a moment, as she pondered her thoughts. Without any doubt, there is nothing better than that. She thought about it for a moment. Even if it seems that the power is diminished for a while, and it seems that they are being oppressed by the Emperor or being driven out for a crime, it might be better to empty the Capital. He has military power, so if something happens to the Emperor during her absence, he will be able to handle a civil war in the Capital. But even if it¡¯s not going to happen, Cedric had to be here. ¡®If you want to get rid of me, it could mean that Cedric is still in your heart.¡¯ Above all else, as long as Leticia was there, he couldn¡¯t leave either. She made Natalia stay in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. She also informed Marcus and thedies-in-waiting of various dangerous situations. But that was not enough. The absence of the parents would be a good cause for the Emperor. She should never be taken away. Otherwise, Leticia will be Cedric¡¯s enemy at some point. Artizea said softly, ¡°I will not do anything dangerous.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t trust your promise.¡± Cedric answered, and stood up. ¡°Think about it. Ask Lysia for her opinion as well.¡± ¡°It is toote for that. Above all else, this is the will of His Majesty.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that something that should be stopped?¡± Cedric said coldly, ¡°Have you never thought that what is good for the enemy is not good for you?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°His Majesty must not have done it without thinking, so you can¡¯t be so docile.¡± Cedric bent over and ced his hand on the armrest of the sofa Artizea was sitting on and met her eyes. ¡°What did you not tell me?¡± Artizea cast her gaze aside. ¡°Tia. Didn¡¯t you decide that you had nothing to hide from me?¡± ¡°Because life is at stake.¡± It was when Cedric sighed. The Imperial Pce, which had been quietly asleep, woke up all at once. Even in the living room of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce where they were, the lights from the Imperial Pce were lit up brightly. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I will go and find out.¡± Cedric stood up. Before he could even leave the living room, he heard urgent footsteps. ¡°Your Highness, there is a fire at the port!¡± That was the second case. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Cedric hurriedly headed to the main pce, putting on a formal coat over thefortable shirt and trousers he was wearing. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It is said that the first fire broke out at Eldon Pier 1. There is a warehouse nearby where grains to be transported to the North were kept nearby¡­¡­.¡± Blood drained from Cedric¡¯splexion. The messenger bowed his head like a sinner. ¡°It must have been humid because of the sea breeze, so did the fire spread?¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know how it got to this point. Some say it¡¯s because paper flowers are decorated on each pier and candles are lit¡­¡­.¡± It is undoubtedly a rumor. Blessing for the Crown Prince and the Saintess came back wrong. It can be interpreted that God did not want it. At an appropriate time, the rumor will be reced with another word and re-spread. That God does not want the newly appointed Crown Prince, or that the Saintess is a fake. As long as Artizea does not demonstrate her powers, it will be out of control when rumors begin to spread. ¡°Any casualties?¡± ¡°I have sent a messenger to check.¡± Emma of the Ministry of Interior answered. ¡°The fire started from the warehouse at night, so there won¡¯t be many.¡± ¡°I think the guards or the warehouse guild will reduce the report.¡± ¡°The casualties on the warehouse side will be minor. It is an area where civilians are not allowed to enter. We¡¯ll see where the fire spreads.¡± It was only then that the Emperor came out of the bedroom. He wore a robe over his pajamas, and a cloak engraved with the imperial coat of arms roughly wrapped around it. His face was red enough to fit the expression that his blood pressure had soared. The chief attendant helped him up and put him first on a chair. The Emperor asked sharply, ¡°Is there a fire at the port?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The messenger knelt down on his knees and told the same report he had made to Cedric. The Emperor struck the armrest. ¡°The first pier and the supply of grain going to the North burns first! Could it be an ident?¡± However, there was no primary responsible person in this position. The Emperor asked, rubbing his forehead, ¡°How about a ship? Could it be that the ships on which the envoys from other countries boarded were not damaged?¡± ¡°Everyone is anchored at a different pier, so everything is fine.¡± ¡°We will be able to stop the fire before it spreads there.¡± said Emma. ¡°Would the words Dame said now any more than words of constion? If it was an easy task, the messenger wouldn¡¯t havee in the middle of the night.¡± Emma shut her mouth at the Emperor¡¯s words, bowed her head, and backed away. The Emperor looked at Cedric and said, ¡°You go.¡± ¡°Me, what do you mean?¡± ¡°It is a matter of both the supply of grain to be sent to the North and the problem of the ships of the delegation.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Cedric answered gently. It bothered him that he couldn¡¯t finish the conversation with Artizea. However, since this was a case involving both the Northerner and foreign affairs, he had to be in charge of that much responsibility. Nearly half of the goods circting in the Capital were there. It also yed a very important role as a port of call. That means that if the port bes unusable, there will be a significant level of damage to logistics in the central region. Since the responsibility is so heavy, it was clear that if they left it to the port¡¯s municipal officials, they would focus on covering up the situation and reporting it. Cedric ced his hand on his left chest and bent down to bow to the Emperor. And he turned with a modest gait and ran out. ¡°Wait for my words.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± His lieutenant shouted and ran. The Imperial Pce was engulfed inmotion. The escort squad was temporarily formed. Cedric said to Emma, ¡°You will need administrative support. Get ready to go as soon as the sun rises.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Emma answered and again hurriedly ran in the direction she was supposed to go. Cedric returned to the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. At Artizea¡¯s order, the butler was already packing a simple bag. ¡°Tia, I¡­¡± ¡°I know. Do you think the situation is urgent?¡± ¡°Yes. I think I should go now.¡± ¡°Just change your clothes and go. I¡¯ll send you a change of clothes tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cedric lightly kissed Artizea¡¯s cheek. And as he was about to go out, he added one more word, ¡°Our talk is not over yet. You can¡¯t make a decision on your own.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea answered meekly. Cedric looked at her with suspicious eyes. But he had no time to hesitate. Outside, the guards announced that they were ready to depart. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Cedric said goodbye and left the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. * * * It was two hourster that the call came from the main pce. It was now past midnight and close to dawn. The servant spoke his words with an apologetic face, ¡°I was told not to wake you up if you are sleeping.¡± ¡°His Majesty is calling, of course I should go.¡± In response to Artizea¡¯s answer, the servant bowed down with a face showing that he was d to still be alive and went out. Until then, Artizea wasfortable, but she was dressed so well that it would not be strange to go out for a walk with it. Artizea wore only a shawl over it and headed to the main pce. The outside of the main pce was noisy. Officials called in to provide administrative support, as Cedric ordered, ran back and forth. Even when the Crown Princess passed by, they stopped for a moment and bowed their heads. Artizea waved her hand, saying there was no need for that. The bedroom was rather quiet. He entrusted his full power to the Crown Prince, so the Emperor had nothing to take care of. Cedric responds to the incident first, checks the post-mortem report, and when the situation changes, he can give the order again. It was as if he had obtained an heir to share the burden with. However, the Emperor did not seem to be able to sleep again. Artizea bowed politely in front of the living room door. ¡°Did you call, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°Come in and sit down.¡± He said with aplicated look on his face. The servant closed the door behind Artizea. It was impossible for even the father-inw to summon a young woman at this time and meet her alone. However, the opponent was the Emperor, and this was private. It was the first time they talked after Artizea revealed that she was a Saintess. The Emperor was holding a ss of wine in his hand. Artizea watched the amber liquor glint. She wouldn¡¯t need to say a word that he¡¯s not in good health. The Emperor looked at her and spoke first, ¡°I have already been advised by the doctor not to drink. I also heard from the chief attendant.¡± ¡°Yes. I am d.¡± The Emperor wet his lips with wine. And let out a weary sigh. He wanted to rest. But he couldn¡¯t sleep because of the nervousness. From the moment he awoke, the unpleasant heat on his back hardly subsided. He deserved to feel stressed out. Too many things happened one after another, andtely it¡¯s been even worse. After Grand Duke Roygarmitted suicide, he did not remember much of a good night¡¯s sleep. The bedroom was filled with jasmine andvender flowers¡¯ fragrances, and the masseur rubbed his throbbing legs until he fell asleep, but to no avail. He dreamed of an empty dream. Something was always erased from his hand. Sometimes it was the pattern of an old teacup handle, and sometimes it was the gold engraving of a fountain pen. And there were times when his own fingerprints were erased. Every time the Emperor woke up, he thought he was forgetting something. But looking back, he really had forgotten nothing. He seemed to have lost something, but he had it all on his own, so he had not lost anything yet. Nevertheless, he felt persistent difort and numbness in his hands and feet. His condition only got worse, and there was no sign of getting better. He¡¯s been taking good care of it for a long time, and he didn¡¯t even know if it was because of too much stress. The Emperor looked at Artizea¡¯s young and beautiful face. He couldn¡¯t say that he was old now. Because it hade to be too close to a fact. Artizea asked him, who looked at her silently, ¡°What is wrong, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°I was quite fond of you.¡± He didn¡¯t have to say that. It was nothing more than revealing that the Emperor had been disappointed, betrayed, and even suffered a blow. There was nothing good about revealing that fact now. Still, the Emperor showed his heart. Even that, he thought to himself, was like a weak old man. And he recalled his own youth. Artizea had a bright face with an unchanging, thin smile. ¡°I have not changed, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes. I guessed so.¡± ¡°The reason why His Majesty made him your heir remains the same.¡± For a plotter who lusts for power, any emotion is just a good trap. In that sense, Artizea was like him. Knowing that, the Emperor realized that he had always thought she was going to be an exception. There was just vainughter. ¡°You are right. I chose Cedric because of his personality, and that hasn¡¯t changed.¡± It¡¯s probably better to stay like this. It would be better for him to entrust his life to his trustworthy nephew, as the Empress said, and live watching his daughters and grandchildren. But he couldn¡¯t do that. He was defeated and could not live peacefully. He couldn¡¯t put anyone on top of himself. Not out of resentment or vengeance. He was a human being who had no choice but to live like that. He spoke to Artizea without turning back. ¡°Go west. Then, I will put your husband and daughter in their ce and treat them as before.¡± ¡°Then, will you forgive me?¡± Artizea said with a bright expression on her face. The Emperor¡¯splexion was dyed with anger. ¡°Do you dare make a deal with me?¡± ¡°Forgive me for not believing in the words. However, no matter how deeply sorrowful the loss of a parent is, the days of childhood, when memories are not clear, are not the same as those of the present. Things that have been erased and forgotten are not the same as things that are new.¡± Artizea said softly, ¡°Your Majesty knows it too, so how can I fully believe your words?¡± ¡°So what are you going to do? Are you going to keep wearing the Saintess¡¯ mantle like a crown, ignoring the gue and continue ying chess with me?¡± said the Emperor as if spitting it out. ¡°It¡¯s an unfair statement. You have ordered it, so I have no choice but to follow it.¡± Artizea bowed her head. Chapter 262 Chapter 262
    1. West
The fire burned the fields. ck smoke rose into the sky. The ashes blew and her eyes sting. That¡¯s why Lysia¡¯s eyes and the tip of her nose are red. If possible, she tried not to touch the fields or ranches. But things didn¡¯t always go well. Lysia was one person, and the gues urred simultaneously on all sides. And the West was very wide. The western administration officials were working hard. The temple and the military also cooperated. But instead of being transmitted from one ce to another, the gue sprang up sporadically. As soon as they found out, they set up a quarantine line and notified the authority of the news. Since Lysia had informed them in advance of how the contagion would take ce, it was never toote to respond. However, by the time the news reached Lysia, who was working on healing elsewhere, some viges had already been wiped out. It spread out of control because of people who broke the quarantine line and escaped. Lysia thought she could do well this time. She already knew the cause of the gue and how to prevent it. Both the Empire and the temple were on her side this time. But it wasn¡¯t as easy as she thought. Things that were supposed to go smoothly when Artizea was doing it were not so at all in her hands. Especially when there was a real ruler on thend, like this time. ¡°Miss Lysia, the preparations areplete.¡± A man in a brown suit ran up to her and informed her. Lysia clenched her fist and rubbed the tip of her nose with her thumb. She pulled out a handkerchief, and it seemed that she was only adding to herundry for nothing. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lysia said so, and she took the lead and headed towards the vige. Alphonse followed her. At this point, she said several times that she was morefortable traveling alone, but Alphonse did not listen. [¡°This is a special order from Her Grace.¡±] Then she couldn¡¯t help it. Lysia knew how loyal he was. And that he thinks he had sinned against Artizea. So she knew that this time it was not ¡®Saintess Lysia¡¯ that he was following. Nevertheless, seeing him walking one step ahead and guarding her, she could not help but get caught up in the old days. A group of armed men had gathered in front of the border around the vige. Some of them were Western troops moving to escort Lysia. The rest were Jacob¡¯s army, which ruled the area. Even Jacob himself showed up. ¡°The Saintess hase.¡± He said sluggishly. Lysia replied expressionlessly, ¡°I must have said a few times that I was nothing more than an agent, Sir Jacob.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Count.¡± ¡°Yes, Count.¡± Lysia did not have to object. It was true that Jacob had been given the title of Count by the Emperor. ¡°By the way, why are you doing this?¡± Lysia looked around and asked. Because it looked as if her own attendant and Jacob were confronting each other. ¡°The messenger hase.¡± Jacob nced at a man. It was a face she never saw. The lightly-armed man looked at Lysia with a face full of sweat and fatigue. ¡°Morten Heir Apparent?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Then the messenger put his hand into her arms. Jacob moved his body, and intervened between the messenger and Lysia. It wasn¡¯t to protect Lysia. ¡°This person said he couldn¡¯t show me the letter.¡± ¡°If it was a letter for me, of course he wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I am the owner of thisnd, Saintess. If it¡¯s from the Imperial Government, I have the right to see it.¡± ¡°I am not a Saintess. If I was a real Saintess, Count would not be able to treat me like this.¡± Lysia said so. Her words were sincere. The oracles she received became meaningless as she returned. However, only the method of using divine power was left as a memory in her body. Jacobughed. ¡°If you¡¯re not a Saintess, by what power would you dare to make such a big fuss with me? Huh? Don¡¯t you think so?¡± He stretched out his hand. Alphonse grabbed his wrist before it reached Lysia¡¯s face. Jacob¡¯s face turned red. He used strength enough to make his arms tremble, but he couldn¡¯t even move. ¡°Let him go.¡± said Lysia. Alphonse threw Jacob¡¯s wrist away. ¡°To insult thedy-in-waiting, who was sent as an agent, is to insult her mistress.¡± said the official who followed Lysia. Jacob made a fierce face. He saw himself as a founding monarch, and he had no respect for the Imperial Family. He even had a bad feeling towards Cedric. Jacob made feats in the same year as Amalie. When Amalie returned her troops to the Emperor and entered the central power struggle, he chose to keep them in his hands. The West was wide, and the Emperor could not fight with people like Jacob one by one. It won¡¯t be difficult if the Emperor tries to defeat him. But it was like an elephant fighting a herd of mice. One can easily be trampled on to death. However, when dozens of animals are standing before its feet, it bes more difficult to move to kill them one by one. There was now that the use of armaments would bring eradication. Thus, the Emperor conferred the title of Count to those like Jacob. And he was given the title of Independent Commander of the Western Army. That has traditionally been how Empires managed territories beyond their control. Jacob was given the power to rule a castle and nearby viges. His power in peacetime was to collect taxes on behalf of the Emperor, and to supply or recruit military personnel as part of it. Of course, that didn¡¯t happen in reality. It was a title and position created by theck of administrative power in the first ce. Jacob¡¯s castle was as good as his territory. Strictly speaking, he had neither judicial powers nor conscription powers, but within his territory he wielded unparalleled power. But Jacob always suffered from dissatisfaction. When he became a Count, he thought he would be growing in power soon. He would sweep the West and threaten as far as the center of the Empire, so bing King seemed like no dream. However, even as decades passed, Jacob¡¯s domain did not expand even by an inch. The Empire was too powerful, and there were warlords who had the title of Count, like Jacob, nearby. Jacob was one of the most brutal of them all. He was notorious and powerful. However, it meant that it was only in the vicinity. Jacob is old now. The children didn¡¯t have a good attitude toward his reign. His eldest son was a scum that did nothing but eat, drink and paint. His eldest daughter denounced Jacob¡¯s cruelty and fled with her younger brothers and never returned. All of his ambition is to create the best family and pass it down to them. There was also a reason why he harbored anger towards Cedric. Hemanded a great army with a prestige that Jacob could not achieve no matter how hard he tried just because he seeded the Grand Duchy. Not a few warlords lost their power in thest Monster Wave. There were not many who were absorbed by the Western Army. The incident took a toll on Jacob as well. Many of the soldiers he enlisted remained in the Western Army. Western forces have invaded his territory. As Grand Duchess Evron¡¯s rebirth project began to take effect through the temple, his control over the vigers rapidly dwindled. He had no way to stop it. For a reason, he was the Emperor¡¯s servant, and he was only exercising military power on the Emperor¡¯s behalf. Jacobughed. If that was the case, he had been treated well enough. She wasn¡¯t even the Crown Princess herself, and she was one of thosedies-in-waiting anyway. Furthermore, ¡®The girl who will be wiped out soon.¡¯ Jacob thought so. However, it was his meaningless pride that he couldn¡¯t pass over with a smile. He didn¡¯t know what to do with the messenger. Lysia held out her hand. The messenger flinched behind Alphonse. Then he took the letter out of his arms and handed it to Lysia. Lysia read it quickly and put it in her arms so that Jacob can¡¯t take it away. ¡°What is written on it?¡± The attendant asked. Lysia spoke without taking her watchful gaze from Jacob. ¡°On the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, Her Highness the Crown Princess wille to the West.¡± A roar spread. The Crown Princess ising to the West at this time of a gue? Even Jacob¡¯s soldiers had a face of anxiety and excitement. The temple believed in the oracle was received by the Crown Princess. Even in this Western part of the Empire, even in difficult times, on the day of the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony, a separate worship service was held to give thanks and blessings. What Lysia, the agent, has already done was not small. She became the face of the rebirth project. As she healed the gue, many believed her to be a Saintess. Then the mistresses. She was the real Saintess spoken of in the temple. The West will be saved. Only Jacob did not move. He didn¡¯t believe in gods, and he never thought that even if there were a god, God wouldn¡¯t save humans with an oracle. Lysia said, ¡°Can you please get out of here now? Now that we¡¯re ready, we need to clean up the town before it¡¯s toote.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jacob retreated. If it were the vige of the neighboring powers, he would be willing to let Lysia burn it. But this was his territory. There were at most four viges. If one was removed, it would have been a huge hit. There were already two forces that were falling apart because of the viges she had burned using the gue as an excuse. He watched as Lysia entered the vige. Lysia¡¯s attendants followed her without hesitation. Finally, Alphonse gave him a wary look and followed Lysia. Jacob had no intention of following towards the gue-stricken vige. He turned his feet and rode on his horse. Anyway, there was really nothing to do with Lysia in this ce. He was only curious about the news that the Capital sent to her. When he returned to his stronghold, Jacob also received a secret letter. The letter was unsigned. Only the predictions of the Crown Princess¡¯ schedule were written in dry writing. No matter who it was, the purpose was clear. They seemed to think that Jacob would attack her if he knew this information. Jacob hadn¡¯t decided yet. It was not toote to confirm that others who had received simr secret letters were moving. ¡°Your sister must have bought a lot of resentment, too.¡± Jacob said while looking at the young man lyingnguidly on the sofa in the study. He had a drink in his hand. He showed no sign of drunkenness, but the bottle of strong liquor was quite empty. ¡°Are you interested?¡± Lawrence asked with a grin. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Jacob responded casually. ¡°She is a woman with an oracle of bing the Empress. There¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t be interested.¡± ¡°Do you think you could be emperor if you kidnapped her and made her your wife?¡± said Lawrence. Jacob¡¯s face was distorted, although his tone wasn¡¯t particrly sarcastic. He was fifty this year. Even if Lawrence didn¡¯t mean it, to say so of a young woman who was barely twenty or so put him to shame. Even if he really wanted to. ¡°Because I have an eligible son.¡± He said it as an excuse. Lawrence shook the ss. ¡°Well. There is a shortcut, do you really need to pass her along? Maybe, you will have another great child.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your younger sister¡¯s matter, aren¡¯t you being too much of a stranger?¡± Jacob frowned and looked at him. Jacob also had siblings. It wasn¡¯t a very affectionate rtionship. In fact, Jacob was a tyrant to them, too. However, he still had a strong sense of belonging to his family. He saw them as burdensome, but he knew he had to help or rescue them when they were in trouble. But the one in front of him didn¡¯t even seem to have that awareness. Lawrenceughed softly. ¡°What you feel is pride, not love for your siblings.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In that sense, I can say that it is not hurting my pride because I know you have no chance.¡± Jacob tried to ask what he was talking about. Before that, Lawrence¡¯s hand moved. Bang! A gunshot rang out. Jacob remained silent for a moment, not knowing what had happened. Soon after, a terrible pain arose in his stomach. ¡°Kuh, kuuhkk¡­¡­ !¡± Lawrence put down his drink and slowly got up from the sofa. Jacob groaned and rolled to the floor. For some reason, gunfire and screams were heard, but nobody came running. ¡°How¡­¡­ , ugh¡­¡­.¡± How did he get rid of the escorts that would have been guarding outside the study? How did he bring in the weapon? He gave Lawrence a lot of leeway. However, he did not allow weapons to be brought into the study. And so far, Lawrence doesn¡¯t seem interested in getting his hands dirty. He didn¡¯t even have to. Because there was nothing to gain from doing that. Lawrence had no interest in this castle. Jacob offered Lawrence quite a bit of convenience. He also lent his troops. In return Jacob was given wealth and information. This was a pretty decent deal. He couldn¡¯t make a sound. Jacob groaned, taking in his breath, mixed with bubbles of blood. ¡°¡®Why?¡¯ could have been a more interesting question and response.¡± Lawrence responded, waiting for the barrel to cool. The revolver was not reliable. If he had the time, he¡¯d rather use a single-shot firearm than risk an explosion. ¡°If you ask me how, it might be because you have reigned like a king for too long.¡± Then, the door opened and a man entered. Lawrence turned around and shrugged his shoulders. It was Jacob¡¯s son Alben who came in. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet?¡± Lawrence didn¡¯t bother answering. Instead, he aimed at Jacob¡¯s head. Bang! That was the end. Alben shook his hand in excitement. His face was red, and cold sweat was forming. Lawrence looked at Alben with a nk look. People are evil. In that respect, his belief was exactly like Artizea¡¯s. Self-control is what circumstances create. If given an opportunity to reveal the ugly inner desires, people always threw off their human skin. In a boring life, that alone was quite a bit of fun for Lawrence. ¡°Come on then.¡± Lawrence opened the revolver¡¯s cylinder and checked his bullets. The greedy guy looked at his father¡¯s body and Lawrence alternately with a gaze mixed with greed and fear. An intense agony crossed his pig-like face. Lawrence grinned. ¡°Why? If you betray me and me me for this crime, do you think you will be able to take over power as an innocent victim?¡± ¡°I, I didn¡¯t say that. For the price¡­¡­.¡± Alben stuttered. Lawrence pointed the barrel towards him. Alben widened his eyes. But Lawrence didn¡¯t pull the trigger again and threw it on the floor. ¡°I don¡¯t need it. You do the rest.¡± And he left the study as if nothing had happened. Since Alben had cleared the guards ahead of time, the hallway was quiet even as the gunfire rang out. At the end of the hallway stood a middle-aged man with sentry guards. ¡°There was an attempt to assassinate the Lord.¡± ¡°Thank you for letting me know.¡± The man answered with a heavy voice. He beckoned. Reliable guards rushed to the study to catch the assassin. Lawrence slowly left the castle. There was one more thing he learned from Artizea. He had to trust the situation rather than trust the opponent. Alben was not the only one who sought power in this castle. Those who tries to seize the real power by setting Alben as a puppet and those who tries to be the Lord of the castle by driving him as a murderer will be fighting each other. There will be fools who are truly loyal to Jacob. It was impossible for his rival, the neighboring Counties and bandits, to stand by and only watch. What Lawrence needed was chaos. A subordinate came. ¡°What about over there?¡± ¡°Information has been given. It will start soon.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He spurred the horse. £ª£ª£ª Lysia was staying in the temple. She could not cope with the gue without her divine power. Purifying thend could make it unnoticed. But people didn¡¯t. However, Lysia wanted to hide her divine powers. After Artizea announced that she was the Saintess, she needed to hide it even more. So Lysia borrowed an old relic from the temple. The ruse was modeled after how Artizea rescued Mielle and disguised it as the grace of Saintess Olga. She was concerned that the prestige of the temple would grow too much. As Lysia herself had experienced as a Saintess, she had to be vignt about the temple. She thought it was not right for the future to make the sick turn to faith instead of a doctor. It took too long. Because she had to bring the sick to one ce, and to purify them using the holy relic one by one, the work could be finished in hours. In the meantime, some people would get sick and die. Nevertheless, Lysia had no choice but to do so. Because the confusion that will arise when she reveals herself as the Saintess could cause a bigger problem. When the timees when she needs toe out as the Saintess, Artizea will give her a call. Until then, she had no choice but to be patient. Thest patient thanked her several times. Lysia replied only to thank God and let them go. And she sat down on the chair. Suddenly, the sun was setting slowly. ¡°Go back.¡± Lysia said, extremely tired. Now that they were used to it, the priest and escort quietly retreated without a word. No one questioned the identity of her healing powers, and no one doubted Lysia. As she wanders the West and fights the gue, they are the only one left who believes in her sincerity. Finally, Alphonse left and closed the door. With her eyes closed, the divine power burst out as if she was shooting it up. The light of purifying power that started from under her feet spread out as if exploding. Lysia felt her own cleansing power spread outside the vige. She stopped in an area just over the quarantine line. ¡®There¡¯s nowhere else left to go in this neighborhood, right? It¡¯s because of the brutal control¡­¡­.¡¯ Now, she has to go back and rest. Early in the morning, when the sun rises, she will get up and move on to the next ce. There were more than ten viges waiting while closing and maintaining the quarantine line. It was when Lysia lifted her heavy body up. The ground trembled. Lysia jumped out in surprise. As Alphonse was about to rush in, he ran into her. ¡°What happened? Is it an earthquake? A monster?¡± ¡°No. Mountain bandits!¡± Alphonse eximed. Lysia looked nkly over Alphonse¡¯s shoulder. A cloud of dust from the horse came approaching like a storm. In the vige, those who were terrified shouted and ran to and fro. ¡°Lysia! This is not the time to space out!¡± ¡°What happened? What about the Count¡¯s army?¡± There will be no one in the vicinity to stand up to Jacob. Even if they are the mountain bandits, there is no way they would attack like this without fear of Jacob¡¯s retaliation. Lysia and Alphonse did not know. There was no room for retaliation, as Jacob was suddenly murdered and there was going to be a strife in his stronghold. Those who heard the information disguised themselves as mountain bandits and sent troops. The goal is looting. They rob people and property, and burn viges. It was to increase their own power and at the same time to weaken Jacob¡¯s power. Alphonse said, ¡°Whatever Count Jacob may do, we must flee now!¡± ¡°Are we leaving the vige like this?¡± Lysia clenched her teeth. ¡°If they aren¡¯t real mountain bandits, it might be better for us to stay and negotiate.¡± ¡°Your life is not determined by ¡®if¡¯!¡± ¡°The Knights of Evron and the officials of the Empire have abandoned their people and fled. Besides, even if we ran away from this in, would we be able to avoid that horde?¡± ¡°You should avoid it!¡± Alphonse grabbed Lysia¡¯s arm. That doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t be sacrificed here without a meaning. But Lysia was right. She barely managed to get out of town. But the exit was already blocked. nk! Fifty gun barrels gleamed coldly in the sunlight. The ten knights who were closest to the vicinity intercepted Lysia. But she frantically pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. She couldn¡¯t breathe. Lysia grabbed her chest as if her lungs were torn and her heart was about to explode. Lawrence smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Lysia.¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to pick you up.¡± He held out his hand. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Twenty corpses were transported to the front of Artizea. Eleven knights of Evron. Six administrative officials in the West. Three priests. All of them were following Lysia. There were several others, but it seems that they did not bring them here because the body was not clean and could not be shown or because of the rtively low status. ¡°The vige was on fire.¡± Artizea murmured. The person who retrieved and transported the body answered. He was amander under Jacob. ¡°After the murder of Lord Jacob, a great fight broke out. In the meantime, ¡­¡­.¡± Themander said indignantly. ¡°They said it was mountain bandits, but it¡¯s not real mountain bandits, how can they meticulously burn down to the vige that the lord protects and drag people away?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There are knights. How could they do such a thing, knowing that there are officials and priests from other ces? This is the work of Charlton or Baxter.¡± Themander gave the name of the Lords, whose domains border the territory. Artizea quietly removed the cloth covering the body¡¯s face. Alphonse¡¯s face had turned ck. ¡°Under the neck¡­¡­. Your Grace¡­¡­.¡± Hayley muttered. They washed the body neatly and put on new clothes, but still they could not cover the traces. Artizea murmured. ¡°I know.¡± This time again, he died protecting Lysia. And this time she thought she was responsible. Previously, Lawrence had created a situation where he could do that, and this time she asked him to protect Lycia. He would have fought even though he knew he couldn¡¯t protect her. Judging from the fact that they were all ughtered without any escapee, there was an absolute difference in military force. She wished he had run away. There was no way he would have given up on her request, abandoned Lysia and ran away. Even if Lysia had run away and asked for mercy, Lawrence would not have kept Alphonse alive. Because he hated Alphonse so much. In fact, now that she thinks about it, it also felt like he hated everything that Lysia loved and cared for. Artizea carefully pulled the cloth back up to the top of his head. ¡°Haa.¡± She inhaled her long breath and then exhaled slowly. The depths in her eyes lit up. The tear duct connected to her nose was so hot that she could hardly speak. Artizea raised her head, trying to hold it back. And in a hoarse voice she asked, ¡°¡­¡­ Who sent it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ .¡± ¡°Answer me.¡± One of the knights of Evron, who was suppressing spection, made a cackling sound. Themander flinched. ¡°¡­¡­ no one.¡± ¡°The vige became like that, and the knights and officials who went to stop the gue died. Besides, mydy-in-waiting has gone missing, but you¡¯re saying that nobody cares because they¡¯re fighting for power?¡± Themander was unable to maintain his taking a knee position and fell to both his knees. ¡°It is as you said.¡± There was no one in the region who thought to announce this news. But someone had to retrieve the body. Themander did not belong to anyone¡¯s power. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in the fight, so he had to clean up the vige ande here. ¡°Crown Princess, we have guns.¡± One of the knights of Evron stepped forward and said. He had scorching eyes. Artizea knew what he was trying to say. ¡°I cannot allow it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only three castles at most.¡± He curled his gauntlet. Another knight appeared next to him. ¡°We can deal with that on our own. Please, Your Highness!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just close your eyes and move on!¡± Hayley set up a cause for those who didn¡¯t talk much. ¡°They kidnapped the Crown Princess¡¯dy-in-waiting and killed the escorts. An official sent for quarantine was also killed. If this is not rebellion, what is it? Even if the Crown Princess is held ountable, His Majesty the Emperor will not rebuke you.¡± Artizea still shook her head. ¡°Now, we can¡¯t withdraw our troops to get rid of the three Lords.¡± As Hayley said, there was a reasonable cause. And the knights will probably be able to deal with it as they promise. But not now. If there were surplus resources, they had to work hard to prevent the spread of the gue. There are few areas suffering from the gue right now, but fear was already starting to spread. In such a case, if they attack the warlords and start a war, the public will be more agitated. Rather, it would be appreciated if they were to be honest and fight each other and destroy each other. It may not have been Charlton and Baxter who kidnapped Lysia and killed her attendants. They¡¯re not stupid either. Maybe Lawrence did. And Lawrence was no fool, he would not have left his mark. Even if she arrested and tortured them, it was of no use. She felt like she was swallowing ten lumps in her throat. ¡®Even Cedric would not have ordered revenge.¡¯ Artizea thought so in her mind. And he won¡¯t even tell Artizea to do what she thinks now. Things like separating Charlton and Baxter from each other and provoking warlords around them to start a war, or assassinating them to create chaos and then destroy the forces. So Artizea said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about Count Jacob. The title he received is not hereditary, and the position of the independentmander is not a title, but only the authority entrusted to him by His Majesty.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Since themander of the army is dead, it is natural for His Majesty to appoint and send anothermander to rule the soldiers. Themander widened his eyes and looked at her. The same was true of Western officials. Even the mayor of the city, where Artizea is now staying, said in surprise. ¡°The authority of the Lord is customary, Crown Princess.¡± ¡°There is no title like a Lord.¡± Artizea responded. And she turned to the left. ¡°Dame Harper, what do you think?¡± Amalie smiled. She was hated by the Emperor and resigned from her post after getting ousted. She lost neither title, honor nor fortune, but she left the Capital because it was difficult for her to remain. She then bought arge mansion on a secluded retreat and sent her family and rtives there. But Amalie herself did not go there and she secretly went west. She was traveling on her own and meeting her old friends. In preparation for a day like today. ¡°Since the independentmander has died, the western forces must first take over the operational rights. The administration has to be run by the administrator.¡± ¡°In principle, you are right, but there are very few examples of castles controlled by the Lord. They have never been sessful in letting it go.¡± ¡°Of course, they wouldn¡¯t just give it up. The Western Army can handle it. The administrator can only enter after the suppression is over.¡± Would that be possible? The official looked at Amalie with such a suspicious face. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything else, but all the warlords will unite and fight against this issue. Are you really going to war?¡± ¡°It is to punish those who murdered the independentmander appointed by the Emperor, and to restore operational power. The cause is enough.¡± Amalie said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s different from asking the Lord to open the castle with uncertain evidence.¡± If they attack the Lord while the castle is intact, it bes a war. However, Jacob¡¯s castle, which was in division, was a different matter. They didn¡¯t have to let go of anything they could simply subdue. ¡°Then, are you going to subdue just one of Jacob¡¯s castles?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s important to set a precedent.¡± Hayley said. If the Crown Princess¡¯dy-in-waiting had not disappeared, it would be difficult to even do this. However, they were carrying the Crown Princess, who had been supported by strong public opinion. It was also a time of gue. The representative sent by the Saintess has disappeared. Neighboring Lords would not want to get entangled in it if possible. Artizea had an expressionless face. ¡°Dame Harper has no title, but she is familiar with the Western Army, so choose a suitable person and entrust this task to them.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Amalie answered. Artizea looked at the coffins once more. ¡°How would you like the funeral to be held? It¡¯s already hot¡­¡­ It will be difficult to send to Evron¡­¡­.¡± Hayley said. Artizea closed her eyes once and then opened them. ¡°Those whose hometown is in the West, let them send their bodies home. Funeral expenses and constion money¡­¡­. I would like someone to go to the funeral for me, one at a time.¡± ¡°Yes. Understood.¡± ¡°The knights of Evron have no choice but to hold their funeral here¡­¡­. Let¡¯s retrieve the ashes and send them away.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Artizea got up from her seat once more. Hayley handed her a bag of silver coins. Artizea ced a silver coin on the forehead on each of the dead. And instead of putting a silver coin on Alphonse¡¯s forehead, she pulled out the brooch she was wearing and put it on his chest. It¡¯s not like she has been open-minded, but her heart is pounding so much just because they have been physically together for a long time. ¡®Even though I wasn¡¯t worth protecting.¡¯ Artizea let out a long sigh. And she got up. It was a luxury to grieve. She had to do what she could more than that. ¡°Did you say Hudson?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Themander replied in amazement. ¡°You said they are mountain bandits? Do you know where that mountain bandits was based?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know for sure.¡± ¡°Then, did you know about the mountain bandits near the castle?¡± ¡°Yes, to some extent.¡± ¡°Good. If we figure it out, we can figure out where they were based.¡± Then she will be able to know where they are getting their supplies and what channels they mainly use. It is unknown how Lawrence recruited them. But he had no way of crafting supplies or movement ns himself. ¡°Sir Owen.¡± Artizea pointed to the knight who first asked for revenge. ¡°For revenge, you can¡¯t start a war, but you must find the lost. Sir can take the lead to subdue and check the mountain bandits near Jacob Castle. Don¡¯t rush, just check which group has disappeared. Be careful so that the real criminals do not run away by surprise.¡± ¡°I will obey your orders.¡± He answered in a strong tone. The Knights of Evron followed and raised the military salute at once. A moment of silence to remember Alphonse T.T Chapter 265 Chapter 265 The fire in the pier was extinguished on the fifth day. It was only possible with the help of rain. The warehouse, where the food to go to the North was piled up, copsed to the frame. Nearly half of the temporary warehouses in the capital army were also burned away. The only thing that survived was the gunpowder warehouse, which the port officials and garrisoned units risked their lives to protect. Two piers were turned to ashes. State-owned cargo ships and military ships that were anchored were also damaged. The damage was not limited to state-owned property. The embers blown away by the wind also ignited the warehouses ofrge grain and fabric merchants. The damage to their property was indescribable. ¡°If the gue of the West is not extinguished quickly, there will be famine.¡± An Interior Ministry official, who always offers a pessimistic outlook, said so. The central part was fertile, but there were norge farms. Those with sufficient financial resources have already enteredmerce and industry. Buildings were built on the vacantnd, and cows and pigs were raised. The farms were nted with expensive luxuries consumed by nobles, or fruits and vegetables that had to be harvested quickly because they easily wither. Naturally, stocks were leaning west and east. However, there was a gue in the West and conflict in the East. If the gue is contained quickly in the West, it will be fine. However, they have not yet found a cure other than the miracle of the divine power. If this gue spreads across the West, it will ruin next year¡¯s crop. And even now while farming was not a problem, food could not be brought from a ce where an unknown disease was circting. There was now against bringing pestilences between people and livestock. The central part is the center of logistics. It was no exaggeration to say that the gue spread throughout the Empire the moment it infected the central part. The Eastern part was also difficult. Grain will be piled up in the warehouses of the greatndowners. But will those who fled in rebellion give it up with ease? Of course, there were more who considered it an overly pessimistic view. ¡°The gue is not yet so serious. And even if the situation bes a little more serious than it is now, the West can handle it well enough.¡± ¡°Because there is a new crop called Melbon. It¡¯s a crop that you just have to nt, so even if the wheat crop is poor, there won¡¯t be a famine.¡± Then, there were those who said that the central part was fine. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest. The Central is fine. The problem is in the North.¡± At those words, all the officials became silent. The one who spoke outmented. ¡°Whatever happens in the West and East, the price of grain in the Central will unconditionally rise absurdly. But we can¡¯t wait for the price to stabilize. We have to set sail before the northern port freezes.¡± To do this, they had to prepare arge amount of new supplies before autumn. They would have requisitioned it from a grain dealer. This time, however, the granary¡¯s warehouse was also damaged. If they requisition from the undamaged capital and warehouses in the central region, they will not be able to handle the public resentment in the central part this time. Moreover, it was not only grain that had to be requisitioned. Various munitions were also needed, including weapons. It was also necessary to rece the burnt ship. There was no way for the Emperor to hand over the munitions of the central army. In the end, it would also be an added burden to the people. ¡°If you subdue the criminal of treason¡­¡­.¡± The officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance who attended the meeting whispered amongst themselves in such a low voice. Then, they looked at the generals of the military who were seated on the other side. The Emperor was neglecting the eastern part of the country on the grounds that if he sent the army twice a year, the people¡¯s livelihood would be in jeopardy. But now that the situation hase, shouldn¡¯t he establish the military for the livelihood of the people? Even if it raises prices and increases the burden on people¡¯s livelihoods equally, using armaments to subdue traitors would result in less bacsh than requisitioning for the North. Subdue some of thergendowners in the East to open the warehouse and confiscate the property. Then, grain, various essential resources, and ships were not difficult to obtain. There was no voiced opinion to leave the North unattended. The skirmish with Karam happens once every few years. It was at the end ofst year, so there is a high possibility that it won¡¯t be this year. So, it might not have been a problem if they didn¡¯t supply supplies this year. They must have umted a stockpile to survive in the North for about a year. Then, the burden of requisitioning ships was reduced. But no one dared to say such a thing. The Crown Prince was Grand Duke Evron. Who cane forward and say let¡¯s leave the North alone? Chancellor Lin coughed lightly. The crowd quieted down. The door to the conference room opened just in time. ¡°The Crown Prince enters.¡± said the attendant doing the opening and closing of the door. Officials attending the meeting rose from their seats in unison. Cedric sat in the empty seat to the right of the upper seat reserved for the Emperor. And he beckoned the officials to sit down. Lin said, ¡°You look tired. I heard you went hometest night, did you get some sleep?¡± Cedric ran his hand over his face. Needless to say he was tired. The fire was five days long, but it took nearly two weeks for the follow up. He hadn¡¯t slept at all during that time. As Crown Prince and Grand Duke Evron, he had to deal with this. And when he returned, only Artizea¡¯s letter remained in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not like I will fall asleep during a meeting.¡± Cedric said in a voice cracked from fatigue. ¡°Your Highness¡­¡­.¡± Lin called to him in a sad voice. Cedric let out a long sigh. ¡°What were you talking about?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t put it on the minutes of the meeting yet, but we were sharing our views on the grain price issue. After talking like this, sometimes a solutiones out¡­¡­.¡± An Interior Ministry official said, ¡°The grain dealers have already locked up their warehouse, Your Highness. For a forced requisition, you will have to rely on military force.¡± Then, a Treasury official said, ¡°At such times, it is not umon for people to stock up in anticipation of price surges, Your Highness. If you try to pay the full price, the national treasury will not be able to afford it.¡± said a Security official. ¡°We have to arrest some of the severe merchants, behead them as an example, and confiscate their property.¡± Finally, Chancellor Lin let out a sigh without saying a word. They would lose the public opinion either way. They sometimes had to risk it, but he was reluctant to do it as soon as Cedric was crowned Crown Prince. It was so because it had to do with the affairs of the North. If there is a person behind this, he will undoubtedly gather the rumors together. The Crown Prince cherishes and loves only the North, and he intends to squeeze all other regions for the sake of the North. And that would be a good excuse for the Emperor. Cedric wiped his face once more. ¡°Fortunately, I have a way to solve some of those problems.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°The Crown Princess,st year¡¯s grain loan, in the spring of this year¡­¡­ was returned as Melbon of the same value. Before summer, she said that most of them were brought into warehouses in the central area.¡± Not many people know what Melbon is. There were only a few of the Interior Ministry officials who did. But they all turned bright. ¡°Given the value of wheat and Melbon, the quantity would be enormous.¡± ¡°Yes. Melbon grows even in the middle of winter, so it must have been a good spring harvest.¡± ¡°If it was saved in advance, thebor required for requisition would be reduced and there would be less risk of introducing a gue.¡± Cedric sighed and said, ¡°If you mix and release the stockpiled grains and Melbon, you will be able tost for about a year without difficulty. It¡¯s not even an area where we can judge the quality of grain.¡± ¡°The Crown Princess¡¯prehension is beyond measure.¡± Praise poured in. Cedric nodded his head with a gloomy face. Artizea¡¯s collection of Melbon in advance had one purpose to revitalize the economy by leaving wheat in the West, but another purpose was to distribute Melbon to the North. She wanted to spread it out as quickly as possible. However, in the North, it was difficult to produce inrge quantities enough to be able to supply Melbon as a seed to all regions in a short period of time. It was a winter thing to discuss with Artizea. He never thought it would be used this way. ¡°It would be something to know for certain only by figuring out the quantity, but it can be said that the food problem is not urgent. The problem is with transportation.¡± ¡°It has been partially resolved. The Kingdom of Iantz decided to lend a transport ship for free.¡± Cedric said. It was also arranged by Artizea. [I simply left a word to Crown Prince Bernat. Don¡¯t hesitate to use Iantz if you need it.] Reading such a sentence in Artizea¡¯s letter, he met Crown Prince Bernat. Bernat immediately talked about lending a transport ship. Artizea said that she only left a word, but it seemed to have been talked about to a considerable extent. Artizea was considerate of everything. In her letter, everything she could advise was left behind. Except, the story about herself. [I think it¡¯s unlikely that the fire in the port was a coincidence. I can¡¯t write it here because it¡¯s too risky. But keep in mind that if the person behind it exists, he knows not only what I did, but also what I discarded, and the ns I put as the foundation and ns that didn¡¯te to fruition. This arguably served the same purpose in different ways. They will never stop burning supplies. The first priority is to crack down on the North.] All of those sentences were not something written by a wife to her husband, but by the strategist to her master. [Do not resist His Majesty. Whatever the case, I¡¯m sure you know better than ever that you have to stay where you are now in order to reduce future sacrifices. Please keep Her Highness Natalia in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Don¡¯t take your eyes off Leticia. Protecting the heir should take precedence over everything. This also has to do with your maintaining the position as the Crown Prince.] She even wrote down a request for her daughter that way. And the onest sentence was written by a sinner. [This is all my responsibility.] Artizea must have been unaware of what she was doing wrong to him. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Cedric only asked for two things. Don¡¯t get hurt. And discuss. He had said they should take responsibility together. He had said let¡¯s find the right path together. Is it that difficult? A marriage vow is to live together for a lifetime, and a master-ve contract is based on loyalty and protection. But Artizea didn¡¯t seem to want to keep either of them. At this point, Cedric wondered if she even loved him. He was also gripped by a sense of shame as it seemed she could not give her trust. His frustration was even greater because he now believed she had made up her mind. ¡®Is it impossible to change you?¡¯ Other than changing master, Artizea herself can¡¯t change. She can be selfish. She can be arrogant. It would have been better if she had been shuddering from defeat and cry out shamelessly. He didn¡¯t even expect her to return the same feeling. He wanted to face her person-to-person. He is not the owner of a tool and she is not a tool in his hands. He hoped that what was flowing from his heart would reach the bottom of Artizea¡¯s heart. He wanted her to understand with her heart, not with her head. If she¡¯s like this, isn¡¯t she the same as before she came back? ¡®You¡¯re always cruel to me. To me, especially.¡¯ In the past, there were times when Cedric felt that Artizea understood him. If the Emperor tried tirelessly to see the bottom of him, Artizea acted viciously because she knew the limits of what he could endure. At times, even a firm trust was felt in those dreadful deeds. Perhaps, the one who firmly believes that he is a good man and possesses the qualities of a monarch is Artizea. There were times when it actually made him stronger. But now Cedric wanted to hold her and scream at her. I¡¯m just a human, I¡¯m not as great as you think. I neededfort and support, and I needed love andmunication. Just because I was able to endure it a little better than others didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t painful. If you love me, why are you doing this? Why the hell is your devotion like this? If Artizea really wanted to pay for her sins, she shouldn¡¯t have made such a unteral sacrifice. If she trusts him, if she considers him her master, then she should listen to him. If she loved him, if she epted him as her husband, she should cherish herself for him. Rather, is it not his side that is being instrumentalized. It seemed that what Artizea needed was neither apanion nor arade, but just a symbol to ce the crown of the Emperor she had obtained. A sudden pain gnawed at his bones. It would have been better if he hadn¡¯t loved her. It would have been nice if he could only see her from start to finish as the strategist. If she wanted to remain thoroughly as a tool, why did she reveal her human face? Cedric once again covered his face with both hands. Chancellor Lin said anxiously, ¡°You look tired, how about taking a break today?¡± ¡°No. The meeting must be finished. Because I cannot be absent from the meeting His Majesty attends. Then, I will go and rest.¡± Sleeping seemed like a nightmare, but even rest was obligatory. Cedric forcefully rubbed his face and lifted his head. Fatigue made his face heat up. It wasn¡¯t long before the Emperor arrived. The crowd stood up in unison and greeted the Emperor. The Emperor roughly waved his hand to sit down. He also had a tired face. Although the urgent task was handled by Cedric, it was unlikely that he would have sleptfortably in the Capital. As soon as the Emperor was seated, he asked, ¡°What about the pier?¡± ¡°First of all, the fire has been extinguished. Significant property damage did not increase beyond what was reported.¡± Cedric continued, ¡°The number of casualties is not much different from the report posted two days ago. Those who lost their lodgings were temporarily housed in my mansion and the vi of Marquisate Rosan.¡± ¡°Hmm. Wouldn¡¯t it be a problem?¡± ¡°Most of the burned areas are on the national pier and munitions warehouse, so many of those who have lost their amodation are soldiers. Since there are many soldiersing and going to my mansion from the beginning, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem. It¡¯s only temporary until we assign a new amodation.¡± ¡°What about civilian victims?¡± ¡°I persuaded some of those who had their own mansions in the port to open up an annex or lodgings for their servants. We are still figuring out the situation, but there aren¡¯t many, so it won¡¯t be a big deal for a few months.¡± Even if it was not used, it was rare for a noble to provide a mansion as a shelter. But Cedric didn¡¯t mind it. Refugees who lost their homes in war or disaster in Evron, naturally came under the wing of the Grand Duchy. It was not umon to line up in the hallway of the stronghold and spread the nkets in a row. And when the Crown Prince opened his own mansion, it was difficult for the nobles to stand still. Some especially sincere people volunteered. Cedric added onest time, ¡°We have decided to let Count Eunice take care of the items that need to be moved urgently. He says he has an unused warehouse on the outskirts of the port.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Good job.¡± Thepliment didn¡¯te out of nowhere. The sensitive ones would have sensed all the subtle gaps before the Emperor said he did a good job. But it was a no-fault. Then, a minister of the Ministry of Finance briefly summarized the story before the Emperor arrived and posted a report. The Emperor pressed his hand to the corner of his sunken eyes. ¡°It¡¯s Melbon.¡± Cedric looked at the Emperor, tense enough to forget his fatigue for a moment. Perhaps, the Emperor already knew that Melbon was the used Karam crop. His undercover investigators were also inspecting even the merchants from Evron. Even if it wasn¡¯t, it was sufficiently reproachable that the return grain was changed to Melbon, from wheat, without permission. This is because he received the country¡¯s wealth as something that was not freely avable. However, the Emperor did not nitpick. The northern supply problem was always a headache for him. Just because he didn¡¯t like Cedric, didn¡¯t mean he could give up the northern defense. There were usations that Cedric had an affair with Karam, but the Emperor still did not know exactly what the situation was in the North. Even with the East, which was defined as a traitor, he was unable to be subdued. He couldn¡¯t afford to even touch the North. In the end, he had no choice but to trust Cedric. It was ironic. Just three years ago he was able to pull Cedric out of the North and wield him. But now, he was acting cautiously, fearing that a situation could arise that could not be dealt with if it was revealed. The Emperor pressed his eyelids down once more. Then, he blinked his eyes to clear his vision and said, ¡°The Crown Princess has foresight, so that the burden is lighter. If so, the Ministry of Home Affairs should cooperate with the military to get the supplies out of the grain loan warehouse.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The Emperor drank a ss of water. ¡°Did you find out the cause of the fire?¡± ¡°We were desperate to put it down, so we haven¡¯t investigated it yet. I¡¯m sorry.¡± General Hoover, who was the representative of the military, spit out. ¡°Could it have just happened suddenly? It was done by traitors in the East, obviously.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak without thinking, General Hoover.¡± ¡°The patrol down time near the national pier is very short. It is no exaggeration to say that it runs almost non-stop. In the military, we took extra care to prevent even small sparks from sttering, and we also putrge water bottles here and there just in case.¡± Even if it was dry and a fire broke out, the fire could not have spread so easily to the pier where the warehouse was located. So this must be arson, General Hoover stressed. ¡°Perhaps, they expected to use the provision of the Central Army temporarily to supply the North. In that case, we would have dyed the return of the Southern Conquest Army. There are not many disruptions to the supply n.¡± Then, the Eastern subjugation would be a distant task. General Hoover said with a sigh, ¡°I would never have imagined that the Crown Princess could have provided enough food by operating the Western grain loan.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­. Someone mentioned sending troops to the East to get money, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s looting, but if you want to suppress it properly, you can¡¯t do that.¡± There were quite a few who understood that. ¡°From what I hear, it makes sense. I can think of a few people who have the audacity and the ability to do something like this.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Emperor groaned a little. Cedric carefully looked into the Emperor¡¯splexion. General Hoover spat the word arson easily because he knew nothing. But Cedric was convinced that Lawrence had done it. The guards burned the warehouses and piers. At the same time, considering the number and importance of the ces where the fire was lit, there will definitely be insiders in high positions. If so, there was a high probability that he was in this conference room. ¡®Your Majesty really doesn¡¯t know¡­¡­.¡¯ It won¡¯t be the Emperor. But he sees the Empire as his own. So, although he may turn away or give up politically, he does not give up hisnd. That was the crucial difference between him and Lawrence. Even if he had given up on the North and decided to squeeze it to death, there was no way he would do something crazy like burn the port and supplies. But Cedric was not convinced that the Emperor was still unaware that Lawrence had left the exile and disappeared. Even if Lawrence had enlisted all those who were guarding and monitoring him, there was no way he would have obtained all the contactworks. Cedric was unable to read the Emperor¡¯s expression. ¡®There is a high probability that someone close is covering His Majesty¡¯s eyes.¡¯ Even Artizea couldn¡¯t touch that part. It was because it was dangerous to gain ess to the information organization that the Emperor handled himself. But Lawrence took a different view. Even if he was caught, the Emperor would not take his life. Above all, many of the Emperor¡¯s servants had long been loyal to Lawrence. Even if just one or two of their memories returned, it would have been a dangerous thing. Chancellor Lin said, ¡°Let¡¯s put that work aside for now. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s something we¡¯re going to talk about at this meeting.¡± ¡°The most urgent thing is to rebuild the pier.¡± Bellon let out a long sigh, enough for it to blow away the papers ced in front of him. ¡°The problem is the budget. This year¡¯s finances are already in the red. Last year, it was not a good harvest, and this year is also precarious. It¡¯s only now that we¡¯re finally on track.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something that can be dyed.¡± ¡°I know.¡± It was then. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Someone shouted. Cedric and Lin, who were sitting to the left and right of the Emperor, stood up almost at the same time. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The Emperor fell face down on the table. effe¡¯smentary: the emperor¡¯s condition aside, the first half of the chapter really breaks my heart. i can¡¯t help but think that after everything is over, all the enemies eliminated the final hurdle is just the rtionship between tia and cedric itself. before, cedric seems to yield easily and they pass through those hurdles just by cedric embracing tia, but we had never seem him getting frustrated like this. as much as we like them getting a bit closer, so do the conflicts escte T.T well i know they will have a happy ending in the end, but still the current me is sad for cedric¡¯s share T.T Chapter 267 Chapter 267 The Emperor was carried away to his bed. The guard knights lifted the Emperor and carried him. His aides ran to him, vacating the hallway in advance and calling out to him. Cedric followed after him. The confusion was enormous. Chancellor Lin shut the meeting room door close with a pale blue face. Fortunately, only high-ranking officials were present at today¡¯s meeting. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this a secret.¡± Lin said so. ¡°But, Chancellor.¡± ¡°Think about the state of the Empire now. What confusion would arise if there were even rumors that His Majesty had fallen?¡± The western warlords will be agitated, and the eastern rebels will not stand still. On the other hand, a significant portion of the military power was down in the South. Among the foreign envoys who attended the ceremony for the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation, there were still those who remained in the Capital. Not just envoys, but how many foreigners are staying in the imperial capital to trade. Although it is said that Cedric was appointed Crown Prince, it was just the beginning. He could not yet be said to have firmly established himself. The Emperor has so far held power and reigned alone. His absence would soon leave imperial politics a hole. ¡°He may wake up soon. Don¡¯t make a fuss in public, go back to your ce and be faithful to your work.¡± The officials nodded their heads. The meeting ended. Lin headed to the Emperor¡¯s bedroom first. Officials took papers and notes and headed to their respective offices. And, very quietly, they had these conversations with people close to them, being careful not to cause any misunderstanding. ¡°He was a strong man, but at what point did he be like this¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He¡¯s old.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t like this before. He continued to worry about his sessor¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even so, so suddenly?¡± ¡°Because there were a lot of things that hurt his heart.¡± There were several murmurs. ¡°Come to think of it, he changed his doctor several times.¡± The Emperor had several chronic diseases from several years ago. He had long been concerned about high blood pressure and had diabetes. Perhaps, there were other minor symptoms that people didn¡¯t know for sure. But no one worried too much. Who doesn¡¯t live with one or two of these diseases in old age? It had to be managed well. The Emperor was a hedonist, but he wasn¡¯t a man who sacrificed his health to live by his own pleasure. ¡°He seems to be having a harder time these past few days.¡± An Interior Ministry official said in a whisper. ¡°He was like that when he was told there was a fire in the port. If it were me, I could have just gotten out of bed and left.¡± What happened in the bedroom between the time it took him toe to his senses and regain his judgment? Officials had such doubts. At the same time, they were relieved. ¡°It is fortunate that it is after the establishment of the national foundation.¡± ¡°Shh. Be careful with your words.¡± Someone paid attention. ¡°I understand what you meant by saying ¡®fortunate¡¯ but if there¡¯s something wrong, it can lead to misunderstandings. His Majesty could get up in a day or two.¡± However, the person who said that did not believe it. Everyone had an unusual feeling that it was such a light thing. * * * When Chancellor Lin entered, the Emperor¡¯s bedroom was strangely silent. The doctor was examining the Emperor. Standing next to him were Cedric and Gayan. The chief attendant took off the Emperor¡¯s socks and kneaded his feet with his hands. They were the only ones in the bedroom because they had to keep confidentiality. From the outside of the bedroom to the hallway, the attendant and guards were guarding it without leaks. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress enters.¡± Soon the Empress arrived. The door closed silently behind the Empress. Cedric turned to her and bowed to her. Lin and Gayan also bowed their heads in greeting without saying a word. The Empress gave the three of them a light nce and looked towards the bed. But she did note in, and stood by the door. The Empress was wearing a ck dress today as well. It had no special meaning. After all, she spent most of her daily life in ck clothes like mourning clothes. But when things came to pass like this, she looked strange. The Empress standing at the door looked like a reaper. Lin quickly brushed off the thoughts. Thoughts govern words and actions. Not thinking dangerous thoughts was the secret to not doing anything wrong. ¡°How are Gregor¡¯s conditions?¡± The Empress asked in such a way that she was not particrly shocked, or saddened, and neither did she rejoice. Of course, it was also foolish to believe her attitude as it was. The doctor finished the examination and stood up. Hisplexion was darkened with fear. ¡°The current crisis is over. I can¡¯t be sure, but¡­¡­, his blood vessels narrowed so blood couldn¡¯t circte to his head¡­¡­ I have my doubts.¡± ¡°Is that the diabetes? Wasn¡¯t there also some high blood pressure?¡± ¡°Originally, his blood pressure was high and his blood was sticky. He also had sweet urine.¡± This ailment doesn¡¯t get better. It got worse with age and was bound to explode at some point. ¡°Still, he took his medications and took good care of himself. He would be able to live in good health for at least the next ten years.¡± ¡°Recently, he has been neglecting his exercises because he has been struggling with mental health in many ways. He drank a lot. He often said he was tired.¡± The chief attendant spoke very slowly. ¡°How could it be so sudden¡­¡­.¡± The doctor was most devastated Recently, the symptoms have fluctuated without knowing the cause. But it wasn¡¯t to the point that he could suddenly copse like this. Gayan spoke to the doctor with a shady face. ¡°The cause is important, but what is more important right now is whether he can recover his health.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± The doctor was at loss. Lin nodded his head. It was important to understand the cause, but it was also important to know when the Emperor could wake up. The question of how long this matter should be kept confidential is at stake. The doctor¡¯s face turned pale blue. ¡°I don¡¯t know at this point whether the medicine was taken on time or not. If he wakes up by tomorrow, he will recover. But even if he recovers, it will be difficult for him to get up as healthy as before.¡± ¡°You mean he could wake up soon?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­¡­.¡± Lin let out a long sigh of relief unknowingly. Cedric also covered his eyes with his hand. ¡°You better hide this for a while.¡± ¡°Yes. It may be known that he is ill, but it would be troublesome for it to be known that he has copsed.¡± To Cedric¡¯s words, Chancellor Lin answered. Gayan asked, ¡°What will the others do?¡± ¡°Others?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help those who live far away, but we have no choice but to inform Countess Eunice, right?¡± ¡°It would be better not to notify until the details change. For the more ears to hear, the more mouths to speak.¡± As Lin spoke, he was gripped by a strange feeling. Years ago, Mira would have been sitting at the bedside. And Lawrence must havee as a child. Then Countess Eunice and her daughters will also be called. They would have passed the news to his other daughters who lived far away. Whatever the feelings, Grand Duke Roygar would have stood on one side of the bedroom as his brother. The Grand Duchess would alsoe to the bedside and offer words of constion. However, only the Empress and Cedric were present. There are only the Empress, who only left her shell for political reasons, and the Crown Prince, whom he wanted to keep in check by adopting as his son because it was politically necessary. Emperor Gregor was still alive, but the human Gregor was not. And even the Empire he was trying to control is flowing out of his hands. If the Empire was secure, there would be no reason to treat the Emperor¡¯s illness as a top secret. He had daughters left, but they wouldn¡¯t be allowed to make important decisions, let alone share secrets. Such is the legal right of inheritance. ¡°Crown Prince.¡± Lin called for Cedric, who was looking down at the unconscious Emperor. Cedric raised his head. The Empress said, ¡°How can you have such a pitiful face?¡± ¡°Empress¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The Emperor has fallen. It would be nice if he could open his eyes within a day or two, but if he doesn¡¯t, you will have to do it instead.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric looked at the Empress with an indescribable feeling. Chancellor Lin nodded his head. ¡°Her Majesty¡¯s words are not wrong.¡± ¡°I know.¡± How could the Emperor copse at such a time when the country is in danger in all directions? No matter how hard Cedric tries, it is difficult topletely fill the Emperor¡¯s absence and rece him. However, it was also the right time, as if he was lucky. Not long after the Crown Prince¡¯s ceremony was held, the Emperor began to keep him in check. If there was more time, the hostile forces raised by the Emperor would have increased. Then, his reign must have been troublesome even if he ascended to the throne. The Empress asked, squinting her eyes. ¡°Is it possible that youck the resolve?¡± ¡°No.¡± Cedric replied briefly. The resolution has long since been established. Not when he came back and met Artizea again, but before that. At the time when he thought he should bring Lawrence down even if he has to be a cruel man, or remain a viin for generations. Lin intervened, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. Would His Majesty be able to open his eyes in a few hours?¡± It was too dangerous to speak such dangerous words. In order to protect Cedric, it should be done in such a way that the nobles and officials were convinced and asked for a vicarious cleanup. Lin¡¯s words made his mouth twitch. But he didn¡¯t say anything. Cedric said, ¡°Your words are right. Until His Majesty opens his eyes, let¡¯s put the decisions of the meeting on hold. I will only look at the things that have been done as usual every year, or those that are very urgent.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Sir Gayan, if possible, be careful not to spread this fact to the guards as well.¡± ¡°I will inform only the knight guards about this and guard the bedroom myself.¡± ¡°You will have to pay attention to the escort as well.¡± ¡°Yes. Today, we will focus on those who already know the situation.¡± ¡°Yes. Good work.¡± Gayan went out of the bedroom saying he had to summon the knights. Lin came closer to him and said in a low voice that was close to a whisper, ¡°The officials will crack down as much as they can. However, you cannot use your hands inside the Imperial Pce. In particr, His Majesty¡¯s investigation organization¡­¡­.¡± Cedric nodded his head. The Emperor¡¯s secret organization will certainly move against him. ¡®I don¡¯t know if you left because you knew it or you didn¡¯t know it, but now is the time I need you.¡¯ Cedric muttered in his mind. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Seven undercover investigators gathered in one ce. The Emperor¡¯s investigation organization wasrgely divided into two. Among them, the open organization acted as a transcendental judicial institution under the direct control of the Emperor. They were given only Imperial Decrees, and dealt mainly with cases of high-ranking nobles¡¯ crimes and treason. The other investigation organization was the secret police and spy organization. The Emperor did not entrust such powerful powers to one man. All seven undercover investigators had equal powers. Organizational operations were also separate. In effect, there were seven intelligence organizations. The undercover investigators officially did not know each other¡¯s identities. They did not know how much budget they received and how the other sub-organizations were formed. Therefore, there were many members who belonged to two or more sub-organizations at the same time. The Emperor intentionally created such an organization. The primary purpose was to weave the tightly so that there was no information that could not be retrieved. Another purpose was to enable information sub-organizations to check each other through redundancy. If one is repulsive, the other organizations will automatically find out. A safeguard was put in ce to prevent them from stealing power from the Emperor by daringly blindfolding the Emperor and spreading false information. Of course, they haven¡¯t been working well so far. The Emperor was already quite inertial, even before his body became ufortable. He trusted his men, and he didn¡¯t recruit talent as energetically as he did in his youth. Instead of offering new, adventurous greetings, he promoted a subordinate who had been making a contribution or held a position for quite some time. That¡¯s why the undercover investigators stayed there for a long time. The oldest has already been there for fifteen years. So, they couldn¡¯t help but know each other. It was for that reason that they were able to gather without the Emperor¡¯s order. In the original arrangement, it was impossible. The masked person number 1 pointed it out. ¡°I attended because 4 said it was a very urgent and serious matter, but this is not right.¡± ¡°His Majesty has fallen, how long will you be obsessed with detailed rules?¡± said Cobb in number 4¡¯s mask. Even behind the mask, it was evident that 1 frowned. ¡°In times like these, you have to be more careful. Do you think His Majesty made the rules meaninglessly?¡± 2 agreed. ¡°In principle, we should not enter the Imperial Pce until the Emperor calls us.¡± 7 also said. ¡°It was abhorrent for 4 to continue investigating His Majesty¡¯s surroundings.¡± 1 said again. ¡°I know you are in a position to gather information within the Imperial Pce. But it would have been forbidden to you.¡± Cobb objected, ¡°Did I just do that out of nowhere? There was a suspicious sign around His Majesty.¡± Cobb was skeptical. Because he knew Marquis Rosan. There was a time when she was one with Lawrence. Marquis Rosan was attached to Cedric. But she is not involved in the deterioration of the Emperor¡¯s condition? It couldn¡¯t be. He simply couldn¡¯t find any evidence. However, this alone could not be without evidence. The disease got worse. She must have put her hand on medicine or food somewhere. So if he searches for it, he will surely find evidence. 6 said. ¡°You are overthinking. It is true that His Majesty¡¯s condition has worsened, but no poison has been detected anywhere.¡± ¡°He never used anything special from outside.¡± 1 also interjected. Cobb clenched his fists under the table. However, it cannot be argued now that Marquis Rosan would have done the work. Cobb knew the way she worked. Who would believe it in the first ce? She was only 18 years old when she married Grand Duke Evron. And she now was the Saintess. The Saintess, it was nonsense. Anyone who knew Marquis Rosan would not believe it. It must have been something she had done with the temple. Did she prove it by divine power? What does that mean? She has a real Saint in her hands. She must have found a way. But Cobb couldn¡¯t prove it. All he could say was this. ¡°Then, do we mean to stay like this? Did this happen not long after His Majesty¡¯smand to inspect the Grand Duke Evron and his wife?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t found any suspicious corners yet. It was true that the Duke was against Grand Duke Roygar, but it is up to His Majesty to decide whether or not it is treason.¡± ¡°I have no intention of moving voluntarily just because there are people who do not like the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because 4 has a grudge for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess due to reckless actions in the fight for merit? I hope you don¡¯t openly wrap it up as a cause and associate it with loyalty.¡± 2, 6 and 7 said in session. Cobb felt humiliated. 1 made a soft voice as if trying to calm them down. ¡°Come on, 4. We are not ignorant of your concerns. It is true that His Majesty thought there was something wrong with the Crown Prince, why do I not know that you are doing this out of loyalty?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But we are only the limbs of His Majesty. We cannot overturn what has already been decided.¡± ¡°Why would Ferguson sit still and do nothing? His Majesty has not decided to take down the Crown Prince.¡± Words about Lawrence were about toe out of Cobb¡¯s throat. He was the true heir chosen by the Emperor. It would have been if Lawrence hadn¡¯t forbidden it. But Lawrence cut it out right. [¡°I don¡¯t care what you do in the Capital. Don¡¯t utter my name.¡±] [¡°How dare I ruin the grand n? However, some must have a name to follow.¡±] [¡°I am not interested in themoner feelings you hold.¡±] Lawrence said that suddenly. [¡°The reason why I came to the Capital and employed you was not because you were special, but because you were in a good position to be employed.¡±] Cobb bowed his head. The fear that ran down his back was connected with the ecstatic thrill. He couldn¡¯t defy Lawrence. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t create power by selling his name without permission. 1 said. ¡°Until His Majesty wakes up, let each of us continue our investigations of Grand Duchy Evron. As it is, it is not permitted, but because of the situation, we should each check to see if there are any suspicious things around His Majesty.¡± 1 asked if that would be enough. 3, who had been silent until now, spoke instead of Cobb, ¡°If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, then, ording to the rules, we will have to announce our identity.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°There is no disagreement.¡± It was the rule, so everyone said so. Cobb smirked inwardly. The rules were made by Emperor Gregor. But not even a generation has passed since then. It was never enacted. But he couldn¡¯t resist the rules. Cobb stood up feeling frustrated that he couldn¡¯t even get any useful information. On the way out, 3 spoke to Cobb in a low voice, ¡°1 is old and says what the rules are, but I agree with you. You can¡¯t leave the Empire in the Northern man¡¯s mouth.¡± Before Cobb turned around, 3 quickly took the lead and walked. And he disappeared in an instant. So did the other secret agents. So did Cobb. He went out on a road known only to him and got into the carriage he rode on. He was just about to take off his mask, when the coachman knocked on the window. Cobb opened the window connected to the front of the carriage. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I got this.¡± Cobb opened the small folded note. On the top line, ¡°East¡± was written. A few names were written underneath it. All were the names of military factors. Cobb quickly realized what that meant. These are those who are attached in the East. That meant, in other words, those who wouldn¡¯t take Cedric¡¯s side in case something happens. Plus it was 5¡¯s handwriting. Although they didn¡¯t say anything today, Cobb can think of 5 as an ally. At least if this turns out to be advantageous. If so, it was worth doing. 5 would have had a lot of military intelligence. Cobb folded the paper neatly and put it in his chest. £ª£ª£ª Ferguson greeted Cedric with a hard face. He was on his way to meet the Emperor. Of course, he couldn¡¯t even get into the bedroom. He only saw the figure of the Emperor at the entrance to the bedroom, guarded by the doctor, the chief attendant, and the guards. He didn¡¯t look for a long time, but he could confirm that the Emperor was unconscious. ¡°I want Sir to make a decision.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. Ferguson didn¡¯t hesitate to answer, with his head bowed. He was by nature not suited to a person like Cedric. The position he held was also something he couldn¡¯t buy Cedric¡¯s favor. Ferguson¡¯s position would be the first to split when the regime changed. Moreover, he once ridiculed Cedric for being stupid. Cedric must have known that. But Cedric was already Crown Prince. Whatever the Emperor¡¯s true will, if he did not wake up, Cedric would be the next Emperor. Even if he wakes up, the power the Emperor holds at that time will be different from before he copsed. Right now, Ferguson himself is thinking about the future. Cedric said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you need the investigation organization that you run.¡± ¡°Crown Prince¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I promise you an honorable retirement. The organization itself cannot be left behind, but the members will not be left out and will be integrated into the Security Office.¡± Ferguson knew that this was the most expensive ransom moment. Cedric needed to recruit the Emperor¡¯s investigation organization. But he doesn¡¯t know who the secret agents are. So, Ferguson was chosen as the first target. There will be no more proposals after today. It wasn¡¯t bad considering the investigators under hismand. Although the extrajudicial power exercised as an investigator under the direct control of the Emperor would disappear. It is enough that he can safely withdraw from the power struggle and maintain his connections. It was a good reward. Hopefully, he¡¯ll get a chance to take over the security office. To himself, too, honor and wealth will remain, and he will be able to maintain influence to some extent. Ferguson said politely, ¡°The secret investigators had a meeting.¡± If he decided to be loyal, he had to prove his worth. And he had to stand up for the new master, not just thinking of being rewarded for his former status. And he had a lot of information to sell. ¡°Five out of seven are willing to oppose the Crown Prince. But at the meeting, two of them hid their will, and one sided with the one who made falsely hostile ims.¡± ¡°Is that one your colleague?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Just as the undercover agents were watching Ferguson, so was Ferguson watching them. Cedric nodded his head. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Lysia was locked up in a solitary room. She wasn¡¯t in prison. The room had a neat bed and a firece, and tapestries hung on the walls. There was also a tea table and chairs. But it made no difference that it was a prison. Lysia dragged the chair and stood up on it, opened the small window and looked out. The window was only the size of two palms. Even a five-year-old child would not be able to get out through there. The building was a monastery. The whole building was built of strong stone and was surrounded by a high fence. It was to defend against monsters. There were many such monasteries in the West. Perhaps, there is a deserted field outside the fence. This is because the monastery was originally built apart from the secr world. It seemed that the abandoned monastery was used as a base for the station. ¡®Two, four¡­¡­.¡¯ Lysia counted the number of torches she saw outside the window. Over forty. Even if there was one watchman for every three, it meant that there would be 17. ¡®50 people who brought me here¡­¡­ , there must have been at least 30 people guarding the base¡­¡­.¡¯ It¡¯s probably more than that if she thinks about the people who flocked to the hustle and bustlest night. Escape was impossible. Lysia was conscious of the pistol she had ced on her back. It was Cedric¡¯s pistol with Evron¡¯s crest engraved on it. But she only had one bullet. It wasn¡¯t meant to be used as a weapon in the first ce. Cedric had not given it to her to shoot either. The pistol symbolized the authority to move Evron¡¯s servants in case of emergency. Because she was not like before, she was neither the Saintess nor the fiancee of the Grand Duke, and she was nothing more than Baron Morten Heir Apparent. Just in case, it would have given the Knights of Evron a reason to move. For Lysia herself. She also has to protect Artizea. After she came to the West, she thought there would be no work for her. Because Artizea gave her her full powers, and also attached escorts. Lysia epted it as a kind of amulet and kept it. She thought she would rather not have it now, though. It was too dangerous to fall into Lawrence¡¯s hands. Not all orders can be issued to all areas at the same time. If discovered, this pistol could have been used in the wrong ce. She was lucky she was brought without being searched. But right now, she will still be caught tonight. So she had to hide it. She couldn¡¯t hide it in her body. The pistol was not designed for dueling or self-defense, but for warfare, especially for Cedric, who has big hands. ¡®Window frame? Firece? No, the bed mat?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t hide it in the room because she was anxious. Lawrence¡¯s base is not in one ce. No, rather, she thought that there was no fixed base. Then she can¡¯t hide it in the room. Because she may not be able to retrieve it and may be dragged away. No. Still, it would be better than falling into Lawrence¡¯s hands. Would she rather throw it out the window? But if the guards picked it up, it was the same anyway. Lysia rubbed her face with her hands. She seemed to go crazy. Or, will she just kill herself with this one shot? She even had a feeling that it would be the cleanest ending so that she won¡¯t suffer any more. ¡®I can¡¯t. I know it shouldn¡¯t be.¡¯ Lysia went round and round in the room. [¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±] That¡¯s what Alphonse said. [¡°It¡¯s okay. Because this is my role. And I¡¯m a lot stronger than you think.¡±] So, run while he buys time with his life. He said he was okay, but Lysia, who had survived by someone giving their life twice, was never okay with it. It wasn¡¯t just Alphonse. All of the dead knights she had known since childhood. The officials and priests were also people who volunteered to do the difficult task of following her to find gue spreading spots. Her life was alsoid upon the lives of the knights who died guarding her, and the lives of the priests and officials who died because of her. She did not want to recreate this tragedy. No, she didn¡¯t want to go through it. She wanted to get out of that yoke. She didn¡¯t want to be called a saint, and she didn¡¯t want to look at the Imperial Pce. Apart from forgiveness and reverence, this time, she just wanted to live her life doing what she wanted to do. So she fled west. Should she have fled to the North? Should she have given up on things she couldn¡¯t finish and regrets, and went back to her hometown and forgot about it? What is the name of the Saintess? Now, she was no longer a saint. Her divine power remained, but the divine voice that came upon her had already disappeared. Artizea was said to have received the oracle. Lysia thought it was right. God had chosen the wrong person in the first ce. And Lysia thought she must turn back time to reflect her choice. So it might have been right for God to let her do nothing and she should back off. Lysia pulled out the pistol and wiped the tears from her cheek with the hem of her sleeve. She thought that now she could not shed any more tears. There was never a day when grief became bearable. But she had to live. As long as she is alive, Cedric and Artizea wille to her rescue someday. The gue in the West can only be cured with her healing powers. If she makes Lawrence¡¯s misconduct ferocious here and gets killed, the gue will only end when all the sick are killed. Lysia pulled out the pistol. She then pulled out the bullet and put it in her clothes pocket. She then tried to hide the pistol in the firece. It was then. Knock, knock. A timid knock on the door was heard. Lysia was startled, and she quickly put the pistol back on her back. And she asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± The door opened carefully. A girl, who was not over eighteen, cautiously entered through the door. She was holding a dress in her hand. ¡°He, ah, hello¡­¡­. I, I came here after being told to attend to you so you can change your clothes.¡± She had a terrified face as if she had been dragged away from her home. Lysia stared nkly at the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Venia.¡± Venia looked at her with a startled face. ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lysia only bit her lip. She missed her, but it was the face she never wanted to see again. Because seeing her again meant that the unbearable sorrow and misfortune hade upon her. And the sorrow and misfortune must have alreadye upon Venia. Because it was obvious what Lawrence might have dragged her here. ¡®Sorry.¡¯ Even if she uttered an apology, Venia would not have understood the full meaning. ¡°At home¡­¡­ is everything okay?¡± Effortlessly, Lysia asked for it. Venia nodded her head, unable to hide a frightened face. ¡°Are you forced to say that it¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°N, no, nothing has happened.¡± The clever Venia knew exactly her own situation. She didn¡¯t even know what was going on, but she wasn¡¯t clueless. ¡°If I take good care of Miss, nothing will happen.¡± Tears welled up in Lysia¡¯s eyes. Clear tears fell again like drops of beads on her wiped cheeks. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Miss, are you okay?¡± Venia looked at Lysia¡¯s face and asked worriedly. Lysia shook her head saying she was okay. She was okay. If she was not okay Venia would lose her family and her hometown all over again. She couldn¡¯t do that. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. You¡­¡­ will return safely.¡± Lysia struggled to speak. As she spoke, she choked several times. ¡°I will change. Help me.¡± Lysia thought there was nothing more shocking than this. But when she unfolded the dress that Venia had brought her, the same colorce was ced over the ivory silk, tied once under her chest, and then hung heavenly, the dress felt warm and holy. It was a style that didn¡¯t exist now. In the past, when Lysia became the Crown Princess, it was designed with the utmost care by the best tailors for the Saint¡¯s wedding. Regardless of the real Lysia, it meant to show the image of a healing Saintess that people want. And that her wedding dress became fashionable. Soft silk and thince in achromatic colors took over the social world. Lysia also wore this style of dress again. How could Lawrence try to put the clothes back on her? The painful past became a reality and poured out all at once. It must have all disappeared when they returned to the past. She said she would no longer be a saint and she would no longer be the Empress. The world has changed so much that they will be walking through apletely different history than before. Still, it seemed to her that everything was repeating itself. Lysia stumbled and sat down on the chair. She covered her eyes with her hand, even though she thought she shouldn¡¯t be like that in front of the unfamiliar Venia. Her tears were dripping down. Lysia cried helplessly. Venia had a perplexed face. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. If you cry¡­¡­.¡± Venia felt her chest tighten as if it was being squeezed. She never thought of herself as apassionate person. It was Venia, who had been drawn into a serious problem because of her. And if anything goes wrong, it was Venia¡¯s vige that would be attacked. It¡¯s not like the Miss had never worn a fine silk dress like this. Still, she was sad and terrified. It seemed like the crying of this unknown person who she didn¡¯t know the name would tear her heart out. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± Venia sat down on her knees in front of Lysia. She wanted to wipe Lysia¡¯s cheek, but she was reluctant to do so with her shabby clothes. Venia hesitated, and then she gently took Lysia¡¯s hand. Then the door swung open. ¡°Lawrence.¡± Lysia jumped to her feet. And she took a step in front of her, as if she was trying to hide Venia behind her back. Venia noticed that Lysia¡¯s hand, which was holding her own hand tightly, was trembling. ¡°What are you doing without changing clothes yet? Didn¡¯t you get it from Venia?¡± Lawrence said peacefully as if nothing had happened. And Lawrence himself looked like nothing had really happened. His hair wasbed neatly, and he was wearing a modest but neat suit. That was enough. Originally, he was a person who didn¡¯t need any further decorations. It was just the same as when he was a lovely young man attending a ball in the Capital. Lysia looked at him like a monster. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Lawrence must have felt Lysia¡¯s gaze. But he didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°I prepared dinner. It may not be a very good dish.¡± ¡°You are not even human.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. There are no priests, nobility, no officials, and no purpose whatsoever.¡± Lawrence smiled with a smooth face. And he approached Lysia. ¡°It was what you liked. You and I, at a quaint ce to eat and drink tea and things like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lysia looked at him with a pale face. There was a time. When she believed she could still change him. When she thought the name of love could solve everything. When she thought he would treat her differently with that name. When she thought she would share his burden and share his responsibilities. At that time, she also had a sweet feeling. She knew that life in the Imperial Pce would be difficult, and that she knew that people do not change easily. Although she understands that he is a cruel person. Still, there were moments when it seemed that even the hard work of sustaining the world could be easily aplished. Venia grabbed her hand, terrified from behind. Lysia was thus able to keep her sanity. ¡°Get out, Venia.¡± ¡°Mi, Miss¡­¡­.¡± Venia whispered in fear. Lawrence was still smiling. It was a beautiful figure, but Venia felt nothing but horror. Lysia held her hand once, and said, ¡°Get out.¡± Venia groaned. It was because something small and heavy inside Lysia¡¯s sleeve rolled down onto Venia¡¯s palm. She sped it in her hand. Then, with a frightened look, she came out from Lysia¡¯s side, shuddering. And she ran out of the room. What was in her hand was a bullet. Venia held her trembling breath and looked around. And she hid it in the hem of her skirt. * * * Lawrence looked at Venia¡¯s back as she went out and twisted his lips. ¡°You are still kind. Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If Venia betrayed you after you died?¡± Lysia bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯m not curious. Even if Venia had stepped on my tombstone, it wouldn¡¯t have been Venia¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°Is that maid so reliable?¡± ¡°Venia knows what integrity and loyalty are. If she betrayed me, you must have driven her to do it.¡± ¡°Or Tia.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lysia did not answer. Lawrence grinned. ¡°You¡¯re only cold to me, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Lysia was silent. She had nothing to say and nothing she wanted to say. Lawrence approached Lysia. Lysia unknowingly took a step back from him. But the room wasn¡¯t that spacious. Soon the wall hit her back. Lysia took in a breath. Lawrence¡¯s hand grabbed a handful of her hair. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to Lysia¡¯s raised hair. The jewel-like bright eyes nced at Lysia. The next moment he pulled her by the hair. ¡°Ugh.¡± Lysia hardened her body. She was gripped by a feeling of shame rather than pain. She couldn¡¯t resist. She couldn¡¯t fight Lawrence and win with her own strength. It would rather result in harming her own body. What difference would she make if she had a weapon? If her gun is loaded and she can shoot, then what? What if the monsterse and kill her? What about Venia? What about the gue? Can she kill Lawrence herself before that? Her love had dried up to the bottom, andpassion was not even in her arms. But she wasn¡¯t sure. The bottom of her chest swelled. Lawrence growled as he looked into Lysia¡¯s face. ¡°Why? You got sympathy, Saint?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you want to sympathize, do it right. You always tell me. Be patient, yield, understand. Shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?¡± ¡°What is your purpose?¡± Lysia asked with a wretched face. ¡°I am no longer the Saintess. The oracle was given to Tia, and the Crown Prince Ceremony was over. Just because you said this to me doesn¡¯t mean you can be emperor.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that.¡± Lawrence grinned and threw Lysia onto the bed. Lysia groaned painfully and rolled over. Lawrence climbed on top of her. This time, Lysia crawled away until her back hit the wall. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t know there was no room to escape. But it was because she couldn¡¯t ovee the rejection. Lawrence lowered his head. Lysia turned her head. Lawrence then grabbed her chin and covered Lysia¡¯s lips. Lysia screamed into her throat. Lawrence grabbed her wrist. Lysia struggled like crazy. Eventually, unable to suppress all of her resistance, Lawrence fell from her. Lawrence¡¯s lips ripped open and blood gushed. Heughed cheerfully. And he pulled the gasping Lysia¡¯s waist into a hug that her breath hit his chin. ¡°Oh no,, Lysia.¡± He pulled the pistol from her fingertips. ¡°Gasp.¡± ¡°If you had a gun, you should have shot it right away when I opened the door.¡± Lawrence¡¯s smile glided across Lysia¡¯s cheeks as smooth as silk. There was a blood stain on the white cheeks. ¡°If not? Is it that again? You will endure whatever I do because you¡¯re afraid Cedric will fall if you die.¡± Heughed happily. Then, while sitting on Lysia, he clicked and opened the barrel. The barrel was empty. ¡°Aha. Well, you were dragged out suddenly, so I guess you didn¡¯t have time to load it.¡± Lawrence said calmly. Lysia took her breath and she spoke again, ¡°If you don¡¯t even want to be emperor, why are you doing this to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to get my woman back, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I am not your wife.¡± Lysia said, squeezing it out. ¡°It¡¯s all gone.¡± ¡°But you love me, right?¡± said Lawrence. Lysia gasped for breath. Her exhtion was so hot it felt like her chest was on fire. ¡°How, how can you say that¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Hey, it¡¯s funny when I say things like this.¡± Lawrence quivered as if it was really funny. ¡°Anything is fine. I don¡¯t care if you love me or not. That doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re my woman.¡± Lysia clenched her teeth. She tried not to feel anything. Everything she had told Artizea. In the end, it was all Lysia¡¯s own choice. It was also her own decision to believe that Lawrence was the subject of the oracle. There was obviously a romantic feeling involved. She loved and tried to keep loving. She wanted to live for each other as husband and wife. She tried to forgive him all her life. If Lawrence had held her outstretched hand, she would have been able to work harder in the future. But Lawrence did not hold the hand. At that time, Lysia put everything down. Lawrence gently stroked her cheek. ¡°Did you really put it all down? Do you hate me? Our children, too?¡± At that moment, Lysia struggled like crazy. Lawrence giggled and grabbed her limbs and pressed them down. Lawrence really wasn¡¯t interested in bing emperor. As he regained his memory, the first thing he felt was pleasure. He didn¡¯t even want to get revenge on Artizea. How did she get passed on to Cedric? Lawrence was different from Mira. When he decided to get rid of Artizea, he knew for sure that he had severed all ties. It was natural to fight for revenge. Lawrence took it naturally. So, in the first ce, Artizea couldn¡¯t be the object of passion for Lawrence. She seemed to depend on her vassals more than herself, which was annoying. But the joy that he had won was instantaneous. However, it was gone as quickly as a bubble. It was a younger sister who would wither and die if left alone. ¡®In the end, there was no point in doing anything.¡¯ He had the whole world. He built and demolished sand castles, and even tried to smash everything that was unpleasant like kicking a toy house made of blocks. The result of doing everything as desired was boredom. He thought he was an amazing person. If it were him, he would have gotten tired of ruling and reigning. In his previous life, the only thing that had meaning was Lysia. ¡°I want to be the only one in your life.¡± ¡°Aackk!¡± Lysia cried out, unable to bear her wrath. ¡°You don¡¯t love me! That¡¯s not love!¡± Lysia¡¯s eyes seemed to be on fire. Lawrence looked into her eyes with ecstasy. ¡°It might be. I don¡¯t care what you call this feeling. All I need to do is have you.¡± For that, he intended to smash her by beating those with whom she cherished and bonded. Starting with that bastard whom she ims she doesn¡¯t love. ¡°Isn¡¯t it possible to make you despair and go crazy so you can only see me? Don¡¯t you think so?¡± ¡°You are trash.¡± Lawrence smiled sweetly as if he had heard praise. Chapter 271 Chapter 271 It was when Hayley came out of the study with her barelypleted report. A middle-aged man was standing right in front of the door. Hayley sighed. Her desire to pretend she didn¡¯t notice him was bubbling. But she couldn¡¯t just ignore the mayor¡¯s secretary. ¡°You know. Her Grace is not seeing anyone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not asking for an unreasonable formal audience, am I? Just a moment to bless Young Master Wello¡­¡­.¡± The secretary said anxiously. Wello, the old mayor¡¯s son, was only three years old. Although it has not spread to this area, it is a time when the gue is circting. She could understand the mayor¡¯s desire to bless his young son, even if he was rude to the Crown Princess. Hayley felt like she wanted to let him go, too. But she couldn¡¯t make an exception. If she allows the three year-olds, what about the five year-olds? Seven-year-olds? What about the elderly who are prone to illness? What about those who are already sick? Once she starts allowing, they¡¯ll never stop getting requests for visits. Now, security is on guard, but as long as the Knights of Evron are moving, the administrative officials and the castle lords cannot be unaware. Then, if there is even a rumor that the Saintess is here, pilgrims and sick people will gather like clouds. When a gue circtes and people move to that ce, the transmission is bound to elerate. [¡°I have no healing power. We have no choice but to keep security and maintain quarantine as we are now.¡±] When Hayley asked what she was going to do, Artizea replied bluntly. It was hard for Hayley toprehend, for she vividly remembers the miracle at the Harvest Festival. [¡°The incident at that time was over with just one time. You can think of luck as having a miracle.¡±] Artizea said so, so there was no way Hayley could say otherwise. She felt like her head would explode when she acted on behalf of Artizea. ¡°Sorry. Her Highness, she is really ill.¡± Hayley just said so. What would the secretary do? The Crown Princess copsed from fatigue and it is difficult to meet people. Hayley left the secretary there. And she took a deep breath in front of Artizea¡¯s door. ¡°I¡¯ll go in, Your Highness.¡± There was no answer from within. Hayley opened the door. It had been several days since Artizea had not answered. She was used to it now. All the wooden shutters were closed, so it was dark even in broad daylight. The smell of the candles was smoky. Artizea sat looking at the wall with the map on it. There were notes here and there with red and ck ink. These were notes that had no meaning for Hayley. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Artizea¡¯splexion was dyed ck as she looked back. In the darkness, only blue eyes shone like luminescence. ¡°You¡¯ve been up all night again.¡± ¡°I can not sleep.¡± ¡°Then, you should lie in bed and close your eyes.¡± Hayley said. She was weak from the beginning, and it got worse after she copsed from fatigue of proiming the oracle. Hayley didn¡¯t think Artizea had evere to the West at all. She knows Artizea, and she probably hasn¡¯t slept well since the bodies of Alphonse and the knights came. Hayley was an Evron ustomed to death. In other words, she was ustomed to the death of someone close to her. ¡®I¡¯m d she wasn¡¯t trying to be a bait like how I was worried when she first came to the West.¡¯ It was natural that the death of the knights was painful. But she didn¡¯t think Artizea would go this far. She was also worried for Lysia. She knew that Artizea had a special regard for Lysia, and that she loved Lysia like her only friend. Hayley was also worried about Lysia. She was a rtive with whom she spent childhood. Lysia wasn¡¯t that different from a sister. But now Artizea was not normal. Would she rather use medicine to make Artizea sleep? So she fell asleep and when she woke up, she might admit to herself that she also needed some rest. Artizea murmured, ¡°Because I don¡¯t want my flow of thoughts to be interrupted.¡± ¡°You should have venttion. Alice must have done nothing.¡± Hayley deliberately mentioned Alice. It was because she thought it would be able to elicit more of a reaction from Artizea. And she was right. Artizea said as if making excuses, ¡°I told her to leave it alone because I can focus more on this side than it did when it got brighter and then darkened.¡± ¡°Then can I open it now?¡± Artizea nodded her head. Hayley blew out several candles, walked over to the window and opened the shutters. Fresh air rushed in all at once. Artizea let out a big sigh. Then, as if her head hurts, she rested her forehead on the cushion and sat down. ¡°The news you have been waiting for has arrived.¡± ¡°Summarize it. My head hurts.¡± Hayley put the report with the original letters from all over the ce on the desk. ¡°It was just as Your Highness said. We can¡¯t even confirm the identity, but considering the increase or decrease in the number, it seems that most of the bandits that have disappeared from this area are moving to the basin of the Ava River.¡± Hayley thought it was surprising. Where they are now is originally one of the most violent areas in the West. But by the time they arrived, it was strangely quiet. Even though the castle lords who regrly subdue bandits were unable to send out their subjugation troops due to the gue. There was no way the bandits could move while taking care of the gue, so it was correct to assume that the movement urred as a whole. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Because a thief can move only with money.¡± Artizea responded. Even if a wealthy person wants to gain a force, it takes years to raise an army. But Lawrence didn¡¯t have that patience. Moreover, he did not aim to rule. It must have been the easiest way to recruit bandits with money rather than wasting one¡¯s heart. ¡°Write down the information you brought on the map with a red pen.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do it, so in the meantime, Your Highness, close your eyes, even for a moment. It¡¯s good to eat something. Alice almost fought while begging the chef to keep the soup warm.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea answered, but did not stand up. Because she didn¡¯t want to show what was causing her vertigo. It was a strange and ufortable feeling to have so many people worrying about her. It¡¯s not that she has to endure so as not to show her weakness like before, but she has to endure so that she doesn¡¯t cause worries. She doesn¡¯t deserve it. Artizea leaned back on the sofa and closed her eyes. Her lower eyelids were dry and tingling. The sound of Hayley taking notes made her body heavier. But maybe because she was too tired, she couldn¡¯t sleep. ¡®I think I¡¯m going to have a terrible dream when I fall asleep.¡¯ In order not to copse when she was really needed, she had to keep her stamina intact. Artizea knew it, too. Hayley said in a light voice on purpose, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Lysia is a strong girl. Whether she was kidnapped for political reasons, or he knew Lysia as the Saint and sought her healing powers, we¡¯ll have to wait and see. He¡¯s not going to kill her.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. If we do, we will bete.¡± The opponent was Lawrence. It was not aimed at her healing powers, nor was it for political purposes. Once Artizea herself had professed to have received her oracle, Lysia was politically useless. And Lawrence was not a person who could amass power through healing and grace with a long-term view and virtue. So, it would be right to think that Lawrence¡¯s target is Lysia herself. She seemed to understand now. Actionse from purpose. Purposees from desire. At the base of Lawrence¡¯s psychology, there was resentment and anger that he was deprived of what he deserved. In the past, what he ¡®deserved¡¯ was his inheritance, the Empire. And Lawrence once had that Empire. However, human desires do not change easily. Because ites from all life experiences. The purpose is achieved, but the desire remains. So the subject must have changed. The possibilities were sufficient. Lawrence couldn¡¯t win Lysia¡¯s heart in the end. ¡®If he sees Miss Lysia as something he ¡®should have¡¯, that will be able to exin with coherent logic what he has done so far.¡¯ Spread the gue in the West and made a mess. Because Lysia will try to stop the Western gue. Frame Cedric and made the people of the Capital aware of discrimination against the North. Because Lysia cherishes Cedric. Burned the pier. In order to increase a political burden on Cedric and dry up the North to death. At the same time, intensifying the conflicting elements inherent to the North. Because Lysia cherishes ??Evron. Despite the overwhelming force, he dared to kill Alphonse and her escort knights. To torment Lysia. She came to understand the logic of action. So she could guess what he would do next. He will destroy everything Lysia cherishes. Just like before her return. She has been thinking and thinking like crazy for the past few weeks. What he would have nned to pressure Cedric. What he did and what he didn¡¯t do. She also wondered what Lawrence would be discussing. So in the end there was only one conclusion. Artizea ced the back of her hand around her eyes. ¡®I should have killed him as soon as I came back.¡¯ More than this, she didn¡¯t think there would be anything more to me. She had once destroyed an Empire. When she came back, she partially followed Cedric¡¯s principles, but only partially. The justification for reducing the total amount of sacrifice was not just. What does that have to do with the innocent victims who are actually swept away? If there is an afterlife and retaliation takes ce, it would be impossible to pay for all those sins even with an immortal body. Cedric said that was his first choice. The responsibility is his own, and the past has be a thing of the past. However, in the end, Artizea herself decided to use a cause and conspire to raise Cedric to the throne. What has been done in the past has not gone away. Of those who died by this gue, they became blood on Artizea¡¯s hand. It was something everyone knew. But now, Artizea regretted something she hadn¡¯t thought of for the first time. ¡®I should have just killed Brother and Mother that day.¡¯ If it had been so, all of this would have disappeared. After that, the world would have flowed in order. Wasn¡¯t that God¡¯s will? That she will undo everything she has done. ¡®Not¡­¡­ not now.¡¯ Artizea had another thought that had been repeated for several days. There was a way to kill Lawrence even now. Not as clumsy as Mira¡¯s, but a curse that could bring about real death. But what about Lysia? Those under Lawrence are bandits. What if Lawrence dies and they appear again? Lysia was a skilled archer and was also good at marksmanship. But she was alone. The bandits couldn¡¯t let the young woman go. She didn¡¯t even think Lysia could escape. Even if she escapes, a in teeming with bandits awaits in front of her. ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to Ava.¡± If Lawrence decides to bring the destruction of the West into Lysia¡¯s eyes, the next move is to incur flood damage. It spreads the gue directly by sweeping away some areas, and at the same time paralyzes the administrative power to break the quarantine line. And Lawrence would have already known well where he would have to burst to flood the Ava River*. (*Note from Somnium and effe: it was what Tia had used to trap Cedric in the past. So more or less, things that happened in the earlier chapters wereing back!) Chapter 272 Chapter 272
    1. Prince Regent
It was ten dayster that the Emperor regained his consciousness. He opened his eyes, but couldn¡¯te to his senses. His vision was blurry. The doctor, who had been by his side day and night, rushed to him in surprise. ¡°Your Majesty, are you awake? Can you see me?¡± The Emperor, who was about to close his eyes with fatigue, woke up again at the call. But his vision was still blurry. His limbs were stiff and he couldn¡¯t hear well. It had been years ago when he woke up without a numbness in his leg or fingers. The fatigue he had umted over the past few months was reaching its limit. But it was the first time he had felt so sick all over his body. It wasn¡¯t where he was injured or overworked when he was young, but his whole body ached. It was to the extent that he suddenly realized that there was pain in the skin of his whole body. The Emperor tried to speak, but it didn¡¯t go well. The doctor noticed quickly and poured a little water into his mouth. Then he moistened his lips with a damp towel. The Emperor said hard in a shriveled voice, ¡°What happened¡­¡­ to me?¡± ¡°You copsed.¡± The doctor said with a tearful face. No one rebuked him. But no one has been more terrified in thest ten days than the doctor. He was worried about whether the prescription he had written so far was wrong, or whether the diagnosis for a chronic disease was wrong, and he went crazy. At least the first aid didn¡¯t seem wrong. The Emperor blinked his eyes a few more times. His vision has returned a bit. ¡®I copsed¡­¡­.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t remember when it happened. The Emperor asked in a low voice, ¡°Can I recover?¡± ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie. You must not err in judgment by speaking nonsense to give hope.¡± The doctor said hesitantly and cautiously, ¡°Your condition is not very good.¡± The Emperor had been warned about the matter for several years already. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t question the doctor. ¡°I thought we were very careful.¡± ¡°Forgive me.¡± The doctor fell on his face and trembled. The Emperor did not rebuke him. Instead, he spoke slowly, ¡°So, what to do now?¡± The doctor swallowed a gulp. The Emperor barely made it through the crisis. However, this will elerate the rate at which the body is damaged. ¡°You need to be stricter than ever before on dietary restrictions. Where the climate is nice and quiet¡­¡­ You must live in peace.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± At the Emperor¡¯s question, the doctor carefully asked, ¡°Most of the foods that give you energy should not be eaten. You have to carefully control the amount of water you drink every day.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So, you can¡¯t do it the way you did before. You must rest. If you copse one more time, then even if the God of Underworld and Saintess Olgae alive, your Majesty will not be able to be saved.¡± Those words shed into the Emperor¡¯s mind. ¡°The Crown Princess?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°No.¡± The doctor couldn¡¯t understand the Emperor¡¯s intent to ask the question. ¡°No.¡± The Emperor murmured. He thought he had said nonsense. Instead, the chief attendant answered. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of anyoneing back. Shall I call the investigator?¡± He was referring to the undercover investigator, not Ferguson, of course. Since the Emperor valued the Crown Princess, they would have been following her after leaving the Capital. But the Emperor muttered in a weary voice. ¡°Enough.¡± He was already very tired. He had a hard time epting the fact that he was sick. He was a man who lived his life energetically, both publicly and privately. But he had no energy, even though he had only said a few words. That fact made him even more exhausted. ¡°You should have a little soup before you go to sleep again.¡± said the chief attendant softly. The Emperor nodded his head. The guard knight standing at the foot of the bed was restless. The dignitaries were eagerly waiting for the Emperor to wake up. The servant has already gone outside to announce the news. In the ears of the sensitive knight, the impatient footsteps pacing outside the door could be heard. But the chief attendant restrained him from opening his mouth by cing a finger on his lips. The Emperor drank about half a bowl of soup. And he sat waiting for it to go down a little, then muttered out of nowhere, ¡°I miss Mira.¡± There was no one to answer that. £ª£ª£ª Cedric was summoned after the Emperor had slept once more and had awakened. The Emperor ate one more time and had an attendant put makeup on his face. It was just to look a little bit healthier. ¡°You haven¡¯t decided on anything except what I have already entrusted to you?¡± ¡°Your Majesty is in good health, how can I arbitrarily execute state affairs?¡± ¡°If I am absent, the Crown Prince should take over the government affairs in my ce.¡± ¡°I handled ordinary political affairs and investigative activities arbitrarily. But for things that require a decision, it deserves Your Majesty¡¯s approval.¡± So when the Emperor woke up, he would be ready to make a decision any time, Cedric said. The Emperor looked at Cedric with a feeling of exhaustion. He was stuffy and annoying. It was not known whether this faithfulness was sincere, or whether it was because he had not yet attained military power. Or is it that Cedric is taking his time, thinking the Emperor is going to die anyway? The doctor would have been the first to report to Cedric about his health. Cedric would be resentful of him as Artizea said. Cedric buried his grudge against his lost parents and for his wife and child. The Emperor pushed his wife west to die. It was strange if Cedric did not hold grudges. He wouldn¡¯t have missed an opportunity if the Emperor had been in that ce. He cannot avenge the dead. ¡°You must have heard from the doctor that I am sick. Even now, I don¡¯t have the energy to take care of the dyed state affairs. You may know that and you have sufficient authority yet you waited on my approval. Isn¡¯t this rather mocking me?¡± ¡°I was just concerned about the fact that if the supreme court canceled the decision after arbitrarily executing it, national power would be wasted.¡± The Emperor understood Cedric¡¯s will. So it seems Cedric thought the Emperor would undo whatever he had done when the Emperor woke up. ¡°Whoo¡­¡­.¡± His chest tightened and he was sweating, and the Emperor bent his neck and leaned back on the cushion. He hasn¡¯t even gotten to the stage where he could take good care of himself yet. He couldn¡¯t leave the government behind, so he decided to meet some people only today. He had not yet fully epted the reality in his heart. But in the end he had to admit it. ¡°Lin.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Sir, please assist the Crown Prince to take care of the overall affairs of the Empire.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I will honor you with all my devotion.¡± Lin knelt down on his knees and answered. ¡°We will do our best.¡± Cedric quietly lowered his eyes and answered just like that. The expression could not be read. At least he didn¡¯t seem happy with the transfer of power. The Emperor thought that Cedric might now be able to disguise his feelings beyond hiding them. As he thought about it, he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten Artizea. He didn¡¯t even realize that Cedric had a depressed face because of that. His body was ill, so his thoughts could not be connected as one. ¡°Are you ming me for your wife¡¯s affairs?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Tia would have gone west even if Your Majesty had not sent her.¡± Cedric answered in a calm voice. ¡°Did you receive the news?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Herdy-in-waiting sent it.¡± The Emperor looked at Cedric with dark eyes. ¡°Tell her toe back.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°I am now ill and have no power to harm you and your wife. So tell her toe back.¡± Realistically, it was. Is there any reason to kill Artizea even by risking his own life? There wasn¡¯t. Even if he wanted to make Leticia his sessor, it was already toote in this state of affairs. If he has no choice but to ascend Cedric anyway, it would be better to reconcile with Artizea. Artizea was the Saintess. The Emperor was specting whether Artizea¡¯s divine power could redo the miracle of the holy relic. When Mielle recovered, there was a statue of Saintess Olga. In the West, there was also information that Lysia was healing the gue by carrying the relic as an agent of the Saint. He knew that the bishops¡¯ conference had the same view. ¡°I will entrust it to you and your wife.¡± said the Emperor. Can he give his life to Artizea? He couldn¡¯t. He won¡¯t be able to do it even if he was anxious. Objectively speaking, it was. Cedric considered that the state affairs and the noise that urred during the session would affect the government, but Artizea would not. Knowing this, he feltpelled to cling to a glimmer of hope. He wanted to pray to a god he did not believe in, after decades. Still, doubts and impatience scratched his heart. ¡®It¡¯s ugly to be old.¡¯ The Emperor himself thought so. There was a time when he risked his life and jumped in, saying that if he couldn¡¯t get what he wanted, he¡¯d rather die. He was crazy about wanting to live now. ¡°I am honored.¡± Cedric lowered his head. The Emperor looked at the top of his head, then averted his gaze and closed his eyes. ¡°Go back and do your duty, Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric answered, and he withdrew. The Emperor sighed lightly. The chief attendantid him down again. The Emperor soon fell asleep again. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 It was shortly after Mira was exiled that the Emperor¡¯sst will was drawn up. There was an amount of property owned by Gregor, not the Emperor. Some of the wealth left to him by his birth mother was inherited until his ession. As the adopted son of the predecessor Empress, he also inherited his adoptive mother¡¯s property. In his will, the Emperor wrote about his two daughters and grandchildren, the blood of his birth mother whom he sent away so they could not get involved in politics, and the inheritance to be passed on to the predecessor Empress¡¯ family. He also decided on money and goods to be distributed among many people, from his favorite masseuse and musician he liked in hister years to his long-serving coachman and faithful chief attendant. He was going to give Lawrence a considerable amount of interest and property, and allow him to start a new family. Creating a new hereditary title was tricky. But nothing was impossible. By the time Lawrence was dismissed for his mistake, he had already made up his mind to do so. He had a lot of work to do. The Emperor knew that he would be able to deal with these things rationally and urately if he stood before his death. And he thought he could calmly organize hister years. But he never did. He knew what to do, but the Emperor did not do it. His hands and feet did not ept the orders of reason. Even though he knew he had to rest, the Emperor called his secretary every evening after they attended the State Council meeting. The secretary organized all the orders that had left the Crown Prince¡¯s office that day and brought them to the Emperor¡¯s bedroom. Of course, the Emperor did not read it. It was because he had no energy and his sight were dim. The young attendant read it for him, but it was impossible to judge the contentpletely just by listening. So it was just an ominous sign that he hadn¡¯t fully let go of it yet. But he did not receive guests. Because he didn¡¯t want to show his debilitating figure. Only Countess Eunice came to see him as usual. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring the kids. I was afraid that Father would be tired.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± The Emperor said in a subdued voice. He wanted to act like someone who would never die, but he hated being lonely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Countess Eunice took the Emperor¡¯s hand and said so. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°If I had known it had gotten this far, I wouldn¡¯t have brought honey.¡± ¡°How could that be your fault?¡± The Emperor sped her hand tightly and waved it. ¡°The doctor didn¡¯t know. How many cups of that have you made for me this far?¡± The Emperor closed his eyes and let out a sigh. There was no end to rebuking,menting, and retaliation in that way. Countess Eunice held the Emperor¡¯s hand for a moment, then she said, ¡°I wrote a letter to Grace.¡± It was the story of another daughter whom the Emperor had asked to marry a distant nobleman. The Emperor married Grace to Count Josiah. He was not ambitious and wanted to make a living by cultivating thend handed down from generation to generation. County Josiah¡¯s ce was quite far from the Capital. The husband and wife lived quietly in their manor, saying they had no reason toe to the Capital. The Emperor looked at the Countess Eunice with hollow eyes. ¡°You did a good job.¡± ¡°What do you mean? If Gracees up, you¡¯re not going to say that other people will think politically like this and that?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter either.¡± The Emperor smiled faintly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Later, Grace will be regretful, too.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°You should also see the children that Grace gave birth to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Have you ever seen her youngest?¡± ¡°She used to send me portraits.¡± ¡°He is five years old, and he looks just like Father. His personality resembles his mom and dad, so he only reads books. He is five years old, and already knows how to read.¡± ¡°He is smart.¡± The Emperor answered in a shriveled voice. ¡°How is your husband these days? Is his job going well?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. He has many things about Father in his heart?¡± ¡°Is Ced behaving harshly or not?¡± ¡°There is no such thing. Don¡¯t worry. Rather, he seems to have helped me with what happened because of thest port fire. After that, I received a separate letter of thanks.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Countess Eunice said softly, ¡°I wrote a letter to the Crown Princess asking her toe back soon. He¡¯s not going to be mad, is he?¡± ¡°To Tia?¡± ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s the Saintess. I have heard rumors that Baron Morten Heir Apparent healed the gue by carrying the relic entrusted to her by the Crown Princess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know the West is a big deal, but it¡¯s nothing more important than Father¡¯s health.¡± ¡°Thank you for taking care of me.¡± Countess Eunice said in a lively voice on purpose. ¡°When did Lawrence say he woulde back?¡± ¡°I told them to send the news.¡± In fact, this wasn¡¯t the first time the Emperor had asked about Lawrence. Shortly after Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s incident, he contacted him once. With such a big event, it was time for Lawrence¡¯s mistake to be buried. Above all else, he was reluctant to keep Lawrence there in a situation where the East would be divided. He had no intention of making him re-entering politics right away. He decided to take a look at him, having him live near the Capital. Then, when Lawrence grew, he would be able to entrust him with small tasks. But there was no reply from Lawrence. A strong willed man would have been annoyed. The Emperor thought so, and he did not rush. He hadn¡¯t seen Lawrence for a long time, so he felt rather affectionate. The Emperor ordered that even Mira be summoned quietly. He could not lift her exile, but he intended to allow her to live quietly in a stable ce with Lawrence. ¡°You will be in touch soon.¡± Countess Eunice said, stroking the back of the Emperor¡¯s hand as if consoling him. ¡°Until then, just be satisfied with me.¡± The Emperor smiled bitterly and nodded his head. * * * But he waited, and waited, and no news came. If there were circumstances in which he could note, he should have contacted to say so. Lawrence, however, did not send a single letter, despite reports that he was in critical condition. It was the same with Mira. Although it was impossible to run quickly across the wide West, it was only natural for the messenger to give him some news in advance. ¡°Has something happened to the East?¡± The chief attendant replied with an apologetic face. ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. How about waiting a little longer? It¡¯s not that close to where Sir Lawrence is, is it?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I am afraid that you will get ill while you were worried.¡± The Emperor thought he was right, so he passed on the day. The longer he waits, the more distant news doesn¡¯te. But two dayster, the Emperor called for Ferguson. ¡°Have you not heard of anything happening in the East?¡± ¡°The only new thing that has happened recently is the dispute between Count Paen and Viscount Hamelton. They¡¯re fighting for the Count¡¯s guardianship.¡± The answer was too obvious and insincere. What the Emperor needed was more detailed information. ¡°It means that there is no one who has taken military action other than that. Is there any reason why the messenger sent to Lawrence couldn¡¯t arrive?¡± ¡°I do not know about military administrations.¡± Ferguson bowed his head and replied politely. The Emperor blinked his eyes. Ferguson couldn¡¯t help but be informed of the Eastern movement. Isn¡¯t it about those who fled entangled in a treason? Even if he couldn¡¯t immediately raise an army to subdue it, Ferguson¡¯s investigation team had to have a thorough grasp of information about the East. It wasn¡¯t just that. Even if it was the same as before, even if he didn¡¯t understand it properly, he would have said that he would know it unconditionally. And he would have run desperately to get information. It¡¯s not like him to casually say that he doesn¡¯t know. This was the first rift that the Emperor was sure to notice. ¡°Go back.¡± The Emperor gave the order, expressionless. Ferguson withdrew without making an excuse and with an apologetic face. The Emperor tapped his finger. He was already tired and his eyes were closed. But this was notmon. But he wasn¡¯t sure yet. Ferguson was an opportunist. In essence, such a person is the first to change his or her attitude ording to the direction of power. Had he known he was going to be like this, he would never have kept Ferguson in his ce. The Emperor called his servant and said, ¡°Call the servant Cobb.¡± The secret investigator had to be summoned more secretly. But the Emperor could not roam freely alone, so he just called him that way. After two hours, the servant returned with a pale blue face and fell t on his face. ¡°For, forgive me, Your Majesty. Servant Dinsky Cobb was firedst month.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°In order to hide Your Majesty¡¯s illness, we sent out several servants and attendants from the main pce. At that time, he was on the expelled list.¡± The Emperor¡¯s face turned red. ¡°Who did that?¡± ¡°I did.¡± The answer came from the doorway. The Emperor was furious and raised his head. The Empress dressed in ck was standing there. She even wore a ck hat with a ck mesh ornament on her head. Her clothes were obviously for mourning. ¡°I was going out, and I heard that you were looking for a fired servant, and I came to exin. Because if not, the innocent errand boy will be scolded.¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Does it matter if I change how many servants and attendants are in the main pce?¡± Of course, there were no problems. Because it was byw that the Empress managed the Imperial Pce in the first ce. It was not known whether the Empress knew that a secret investigator was among them or not. However, at this point in time, the name of one of the secret investigators has definitely been given to the Empress. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. And if you copse again, even if the doctor cries to death, you still won¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°Katherine¡­¡­!¡± ¡°At this age, when your body hurts, don¡¯t think unreasonably, and trust your nephew for the rest of your life to livefortably.¡± The Empress narrowed her eyes and looked down at the Emperor. ¡°Affection, loyalty, bloodline¡­¡­ Power and hatred, it was all in vain. Wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Kugh¡­¡­ !¡± The Emperor groaned like a beast. The doctor and attendants rushed in andid the Emperor on the bed. ¡°Take care of him well. He seems unwell.¡± The Empress said so and turned around. The door closed behind her. Now it was the Emperor who was inside the door, and it was she who was outside the door. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 There was one Ferguson and seven undercover agents. This did not mean that Ferguson¡¯s power was arithmetically seven times stronger. However, at least it was true that the Emperor tried to contain the power of the secret investigator by dividing it into smaller pieces.A The investigation organization was kept in check by the bureaucrats and was directly controlled by the Emperor. On the other hand, the secret organization cannot do that, so it is limited by containing it. Now it has worked in reverse. Ferguson¡¯s organization remained intact even when the Emperor was unable to control it. Control was transferred to the Crown Prince. Just the fact that the young and healthy Crown Prince acknowledged their existence strengthened the organization¡¯s authority. Rather, it can be seen that the secret organization has swelled as much as it has shrunk. That is the power of legitimate power. On the other hand, the secret organization had only to carefully gather people at the bottom of the water. Cobb hid the members of the organization as much as possible and fragmented and dispersed thework of informants. The informant is entangled like a spider¡¯s web. It was not known who was under whose authority. It was lucky if Cobb didn¡¯t run away with the information to gain his own merit. Then there were only a few people who could be trusted. 3 and 7 also seeded in sinking to the bottom of the water with only the key members of the organization remaining. It was thanks to believing what Cobb had warned in advance. The groups of 5 and 6, who had been warned by Cobb but did not believe it, were captured at once without being able to erase their traces. ¡®Marquis Rosan¡­¡­!¡¯ Cobb gnawed his teeth and burned his hatred. This was not something Ferguson could do. Even if he knew the secret investigators¡¯ name, it was impossible to look into the whole organization. If the name of those connecting to the core had not been known in advance from the beginning, it would not have been possible to spread the like this and catch them all at once. If being told that the Emperor¡¯s sister, the strategist, remembered even the names of such trivial people, many people would not believe it. However, Marquis Rosan had a good memory from the beginning. She remembered a spilled story until yearster. So were the names in the story. Cobb had seen her even remember the name of the imperialundry servant. Knowing that, after his memory returned, Cobb tried to renew the members of the organization in his own way. However, it is impossible to find a reliable person and change people in a short period of time. Hesitating because there was also the issue of whether to reduce the scope of the activity was ultimately the result of today¡¯s decision. Still, that didn¡¯t mean Cobb was defeated. The sub-organization was nothing more than a source of information. The real power of the secret organization lies in the refined information possessed by the secret agents. There were never a few people who did not like Cedric¡¯s rank. But no one came forward and objected. After one failed usation by the stupid Count Eison, no one could challenge Cedric¡¯s legitimacy. When they find fault, there are no moral ws in his life. An attempt to sow distrust by attacking the Grand Duchy Evron waspletely thwarted when Artizea revealed that she was a Saintess. That doesn¡¯t mean that there was no leader who had the charisma and ambition to create a new power. If there is no candidate for the Emperor to be raised, and there is no proper cause, in the end, it is just treason. Those who had ever been careful about themselves were well aware of this. So, they had no choice but to keep on sacrificing themselves. In any case, it seemed clear that Cedric was trying to be moderate. There was no guarantee that it wouldst throughout his reign. Still, it was clear, at least, that he would not carry out the immediate purge for his own sake. Cobb threw a new threat there. ¡°Grand Duke Evron will not do a purge in order to strengthen his imperial power. Yes, I admit it.¡± Cobb didn¡¯t talk about Artizea. The opponent was recognized as a Saintess. Even if her devotion and piety were not to be found at all, it was better not to touch God. Some may have noticed Artizea¡¯s divine power, but only those who knew her past, the Marquis Rosan, knew all about her crafty conspiracies. Instead, he touched on a story that would make the opponent anxious. ¡°Even though the first thing he did as soon as he started as Prince Regent was to get his hands on His Majesty¡¯s investigation organization.¡± ¡°Even though the Crown Prince is highly knowledgeable and he is not a fool, he just did what he should have done.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not stupid, so even if he doesn¡¯t intentionally create a trap, there¡¯s no reason he shouldn¡¯t use the cause he has.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Nonsense. The secret investigation organization originally belonged to His Majesty the Emperor. If Grand Duke Evron ascends the ranks like this, the secret agents, including myself, will of course swear allegiance to him and hand over all the organization and materials.¡± Cobb also said, ¡°It would bew enforcement or justice, not a purge when Grand Duke executes.¡± It was an objective warning, but it was clearly a threat. The secret investigators had many things in their hands. Corruption followed power like a shadow. The murdersmitted to inherit the family and maintain wealth were forgiven in the name of the victor. Pleasure rted crimesmitted by influential people were never punished unless public opinion worsened. Such information was politically functional when it was in the hands of Emperor Gregor. Making it into politics couldpromise themselves. The servants were willing to offer their allegiance, and the Emperor maintained the master-servant contract by rewarding them with more than just a blind eye. But it wasn¡¯t with Cedric. He was not a factionalist. He seldomly judged things with political logic. He wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would turn a blind eye to sins just because they expressed support for him. Those who did not support Cedric until then had no apparent opposition. If they had, they would have attacked him as best as they could before he became the Emperor¡¯s adopted son. But Cobb¡¯s threats made them tense. If the event doesn¡¯t happen, the secret investigator¡¯s data will eventually fall into Cedric¡¯s hands. And it will be a justification to choke their necks. Refuse, or follow the rule. Thetter option seemed unrealistic. The Emperor was ill, and the strong Crown Prince was under the Emperor¡¯s order to be the Prince Regent. That¡¯s why a lot of people said this, ¡°His Majesty¡¯s order was to entrust the government to the Crown Prince. He¡¯s not asking to brand the Crown Prince as a traitor.¡± That didn¡¯t mean they were loyal to Cedric. Then, the Grand Duke should have pointed Cobb out first and, in anger, arrested or at the very least expelled him. In a nutshell, they pulled out in case the ploy was unsessful. It also meant telling Cobb toe up with a more usible, safer strategy. Cobb thought it disgusting. They have neither loyalty nor will. ¡®Pigs interested only in the food in front of them.¡¯ But these people were good to use. That is why the Emperor made these people his subjects. Cobb had no intention of consolidating interest in one ce anyway, or causing a revolt. He was going to hide even who his sympathizers were. Then, they will get together and fight for power in the future. There was no need to get caught up in Ferguson¡¯s intelligencework by making openly noticeable moves. Above all, Cobb himself had to limit information usage in order to maintain his initiative. Because all he has is information. They just have to move in order ording to the information he gave them. ¡®The fact that Marquis Rosan imed to be a Saintess was a good thing in hindsight. The real Saintess can¡¯t stand up now.¡¯ Lysia¡¯s status is nothing but the daughter of Baron Morten. If she wasn¡¯t a Saintess, she couldn¡¯t be the Empress. If Lawrence wanted her, it was enough to hide her deep in the Imperial Pce as a mistress. After all, Lawrence didn¡¯t like Lysia going out, and he didn¡¯t like her meeting or caring about other people. Once Cedric was eliminated, raising Lawrence to the throne was not difficult. No matter how skilled Marquis Rosan was, she was weak and had almost no power. Although she could stick by those in power, she was not a being who could be a person in power herself. She wasn¡¯t as famous as she was before, back when she was already the head of public service. How difficult would it be to imprison one weak fake Saintess? ¡®If there¡¯s only one Princess Leticia left, then it¡¯s a piece of cake.¡¯ Cobb hasn¡¯t told anyone about Lawrence yet. If he put out Lawrence now, he feared that the foolish ones would turn away. Rather than a powerful Emperor, they would rather have a young and behaving baby. But now, he had no doubt that this time Lawrence would be the real cruel and perfect Emperor. Not Marquis Rosan, but he would make it so himself. £ª£ª£ª This information was also heard in Cedric¡¯s ears through Ferguson. ¡°General Kyl?.¡± ¡°Yes, I saw Dinsky Cobb make contact with General Kyl? and immediately mmed him in.¡± Ferguson said with almost excitement. General Kyl? of the port garrison was the one who joined the guard at the time of the fire. He didn¡¯t get along well with Cedric from the start. He liked the traditional bribe. His subordinate officers were promoted ording to the amount of bribes, and he was good at stealing and selling his army. The reason he didn¡¯t join the faction of Grand Duke Roygar even though he had a good temperament was because his family didn¡¯t look like much, and that didn¡¯t mean he seeded in umting wealth after bing a career man. If Cedric came to power, he was the kind of person to be nervous first. When the fire broke out in the port, Cedric had already guessed he had intervened. It was the same with Ferguson, who started the investigation under the Emperor¡¯s orders. So he was watching him and as soon as he made contact with Cobb, he rushed in. ¡°Of course, I did it in secret.¡± Ferguson added quickly. This was his first feat after he decided to serve Cedric. The capture of some of the secret organizations was the process of eliminating the political power of the investigation organization itself. Ferguson¡¯s organization was also part of it, so it was more of an internal cleanup. But this time, he caught the tail of treason. It was only after he received testimony from General Kyl? that Cobb had set the pier on fire with the intention of starving the North. ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried about that.¡± But Cedric answered quietly. Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Ferguson said, ¡°ording to General Kyl?, Dinsky Cobb said that sooner orter, the Emperor¡¯s secret organization would move to subdue the Crown Prince for treason.¡± And the sympathizers will make a big deal the moment the secretes out. ¡°Right.¡± Cedric replied. Ferguson asked again nervously, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to arrest him now?¡± ¡°Right now, it is a little vague to move the military. There is no justification.¡± Freil answered instead, ¡°It is, but¡­¡­.¡± Ferguson said hesitatingly, ¡°Then, we will.¡± Of course, Ferguson, the Emperor¡¯s investigator, never needed more evidence than this. ¡°Do not rush, Sir Ferguson. We must not forget that we are not moving on imperial order now.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± Ferguson groaned. Freil was right. When his organization moved ording to imperial order, no one dared to resist. When the investigation organizationcked force, the Guards and the Central Army supported them. However, there were targets for removal within the very same Guards and Central Army. Freil asked, ¡°Is there a list?¡± ¡°There is. This is an estimated list and has not been confirmed. General Kyl? knew nothing but the extent to which he would raise an army when he received an order.¡± Ferguson said cautiously, ¡°It can be said that it is close to the list of those who usually do not have good feelings for the Crown Prince. And it won¡¯t be too far off.¡± That¡¯s what Freil thought, too. In the military, there were a lot of pro-Crown Prince. Cedric was friendly with military personnel from the beginning due to his inclination. Of course, most of them were loyal to the Emperor. The Emperor has been working hard for a long time to seize military power*. It was for this reason that he concentrated his military power on the Central Army, even by deliberately weakening the Western and Southern Army, which he could lose control. However, although they may attack Cedric ording to the imperial order, there was no reason to go into conspiracy to get rid of the crown prince in the first ce. Even more so now, when there are no other Emperor candidates to be loyal to. After all, if Cedric became Emperor, they had no reason to get involved in this, unless they themselves wanted to be in a position of trouble. And that was the case for people like General Kyl?, tampered with the goods going north, ormitted an uneptable level of corruption. ¡°This could be an opportunity, Your Highness.¡± Freil said. He warned Ferguson not to rush, but this was certainly useful information. Taking control of the military is important. To have opposition in the Central Army was as good as standing with a dagger to his neck. But hopefully, this one blow could wipe out the opposition. Cedric didn¡¯t answer. He just turned his back on them and looked out the window, thoughtful. The windows were dark because the sun had already set. Cedric¡¯s face reflected there was gloomy. Freil thought he had lost some weight. His cheeks were slender and he looked shaded. People thought he was exhausted from overwork. From the time of the port fire until now, it was true that Cedric was given a greater responsibility than his authority. The more insidious suspected that he was deliberately losing weight and putting on a haggardplexion to hide his joy. It also meant that he was starting to be judged by politicians. Freil realized he was thinking of Artizea. Cedric is a strong man. Freil had never seen hisplexion deteriorated so much, even after months of marching with his troops, and fighting all night long. Freil couldn¡¯t fathom how many days he hadn¡¯t slept. The long sleepless nights would not have consisted solely of political anguish. Cedric muttered to himself, ¡°It¡¯s a sad thing. I thought I made it clear that there would be no purges.¡± ¡°There are more people in the world who listen to what they want to hear than what was said, Crown Prince.¡± The name was unfamiliar, and it rolled around in his mouth. Cedric smiled bitterly. ¡°I know. There is nothing more difficult than making people understand.¡± His words were heavy. Cedric flicked the window open. A cool night breeze came in. Freil suddenly thought of the past. It was when they were on their way to Baron Yetz¡¯s gambling house to find Saintess Olga¡¯s heart. At the time, Freil had not objected to his engagement to Artizea on the grounds that it was too dangerous to keep her by Lawrence¡¯s side. But he never imagined that they woulde all the way here without finishing the three years. And Cedric has changed. If he had been who he was three years ago, he wouldn¡¯t have said it was difficult to understand other people with such a voice like this. Thinking of each step, nothing strange happened, but it felt as if 30 years had passed. ¡°Opportunity¡­¡­.¡± Cedric muttered to himself again. If it was Artizea, she would definitely see it as an opportunity. She probably intentionally dug a trap without informing him, causing arge-scale purge. But Freil put it this way, ¡°In my opinion, a person who wants to drive out the Crown Prince without any alternative candidate right now is a person who can ruin the Empire to maintain his vested interests, and those who were weak in the secret organization and rebels is a person who has reached the peak of corruption. You must not carry them with you.¡± Cedric smiled bitterly again. He was right. It had to be Cedric to hear the opinions and decide, regardless of the content¡¯s right or wrong. ¡°You are not wrong.¡± The opponent was the enemy. With that in mind, it was only natural to dig a trap and drag them in. Considering domestic politics, it is true that he was reluctant to engage in political wars and conspiracies. ndering in front of the Emperor, plotting social extermination with nder, and falsely using did not fit Cedric¡¯s nature before the issue of good and evil. Especially if the purpose is a power struggle. However, it was different if he thought that the opponent was a military organization. The opponent intends to attack with practical force in hand. If so, this was the realm of tactics that Cedric had been dealing with all his life. Defeating them at once was the best way to reduce damage. Knowing that Cedric had made a decision, Ferguson brightened up. He was worried that the information he had brought would be a piece of waste paper. ¡°Sir Ferguson, do you think you can identify the spy in the Imperial Pce?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Keep watching. General Kyl?¡¯s waiting for an imperial order means that someone is approaching His Majesty. You don¡¯t need to grab them beforehand. You will bemitting the mistake of scaring the snake by disturbing the bush.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Cedric beckoned Ferguson to get out. Ferguson bowed and walked out quickly. Cedric let out a low sigh. ¡®That¡¯s what happened after all.¡¯ He wanted to reduce the political turmoil of the regime change. He did not want to open up a reign with purges and political retaliation. He had no intention of uncovering the sins of each individual or eliminating weaknesses. It is only the individual Emperor who wields undisputed power to spread his own justice. Such justice was also in the young Emperor Gregor. Cedric did not believe that he would never be corrupted. Even if his heart wanted to be good, it could happen at any time that his eyes and ears would be darkened or his judgment clouded. Above all, he witnessed firsthand what the Empire became when the absolute power established by the Emperor in this way fell into the hands of the unqualified. So what he had to do during his reign was not to act righteously alone. It was to perfect the system and thew, and to make it work properly. Well, it was a pointless thought. He was no longer clean. He was still determined to do the best he could. Freil said as ifforting him, ¡°Your Highness has already done as much as you can. You were adopted by Her Majesty, and you were ordained by His Majesty.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That is enough of a gesture of reconciliation. Even after that, those who doubt Your Highness will say that you are avenging your parents, no matter what you do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. In the end, we will have to face it head-on and rule consistently until we can give them trust.¡± Cedric replied that way. And he threw his gaze out the window. The Pce at night was silent. The roof of the Imperial Pce looked white in the moonlight over the garden bushes. ¡°You have to take the initiative. At least we should control the timing of the start of the war from this side so that the situation can be guided as desired.¡± After Freil thought for a moment, he answered, ¡°We have the right number of cases.¡± ¡°Tell me.¡± ¡°Recently, rumors are being spread in the slums. It is about the western gue that is revolving around the slums these days.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡­.¡± Cedric moaned briefly. He was also aware of the disease. It was a diarrheal disease that urred every year when the days got hotter. This was due to theck of sewage maintenance. ¡°People are more ferocious than ever. After all, most of the slum patients never get a chance to see a doctor.¡± It wasn¡¯t just spreading rumors. Several contaminated wells were found. It was supposed to increase the rate of spread of the disease and increase confusion. Freil said, ¡°So, what if a riot starts there? They started it first, so there is no doubt that they pulled the trigger from their side.¡± ¡°And I will go there to calm the riot.¡± ¡°Yes. Using Your Highness as bait, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That is the most certain thing. After all, their purpose must be to get rid of me.¡± If so, give it a chance. When the other side bites the bait, from then on, the control of the situation passes to this side. He wasn¡¯t worried. It was obvious that the level of force that the secret organization could mobilize was negligible if the Guards or the Central Army, who had received an imperialmand, came and surrounded them. ¡°Will the situation get too big and cause casualties?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t give you any guarantees. There is no guarantee that the situation will not spread, no matter how little the disturbance may be created. But I know the head of an organization that is quite influential there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see.¡± Cedric answered slowly. It was easy to guess that thatwork would be Artizea¡¯s source of information. It was unlikely that Freil would have made a connection with the slums organization on his own. But Cedric didn¡¯t dare to say that. A sharp pain spread through his chest. ¡°Go ahead.¡± He quickly hid his expression with a faint smile. Freil bowed his head. *History Fun Fact from somnium~! In this era, the person who inherited the crown is always the person with the biggest army. Poption support is NOT even worth considering. They are usually incapable of revolt¡­ unless! It¡¯s religion thing. People won¡¯t risk dying for a Monarch that they don¡¯t like, but they will if they believe it will secure their ce in Heaven. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 It was three dayster that the riot broke out in the slum. It was sudden. During dinner at the temple¡¯s canteen, someone brought up the story of the Saint. It was said that some of those who attended the canteen died of disease, and that not a small number fell ill. It happened every year. In fact, it was not umon for the person who was there yesterday to not be seen today in the slums. However, the situation changed when the agitator intervened. ¡°If there was a saint here, this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡± There were several people who imed that. ¡°They said she was healing the gue in the West. Why did she leave the Capital and go there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all the temple¡¯s fault.¡± ¡°The Western gue was brought in by the Westerners. Why was she taking care of them first?¡± ¡°It is said that the nobles chased the Saintess away to frame the Crown Prince as an apostate.¡± It was a story that was wrong considering the chronological order. Artizea revealed that she was a saint when he was used of being an apostate. But there was no one in the slums who could ascertain the truth even with a twist. Up to that point, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. It wasmon to despise and condemn the West and the North. And not long has passed since the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. The memories of scattering flowers and lighting candles and blessings were still vivid in the minds of the citizens of the Capital. The enormous wealth that was sown for that time and the festival full of joy. It was only natural that their love for the Crown Princess, a Saintess, still remained fervent. Of course, that alone couldn¡¯t make a difference. ¡°Let¡¯s ask the temple to bring her back.¡± Until someone says so. Thanks to the atmosphere, those who had been standing at the free canteen rushed to the temple. As usual at the temple, they reacted to this with vignce. In the meantime, it was not clear who started using violence first. When a priest was injured, the public security came. By that time, those who had first led it were the first to get out of the riot and disappear into darkness. * * * The undercover investigators were bewildered. It was the same with Cobb and 5 who were actually working in the slums. In the first ce, working in the slum itself was not an agreed upon thing. 5 was holding hands with Count Brennan. And the slum¡¯s work was just one of the many seeds sown at the request of Count Brennan to challenge the Crown Prince¡¯s political power, ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was going to be a riot so suddenly.¡± 5 spoke in an apologetic tone, ¡°It¡¯s true that there were some rumors, but it wasn¡¯t even a real Western gue in the first ce, so I could have just ended it with a bit more dissatisfaction with the Crown Prince than usual.¡± ¡°What good is it now to think that way? There was actually a riot.¡± 6 rebuked. The riot, which began in a temple close to the slum, was turning into a petition to bring back the Saintess with a slogan to hang the nobles who had expelled her. In fact, considering that Artizea had never personally done any charity work herself, it was even ridiculous. 7 said, ¡°Well, there is nothing wrong with thinking about it, so please stop. It would be advantageous to think that the security forces would be divided anyway.¡± ¡°What is the possibility of early suppression by the public security?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that they¡¯re blocking it with batons and shields, so it¡¯s not that great. The riots seem to have destroyed a few temples and houses.¡± ¡°The Chief of the public security must be keeping an eye on Grand Duke Evron, and aren¡¯t the mobs still so agitated? Is that also because of Grand Duke Evron?¡± 3 murmured. 5 said cautiously, ¡°There seems to be someone controlling the mob.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a bad conjecture.¡± said Cobb. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a purpose for those who deliberately start a riot? If that¡¯s the case, I think we might be able to make a suitable offer from this side and recruit them.¡± ¡°What are you going to do with it?¡± ¡°It would be nice if the security forces could be divided like 7 said. If we can get a little work done¡­¡­.¡± It was then. There was an urgent knock on the door. 5 put on a mask and came back in with a note from outside the door. ¡°This is for 3.¡± He opened the note, read it, and handed it to Cobb. Cobb scans the note with his quick eyes. ¡°It seems that Grand Duke Evron has gone out of the Pce.¡± ¡°Is he going to the slums?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯ll go out and convince them himself. He¡¯s still the same.¡± Cobb snorted. 7 said, ¡°Then, isn¡¯t this the right time?¡± The public security forces are armed only with batons and shields. The Crown Prince would have gone out with only a few guards. It didn¡¯t make sense to take a heavily armed army to give an appeasement to the mob. Cobb paused for a moment. He was careful about the n going awry. But 7 was not wrong. Taking Cedric outside the Imperial Pce and holding him there was a prerequisite for this event. In any case, the key to this feat was to get rid of Cedric. But assassination is impossible. Most of those involved, not just the undercover investigators, were contemting an assassination, but Cobb knew it was impossible. The assassin couldn¡¯t kill him. Considering the numerous attempts made in the West in the past, even a surprise attack by a small force was impossible. The Knights of Evron will protect him until thest one dies. Even if the tides turned, it was possible for Cedric to pull out and escape. He was also difficult to poison. Knowing that it was a vulnerability, the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was also taking good care of it. All the food and drinks were tasted on the spot. That said, he wasn¡¯t weak enough to kill without using an instant-acting and severe poison. In the end, the only way to prevent an escape was to surround him with arge army and annihte him. Even if the imperial order fell, it was difficult inside the Imperial Pce. While Cedric was in the Imperial Pce, infiltrating the Emperor¡¯s quarter was the primary problem. Even if they infiltrated and received the imperial order, the army could not enter the Imperial Pce. If Cedric regained control over the Emperor, there was a high probability that the imperial order would be useless. As long as the Emperor and the Crown Prince were together, no matter what cause they came out with, they would only be treasonous. Then the loyal central army, which took up the majority force, would move under Cedric¡¯s orders. ¡°Now is the right time.¡± Cobb admitted. The preparation was not enough. But it was also something that had to be done when Cedric was out. He sprang to his feet. Other undercover investigators also moved to do what they had promised in advance. £ª£ª£ª The torch was burning brightly. Cedric arrived at the slum with only about twenty knights. ¡°There will be no coercion. This disturbance will soon subside.¡± ¡°Pardon me, Your Highness. A few rounds would be enough to disarm them.¡± ¡°Then what if there really is a riot?¡± The Chief of public security thought what was the big deal. Fighting and looting within the slums was always the case. As long as the anger didn¡¯t spill out of the street, nobody cared. If the temple had not been damaged, they would not have been dispatched with such care. All they had to do was wait until morning and call in more support to push them away. After that, grab a few guys who act as the mastermind and hit them in the necks, and it¡¯s over. Cedric got off his horse. And he went into the street. When the Crown Prince appeared, the rioters flinched. They shouted a slogan to hang the nobility, but it was someone shouting to provoke his anger. He didn¡¯t do it because he really thought it was possible even when he came out with a stick. Therefore, the anger did not reach to a higher level, but was directed at rtively close powers¡ªthat is, the security guards, loan sharks, andndlords. Cedric was still loved as the Saintess¡¯ husband and as the main character of the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony that was full of hope. The news that the Crown Prince was here spread far and wide. People put down the oil barrels they had brought to start the fire. Both the club and the knife pointed towards the floor. Cedric watched it with a calm face. The street was nowpletely quiet. Eyes shining with anxiety and anticipation looked at Cedric. ¡°I promise food and doctors. The patient will receive appropriate treatment, and maintenance of the wells and sewers will begin in the fall of this year.¡± Cedric said. Then someone fell to their knees, startled, as if realizing. Then everyone was startled and knelt after him. ¡°I¡¯ll leave tonight¡¯s incident unquestioned, so please go back.¡± Cedric said so, and the first thing he looked at was the kneeling man. It was a big man. ¡°Come on, get up.¡± He stood up hesitantly. Cedric¡¯s gaze scanned his surroundings. ¡®Damn, don¡¯t look at me.¡¯ Rye Fidget shook his head and thought only to himself. To create an ending atmosphere, he poked the person in front of him in the back and made him kneel, but it did nothing. But Cedric would have recognized him. His face was unfamiliar now, but it was not difficult to guess the face he had seen when he was middle-aged. ¡°And you after that.¡± Rye was forced to stand up. Cedric almost correctly pointed out Rye¡¯s group and lifted him up. ¡°I will guide you to the temple.¡± Rye bowed his head and started walking, hoping to look like one who got caught out of luck. His return to the Capital was after Grand Duke Roygar¡¯s ousting. The story of the necromancer, Mira¡¯s favourite, had long since left no trace. Grand Duke Roygar died and the incident with Marquisate Camellia ended. So when he returned to the Capital, no one would recognize him. Artizea told him to retire and return to his hometown to live with his family. She even gave him enough money to start a new life. But Rye didn¡¯t stay there long. He has gone through too many things to live a leisurely life and enjoys a quiet farm life. He experienced twice, even though it wasn¡¯t his own business, the situation that what he had touched overturned imperial politics. A person who has had such an experience can never go back. Rye thought so. He did not contact Artizea again. Even though he thought of her almost every day. Then he was contacted by Freil. He ended up getting caught up in something he shouldn¡¯t have intervened in. While looking up at the Imperial Pce, he knew that cursing it was the most fun. ¡°Dissolve them as soon as possible.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. ¡°Is it that easy to gather people and toss them through? I¡¯m not ruling this group, I¡¯m just spreading rumors and chanting a few slogans.¡± It would only be in the Crown Prince¡¯s meeting room that he caused a riot and calmed it down, as simple as a joke. But Cedric didn¡¯t say it lightly. ¡°Then, guide me to an alley where there are no people. As soon as possible.¡± Rye nced at him. Cedric pulled on his gloves and tightened them. Rye understood in the next moment why he was doing it. Bang! A building exploded. Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Proofreader: somnium Cedric kicked Rye¡¯s leg, knocking him to the ground before lowering himself to the ground. A wooden barrel was smashed right next to Rye and pickled vegetables spilled out. Rye crawled against the broken building wall. Any more gunpowder? He does not know. His hands and feet trembled. Even though Rye had lived a life of violence, he had nobat experience. He couldn¡¯t figure out what was going on. All he understood was that Cedric told them to disperse. Cedric rolled on the floor. He hid himself in the shade of a nearby building. The Evron knights who were protecting Cedric were scattered all at once. It was because being by Cedric¡¯s side could, on the contrary, indicate the location of the target. It was already night. There were torches, but few were able to shoot at people in this light. Even if there is, it wouldn¡¯t be someone the secret organization could mobilize. ¡®The number is not enough to make a fire line.¡¯ Cedric thought as he heard the gunfire. Beside him, the rotten walls of the old shack cracked and shattered. ¡®Is there more gunpowder?¡¯ The key was that. Gunpowder was a strictly controlled item in the central region, but it was not reliable now. ¡°Uwaaakk!¡± Someone screamed. It wasn¡¯t a shot, but a shout out of surprise. ¡°The security forces shot!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the security forces, what kind of bastard!¡± ¡°The Crown Prince was shot!¡± Shouts filled with fear and confusion spread from here and there. ¡°The Crown Prince deceived us!¡± There were people who said that, unknown whether it was an attention diverter or a crazy person. Of course, that was absurd. If the riot was going to be suppressed hard, the security forces would have juste armed. There was no need toe all the way to this ce and deceive them. However, there were not many people who thought rationally at that point. They picked up the club and knife they had put down, but the direction of fear and anger did not change. Surprisingly, the security forces poured in. ¡°Dewin! Connor!¡± Cedric eximed. Two knights heard the order and ran out of the alley. It was to block the security force. After a while, the shooting stopped. The loaded gun was emptied. Cedric waited for a while. If the enemy is ustomed to assassination, they will leave a loaded gun waiting for him to reveal himself. While holding their breath, the remaining knights moved in all directions. There were not many tall buildings in the slums. Moreover, there were many buildings that had been destroyed by the riot, so it was obvious where the ones who shot were hiding. The five minutes was breathtakingly long. Security forces entered the crowd indiscriminately. A man full of wrath overturned the oil barrel to set the fire. It will be a moment before the induced disturbance bes a real riot. Cedric hesitated for a moment. But he soon ran out of the shade. ¡°This, damn it¡­¡­!¡± Rye swore. He doesn¡¯t know if it was because he believed in him, but there was not a single knight left who should have stayed close to the master. He knows what Cedric was trying to do, but there¡¯s no one to help. Eventually, Rye followed after him. Cedric jumped over the wooden crate he had piled to make a railing. Then he pulled his pistol from his waist and pulled the trigger. Bang! Eyes gathered on one spot. Rye raised the torch high to reveal Cedric¡¯s face. Cedric¡¯s face, smeared with soot and mud, was much more human than before. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! The Imperial Family will protect you!¡± A loud cry echoed through the streets. ¡°Go home!¡± It was amand to the crowd and a signal to the security forces. The crowd dispersed like a swarm of ants that were hit by water at once. The security forces were also confused. A gong was heard. It was the sound of ordering the security forces to retreat. There was a second shot. He didn¡¯t know where the sound wasing from. Rye threw the torch and fell to the ground. Cedric jumped beside him. At that moment, as if waiting, four men disguised as a mob rushed in. Cedric turned his pistol upside down and smacked his opponent in the face with the grip. He simultaneously grabbed the other with his left hand and used it as a shield. ¡°Kugh!¡± Two knives were lodged in the body of the first to jump. ¡°Ack!¡± One of them was shot by Cedric without even letting go of his sword. Cedric dropped the man he was holding onto the floor and hurriedly drew his sword. A sword the length of his forearm was being aimed at Cedric¡¯s chest. Kaang! Cedric parried it off without difficulty. And then he drove the momentum and cut off the opponent¡¯s chest. ¡°Keugh!¡± The man who had his chest cut off could not even scream properly and bled to death. Thest one swung his sword with a frightened face. Cedric looked at him calmly. If it was against a gun, he doesn¡¯t know, but he would never lose if it was one-on-one with an opponent with a sword. Even more so when dealing with someone who is so frightened. ¡°Ack!¡± The sword bounced off, and the arm and thigh were cut at once. The man screamed and rolled on the floor. ¡°Huwaa!¡± Those who were near and saw this scene fell down in terror. Cedric reflexively pointed his gun at it, but he lowered his arm. There couldn¡¯t have been only four people hiding in the crowd. He showed his face a little while ago, so they¡¯ll be flocking this way. In fact, that¡¯s what he wanted to do. Cedric said to Rye as he reloaded his pistol. ¡°Tie up and lock up the survivors. Maybe I might be able to use them.¡± ¡°What the hell are you going to do?¡± Then the two knights returned. ¡°Everyone who fired from a high position was subdued. We recovered 60 muskets.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ces where there are no people.¡± Cedric said in a low tone. The gun was a weapon with strict management. He didn¡¯t think he would have been robbed to three digits. It is impossible to form a fire line again. If so, it was okay to move to a sparsely popted ce with a small number of people. If a battle took ce here, casualties could have been incurred. It is aw to not miss the meat by burying the bait too deeply. ¡°Divide the crowd. The Guards wille soon.¡± Cedric spoke to Rye and began to move in stride. The crowd nearby stepped back in fear. After that, the knights who had finished their work followed in groups. Everyone had their weapons drawn. Seeing his back, Rye clenched his teeth. The married couple was very simr in the way that they could do it and they could use people however they want. ¡°Is my fate fixed¡­¡­ !¡± Rye could not tell whether theing of the Guards was as a reinforcement army or a subjugation army. Anyway, he had to make an effort to do what he was told. Rye looked around looking for hisrade. £ª£ª£ª The Emperor was lying quietly in his bedroom. It was quiet in the depths of the Imperial Pce. No one informed the Emperor that something was going on. However, the Emperor could sense that the density of the air was different from usual. The number of guards guarding the bedroom seemed to be less than usual. ¡°Willie.¡± He called the chief attendant in a low voice. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He did not expect the chief attendant to giveplete information. Whether it was the Guards or someone from the attendants, it was clear that there was a watcher. The power of the chief attendant is all given by the Emperor himself. Hey so ill that the chief attendant could hardly exercise any visible power. If the chief attendant trembled and shook because he had said something useless with his mouth, there was nothing good about it. The chief attendant said cautiously, ¡°It is said that there was a riot in Rev Street.¡± ¡°And?¡± Even the Emperor thought it was not information that needed to be hidden. There were asional riots in the slums that swept the streets. The chief attendant answered, ¡°It seems that the Crown Prince personally went there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Foolish.¡± The Emperor closed his eyes and murmured. The slum riot was not a matter of concern. It was the Capital¡¯s garbage dump. The riots that took ce there usually started as a fight between gangs. asionally, it happened towards the Empire. But anyway, that¡¯s what the poor and wretched things said. Not only the nobles and bureaucrats, but also a fewmoners listened to them. After the public security calmed down the situation, it would be over if they gave them food in moderation andforted them. What they need to watch out for is when the bacsh spreads outside the slums. ¡°It seems that the Crown Prince heard the word and went out after the temple was destroyed in protest for the return of the Saintess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor let out a small sigh and closed his eyes again. It wasn¡¯t something to be concerned about. ¡°Still.¡± The Emperor murmured. The chief attendant carefully wiped his forehead with a wet towel. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You go and get some rest. What to do next to someone who was sleeping anyway?¡± ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You have stayed by my side for a long time.¡± The Emperor spoke as if taunting. Now he wanted to be alone. The chief attendant replied, ¡°Yes,¡± and cautiously stepped back. As if he had read the Emperor¡¯s desire to remain quiet, he took all the others aside from the two guards and retreated. The bedroom was quiet. The Emperor surrendered himself to a sense of helplessness with his eyes closed. He still wasn¡¯t sure if this was the Empress¡¯ revenge or Cedric¡¯s usurpation. In a way, it could have been a passive usurpation. As it is, he is waiting to die, making it impossible for him to obtain the orders to clean up. His mind wandered. He was disgusted. But he was the master of the Empire. The Empire belonged to him. He has dedicated his life to making the sentence a fact. Destroying the Crown Prince without any alternative at this point will only lead to the destruction of the Empire. If so, should he endure it like this? Nothing will change though. Since Countess Eunice has sent a message, Countess Josiah will return. If he dies quietly in the presence of his daughters, he will not see harsh conditions after death. Cedric was still his adopted son. The genealogy will continue from him, and his name will remain in the imperial court. Nevertheless, he used to feel the illusion that his mind was boiling. It was then. The door opened silently. Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Proofreader: somnium Cobb looked carefully into the bedroom. He had a new bed sheet in his arms. If there were any knights or servants of the Crown Prince faction in the bedroom, he had to take other measures. Even the chief attendant was an opponent that could not be reassured. Cobb wasn¡¯t actively suspicious of the chief attendant. Although the chief attendant did not like Lawrence, he cared for the Emperor faithfully until his death. He was lucky. The chief attendant was absent. Cobb cautiously stepped inside. He mobilized all his might for this moment. Cobb¡¯s personal connections inside and outside the Imperial Pce, as well as informants recruited by other secret investigators, and weaknesses of individual members of the Guards were all used. He wasn¡¯t the only one. For this task, Count Brennan and the other noble families took out spies nted in the Imperial pce. [¡°It¡¯s an influence that I have built over decades. You must seed.¡±] The old roons shrugged like that. It was a sound that Cobb couldn¡¯t help but snort at. If the Crown Prince ascended to the throne, they would be wiped out anyway. Can Marquis Rosane to power and leave them alone? But anyway, they have been a big help now. The Emperor sat up by his curtain. His face is severely swollen and hisplexion is dark. But in his pupils inside his wrinkled eyes, the light of intelligence did not disappear. Cobb walked over to him, put down the bed linen, and knelt down on his knees. ¡°Cobb.¡± The Emperor took a deep breath. He tried to clench and open his fist, but it didn¡¯t work. ¡°Your Majesty, I have something to tell you, so I visited you secretly.¡± Cobb whispered in a low voice. ¡°Where did Bertholdt go?¡± The Emperor asked about it. Bertholdt has been guarding the bedroom since this afternoon. After the chief attendant left, he saw that Bertholdt was nowhere to be seen. Cobb replied politely, ¡°He is guarding the door.¡± The Emperor¡¯s lips twisted. If he had been in good health, he would haveughed. But now he couldn¡¯t even control his own expression. ¡°You have taken the guy?¡± ¡°Forgive me. Your Majesty. Sir Bertholdt is Your Majesty¡¯s loyal servant.¡± ¡°A loyal servant who dared to bring in an unauthorized person while guarding my bedroom.¡± The Emperor thought perhaps threats were mobilized. Cedric believed so too, so he had made Bertholdt an escort to this bedroom. And Bertholdt, whom the Emperor knew, was not a human enough to participate in the conspiracy of the opposite faction, as long as he was obedient to the next power, the Crown Prince. He would have been inclined to Cedric as a soldier and a knight, even mentally. ¡®Did his daughter, who married Count Eison¡¯s son, a coteral?¡¯ Child. It¡¯s always been children that mattered. The Emperor looked at Cobb with hazy eyes. Cobb said, ¡°Forgive me. How can I not know that I am a sinner? However, with ess to the Imperial Pce being severely restricted, and even the roads to inform Your Majesty of important matters were blocked, we had no choice but to ask him of something important.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your Majesty is imprisoned by Grand Duke Evron. He hasmitted treason.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Who does not know it.¡± said the Emperor as if squeezing it out. Cobb continued, ¡°I am not talking about this, Your Majesty. I am here to tell you that the treason case between Princess Floe and Leopric Evron in the past is not over.¡± ¡°What¡­¡­?¡± ¡°At the time, some of the rebels who managed to escape and those involved who should have been punished went into hiding and created a vige.¡± said Cobb. ¡°Even if the Grand Duke himself was young at the time of its creation, the vige has been maintained to this day. Even before Your Majesty restored the mastermind, he made friends by visiting the vige. Many of his close associates are from that vige.¡± ¡°Kuhk.¡± The Emperor took a deep breath and made a strange noise. His chest tightened. Still, Cobb didn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°So is Baron Morten Heir Apparent, the Grand Duchess¡¯dy-in-waiting. Baron Morten was not directly involved in the treason at the time, but he assisted in the escape, after which he took charge of the vige¡¯s management and external rtions under the Grand Duke¡¯s order.¡± Even then, the Emperor still had half faith. He doesn¡¯t think Cedric was unaware of all this; Ferguson¡¯s betrayal, his court servants fired, and the watchman attached. But if the Emperor tried to understand, he could understand it. Recruiting an intelligence organization was the first thing he should have done. He tried to contain Cedric before he fell, so he was anxious and afraid to be watched himself. It is the current power struggle. The Emperor was furious, but he took it as a challenge, not a betrayal. Even if he took power, he was the Crown Prince in the end. But this was a betrayal. It hurt like the Emperor had been cut in the stomach. He thought Cedric had learned topromise and understand power. He chose the power of the present over the grudges of the past. So he thought he couldpromise. He also believed that Cedric would not havepletely lost the straightness of his nature. Human nature doesn¡¯t change that easily. But maybe he didn¡¯t know that the judgment itself was wrong. When he started to doubt, everything became suspicious. Some believed that fortune had reached Cedric, and some thought that Lawrence and Roygar had done something foolish to earn their downfall. After facing various problems, did he notpromise with reality, but he was doing his best to aim for the throne from the beginning? Did he continue to act straight in order to get revenge? If so, then all of this happened not for the sake of power, but for the resolution of resentment. It was uneptable. Where is the guarantee that the moment the Emperor dies, Cedric doesn¡¯t define himself as a usurper? Who can guarantee that the Emperor will not be removed from the lineage of the Imperial Family at all, and will instead honor his mother as empress? He was not a usurper. The Emperor¡¯s crown was his, though he may be a greedy viin and a traitor to some. He risked his life and threw himself into the struggle for power. The Emperor¡¯s crown was the spoils, heaped up with hard work and luck, blood and bones. It was uneptable to see Floe, who was only born in such a ce, be allowed to take over because of her ancestry. The Emperor knew that Floe was neither a sinner nor apetitor. His little sister was innocent and fragile. But her existence alone symbolized the totality of all that Gregor had fought up to that point. That is why he wanted Lawrence to inherit it, even if it was a little too much. Only when he made his own choice and made a new line of Imperial Family would he be the only real Emperor left in the dynasty. But after all, it¡¯s not his adopted son who sits in the Crown Prince¡¯s seat, but Floe¡¯s son. Is revenge the purpose? The Emperor¡¯s chest rose and fell. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Cobb called the Emperor, who was staring into the air. He was not interested in how this would affect the critically ill Emperor. Because the master he served was no longer the Emperor. Most importantly, this would anger the Emperor. ¡°Your Majesty, please grant me the Imperial order.¡± Cobb said strongly, ¡°Your Majesty¡¯s loyal servants are waiting for the Imperial order. We have prepared everything so that we can subdue the traitor the moment you give the order.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± ¡°The loyalty of the military is not dead yet. Sir Lawrence eagerly awaits the words from Your Majesty.¡± Cobb said so. He didn¡¯t think he was lying. Eventually that¡¯s what it¡¯s all about. Lawrence was worthy as the Emperor. The Emperor smirked at those words. He was thirsty with feeble expectations. ¡°Lawrence, is he here?¡± ¡°Yes. Your Majesty¡¯s call did not arrive, but Sir Lawrence came to the Capital a few months ago.¡± Cobb said eagerly. ¡°Sir Lawrence has changed. Your Majesty. No longer Lord Lawrence in his immature days.¡± The Emperor did not believe all of that. It will be different as he gets older. He kept watching Lawrence with such hope. However, people did not change easily. ¡°Do you serve Lawrence?¡± ¡°I am Your Majesty¡¯s servant.¡± ¡°I am not trying to scold you. The most disappointing thing about me sending Lawrence away was that he didn¡¯t make a decent follower of his own.¡± The Emperor mumbled like a self-talk. ¡°But¡­¡­ Enough to enlist one of my investigators.¡± It was never enough. Perhaps, most of those who yed tricks outside aren¡¯t loyal to Lawrence. All they need is a center point. But the Emperor closed his eyes to that fact. It was never good for future generations to give the noble the experience of overthrowing the government by force with an unorthodox figurehead. What has been gathered, in all likelihood, will be the most greedy ones. Even the Emperor knew. He used such people because he had the confidence to control them. It was also possible because the Emperor¡¯s power was already strong. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor stared at the carving on the roof of the bed for a moment. The relief of the golden sun rising in the center of the sky looked down on him as if looking down at all things. Gregor was neither a mature man nor a wise man. He belonged to the rather ugly ss of men, and he knew it himself. If he was in a higher ce than others, it was because he had a greater desire than anyone else. ¡°Bring the paper. Write down what I am telling you, and do it.¡± Taking the paper and pen that Cobb had prepared beforehand, he dictated what the Emperor said. The Emperor settled there. ¡°Go.¡± Cobb bowed down and stepped back. The door closed, and soon it was quiet again. The Emperor looked at the ceiling of the bed again for a moment, then closed his eyes. He was so tired that he was dizzy. £ª£ª£ª Even at night, the pce was lit up brightly. The knights had strangely hard faces. Mielle did not know about the spection, but she only felt the atmosphere of the Pce was strange. ¡°What happened?¡± Torch ring from afar. Ansgar said, ¡°Nothing big will happen.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Tonight, Miss Mielle and Miss Hazel can sleep here.¡± Saying so, he closed the curtain. trust me, but the s will be very gripping! Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Proofreader: somnium So Mielle became a little more anxious. Something was going on. Two wet nurses, each with their children, were guarding the next room. ¡°What¡¯s going on? It¡¯s kind of noisy¡­¡­. Hazel, what are you doing?¡± Hazel wore a shirt with leather pants and a short cloak made of wolf fur over it. It was a popr style after Natalia wore wolf fur to the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. ¡°Don¡¯t you know? Countess Martha¡¯s salon is open today at the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± Marcus looked at Hazel. But he did not open his mouth to speak. If this night could be passed quietly, there was no need to surprise Mielle. Mielle felt nauseous. ¡°Is His Majesty ill?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say it like this, ¡­¡­.¡± Hazel looked around the people as if there was something, and said to Mielle, ¡°So, that was why they opened it.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Mielle wasn¡¯t stupid either. Although she didn¡¯t understand it all, she was aware that various conspiracies were being made within the Imperial Pce. She also knew the Empress¡¯ story. Mielle said with a tensed look, ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s so messy.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it and sleep well with Miss Leticia.¡± ¡°Are you okay? Aren¡¯t you just going to cause problems?¡± Mielle nced at her. Even though Countess Marta¡¯s salon was rtively unconstrained by court manners, Hazel¡¯s current attire was too liberal. Hazelughed. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I will go with Her Highness Natalia.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Why do you think I will always make trouble? I will be right back.¡± ¡°Are youing back?¡± ¡°The atmosphere in the Imperial Pce is so quiet these days. I should be with you and Miss Leticia.¡± At that, Mielleughed softly. Hazel went out. Mielle yawned and greeted Leticia in the cradle, ¡°Good night, Miss Leticia.¡± The sleeping baby wrinkled the tip of her nose. Mielle saw that and smiled a little. And she said to Ansgar, ¡°Should I sleep here too?¡± ¡°If you do that, the knights¡¯ efforts will be reduced.¡± ¡°Ah, His Highness the Crown Prince led the knights out. Would that be alright? I heard there was a riot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ced has never been defeated.¡± Ansgar smiled, wrinkling the corners of his eyes. Mielle was relieved. ¡°Yes. And I will sleep here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mielle smiled softly and went to the bed in the corner of the baby¡¯s room. There was a separate bed for the caregivers to rest in their spare time. Ansgar blew out the candle. He lit only one light in the room, making it shine softly. Mielley down and closed her eyes. It wasn¡¯t long before Ansgar left and she heard the door close. Mielle tossed and turned for a while. It was when she got up and sat down because she could hardly fall asleep. Kaang! Kaang! There was a sound like knocking iron outside the window. Mielle checked the cradle first, in case Leticia woke up, and looked out the window. A group of torches had gathered near the main gate of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. It was hard to see in the baby¡¯s room, but it looked like soldiers. Mielle took a breath. It really looked like something had happened. * * * Possessing Leticia was the most important thing to the anti Crown Prince faction. No one in the anti Crown Prince faction was thinking of Lawrence. While in the Capital, Lawrence encouraged some nobles to distrust Cedric and discriminate against the Northerners. Through his old friends, including Count Eison, he also spread the logic that the North and the West would wipe out the established powers and take its ce after Cedric¡¯s ession. However, he was never involved in any concrete ns. He¡¯s not even in the Capital right now. Literally, he was only giving those who were hostile to Cedric a chance to express their feelings outright. Cobb also did not reveal Lawrence¡¯s name, as the order stated. It was because it was the first priority to eliminate Cedric and neutralize Artizea. Once the Crown Prince and his wife are removed, the rest will be like putting an acorn in your pocket. Leticia was the one who was immediately considered as Cedric¡¯s opponent by the anti Crown Prince faction. As a candidate for the emperor to rece Cedric, and as a hostage to subdue Evron, she was an existence that must be secured. It was for this reason that Hawthorne, themander of the Capital Guard, gathered his troops near the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce even before the release of the imperial order. The soldiers wondered. ¡°Is something going on in the Imperial Pce?¡± ¡°There was a riot.¡± ¡°Did nothing happen on the street?¡± There were small whispersing and going. But it didn¡¯t causemotion or disrupt the ranks. Hawthorne waited patiently. Next arrived Gus, the Guard Knight. Behind him were fifty guards. Unlike the Capital Guards, they headed straight for the main gate. Gus tilted his head curiously in front of the front door. Unlike usual, there were no guards guarding the door. The garden was quiet and drenched in darkness. ¡®Did they notice something?¡¯ But it wouldn¡¯t be this quiet if Hawthorne troops were spotted. Perhaps, it was because Cedric led most of the Knights of Evron. Gus knocked hard on thetched door. Soon an old butler came out to the front door with amp. It was Ansgar. ¡°What are you doing in the middle of the night, Sir Gus?¡± Gus nced around. ¡°How is it that there is no one guarding it?¡± ¡°It is not something of Sir Gus¡¯ interest.¡± Ansgar replied politely. Gus thought he had read the answer. Ansgar looked anxious. Grand Duke Evron took the knights out, so they might not have had enough guards. Gus spoke politely for the first time, ¡°Imperial order. On His Majesty¡¯s orders, I am going to take the imperial grandchild to the Main Pce.¡± ¡°It¡¯ste at night, so I¡¯ll have an audience tomorrow. Miss Leticia is already sleeping.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t His Majesty know it¡¯ste at night? Even so, it means that the situation is worthy of finding the imperial grandchild in this instance.¡± ¡°The night wind is too cold for the baby to go out.¡± ¡°There is a situation in which the Emperor¡¯s will will be brought down, are you concerned about coughing?¡± Gus said in a pressuring manner. Unless he knew what was going on tonight, there was no reason not to bring Leticia out. Ansgar replied calmly, ¡°Miss Leticia is not yet old enough to understand His Majesty, let alone ept His Majesty¡¯s words. I will see him early tomorrow morning.¡± Having said that, he bowed his head politely and turned around. He couldn¡¯t help it. Gus raised his hand. ¡°Capture the one who disobeyed the imperial order and save the imperial grandchild!¡± He shouted loudly. These were the words the soldiers were told to listen for. Hawthorne¡¯s troops that had been prepared in advance rushed out. The soldiers brought logs with steels on the ends and banged on the door. Kaang! The sound of steel hitting each other and tearing the night sky resounded. This is what Mielle heard. In the first ce, the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was not a facility for defense. There was a secret passage just in case, but there were no facilities for a siege. Even the dignified iron gate was actually weak. It was bolted inside, but it got smashed in a few seconds. The guards rushed in ahead of them. Gus sent a scout ahead of time to see if there was an ambush in the garden. But it was empty. The Crown Prince¡¯s Pce building was quite high, but there was not even a watchtower where firearms were ced. A few Evron Knights could not defend them all. That was the reason why the Knights of Evron had given up on the garden in advance. Gus confirmed that there was no ambush and rushed towards the main gate of the main building. Following his beckoning, the guards dispersed. It was to block the escape route. It was time for the Hawthorne troops to m the door with logs again. Tatang! Volley fire poured over the heads of the Hawthorne troops. Because it was so close, about 30 people spewed blood at once. ¡°Second floor!¡± Gus eximed. The arrows were pouring out terrifyingly, and Gus also rolled over the floor to avoid it. The first shot was a warning. It was close range anyway, and it was an opponent who was not armed with armor. Both sides¡¯ numbers were small. There was no need to reuse firearms with a slow reload speed. However, a second unit appeared. It was another unit of the Capital Guard that had promised to support the Hawthorne unit if the imperial order was issued. This time, in the reverse direction, the reinforcements fired. The knights who shot with their heads out on the second floor of the Imperial Pce quickly ducked their heads. ¡°Break it down quickly!¡± Hawthorne shouted. It didn¡¯te easy. The door of the main building was reinforced with severalyers of steel tes from the inside. Atch is also made separately. Still, the door shook. Themander of the Knights of Evron, Royle, spoke calmly to Ansgar, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if the door were to be opened, that number would not even exceed the lobby.¡± ¡°I believe in you.¡± Ansgar replied. Besides that, explosives were installed everywhere. They will never go as far as the baby¡¯s room. It was the same for dragging time. ¡®I really didn¡¯t know they were going to attack.¡¯ It was highly likely that the siege would end. Preparing for battle was really only for a short operation. The Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was also part of the Imperial Pce. No matter how much the imperial order was used as an excuse, it was bound to be a burdensome task. Royle clicked his tongue. It would have been nice to have returned to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. There were all the preparations for a siege. Even thinking about itter, it was unavoidable. It was impossible to hide the fact that all of the Knights of Evron moved to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. In that case, it was no different than informing the anti Crown Prince faction that the n had been leaked. They didn¡¯t even have enough power to divide. They were also reluctant to leave the knights here and move only Leticia secretly. In the end, he decided to protect her with all his might. And he had confidence in himself. ¡°Fire arrows!¡± Royle shouted toward the second floor. One of the most confident archery knights in Evron wielded a great bow. The fire arrow that flew while drawing an arc urately ignited the fuse. Bang! Explosives that had already beenid on the garden floor exploded. A support unit that had been targeted at the end of range was engulfed in the explosion. It was then. A servant shouted. ¡°Chief! There is a fire!¡± ¡°What? Now?¡± It wasn¡¯t just a fire. The moment Royle was startled, there was an explosion. Some of the knights waiting in the lobby with their weapons pulled hurriedly headed towards it. Ansgar had forgotten that his leg was hurting and ran upstairs. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Proofreader: somnium The explosion was in the kitchen. The fire was from there. The door leading out caught on fire. The employees rushed to the fire with buckets and curtains. Bang! Soldiers smashed the ming doors with logs from outside. Royle rubbed his reddened face with the palm of his hand. This time, a shout was heard from the second floor. ¡°The parlor on the east side has been opened!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Royle panicked and ran towards it. The knights waiting in the lobby followed him. All of the windowsrge enough for a person to go in and out were nailed with iron and wooden boards. One broke and a log hung over the window sill. Royle clenched his teeth. It wasn¡¯t a door that could be knocked down once or twice with a log like this. Someone had loosened the nail beforehand. The log rattled. In order to secure an entrance to enter, the soldiers are trying to break it from the outside. An arrow fell from the second floor. The screams of the soldiers came through the window. ¡°Lock the parlor door!¡± As the knights retreated, they knocked down all the furniture in the drawing room to earn even a little more time. Finally, they closed the parlor door and ced down a piece of furniture outside to block the entrance. ¡°Go to the butler and tell him to prepare to escape! The 1st and 2nd battalions will keep the imperial grandchild as nned, and the 3rd will block the way out.¡± Royle ordered. He was valiant, but he was not a savage. Explosives exploded in the kitchen, and the living room window was loose. There must have been a traitor. Then the door will open. They had to escape from the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. * * * ¡°You must prepare to escape.¡± The knight opened the door to the baby¡¯s room and said, then immediately went out again. Because they needed one more fighting hand. Ansgar looked at Marcus. He had already made the escape preparations and was holding the baby wrapped in arge swaddling bag in his arms. He did not believe that they could protect the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. There must be a traitor. Ansgar wasn¡¯t too shocked this time either. Unlike Aubrey Jordyn¡¯s, Roun Jayden shocked Evron. The traitor coulde out again. Aubrey acted impulsively. However, Roun betrayed Cedric, because he felt betrayed and was vindictive, believing that he was doing it for Evron. It meant that someone like Roun coulde out again. For another reason, there was now preventing anyone captured by Evron¡¯s hostile forces from being subsumed. Evron existed when it was severely oppressed. That fact was now understood not only by young people like Hayley and Freil, but by older vassals as well. So, they made a n in advance for the breaking of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. It really got into practice. Ansgar silently wrapped the baby in a swaddling bag and tied it to his chest. He is the son of a wet nurse. He himself and this baby were the bait. The unit will split in two and flee. One was nned to move to the military headquarters under General Hoover and the other to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence. If there were two swaddling bags, two people, respectively, the other party would not be able to tell which one was the real one. The baby in the stranger¡¯s arms struggled and cried. But the wet nurse swallowed her tears, and she turned away. Ansgar said, ¡°Maybe after we escape, there will be a few reconnaissance squads left. Stay quietly in the bedroom, ask for protection and return home.¡± Gus is someone who respects Keshore. Besides, Mielle waspletely physically helpless, and she wasn¡¯t even a strategist. Even Keshore remained neutral. The Keshore family, and even their rtives, the Belmond family, were not in a position to wield power in politics. So even if Evron is uprooted, Mielle will be fine. Because they had no reason to hurt her. There was no reason to go so far as harming this weak youngdy. ¡°In case¡­¡­, if things go wrong, then please stay with the baby.¡± Since they were the words of someone who had experienced the same thing, the words were very heavy. Mielle bit her white lips. She looked at Marcus. Marcus nodded his head slightly. ¡°I will risk my life to protect Miss Leticia.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ansgar smiled. Outside, the knight knocked on the door. Ansgar hurried out first. The raiders had already poured into the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. The Knights of Evron were fighting to secure a safe escape route from the second floor to the first floor. ¡°No time to dy!¡± Royle¡¯s screams reached the baby¡¯s room. As soon as Ansgar went out, Marcus unwrapped the swaddling bag he had been holding on his chest and ced it in Mielle¡¯s arms. And he pushed open the decorative paneling on the wall. There was a space the size of a closet inside. ¡°Hurry!¡± Mielle crawled into it. ¡°Be safe.¡± Marcus said eagerly. And instead of the baby, he carried a nket wrapped around a doll and went out. ¡°Thank you.¡± Marcus said lowly. And he closed the panel. Soon the urgent footsteps went away. The cries of the baited baby could be heard from far away. ¡°Unng, hhunng.¡± Leticia groaned. Mielle, who was about to burst into tears at any moment, gently patted the baby in the small space. ¡°You can¡¯t cry, Miss Leticia.¡± This closet was made by Artizea. [¡°It¡¯s impossible to create a secret passage in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. All of the old secret passages are very well known, and even if you try to create something new, they stand out too much.¡±] When ites torge-scale construction, there is no way to escape the Emperor¡¯s eyes. So, what Artizea made was a small closet. [¡°It¡¯s more likely that it won¡¯t be used, but¡­¡­. You can use it to store somethingter.¡±] Only Marcus and Mielle knew exactly where the closet was. Marcus didn¡¯t want Ansgar to know either. Mielle had no idea what had happened tonight. However, she knew that the tension in the Knights was gradually increasing. So she told Marcus in advance. [¡°If something happens, I will hide with Miss Leticia.¡±] [¡°Miss Mielle-sama¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°If it¡¯s just me and Miss Leticia, even if I get caught, I won¡¯t get hurt. No matter what happens, the most important thing is that Miss Leticia is safe. right?¡±] Marcus had a heavy face. This was too much of a burden for Mielle. [¡°Can you really do that?¡±] [¡°I will protect her.¡±] Mielle said with a stiff face. Pouring her love into this little baby was the first thing she did as an adult. Mielle used to think that her life was less important than dandelion spores. She will do nothing but make her parents grieve, and she will wither and die in her bedroom without ever vigorously facing the world. No one understands how terrifying it was to her. But after she met Leticia, it was different. The love she poured out for Leticia will remain valuable even after her death. Leticia wasn¡¯t the baby she gave birth to, but she was still helping, caring for, and watching over the growth of the new life. And that was how much she loved this little baby. There was a hole between the pieces, so the light was faintly seeping in. Mielle held her breath and listened to the outside. The sound of the fight was close enough to reach her. She was hiding inside the wall, so she couldn¡¯t tell if the sound of footstepsing into the room wasing from below or not. The sound of gunshots scattered. ¡°Ah, ack!¡± A scream rang right in front of her. Mielle saw the carpet stained with blood through a small hole. To keep Leticia from screaming, Mielle covered her mouth with her hand. She put her palms over Leticia¡¯s mouth, but it looked like she was about to burst into tears as she kept trying to cover it. Mielle patted her head desperately and held her in her arms. ¡®You can¡¯t make a sound. You can¡¯t make a sound.¡¯ She whispered in her heart. * * * At this time Natalia was in her own quarters on the third floor of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. The Guard Knight Alden came to search her room himself. The three guards went around and opened the door one by one. Natalia knew from the beginning that there would be raiders. There was no way she wouldn¡¯t have noticed they were preparing for a siege. Thedies-in-waiting were sent for errands far in advance, using reasonable excuses. However, Freil¡¯s request for cooperation was briefly declined. [¡°It is for the safety of the imperial grandchild that was asked by Her Highness.¡±] She had no intention of fighting alongside the Knights of Evron. Natalia has no obligation, and she shouldn¡¯t have done it for the sake of the Iantz Kingdom. Therefore she did not leave the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. ¡®Did the butler and the chief attendant seed in escaping?¡¯ Natalia peeked out the window. The moonlight was dark, but not so much that she couldn¡¯t recognize the five-pronged movement. Two groups of the Knights of Evron had fled, and the guards and Capital Guards were chasing after them. And the tails were once again caught by another group of the Knights of Evron. It was a long time for Mielle, but in fact, it took only about 20 minutes from the time they broke through to now. There were only a handful of search teams left in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. The soldiers drove out every employee. ¡°I have been rude. Sorry.¡± Alden said politely, having confirmed that there were no babies anywhere in Natalia¡¯s ce. Even though the Iantz Kingdom was a vassal of the Empire, it was not allowed to search the Crown Princess¡¯ bedroom. Still, he peered under the bed. Because there was no guarantee that the imperial grandchild did not hide here. ¡°As long as you knew. Get out.¡± Natalia said sternly. Alden reached out his hand and said softly, ¡°I will escort you to the Iantz Kingdom quarters in the guesthouse.¡± ¡°Thedies-in-waiting I sent for errands didn¡¯te back.¡± ¡°Something bad happened, so if you stay here, you won¡¯t be able to sleepfortably. I will pack thedies-in-waiting¡¯s essentials and pass it on to follow the Crown Princess.¡± Natalia looked at Alden¡¯s unmoved hand and said, ¡°I can¡¯t help it.¡± And she put her hand on Alden¡¯s. Alden was relieved. It was a moment when something sensitive was going on. It wouldter be his responsibility if diplomatic problems arose. At that moment, Natalia grabbed Alden¡¯s hand tightly and pulled out her belt with her left hand. A flexible sword was pulled out from the belt decorated with white agate. Alden was startled and tried to shake off Natalia¡¯s hand. But before he could do that, a powerful swordsman rushed at him like a whip. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Proofreader: somnium Natalia¡¯s flexible sword pierced Alden¡¯s side. ¡°Kugh¡­¡­ !¡± Natalia rushed straight into Alden¡¯s arms and drew the sword from his waist. Her flexible sword was good to hide, butcked lethality. Now that she drew her weapon, she had to kill everyone in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. [¡°It is already known that Iantz was in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. However, there must be a big difference whether we participated in the battle or not.¡±] Bernat said with a serious attitude. [¡°If the Anti-Crown Prince faction wins, and it is known that you fought at that time, Crown Princess Iantz will be punished for taking part in a civil war for the session to the imperial throne.¡±] [¡°Yes.¡±] [¡°I will leave the choice of whether to draw the weapon or not to you. However, if you use your hands, please be sure.¡±] Natalia said yes. There were other reasons. She was Bernat¡¯s secret escort. If her skills are revealed, she will lose that function. As soon as Natalia secured the sword, she turned around. The three guards had a look of astonishment. Before they could respond, Natalia stabbed one in the neck. ¡°Crown Princess!¡± Alden let out a screaming shout. Of the two guards, one drew a sword and the other drew a gun. Both were wrong choices. The gun was not loaded, and he was not far from Natalia who was holding the sword. Natalia first cut off the wrist of the gun bearer. Tang! The gun fell and scratched the marble floor. A person losesbat power even if only their wrist is cut. Needless to say, even more if that was the hand they used the most. Natalia turned to Alden, who was wrapping his wrists in pain, and kicking the squatting guard back. She then trampled on Alden¡¯s hand as he was about to grab the pistol. ¡°Kuuh, ahl¡­¡­ !¡± Alden screamed at the pain of his bones breaking. The bewildered guard¡¯s sword tip shook. Even in a ready state, he would not be able to deal with Natalia on a one-on-one basis so he would not be able to deal with her with that state of mind. Puck! The fight was over soon. Natalia threw away Alden¡¯s sword and wiped the blood from her gloves on the tablecloth. She took the weapons of the dead. ¡°Huu¡­¡­.¡± She sighed. She didn¡¯t want to kill them if possible. She just wanted them to let her go. Then, she would have moved to rescue Leticia and Mielle from the empty mansion. ¡®Because there was nothing else I could do¡­¡­.¡¯ She had to be sure to use her hand. It was also Bernat¡¯s order. If she keeps them alive and they call in reinforcements, it would be like throwing the baby into a battlefield without the Knights of Evron. That¡¯s why it wasn¡¯t as easy as not using her hands in the first ce. If Cedric wins anyway, the dead will be executed as traitors. Natalia calmed her heart. There was no one on the 3rd floor. Natalia went down slowly, thinking that if the search corps remained, they might hear the sound of a fight and run away. And she stood in front of the baby¡¯s room. Tragedy spread out in the hallway. Because tonight was the ce where the fight was most fierce. More than thirty-nine corpses were scattered. There was blood on the carpet and it was soggy with every step on it. But Natalia didn¡¯t have time to worry about it. She crossed it and entered the baby room. There was the sound of footsteps. ¡®She said that if there was a problem, Miss Mielle said she would hide. Did she escape?¡¯ Then she had nothing to worry about. It was then. ¡°Kyaak!¡± Natalia looked back in surprise. Hazel covered her mouth. ¡°Lazy Hazel.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I thought there would be no one.¡± Hazel lowered her head. Natalia shook her head saying it was fine. And that was when she was about to ask Hazel about Mielle. ¡°Captain! There¡¯s some people!¡± Bang! Natalia fired at him without hesitation with Alden¡¯s handgun, which she had preloaded. Hazel was astonished. ¡°No one was on the first floor?!¡± ¡°It seems that someone has been after Lady.¡± Natalia said as she reloaded the bullets. ¡°Lady, you better hide yourself for now.¡± ¡°But Mielle¡­¡­ !¡± ¡°She seems to be well hidden, so¡­¡­.¡± At that moment, a cry was heard as if it was out of breath. ¡°Lady Hazel, hurry up!¡± Natalia strapped the handgun to her waist and this time loaded the musket. Leticia¡¯s cry didn¡¯t sound very good. And if they hear a baby crying, they¡¯re bound to get caught. Hazel ran towards the piece panel and ripped it off with all her might. ¡°Mielle!¡± Mielle was half-dazed. Her body was drenched in cold sweat. Leticia, held tight in her arms, began to cry violently. ¡°Huaang! Uwaangg!¡± Hazel hurriedly grabbed the baby. She cried so much that her face was flushed red. Natalia¡¯s ears heard the footsteps of the troops running upstairs from downstairs. ¡®Six? Eight?¡¯ It¡¯s enough to stop. ¡°Lady Hazel, go and hide behind that cupboard.¡± said Natalia. Hazel put the swaddling bag on one of her shoulders and pped Mielle a few times in the cheek. Leticia must be having a hard time, but that wasn¡¯t the problem. Mielle opened her eyes faintly, confused. ¡°Hazel¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Come here!¡± Hazel grabbed and dragged her with determination. The door was kicked open before Hazel escaped. Bang! A bullet shot by Natalia flew through the door and lodged in the head of the man who entered. The startled searchers all raised their guns in unison. But they didn¡¯t shoot right away. Because Natalia was Crown Princess Iantz. Thanks to this, Natalia further saw her benefit. The second shot, just in time, pierced another man¡¯s head. The enemy knights were seven. And now it has been reduced to five. Five des rushed to Natalia. Natalia lifted the musket, blocked it, and mmed it to the side. She then drew a sword and faced the opponent. ¡®Can you?¡¯ Natalia¡¯s gaze was dizzy. If she only had time, it was enough. The question wasn¡¯t whether she could fight and win, but whether she could keep Leticia and Mielle safe. Hazel hugged Leticia and slyly moved towards the door. Natalia noticed it and drove the attackers towards the window. The searchmander noticed this and shouted. ¡°Capture the imperial grandchild first!¡± Natalia drew the handgun from her waist and shot him, even when she was facing two people at the same time. At that moment, Hazel threw themp. The carpet caught fire. The kerosene oil burned brightly when it was sprinkled. Mielle almost crawled out of the door and escaped. Then she got caught in a corpse and fell to the ground. ¡°Kyaa, aahk!¡± Mielle¡¯s scream echoed in the hallway. ¡°Your Highness Natalia!¡± Hazel eximed. Natalia kicked the brawler and ran towards Hazel. Hazel turned the carpet over. The room became a sea of fire in an instant. ¡°Go quickly!¡± Natalia caught Mielle and carried her. The two frantically ran down, each carrying someone they needed to protect. There was a gunshot, so there was a possibility that reinforcements woulde. ¡°Go to the West Gate. If you go there, my father will be waiting for you.¡± And maybe Keshore is here, too. If he finds out that the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce has been attacked, he¡¯ll be worried about Mielle and run to her. Belmond editor-in-chief was preparing and waiting with the safe house. Hazel did not go to the Empress¡¯ salon tonight, but secretly went to see her father. She wasn¡¯t suspicious of Evron. The Knights of Evron would be willing to throw themselves till thest man, as they did for Cedric. Even the wet nurse gave away her baby. But what they loved was Evron¡¯s sessor. Neither Leticia nor as Artizea¡¯s daughter. To the extreme, if they had to choose between Cedric and Leticia, they would abandon Leticia in tears. It wasn¡¯t so for Mielle and Hazel. Marcus was different. They liked the people of Evron. However, even if they became a hostage to threaten Evron, Leticia¡¯s safety was more important. So she moved separately. In case of an emergency, she needed someone to save the hidden Mielle. It¡¯s fine if nothing happens. Even if it happens, it is good if the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce is kept safe. Then it¡¯s just that she put a little effort into something useless. She hoped it would be like that. Unfortunately, things havee to this. ¡°Not the West Gate.¡± Mielle, who hung on Natalia¡¯s back, answered with a small voice. ¡°Leave me in the garden and go to the Empress Pce.¡± ¡°Mielle!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Her Highness said. If something happens, go to the Empress Pce. And the Empress Pce is much closer.¡± Saying that, Mielle pushed Natalia away. ¡°Your Highness Natalia. Please take Miss Leticia to the Empress Pce. Please.¡± Natalia put down Mielle once and looked at Hazel with a troubled face. And she looked down at Mielle again and said, ¡°If I¡¯m with you, you can¡¯t make it. It¡¯s just dangerous.¡± Mielle said with a smile. It was true. Hazel bit her lip. Although they were cousins of the same age, the weak Mielle was always someone Hazel had to look after. But if Mielle even said this, she couldn¡¯t stop her. ¡°I will go with Mielle to the West Gate, Your Highness Natalia.¡± It meant being a bait. Natalia said with a troubled face, ¡°I am an Iantz person.¡± It didn¡¯t make sense to leave it to a foreigner to take the precious imperial grandchild alone. ¡°Her Highness trusted Your Highness Natalia. That is enough.¡± Hazel said. Mielle nodded her head, too. Natalia was very surprised by the one-sided trust the two showed. Artizea was good at judging people. She couldn¡¯t turn away from that trust. So she sighed and took the swaddling bag from Hazel¡¯s hand and tied it to her arms. It was close to the Empress¡¯ Pce, and if Natalia ran alone, it¡¯d be short. That was the safest way. ¡°I hope both of you are safe.¡± ¡°Please take good care of her.¡± Hazel bowed her head with Mielle. Natalia disappeared into the shade of the garden, out of the moonlight. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Proofreader: somnium Kiiiiikkk! The high-pitched violin sound made a ripping noise in the high notes. The musician who made the mistake turned pale and paused. But no one rebuked him. The musicians who were ying didn¡¯t care if the violinist made a mistake. It was because they did not have the strength to care about other people¡¯s performances. The quintet with 5 strings, r, flute and bassoon was too heavy to be called chamber music. Still, it was not enough to stop the noises that rang from afar. But the salon¡¯s guests were not agitated. At least it seemed so. No one went out on the terrace to get some evening air. They had to make a decision to ask what that sound was. Duke Farren of the Kingdom of Sewell pressed and massaged his eyelids with his hands. The inside of his eye hurt. ¡°Duke Farren.¡± Prince Bernat of the Iantz Kingdom came with two sses and sat across from him. Duke Farren sat his body upright. ¡°Your Highness Bernat.¡± ¡°How about this?¡± Bernat suggested a drink with lime and mint. Duke Farren smiled, but inside he was troubled. He was already so tired that he couldn¡¯t stand it. He wasn¡¯t even in a situation where he could get a good rest tomorrow, but it was clear that drinking would make it harder. However, it is not an envoy from another country, it is given by the Crown Prince himself. He couldn¡¯t help but drink. As if reading his thoughts, Bernat said again, ¡°It¡¯s not alcohol, it¡¯s tea.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I also tend to get sleepy quickly when I drink, so I carry this with me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Duke Farren smiled without any awkwardness. His tired, crushed mind stood sharply. It is unlikely that Bernat would rmend mint tea without any intention. He even went so far as to say that tonight he must be awake with a clear spirit. It was an important moment when the power of the Empire was about to change. He had to stay awake, to watch and respond to the changing situation. ¡®A saint, a legitimacy, now a riot.¡¯ It wasmon for civil war ns and purges to ur when the throne changed owners. But he did not know that it would cause gunfire and riots to resound in the Imperial Pce. This is because the Emperor seemed to be trying to keep the Crown Prince in check. If he fully supported the Crown Prince and prepared for the transfer of power in advance, who would have dared to invade? But things have already happened. ¡®The Empress is on the Crown Prince¡¯s side.¡¯ The reason for sending irresistible invitations to diplomatic envoys and collecting them in the salon is probably to reduce the variables. Even the Empress personally attended, making it difficult to get out in the first ce. In other words, this rebellion was induced by the Crown Prince for a purge. In fact, this was whatplicated Duke Farren¡¯s head the most. The Emperor paid a considerable price to the Empress to adopt Cedric. But in fact, it was one sided. With that in mind, Cedric¡¯s political power is far higher than he had ever thought. For other countries, including the Kingdom of Sewell, it was unsettling and something to be wary of. Bernat said, ¡°This is my first visit to the Empress¡¯ Pce. I was surprised at how elegant the salon was. I was told that they hadn¡¯t changed the decorations for quite some time.¡± ¡°Historical buildings don¡¯t change wallpaper or furniture very often.¡± Duke Farren answered cautiously. It was clear that Bernat was in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. He initially said that it was the friendship of the Crown Princesses, but Natalia was staying in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce even after the Crown Princess had left the Capital. Duke Farren saw it as an excuse for the Iantz ¡®frequent visits to the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce.¡¯ By the way, what happened to Natalia? She should have gotten an invitation too, but she didn¡¯te to the salon. Had she been in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, she might have been caught up in the mess by now. But Bernat didn¡¯t seem worried. Duke Farren did not know whether Natalia was not in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, or whether he was convinced that the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce defenses would never be breached. Or, it could have been that Bernat was worried, but he didn¡¯t show it at all. Bernat said leisurely, ¡°Still, Countess Martha must have taken great care to ensure that the interior wouldn¡¯t getpletely out of date.¡± ¡°She is.¡± Duke Farren agreed, but a corner of his mind wasplicated. Is Bernat really talking about the interior of the Empress¡¯ Pce? It would be better to think otherwise. ¡°So is our house. It¡¯s a house where old people live, so it¡¯s notmon to change anything.¡± Duke Farren said slowly. ¡°But my wife always cares about many things. Changing flowers every day, tying vases with trendy new fabrics, and so on. She wants to buy some wolf fur this time.¡± ¡°If you hang it on the wall in winter, it will look warm.¡± Bernat smiled. The ying paused for a moment. The two turned to the side of the band. Countess Eunice¡¯s eldest daughter Fiona was sitting at the piano. Duke Farren, who had been watching the Imperial Family as a diplomatic envoy for decades from his youth, felt a strange sentiment. ¡®Countess Eunice is no longer afraid of the Empress.¡¯ Countess Eunice was very afraid of the Empress before the Empress closed the gates and lived here. But she is now attending the salon in the Empress Pce. Fiona was even ying the piano. His mind was troubled. As a diplomatic envoy for the Kingdom of Sewell, he had to line up with a new ruler. However, as a member of the same generation as the Emperor, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a certain sadness. It feels like he first came to watch the Empire¡¯s sunrise yesterday, but now he is looking at the setting sun. One of the attendants handed Bernat a small note. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Bernat opened the note and stood up. ¡°My wife has arrived. I will be away for a while.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± Duke Farren stood up and saw him off. Crown Princess Natalia is here? Now? Come to think of it, he heard that there were a few gunshots. * * * ¡°Uwaangg! Huwaangg, hic,up!¡± Leticia wept nonstop. She had already be acquainted with Natalia, but to no avail. She seemed to know that she was separated from her guardians. She wept until her throat was hoarse, as if she were crying it all at once. The skilled maids took turns holding her to no avail. It was sadder because she was a baby who didn¡¯t cry much. ¡°Your Highness Natalia.¡± One of the maids timidly called her. A washbasin with warm water and a towel were prepared. Natalia took off the gloves and washed her hands there. Blood clotted on her gloves, the maid who tried to clean it was startled. Natalia wet the towel with water and wiped her face. There were red stains smeared on it. Natalia then understood why the maids were scared. ¡°I will prepare clothes for you to change into.¡± ¡°No. I will see Her Majesty the Empress first.¡± Natalia said so. The Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was pierced, she couldn¡¯t believe the Empress¡¯ maid. It was Bernat that arrived first. He left the salon with an effortless, calm pace. But in the hallway he almost ran, forgetting to knock and mmed the door open. ¡°Natalia!¡± Bernat eximed. The way he looked, Natalia noticed that there was blood in her ear as well. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. There are no injuries.¡± Bernat approached her and looked at her. Natalia smirked and she patted him on the shoulder. ¡°You know nothing will happen. I kept my promise.¡± Bernat nodded his head and let out a long breath. ¡°It¡¯s okay if you¡¯re safe.¡± Bang! This time, the door was opened wide on both sides. The Empress stood at the door with a pale face. Countess Martha and Old Viscount Juven were following in her footsteps. Leticia, who was quiet as if exhausted, was startled and cried out loudly again. The Empress reached out to the maid holding Leticia and extended her arms. The maid brought the baby to the Empress. ¡°You were surprised. Poor thing.¡± Patting Leticia on the back, the Empress turned to Natalia. ¡°The Empire has been indebted to the Crown Princess.¡± ¡°I am honored, Your Majesty. I just did what I had to do.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± The Empress bowed her head. Natalia and Bernat hastily bowed their backs. ¡°I will make sure the Crown Princess has a room to rest.¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m going to go back. Lady Keshore and Lady Belmond are still in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± Mielle risked her life. Although she had been told in advance, Natalia didn¡¯t think Mielle could really do that. She deserved to be repaid for such a heart. Natalia wanted her to live. It was faster for her to move on her own than for the Empress to take steps. The Empress looked at Natalia for a moment. She should have refused. It means that the Crown Princess of another country will again take up her arms and walk inside the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. But the Empress could not do that. The Imperial Pce was breached, and Leticia could not have survived without Natalia. ¡°Speak to the guards so they can give everything you need.¡± Bernat grabbed her hand. ¡°You mustn¡¯t get hurt.¡± ¡°Thank you for your permission.¡± Natalia kissed the back of Bernat¡¯s hand and hurried outside. Bernat struggled to contain his impatience. ¡°Tell Sir Bertholt and Sir Gayan that I¡¯m going to see them.¡± When the Empress gave the order, one of the attendants ran out. And the Empress wiped Leticia¡¯s face and hair, wet with sweat and tears, with a handkerchief. Her diaper, and swaddle was changed. It was pure white with a golden coat of arms embroidery. When Leticia grew up a little more, it was the fabric she had prepared in advance to make her robe. ¡°Huk, haeng¡­¡­.¡± Leticia¡¯s crying became a little less frequent. It wasn¡¯t that her heart had calmed down, but that she realized that no matter how much she cried, neither a babysitter nor a wet nurse woulde. The Empress took Leticia and went out of the inner chamber. ¡°Your arm will not befortable, I will take care of her .¡± Old Viscount Juven said cautiously. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± The Empress cut it short. She had no intention of keeping Leticia hidden in the inner room like the people of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Is it safe to say that it is the Empress¡¯ Pce in the same ground where the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce is breached? In the end, the only thing she can rely on is the veil of humanity. And if she can¡¯t trust people, she shouldn¡¯t trust anything. Four guard knights and three hundred guards were gathered in the spacious auditorium of the Empress¡¯ Pce. The sound of them taking a knee shook the ground. The Empress said in a stern voice while holding Leticia. ¡°In this Imperial Pce, the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was attacked. How could this be? What are the guards doing?¡± ¡°Forgive me.¡± Samuel the Guard Knight answered with a blush face. ¡°They tried to harm the imperial grandchild, so this is undoubtedly a treason. Catch them without leaving anything behind.¡± The Empress ordered. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Proofreader: somnium The Guards were tense. Few of the Guardsmen expressed their views on politics. Only three people actively participated in the anti-Crown Prince faction. But among the rest, there were many who, like Samuel, simply watched the development of this event. If the Guards were moving properly, it would be impossible to attack the Imperial Pce. Therefore, the Guards of the anti-Crown Prince faction left their words in advance. That the Imperial Order wille down soon. The Guards knew that the Emperor was trying to contain the Crown Prince. So it was convincing. Once they closed their eyes, after that, even if the situation became more serious than they expected, they couldn¡¯t even touch it. To prevent that situation, they had no choice but to attack the anti-Crown Prince faction. But if they do, they will be traitors when the Imperial Order falls. It was difficult for the guards to be loyal to the Emperor. But now the Empress¡¯ orders have been given. The Imperial Order has not yet been delivered. The Crown Prince was absent. Therefore, the Empress, now the Mistress of the Imperial Pce, was theirmander. Gayan was the first to respond by tapping his left chest. ¡°Gayan, the Guards Knight, will obey the orders of the Empress.¡± When this happened, the other knights were forced to follow the orders. Hesitation still remained in the hearts of the Guards such as Samuel and Thelmar. But the Imperial Pce was now on fire. The Imperial Grandchild was in danger and had to run away in the hands of the Crown Princess of a foreign country, not even thedy-in-waiting. In this situation, Gayan has already said that he will obey the orders. All the Guards were watching. However, they could not disobey the Empress¡¯ orders. Gayan took the lead, followed by Samuel and Thelmar. The Empress only then slowly turned around and headed for the salon. As she walked while holding Leticia, eyes swarmed. Apuds of amazement sounded. Bernat apuded first, followed by apuse from the envoys. The Empress sat in her seat holding Leticia. The envoys rushed to greet. It was the day Leticia showed her face in public for the first time since her naming ceremony. £ª£ª£ª When the first attack broke out at the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, all the nobles of the anti-Crown Prince faction flocked to the Imperial Pce. 3 delivered the news in advance. The Imperial Order has been issued, and the attack has begun to secure the Imperial Grandchild. So, they gathered in the audience room to confirm the Imperial Order, and they nned to dethrone the Crown Prince. Bertholdt, who was in charge of guarding the Main Pce, blocked the nobles¡¯ entrance. ¡°After the sun goes down, you cannot enter the Pce without the Emperor, the Empress, or the Crown Prince¡¯s call.¡± ¡°His Majesty has issued the Imperial Order, so we were going to hear it out.¡± ¡°I have not heard of anything.¡± Bertholdt said in a solemn manner. Count Eison raised his voice. ¡°There is an attack at the Imperial Pce, what do you mean!¡± ¡°It is true that there was a fire in the Imperial Pce. The servants are working on it, so it will be over soon.¡± Bertholdt said with a face that didn¡¯t seem like a needle would go through. ¡°It is none of your business. I am serving His Majesty, I have never heard of the Imperial Order.¡± The guards were blocking the gates of the Imperial Pce, so there was nothing they could do. No matter what was going on inside, the public could not intervene from the outside. Nobles had no right to do that. Some rushed to find invitations to Countess Martha¡¯s salon. However, they suffered a bacsh. The Guards, under the Empress¡¯ order, quickly suppressed the inside of the Imperial Pce. In addition to the troops that attacked the Imperial Pce, Gayan also drew numerous people, including servants, attendants, and employees of the Main Pce, and threw them into the investigation office. He already had the list. Who let Cobb pass? Who turned a blind eye to Hawthorne¡¯s troops? ¡°The one and only Imperial Grandchild almost lost her life.¡± Those words were an absolute cause now that the Imperial Order¡¯s existence has not been proven. ¡°Catch and throw away all those who tried to disturb the Imperial Pce while calling out the Emperor¡¯s name. They may be on the same side.¡± Not only the Imperial Pce but also the dark Main Pce were lit with torches. * * * Meanwhile, Cobb was heading to the most important ce: Chief Hudson of the Capital Guard. Tonight his calctions are wrong. It never urred to him that the Empress would open a salon tonight and invite all of the diplomatic envoys. With that gaze, the battle at the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce could not spread to the Empress¡¯ Pce, let alone the main pce. With the exception of Gus and Alden, who were, from the beginning, an anti-Crown Prince faction, all the Guards who tried to watch the progress turned away. He didn¡¯t know that Bertholdt would keep the gates of the Imperial Pce closed and strictly guard it. Cobb and his undercover investigators thought they had sessfully ckmailed him. Even then, Cobb wouldn¡¯t mind. In fact, he didn¡¯t really care whether he seeded in capturing Leticia or not. If caught, she will help as a hostage to subdue Evron. But the most important thing is to kill Cedric. Once that was aplished, the rest could be dealt with somehow. And now the most powerful force in the Capital was the Capital Guard. ¡°No matter how great Grand Duke Evron and his Knights are, there is no way they can defeat the army. A person taking down a hundred is just a metaphor.¡± Hudson twisted his lips and said so. ¡°Bring me the Imperial Order. Without the Imperial Order, I cannot enter the Capital.¡± About 200 men, including Hawthorne¡¯s troops that attacked the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, had already entered the Capital at Hudson¡¯s order. This is possible because themander of the unit, like Hudson, was an anti-Crown Prince faction. However, he was not allowed to lead the army in public. Entering into the Capital without the Imperial Order was defined as treason on the spot. Cobb delivered Hudson the letter the Emperor had given. A thousand fully armed and waiting Capital Guards moved. * * * Cedric stopped at a temple near the slum. There were no signs of presence at all. The temple was ugly. During the day the mob destroyed it, leaving no doors or windows intact. He went into the temple without hesitation. The bench was torn apart and the curtains were torn. The altar that was left unharmed was reflected in the moonlight, giving it a gloomy look. ¡°Roll call.¡± The Evron Knights who followed him counted from 1 to 18. Finally, the knight who appeared from inside prostrated and bowed. ¡°Greetings, Crown Prince, I am Maverick of the Central Army.¡± ¡°Good work. Is the introduction over?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric nodded his head. The reason the person who initiated the riot from the beginning struck down the temple was to use this ce as a battleground. This temple was located in a very remote ce. Shortly after being engulfed in riots, Bishop Nikos at the Great Temple took the priest as well as the people of the nearby building and took them to another temple. Thanks to this, the temple area is now empty. Before Cedric moved to the slum, Maverick entered the temple first. And he had been waiting until now. ¡°Now, all that remains is to wait.¡± Cedric said. When those words fell, the Knights of Evron rxed for a moment and checked their posture. Instead, 30 Central Army Knights, each holding guns, sat by the window. The attack did not start immediately, even though he moved only at a speed that could be traced while keeping a reasonable distance so that the pursuit continued. ¡°Will they be trying to replenish the firepower?¡± Cedric muttered. He couldn¡¯t remember how many he had cut. Obviously, at first, more than a hundred people followed. And on the way there, the number was increasing. Few people knew how to properly wield a spear. Perhaps they were thugs who worked as an escort in a noble family or bought with money. ¡°They will be waiting for reinforcements. They wouldn¡¯t have the courage to face the Evron Knights directly.¡± Indeed, they will. Among the Evron Knights, two were wounded, but they were cut 20 times more than that. Cedric wondered what would have happened to the rest by now. ¡°Iing!¡± A man watching from the tower of the temple ran down screaming. Maverick shouted, ¡°How many?¡± ¡°A thousand!¡± There was tension on Maverick¡¯s face. It was because he hadn¡¯t expected that the entire Capital Guard would turn to the enemy. Cedric said bitterly, ¡°The fight will be bigger than I thought.¡± He ordered about 20 people to fire sporadically. It was because he wanted the opponent not to notice the ambush. Hudson surrounded the temple with a force of 1,000 men. It¡¯s not because they¡¯re wary of the number of 20 people at most. This was not a battle. It wasn¡¯t just about pushing and winning. The important thing was that Cedric should not survive. So Hudson decided to form awork and annihte the temple. However, this was when he finished the siege and was about to break up a part of the detached units and charge it into the temple. Click! Thousands of guns were loaded. Guns came out of every window of the building surrounding the temple. Torches were lit on every roof, making the temple as bright as broad daylight. The fire was ignited by a pre-made oil channel. The ambush from the Central Army appeared. Another unit surrounded the Capital Guards that were besieging the temple. General Boyden, who should still be stationed on the Southern Road with the Southern Conquest Force, stepped forward. ¡°Captain Hudson, I would rmend you just once. Drop the weapon.¡± ¡°General Boyden, are you disobeying the Imperial Order?¡± ¡°The crime of attacking the Crown Prince with a forged Imperial Order could be called treason, but Sir¡¯s men must have followed you without knowing anything. In battle, only innocent soldiers are sacrificed.¡± General Boyden said, ¡°As amander, it would have been better to attack right away than to waste time like this. But aren¡¯t Sir¡¯s men and my men all loyal soldiers of the Empire? The Crown Prince does not want innocent sacrifices. So I will only rmend it once.¡± Hudson clenched his teeth. There was no chance of winning against the Central Army. The Capital Guards stood with their guns pointed at the temple. The moment they try to turn around, the Central Army will shoot them from behind. The battle was not decided by Hudson When one of the Guards found out that it was the Crown Prince inside the temple, he was shocked and panicked and pulled the trigger. Bang! Maverick responded to it. General Boyden stepped back and ordered the attack. Hudson led a guard loyal to him and plunged into the temple. He was trying to turn things around by grabbing Cedric. But he couldn¡¯t even get through the door. The waiting knights shot him in front of the door. Thest thing he saw was Cedric¡¯splicated face. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Proofreader: somnium On the way back to the Imperial Pce after leaving the cleaning to General Boyden, Cedric received a report from a messenger sent by Freil. [¡°Central Army 4th Corps Commander Stephanie and 7th Corps Commander Hassel moved the army without hesitation, and we found it early and subdued them. We have arrested Dinsky Cobb.¡±] With this, only three of the secret investigators could not be caught. Cedric said to the messenger. ¡°Tell him there is no need to rush. The first thing to do is to calm down andfort the junior officers and soldiers.¡± General Hoover will do such a thing on his own. Cedric sighed. General Hoover would have been surprised. He did not believe that there would be a rebellion until the very end. He agreed that there may be forces against the Crown Prince among military personnel. But he said there¡¯s no way that every name he came up with will cause trouble. All of those names, including themanders of the 4th and 7th Corps, who he thought were actually working, were all loyal servants of the Emperor and imperial soldiers. Even if there was something they didn¡¯t like about the Crown Prince, how was it possible that the army would target the Imperial Pce? [¡°Even if there is a secret order to kill me?¡±] Cedric asked. General Hoover answered with certainty. [¡°I will not say that His Majesty the Emperor is a man that will go down in history as a benevolent ruler. There was a time when his private life was debauched, and he did terrible things to the Empress that cannot be described in words. But he was the one who worked hard all his life to set the throne right.¡±] General Hoover said. [¡°When the Crown Prince dies, the next heir to the throne will be Princess Leticia. Then the Empire would be in jeopardy, and there is no way.¡±] Cedric couldn¡¯t wonder if the Gregor that General Hoover was looking at was the Emperor. In any case, his faith was strong. So Cedric felt like he had deceived him. Because it was clear that the Emperor would give a secret order. And General Hoover would believe Cedric¡¯s words that it was a forgery. Anyway, this is the end of tonight¡¯s work. ¡®In terms of the total amount of sacrifice, this is right.¡¯ If he hadn¡¯t thrown the bait from this side, he¡¯d be better off thinking that nothing might have happened. He stopped by the military before returning to the Imperial Pce. He was going to get the job done in secret. Four people were waiting. Count Brennan was the first to bend at an angle. ¡°Congrattions on your victory.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It was then an elderly Supply Department officer who bowed his head. He was 5. Cedric knew the face. This is because he was a working-level official who managed the goods going to the North. It was no surprise that the undercover investigator was there. The Emperor always tried to create an intelligencework in the North. So, it is natural to have a secret investigator in the position that sends people and supplies to the North. Noticing Cedric¡¯s gaze, 5 politely bowed his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were acquainted with Count Brennan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m honored. I only agreed that the Crown Prince had already inherited the decree from His Majesty.¡± Cedric let the words slip. Hearing the ttery of such a woman darkens both his eyes and his ears. However, this achievement was not small. Cobb had no doubts that Count Brennan and 5 were part of the anti-Crown Prince faction. Both were greedy and ambitious. However, it is much easier to satisfy those who depend on their greed, ambition, and existing power. Count Brennan realized that the tide had already turned when Grand Duke Roygar had failed. So when Ferguson contacted 5, he was the first to betray the Emperor. The fact that the 5¡¯s organization was first captured and disbanded by Ferguson was also a great way to avoid suspicion of being a double agent. Cedric said, ¡°The secret investigation organization will be disbanded. No one will know what you have done.¡± 5 bowed his head deeply to express his gratitude. Cedric will cover all 5¡¯s organization. The wealth he umted while receiving the funds for his activities as a secret investigator will remain. That was enough for 5. He was able to safely face the new Emperor¡¯s era while serving as the old Emperor¡¯s secret investigator all throughout his life. Cedric also told Count Brennan, ¡°I haven¡¯t made any promises to you yet. There¡¯s work to do. You probably know, right?¡± ¡°I will return to the East soon. No one would think more of this than nonsense.¡± Count Brennan said politely. Cedric nodded his head. If the useless battles between the Eastern nobles continued, the damage to the people was bound to increase. So he decided to negotiate with Count Brennan as a liaison. Instead of maintaining the family, he intended to take away any interest they had innd or mines and return it to the state. Cedric finally turned to the old cello yer of the Emperor and Countess Endar*. Those two were 1 and 2. Each was in charge of collecting information from employees of noble families and social circles. ¡°It¡¯s the same with the promises I can make to the two of you. The secret investigation organization will be disbanded, and the secret will be kept forever.¡± ¡°I am honored.¡± The cello yer got down on his knees and answered. Countess Endar smiled. ¡°When Your highness first attended my banquet, I never thought that something like today would happen.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ So am I.¡± ¡°Now that I knew the Crown Princess was smart, I should have been a little more kind.¡± Cedric looked at her quietly. Countess Endar flinched and bit her mouth. Cedric turned his gaze away from her. Then he nodded his head lightly to say goodbye. The remaining work for them will now be handled by the officials. As he was about to go out, the cello yer said, ¡°I have something urgent to tell you.¡± Cedric heard what he had to say. And clenched his fist. £ª£ª£ª The surroundings were quiet. The Emperor listened to the outside voice with his weary eyes half-open. But whether it was because the bedroom was in the depths, or whether the incident was really over, there was no sound. A few dozen minutes had passed since Bertholdt went out. The chief attendant brought lukewarm water and moistened his mouth. ¡°Can¡¯t you sleep?¡± ¡°Willie.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What is going on outside?¡± ¡°They said there was a fire in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, but it won¡¯t be a problem, Your Majesty. Don¡¯t put your heart into it, and sleep well.¡± In response, the Emperor trembled convulsively. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± The chief attendant hugged him tightly so he wouldn¡¯t fall off the bed. The Emperor hesitated for a while. But his body didn¡¯t listen to him. He was gasping for a long time after the convulsions had stopped. The chief attendant carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. The Emperor took a deep breath andid back down. And he let out a smirk several times towards the void. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It was you. You¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor never once doubted the chief attendant. They met when he was nothing at the age of 20 and have been together for forty years. If trust in Cedric was trust in character, and trust in Artizea was trust in the situation, trust in the chief attendant was trust in umted time. The chief attendant was thest bastion to protect him. In the days when bitter food was rmended to hide the poisonous smell, when he had to go through the clothes with thick gloves every time he changed clothes to find the thorn-like needles, the chief attendant smelt all the food for him and groped all his clothes barehanded. So, even when doubts arose, he never doubted the chief attendant. Even if he had a feeling of insecurity, he would have ignored it. Because he can¡¯t live his life doubting everyone. But now he had to admit it. If the chief attendant had not intentionally opened the way, how could Cobb and others havee to this deep ce? He repeatedly ordered that Lawrence be contacted. He also ordered to find out where Lawrence was and what he is doing these days. He sent letters from time to time. He did the same to Mira. If it didn¡¯t reach any of them, the chief attendant must have been blocking them in the middle. What about the secret investigator problem? Cobb was fired, and the cello yer was changed. After lying down ill, he relied on the chief attendant for most of his work. If the Empress had fired them, the chief attendant could have informed the Emperor in advance. In fact, he could have challenged that order himself. How many things would he have been able to hide if he made up his mind like that? And how many things he could have done but didn¡¯t? He could go out and find a loyal person and report this. ¡°Haa¡­¡­. You, how could you¡­¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t wield any authority, but he could have as much power as he wanted. The Emperor favored him more and more and bestowed on him wealth and power. In return for his long service, he left a posthumous title in his will. Although it would be difficult to marry and have children, he also wrote a separate will so that he could inherit the title of count if he wanted to pass on an heir via an adopted child. He wrote a separate line to give him a beautiful mansion and silver mine, enough to live happily in old age, and to look after Cedric¡¯s. By the way, ¡°It is harmful to the body, Your Majesty.¡± Even in the same situation as now, the chief attendant does not try to inform the outside affairs with an unchanging face. The Emperor¡¯s suspicions were questioned, and now he waspletely convinced. There were so many things that couldn¡¯t have happened without the chief attendant. The sudden worsening of illness convinced him that this work was done in the chief attendant¡¯s hands. He never had any doubts about eating and drinking what the chief attendant gave him. He carefully managed his diet as advised by the doctor. He didn¡¯t do it himself, but by the chief attendant. He thought that if there were any loopholes in the management, it was because he had not listened to the chief attendant. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± The Emperor shouted. The pain spread deep, like a knife stabbed in his heart, and he grabbed his chest and took a breath. The chief attendantid him t on his back and spoke softly, ¡°Because Sir Lawrence beat the attendant to death.¡± *In case nobody remembers, Countess Endar appeared in Chapter 13 way back when our Cedric decided to marry Tia. on another note: did you guys see thising? Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Proofreader: somnium ¡°What?¡± The Emperor did not understand the words at once and asked again. The chief attendant ced a cushion on his back so that the Emperor could sit up. And he handed him some lukewarm water. The Emperor did not receive it. The chief attendant said with an unchanging, calm face, ¡°Your Majesty saved my life. You may have forgotten.¡± ¡°Theodore¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor did not speak, but bit his mouth. That was when he was twenty. At that time, although he was chosen by the predecessor Empress, he did not receive the recognition of his father, and he was despised as an illegitimate child by the great nobles. Theodore was the eldest son of Duchy Orca, the home of the predecessor Empress. Soon, he was an opponent he couldn¡¯t avoid facing at the time. Said the chief attendant. ¡°You saved me when Lord Orca was trying to kill me. Do you remember what you said to me back then?¡± The Emperor did not remember exactly. What was important to him then was the fact that he faced Theodore. How it would look to Duke Orca and the predecessor Empress. Andter on, he thought that it was indeed a coincidence that he was lucky enough to get through with that. The chief attendant said with a choking sound in his throat, ¡°The human body of the imperial people is governed by the Imperial Law, and no matter how powerful they are, is it justifiable to kill them with their fists on the spot?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°At that time, I thought that I would have to stand by this person for the rest of my life.¡± Most of the court attendants were in a miserable condition. Since they were serving the Imperial Family, their status was not to be low. However, unlike the close aides, theyck power and have to bow down all the time. Physical hardship was the second problem. If they were a decent noble, they wouldn¡¯t try to work all the time. Therefore, the mostmon thing for the fallen nobles who sell their children was to make them attendants. Or, it was the choice of many people who werepletely pushed out of the inheritance within the family and had difficulty making a living because they did not even have an inherited property. If it wasn¡¯t for that, they wouldn¡¯t have the ability to bring their children in as close aides, but it was only a case of sending them in anticipation of favor from the Imperial Family. It was often the case that illegitimate children were adopted and brought in as attendants. There were times when they were favored and gained power. From an attendant to an aide, they were recognized for their abilities and became an authority. However, most of them were treated worse than the furniture of the Imperial Pce. Old furniture that has been passed down for more than a hundred years was precious and was handled with care, but hitting an attendant in the face was nothing. That was the first time the chief attendant had said no. ¡°What would a person like me know about politics? All I could do for the rest of my life was to take care of Your Majesty¡¯s food so it was not poisonous, that his bed wasfortable, and that there were no small disturbances in the moment when he was about to do something important.¡± ¡°Willie.¡± ¡°However, there was a reason for such a person to serve Your Majesty.¡± Loyalty is not based solely on personal affection. The chief attendant received the grace of having his life saved by the Emperor. But he did not dedicate his life solely to repay it. ¡°When Your Majesty was angry, you sometimes threw things. You often scolded the attendants, and more often the victim of a conspiracy.¡± The chief attendant said slowly, ¡°But you didn¡¯t trample on the people below you by beating them with your hands and feet or deliberately insult them.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You were cruel, and sometimes even brought tears to the eyes of the servants of Your Majesty¡¯s.¡± He knew him best because he had been the closest to him all his life. ¡°But they allmitted because they had a purpose.¡± The assassinations and poisoning continued until his ession. Political retaliation was also carried out without a break. There were times when there was a purge every other year. Whenever the word treason was spoken, the cries of those who were dying in a kin punishment tore the night sky. The blood of the dead who were falsely framed, flowed like a river. Still, the chief attendant never had the heart to rebuke the Emperor. He believed that the world beyond it would be better. The people of the Empire are governed only by the Imperial Law. He thought he would create such a world. Even to elevate the imperial power. The chief attendant wasn¡¯t stupid either. He also knew that it wasn¡¯t because the Emperor found him who was almost beaten to death by Lord Orca was pitiful. With all that included, he still believed that he had a decree given by the Emperor. ¡°There was a world that even a person like me saw through His Majesty. Even if that doesn¡¯t happen immediately in your reign, or maybe it won¡¯te true forever, there was a world I hoped for too, Your Majesty.¡± Some believed that kneading and wiping the hands and feet was the way to get closer to their dream. The chief attendant looked down at the Emperor. ¡°The first time Sir Lawrence struck a servant was when he was nine years old.¡± The Emperor wouldn¡¯t even remember, and the chief attendant didn¡¯t even ask. ¡°The attendant was a thirteen-year-old boy. He had just entered the Imperial Pce, but he was a young boy, so I purposefully picked him out and attached him to Sir Lawrence.¡± Because he knew that the Emperor¡¯s heart was with Lawrence. He formed a rtionship from an early age, he hoped that Lawrence would have an attendant like that, just as he had served the Emperor. Lawrence beat the attendant every day. He took small usations to hit him. Either he tied his shoces incorrectly, or the corner of the book was crumpled. Heter didn¡¯t even bother to scold him. From start to finish, the child was covered with bruises, and as he endured it, the chief attendant¡¯s heart was broken. After that, the chief attendant did not attach the young servant to Lawrence. Lawrence pped a man andughed. The violence had no purpose. When Lawrence finally killed a man with his own hands for the first time, the chief attendant informed the Emperor. He wasn¡¯t expecting a big punishment. But he expected the Emperor to speak as he did when he saved the chief attendant again. [¡°The human body of the imperial people is governed by the Imperial Law. You don¡¯t deserve to wield it until you know it.¡±] He also had a wish for the world, and he hoped that it woulde true through the Emperor. Even if he loved and forgave his son, he hoped to keep his precious Empire untouched. The Emperor didn¡¯t. Because he was still immature, because he was still full of energy, because there were things that made him angry. Then he covered it. [¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. He¡¯s overly arrogant and cruel, but he¡¯s not stupid. Aren¡¯t the Marquis Rosan and the Crown Princess by his side?¡±] The chief attendant nodded his head at that. He didn¡¯t know, maybe he didn¡¯t even think he was wrong. Governance may have nothing to do with individual human achievements. The Emperor is also a cruel person, but didn¡¯t he still make him dream? Obviously, this must be why Marquis Rosan and the Saintess have chosen Lawrence as well. But the Saintess died. Lawrence destroyed the Empire. He witnessed it all. And one day, when he suddenly opened his eyes, he realized he had returned to the past. The Emperor, this time, covered the crime when Lawrence had preyed on the children*. What he cared about at the time was that Lawrence¡¯s crime had worsened public opinion. This time, he wasn¡¯t angry about breaking the Imperial Law. ¡°I would not dare to say that I have my rights on Your Majesty¡¯s throne. But the throne on which Your Majesty sat was not the one I had dreamed of.¡± The Emperor looked up at him nkly, with his mouth open. ¡°Your Majesty has never failed to aplish what you set out to do.¡± Tears fell from the chief attendant¡¯s eyes. ¡°So I killed Your Majesty. Little by little over the past two years.¡± He had served for forty years. In the chief servant¡¯s memory, there were twelve more years than that. The chief attendant had no one to call family. His parents are already dead. He feared his brothers would be a nuisance to the Emperor, so he kicked them out. The Emperor was the pir and roof he had devoted his life to cultivating and caring for. It was his pride to look after the pir of the Empire. When the Emperor trusted him, he felt as secure and relieved as a man under the sturdy roof, even in heavy rain. But if it wasn¡¯t the right pir, what could he do? Marquis Rosan¡¯s behavior was different from what he knew. The chief attendant knew that she had returned as well. So instead of knocking down the pir, he decided to grind them little by little. To give her time to build a new pir and roofs. First, he changed the Emperor¡¯s diet. He told Countess Eunice what herbs to put in honey water differently than what the doctors had said. He added or subtracted some from the medicines the doctor gave him as a decoction. He made food using other medicinal materials and said that it was good for health. He took care of the Emperor¡¯s illness for 30 years, adding 10 years to the 20 years, the 10 years in the future that disappeared. For thest year before the Emperor died, he was desperately holding on to his lifeline. He knew the Emperor¡¯s health better than the doctor. He also talked about what¡¯s good and what¡¯s bad. He did good and bad things at the same time. He made it feel like the Emperor¡¯s condition and stamina were maintained, and he took full control of the situation. If it suddenly got worse, the doctors could have noticed and treated it. The Emperor looked at him nkly. When they met, they were both rosy-faced boys. The Emperor has seen him for forty years. They grew old together, and the other person¡¯s face was more familiar than his own. But now the chief attendant¡¯s old face looked like that of a stranger. ¡°You, Willie, you¡­¡­.¡± The Emperor could only say that. He felt something like a fireball rising from his chest. ¡°Ugh! Uhhuk!¡± He vomited blood. ¡°I will be by your side until the end, Your Majesty.¡± said the chief attendant. He did not hesitate to receive the Emperor¡¯s vomited blood in his hand. Just like when he was faithful. £ª£ª£ª Returning to the Imperial Pce, Cedric went directly to the Empress¡¯ Pce, not the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Gayan followed behind him and reported the situation in the Imperial Pce. ¡°With the exception of the six Guards, all 34 are guarding the Imperial Pce. 124 members of the Guards were killed, but now the inside of the Imperial Pce is stable.¡± ¡°Are all 34 of them trustworthy?¡± ¡°There are a lot of people to watch, but I put them in a ce where we can see. And the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce¡­¡­.¡± Cedric stopped walking. ¡°Later.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± Gayan retreated. Music was still flowing in the salon of the Empress¡¯ Pce. Cedric mmed the door open without even thinking of taking off his scaly-battered gloves and boots. There was also a dark red stain on his temple. Surprised, the musicians stopped their hands. Everyone in the salon turned to him. It was clear what the Crown Prince had done. That he won. *This refers to the human trafficking case way back before. During the time when Tia asked our Cedric for Saintess Olga¡¯s Heart that sparked his first debut in the political world. No, I don¡¯t think even Tia sees it this far ahead. She doesn¡¯t even know about the existence of the returners until Cadriol. somnium¡¯smentary: This is what I love! This is the kind of plot twist that I like. We totally did not see thising, but thinking back it¡¯s so obvious. There is nobody except the Chief Attendant who could have done it. Even Tia was surprised, so she is out. This kind of operation must be done for a very long time. And nobody else could have done it without alerting the Chief Attendant, unless¡­ Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Proofreader: somnium Cedric didn¡¯t care at all. He couldn¡¯t afford to do that. People opened the way for him to the ce where the Empress sat, and knelt in turn. Cedric approached the Empress and knelt down on one knee without speaking. ¡°Cedric.¡± The Empress called him in a deep, subdued voice. ¡°Thank you for taking care of Leticia while I was away.¡± Cedric said so and held out his hand. Then he realized he was still wearing his dirty gloves and he took them off. Countess Martha respectfully received the gloves. The Empress lifted herself up a little and put Leticia in Cedric¡¯s arms. Leticia, who had been sleeping in exhaustion, was awakened by the movement. ¡°Huhung¡­¡­ uhhunng¡­¡­.¡± Cedric took care of the crying baby and held it in his arms. Leticia sniffled and realized it was her father who was holding her, letting her throat out and starting to cry. Cedric hugged Leticia in afortable position, rested her head on his shoulder and patted her on the back gently. ¡°Sorry for only showing my face at the moment. Continue the banquet. I am going to put the baby to sleep.¡± If it had been yesterday, his words would have been just a greeting. But today was already different. It was amand. The musicians started ying again. The quick-witted attendants brought a few more candles to light up the interior of the salon. Stopped conversations resumed. There are other stories that they really want to tell, but for now, they had to have a conversation about anything. Because the new ruler of the Empire has expressed his will to cut off the attention. Cedric bowed to the Empress and turned around holding Leticia. It was the first time Leticia cried so sadly, so it was breaking his heart. When he came out of the salon, Gayan was still waiting with an anxious face. ¡°Your Highness.¡± ¡°Later.¡± Cedric said the same again this time. He had already heard of what had happened in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce on the way. It was something to doter. Now is the time to say thank you to those who risked their lives to save Leticia. Countess Martha, who followed him with his gloves, guided Cedric. The first ce Cedric went to was the room where Mielle, Hazel, and Natalia were resting. As if they had already heard the baby crying outside, Natalia and Bernat, Hazel and Belmond editor-in-chief, stood up and groomed themselves neatly. Mielle was asleep as if fainted. Keshore tried to wake her up. Cedric gestured at Keshore to rx. And he greeted Natalia first. ¡°I am grateful for the kindness the Crown Princess has bestowed upon my daughter.¡± He was blessed with indescribable blessings. Their opponent would have protected Leticia as well. She was useful as a hostage, and they can¡¯t do anything without the Imperial Family to support them. But for Cedric, it couldn¡¯t have been more chilling. He still couldn¡¯t say thank you for saving her. Leticia was now the heir to the Empire. It was impossible to say that the Emperor of the Empire was given life-saving benefits from a foreign country. So Cedric spoke only in his mind and lowered his head. In other words, he couldn¡¯t because it wouldter remain in Leticia¡¯s debt. But he would do anything if there was anything he could do in return. Natalia made a perplexed face. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything much. I¡¯m d that nothing happened to the Imperial Grandchild.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cedric spoke again. Bernat smiled. He did not dare to speak openly, but the Iantz Kingdom would be rewarded with great rewards. ¡°Are you okay, Imperial Grandchild?¡± Leticia, exhausted from her struggles, was quiet in his arms. Although she was quiet, she seemed to have calmed down a bit. It would be better to leave her to the doctor and nanny, but Cedric didn¡¯t. Then, he walked towards Mielle. Instead of Mielle, Keshore bowed his head to Cedric. It was a painful face. He came to the Imperial Pce as soon as he received a call from Hazel, but he was no longer a Guard Knight and could not enter. It was Keshore¡¯s junior who guarded the gate. It was no use pleading that he would take only his daughter. At that time, the Evron Knights ran out and trampled the West Gate Guard at once. Keshore and Belmond editor-in-chief jumped into the dizzying pce in panic. And at the entrance of a path used as a secret passage in a bush on one side of the garden, he found Hazel taking care of Mielle who had fallen. Not long after that, Natalia arrived. With the help of the other Guards, they came to the Empress¡¯ Pce and rested until now. ¡°I am truly grateful to Miss Mielle and Miss Hazel.¡± Cedric bowed his head to Hazel. Hazel hurriedly fell to her knees. Beside her, Keshore and Belmond editor-in-chief did the same. ¡°It is an absurd statement. If something like this happens, I should obey themand of the butler and captain, but instead of doing so, I am only grateful to you for forgiving me even if I acted arbitrarily.¡± ¡°There must have been a reason why you didn¡¯t follow it. On the contrary, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t give you that trust.¡± Cedric said so. If they were soldiers, they must obey orders, even when in doubt. But not Hazel and Mielle. ¡°I am truly grateful that Leticia is here safely thanks to your judgment and determination. Please take good care of Leticia from now on.¡± ¡°I am honored.¡± Hazel, not knowing where to stand, bowed her head. Cedric also apologized to Keshore. ¡°There is still a lot left to know about your heartache. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No. My daughter is now an adult¡­¡­, I was just worrying in vain as a father.¡± Keshore answered in a cracked voice. He had no intention of reproaching Mielle. He didn¡¯t even feel sad that a weak child like Mielle was forced to do an unreasonable task. He would have been willing toy down his life to repay the favor if he had been there. However, Mielle seemed to be paying the price herself, and it felt very painful and strange. It seemed as if that was Mielle¡¯s fate. Even knowing that Mielle originally liked children and would have wanted to have her own if she was healthy. Cedric thanked Belmond editor-in-chief with a few words and left the room. Gayan followed again. Cedric went into the room where the baby cradle was. After putting Leticia in the cradle, the waiting doctor came running. She was so hot that he could tell just by holding her. Cedric took a wet towel and wiped Leticia¡¯s swollen face by hand. Only then did he finally take Gayan outside. The Guards guarding this ce were all Gayan¡¯s men, so he can trust them. ¡°How are the people that were in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce?¡± ¡°They were in Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. The number of casualties is said to be 32.¡± Gayan added, ¡°All are knights.¡± If so, it meant that all babies and wet nurses who were left to serve as decoys in case of emergency were all unharmed. Cedric let out a long sigh. He knew there was nothing he could do. He himself had survived that way. But still, perhaps even more so, it felt heartbreaking to see the Evron people risking their lives for Leticia. And Marcus, who saw it, made a different choice, but there was something left to understand. ¡°Sorry.¡± Gayan apologized by bending his body. He was also responsible for the opening of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. He had been promised in advance. If the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce held out with its door closed, and themotion spread, Gayan was nning to send reinforcements in the name of catching those who disturbed the Imperial Pce. That is why, as soon as the Empress called, Gayan was able to lead 300 Guards. But before he could move, the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was breached. He was effectively doing nothing. ¡°You really don¡¯t think you¡¯rete, do you?¡± Cedric said. Gayan answered without showing any expression on his face, ¡°Your Highness has given me full power to act ording to the circumstances. I misjudged the situation.¡± ¡°The Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was broken open too soon. There was nothing that could have been done.¡± Since the baby was at stake, it could not be said that victory and defeat were the priorities. But Cedric had no choice but to say so. In fact, it was almost as if Gayan was not responsible. No matter how he thought about it, there was no way it could be pierced so easily in such a short time. Tonight, it was none other than the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce that was most carefully guarded. Among the 70 Evron Knights and the members of the Guard, 100 were also guarding it, including those they thought were truly reliable. There were also employees. Servants from the North were not just servants and maids. Most of them were those who hadpleted their military service in Grand Duchy Evron. Even if they weren¡¯t a knight, they would have been able to do enough to serve as a soldier. At most, the number of troops avable to the anti-Crown Prince faction was only a part of the Guards and a unit of soldiers who could sneak in secretly. Even if the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was not suitable for being sieged, it did not make sense that it could not be defended with this number. He didn¡¯t move it to another ce because he thought it would be stopped. And it was too much to move to the Grand Duke¡¯s residence, all the prepared bait could be in vain. And it will take too long for the Guards to go support. It was not necessary to show that only the Evrons believed in this important moment. However, it was impossible to distinguish between an assassin and a spy in the Empress¡¯ Pce. However, no matter how prepared they are, if the door is opened from within, they will not be able to withstand it. Even if it was Evron¡¯s stronghold, it was the same. The reason why they couldn¡¯t hold out for even 30 minutes was because there was an insider. After that, the pursuers could not even step on the shadow of the Evron Knights. It meant that Gayan had moved on time. ¡°¡­¡­ It is my responsibility.¡± Cedric said in a low voice. Gayan misunderstood the meaning and lowered his head more deeply. This is because the Evron Knights took it as a sign that it was their fault that they did not properly protect the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. But Cedric didn¡¯t mean it that way. It was then. ¡°Her Majesty the Empress has arrived.¡± Gayan raised his head in surprise. If the Empress had business with Cedric, it was right for her to call him. She wasn¡¯t meant toe this far. Cedric¡¯s face sank cold. ¡°Go.¡± Gayan hid his surprise and hurriedly left the room. ¡°Open it.¡± Cedric ordered and the door opened. The Empress entered the room without Countess Martha. She left the salon just in time enough not to be misunderstood by the diplomatic envoys, and came right away. There was deep fatigue on her face. ¡°I¡­.have something to tell you.¡± ¡°Please tell me.¡± ¡°It is my responsibility that the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was breached.¡± The Empress took a deep breath. Then she said, ¡°The spy was Juven¡¯s husband.¡± Cedric was not surprised. Old Viscount Juven was the one Artizea epted as an alliance because of the Empress. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Proofreader: somnium Old Viscount Juven was an old friend of the Empress. As Artizea was preparing to enter the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, the Empress sent her as herdy-in-waiting. Hayley is a political assistant to Artizea, and Hazel was still in a situation where she could only run simple errands. Even if Ansgar was in charge of the household, there were also limitations in his status. Because Artizea asked the Empress for her person. Even if Ansgar was continuously in charge of daily housekeeping, an experienced nobleman was needed to rece him as the mistress. Old Viscount Juven did a good job. She changed the furniture of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, kept some of what was left behind, decided what to bring from the Grand Duke¡¯s residence and what to buy, and arranged the curtains and floor decorations. Among the servants of the imperial court, she interviewed and hired men to work in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, and hired the maids and servants. She also did a great job hosting the first party and presenting the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce to guests. But Old Viscount Juven was not the only one who stayed in the Imperial Pce for practical reasons. In other words, she was the proof of the alliance between the Empress and Artizea. She was a hostage, amunicator, and a licensed spy. There was no one who doubted her in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Her heart remained the same for 18 years while the Empress was shutting down the Pce. She is trusted by the Empress, and so, too, by the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce . In order to show her trust, Artizea did not do a background check on Old Viscount Juven. She believes that unless the Empress betrays her, Old Viscount Juven will not betray her. Artizea didn¡¯t check her background, so Freil and Hayley didn¡¯t either. Cedric recalled talking to Ferguson. [¡°One of the secret investigators is undoubtedly the family of the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting.¡±] Ferguson said that was the information 5 gave. He knew no more. 5 had intended to go against Cedric from the start. And he had no reason to give Ferguson all the information he had. Perhaps, that¡¯s how he got anxious, and paid a bigger price and tried to unlock the rest of the information. In any case, it was not surprising that there was a secret investigator in the Empress¡¯ Pce. She may not have thought of a secret investigator, but the Empress would have known that there was the Emperor¡¯s spy. Cedric¡¯s advisers, including Freil, thought it would be Countess Martha. Countess Martha never left her side while the Empress was closing her gates. Otherdies-in-waiting and her friends left the Pce for various reasons. When it was time to retire from old age, they even tried to send their daughter or niece her way, but most of them were rejected by the Empress. In the meantime, Countess Martha continued to stand by the Empress¡¯ side. If the Emperor wanted to nt a man in the Empress¡¯ entourage, there was no proper family other than County Martha. [¡°If you think about it, the Emperor may have spared one or two families on purpose.¡±] Freil cautiously suggested such a possibility. Chancellor Lin agreed, [¡°County Martha is from a quiet, conservative family. The number of rtives in the family is small, and their ie is also dependent on the farm handed down from generation to generation.¡±] [¡°It is not strange to say that he left a family that was harmless and made them hostages to the Empress, and at the same time nted people in it.¡±] Although the wife was in the middle of the Pce as a close associate of the Empress, Count Martha waspletely inconspicuous. Rather, it made it even more suspicious. That¡¯s why they didn¡¯t choose the Empress¡¯ Pce as a ce to protect Leticia tonight. It was so, even if Countess Martha had nothing to do with the betrayal. But the cello yer said, [¡°3 is Viscount Juven¡¯s father.¡±] With that one word, everything was exined. Viscount Juven¡¯s father, or Old Viscount Juven¡¯s husband, was an attendant, and that in his youth he met his wife well and made a career. But now, the old couple¡¯s married life was very good, and everyone was envious of them. They were looked upon favorably in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. Even if Viscount Juven¡¯s father came in and out of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, no one would find it strange. It would have been easier for them to embrace him. As Cedric himself says, the Evron peoples have been naive about these matters. It would be easy to be deceived if someone who already had a good favor in the game yed a trick. If even Old Viscount Juven was in on it, it was no wonder that the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was open tonight. Cedric asked the Empress in a low voice, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯t invite Juven to the Empress¡¯ Pce today.¡± The Empress lowered her eyes and answered. Old Viscount Juven should have been in the Imperial Pce tonight. She was the one who went to the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce as a sign of trust between the Empress¡¯ Pce and the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce. So she had to stay by Leticia¡¯s side until the end. Then, wouldn¡¯t it be meaningful as an alliance with a shared destiny? No one was ignorant of that. But Old Viscount Juven did not do that. She came without even a call, and said with a peaceful smile as usual, [¡°The banquet in the salon is sorge that it would be difficult for one Martha to handle it, so I¡¯m here to help, Your Majesty.¡±] The Empress felt a little ufortable at that time. On this day, at this time, on purpose? She realized when she found out that the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce had been breached in an instant. Of course, unthinkable things happen in the world. The military power of the Anti-Crown Prince faction may have been strong enough to break through the preparations of the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, and there was also a possibility that there was a traitor within Evron. However, it was far more reasonable to suspect the person who acted strangely. [¡°How did this happen?¡±] The Empress was amazed and asked several times. Old Viscount Juven couldn¡¯t do that. She opened the door to the Empress¡¯ pce after 18 years, and remained as her friend for another two years. Whatever her husband had done, she did not think she would betray her. Old Viscount Juven turned pale and knelt down on her knees. [¡°Your Majesty, how can you doubt me?¡±] [¡°Then how should I interpret this? Why did you leave the Imperial Pce ande to the salon? Why weren¡¯t you surprised and astonished when Leticia ran away here?¡±] The Empress was madly angry. [¡°Because I trusted you, I sent you as proof of my promise to the Crown Princess. That¡¯s why the Crown Princess didn¡¯t even investigate your background. But you made me betray the Crown Prince!¡±] Old Viscount Juven eventually confessed. The Empress was stunned and had nothing to say. ¡°They believe that if I rise to the throne, Viscounty Juven will be destroyed.¡± Her husband insisted that he could not step out, now Cedric wille to power and Viscounty Juven will be wiped out. And Old Viscount Juven was persuaded by those words. She even appealed to the Empress. Grand Duke Evron is a Northerner. Up until now, Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s family has been mingled with imperial blood on several asions, but there is a reason why they have never been mentioned in the session list. ¡°At least the Empress should raise the imperial grandchild directly, not leave her in the hands of the Northerners.¡± The Empress clenched her fists under the hem of her long sleeves. It had been a long time. She never thought that she would not have an Emperor¡¯s spy in the Pce. She just didn¡¯t know it was the husband of her trusted friend. If she had sacrificed herself to take care of her family, the Empress would have been a little disappointed. Because she was capable enough. It might just end with the end of their friendship. But knowing how she had lived, she never imagined that she would serve as a spy to her husband, the Emperor¡¯s secret investigator. She has a faithful face, and usibly puts up reasonable excuses. ¡°You already know.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± Cedric replied low. He has already taken action. Viscount Juven¡¯s grandfather-inw must have already been captured by now. The Empress held her breath. Cedric was following through on what she thought might be true. And Cedric knew it. At that point, the power rtionship between Cedric and the Empress had beenpletely reversed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your Majesty. It¡¯s okay because you told me.¡± Cedric let out a long sigh after speaking. ¡°Your Majesty believes in me and speaks frankly, so I will also trust Your Majesty and cover this matter. Except for the person directly concerned, the Empress will have her own way to deal with Viscounty Juven.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Still, can you?¡± ¡°I know there must have been more storms in Your Majesty¡¯s heart than I did.¡± Cedric said quietly. ¡°Some of Tia¡¯s responsibility is in this. It¡¯s also my responsibility. It could have been avoided if enough verification work had been done at the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So, I can¡¯t say that Your Majesty is responsible for all of them alone.¡± It was nothing else but the baby¡¯s business, so his heart wasplicated. But again, it¡¯s the baby¡¯s business, so he wanted to end this with reconciliation. ¡°If you will continue to treat Leticia as your granddaughter, there will be nothing else I wish for more from Your Majesty.¡± The Empress nodded her head slowly. Cedric suddenly wondered if Artizea knew who the spy at the Empress¡¯ Pce was. It was highly likely that she didn¡¯t. From the beginning, Old Viscount Juven was older than the Empress. And her husband was considerably older than Old Viscount Juven. By the time Marquis Rosan was active, they must have already retired. The spies may or may not have changed. If so, it was understandable that the Emperor had neglected the move to remove it from the Empress¡¯ Pce. If he could no longer know the inside news, it would have been burdensome to leave it as it is. Now, it was dawn and the window was getting brighter. ¡°I have to go back now. There is still work to be done.¡± Thump thump. There was someone knocking on the door. It was Bertholdt, who was in charge of guarding the main Pce. ¡°His Majesty has vomited blood and is in critical condition. He is struggling with all his might.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is not right to announce that the Emperor is in critical condition at a time when the Imperial Pce is in turmoil. You better hide it for a while.¡± said the Empress. Cedric understood the meaning. They had to confine the Emperor anyway. Tonight¡¯s event will be recorded as a rebellion caused by a forged Imperial Order. However, if the Emperor fell in serious condition immediately after such an event and even died, the record would of course be questioned. The Empress was trying to stop it. ¡°I think it would be best not to tell Countess Eunice the whole situation. I will beat around the bush while talking to her.¡± ¡°Yes. I will entrust the affairs of the Imperial Pce to the Empress. Sir Gayan will help Your Majesty.¡± The Empress nodded her head. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Proofreader: somnium The Emperor seldomly regained consciousness. ¡°Even if he opens his eyes this time, the dawn will not be for long.¡± The doctor said so. He was more calm than before, as if he had epted the situation now. Or maybe he understood that the Emperor¡¯s life was no longer a matter of concern. He didn¡¯t say a word, but he might have realized that someone from the Crown Prince¡¯s faction had a hand. Either way, he¡¯ll keep his mouth shut and close his eyes to the conspiracies he guesses. He must be well aware that being content with the honor and riches he has already earned is the way to a long life. Cedric burned the Imperial Order. He waited until the burning paper scattered and atst became the ashes, and then he scattered the ashes as well. He will interrogate and execute the people involved quietly. There was no need to deliberately show their tortured body to the public, open the execution site, and incite fear by showing their staked heads. Cedric has greatly eased the kin punishment system. No one was ever sentenced to death by kin punishment. If they were a nobleman, they would be stripped of their title and the family dispersed to get rid of the family. If wealthy, their property is confiscated. And even relocated to remote areas. All children under the age of fifteen were forgiven. If the parents were alive, it was decided that they would go to exile together or be raised in a monastery. As a soldier, the kin punishment was not applied at all to simple participants, such as following the orders of their superiors. He himself ordered them to fight as an enlisted man inmon rank instead of execution. To those concerned, Cedric said, ¡°If you want revenge, that¡¯s fine. If a person seeking revenge can gather enough sympathy to overthrow the Imperial Family, then such an Imperial Family deserves to be destroyed.¡± Hearing that, Freil was terrified out of his wits. ¡°Please do not speak that publicly. My back is really cold.¡± Cedric smiled bitterly. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m being overly soft?¡± ¡°If you are a little more ruthless, I think I will be more at ease.¡± Freilmented. ¡°What.¡± The military was very wary, but the administrative officials weed it. In particr, since Chancellor Lin has been consistently insisting on abolishing the kin punishment system, they were delighted, needless to say. ¡°The world has changed a lot. This will be an important decision that will symbolize the Crown Prince¡¯s reign in the future.¡± Then, the story of preparations for the coronation began. The Emperor was still alive. It was disrespectful. But now no one was bothered. Only Cedric himself was. The Empress asked, ¡°You told them not to prepare for the coronation?¡± ¡°It is too early.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too early. Even if Gregor¡¯s breath returns, how long will itst?¡± ¡°There is no need to rush.¡± When the cleanup began, everything except the military power and the intelligence organization was transferred. As he persuaded Ferguson, he obtained half of the intelligence organization, and the secret investigation organization was disbanded along with the treason group. In the military, active anti-Crown Prince officials were divided into the treason group, and pro-Crown Prince officials filled the position. Naturally, the military also fell into Cedric¡¯s hands. The central power was in full control. Even in the name of the Crown Prince, all problems could be dealt with. If he wanted to seize power, he would have hastened the coronation and put the Emperor¡¯s crown on his head. But he didn¡¯t have to. Moreover, above all else, Artizea was absent. ¡°I have no intention of doing anything until Tia returns.¡± All those who made the same suggestion as the Empress nodded their heads at those words. Anyone who knew Artizea knew that she should be at the top of the meritorious list. Even if they didn¡¯t know her, knowing that the Crown Princess was absent, the Crown Prince wouldn¡¯t want to be crowned alone. There was nothing more to say than that the Crown Princess was the Saintess. The Empress could have asked one more question there than anyone else. ¡°Is there supposed to be a message sent to call her back?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± As soon as the job was done, the first thing to do was to fly a carrier pigeon toward her. Even if she hadn¡¯t been contacted, it was unlikely that Artizea would be unaware of the circumstances here. Still, he didn¡¯t get a single letter. He didn¡¯t even know that now she had nothing to do with him. In fact, this time he managed to get through without borrowing her wisdom. Still, Cedric wanted to ask a lot of questions. Did she know that Old Viscount Juven had turned over, what conversation she had with the Emperor? Maybe she didn¡¯t want to tell him herself. Does she miss Leticia? Was she doing well? Was she willing toe back to him? The goal has been achieved. He would soon be Emperor. When he knelt on his knees to Artizea, what he wanted to aplish, even by selling his soul, was in his hands. So even if he is not happy, it would be right to feel a sense of aplishment. It would be better to hold on to hopes and step forward. He was now fearless and able to spread his will to the world. Had he not longed for it all along his one lifetime and this new life. But Cedric wasn¡¯t in that state of mind at all. He had no strength left to leap to the next level. The lively part of his heart had already been swept away by the wind and rain. The innocent heart he had barely kept was also broken and cracked, so it was not the same as before. ¡®If only she had been a real devil, I would have sold my soul at ease and beenfortable.¡¯ Cedric even thought about it. Even with Artizea going west, he was not alone. He had people to discuss political affairs with, others to trust in secret affairs. Those who had died for him before were alive and staying with him. Those who had been enemies due to different political circumstances are now his loyalists. He also had a baby to love. To have a child was a joy he had never had before. When he held her up in the morning, having not shaved yet, Leticia pped his cheeks with her hand. He didn¡¯t know how it tickled his heart. But now his heart was still as lonely as before he returned. A man with his insides torn withplete understanding and ignorance, and Cedric never forgot the wounds inside him. Sometimes he poured out his emotions, sometimes chewing on his hatred, and sometimes he tried to understand. No one in the world would know him as much as Artizea. And no one will know Artizea as much as himself. Still, it didn¡¯t seem like they had any connection at all. Even though they must be looking in the same direction now. Surely it would be. And what came from the West wasn¡¯t a return message, it was Alphonse¡¯s remains. It was at this time that the news that Lysia Morten had gone missing was also delivered. * * * ¡°I¡¯m going west.¡± Cedric said to the Empress. The Empress had a nk face at first because she didn¡¯t understand what he was saying. She then opened her mouth. The Empress quickly corrected her expression. But for a moment, she couldn¡¯t hide her absurd feelings. ¡°Does that make sense?¡± Although he had not yet been crowned, Cedric already held the presidency of the Empire. He couldn¡¯t walk around lightly even with just the status of Crown Prince, but in the current situation, it was impossible to allow that. Besides, it wasn¡¯t long after the war broke out. It could be said that it would be impossible to even make a formal march and do a tour. But isn¡¯t that what Cedric was talking about? It was clear that he would go light-weight with a few men, as appropriate for a Grand Duke. ¡°I understand the feelings of your concern for the Crown Princess. That herdy-in-waiting was harmed?¡± The Empress let out a sigh. ¡°But I was told that she is now in a safe administrative city. There are escorts you sent with her, and if you are quick, you can mobilize the Western Army?¡± As soon as the war was over, he sent a message to the local military in each ce not to be disturbed. Among the warlords, those who were quick to hear the news would be able to grasp the situation slowly. Even with the Emperor¡¯s secret permission, there was no one who could directly threaten the Saintess, the Crown Princess. ¡°Tell her toe back soon? There is also the coronation ceremony, but I am more concerned because it is a gue-prone area.¡± ¡°She won¡¯te back.¡± Hayley¡¯s response to the message they sent informed them of the water supply and her no return. [I was not informed by Her Highness, because Her Highness didn¡¯t want to. Sorry. Her Highness headed to the banks of the Abba River.] The letter hanging from the carrier pigeon was short. Cedric was able to understand the situation with that alone. Alphonse died, and Lysia disappeared. The gue spread slowly, but it would not stop until the infected vige was wiped out. Originally, there was no reason for Cedric to interrogate the secret investigator himself. But he met Cobb. No useful information emerged. All Cedric knew was that Cobb had memories of the past. And Lawrence¡¯s memory returned. The only people who knew the true meaning of this incident were probably Lysia, Artizea, Lawrence and Cedric himself. The Abba River disaster decisively brought him hatred and suspicion from the Emperor. It was the same in the military. Whatever his sincerity, it was unforgivable for him to move the army without returning the intemperance. At that time, he also lost his connection. He was no longer able to defend Lysia as hepletely lost his political position in the Capital. The people of the West praised him. The vassals of the North understood him. He thought he did what he had to do. If the same thing happened again, he would make the same choice. He nevertheless couldn¡¯t help thinking of what he had lost. Now, it¡¯s all gone. Cedric became the master of intemperance. With his body in the Imperial Pce, he had to release the Central Army and the Western Army and ignore the old feelings. But he couldn¡¯t. He owed Lysia. Artizea wasn¡¯t the only one who was forgiven by her voice. And above all else, he couldn¡¯t throw Artizea in by herself. Her responsibility is his own responsibility. He had to pay for Artizea¡¯s sin himself. When he knelt on his knees to her, he tried to take the responsibility. When he put the bracelet on her arm, he agreed to take on all that she had done to himself. ¡°I n to temporarily entrust Chancellor Lin as regent.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say nonsense! Be aware of your position! You are no longer alone! It¡¯s not something you did alone that put you there!¡± The Empress raised her voice. ¡°I¡­¡­ I am a person, Your Majesty.¡± Cedric said in a subdued voice. ¡°It was always the case that I was not alone. My life wasid on Evron¡¯s, and now the present and future of the Empire.¡± ¡°Cedric.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, I am a person. I am not a statue that will be ced on a throne to be engraved by people¡¯s aspirations and despair.¡± Cedric stood up. Artizea said. It is said that people do something because they cannot help but do it. And he had to go now. ¡°Just once, I will live as myself.¡± Knowing that the Empress could not stop him, she asked in a bewildered voice. ¡°What about Leticia?¡± ¡°Your Majesty will take care of her, so I won¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t take long. Don¡¯t worry too much. I am confident that I wille back alive wherever I go.¡± Even if I¡¯m alone Cedric said so and left the room. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Proofreader: somnium
    1. Tsunami
By the time Cedric crossed the western border, Artizea was already going down the Abba River. Before leaving, Hayley¡¯s objection was unusual. ¡°I understand your concern for Lysia. I¡¯m worried, too. Lysia is my cousin, and I don¡¯t want to lose anyone close to me any more!¡± Having said that, Hayley also kept her mouth shut with a shocked face. Jordyn¡¯s affairs hadn¡¯t been spoken of with each other since she became Artizea¡¯s subordinate. Artizea looked at Hayley with a quiet gaze. She looked like she was looking at an inanimate object. No, she didn¡¯t show her feelings at all, as if she, herself, was an inanimate object. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to understand.¡± Artizea spoke without a fluctuation. There was no particr coldness in her tone, so it felt even more distant. Still, Hayley didn¡¯t back down. ¡°What can Your Grace do if you go directly?¡± She said sternly. ¡°Send in the knights. Command the Western Army. Your powers are not to be disyed in the field, but to be valuable in this room!¡± At those words, Artizea lowered her gaze. It was miserable. Artizea herself knew best that plotting in a small room was her role and natural talent. Still, she couldn¡¯t help but say it. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you before? People do something because they cannot help but do it.¡± She knows it¡¯s not right, she knows it¡¯s more likely to fail. Even though she knows she¡¯s not talented and she¡¯s not efficient, she knows that she has other things to cherish just as much. [¡°I really hate seeing people around me get hurt. If Lady wants to be with me, you must remember that fact.¡±] Cedric said so. [¡°When we go together, we will be able to find the right path.¡±] Cedric also said, [¡°At that time, I had already made up my mind to take responsibility for what you were doing.¡±] He had a weary face. [¡°Don¡¯t make me lonely anymore.¡±] It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t think of him. She hadn¡¯t forgotten her baby either. Still, Artizea couldn¡¯t help but go. Lysia was the one who taught her that a really good person exists. Before that, Artizea studied ethics and theology, but did not believe it. Such a thing would be hypocrisy or just an ideology spread by a certain ruler in the past to facilitate domination. Humans are inherently evil. The world Artizea knew was made up of monsters and beasts. Artizea wanted to be a monster rather than a beast. Then she got to know Lysia, and for the first time in her life, she knew what it was like to be human. She tried to keep it. She wanted to put a roof over it to keep out the rain and block the strong winds. If Cedric was like a lighthouse in the distance, crashing into the breakwater to destroy it and being unreachable, Lysia was the fertile soil for the most beautiful flowers in the world. But the soil was easily washed away by heavy rain. As if there was nothing like a roof put on. Artizea had sworn to protect her. She even promised Cedric. But she couldn¡¯t keep it. That must have been the first thing she knew about humanity. Hayley was right. Cedric said it, too. There wouldn¡¯t be much she could do in the West. But how can she leave it to others and return to the Capital to see Cedric¡¯s face and smile? If she couldn¡¯t save her own humanity, she wouldn¡¯t even be able to be a human. So Artizea ordered without persuading Hayley. ¡°You stay here and pretend I¡¯m on a pilgrimage to the West.¡± ¡°Your Highness¡­¡­.¡± Hayley eventually epted the order. She wrote a letter to Freil. [The public mind in the West is shaking. There are a lot of people who want to meet the Saintess and receive her gifts, but because of the gue, we prevent them from going to the neighboring vige, let alone traveling. When the Crown Prince led the Knights of Evron in the past to rebuild the Western Army, I was very angry. I also felt resentment towards the Crown Prince, who graciouslypiled such a request. Since the North is doing the job of the North, the West should take care of the West. Thend is fertile, and the climate is livable. Isn¡¯t it enough to block the monster wave? Unless the generals of the Western Army leave to the center for power, or be the lord of the castle and just sit and protect theirnd. Why should the North bear the burden, and why should the Knights of Evron be sacrificed? I¡¯m sure Sir Freil has had the same thoughts as me. Oh, and Sir served as the Crown Prince¡¯s lieutenant at that time. If so, you must have known him much earlier than when I opened the map and read the records. Now that I am here, I think that I was lucky. If the Crown Prince had not paid attention to the West, even if the Western Army cooperated with quarantine and security, by now, there would have been more than one or two riots. Even though the castle lords may be protesting internally, they are not hasty to reveal now that the Western Army is exerting influence everywhere because of the gue. In such a case, it would be a big deal if the monster wave exploded. I¡¯m d there¡¯s no country beyond the western border. But I don¡¯t know how long it willst. The West needs more hope than a saint who doesn¡¯t show up.] Hayley wrote that far and put the pen down. If he had sat down in front of her, she would have said anything, but was reluctant to leave a letter. ¡®Even if I burn it, it will definitely leave some residue in the furnace.¡¯ It must have been summer, so the fire would be extinguished quickly. Thump, thump. There was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Hayley said, folding the letter in half. Sophie pushed the door open. ¡°Hayley, are you busy?¡± ¡°No. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°No¡­¡­. I was just wondering if there was any other contact.¡± On Hayley¡¯s desk were several letters and urgent messages. But none of those things Sophie was curious about. Hayley made an apologetic look and Sophie smirked. ¡°I was just curious, so I asked. Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s frustrating is it? This is Her Highness¡¯ fault.¡± Hayley pouted her lips. If someone else had shown that attitude towards Artizea, Sophie would have felt sad and angry. But Hayley was fine. ¡°Yeah, to be honest, even in my opinion, Madame was so wrong!¡± Sophieughed and said it aloud. Even so, it seemed that her mind would be relieved. When Artizea left, she left with only Alice. This was partly to hide her own absence as much as possible, and partly because she didn¡¯t need Sophie to manage her wardrobe. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. You probably know Her Highness, don¡¯t you? She probably knows that everything is dangerous.¡± Hayley said softly. And she nced at the letter lying on the desk. She knew, but did not believe it. She hoped that there would be no sacrifices over this. £ª£ª£ª Artizea¡¯s carriage passed by thergest and most prosperous city near the Abba River. Inside the carriage, Alice asked curiously, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to enter the city of Kader?¡± In Alice¡¯s opinion, the city of Kader was the most important part of the neighborhood. In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that there was no ce for Artizea to stay except for the city of Kader. Most of thend in the Abba River basin was low and fertile. The arablend wasrge, while rivers frequently overflowed. Because of this, cities have not been formed since ancient times, and small towns have been scattered here and there. As technology developed, the number of floods decreased. However, the city did not develop rapidly. It was because a small farm vige leaning on the river was enough to live on. ¡®The city of Kader is the most developed among them.¡¯ The city of Kader was a city that developed as a warehouse center. All nearby grains are gathered in the city of Kader and transported to other areas by water transport. Artizea had no intention of going there. If the purpose was to collect rumors, of course, they would have entered. But not now. Now, Artizea was going to go up to a high area. A location where she can overlook the whole Abba River at a nce. They could see dust rising from a distance. ¡°Mountain bandits!¡± One of the escorts shouted. The carriage stopped. Artizea sat there quietly. There was no city and small farm viges were scattered here and there, so it was a perfect area for mountain bandits to run rampant. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. When everyone saw the knights, they avoided it.¡± Artizea¡¯s escorts numbered 100. They were rural knights. It was because Hayley did not yield on this alone. At most, it was not a target that a dozen bandits could dare to attack. As expected, the dust stopped. Only one horse frantically approached the knights. ¡°On guard!¡± At Sir Owen¡¯s order, ten knights in the line aimed their guns. The bandit wandered and then turned. Only one horse that had been running away from them came to Artizea¡¯s procession. It was a young woman in a suit covered in dust. ¡°Stop there.¡± Owen stopped the woman halfway. The woman gasped as she rolled off her horse. She seemed out of energy. One of the knights hastily grabbed her. The woman pleaded as she grabbed the knight¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you from the Western Army?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The knight was a Northerner, but he answered falsely. This was in order not to reveal Artizea¡¯s identity. The woman shed tears. The knight was perplexed. Owen approached Artizea¡¯s carriage. He was going to ask if it would be okay to take a break to take care of the woman who was being chased by the bandits. Artizea had already opened the carriage door. She couldn¡¯t hide her surprise. Artizea screamed with a more startled face than when Alphonse¡¯s body was returned. ¡°Venia!¡± The woman raised her head in surprise. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Proofreader: somnium Venia couldn¡¯t understand what was going on. Thedy, who got out of her carriage, called Venia¡¯s name, and ordered her to be put in her carriage. There was a quarrel in the middle. The knights panicked and said that they had to do a body search. Even her maid said in surprise, ¡°Madam, do you know who this is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s someone I know. That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go to the city of Kader.¡± Thedy said so. The knights asked the maid to remove the cloak from Venia. Not only was her clothes dirty, but they thought she might be hiding something inside it. Venia struggled not to lose her clothes. ¡°Take it off. It¡¯s muddy. I¡¯ll wash it for youter.¡± ¡°Leave it alone, Alice.¡± Artizea said so while coughing. She also told the knights, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can trust her.¡± ¡°If Her Highness knows her.¡± Sir Owen answered so. He knew that Artizea had subordinates he didn¡¯t know, and there were things he had to pretend he didn¡¯t even see. But Venia didn¡¯t know why she was saying that. So she looked up at her while holding her belly. If she escaped safely, she was told to visit the Evron Knights in the Western Army. She thought it would be fine. She believed what Lysia said, that someone woulde and help her. But she was skeptical. It was strange in itself that a real noble woman was leading the knights through this area now. Besides, it was strangely filled with rejection and fear. But she was the first to be asked, ¡°Is Miss Lysia safe?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± At those words, Venia swallowed her breath. Artizea looked at her face and knew that her memory had not returned. Then, this girl in front of her eyes is a real 17-years-old girl, not the Venia she knows. ¡°Uh, how do you know?¡± Venia asked, stuttering. Alice also looked at Artizea with a puzzled face. Artizea had no doubt that Venia had run away from Lawrence. Otherwise, Venia wouldn¡¯t have been in this area. If it was just Lawrence, he would have dragged Venia along. Venia was the maid whom Lysia relied on until the very end. It was certain that she could be used as a hostage. It was also well known where her hometown was. There were many viges that the Saintess had saved, but Venia¡¯s hometown was especially famous. It was unfortunate, but it was because Venia herself often spoke of gratitude and admiration for that time. ¡°Did you run away for Miss Lysia?¡± Venia nodded her head frantically. Alice grabbed Artizea¡¯s skirt. ¡°Madam, calm down. This child is young¡­¡­.¡± There was no guarantee she wasn¡¯t a trap. She was suspicious as she alone fled this wide in with the bandits on her tail. But Artizea shook her head. Venia was a brave woman. She was decisive, and she had the courage and determination to throw herself to carry out what she decided to do. Even though she¡¯s still 17 years old and she hasn¡¯t been through the storms of the years, she could have done it. But she realized that she shouldn¡¯t be in a hurry. If Venia was frightened she might not be able to speak properly. Artizea blinked at Alice. She knew she wasn¡¯t fit to earn people¡¯s trust, and so was this situation. Alice said instead, ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can trust her. Our madam is the Crown Princess.¡± Venia didn¡¯t get it right away and she blinked her eyes. Then she shouted, ¡°Ah!¡±. ¡°There, there is something the Saintess gave!¡± Venia highly unfastened her cloak, which had been tied up tightly. Alice nced at Venia again with a look of dissatisfaction with her. She said their Madam was the Crown Princess, she wondered what nonsense Saintess she was talking about. Venia untied her overcoat, and she pulled off the top of the cloak she was wearing. She then pulled out what she had tied around her belly with a long cloth. ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Alice screamed at her in great dismay. The carriage stopped and the door swung open. Owen mmed the door open, and he was startled, and he immediately pped Venia¡¯s hand. Venia grabbed her hand and fell at Artizea¡¯s feet. The pistol flew out of her hand and rolled across the floor. Alice quickly picked it up. At that time, Owen¡¯s sword was already aimed at Venia¡¯s neck. ¡°Alice, open the back door.¡± Alice quickly followed his words. Owen said, ¡°Your Highness, with all due respect, pleasee down from behind.¡± It was to not give Venia a chance to make a move. Artizea shook her head. She held out her hand to Alice. Alice noticed quickly and ced the pistol she had picked up into Artizea¡¯s hand. Artizea looked at it back and forth for a moment. Owen also saw it with a side eye. And he said in a surprised tone, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the Crown Prince¡¯s pistol?¡± ¡°Lord Owen, lower your weapon.¡± Artizea said so. And she clumsily opened the cylinder. It was empty with no bullets inside. Artizea showed it, but Owen did not lower his sword. As for safety issues, Artizea had no authority tomand him. Venia struggled to get her words out, terrified, ¡°I have been asked to return it to the Knights of Evron or the Knights of the Western Army.¡± ¡°By whom?¡± ¡°Ly, Lysia Morten, said they would know¡­¡­.¡± Hearing those words, Owen was surprised. There was no reason to doubt any further. Venia fell to the floor as if copsing. The sorry Alice lifted her up and took her by the shoulders. Owen looked at Artizea with a puzzled face. He followed Artizea, but he didn¡¯t know that he would really hear about Lysia here. It¡¯s been quite some time since there was no news. He asked questions, but no words were heard. Where in this wide west was she going to look for a lost person? Even after subjugating all the bandits near the ce where the incident took ce, they disappeared, so they couldn¡¯t find them anymore. ¡°Let¡¯s start on the road.¡± ¡°Understand. Sorry for the fuss.¡± Owen answered withoutint. And closed the carriage door. Even then, Venia was trembling. Artizea nced back and forth at the pistol, then pulled out her handkerchief and wrapped it around it. ¡°Venia.¡± Artizea looked at Venia with deepened eyes and said, ¡°I came here to find Miss Lysia. You have to help me. When did you escape? Is it over three hours?¡± ¡°No. I came out this morning.¡± Venia moistened her parched throat with saliva, as if it was about to tear her apart. Alice handed her water. After she drank it, she seemed to live a little. Finally, tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°The Saintess and the Head¡­¡­.To the Head¡­¡­.¡± Without speaking, Venia rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Artizea stopped Alice from flinching. It didn¡¯t matter whom she called the Saintess now. ¡°There were reins left in one of the horses in the stables. And he said he would try not to notice even if I ran away.¡± Except for the middle part, Venia told them everything. By that time, her face was covered with tears and dust. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I was noticed. I went down the river to find the vige, and in the middle of all this, the horse got tired and took a break.¡± ¡°You got caught there.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You did well.¡± From Venia¡¯s point of view, she calmly remembered all the information she could give. Artizea stroked the lower part of her lip, deep in her thoughts. It was already afternoon. The sun will set in a little while. Considering the speed of the bandits movement, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint the location with that information alone. ¡°And are you the Crown Princess?¡± ¡°Yes. The Crown Princess.¡± Alice answered instead of the thinking Artizea. ¡°There was a message that I had to tell the Crown Princess. After showing the pistol to an Evron person.¡± As Venia gasped, she said, ¡°She told me to say 90,000.¡± ¡°90,000.¡± Artizea repeated those words back like a parrot. Then, as she said, the blood drained from her face, which originally showed signs of illness as is. The inhabitants of the city of Kader were 90,000. Considering that it is a transportation hub, the actual number of people in the city is probably much higher than that. £ª£ª£ª Cedric arrived in the central city of the West with only 20 elite knights. He moved quietly. There were no official announcements when he departed from the Capital. On the road he had passed, he had never stopped by a government office. Nevertheless, by the time he arrived, the Western Army knew all of his moves. Knowing that he hated pretentiousness, Ein, themander of the Western Army greeted him with only the city defenders lined up. Next to him was Amalie. ¡°Long time no see, Sir Ein, Dame Harper.¡± Cedric greeted the two with a military salute. ¡°It¡¯s not an official schedule, but you gave the soldiers a hard time.¡± ¡°The entire Western Army is delighted to see the Crown Prince again. Even if we ask for a ceremony, everyone will like it.¡± At Ein¡¯s words, Cedric smiled bitterly and shook his head. He didn¡¯t have time to spend on such things. Amalie spoke in a more realistic way, ¡°The Crown Prince personally came to visit us at a time like this, so nothing can touch the hearts of Westerners more than this.¡± As she said that, Amalie smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t know the day woulde so soon to congratte the Crown Prince.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that now.¡± Amalie politely bowed her head in affirmation. The Emperor is still alive. Cedric said, ¡°Unfortunately, I didn¡¯te here to patrol.¡± ¡°Yes. I have heard the big news.¡± Amalie handed him a letter. ¡°It was sent to me by Lady Hayley¡¯s yesterday.¡± Cedric hurriedly unfolded it. After Hayley had given a brief news on her side, she delivered the orders she had received from Artizea. ¡°To put the troops on standby in three days at the northeast of the city of Kader?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is this possible?¡± Amalie answered Cedric¡¯s question, ¡°Of course, it is impossible to send troops from here. In the city where Lady Hayley is, a significant number of Western troops were stationed to protect the Crown Princess.¡± The dispatch will be made from there. The Crown Princess sent an order engraved with the Crown Prince¡¯s coat of arms, or more precisely, Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s coat of arms. The Western Army had no reason to refuse. Hayley had only forwarded the contents of this letter to Amalie to inform her of the situation. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Proofreader: somnium One troop of the Western Army was dispatched under Artizea¡¯s order. The Abba River basin was not an area that was hit directly by the Monster Wave. For that reason, there were no military troops normally stationed in the area. It was not yet a ce where administrative power was concentrated for the prevention of the gue. Once she called in the army, Artizea wasn¡¯t sure what to do with it either. It will help with post-processing after the Abba River overflows. But right now, it didn¡¯t do much to defend the banks of the Abba River. It was impossible to scour this wide in to find dozens of bandits. There were nine embankments of the Abba River. Each embankment was not small either. Even if they searched all the embankments, the bandits would have already moved between each search. It was also impossible to control the city of Kader. The resident poption alone was 90,000. Considering that it is a transportation hub, the number of floating poption would be much higher than that. In addition, the area in which the city of Kader is located has a low altitude. If Embankment 9, built to prevent flooding in the rainy season, burst, not only the city of Kader, but the entire surrounding area would be a sea of water. The Abba River basin was one of thergest granaries in the West. The damage to the granary was indescribably great. But bigger than those two problems was the gue. Whenrge-scale floods urred, water-borne diseases often followed. If the epidemic caused by the parasitic monster was still circting, it would be an unbearable situation if it turns into a new outbreak. And if it was Lawrence, he would throw a few people infected with parasitic monsters into the water. The parasitic monster survives longer in a humid ce even without a host. It was not as sporadic as it was now, but when several kinds of gues started to circte throughout the western part of the country, quarantine was impossible. It was best to stop it before it happens. If it failed, they may have to make the extreme choice of abandoning other ces to protect the unharmed area. ¡°There are nine main banks of the Abba River.¡± Artizea marked the location on the map and looked at Venia. Venia hesitated. Artizea asked, ¡°Did you say you came down the river? While running away, did you pass the embankment?¡± ¡°Yes. I think so.¡± Venia answered confusedly. In fact, while she was fleeing, she thought only of a ce to hide, and her memories were vague because it was so stressful. She vaguely remembered the sound of water pouring down like a waterfall. ¡°How was his preparation for the trip? Did he have any spares on the horse?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. There were more than 20 horses. There were loads of things, but it was a light load.¡± Venia could answer that with certainty. She had been taken as Lysia¡¯s maid. But there was a need for abor force, and they couldn¡¯t help but use her. She was supposed to help feed the horses. Artizea nodded her head. Venia looked at Artizea with a strange face. It was full of iprehensible things. Lysia bestowed a blessing on her. Venia saw Lysia¡¯s blessing heal the horse that had injured its leg and it stood up. Venia had no doubts that she was the Saintess. Lawrence also called her the Saintess, and made the bandits call her that as well. Now, she knew that the Saintess whom the temple made such a loud announcement of was Artizea, and that she was the Crown Princess. But, Venia nevertheless believed that it was Lysia, who was the real Saintess. Alice and Owen didn¡¯t like her. But Artizea epted her without a word and did not rebuke her. Venia still didn¡¯t know why Lysia and Artizea knew her name. She didn¡¯t even know why Lawrence had just grabbed her and dragged her away. She didn¡¯t know why a high-ranking person like the Crown Princess would have her by her side while doing something important. Not only Venia, but it was full of strange things with the two of them. They didn¡¯t know what she was doing. They were following Artizea unconditionally, but they couldn¡¯t even guess on what basis Artizea was moving and what she was going to do. It was the same with Artizea calling Lysia with an honorific. Alice, who knew how much she loved Lysia, couldn¡¯t even understand. Artizea didn¡¯t care about that at all. ¡°There are nine important banks on the Abba River. If he hits 7, 8, or 9, Kader will definitely be submerged.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Had it been Hayley or Freil, they would never have questioned it this way. But Venia knew nothing, so she asked casually. At that question, Artizea looked at Venia. Her face turned pale. ¡°Madam¡­¡­ ?¡± Venia called her curiously. Soon, Artizea¡¯s expression sank to the bottom. She turned her gaze back towards the map. All she knows is that she¡¯s calcted several times in the past to avoid damaging the city of Kader. It was Embankment number 6 that she blew up then. As the embankment copsed, the overflowed water spilled into Embankment 7 and its vicinity. But the damage stopped there. That meant, conversely, that in order to submerge the city of Kader, she would have to burst the Embankment 8 and 9 with certainty. But she couldn¡¯t say that to the other person. ¡°Sir Owen, go up from Embankment 9 and ask about the bandits.¡± ¡°Yes. If the burden was light, the supply would have been solved by looting.¡± ¡°Try it if you can.¡± Hearing Artizea¡¯s words, Owen made a military salute and went out to deliver orders. Artizea looked at Venia. And with her weary lips, she let out a long sigh. Still, she couldn¡¯t think as an individual. She wasn¡¯t like that. She shouldn¡¯t have had the heart to ask for forgiveness because she did her best in saving 9 out of 90,000 lives. Instead of retrieving people one by one, she had to reduce the numbers. But there was Venia before her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°Venia.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you to someone, so it¡¯d be better if you go back to your hometown first. Go somewhere safe with your family.¡± It wasn¡¯t meant to be atonement. Because atonement couldn¡¯t be done with just one person. Rather, it was to repay her for her faithfulness to Lysia. Venia said cautiously, ¡°Can I send you a letter?¡± ¡°Letter?¡± ¡°Yeah. Will Madam rescue the Saintess?¡± Artizea nodded her head. ¡°And, will you save our vige, too?¡± ¡°We will send the Western Army. The bandit threat will be eliminated.¡± ¡°Then, let me stay here. If you could let me know that they¡¯ll be safe.¡± said Venia. She was concerned about her family. But if she went back like this, she probably had no idea what would happen to her own identity. She won¡¯t even know if Lysia is safe or not. Then, she thought it would be better to just stay. Just because she went back she wasn¡¯t going to be enough to protect her family on her own. Artizea nodded her head. Venia was fiddling with the bullet in her pocket. That didn¡¯t mean anything specifically to her. Because it was the first thing Lysia hid. There were a couple of people in town with guns, but it was then that Venia touched a bullet for the first time. The bullet was like a sign that she was living a lifepletely different; unlike what she had not long ago. £ª£ª£ª Water poured down. Lysia was standing in front of the embankment. It was hot, but she was rather cold because of the strong wind. Her hair blew like crazy in the wind. ¡°Shall I tie it up for you?¡± said Lawrence. In his hands was a ribbon embroidered with gold thread. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°I think you chose to obey me for sparing Venia.¡± ¡°How can I believe that you really spared Venia?¡± Lawrenceughed. ¡°You have changed. In the past, you would have believed me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You saved me at least once. I could have killed you right before my eyes as soon as I brought you.¡± Lysia turned her head without answering. ¡°We made a deal. As long as you¡¯re in my arms, I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t see her.¡± It was. It was about two hourster after Venia had escaped. Lysia made a deal with Lawrence. While she hugged and kissed Lawrence, the killing order was not issued. But in the end, Lawrence would have ordered to capture Venia and kill her. Lysia did not believe him. If she had been good enough to stop Lawrence, she would have already changed him. As expected, the killing order was finally given. She even gave Cedric¡¯s pistol to her before letting her go. Lysia sincerely prayed that Venia escaped safely. Lawrence smiled happily and pulled Lysia¡¯s waist. The soft kiss touched Lysia¡¯s lips. Lysia turned her head. His lips swept down her cheeks and stroked Lysia¡¯s lips. ¡°Stop it.¡± Lysia pushed his face away with her hands. She did not struggle to resist. Because it was only going to be a waste of energy. ¡°Be kinder, Lysia.¡± Lawrence whispered sweetly. ¡°You like duty. Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ What do you want to say?¡± ¡°Do your duty. You are obliged by God to turn me with your love.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I am no longer a saint. Ack!¡± As the words fell, Lawrence grabbed her by the hair and yanked back head. Then he bit her lip until it bled. The taste of blood flowed between her lips. Lawrence kissed her indulgently and shoved the tip of her tongue into the scar. Lysia frowned. She didn¡¯t even want to show him that it hurts. She wanted to show him that she felt nothing. She had, in the past, tried to keep him in her love, but she felt nothing now. And she was now rejecting him from her own heart. No joy, no pain. She could no longer feel despair in Lawrence himself. ¡°It¡¯s the wife¡¯s duty to love her husband, even without divinemand. Isn¡¯t it?¡± Lawrence said with a seductive smile. ¡°So you must love me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me me for your evilness.¡± Lysia exhaled. She had married Lawrence out of her sense of duty, but despite those numerous duties and responsibilities, the romantic feelings she once felt for Lawrence did not originate there. ¡°Because of you, I first learned that people cannot change.¡± Even so, Lawrence didn¡¯t care. Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Proofreader: somnium The search party found a suspicious man passing through Embankment 9, and after interrogating him, they found two ces where explosives were installed. They are now searching the area around Embankment 8. However, thend was vast, and there was a limit to the manpower that could be used. In the first ce, the West was a ce where even military defense had given up protecting the boundary. Owen couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. ¡°There really were explosives.¡± He followed the orders of the Crown Princess. He also knew that Artizea was Cedric¡¯s politicalpanion and chief aide. But he didn¡¯t know that explosives would really be found. Wasn¡¯t they on the way to find the kidnapped Lysia? Even in Venia¡¯s words, there was no mention of exploding the embankment. But real explosives were found. Owen couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. Artizea said, trying to contain her headache, ¡°I cannot guarantee that we have found all the explosives on Embankment 9 with certainty.¡± In the West, weapons and explosives were easy to obtain. It was impossible to guarantee that there were only two ces where the explosives were installed unless the entirend was dug up and checked. So they had to search for people. If they hid the explosives, it means that there would be someone to detonate them. However, there was no guarantee that the person waiting to detonate the explosives necessarily came from outside. Lawrence was wealthy. It was not an asset enough to support a noble family from generation to generation, but turning the life of a peasant family upside down was something that could be done with only the money in his sleeve. So, it would not be an exaggeration to say that all of the people currently living near the embankment should be suspicious. It was impossible to interrogate them all. ¡®If it were me, I would deliberately deploy a stand out person, and actually use a local.¡¯ It¡¯s a smallmunity, so they¡¯ll keep their mouths shut from military inquiries. Even if there are rtives who behave somewhat suspiciously, they will cover them up. That didn¡¯t mean that the traitor wouldn¡¯te out. Besides, it wasn¡¯t just the Embankment 9 that was a problem now. She didn¡¯t even know where Lawrence would start, 6 or 7. She could never find them all in time. ¡®Even now, Brother¡­¡­.¡¯ Artizea thought several times. In fact, that thought almost took over her head. But will killing Lawrence stop it? Now, Lysia was not the only problem. If the preparations had already been made, it was highly likely that the work would continue even if Lawrence died. And Lawrence would have been in control of all of that, rather than entrusting it to someone else. Unlike Artizea, he had no interest in controlling intelligence and maintaining the loyalty of his subordinates. But he wasn¡¯t foolish enough not to know that when ites to important things he must haveplete control. And he knew how. The information is very partial, and it is only when all the reports have been gathered that it can be put together andpleted. Artizea used to exin her own thought processes and methods to Lawrence. At first, she wanted to be recognized. Later, because she was afraid of his suspicion. She didn¡¯t expect it to be so troublesome now. ¡®Does that mean that you are trying to kill Brother?¡¯ Artizea buried her body deep in the armchair and pressed a finger to her head. As she became the Saintess, it became possible to use her own life force separately. But is it possible to kill one person¡¯s life with only a fraction of another¡¯s life? The great magic to turn back time was rather possible. Once the magic circle was activated, the magic reversed time and devoured and nourished all the life that lived in that time period. But human life was equivalent. That¡¯s why she cut her own ten years off and gave Mielle ten years. ¡®Then, would I rather turn back time?¡¯ Before Lysia was arrested? Or, before Lawrence disappeared? She couldn¡¯t. Artizea has already failed once. It¡¯s been like that since she¡¯s been living here. The reason why so many people¡¯s memoriese back was probably because the magic was wrong. Artizea still didn¡¯t know by whatw these things were happening. The magic was definitely wrong. She couldn¡¯t risk doing it again unless she knew why. It wasn¡¯t a problem if she were to disappear. But even if she goes back to the past, if there were no one to stop Lawrence, the same thing will happen again. Besides, there was too much to lose politically. If only one became a variable, the situation would be worse than it is now. What if not only she returned, but the memories of Lawrence or the anti-Crown Prince faction also came back? What if the Empress remembers? What if the Emperor¡¯s memoriese back? If the sainthood disappears, will Cedric be crowned Crown Prince? If her own existence disappears, will her memories of what happened once in the past also disappear? Artizea covered her eyes with her hand. ¡®No, it really doesn¡¯t matter that I disappear?¡¯ Artizea thought like that for the first time. Leticia caught the tail of her intricately tangled thoughts. She suddenly raised her eyes, and Artizea met eyes with Venia, who was sitting on one side of the room sewing herpel. Startled, she got up and turned her gaze away. Alice asked, ¡°Can I bring you something hot to drink? How about strong tea with milk and sugar?¡± ¡°Strong tea?¡± ¡°I learned it from the butler. Because you like it.¡± Alice said cheerfully. ¡°It¡¯s too much. It¡¯ste at night, and you¡¯d rmend tea.¡± ¡°Even if I tell you to sleep, you won¡¯t listen anyway.¡± Artizea pondered for a moment. But it seemed like she¡¯d rather sleep a little and wake up and it might give her a little bit of a break from her tangled thoughts. ¡°No. I¡¯m tired now, so I¡¯d better lie down.¡± ¡°Yeah. Then, I¡¯ll let you go to bed.¡± As Alice said so, she nced at Venia with sullen eyes. Venia put down her sewing as she hesitated. Artizea knew that Alice didn¡¯t like Venia. [¡°I don¡¯t quite understand. Shouldn¡¯t you give her a proper reward and send Venia back if she did a good job? Even if you have her, there is no need to keep her right next to you.¡±] Alice even said that. What she said wasn¡¯t wrong. But Artizea did not exin to Alice why she put Venia close to her. It was so she wouldn¡¯t forget what she had done in the past. Artizea thought for a moment. She didn¡¯t know, perhaps, that the reason she was pushing herself not to forget was because she wanted to forget. At the beginning of her return, she had no such idea. From some day on, she became able to hold back herughter. It¡¯s probably because her own feelings are about to pop open the lid underneath her heart. Artizea was afraid of that. Alice said that she would go first and make the bedding, and she went out. Artizea said to Venia. ¡°You worked hard until sote. Now go and rest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Good night, Madam.¡± Venia stood up, and politely greeted Artizea. Artizea also slowly stood up from her seat. Then, there was amotion outside. The torches stretched through the open window, and the outside was lit in an instant. ¡°Go and find out what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± A knight guarding the living room answered politely and went out. But before the knight returned, someone shouted from the outside. ¡°The Crown Prince has arrived.¡± Artizea was startled and froze on the spot. Far from hearing the news, she didn¡¯t even hear from him. She thought she would never see him again. Even when she left the North first, she had thought about the possibility that she would not meet him again. It was also as she counted the odds of failing while plotting. When she left this time, she didn¡¯t count the odds of her death. Because even if the Emperor gave orders to kill her, Cedric would wear the Emperor¡¯s Crown. It was after everything she could do. The time to move the boards with conspiracy was already over. The rest would have to be pushed by Cedric himself and his supporters. So she had nothing to worry about whether she died or not. But her own heart was more tormented than before. She had already had love in her heart before. So she must feel the same as she was then and now. Still, it was different this time. She used to think that she had no time to die because she just knew the joy of being loved, but now it hurts like being whipped. Her head turned nk. Artizea thought of running away for a moment. Of course, it wasn¡¯t specific. She only thought that she wanted to escape the suffering of the present moment. She couldn¡¯t go anywhere and the door opened while she stood tall. The smell of dust came in. It was different from the smell of snow and wind in the North. But Artizea thought the smell was familiar to her. Cedric stood there with the door open. Artizea held her breath. ¡°Because of you.¡± Cedric squeezed out a cracked voice without saying hello. Artizea couldn¡¯t figure out what was going to happen next. The door closed behind Cedric. He took off his gloves and threw them on the floor. It was also familiar. Artizea remembered the night that had only happened twice. Her hands and feet were all melted, and she thought of the baby¡¯s wet, soft palms. But Artizea did not face him, nor did she step backwards. She stood tall. He thought the woman here couldn¡¯t be human. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Artizea, she said in an emotionless voice. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have been in a position to empty the Capital. Besides, what of the monarching to a gue area.¡± He was a monarch. He had to be an emperor on the throne before he was an individual. He was the cornerstone and he had to be the pir and the beam, the starting point and the manager of the spinning wheel. And he himself had to be an instrument serving that purpose. To do that, he must have been here while being indestructible even if he threw himself into the magic circle. Cedric outstretched his arms to embrace Artizea. Between the two of them, there was a gap of two arms ¡°I came because I deserved it.¡± Cedric said softly. ¡°It was my decision. Because there was something I had to save.¡± Artizea bit her lower lip. Cedric said, ¡°Why are you making that face? I am your master, can¡¯t you obey my decision?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea replied that way. Her hands and feet were cold. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Madam is asleep.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d. I came here with a prescription for sleeping pills.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Alice nodded. Sleeping pills were not good for a weak body like Artizea. Still, it would have been better to fall asleep relying on it. But Alice was not in a position to make such a decision of her own ord. So, she didn¡¯t know how grateful she was when Cedric gave her a sleeping pill and told her to put her mistress to sleep. ¡°Tomorrow morning, Her Grace will be fine.¡± Alice spoke as if giving an excuse. ¡°I know,¡± Cedric said in a low voice. He didn¡¯t mean to say Artizea will be fine tomorrow morning. It meant he knew Alice¡¯s concerns. And when tomorrow morninges, they will put this matter aside and discuss the urgent matter. Cedric cast his gaze out the dark window. It was a new habit these days. He did it so as not to show his troubled face to others. He clenched and opened his fists several times. It was not easy to cool the feeling that was boiling in his chest. It was like that the whole way here. It felt like his heart would melt from the heat and flow down into his stomach. So, he feared that in the end there would be no such thing as a right mind. Still, he thought that part of this heat would go away when they met. He knew she wouldn¡¯t wee him. He knew she would reproach him foring. Still, if he held her with his arms wide open, he hoped she would pretend to be lost and hug him. However, he realized that Artizea had not changed. Cedric thought, ¡®Can I change you?¡¯ And he thought again, ¡®Can you withstand it until I change you?¡¯ How many times does he have to say it and how many times does he have to do it? Was it possible? Not even a word of love or an oath to be together. What can he do beyond this? If Alice had not arrived in time, this anger would have been thrown to Artizea as it was. Even though he knew she would be broken. He even felt the desire to do so. Wouldn¡¯t it be morefortable if he smashed her all, picked up the pieces, and wrapped her in a bloody nket? If he goes andys with his arms full around her, he will be able to turn away for a moment, pretending not to know the pain. It seems like everything has been resolved, so he can pretend that and pass the time for a while. But Cedric couldn¡¯t. Had he been a man who could fool his heart, he would not have lost all that was his in the past and wandered the wastnd. Cedric said, exhausted, ¡°Can you take good care of her? She¡¯s not the type of person who stops when we say stop, so if it¡¯s toote, you¡¯ll have to stop her by force.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ . Then, Master¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I will sleep in another room tonight. I can¡¯t go to her bedroom because there¡¯s a doctor anyway, so go and stay with her.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Alice greeted him with aplicated face that seemed relieved and sad and went away. Thump thump. Then, a knock was heard. ¡°It¡¯s Owen, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Cedric put an expressionless look on top of his painful expression reflected in the window. Owen came in and reported, ¡°They fired the first re. I have instructed them to continue in one-hour intervals from now until tomorrow noon.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± ¡°Your Highness¡¯ orders, yes, but I¡¯m not sure if this is the right thing to do.¡± The re was a signal that Cedric was here. He had already done one inspection when he came to the West. However, it would not be wise to provide detailed location information. Cedric came in with a minor security. Currently, the number of escorts staying here was only 120, including the 100 escorts of Artizea and the 20 people Cedric brought. Of course, one troop of the Western Army was dispatched to various ces as a search party within the day. Two more troops from the Western Army,manded by Ein, will follow. Even so, the fact that the Crown Prince and his wife were in a secluded, remote ce with only 120 escorts was to be treated as a secret. That must have been part of the reason Cedric didn¡¯t announce the news while he was traveling all the way here. ¡°If Lysia sees it, there will be hope.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Owen¡¯s face softened slightly at Cedric¡¯s answer. ¡®And he¡¯ll be watching, too.¡¯ Cedric looked out the window and thought to himself. He knew that Lawrence would hate him as much as he hated him back. It was a different matter from the fact that the Emperor or Artizea had politically restrained and repressed him. Cedric was well aware that Lawrence had starved the North to death simply because he hated Cedric. He was no different now. He was still obsessed with Lysia. Lawrence misunderstood the friendship between Cedric and Lysia, and this time he must have wanted to kill Cedric in front of Lysia. ¡®Actually, it might not have been a misunderstanding.¡¯ Cedric thought that Lawrence knew better than Artizea about the feelings between a man and a woman. Had Lawrence known it was friendship, he would have acted the same. No, he did the same to Baron Morten and his wife. He had hated not just Lysia¡¯s ex-fianc¨¦, but her real brother. However, just as he couldn¡¯t subdue Lysia, he just couldn¡¯t kill Cedric. So he will be angry if he finds out that Cedric hase. He would not be able to ignore Artizea as calmly as he would. Anger is what stirs people. He couldn¡¯t ask for anything more than Lawrence came running to kill him. Cedric turned around slowly. Owen took the pistol wrapped in the handkerchief from his arms and ced it politely in front of Cedric. ¡°Lysia is still safe. It was enough to make her maid run away.¡± Owen said. Cedric held up the handkerchief. And with a confused feeling, he picked up the pistol. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you gave it to Lysia.¡± ¡°I was hoping something like this wouldn¡¯t happen. It¡¯s my fault. Instead of letting her go to the West, it would have been better if she had been entrusted for work in the North.¡± He could not give orders to Lysia. He always thought he couldn¡¯t do that. But if he had asked her for work in the North, Lysia would not have refused. ¡°Did you say a maid brought it?¡± ¡°Yes. Her name is Venia.¡± ¡°I heard from Alice earlier. Is she still here?¡± ¡°Yes. If you¡¯re going to meet her, will you let me bring her?¡± Cedric hesitated for a moment. Then he said in a low voice, ¡°It is veryte. If it¡¯s urgent information, you and Tia must have already heard it, so I¡¯ll meet tomorrow if I have time.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Owen answered. Young Venia¡¯s presence was also for him a pry into the scars of the past. [¡°She told me to give it back if I get the chance.¡±] She hade to the North with this pistol long ago. It was not long after he heard the news that Lysia had died. Eventually it came back to him unused. And this time it also came back clean in Venia¡¯s hands. Cedric looked down at the pistol. He owed Venia. The debt was different from what Artizea felt. In the end, Cedric knows that Venia wants to kill Artizea, but he borrowed her hand to rescue her. He didn¡¯t say why. If Venia had known he would kneel before Artizea, she would never have helped. In retrospect, that was the first time he had intentionally deceived a faithful person. ¡°I have no regrets,¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ nothing.¡± Cedric put the pistol in his arms. Come to think of it, at that time, Lysia did not entrust her will to Venia, but to Artizea. Was it because she didn¡¯t have the same heart just before she died as when she entrusted this pistol to Venia? Perhaps, she did not expect that Venia woulde to deliver her belongings to the far North. Or, the will was meant to be brought by Artizea. ¡®I am not as strong as you, Lysia.¡¯ Cedric cast his gaze out the road-side window. It was then. Bang! Bang! The guard knocked on the door. Owen went out in surprise and brought in a guard. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°The messenger hase. This.¡± Owen took a letter from the guard¡¯s hand and gave it to Cedric. There was a signature on the envelope. ¡¶Lawrence.¡· Other than that, nothing was written. Cedric tore open the envelope. Inside was a map with the location marked with a red dot, and a note with the date two dayster. Cedric inadvertently crumpled the note in his hand. ¡°Who brought it?¡± ¡°They are being interrogated.¡± ¡°Take care of it. Don¡¯t let them die. And when somethinges up, always bring it to me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The guards bowed and went out. * * * Artizea woke up the next day, just as the sun was getting closer to the center of the south. She opened her eyes and stared nkly at the ceiling for a moment. She didn¡¯t seem to have slept well because she was sleeping with medicine. But her eyes were brighter than yesterday. Artizea carefully climbed out of the bed. She then pulled the rope and instead of calling Alice, she tucked her cold feet into her slippers and she went outside. Cedric was sitting in her living room. It wasn¡¯t a dream. Artizea thought nkly. Cedric had his gaze fixed on the map, even if he could have sensed hering out. Artizea shifted her gaze towards the map. There was arge red mark that she had never drawn before. Cedric held out the open envelope without looking back at her. Artizea clutched her chest. It must have been what she had hoped for, but she felt like her inside was going to burst and it was hard to breathe. ¡°Lawrence sent it.¡± Artizea widened her eyes. Then, she took the envelope and hurriedly opened it. Cedric let out a long sigh. And he turned to Artizea. His face didn¡¯t smile anymore. He didn¡¯t even reach out his hand in a gentle manner. As exactly as what happenedst night. ¡°Last night I shot the signal re showing that I was here. Lawrence seemed like he was waiting for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°For now¡­¡­ Let¡¯s stop him. After that¡­¡­.¡± Cedric sighed once more and said, ¡°Then, we¡¯ll talk.¡± Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Proofreader: somnium Alice had prepared bath water and soup in a cup. Artizea drank the soup while soaking in warm water. There was a piece of bread soaked in it. She had no appetite. Lawrence¡¯s letter was the first clue she got. But Cedric ordered it strictly. [¡°It is also a job to take care of yourself. If you are in good condition, you cane up with good ideas. Isn¡¯t it?] It was the master¡¯s order. Otherwise, instead of telling her to drink the soup, he would have brought the cup and held it in his hand. Cedric wasn¡¯t wrong. She was forced to fall asleep, the flow of thoughts was interrupted once. But after waking up, her mind was still not clear. The situation could not have changed suddenly in a short period of time while taking a bath. Even if it changed rapidly, Artizea was not in a position to run and do things directly. She could say all the things she needed, even while sitting in the bathtub. So it¡¯s just a matter of her mind. Artizea drank all of the soup and handed the empty cup to Alice. Then, she slid into the warm water and submerged to her neck. Her stiff body loosened a little. As her body warmed up, sweat dripped down the corners of her eyes. ¡°Is the water too hot, Madam?¡± ¡°No. Just fine.¡± There was a nice scent from the dried orange peel that Alice had put in the water. Artizea nodded off. There was no sign of letting go of the tightness in her chest. She had a hard time breathing, but her body was songuid that she wanted to copse like this and sleep forever. It was a joy for Cedric to be able to take care of his servant¡¯s body as her master. In fact, that¡¯s all she had hoped for from Lawrence all her life. If she couldn¡¯t be loved as a brother and sister, she wanted to prove her worth as a servant. Lawrence was concerned about her health, and he had sent her medicines. Even though she knew that it was because it would be difficult to hear that his best contributor was treated poorly, rather than being really worried about Artizea¡¯s health. So this was an overflowing treat. Facing each other and listening seriously when she speaks out. epting good advice. Listen to her own excuses only once when she has a setup. She wouldn¡¯t want more than that. But now, she was already ustomed to more than that and dreamed in vain. ¡°Madam, you can¡¯t sleep here.¡± Artizea woke up from her sleep, startled by Alice grabbing her arm. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°You just slept for a while. I think you better get up, though. Your skin is already red.¡± Artizea got up from the bathtub with Alice¡¯s support. She was a little dizzy, but she hid it. When she returned to the living room there was Owen. Cedric was sitting at Artizea¡¯s desk, writing something. Then, he heard the door open and turned around. He looked at Alice instead of Artizea. ¡°Did she finish the soup?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric nodded his head and beckoned Alice to back away. Alice quietly closed the door and left. Owen offered Artizea a seat. Meanwhile, Cedric continued to fill out the paperwork. And at the end he signed it, put it in an envelope, and sealed it with wax. ¡°Take it and deliver it.¡± He handed over nine envelopes to Owen. Owen epted it and went out with a military salute. Artizea sat in Owen¡¯s seat, waiting for him to finish. Cedric sat a little further away from Artizea. It was a position where she could see the map from the side. ¡°How is your body?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. It got better.¡± ¡°Would you like to see it again?¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric handed her the letter again. ¡°I also marked the location from the map that Lawrence sent me on this map.¡± Artizea looked at the red pen mark on the map. It was located close to Embankment 6. It was the only ce in the vicinity with a high altitude. Even so, it was on a hilly level. However, from there to the lower reaches of the river, there was an area lower than the river, so if they stood there, they could see the whole embankment at a nce. ¡°He ns to blow up Embankment 6¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you remember where you put the explosives?¡± Cedric asked. Artizea flinched. Cedric said without showing his emotions, ¡°Lawrence sent me a map, which means I should stand there and see with my own eyes; Embankment 6 bursting.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°Then, wouldn¡¯t the location where the explosives be installed be the same?¡± Cedric himself did not know where the explosives had been detonated at that time. Because he wasn¡¯t informed until after the embankment had burst. ¡°I¡¯m not saying Lawrence is irrational. The banks of the Abba River are quite strong. Exploding just anywhere is not going to wipe out the city of Kader.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± So, to explode Embankment 7, 8, and 9, arge amount of gunpowder was needed. ¡°Even if it¡¯s easy to get weapons and gunpowder in the West, there¡¯s a limit to how much gunpowder he has.¡± ¡°Ah. Right. Come to think of it, yes. Most of the bulk cargo within this province goes to the city of Kader, so it would have been noticeable if the bulk of the cargo moved from Kader to other areas.¡± However, there was no such thing in the information that Artizea had received. Did Lawrence move the gunpowder in apletely dispersed way to fool the eye? Considering his personality, that possibility was low. To say the least, his subordinates were bandits. ¡°Lawrence himself knows. He probably knows that imitating you is the surest and best way to save gunpowder.¡± He had to make sure that Embankment 6 was torn down, and the water pressure had to help the copse of Embankment 7. Artizea stood up. And with trembling hands, she marked two locations. Cedric nodded his head. Then, he called in and dispatched two more search teams. And he returned to the seat across from Artizea. ¡°I sent orders to local ministers, including Mayor Kader.¡± ¡°Are you going to mobilize the vigers to search the embankment?¡± Artizea asked in bewilderment. ¡°There will be agitation. If we do it wrong, we could end up having an ident because of those trying to escape.¡± ¡°Anyway, it is impossible to solve the situation with the military alone now. There is a shortage of manpower.¡± Cedric said. ¡°The search can be a lot faster if someone knows the area well. They might find something suspicious in cargo transportation.¡± ¡°But, what if things go wrong because you disclose the situation?¡± ¡°It would be a political burden for me.¡± Cedric replied calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Even if that were the case, no one could stop me from ascending to the throne for that reason.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric¡­¡­.¡± ¡°At this point, the only thing I can hide and shrink is my responsibility. And that¡¯s not an understatement.¡± Artizea bit her lower lip and lowered her head. After all, that¡¯s why she¡¯d burst the embankment in the past. Cedric was and still is here. ¡°You and I are both here. It will give courage to the residents as well.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric stood up. ¡°Then, you should sleep more. There is nothing you can do now. It¡¯s all a matter of footwork.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you think of something important, please tell me.¡± Having said that, Cedric turned the doorknob and opened it as if he was about to leave. And he paused for a moment. ¡°Ah, Venia¡­¡­ ¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ nothing.¡± Cedric was about to say it would be a good idea to separate herself from Venia, but he stopped. It wasn¡¯t something that could be said as a master. Cedric just walked out. £ª£ª£ª Artizea slept a little more as he instructed. With a little rest, she thought she mighte up with a thought that would open her eyes, but that didn¡¯t happen. Meanwhile, a search team led by Cedric searched the embankment and pursued the gunpowder cart. The next day, it rained. ¡°It is rather good. If it got wet in the rain, the gunpowder was unusable.¡± Cedric said so. However, he himself and his soldiers did not stop the search as they moved with the overflowing river next to them. The tail was caught the next day, early in the morning of the day when Lawrence wrote down in the letter. ¡°Your Highness, we arrested the person who came to check the location of the gunpowder on Embankment 6.¡± ¡°I am going right now.¡± Cedric got up from the table after having an early breakfast. Artizea stood up following him. Cedric said, ¡°You make sure you stay in a safe ce. Just in case, you have to takemand.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I will rescue Lysia and bring her back. So don¡¯t worry anymore.¡± Artizea looked at his back. The door closed in front of her. If the embankment really breaks, and Cedric gets swept up there, she¡¯ll have to stay in a safe ce, even after that. That was the right division of roles. She can¡¯t even ride a horse, let alone chase after people and wield weapons, so what can she do at this time? Still, she will be able to do something. ¡°Alice, get ready to go out.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Artizea looked again at the map that Lawrence had marked and sent. There was no way Lawrence was going topete with Cedric there. Anyway, he knows he can¡¯t fight Cedric by force. As Cedric said, he must have meant for Cedric to go there and see the embankment burst. ¡®Maybe Brother will reallye.¡¯ If Lawrence was ignoring his life, he might havee to show Lysia the scene. It wasn¡¯t against Cedric¡¯s orders. The spot was at leastpletely safe from the flooding of the river. £ª£ª£ª Lysia sat in front of Lawrence¡¯s saddle. He put her hands in pockets made of velvet and tied her wrists so that she wouldn¡¯t do anything. It was to prevent her from using her hands. ¡°Lawrence, Lawrence. Is it really okay?¡± Asked Alwyn, terrified. He was Lawrence¡¯s friend. He was listed as a major trader in Baron Yetz¡¯s ve books, and he was also in the party with Count Eison who ndered Cedric as an apostate. Shortly after Artizea revealed that she was the Saintess, he fled west, relying on Lawrence. He had no great ambition of overthrowing the throne. His primary purpose was to ruin the West and make Cedric lose his poprity. Then, the Emperor will call Lawrence back. He thought that was Lawrence¡¯s purpose as well. But no matter how he looked at it, what Lawrence was doing was crazy. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Proofreader: somnium Alwyn was a timid profiteer and had never entered politics directly. He didn¡¯t even know what was going on in the Capital. He had only the notion that the West is an important support base for Cedric, and that breaking it down would hurt Cedric. However, even in his view, the copse of the Abba River¡¯s embankment was too much. It wasn¡¯t because he was afraid that the vige would be submerged and people would be harmed. In his view, this was beyond what Gregor could tolerate. Still, up until three or four days ago, Alwyn wasn¡¯t all that desperate. He thought Lawrence had an idea. Besides, he seemed to be able to go unnoticed. Artizea treated what she was looking for as a secret. It was because she was afraid that agitation would spread among the residents and the area would be engulfed in chaos. Because of that, the nearby residents, who had fear and rejection of soldiers, did not cooperate at all. However, two days ago, the movement of the trackers hadpletely changed. Not only has it be more daring and organic than before, but it has be far more difficult to get away with the residents¡¯ full cooperation . What happens if they get caught? Cedric was the Crown Prince. Alwyn only realized it now. ¡°Lawrence, Lawrence, did you want to be an Emperor?¡± Alwyn asked, gasping. Lawrence wiped the smile from his lips. Then, he smiled again. ¡°Stupid.¡± ¡°Lawrence!¡± ¡°Did you want to make me Emperor? Really?¡± Lawrence asked mockingly. Alwyn asked what he meant, ¡°Are you speaking like that to the person who will be Emperor? What the hell do you think the Emperor is?¡± Alwyn¡¯s face hardened. Lawrence sneered. ¡°Is it power to control people at will? Even so, after all, he is only a person living inside the Imperial Pce. If you ordered the execution of a person from the other end of the Empire you couldn¡¯t see it happen, what joy would there be?¡± ¡°Lawrence¡­¡­.¡± ¡°After all, you could have done whatever you wanted in your mansion.¡± Alwyn broke into a cold sweat. Lawrence said with a hum, ¡°Even if it¡¯s one or the other, your neck can fly away at the Emperor¡¯smand. But even if you be Emperor, you cannot live without being conscious of others.¡± Ironically, after the people who nagged with advice and everything disappeared, there was still no fun no matter what he did. Lawrence lowered his head and kissed Lysia¡¯s neck. ¡°You can¡¯t control people¡¯s hearts. Well, the world would have been less interesting if that had been the case.¡± Dog barking could be heard everywhere. Now, the pursuer was right behind them. ¡°You can run and get down on your knees and apologize to him, Alwyn. He¡¯s a soft guy, so he might spare you.¡± Alwyn did not answer, he was pale. About twenty minutester, Alwyn had left the ranks and disappeared. Lawrence didn¡¯t really care. When he first entered the Abba River area, the number of bandits he brought was three-digit. Although they were sent away separately for various things, he counted fifty three days ago. But now there were only about a dozen. They were idiots who couldn¡¯t get out in time. When Lawrence turned to the side, his eyes met the bandit and the bandit flinched. His desire to run away was like a chimney, but he was afraid that he would be killed by Lawrence in doing so. Lawrence giggled. ¡°You are lucky.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Escape is the only way to go when you know what to do.¡± Saying so, Lawrence threw one of the gunpowder pouches from his waist to the ground. And he shot it with his pistol. The gunpowder caused a small explosion. Then, a fire broke out in the grass. It had already been oiled in advance. It had rained the day before, so the fire was slow. However, no one knew how the fire would spread because the oil, which had been roughly poured here and there, flowed with the rainwater. The bandit¡¯s face turned pale blue. ¡°No worries. It wasn¡¯t even a stormst night, so the water couldn¡¯t have risen to a high ce.¡± With that said, Lawrence slowly turned his horse¡¯s and headed toward the hillside. Artizea paid attention to the embankment and focused on tracking people. Cedric was basically the same. That wasn¡¯t the only real reason they couldn¡¯t search arge area. She thought that if he had hidden gunpowder, he would have someone to manage it and light it. It was because both of them always felt that they had to control the situation. And it was because she thought Lawrence would move efficiently. Lawrence had no intention of that. Why would he want to kill as many as possible? Even if he doesn¡¯t, he can break Lysia¡¯s and Cedric¡¯s hearts enough. He had no intention of sending anyone to explode gunpowder. If the fire spreads there, the gunpowder will explode. ¡°Well, it could be extinguished before the fire spreads to the embankment.¡± If they¡¯re lucky, they¡¯ll end up with wildfires. If they¡¯re lucky, it might rain. Lawrence told Lysia, ¡°Have you prayed to God to let you use a power other than the healing power?¡± Lysia did not answer. Lawrence grinned. ¡°Well, what you desperately needed was healing power. Was it my heart that you wanted to fix?¡± He said jokingly. It was then. There was a whistling sound mixed with the barking of a dog. Lysia understood the sound. It was like the sound of a winter snowstorm, and it was the sound of arrows used to signal wolves in Evron. The sound came from right behind her. Lawrence clicked his tongue over Lysia¡¯s head. Lysia looked around with a squint. There were nine people left. Can she shake off 9 people or bide her time? With her wrists tied? Would Lawrence really kill her? Thinking, Lawrence¡¯s arm gently covered the corner of her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think about it, Lysia.¡± Lysia did not hesitate at that moment. She sprung her body up as she pressed hard on Lawrence¡¯s feet. Lawrence grabbed her by the waist with one of his arms and hugged her tightly, but he was a step behind. Lysia¡¯s ipital hit Lawrence¡¯s chin. Lawrence let out a painful groan, but he did not let go of his hand holding Lysia. Lysia¡¯s body rolled under their horse. Kicking his feet into the air, Lawrence tumbled from his horse while hugging Lysia in his arms. The bandits that followed stopped. A gunshot rang out from behind. ¡°Kuk, ahk!¡± It was a warning shot, and one of the unlucky ones was shot and fell to the ground. Lysia lowered her body andid her face on the ground. Lawrence covered her with his body. Lysia struggled to get her hand out from under him. She wanted to untie the pockets that had been covering her hands. ¡°Lysia!¡± Cedric¡¯s voice was heard. Lawrence grabbed Lysia and put a knife to her neck. Lysia held her breath. Cedric pulled the reins. The knights following him stopped in a hurry. The sound of horseshoes scattered across the mud. Lawrence sighed and grabbed Lysia by the back of her neck. ¡°Haa. Haa.¡± Lysia gasped. Cedric got off his horse. Lawrence said, ¡°Send your men away.¡± ¡°Let Lysia go, Lawrence.¡± Cedric said in a low voice, ¡°Then, I will get you out of this ce safely.¡± ¡°You must have misunderstood something.¡± Saying so, Lawrence tapped Lysia¡¯s neck. A thin red line was drawn on her white neck. ¡°I don¡¯t mind killing Lysia here. I¡¯d rather just kill her than give her back to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy. She was your wife.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So instead of giving her to you, I¡¯m going to kill her.¡± Cedric clenched his teeth and red at Lawrence. Lawrence grinned. ¡°Well, I am fine. It would be fun to stand here together like this and watch the Abba River overflow. Or, shoot me to death with Lysia.¡± Lawrence grumbled. He knew Cedric couldn¡¯t. It wasn¡¯t a matter of practical benefit. And if that happened, it would be pretty fun for Lawrence. Cedric hesitated. Lysia looked at him with a painful face. That was the moment. BANG! The roar pierced the ears. The vibration shook the earth. Cedric, Lysia, and the others all looked at it reflexively. Even in the middle of the hill, the copse of the embankment could be seen. The fire spread and finally ignited the gunpowder. ¡°Ha, hahaha!¡± Lawrence burst outughing. ¡°You¡¯re tense, Lysia. What¡¯s wrong with that? If Cedric did a good job, that might end up being the end of it?¡± ¡°Lawrence!¡± Cedric burst into rage and ran to Lawrence. Lysia shouted, ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡± The water that sprang up from the explosion over the embankment did not pour down. A barrier of pure white light was blocking it. £ª£ª£ª Brother Colton said on the day she received the oracle. [¡°You may not know the meaning of the oracle right now. You may think you shouldn¡¯t follow it.¡±] Artizea clearly remembered that day¡¯s conversation. [¡°Someday, you will understand what is in ce for you.¡±] It seemed that the day would nevere. ?Return!? The oracle was too abstract. There was too much to return. Conversely, there were too many things that returned. Among them, which one was judged by God to be ¡°returned¡±? Is it time? Or the history that Artizea has reversed once? Or, is it justification? Is it the Saint¡¯s future? The victims of the evils she hasmitted? But as she climbed the hill and looked down on the embankment, Artizea realized that she had to return, as if struck by lightning. It was an error caused by her executing an imperfect great magic. It may be different from God¡¯s words, but Artizea understood the reality set before her in that way. If it was true, she should have ceased to exist at the same time as the execution of the great magic. But the traces of the past that were undone didn¡¯t go away. The people with that memory did something that they would not have done or could not have done on their own. It was one¡¯s own evil deeds. Under Artizea¡¯s hand, the magic circle drawn in blood spun frantically and radiated light. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Proofreader: somnium She yed countless games of probability with people¡¯s minds and actions. As a result, it took life and brought about despair. Still, Artizea did not particrly care. People are just numbers, and death is just the result of some part of the probability being executed or failed. That was the error of the life she had lived. Again, it was a bad thing. When Artizea came to the hills, she had no particr intention of sacrificing herself. She had two purposes. The first was for her to watch what she had done. And the second was to make effective use of her escort. Cedric left the hundred men of Artizea¡¯s bodyguard intact. It was a waste of time to be in a safe rear with that number. She did not know for sure whether Lawrence would really appear on the hill. If she thinks about it inmon sense, it would be a trap. But Artizea wasn¡¯t too concerned. Lawrence was leading the army with only a few hordes of bandits. It was clear that there must have been more dispersed in the pursuit of the past two days. She would be able to deal with only her bodyguards alone. There were no traps. Shortly after receiving the original letter, Cedric sent someone to go through it. Rather, Lawrence should be concerned that he will be surrounded in reverse. If Lawrencees, he can be captured by the escort. Otherwise, if it was just a letter meant to go and witness the horrors, that was fine in its own way. She¡¯ll keep an eye on it, and in case of emergency, she can split her escort and send support. And when she saw the wildfire spreading over the hill, Artizea realized that it was also a game of probability. A game of probability that Artizea has been ying countless times. As ifying a trap on the road where prey often travels, it traps people¡¯s minds and creates situations. It would be nice if the opponent moved and fell into the trap towards ruin. If they don¡¯t, no evidence remains, so try another method. To catch it someday. And that wildfire was the probability that Lawrence ignited. It was Artizea¡¯s way. There was a wildfire but maybe it can reach the gunpowder. Maybe the gunpowder wouldn¡¯t explode, but maybe the wildfire could do a lot of damage. Also, maybe she could contain the wildfire and keep the embankment safe, but she didn¡¯t know if she had to give up on Lysia. Whatever the oue, Lawrence wouldugh. The magnitude of the damage was not important. What was important was the very fact that the probability was executed. In the end, it was the same in that Cedric couldn¡¯t stop it. It was like in the past. And Lawrence, Cedric, Lysia, and herself knew that it was a victory. The wind blew like crazy. Artizea cut off her finger before her fire spread. ¡°Miss!¡± Alice screamed. Owen ran. Artizea didn¡¯t care and drew the magic circle on the floor. She felt almost no pain. Nothing like the wildfire shows with certainty that the cause and effect of this event begins with her. If she can¡¯t stop everything, it means nothing. Because it was an error that should not have been there originally, it started from her. That is the oracle. God did not endow her with a specific divine power. Artizea has done many things. And she did a lot of things that someone who had learned their way could do. So it must be that God gave her the ability to cast spells solely without any specific form. KUANG! The moment the explosives exploded, she ced her palms against the magic circle. At that moment, neither Lysia nor Cedric nor Lawrence thought. Her life was transformed into the divine power, and from Artizea¡¯s palm, it poured into the magic circle. The magic circle poured out a pure white light as if on fire. ¡°Kugh¡­¡­ !¡± Artizea bit her jaw to clench her teeth. A barrier of light blocked the tidal wave that came pouring out. The magic she used was different from the powers a real saint had manifested. Her magic demanded a price. With her divine power, she paid the vitality required by the magic circle. However, the pouring water pressure was still a burden on Artizea. The hem of her robe and hair flew like mad at the swelling power. ¡°Al, Alice. My hand¡­¡­ !¡± Artizea screamed. Alice ran and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Why Miss!¡± As Alice bawled, she held Artizea¡¯s palm tightly so that it wouldn¡¯t bounce off the magic circle. Artizea breathed heavily. Her internal organs were shaken. Blood dripped from her ears, sounds were muffled in her ears. Owen ran and tried to separate her from the circle of magic. Alice stopped it. ¡°It¡¯s for the Miss! The Miss is¡­¡­ Because she is the Saintess!¡± Having spit her resentment towards Artizea, Alice shouted so at Owen. Artizea looked at Alice with blurry eyes. Faithful Alice. She said she wanted Artizea to be happy, but she never broke her will. She never stopped her from doing what she really thought she had to do. It was her luck that this time she was able to finish without letting Alice go first. Artizea pulled one of her hands out of the circle. Blood was still dripping from the index finger that was cut off. She rewrote the magic circle with her hands. It wasn¡¯t enough for her to stop the water. She will be able to hold it for at most 20 minutes. The moment the barrier of power disappears, the water will pour out. Therefore, restoration of the embankment had to be preceded. ?With the power or Artizea Rosan, time will return.? The second sentence she wrote was much more proficient. Since her divine power was blocking the water, she was able to designate the coordinates as the range in which the divine power was influencing. While repairing the magic circle, her power was dispersed, and the barrier of power wobbled. ¡°Ack!¡± Seeing the sight, Venia screamed. Artizea closed her eyes tightly. The barrier surrounding the tsunami and the divine power pouring from her two hands had now turned into a green light. ¡°Miss!¡± Alice grabbed Artizea¡¯s wrist and cried. Owen didn¡¯t know what to do, and looked at Artizea and the barrier of power alternately. The hair, which poured down the side of Artizea¡¯s face, became white. But no matter what, time did not rewind. The flood was suspended in the air, neither moving forward nor retreating. Artizea realized that she had wasted too much of her life. Unlike the great magic that turns everyone¡¯s time back, specifying the coordinates to turn the time of the embankment and water would only cost her. And Artizea¡¯s spirit and body were too damaged to pay the full price. Her stamina was weak. Just by paying it partially, the magic circle doesn¡¯t work properly. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Artizea already knew the perfect way to solve this problem. It was the perfect moment for her to remove error, pay the price of sin, and disappear from the world. But Artizea hesitated. She was suffocated. She was supposed to just throw her body away. Then, she won¡¯t even leave a trace as she had secretly prayed from the depths of her heart. She had a painful life, and a life that made others pained. No grace, no sin, no greed. Alice grabbed her arm. The next moment, Venia ran up to her and grabbed her from behind. ¡°Venia!¡± Owen screamed and grabbed her, but Artizea had already been pushed into the circle. ¡®Ah¡­¡­.¡¯ Artizea felt her consciousness sinking first before her body fell. A bullet fell next to her face. The light of the magic circle around her burned like a blue me. On the other side of it was Venia¡¯s distorted face. The corners of her lips were raised. Like one who was unleashing a grudge that had been umted for decades. ¡°See you in hell, you devil!¡± ¡°What, what is this!¡± Alice rushed at Venia like a madman. Owen reached out to her. Artizea watched the scene with dazed eyes. All of a sudden all the pain was gone and she feltfortable. Soon in front of her, arge me erupted, making it invisible. £ª£ª£ª Cedric grabbed Lawrence¡¯s neck and pressed it to the ground, staring nkly at the barrier of power. Artizea had never told him about how her divine powers worked. But unlike Lysia, she used her powers only once, and then fell ill. At that time, her energy seemed to have drained her to her bones, and her condition was not relieved at all. So it couldn¡¯t have been okay to do anything with such a huge power. ¡°Lord Cedric!¡± Lysia pped him in the cheek with her two fists. The knight who followed Cedric came to his senses and ran to free Lysia¡¯s wrist. Cedric opened his eyes, looked up and down. Lawrence was still giggling and smiling, crushed. ¡°Go quickly, before it¡¯s toote!¡± As Lysia spoke, she pulled the pistol from Cedric¡¯s waist and pointed it at Lawrence¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯m still fine. Go quickly.¡± At that moment, the light of the divine energy changed to green, and then to blue mes the next moment. The barrier of light turned into a fiery sphere. Time went backwards inside. The poured stones returned to their original ces, and the copsed embankment regained its original shape. The water that had stopped while soaring into the sky fell lightly like a silk handkerchief. The tsunami that was pouring down changed its direction and went back into the embankment as if backtracking. And the light was more familiar to Cedric than to Lysia. ¡°Tia!¡± He jumped up. ¡°Hurry!¡± Lysia shouted. Cedric wasn¡¯t even in the mood to climb on his horse. He ran up the hill like crazy. A knight followed him and threw him the reins. Cedric jumped over the empty saddle and spurred. Lysia still pointed her pistol at Lawrence¡¯s head, beckoning the knights to not approach her. This was her and Lawrence¡¯s problem. Lawrence chuckled, not even thinking of getting up. ¡°Are you sure there are bullets in the chamber? That pistol.¡± ¡°Would you like to try your luck?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°This is something you often do to me. Why? Are you afraid to test it?¡± Lysia exhaled. Lawrence tried to grab her wrist. Bang! At that moment, Lysia pulled the trigger. The bullet pierced Lawrence¡¯s corbone. ¡°Kuu, ugh¡­¡­!¡± A scream escaped Lawrence¡¯s mouth. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. It has bullets in it.¡± said Lysia. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Proofreader: somnium Blood sttered from his corbone and stained Lawrence¡¯s face. His face was white with pain, blood and tears. Lawrence¡¯s hand scratched the dirt ground painfully. There was no trace of the youthful and beautiful young man Lysia once fell in love with. Lysia looked down at him with dry eyes. She said that she no longer had a heart to love or the effort to, but she seemed to be stricken with her heart¡¯s wounds. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t mean to hurt you, I was a little scared to talk about it.¡± ¡°Lysia.¡± Lawrence¡¯s forehead was soaked in cold sweat in an instant. ¡°I regret it.¡± said Lysia. ¡°I wanted to understand you. I thought you would understand. You must have had a difficult past, and you must have had a hard time¡­¡­.¡± He was born the Emperor¡¯s illegitimate son, and half of his life was raised in the Imperial Pce. His mother was Mira, and his father was Emperor Gregor. So she believed that he must have been so cruel because he had an irreversible wound on his heart. She wanted to embrace him. She wanted to let him know that he can trust people. She wanted to save him. ¡°I wanted to forgive you. Because I thought that if I was the only one who understood you, forgave you, and loved you, then I would be able to make a difference.¡± Lysia now knew it was arrogance. There are people in the world who do not change. An ugly heart was not just caused by scars. She thought, though, that she would try to forgive him once more. Lawrence remembered nothing when he returned and met her. He had only vague feelings left for her. So anew, he would be able to start loving all over again. If the old love coulde back and continue that heart, if Lawrence had prioritized his love for her unlike before, she would have tried to live like that. She was thinking of giving up everything she had held dear, forgetting any hope for the future, and giving up on the world. Even if she was confined in a narrow world where she was alone with him, Lysia would have been willing to do so. But he didn¡¯t. ¡°I regret trying to understand, to forgive, to believe that you love me.¡± He was just born that way. Even if he had a story that Lysia still didn¡¯t know, she couldn¡¯t stand him any longer. Lysia gave up on understanding. She stopped trying. ¡°I regret loving someone like you, even for a moment.¡± Lawrence took a deep breath. Each time, blood spattered from his wounds. ¡°I know that my words will mean nothing to you. You don¡¯t love me, let alone consider me a human.¡± ¡°Lysia, ugh, cough!¡± ¡°Still, I¡¯m talking for myself.¡± Lysia looked down at him and said, ¡°Be happy, Lawrence. You have seeded in ruining me as you hoped.¡± Lysia put the gun to Lawrence¡¯s forehead. Many will have a grudge against her. But it should be her who would reap Lawrence¡¯s fate. Lysia wasn¡¯t really the kind of person who thought personal revenge was right. This was irrational. Even if revenge was the goal, it would probably make her more miserable than to stand up and leave him like this. But she felt she could not yield this to anyone else. She looked as if she was being greedy. It was a sess. In the end, Lysia¡¯s and his destiny was bound as one. Sheughs as Lawrence moans painfully. ¡°Is there, hoo, a bullet?¡± ¡°With or without it. It¡¯s not a tool to kill you.¡± Oracles are given to those who can change the world. Divine power was given to ones so they can use this power to change the fate of others because their path was right. So this is not God¡¯s will. Her divine powers were given because of her belief in her humanity, so she was no longer fit for this job. So this is what she does with her own life. When Lysia pulled her trigger, it was a white light that popped out of the muzzle. ¡°Kugh!¡± The sound that came out of Lawrence¡¯s throat was not a scream of pain, but rather a reflex of death. Lysia put her hand on his neck. His pulse was already gone. The lifeless eyes instantly became cloudy. What was there was no longer the man she loved, nor the devil she should have hated, but the shell of a human with a lost soul. Lysia swept his eyelids and closed them. After a few hours his body would begin to stiffen and open it up again, but she wanted to do it in the current mood. It was finished. Lysia felt it. It was as if she had finally released the painful bond that had been handed down from herst life. ¡°Young Baron Morten.¡± ¡°Lysia.¡± The knights approached her. Lysia stood up. ¡°Lend me a horse. I have to follow Lord Cedric.¡± A blue light was still spinning on the embankment. £ª£ª£ª Artizea looked at the blue lightning that rose in the magic circle as she fell on her face. She wasfortable. She actually thought she felt mostfortable with her body now than over the past few months. The tip of her cut index finger was softly painful. But the pain was like a paper cut at best. ¡®Has there been no pain before?¡¯ Even then, she felt at ease. She thought it was the rxation she felt thanks to the painful work being stopped. But in the original magic circle, it seemed that her five senses were blocked. ¡®How long does it take?¡¯ Artizea did not feel the passage of time. She didn¡¯t even know it was a short moment. She thought with her eyes closed. Would it have been better if she had left a will? There was a will. Since she became Marquis Rosan, she ought to have arranged for the title and the great wealth of the family. But she never left a will as an individual. She had no words to leave in the face of death. No matter what she says, it was just an excuse. She decided not to. In the past, she had only Mira and Lawrence, and now Cedric, the only people she tried to make excuses for and exin to. For everyone else, the minus on the ledger would suffice. For the sake of her own desires, she harmed others and treated human lives as numbers, so it would be right to treat her own life in the same way. But now, she thought. She wished she had written a letter. Not for making excuses, but for those left behind. If Leticia could one day read letters, she would have thought of her, even if she was a mother who did nothing but give birth to her. She wished she had written just one line so that even a baby who was just starting to learn to read could read it. She also wished she had written a letter to Cedric. Not a letter to the victim as a sinner, nor to the master as a strategist, but to her husband as his wife. She wished she had added that she was sorry for leaving him alone. Besides that, she had more to write and more to say than she thought. She should have told Alice, who was crying outside now, in advance. She hoped that the rest of her life would be peaceful andfortable. So, no matter what happens to Artizea, her heart should not be filled with sorrow and hate. It¡¯s not that Alice didn¡¯t protect her. She had already protected Artizea. It would have been nice if Artizea had told her in advance. She had crossed a dangerous bridge so many times. It would have been nice if she had left a will to Sophie, to Marcus, and to Hayley, rather than wealth and pensions. And also for Venia. She wished she had said she was sorry instead of being afraid. It was useless. Could that convince Venia that she would stop this time? She wouldn¡¯t have been able to. She would use her own body as a resource just like anyone else¡¯s, yet she hesitated about making human sacrifices. Even though it was the best resource to use at that moment. ¡®That¡¯s well done.¡¯ She kept Venia by her side to strengthen her heart. Still, her heart was not firm, so it was only natural for Venia to push her. That was the payback. It is not the rules of the chessboard that Artizea has been dealing with, but a rule of the heavens. The index finger that had been cut twitched. The tip was ticklish. It was the moment when Artizea felt that it was going to end soon. Two arms protruded into the blue barrier of the magic circle where the lightning was bouncing. ¡°Tia!¡± Cedric shouted. Artizea widened her eyes in astonishment. ¡°Stop.¡± The word ¡¯stop¡¯ couldn¡¯te out of her mouth. The sound that barely came out of her throat was like a whisper. Because there was no energy left. The moment she wanted to get up, as if noticing it, the letters written in blood climbed up her ankles and legs and bound her. A deep blue storm swept up the border of the magic circle like a pir. Blue lightning shed all over the ce. The backs of her hands and cuffs caught fire. Artizea saw Cedric¡¯s shadow beyond the border between light and me. It was there then. Artizea thought of thest time she had seen him before turning back time. ¡°Kuuu, aaahhh!¡± Flesh bursts from Cedric¡¯s wrist to forearm. However, he grabbed Artizea by the neck. Blood dripped down the ground. The magic circle¡¯s letters paused for a moment. Cedric didn¡¯t notice it. He just threw his whole body and moved with one purpose from start to finish. Riip! The hem of Artizea¡¯s robe, which had been dragged to the ground by the letters written in blood, was torn. His shoes came off, and his ankles burned. However, he dragged Artizea¡¯s body out of the magic circle. At that moment, the pain returned. Artizea looked up nkly at Cedric, with his fingers cut, his ankle broken, and the skin all over his body torn and scarred. His ck hair had turned almost half white. His youthful and strong face had suddenly aged, just as it had been when he knelt before her. But his face was no longer a stone statue that had been polished by the wind and rain. Only his eyes lit up in the blood and tears-soaked face. Cedric grabbed her by the cor and shouted, ¡°I think I¡¯m going crazy. I think I¡¯m going crazy because of you!¡± Artizea shook helplessly in his hand. Tears welled up from her eyes as well. Cedric hugged her. And he groaned and cried. ¡°I saved you. I saved you this time¡­¡­ !¡± And he just sat down on the ground. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Proofreader: somnium
    1. On the way back
When she opened her eyes, it was dawn. Artizea wiggled her feet in the duvet. Her ankles were sore. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was moving properly. She then tried to move her hand. There was pain in her index finger. Artizea tried to wipe the part with her thumb. The finger where she felt pain was empty. ¡°That was not a dream.¡± Her voice cracked, but it came out well. Herst memory was that of a blue pir of light from the magic circle rising over Cedric¡¯s shoulder. Moonlight leaked in through the window. The person who was sitting by the window stood up. ¡°You woke up?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Miss Lysia.¡± Artizea called her, as if in her dreams. The moonlight fell on Lysia¡¯s hair that looked faded. It was as if at least 15 years had passed. ¡°Long time no see.¡± Lysia smiled. Artizea really thought it was. It was onlyst year that Lysia had left, but it had been a decade since they had really met. They knew each other had old memories. She picked out the news Artizea wanted to know and wrote it in the letter. She wrote it down every time that she could, which was good. When she wrote that things are going well here, underneath it were the words that she was alive and that she was not in pain. But in the end, a letter is a letter. She was able to rewrite and choose words. She adequately covered up the old things and put forward the new rtionship. She thought of the day they would meet again. Then, she thought about how to hide her bare face. However, there was never a time when that moment was materialized in Artizea. Because her thoughts have always stopped at ¡°If they meet again-.¡± Artizea lowered her gaze, not looking straight into Lysia¡¯s face. Then, she saw that her own hair, which had been messed up on the bed, had turned white. ¡°Don¡¯t try to get your body up. The trauma has healed, but it¡¯s not just injuries.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You lost your finger forever. No matter how much healing power I have, I can¡¯t create something that isn¡¯t there.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Artizea answered calmly. It didn¡¯t matter at all. ¡°Your ankle will continue to be a bit ufortable. Because the magic circle dug into your ankle¡­¡­. It wasn¡¯t a physical problem. But still¡­¡­.¡± Lysia said softly, ¡°Now, everything is fine. It¡¯s over.¡± Artizea raised her head and looked at her. She didn¡¯t always believe everything Lysia said was fine. More often than not, when Lysia said that, it was another expression of ¡®I could still stand it, and I could work harder¡¯. But Artizea now knew. Lysia was really fine. After she went through all that, she was fine. What was looking down at Artizea wasn¡¯t the Saintess who was holding out exhaustedly. She wasn¡¯t even a dying woman. She was still only twenty years old, and she was a young and strong person that Artizea did not know well. And she survived all the misfortunes, and she was now a better person. When she realized that, tears rolled down from Artizea¡¯s eyes. ¡°Huh, sniff¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯m fine. And I forgave you.¡± Lysia reached out and stroked Artizea¡¯s hair tenderly. ¡°And you will be fine. Lord Cedric is fine now. It¡¯s all over now.¡± Artizea took her hand and sobbed. * * * The embankment was unharmed. A few people were injured in the fire, but not many. The wildfire did not spread. Now, the forces in each vige, the security forces in the City of Kader, and the Western Army are working together to search for explosives that may have been left in other ces. Most of the bandits led by Lawrence were captured. There were cases where internal strife arose between them and they were killed and injured while infighting. Some of the capital nobles followed Lawrence. Some were caught and some managed to escape. But that wasn¡¯t a big deal either. After all, they couldn¡¯t do anything anymore. They would have to live on the list of traitors and be pursued. And Lysia said, ¡°Treat yourself. Live the rest of your life carefully, cherish your life.¡± Artizea wiggled her nervous fingers under the nket while she paused for a moment. The memory of arms bursting inside the magic circle was vivid. It was so unrealistic that it felt like a dream. Her heart was beating like it was going to explode. ¡°Your life is not yours now.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± It was a magic circle that should have operated by epting Artizea¡¯s life as a price. But Cedric intervened and took part. Artizea was alive thanks to Cedric¡¯s vitality. And at the end, Lysia suppressed and closed the magic circle that ran rampant with her enormous power. ¡°Cedric said so. You once said you turned back time by magic.¡± When Lysia ran up and put her hand on it, there were obviously two magic circles there. One of them was aiming tenaciously at Artizea without any function. After hearing that deration, Artizea looked at Lysia, and then she lowered her eyes again. ¡°¡­¡­ yes.¡± She sacrificed her life for the first, and dedicated her soul to the second. Therefore, the second magic that blocked the embankment functioned and ended after eating some of Artizea and Cedric¡¯s vitality. However, Artizea had to die for the first magic circle to turn back time to end. Divine power and vitality are homogeneous forces. So Artizea regarded the words sacrificing life and sacrificing divine power as simr. If it¡¯s not possible to cut and use others¡¯ life with her divine power, there¡¯s no other choice but to kill and sacrifice herself. But the magic couldn¡¯t be that simple. It was true that the first magic would bepleted only when she died. Because of that, the magic circle remained unclosed. In the term of magic, it has prated the now lost time and space and has been connected to the present. That must have been the reason why there were still returners. Artizea felt that the oracle that God had bestowed upon her took on another meaning. ¡°Until Miss Lysia forcibly ended the spell with your power, it remained.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± said Lysia. And as she looked at Artizea¡¯s gray hair and lean face, she struggled to speak in a bright voice. ¡°Now that I have healed your injuries and replenished your damaged vitality with divine power, your body will recover little by little over time. Not to mention a strong person like Lord Cedric. Lord Cedric is not going to die. Never.¡± Perhaps, before half a year has passed, his hair will be all ck again, Lysia said as if scornfully. Artizea smiled softly without realizing it. Lysia followed her and smiled. And she said, ¡°But I don¡¯t know how much vitality the magic took in return, or how many of those years Lord Cedric reced. We don¡¯t know how many years a person¡¯s lifespan is in the first ce.¡± Perhaps, Artizea would live long, and perhaps she would die tomorrow. And maybe Cedric died a weekter. It wasn¡¯t a health issue. Cedric didn¡¯t want to say this to Artizea. But Lysia thought that she should tell her. Even to make her cherish it. Artizea stifled a smirk. ¡°That too¡­¡­ It¡¯s a game of probability.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If Lord Cedric is okay with it, that¡¯s it.¡± Artizea said so. At best, the Emperor who had barely built the Empire by the conspiracies in the small room should not have died prematurely. But the man who loved her gave her his precious life. In front of his tears, Artizea could no longer say, ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡± She didn¡¯t even want to. Now she could not say that she would take responsibility alone. Cedric has already endured everything with her. But how could he waste his life? For a long time, Artizea, conscious of the heart beating in her chest, pondered about life. After waiting for her to ept the whole story, Lysia spoke onest time, ¡°And there was something I wanted to tell you.¡± Lysia said so, and she took Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°Tia, divine power is the power to believe. That poweres when you believe that this can change the world in the right direction.¡± Most of the forms of the divine power are limited because the users believe that it is their own divine power gained after the first time they have expressed the most strongly prayed for it. If Lysia hadn¡¯t returned, if she hadn¡¯t finally changed, she would have thought she had received healing powers from God. ¡°You naturally learned to use the powers, but you never developed any powers. Because you believed nothing.¡± Artizea did not believe that she could change the world for the better. All she believed was that the power needed a price. So, in that way, she can spend her life and pay the price with her body. Lysia did the same. Her divine powers acted as healing powers at first. So she believed that healing would be the way to save the world. So she continued to use that power, and she couldn¡¯t use any other power. It was when Lawrence began installing explosives in the Abba River that she realized otherwise. She suddenly noticed the true use of divine power. When she desperately wanted to kill by tying her life and Lawrence¡¯s life together, a power in a different direction emerged. Still, Lysia persevered. She wouldn¡¯t let Lawrence destroy her. She might have been able to die with him once, but not anymore. While she was imprisoned, she studied divine power and refined the use. It was not a force in the direction God wanted it to be. This is because it was not the power to make the world right, but the power for one¡¯s own desires. That¡¯s why it uses vitality instead of divine powers. But Artizea was the opposite. ¡°I have seen your divine powers manifest.¡± said Lysia. She saw clearly. The light from above the hill changed from white to green. It meant that Artizea had the right heart and moved in the right direction. ¡°You didn¡¯t calcte the profit back then; to grant favors or remove grudges, or to exercise some of the odds to fight for power. You did it because you thought it was the right thing to do.¡± ¡°Miss Lysia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So¡­¡­You have obeyed the will of God.¡± Lysia said kindly. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Proofreader: somnium Venia was imprisoned in solitary confinement all day. Lysia tried to protect her, but Owen would not tolerate it. ¡°She is a criminal who tried to harm the Crown Princess. We know she helped you, but this is absolutely unforgivable.¡± He didn¡¯t have the full picture of what had happened on the hill. However, he only knew that Artizea had caused a miracle to prevent the copse of the embankment. He believed that Artizea was the Saintess. So, Venia was both an attempted assassin who tried to kill the Crown Princess and a criminal who tried to destroy the embankment by killing the Saintess. What Owen didn¡¯t understand the most about all of that was that Lysia was also a saintess. Cedric and Artizea were still out cold at the time. Although Lysia with Cedric¡¯s pistol was the highestmander, she didn¡¯t force Owen. The two agreed to just lock her in a clean room until Cedric got up. Lysia thought it might be better. Alice¡¯s anger was unusual. Conversely, Venia could be in danger if there was no one to protect her. ¡°Sorry. I got you involved again.¡± Lysia sincerely bowed her head to Venia. It was because at that point where she sent Venia away, Venia¡¯s life was in danger. But she also heard news about the embankment of the city of Kader and the other reason was she wanted to send Cedric¡¯s pistol away. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t have anyone to turn to, I shouldn¡¯t have done that to you.¡± Thinking only of Venia, she shouldn¡¯t have. She should have just told her to run away and ask for help from the local police or the Western Army. Venia shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that to me. I know that Miss Lysia truly cares for me.¡± ¡°Venia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t ask me to forgive them.¡± Venia suppressed her hateful face. And she struggled to speak kindly to Lysia, ¡°I¡¯m d that Miss Lysia was able to throw him away.¡± If she could, Venia would have killed Lawrence with her own hands. She would be guilty of having blood on her hands if Lysia couldn¡¯t. If he was already dead, she wanted to spit on the corpse and even cut it to pieces. But she didn¡¯t say that in front of Lysia. She didn¡¯t want to show a hateful face. But in front of Cedric, she did not hide the hatred at all. ¡°Are you satisfied now that you became the Emperor like that?¡± Twenty years passed in one day, and Cedric¡¯s face did not change much from thest time Venia saw it. It was at the moment when the gunpowder installed in the embankment exploded that the memory that seemed to be tickled from somewhere in her brain fully came back. Venia had never seen the vige submerged in the past. But in her dreams she saw them thousands of times. Embankments copsing, water gushing out and pouring onto the roofs of tiny houses. Her grandfather and her brother, who were keen on the maintenance of the embankment, were probably the first to be washed away by the water. If anything happened, her mother and father, who were running to the wheat fields, would also be submerged. The roof of the stable, which was built for Venia when she was ten, shattered, and the foal she had named was washed away. All the memories rushed through Venia in an instant. Artizea was an enemy. All sorts of evil things came out of Artizea¡¯s head, and Lawrence did it. They were siblings who deserved to be ripped apart. What does it have to do with Artizea being affectionate to Lysia after that? She imprisoned a free-spirited person in the Imperial Pce¡¯s ornate bedroom, to wither and die. If it really was for Lysia, then she should have destroyed Lawrence¡¯s Imperial Pce. If she loved Lysia, she should have taken revenge after Lysia died. Artizea did neither. She was the mastermind of the conspiracy, an aplice to the ruin, andter turned away from the Emperor who was made of her own sins by neglecting him. Artizea was blocking the embankment. Confusion came as memories of the past and present were mixed. She was the Crown Princess and Grand Duchess Artizea of Evron, and she couldn¡¯t have done any of those things. But Venia couldn¡¯t tolerate Artizea being a saintess. She was blocking the embankment. But it wasn¡¯t by divine power. No one else thought it was magic. A saintess causes miracles, who would doubt it? But Venia was skeptical. And the moment Artizea hesitated to throw herself into the magic circle, Venia made a decision. That was the best moment. She would be saving the vige with the lives of the one who deserved death. At that moment, she didn¡¯t even think about the future. It didn¡¯t matter if she became a murderer. Venia¡¯s hands were wet with blood long ago. And it was Artizea and the Imperial Pce that made her so. If she could grab Artizea by the neck and drag her to hell, she couldn¡¯t wish for more. And the person in front of Venia was the ugliest. ¡°Ptui.¡± Venia spit in Cedric¡¯s face. Cedric did not dodge it and was hit straight. Venia resented that she was not a knight. Had she been a knight, she would have thrown a glove at Cedric¡¯s cheek. ¡°If I had known that what I was going to do by taking that viiness out was for you to be emperor, I would never have pulled that bitch out of prison.¡± ¡°Venia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Dirty hypocrite bastard. Are you betraying Miss Lysia for something like that? What¡¯s the difference between you and Lawrence, who eventually wears the Emperor¡¯s Crown by that bitch¡¯s hand?¡± Venia exhaled without hesitation. ¡°What will change if our vige hasn¡¯t been submerged yet and that Miss Lysia is safe? Anyway, the same thing would have happened by that bitch¡¯s hand somewhere else, but this time just the one who is executing it is different.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t say anything and looked at Venia. Venia¡¯s hatred seemed so great that it seemed that she would never be able to go back to her seventeen-year-old days, when she was so innocent. Cedric let out a long sigh. ¡°You are right. I cannot tell you to forget it and find happiness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It is true that I deceived you. If I tell you that I wanted to get her out to ask for her wisdom, you wouldn¡¯t help me, I didn¡¯t say it on purpose.¡± It was true that he wanted to get Venia out of the Pce, but that was also true. Hearing those words, Venia looked at Cedric with a disgusted face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Venia spit on him again. Venia had already gone through too much for mere words of apology to ease her mind. But Cedric couldn¡¯t help it either. Knowing that he couldn¡¯t give up on Artizea, he came this far. ¡°I will never hold you onto anything. Your name will never be written anywhere.¡± Of course, neither Alice nor Owen understood. Cedric ignored their protests. Fortunately, Artizea didn¡¯t allow a background check on Venia, so she could just leave and be buried. ¡°If you want to go back, you can of course go back, and if you want to go with Lysia, you can do that, too.¡± After Lysia¡¯s work here was done briefly, she was to tour the West to heal the gue. Venia stared at Cedric. ¡°It must be a mercy because you know that amon woman like me can¡¯t influence the Imperial Pce anyway.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric briefly thought of Leticia as he made this decision. That Venia would be more familiar with the Imperial Pce than he was. He had all kinds ofplicated thoughts. But he did not tell Venia. Even if he said something like his own fear, it was only an excuse. So he just affirmed all of Venia¡¯s words. ¡°Still¡­¡­ Sorry is not a lie. I hope you are not unhappy for a long time.¡± Venia spit once more and was silent. Cedric left her behind and came out. * * * It was two days after she woke up that he met Artizea. He only saw her a few times when she fell asleep. He put a hand under her nose to see if she was breathing, and tapped the pulse at the nape of her neck. He checked the shape of her limbs under the thin nket, and repeatedly came out satisfied with it. But the time came when he couldn¡¯t avoid her. Artizea sat with the cushions on her back. Her body began to move, but her limbs were not yet free. Looking into her face with his eyes open, indescribable emotions flooded in. ¡°You are old.¡± Artizea spoke first. Cedricughed bitterly. In a way, it was a familiar face, but every morning he shaved it, it was unfamiliar. The people around him made excuses because he was caught up in the divine power that prevented the copse of the embankment. However, he didn¡¯t know if those words really worked or not. There must have been some who had doubts as to why divine power makes people that way. It was fortunate that there was no one here who knew about divine power enough to openly question him. He had no choice but to believe Lysia¡¯s words that his appearance would return. Until then, for the time being, he was going to cover up his facial problems with makeup. Cedric sighed. And he said while standing in the doorway, ¡°I feel like I should have started with this face.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°How is your body? I¡¯ve heard of your finger and ankle, but¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I can move my arms now. It¡¯sing back little by little, so maybe next week I¡¯ll be able to get out of bed.¡± Artizea answered. There was silence for a moment. Artizea had a lot to say. But she didn¡¯t know what to say right now. Thank you? Sorry? That she will not do that again in the future? No words were appropriate. It was Cedric who opened his mouth first. ¡°I am going back to the Capital today.¡± Artizea unknowingly grabbed the nket. ¡°Yes¡­¡­. It was time for you to leave.¡± ¡°After your body recovers, follow me slowly.¡± Artizea nodded her head. ¡°When you arrive, there will be a coronation. His Majesty is no longer in a state able to do government affairs, and there will be no problem in receiving the abdication decree.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And then¡­¡­, do as you please.¡± Cedric said. Artizea looked at him perplexed. Cedric rolled his eyes down and looked only at Artizea¡¯s gray hair. ¡°Even if you want to retire and leave, I won¡¯t hold you back. Somewhere as originally nned¡­¡­ It would be nice to be recuperating in a quiet country manor.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry I tried to hold you with my desire.¡± Cedric said so. Artizea did not answer. It was because her mind was too dizzy for a moment. ¡°But don¡¯t disappear so that Leticia can write you a letter.¡± That sounded as if he himself would not write a letter. Cedric raised his eyes. Artizea had forgotten what she was meant to say. So all Cedric saw was theplex emotions that swirled across Artizea¡¯s face. ¡°Then¡­¡­, be more careful. It is an order.¡± Cedric said that and tried to leave Artizea behind. Artizea shouted hastily, ¡°Give me some time!¡± Cedric stopped moving. But he didn¡¯t look back. He was afraid of being disappointed. Artizea took a deep breath. ¡°All right. Then¡­¡­ I will wait for you in the Capital.¡± Cedric replied. And he went out. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Proofreader: somnium The return trip was much slower than the departure. Hayley and Sophie joined in. Hayley was half tired and half angry. But when she saw Artizea¡¯s face, she swallowed everything she was about to say. So did Sophie. She left the room alone without saying a word and returned with swollen eyes. ¡°I should take this opportunity to dye your hair in a very hot and pretty color. It starts with a light blue color and ends with a light pink color at the tip of your hair.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd.¡± Hayley replied in a bewildered tone. ¡°Or, I like red and ck.¡± ¡°At least make it match.¡± ¡°You were so anxious that you couldn¡¯t collect all the colors, and now you want to pour them all over her head?¡± ¡°If not now, there is no other chance.¡± ¡°I can dye my hair ck any time.¡± ¡°But, Madam, I don¡¯t think I want to touch your original hair.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t hair dye bad for your body?¡± Artizea smiled bitterly at herdy-in-waiting and maids, as she felt their effort to brighten the mood a little. That day Sophie re-measured her clothes. It was due to be sent to the Capital for the coronation dress. As Artizea had been thin again in the meantime, it would not be able to fit her body properly just by mending it to her former dimensions. ¡°In the Capital, preparations for the coronation are almostplete.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s been such a while since the Crown Prince arrived?¡± ¡°Because the abdication decree has already been issued.¡± Hayley said, ¡°I heard that Her Majesty made the preparations in advance. It seems that His Majesty the Emperor¡¯s condition is not very good.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Did he pass by yesterday? The Lord who will attend the Coronation Ceremony.¡± ¡°Yes. To be honest, I was shocked I thought something was going on.¡± Sophie nodded her head. There was a coronation, and those in important positions in each region set out to attend the coronation, as time permits. There is a gue problem in the West, so a decree was sent to move cautiously. But it was the most important political event in decades. Even if they were an administrative worker, they could not stop their interest if they were involved in politics. The Empire will be overturned. Even if the Crown Prince had already done the cleaning for several months, it was not much different. It can only be said that there will be a change of government only now. ¡°It is said that some of the Eastern nobles areing.¡± Hayley thought as she recalled the letters she had received in advance. Among them, sheughed when she heard that Count Brennan was among them. And she realized again that Cedric had epted such apromise. Cedric had already changed while they mocked and disappointed that nothing would change. ¡°Among the envoys who came for the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony, few have yet returned and they¡¯ll see the Coronation as well.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? They have to send an envoy again. They have to send congrattory gifts and diplomatic documents again.¡± ¡°We need to stay strong.¡± At Sophie¡¯s words, Hayley tilted her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°How pretty was our Madam on the day of the Coronation Ceremony. But on the day of the Coronation, we can¡¯t do anything worse than that.¡± Sophie said forcefully. A bitter smile appeared on Hayley¡¯s lips. Artizea suddenly stood up after hearing such a story. Hayley followed and stood up. ¡°Oh, Your Highness. Where are you going?¡± ¡°Let me get some air.¡± Alice supported Artizea. Artizea said she was fine, waved her hand and raised her cane. ¡°It¡¯s not going to take long anyway.¡± ¡°Madam.¡± As Alice said sadly, Artizea took her cane and stepped out at a slow pace. Alice grabbed her hat with a veil and followed her. She said she was going to have some air, but she actually had an appointment with Brother Colton. Artizea was escorted by Owen, and she went out into the garden. There, Brother Colton was waiting. ¡°I made you wait.¡± ¡°No. I have just arrived, Madam.¡± Brother Colton bowed respectfully. ¡°I should have told you now that I am not a saintess.¡± ¡°You have received an oracle, so you are a saintess.¡± This conversation was also the third time after reuniting. Artizea sent a letter to the temple. It was a letter that said her role as a saintess hade to an end, and that God had bestowed upon Lysia a new oracle. So from now on, she has made a request to the temple to serve Lysia as she is the Saintess, and to support her in healing the gue with all their might. Unlike the past, with real power backing her up, Lysia would not have to fight the temple. Lysia had left before Artizea, she was told that she had already healed three viges. Venia followed Lysia. She had stopped by her hometown once before. Lysia sent her a brief letter, telling her not to worry too much. As time passes, Venia¡¯s heart will soften, too. So she wrote a request that she be a good ruler, so as to not disappoint her. Anyway, Brother Colton did not listen to Artizea. ¡°Because I know the truth.¡± ¡°Only Brother knows exactly what an oracle is, but most people in the world don¡¯t use the word saint with the same meaning as Brother did.¡± To Artizea¡¯s words, Brother Colton asked with a smile without answering directly, ¡°Then, the oracle was not fulfilled?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea looked at Brother Colton silently. He was not surprised or embarrassed to see Artizea¡¯s aged face from the start. It was the same when he was told that it was due to divine power. Artizea was deeply concerned that he would deny that fact. But he only spoke with a quiet face. [¡°The Saintess didn¡¯t believe in herself after all.¡±] Artizea sighed. ¡°It has been done. From a certain point of view.¡± ¡°Done does not necessarily meanplete, Crown Princess.¡± ¡°Yes. They say it was that way.¡± Artizea responded. Brother Colton smiled again. Brother Colton opened the carriage door. Artizea was escorted by an escort and got into the carriage. Alice got in after her. Brother Colton got onst and closed the door. Owen got on the horse and signaled the departure. The in carriage with all the decorations removed was escorted by four casual knights in a simple manner. The destination monastery was not far away. After leaving the castle for about an hour, she saw an old stone manor with a heavy and dark color. The front door of the manor was wide open. The monks, dressed in rough brown robes, were surprised to see the carriage and scattered to and fro. Alice asked curiously, ¡°Why are they running away?¡± ¡°There are people who practice silence or pray in a way that ispletely isted from the outside world. When patrons or nobles talk to them, they can¡¯t help but be troubled.¡± Brother Colton answered instead. Artizea lowered the veil. Then she untied the diamond bracelet from her wrist and held it in her hand. It was because her mind was dizzy and it seemed like it was going to fall to the bottom of her mind. Artizea gripped the bracelet tightly. Thanks to the advance notice, they were able to greet her. Likewise, a monk, dressed in a brown bup monastic robe, saw Artizea and bowed to her respectfully. Brother Colton asked, ¡°How is the Madam?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t have seizures these days, but she seems depressed¡­¡­.¡± The monk secretly looked into Artizea¡¯s eyes. However, there was no way to know theplexion of thedy behind the veil. Artizea didn¡¯t respond. Brother Colton told her, ¡°I heard that this was at his request.¡± It was inappropriate for Cedric¡¯s name to appear here, so he said so. Artizea didn¡¯t answer that either. The monk who came out of the monastery looked quite worried that Artizea¡¯s feelings might have been hurt. But Artizea wasn¡¯t offended, she just didn¡¯t want to say anything now. Knowing that Cedric cared about such things would break her own heart. The monk guided Artizea inside. The monastery was quiterge. The central chapel at the entrance was close to the height of three stories tall. The monk exined, ¡°All monks wake up at 4 A.M. and watch the morning worship service here. Be it a monk who came in voluntarily¡­¡­ Everyone else is the same.¡± ¡°It¡¯s roll call time.¡± The monk smiled awkwardly at Artizea¡¯s murmuring. ¡°Then, we have breakfast and then we go to work. Farming, carpentry, sewing¡­¡­.¡± Although it is a monastery quite close to the city, the monk exined that it is no different from other ces in that it aims for self-sufficiency. ¡°There is a service every hour from 5 in the morning to 8 in the evening. Anyone can participate if they wish. After watching the closing service at 9 PM, you can spend your time freely in the monastery. We pray, we write, we do study groups, and others.¡± Of course, the one who was exiled and sent here had no interest in such a thing. Naturally, the environment was constraining. Still, it seemed to be a decent monastery with no problems with food, clothing, and shelter. The monk hesitated to take a step in the middle. ¡°The Madam¡­¡­ mainly does¡­¡­ a lot ofundry.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You have to be self-sufficient. It is the rule of our monastery not to share food with those who do not work.¡± ¡°She can¡¯t be close to a knife and a fire, so she can¡¯t cook, and even if I ask her to farm, she can¡¯t tell the weeds in the field from the crop, her handwriting is not good enough to write a manuscript, and she has nothing to do with theology.¡± Artizea said as if muttering. The monk¡¯s head bowed as if apologizing. ¡°I don¡¯t mean to reproach. It¡¯s just that whatever the situation, know that it¡¯s not your fault.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ She doesn¡¯t have much energy.¡± Finally, the monk stopped and spoke the words, ¡°I heard that moving her body helps, so I made her go to the river, but her heart and soul doesn¡¯t get better¡­¡­.¡± Artizea raised her hand. The monk was silent. It was already in front of the door. Alice held her breath. Artizea knocked on the heavy door. There was no answer, so she just opened the door. The room was narrow. One bed, one desk and one chair. And there was a small window. It was just such a room where ordinary monks stayed. The most beautiful woman in the world was crouching on the bed. Artizea called her, ¡°Mother.¡± final 5 chapters! Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Proofreader: somnium Mira lifted her head. The rich brown hair, which had changed beauty standards, was a mess. Her once pale face was tanned by the sun. Her arms were blotchy. It was probably because she did something wrong while doing theundry. Her beautiful face had be thin and like a skeleton. Only herrge eyes were exposed. Artizea took off her hat and set it down on the desk. She then pulled out a desk chair that hadn¡¯t been pulled out after someone had organized it, and sat down facing the bed. As Artizea became older, she looked as if she was Mira¡¯s age as she sat down like this. ¡°Mother.¡± Artizea called her again. Mira didn¡¯t respond to that. It didn¡¯t seem that she recognized Artizea. But Mira opened her mouth, and she just shut it again. She then bowed her head back with a tired look. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Artizea sat still for a moment, looking at her. The first thing that came to her mind was whether to share the news of Lawrence. She was originally going to let Mira know. Not because of vengeance, but because she thinks it¡¯s the right thing to do. But she decided to not do that. It didn¡¯t look like Mira would be able to withstand the shock. The monk said Miracked energy, but that didn¡¯t seem to be much of a problem. From the beginning, Mira was mentally unstable. It seemed that she had taken an extremely gloomy direction and was now unable to do anything. ¡°Are you having a hard time getting by?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± An answer did note back. Her crooked nape looked like it was about to break. Artizea turned over her hand on herp until the palm of her hand was facing her. In her hand, the diamond on the bracelet was painfully piercing her palm. She thought she would never see her again. She didn¡¯t even have to. What will she do with Mira again? Artizea had no intention of taking her out of the monastery. Mira came here because she had sinned. Her condemned life in the monastery was already merciful enough for the sins she hadmitted. If so, can she reconcile with Mira as a family? Will Mira give up on Lawrence even if it¡¯s toote? Would she consider Artizea as her beloved daughter and embrace her? Even if she showed that for a while, there was no way it was sincere. Artizea knew that. Cedric is far more merciful than her, so it would have been best for Mira to lean on his mercy. If one day Mira would die before her, it was enough just to hear one line obituary. But when she came this far, Artizea finally thought of it. Mira was Artizea¡¯s starting point. So for her to reap everything, she had toe back here. ¡°Mother.¡± Artizea called her again. Mira will never know how strangely that word strikes her mind. ¡°I gave birth to a baby. She is a daughter.¡± Artizea spit that one sentence out and sat there for a while. ¡°I experienced life. I thought I had nothing to do with such a thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Therefore¡­¡­ I thought the world would change when I gave birth, but it didn¡¯t seem like that.¡± She herself never became a devoted mother with so much love for her baby. To make the world a better ce for her baby, she didn¡¯t even think about it. But that didn¡¯t mean she hated the baby. She nearly died giving birth, but she didn¡¯t realize that the baby hade out of her. She was more lovely than the other babies. Not because she was Artizea¡¯s baby, but because she looked like Cedric. ¡°She looks like a person who has been good for a long time, so I wanted to see her grow up to be great. If she grows up well and bes the perfect heir, then I think I¡¯ll be able to hear that it¡¯s okay to have a child like me¡­¡­, I wish so.¡± Artizea dropped her gaze and looked down at the floor. There was nowhere toy her eyes on the floor of the narrow room, so her gaze reached Mira¡¯s huddled feet. ¡°But I remembered her when I was about to die.¡± She wasn¡¯t very affectionate either. She never got wet, and she never changed her diaper by hand. She never slept with her baby, and she never hugged her more than a few times. ¡°I thought it would be a much better life for her without me. I thought that not even remembering her would be the only thing I could do for her.¡± If she thought of the baby, she definitely thought it would be the right thing to do. It doesn¡¯t have to be Artizea. She was apanied by several wonderful caregivers. There will be people who give her love and there will be people to teach her. The baby¡¯s father will protect and love her as much as their two¡¯s share. Having resembled her father, she will surely grow up to be healthy and loving, and she will be a wonderful person. ¡°By the way, I was going to die, and I hesitated after thinking about her.¡± Artizea was choked a few times. It wasn¡¯t for her baby. It was for herself. She had no regrets and she thought she was ready to die at any moment, but she wasn¡¯t. Those who had left her behind seemed to have no regrets. ¡°I thought it was better not to give birth. I thought it would be better not to be left in the baby¡¯s memory.¡± Even though she decided to give birth, she was hesitating in the end. Artizea never thought that she would live again. From the first time she threw herself into the circle of magic until the second time she did, she never once thought that her life had just begun anew. It¡¯s just that her body rejuvenated and went back in time. She did not live the same as before, as her circumstances and positions have changed. There was a time when her heart was pounding. There were times when she was happy. There were times when she felt that she was more withdrawn than before in using people. Her fate was intertwined like thread. Artizea knew that she sometimes felt that she herself was not alone in the closet but that she was living with other people. But she hadn¡¯t fundamentally changed. Just as Cedric had resolved to seek her maneuvers and take responsibility for her, so she herself has changed her master from then and has only lived in a way that suits her. She thought she wouldn¡¯t regret it. All her sins have been done by her decision and she hasmitted them. Artizea was a sinner to almost everyone in the world. Her guilt should not have pushed on Mira a responsibility. Like those who made the right choice no matter how harsh the circumstances were, so did she with her crime. It could have been. Because they were human. So, after all, in the end she is a viiness, and it is her choice tomit her sins. Like everyone else that was caught up in her ruse and defeated. Just because she regrets it, it doesn¡¯t mean that she won¡¯t go back and do the same thing. So, she tried not to do anything like trying to lessen her guilt. She had no intention of pretending to be a new person. But even if she cut off Mira and left Cedric, there was still a lingering regret. She hesitated to live. Even knowing that she doesn¡¯t deserve it. When Cedric reached out his hand, she saw his arm burst and wanted to hold it. She couldn¡¯t pretend she didn¡¯t see the desire creeping up from the bottom of her heart. ¡°So, I want to live again.¡± Whichever the words touched Mira¡¯s heart, she flinched. Artizea lifted her head and looked at Mira¡¯s face. Mira¡¯s eyes flickered. Artizea soon turned her gaze away again and looked out of the window. Out of the little window, a palm-sized sky could be seen. ¡°I am also trying to create a family for her. How dare I start a new life, but¡­¡­; I¡¯m a viiness who should be punished and die anyway, and I am a viiness without shame¡­¡­ As long as I live, I will try to live again.¡± She didn¡¯t even know if she would fail. But she would be fine. Mira was alone, but she wasn¡¯t alone. The strongest shield in the world would be by her side. Artizea remained silent for a long time. She thought it had already dried up and was gone, but when she dug it up, too many words filled her heart. ¡°Never¡­¡­ I will never see Mother again. I¡¯m not going to do anything about Mother.¡± Artizea said. She then scraped her scarred bottom, and said what she really wanted to say to her, ¡°But I will forgive Mother.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Only my share.¡± Like a baby who held out her arms while crying because she wanted to be loved even after getting pinched. Those were the only words of forgiveness she could ever put out of her mouth in this world. And she said her goodbye. Turning around, Mira took a breath. ¡°Tia.¡± Without checking whether it was a cry or a surprise, Artizea left the room. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± A faint voice behind her back apologized. Artizea was not caught by those words. She did not deny it, and she did not dare to crush Mira with cruel words. The door closed quietly. Alice was waiting a little further down the hallway. ¡°Madam.¡± Artizea smiled brightly. She put the bracelet back on her left hand and walked up to Alice. Alice smiled after her. ¡°You are smiling.¡± ¡°Did you think I woulde out crying?¡± ¡°Just in case.¡± Aliceughed awkwardly. Artizea wore her hat neatly. And she covered her face with a veil. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Madam.¡± ¡°Because I didn¡¯te toin. I just wanted to end it.¡± To end her first life, and start a real second life. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Thank you. For always being by my side.¡± Artizea said so frankly. Alice¡¯s face turned red. ¡°What do you mean all of a sudden?¡± ¡°What do I mean? Literally.¡± Artizea smiled. And reaching out her hand, she grabbed Alice¡¯s arm. And she was supported by Alice, and slowly returned to the carriage. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Proofreader: somnium Artizea arrived in the Capital three days before the Coronation. The Empress greeted Artizea with an uneasy face. Coronation is important. The Empress thought that Artizea had to hurry, even if her body was somewhat ufortable. But she couldn¡¯t say it face to face. She heard an exnation from Cedric in advance. It is said that Artizea lost some of her vitality due to overuse of divine power, and it was revealed in her face. He said it would be normal with time, and Cedric¡¯splexion was slowlying back. Now, the symptom was almost unobservable. But Artizea was a little worse than that. It caught the Empress¡¯ eye immediately that her hair had turned white. ¡°You must pay a lot of attention to your makeup.¡± ¡°Sorry for causing concern.¡± ¡°Whoo.¡± The Empress let out a sigh. ¡°Not everyone in the Emperor¡¯s department has such a sense of responsibility. It was you, whom Gregor sent, so I couldn¡¯t help it, and so was Cedric.¡± ¡°I have nothing to say except sorry.¡± Since Cedric left the Capital immediately after the war, the Empress¡¯ headache must have been indescribable. The Empress sighed once more and closed the story. She has already told Cedric enough about this. He was already the Emperor, so she could no longer nag. The Empress slowly looked around the living room. The little furniture in her living room had already been taken out and it was quite empty. ¡°Now¡­¡­ The time hase to empty this ce. Even if it wasn¡¯t originally attached to the Empress¡¯ Pce, if there are any furniture or decorations you would like to keep, please tell Martha.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Do you have any ns for where you are going from here?¡± ¡°I thought you already knew?¡± the Empress asked curiously. Artizea shook her head. It must also be a political issue, so she didn¡¯t bother to look into it. It wasn¡¯t something Artizea was interested in anymore. It would be well taken care of by Freil or Hayley. ¡°I want to go to my hometown.¡± The Empress let out a roar ofughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t want to sit there, but I will look around the old house and ancestral graves, and to my parents after a long time¡­¡­ I want to greet them.¡± ¡°Of course, you should.¡± ¡°In the meantime, I n to enter the mansion here and repair it.¡± It was referring to Duke Riagan¡¯s residence in the Capital. There were no good memories left. Countess Martha was grinding her teeth, saying that Duke Fernando Riagan had touched it once, and wanted to turn it upside down and grind the walls and floors all over. Artizea did not encourage the Empress to remain in the Pce. It must be a ce where only painful memories remain. ¡°What are you nning to do next?¡± ¡°I had to look after the Pescher children until they debuted in the social world.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°If I stay like that, there will be things I want to do again.¡± The Empress added that she had no intention of fighting Artizea. ¡°Come to think of it, there is something I want to ask you.¡± ¡°Please speak.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Will you return Saintess Olga to me?¡± Artizea nodded her head without hesitation. ¡°I should.¡± It was a memento to the Empress, but to Artizea, it was an item that had no special meaning. She wouldter send it to Duke Riagan¡¯s residence through Countess Martha. £ª£ª£ª Natalia wasn¡¯t even surprised to see Artizea¡¯s face. ¡°I just knew that when Your Highness got older, you would be more beautiful than you are now.¡± ¡°This time I found out that Your Highness Natalia is good at her words.¡± Even after answering like that, Artizea just smiled. It was because she thought Natalia was just saying somethingforting. ¡°Natalia is not good at lying.¡± The face of Crown Prince Bernat who said that next to her was in full bloom. Artizea smiled and looked at him. Of course his expression would be in full bloom. At this point, Bernat was the first foreigner to line up for Cedric. He is Leticia¡¯s benefactor, and hearing Cedric¡¯s appreciation will be of great benefit to his political career going forward. Unless the rtionship with the Empire ispletely different and there were hostilities. Even now, the couple seemed to be the only guests allowed to enter and leave the Empress¡¯ Pce at will. But Artizea said, considering the profit and loss, that she didn¡¯t think that it gave her enough profit. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It goes without saying, Your Highness.¡± ¡°I asked Your Highness Natalia to stay in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, just in case, but it was more of a precaution. I really didn¡¯t mean to make her draw a sword¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I think I¡¯m d I was there at the time¡­¡­.¡± Natalia smiled at her. ¡°Things in the world don¡¯t always go the way we want. In that case, someone with the right power should step in.¡± ¡°Your Highness Natalia¡­¡­¡± ¡°I did what I should have done, and I am grateful for it. Don¡¯t feel sorry.¡± Natalia said onest time, ¡°And¡­¡­ Lady Mielle did the best she could, so don¡¯t be too hard on her.¡± Artizea nodded her head. £ª£ª£ª Artizea went to the Imperial Pce that day and greeted the people she needed to greet, and then returned to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence with Leticia. Freil delivered the news. Cedric simply replied, ¡°I see.¡± In the end, Freil had no choice but to speak. ¡°Is that all you have to say?¡± ¡°The Empress¡¯ Pce is cluttered now. It¡¯s no wonder she didn¡¯t stay there and went to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence.¡± Cedric replied. The Crown Prince¡¯s Pce has not yet been repaired. Immediately after the fire, a lot of great things happened, and Cedric left the Capital. Besides, Leticia was also under the Empress¡¯ protection. Neither the Crown Prince nor the grandchild stayed in the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce, so it was not considered a priority to be sorted first. After Cedric returned he decided not to waste the fund there. He was going to enter the Main Pce soon. Then, the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce would only be opened after Leticia had grown up. It was a pce that would be used after 20 years. He concluded that it would be better to make minimal repairs now, and then go there and repair the whole thingter. During this time, Cedric moved between the main Pce and Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. Except for Leticia¡¯s caregiver and entourage who followed to the Empress¡¯ Pce, the other members of the Grand Duke Evron¡¯s family and employees were staying at Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. So, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if Artizea took Leticia and went back to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. ¡®No, it¡¯s strange. No matter how you think about it, it¡¯s strange.¡¯ Artizea was not strange, but Cedric was strange. Freil struck his chest. It was clear that something was going on between his master and the Madam. If not, there was no way Cedric would be doing his work here when Artizea hade. It was the same yesterday when Cedric heard that Artizea had arrived almost close to the Capital. However, if Cedric decided to keep his mouth shut, he would be hard as a stone, and if he expected Artizea to speak to Freil, he would rather not. Meanwhile, even Hayley was getting angry. The messenger he sent in the morning in frustration came with a one-line reply. [Is that all you have to say?] It was an ineffective reply. He was disappointed. Still, Hayley was in the West, and she must have served Artizea on the way back, so he was just asking what happened. Hayley, who at other times would haveined and provided the necessary information. [So what more should I say?] In a previous letter, she said she was worried because it was a hard time traveling to the West. Freil didn¡¯t reply to that. There was a hint that something would go wrong if he replied to it. Yet, he thought it would also go wrong if he didn¡¯t reply. But what to do? The master was silently working like an ox. If the master worked like an ox, his subordinates would be ground at a millstone. £ª£ª£ª By the time Cedric had finished the day¡¯s work, the sun had set and the half moon had already begun to tilt to the west. No matter how much he looked through everything he had, he couldn¡¯t stay in his office any longer. The subordinates also had to rest. Since he returned half-dead, he had no choice but to get up at that time, even if it¡¯s just for those who were concerned. And he couldn¡¯t even sleep in the main pce. He couldn¡¯t say he had trouble with Artizea arriving three days before his Coronation. Reluctantly, he headed to Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence. In front of the mansion¡¯s front door, Cedric paused for a moment and looked at the mansion. The light was on in the Mistress¡¯ room. Cedric thought anew, there was a time when he felt his heart race. It felt like an unrealistic dream to have Artizea in his house, as his wife. It was only a year ago, but it already felt like decades ago. So, it felt as if the old days were now gone, he spoke his words to the girl who was standing like a shadow on the wall of the imperial ballroom and proposed to her. Cedric put his hand on his left chest and looked. Inside, his heart was pulsating to the point of being torn apart. It was close to anxiety. But even there, Cedric could not stand still. He threw the reins at the servant and walked in. All the servants, who had not slept, bowed respectfully to him. Ansgar took his coat and said, ¡°Madam is waiting for you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ yes.¡± Cedric wanted her to sleep with her lights on, but apparently she didn¡¯t. ¡°She must not be tired.¡± ¡°She must be tired.¡± Ansgar said sadly. Cedric nodded impatiently and grabbed the doorknob of the living room. And after hesitating for a moment, he made up his mind and opened the door. ¡°¡­¡­ you¡¯re here?¡± Artizea heard the sound of the door opening and stood up. Looking at her in front of the desk, it looked like she was writing something. Cedric couldn¡¯t turn away from her, and he said yes without looking straight at her. ¡°It would have been okay if we talked about it tomorrow.¡± ¡°Your Majesty will work untilte tomorrow as well.¡± Cedric¡¯s heart ached as if he had been stabbed in the chest. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Proofreader: somnium ¡°What were you writing?¡± Cedric nced at the paper Artizea had put down. ¡°It¡¯s a document about Marquisate Rosan. I have to sort it up before the Coronation.¡± The Empress could not hold any other titles. So before the Coronation, Marquisate Rosan had to be handed over to Leticia. Of course, the infant Leticia couldn¡¯t do the session ceremonies, so they just processed the paperwork. ¡°You are no longer Marquis Rosan.¡± Cedric felt a strange feeling and mumbled that. Anyway, Artizea thought that her work was done. So, she wouldn¡¯t mind losing the title. The title of Marquis Rosan was merely a means of obtaining the financial and power she needed for her work. There would have been no attachment or pride, so if she doesn¡¯t need it now, she¡¯ll hand it over to someone else. Cedric thought for a moment that he had been fighting over this marriage contract some time ago. In the end, it was supposed to be sorted out like this. ¡°Please sit.¡± Artizea suggested a seat. Cedric let out a small sigh. At this point, he couldn¡¯t stand up and talk as if he was dealing with the rest of his people. He didn¡¯t even want to sit and talk. But in the end he sat down on the sofa. Artizea sat down. As if Cedric had already ordered when he came, the maid came in with a teapot and teacup. Artizea brewed her own tea. Cedric stared at the hand. Her hands were clean and empty. The diamond bracelet that used to be worn on her wrist is no longer there. His mind wasplicated. But he also felt it was natural. Artizea¡¯s face was at peace. It seemed clear to him that emotionally she had organized several things. She looked okay. Her worn out vitality had not been replenished and she still had wrinkles on her face, but she seemed to be doing well. Cedric calmed his mind as he watched Artizea¡¯s hands dump the hot water that had heated the cup. Perhaps, this is the state they should have ended up in. ¡°Have you had enough time?¡± Cedric asked, looking at her fingertips. Thinking about how to make a life possible without regret. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I want to retire.¡± Cedric looked at her with an empty face. Artizea looked down at the teacup. And she said quietly, ¡°I did too much in too little time. It happened twice.¡± She ran like crazy, like someone being whipped. ¡°What I was doing was like rolling a snowball down an incline while supporting it from the bottom. If I roll well, I can build up my influence in an instant, but if I do it wrong, I would be the first to die in the avnche.¡± There were several dangerous moments this time as well, if Cedric hadn¡¯t intervened a few times to help. She couldn¡¯t stop, even though she knew she wasn¡¯t supposed to live like that. That¡¯s probably her own w. ¡°I am tired now. I don¡¯t want to think about anything anymore.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes. So, now¡­¡­ I want to spend the rest of my life doing nothing.¡± Artizea said. Cedric answered in a low voice, ¡°All right. You can rest now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being irresponsible.¡± Artizea bowed her head. ¡°You said I shoulde up with a better idea. I thought I wasn¡¯t going to be a useful person with just the right attitude, and I still think so, but I was greatlyforted by those words.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ That¡¯s enough.¡± She wanted to deny it. However, just because he said that she was not a useless person, that would not mean much to Artizea now. Cedric looked at Artizea with aplicated feeling. This was the right thing to do. Artizea was right. She lived a terribly exhausting life. So, it would be right to spend the rest of her time so that she can livefortably without being disturbed by greed. Still, it was as if his ankle had fallen into a swamp. Artizea said, ¡°I will try to live the rest of my life for myself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why I¡¯m saying this.¡± Cedric looked at Artizea curiously. Artizea awkwardly wiggled her hand. Her earlobes and cheeks were red. ¡°I know I¡¯m nothing if I don¡¯t use my head. So, I¡¯m useless now.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­ ?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not particrly pretty, I¡¯m not healthy, I¡¯m not even capable of having another baby, and I probably won¡¯t be able to fulfill my duties as a spouse, let alone my role as an empress to the Empire.¡± Cedric waved his hand in embarrassment. Artizea paused for a moment, then she let out the rest of her words all at once. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how much of my life is left, and I think I¡¯ll probably leave nothing but sadness in the future.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°But will you still let me be your wife, above all else?¡± The meaning of those words came into Cedric¡¯s ear, stayed there for a while, and then slowly entered his consciousness. And it spread through his body as if it was running through his veins. It waster that Cedric fully understood the meaning of the word. They were married for a purpose. Now, Cedric was someone who could understand the whole picture Artizea had drawn with the proposal. In the short term, it will make the Emperor and Lawrence misunderstood, and in the long term, it dilutes the impression that he is a Northerner by connecting him with a central noble, Marquisate Rosan. And above all else, it must have been to obtain a legitimate right to Grand Duchy Evron that could be used immediately. Joined for conspiracy, the marriage was inseparable from politics. He proposed to her again, hoping that they would be husband and wife before being master and servant. However, even after achieving the original goal, the marriage continued, but it was still a militaristic rtionship rather than apanionship. It was unavoidable until the final goal, the throne, was obtained. So, except for that one moment of the night, Artizea had never been fully his wife. Artizea was not married to him because she¡¯s hispanion, but because she needed the status of Grand Duchess Evron. But now she had said that she would stay by his side for the rest of her life, not for the sake of taking the ce of the Empress, but for herself. Cedric was skeptical and held out his hand to Artizea. Artizea stood up, and she ced her hand on his. Cedric took the hand and released it once. Then, he grabbed it tight again and pulled her in. ¡°Ah!¡± The hem of her skirt swept the table, knocking down the teapot. Fortunately, the tea was already lukewarm. The cup fell under the table and stained the carpet. Tea was also smeared on Artizea¡¯s skirt. Her slippers were taken off and tossed on the floor. Artizea sat down on Cedric¡¯sp and closed her eyes. Cedric looked into her face without kissing her. ¡°I¡¯m really going crazy for you.¡± Cedric whispered in a cracked voice. Artizea hesitated and opened her eyes. ¡°Actually, I think I¡¯m already crazy. Really¡­¡­. I shouldn¡¯t have loved you.¡± Tears streamed from Cedric¡¯s eyes and fell onto Artizea¡¯s face. Artizea reached out her hand to his face hesitantly. Then with her index finger she wiped Cedric¡¯s eyes. She then lifted his head up and grabbed his neck with her arms and gently pressed their lips together. Cedric felt her back with his big hand. It was a careful move, as if trying to confirm that Artizea was still there. The next moment, Cedric hugged her tightly. Artizea¡¯s lips opened first. Cedric dug into her like a madman. Artizea, who couldn¡¯t breathe properly, struggled. Cedric asked, loosening his arms a little, ¡°Where did the bracelet go?¡± What he had been anxiously thinking about before came out as a question. Their lips were still almost touching, so the sound of his words was transmitted almost literally to her lips. ¡°In the bedroom.¡± Artizea still closed her eyes and answered. The suffocating breath tickled Cedric¡¯s throat. Cedric let out a long sigh. ¡°Really¡­¡­. Just because you keep putting people through hellfire doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re tempered.¡± There was a long sigh, as if resentful andmentable. But there was no hesitation. He stood up holding Artizea. Artizea wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his ear. And she whispered something Cedric had never expected.
    1. Coronation
On the day of the Coronation, the sky was clear without a single cloud. Even though there was a war, the atmosphere filled with hope and happiness continued on from the day of the Coronation Ceremony. The wise ones had already guessed that the rebellion resulted in the Emperor¡¯s defeat by the Crown Prince. Emperor Gregor¡¯s condition was not yet avable. There was no abdication ceremony. If this was truly an abdication, the Emperor would have to take the Crown off his head and hand it over to the Crown Prince. But there was no talk that the Emperor would make an appearance at the Coronation. The role of delivering the Crown to the Crown Prince was assumed by the Archbishop. But right now, no one cared about the Emperor. £ª£ª£ª Madame Emily* let out ament filled with sorrow. ¡°This isn¡¯t it.¡± The clothes did not fit the body tightly and were a little baggy. Emily thought the dresscked sophistication because it was originally an old-fashioned dress. There was too much embroidery and too many jewels. And the embroidery consisted of real gold oveid threads. It was so luxurious that words could not describe it. But thetest trend was not that. The thread used for embroidery should have been the most delicate silk thread from Iantz. What was important was the silhouette and the variety. Above all, the clothes should not crush the person. The jewels were also taken from the times of the first Emperors, and their brilliance was different from those of today. It was because of the difference in craftsmanship. Sophie and Emily gave a nce. ¡°It is dignified and nice.¡± There was nothing they could do because everything from the cloak to the essories was a national treasure, not the dress itself. *She is the owner of a high end boutique, which Mira seemed to like. She is also the one making Tia¡¯s Wedding Dress. First appears in Chapter 20. Chapter 304: (End of Main Story) Chapter 304 Proofreader: somnium Artizea didn¡¯t really care, but Sophie and Emily did. Sophie wanted her to look a little prettier. Emily hoped to leave a mark on her career that she took the best care of the Empress¡¯ dress at this Coronation. Even at the Coronation Ceremony of the previous Emperor, not a single seamstress got to do this. It was the work of the old nobledies-in-waiting and the royal court servants. So, it was not something amoner like Emily could dare to touch. Unfortunately, none of Artizea¡¯sdies-in-waiting were versed in tradition or fashion. Hazel and Mielle were holding the jewels respectfully. Hayley was no exception. Artizea watched Sophie braid her white hair in front of the mirror. ¡°As expected, this would be good.¡± Emily held out a gold piece. The two did not reach an agreement until the very end, whether to sprinkle Artizea¡¯s head with gold, silver, or pearls. There was talk of trying to dye her hair blonde or pale crimson on this asion, but Artizea refused. Because she didn¡¯t want to be crowned with too much makeup. However, her gray hair, which had lost its luster, was also noticeable, so they decided to deceive it with colorful essories. Her face was put on makeup with all their might. Artizea had thought it wasn¡¯t worth doing. After all, the clothes are so majestic that no one will be able to see her. And the person who walks into the Luminous Hall today is not a human named Artizea, but holder of the title of Empress. ¡®I¡¯ll definitely have to pay attention at the banquet.¡¯ Rather than the Coronation or the celebration that followed, it would be a much more ceremonial time for Artizea to end the past by sitting quietly with Cedric in the evening with a candle in between. Her hair, which had been braided with gold the size of her nails, was poked here and there, and it became radiant. Artizea looked at herself for a moment. ¡°What do you think?¡± Sophie asked. Artizea smiled. Sophie smiled broadly. ¡°You don¡¯t like it, do you?¡± Shortly after she returned, she thought that there was a time when youth would be pretty on her face, just as when she was old. Now, she didn¡¯t look like a real twenty-year-old, even though Sophie and Emily had been obscuring it with desperate makeup. But she didn¡¯t think she hated seeing herself like that, though. ¡°I like it. Thank you.¡± As Artizea tried to get up from the chair, Alice quickly sped the cane in her hand. Her ankles were ufortable and she could not stand for long. A long jeweled sash was ced over her shoulders, down to her knees, and she wore a gown embroidered with jewels and gold and silver as well. After all that, the dress or hair didn¡¯t really look like the rags Emilyined about. She didn¡¯t wait long, and outside, the attendant announced that Cedric had arrived. Artizea stood there quietly, waiting for Cedric toe. The door opened. Cedric looked at her with an awkward face and smiled. Artizea asked, ¡°Why are you making that face?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because the robes are too much. Isn¡¯t it strange?¡± said Cedric while looking down at his clothes. He too wore a robe embroidered with gold and jewels over another white robe. ¡°Still, Lord Cedric is fine. You have a good physique.¡± He didn¡¯t look like a person who was buried in his clothes, he looked dignified. His appearance now was almost in order, and the gray hair that was dyed ck was no different from before. The strength of youth and the weight of the years were brought together, and it was a figure full of military power. She seemed to be able to tell what the people wanted at the time when this robe was made. Cedric held out his hand. ¡°Then, shall we go?¡± Artizea let go of her cane and crossed her arms with him. It wasn¡¯t against the rules. But she decided it would be better than carrying a cane. Cedric walked slowly. Artizea leaned on his arm to follow. On the road leading to the coronation hall of the Luminous Hall, servants and knights lined up and knelt down at once. In a seat close to the altar, the Empress was seated. She wasn¡¯t wearing ck mourning outfit today either. The Empress¡¯ treasures were worn by Artizea, but as the former Empress, she now wore an imperial white robe embroidered with gold thread. She was told that the Empress had prepared a blue dress for the celebration, which began this evening. It may be a little calmer and darker than the one she wore when she was young, but that color was the color used as a symbol of Duchy Riagan. The altar in the center of the hall had already been prepared. The Archbishop was waiting in front of him. Cedric took a deep breath. ¡°Are you nervous?¡± Artizea asked in a low voice. It was because she knew well what he was thinking at the time of the Crown Prince¡¯s Coronation Ceremony. But Cedric answered, ¡°I am not nervous. I am ready.¡± It was a word to Artizea as well as a word of determination to himself. ¡°Then, keep an eye on it. The Emperor you made.¡± Artizea nodded her head slightly. She wasn¡¯t worried in the first ce. Because she was prepared through one lifetime. Cedric knelt before the altar. Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s arm and slowly knelt down on one of her knees. The Archbishop, as a servant of God, lowered the Emperor¡¯s Crown from the altar and handed it to Cedric. He put the Crown on his own head. Then, he stood up and ced the Empress¡¯ Crown on Artizea¡¯s head. Finally, the Archbishop handed him a scepter and an orb. ¡°In this way, I dere that God has sent a new sun to the Empire.¡± The Archbishop dered. And he knelt before Cedric to pay his respects. The Empress Dowager then stood up and knelt down on one of her knees to pay her respects. The nobles who were lined up knelt all at once to pay their respects. Boom! The sound of a salute vibrated all the way to the hall. ¡°Long live Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Long live the Sun of the Empire!¡± Then, the shouts of hurrah swept out like waves. Cedric smiled brightly. Then, he put his arms around Artizea and lifted her up, and headed out to show himself. The Count Eunice couple, who were standing in the front row, shouted their cheers the most. Next to them were Countess Josiah, the younger sister of Countess Eunice, who had returned to the Capital for the first time after several years, and her husband. The four people could not stand in the seat of the Imperial Family, but they were in the front row of the seat of the nobility. Hayley was in thedy-in-waiting¡¯s ce, so she was close. With her head bowed down to her knees, she nced in Freil¡¯s direction, and asked in a low voice after Cedric and Artizea had passed, ¡°Who did that?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°County Eunice and County Josiah.¡± It was against the rules for those two families to be seated in the front. Nevertheless, having a ce there was clearly a political sign. That he did not usurp the throne from Emperor Gregor, but he was abdicated, meaning that everything would end in a reconciliation. Freil grunted. ¡°Then, will you put them in the back row?¡± The rich skirt of the Empress Dowager passed, followed by the long robe worn by the Archbishop. The two finally stood up. And they said with a face as if they were concentrating on apuse and cheers. ¡°The Empress did not order this in advance, so I was curious as to who took care of it.¡± ¡°You can do that on your own now.¡± ¡°Oh, is it?¡± Hayley retorted and joined the procession, sharingughter with those around her. Freil followed her swiftly. ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Why are you like this? What was wrong with you?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s Sir who is showing discontent.¡± ¡°That is unfair.¡± ¡°What?¡± Freil bit his mouth. In fact, he didn¡¯t even know what was wrong. Except for the one-line reply. The two exchanged greetings with the other for a moment. Meanwhile, the Emperor and his wife went out of the Luminous Hall. Now, it was the turn of the aides to separate for the evening celebration. Freil caught Hayley one more time there. ¡°What?¡± Freil opened his mouth and then closed it. He didn¡¯t even know what he was trying to say. What was certain was that Hayley was needed. At the same time, Artizea said she wanted to rest from now on, so Hayley wouldn¡¯t be as busy as before. The time was now. ¡°Hayley, I need you,.¡± He said in a determined manner. ¡°Hmph.¡± Hayley snorted her nose. ¡°This is why I decided not to get married to Evron. There¡¯s no answer.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I looked at His Majesty and thought for a moment that there might be hope for an Evron man, but no answer appeared.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Come back after clearly deciding what words to put before ¡®need¡¯.¡± Hayley nodded coldly and turned around. Behind them, Hazel and Mielle looked at each other¡¯s faces and giggled as they passed. Freil looked at only their backs with a puzzled face. £ª£ª£ª Pop! Pop! Beeeep! Pop! A loud noise was also heard in the old center of the Imperial Pce, where no one came in and out. Gregor heard the sound as he was buried in bed. He was half asleep. He was left alive rather than being alive. Since it was difficult to deal with him when Cedric was away, the Empress decided to leave him so. His stomach swelled because of ascites, and his drinking water was restricted because his urine didn¡¯te out properly. It was not that no one hade to his audience during that time. Chancellor Lin and General Hoover, as well as his former subjects, hade. The chief attendant covered his misery by putting anotheryer of veil over the bed. Still, Gregor himself refused the audience. The Emperor they remembered and respected was no longer him. Rather, he only realized that he was dying in an ugly form. Yet, he was alive, but he smelled of the dead. After Cedric¡¯s return, the doctor took a strong drug and put him to sleep all day to relieve the pain. Still, they didn¡¯t kill him. Because he was not usurped, but abdicated, poisoning the Emperor was impossible. When he was awake he would think of resentment and vanity. The Empress once told him that it was pointless because he was a winner. But even if he was now a loser, it was in vain. In the face of death, the ambitions, desires, anger and resentment that had driven him throughout his life meant nothing. And now, even such a fragmentary thought seldomes to mind. ¡°¡­¡­ this¡­¡­ what sound¡­¡­ is it?¡± Gregor asked in a fading voice. The chief attendant answered with wet eyes, ¡°It is the sound of a salute to congratte the new Emperor of the throne.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I see.¡± After that, there were no more words. The chief attendant got his body up and put a finger under Gregor¡¯s nose. He did it dozens of times a day. And this time, he knew that neither life nor death wasing out any more. The chief attendant stayed still, then stroked Gregor¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Your Majesty has abdicated to your son. What Your Majesty most desired in all your lifee true.¡± And he politely kissed the back of his hand and covered his face with a sheet. [END] hello, effe here! we¡¯re finally here! it¡¯s the end of TVLT¡¯s main story. please do not worry as there¡¯s still 29 chapters of after story left, it will take ce several years after this so sit still and stay with us a little longer~ thank you for the readers who loved, read andmented on all TVLT chapters! thank you for dropping by and discussing the politics, ns and all and making themunity alive <3 please convey your thanks to somnium and the previous teams who had started this project, esp somnium and all her politics info & thoughts! see you in the after story~ Chapter as1: After Story 1 Proofreader: somnium After Story 1. The Sound of Falling Flower Buds The banquet startedte in the afternoon rather than in the evening. When Cedric arrived at Marquisate Rosan, the sun was fading away. Well-dressed servants carried long brass candlesticks and began to light fires here and there. Bill, the butler, who was weing guests at the front door on the first floor, looked at him for a moment and looked genuinely surprised. [¡°Wee, Grand Duke Evron.¡±] He bowed with a tense expression. And he hurriedly tried to inform the inside. Cedric waved his hand. [¡°Don¡¯t inform anything.¡±] [¡°Forgive me¡­¡­. I have to let them know as soon as you arrive.¡±] [¡°Even if you don¡¯t do it, rumors will spread in less than five minutes anyway.¡±] Cedric snorted coldly and passed the butler who was floundering. People who had already seen him started talking and was spread all over the ce. Even shouting out his name inside did not particrly have any more effect. Mira¡¯s mood would improve for a moment, but Cedric¡¯s promise wouldn¡¯t end there. It didn¡¯t feel very good either. It was a fortnight before the Western Army had their celebratory ceremony. With the Archbishop¡¯s mediation, hepromised with the Emperor. The Western Army improved, and Cedric¡¯s opinion was significantly reflected in the process. He won a budget for the next six years. Instead, Cedric resigned asmander of the Western Army. He did not participate in the celebratory ceremony, meaning that his achievements were not recognized. It was not a big problem for Cedric himself, as he did not need any advancement or financialpensation. There was no reward given to the Evron Knights who had followed him to the West to assist him. In order to bepensated for this achievement, it was the Emperor¡¯s will that he should resign his position in the Northern Army and move to the Western Army or the Central Army. It was up to the Emperor from the beginning to give him his duepensation, but it was not that he was not angry. But all of them were his own shorings. He was fighting a war he would not have had to fight if he hadn¡¯t gone to the Western Army from the beginning. Cedric couldn¡¯t leave the West alone. So his feelings of regret would be stronger. He had no choice but to control his mind. But attending this banquet was unterally upsetting. The Emperor incorporated Mira¡¯s problem into thepromise. He had ordered Cedric to stay in the Capital and attend Marquisate Rosan¡¯s banquet. It could be said that it was not a big deal and it was easily done. But he was more displeased than being the subject of a check. It¡¯s like being part of the Emperor¡¯s gift to his mistress. [¡°His Majesty was too mean.¡±] Freil was even angrier than Cedric. [¡°I understand if he wants you to attend the Imperial Pce banquet. But it¡¯s the banquet of Marquisate Rosan. Isn¡¯t it purely to build up Mira¡¯s self-esteem?¡±] [¡°It must be because of Lawrence.¡±] [¡°If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be this angry. It¡¯s because of Mira¡¯s mood, obviously.¡±] [¡°On what basis are you saying that?¡±] [¡°Countess Eunice pped the cheek of Mira¡¯s daughter. Very upsetting.¡±] Cedric didn¡¯t have anything to say, so he listened to Freil venting his anger. [¡°Because of that, these days, he was trying to build Mira¡¯s pride. Well, even then, he couldn¡¯t even summon Grand Duchess Roygar. As soon as he finds Your Grace¡¯s weakness, he orders you right away like this.¡±] [¡°I don¡¯t think what I did was a weakness.¡±] [¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what Your Grace thinks.¡±] What Freil said was not wrong. In any case, if it had not been for the Western Army, Cedric wouldn¡¯t havee to the Marquisate¡¯s banquet like this, as the Emperor ordered. And in a few hours it will be rumored that he has attended Mira¡¯s banquet, which will greatly save Mira¡¯s face. Considering that he was originally reluctant to attend banquets, it was more of a rumor than Grand Duchess Roygar¡¯s attending. Cedric, who doesn¡¯t like banquets, going up and down in other people¡¯s mouths, or even Mira¡¯s, wasn¡¯t very pleasant. ¡®I¡¯ll have a light drink and say hello to someone I know before leaving.¡¯ An hour should be enough. After all, even the Emperor didn¡¯t send him to enjoy the banquet here. The windows and doors of the whole mansion were wide open, so the evening breeze was good. In the lobby, there was plenty of ready-to-eat food, and in one corner a small ensemble yed calm chamber music. The wine and juice maker was among the mountains of fruit. Cedric encountered Bishop Nikos in front of him. [¡°You are here, Grand Duke.¡±] [¡°Bishop.¡±] Cedric bowed down to him. Bishop Nikos said as he epted the fruit juice, [¡°The cherries today are amazingly delicious. I am drinking this juice for the fourth time now.¡±] [¡°Not only pure cherries, but also peeled grapes. Please acknowledge my mixing skills as well.¡±] [¡°Yes, how could it taste so good unless it was made by a golden hand?¡±] Bishop Nikos said with a generous smile. Cedric took a ss of golden wine and a cherry and came out to the table with Bishop Nikos. [¡°What are you doing? It is a rtively modest banquet, but there must have been no reason for the Bishop to attend.¡±] [¡°Because Grand Duke was to be present. The Archbishop was concerned about many things, so I came here to talk to you.¡±] said Bishop Nikos. Cedric smiled bitterly. The Archbishop seemed sorry that Cedric had to do this even though he helped with the celebration issue, so he sent Bishop Nikos. He does this in order to get rid of those who would talk to him like flies, and to intervene in advance if there is a problem. [¡°There was no need for that. If I see any acquaintance, I would like to say hello and leave.¡±] [¡°Don¡¯t be burdened. The cherry juice is also the best.¡±] Bishop Nikos wrinkled his eyes. Cedricughed. The two moved slowly from the lobby towards the hall. With the Grand Duke and the Bishop together, those who tried to get their faces seen did note close easily. A splendid dance song resounded in the hall. The chandelier swayed, scattering shining shadows on the marble floor. It was mostly young people who were dancing. The atmosphere was fresher than expected, so Cedric thought it was unexpected. All the windows in the hall were open, and all the terraces remained open. There was no secret space at all because there were no curtains. Although it was morous, there was no gloomy or promiscuous atmosphere associated with the name Mira. Bishop Nikos smiled, as if realizing Cedric¡¯s feelings. [¡°It¡¯s Marquisate Rosan¡¯s banquet. Marchioness Rosan also has grown up children now, and both of them will be attending the banquet today, so she must be paying attention to many things.¡±] [¡°Ah, I understand. Come to think of it, I heard that Countess Eunice had harassed her daughter and that His Majesty was saving her face.¡±] Cedric realized it anew, and naturally turned his gaze to look around the hall. Countess Eunice was present in in clothes. Cedric met eyes with her. Cedric and Bishop Nikos in the temple robes also stood out, so Countess Eunice naturally turned to them. Cedric bowed slightly to her. He wasn¡¯t close to her, but she was a cousin anyway. He couldn¡¯t pretend he didn¡¯t know her. But Countess Eunice, instead of greeting Cedric face-to-face, her face flushed red, and she turned around, and walked out of the hall. Cedric sighed. Bishop Nikosughed. [¡°As Countess Eunice, her pride has been hurt, and Grand Duke was added to the ranks.¡±] [¡°Yes. I can guess.¡±] As he was talking, Cedric suddenly looked at the girl who was talking to Countess Eunice. Instead of following Countess Eunice or finding a new person to talk to, she moved and stuck to the wall. The girl was wearing colorful clothes that did not match her skinny face. Her waist was tightened to break, and her skirt was round andrge. Her bodice was embroidered to the utmost to entuate the floral print, and arge corsage was attached to her shoulder, as bulky as a skirt. The girl waspletely buried in her clothes. When Bishop Nikos saw the person Cedric was looking at, he eximed, [¡°Ahhh.¡±] [¡°That is Lady Rosan.¡±] [¡°You mean the one who was pped in the face by Countess Eunice?¡±] [¡°Yes. In fact, in a way, this banquet was held for her.¡±] Bishop Nikos said with a bitter smile. It was only then that Cedric understood the overdressing. It was no wonder that Mira¡¯s daughter was dressed as shy as her mother. ¡®Well, she looks young. She¡¯s probably immature.¡¯ Cedric thought so with prejudice. She is the daughter of Mira and the sister of Lawrence. She was the future Marquis Rosan. There was nothing special about her tasting power, luxury, and acting arrogant. But the girl showed no sign of showing off her fancy clothes. Simrly, young men and women were all dancing or conversing with each other, and she stood alone against the wall. As if she was the decoration drawn on the wallpaper. In addition to the fact that no one spoke to her, she looked shabby as if trampled by the mass of fabric. Her pale face was expressionless, and he didn¡¯t know if it was to control her emotions or because her heart was not here. Somehow, that expression bothered him. Cedric didn¡¯t know anyone with that face in the banquet hall. Cedric himself did not like banquets, but he had never been so expressionless. [¡°Poor thing.¡±] Bishop Nikos let out a small sigh. Cedric looked at him curiously. Bishop Nikos smiled bitterly. [¡°It can¡¯t be nice to be in the banquet hall, but because she was the one who was pped in the face by Countess Eunice, she has beening out like that these days.¡±] [¡°To say that it can¡¯t be nice¡­¡­.¡±] Cedric¡¯s words trailed off. It was disgraceful that he felt curious about Mira¡¯s daughter. It was because he thought that it was no different than wondering about gossip. Bishop Nikos grinned as if recognizing it. [¡°If you are interested, how about requesting her a dance for a song?¡±] Chapter as2: After Story 2 Proofreader: somnium After Story 1. The Sound of Falling Flower Buds (2) Cedric was silent. [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Haha.¡±] Bishop Nikosughed. Cedric patted his cheek, wondering if he had made such a tantly strange face. [¡°That¡¯s too much of a joke.¡±] [¡°She¡¯s a poor girl. She is probably someone Grand Duke doesn¡¯t even know about.¡±] Bishop Nikos made a soft voice. [¡°I don¡¯t know. Isn¡¯t she Marquis Rosan Heir Apparent?¡±] Cedric answered in a hazy voice. A person with such a status would not be so easily put into a pitiful position. Of course, Cedric knew it was just a myth. Even then, the girl stood still. She was no longer a painting on the wallpaper, but a shadow that was cast on the wall. He tried to turn his gaze away. He was about to stop talking, but Bishop Nikos didn¡¯t seem to want to change the topic. [¡°That¡¯s why, it¡¯s even more unfortunate. She¡¯s a rare and talented girl, so it¡¯s a waste for her talents like this, so I tried to get her to go to church and invite her to be a priestess, but she doesn¡¯t seem to want to do that.¡±] [¡°A priestess?¡±] Cedric had no intention of reacting to Bishop Nikos¡¯ words, but he could do nothing but express his astonishment. To suggest that to the heir of a Marquis family before she even bes an adult. In order to establish a session structure under the second son, people would send the firstborn to the monastery in advance, but there was no way for the intended heir to do that. Bishop Nikos seemed content from surprising Cedric. [¡°Isn¡¯t it better than to lose all rights to her mother, be a puppet and be locked up in a mansion, or to dig up her talents for an arranged marriage?¡±] [¡°Talent¡­¡­. You have a high opinion of her. You seem to know the Lady well.¡±] [¡°Few people know that Marchioness Rosan hates her daughter for being ugly and doesn¡¯t let her go outside. Well, she still goes to the temple often. A lot of people know the situation.¡±] Bishop Nikos said, [¡°You might think that it is harsh to rmend a young Lady who is not yet 20 years old to go to church, but faith alone does not necessarily make you a priest, doesn¡¯t it? There is also a way to devote herself to learning as an academic priest.¡±] It wasn¡¯t wrong. Although the importance was gradually shifted to the Imperial University, the temple still held hegemony in various fields such as philosophy, ancientnguage, history, and logic, not just theology. There were still many cases in which children born into poor families be priests for their studies. [¡°I am not saying this because I covet Marquisate Rosan, but she is worthy of bing Akim¡¯s sessor, so it is worth trying.¡±] [¡°It seems that she is really smart if Bishop Nikos says so.¡±] Although he is not personally acquainted with Bishop Akim, knowing what kind of person he is, Cedric was a little surprised. Bishop Nikos was a friend of Bishop Akim, and he was also a man of respect. With this being said, perhaps the talent he was talking about was real. Bishop Nikos shook his head. [¡°But the mother scolds the girl about what she was doing when she has learned so much. She ended up not even attending the research group.¡±] [¡°It is impossible for anyone to know where one¡¯s happiness lies. Didn¡¯t the Lady reject the Bishop¡¯s invitation?¡±] Cedric replied bluntly. Bishop Nikos nodded his head. He didn¡¯t seem to be talking with a very deep heart from the beginning. He was just talking because she stood out. But Cedric was feeling a bit frustrated. If that had happened to Evron¡¯s family, he thought he would probably have intervened as a guardian, whether they wanted to or not. After that, the two exchanged greetings about the current situation of several people, nothing special. Until then, the girl was still standing against the wall, not talking to anyone. Cedric became conscious of it and his heart became ufortable. It was difficult to reach out his hand, but as Bishop Nikos said, a dance might be okay. Rather than leaving a non-adult girl standing against the wall of the ballroom with no one to talk to anyway. He also knew that a dance with him would make the girl morefortable with the next few banquets. Still, his hesitation was, after all, because she was Mira¡¯s daughter and Lawrence¡¯s sister. He didn¡¯t even want to mention his brief lesson of dancing. The music paused for a moment. The people who were dancing stopped on the spot. The skirts, which were spinning round and round,nded and dyed the room with brilliant colors. The Emperor took Mira¡¯s hand and came out. Lawrence followed. Cedric seemed to know whose clothes the girl was wearing originally belonged to. Mira was wearing a simr dress. Of course, Mira was not buried in the fancy fabrics and corsages. Arge bunch of peonies, like leaves and ribbons adorned her, only made her stand out. The Emperor looked around the hall with a smile and found Cedric. Cedric lowered his eyes and politely bent his knees. [¡°There is no reason to break the fun because of me. It¡¯s a light banquet, and I am just an invited guest, so please rx.¡±] When those words were finished, the music resumed. Cedric waited slightly nervously. He thought the Emperor might call him ore his way. Then, he would have to say hello to Mira and pretend to know Lawrence. He came prepared, but it didn¡¯t feel very good However, instead of calling him, the Emperor greeted him lightly, took Mira¡¯s hand and slid into the center of the ballroom. The people left the space for the Emperor and Mira wide open, and started dancing again, filling in from the edge like supporting actors on a theatrical stage. Cedric made eye contact with Lawrence as well, but both pretended not to know each other roughly and looked away. Lawrence wouldn¡¯t want to chat with him either. Seeing a familiar face, Cedric also parted ways with Bishop Nikos and went to say hello there. Then, at a nce, Lady Rosan, came to the end of his gaze and he stopped. He saw the bright blue eyes engraved on her pale face. The eyes that no one was watching flew through the ballroom on the music as if dancing. Does she want me to look at her or not? The excitement mixed with worry and expectation made her expressionless face look like a 9-year-old innocent girl rather than an 18-year-old. Cedric got a strange feeling and followed her gaze. Thinking that Bishop Nikos¡¯ worries were in vain. Had it been a young man at the end of that gaze, people would have thought the girl was passionately in love. But it was her mother who could turn her gaze there. But Mira¡¯s head never turned toward the girl. There were no normal greetings or conversations that should have been there. Cedric looked at the girl. The girl slowly lowered her head. What was there was no longer a shadow on the wall, but a girl awkwardly dressed in her mother¡¯s clothes that didn¡¯t fit. Cedric seemed to have seen the flowers wither before they even bloomed. He heard something fall. He thought it would be the sound of buds falling. £ª£ª£ª When he suddenly opened his eyes, the moonlight that had prated through the curtains was shattering white on Artizea¡¯s shoulders. Cedric pulled up the nket and covered her up to her neck. Artizea muttered in a half-sleep voice, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Just old memories.¡± It was impossible to tell whether he was dreaming after a brief sleep or was thinking in a dream. Cedric smiled to himself, stroking Artizea¡¯s cold shoulder until it warmed up. He didn¡¯t mean to wake her up, but Artizea seemed to wake from sleep. Cedric pressed his lips to her shoulder and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a dress with flowers on it? As big as a fist.¡± ¡°I know what you are talking about. In the midst of the Iantz embroidery trend, there was a new style that was tried once.¡± Artizea yawned and stretched. And she muttered as she still closed her heavy eyelids, ¡°It failed because only Mother could pull it off. It was originally made for Mother.¡± ¡°I remember that you looked like you were buried in a cloth tomb when you wore it.¡± ¡°Have I ever worn anything like that?¡± Artizea murmured and, unable to return to her dream, opened her eyes. She seemed to remember when that was. ¡°At that time, you were¡­¡­ ? Ah.¡± Artizea¡¯s face lit up. She had a good memory, she remembered Cedric was present at the banquet, and it was apromise for the Western Army, and she can¡¯t even remember what rumors circted after that. In the end, Cedric went back that day without dancing or even emptying a ss. Thanks to that, there wasn¡¯t a word of support for Lawrence. There was no story other than the Emperor forced Grand Duke Evron to attend for Mira. That, too, was profitable enough. Cedric hugged Artizea¡¯s head and buried her face in his arms before Artizea could say any more. It was a little embarrassing for him back then. As a human being, he turned away even when he saw Artizea, and even then, he never forgot that face. But he did not reach out his hand until the very end. He had the opportunity a few more times. ¡°Do you know when I started to care about you?¡± He could only feel the presence of Artizea holding her breath instead of answering. Cedricughed a little. He had no intention of speaking about it. Because he actually didn¡¯t even know exactly what he was doing. However, that fervent sunflower-like gaze turned toward him from some time ago, and whenever he was conscious of it, he heard a thump in his chest. He always considered it the sound of regret. He¡¯d never saved anyone he could have saved then. He didn¡¯t think it was all his fault for everything that happened after that, but maybe, perhaps, those words were the sound of rubbing against reality. But now that he thought about it, it was probably the sound of a new seedlinging up where the bud had fallen. Chapter as3: After Story 3 Proofreader: somnium After Story 2. Spring Wind The window was open. Whenever the wind blew, the long tails of the bookmarks fluttered. There were a lot of books piled up all over the living room, and most of them had tags of all kinds, reminiscent of decorative twigs tied to branches instead of flowers at an early spring tea party. Countess Eunice leaned her backfortably on the cushions, sobbing in her thoughts. ¡®I think this is pretty good, too? I think it would be good for education, and it just looks pretty.¡¯ The maid will dust the books anyway. If she looked like ady who always has a book by her side, how elegant would she look? It could also have a good influence on her second daughter, who runs around like a pony and is anxious about not being able to burn her face in the sun. ¡®Yes, I should read some books this year, too.¡¯ Countess Eunice, in her mind, tried to arrange the valuable books that were in the living room, and thought of its contents. Most of them had pretty bindings. This will be the new fad. Countess Eunice was convinced. Velvet, silk and ceramics have always been right, but isn¡¯t it now spring? It was time for a more fresh look. And from the beginning, socialite fashion was aw set by the most nobledy in the socialite world. Because the gates of the Empress¡¯ pce were closed, so few people coulde and go as the guests, there wasn¡¯t anything that could be called a fashion to follow from the Empress yet. Soon, she herself would be a leader. Countess Eunice smiled sweetly. Following the former Countess Martha, Marchioness Camellia, she herself will be the most intelligent and influentialdy in the Capital. ¡®I should look into the books you¡¯ve been reading, right? Yes, I¡¯m really going to read it.¡¯ Countess Eunice thinks so, and she picks up a book at hand. ¡´Phonological Study of Proper Nouns Recorded in the Temple: Before and After the Formation of Alia Wall¡­¡­¡µ Countess Eunice put the book down without reading the subtitles. The ck one was the binding and the red one was writing. Thepilers were foolish. They should have gilded this title. That would have looked like a decorative pattern. Flutter flutter. The spring breeze that came in through the window once again blew her away. Just then, the door to the living room opened. Countess Eunice stood up with a face puffed in embarrassment. ¡°The book is heavier than I thought.¡± She chattered for nothing and looked back. She smiled brightly at the baby standing at the door. ¡°Oh my, Princess.¡± ¡°Aunt!¡± Leticia threw the picture book she was holding on the floor, and with excitement came up and ran to her, like pping her wings with both arms. ¡°Oh. You got heavier again.¡± Countess Eunice hugged Leticia. Mielle, who followed Leticia, greeted her politely, ¡°Hello, Countess Eunice? I¡¯m sorry. Did I disturb you?¡± ¡°How could it be? I was just waiting for the Empress.¡± Countess Eunice smiled with a supremely gentle smile. No one knew that Leticia was the head of the Empress¡¯ court. Isn¡¯t she the precious princess and the future of the Empire? Far from making Artizea do any political moves, she was also the only reason the Empress¡¯ Pce was closed, why she never even had a personal meeting. And to the future of the Empire, she was only her second favorite after her mother and father and Mielle. There was no interruption. Rather, she had to say, thank you for interrupting. It was thanks to Leticia, who called her Aunt, that Countess Eunice was able to enter and leave her pce. And it was thanks to Mielle that Leticia called her that way. Mielle had said Leticia would be too young to understand the rtionship between Countess Eunice and Cedric, that she should just call her ¡®Aunt.¡¯ So she couldn¡¯t help but find Leticia lovely enough to want to bite her. It was the same with Mielle. Artizea, and even Mielle, were so calm and mature, why can¡¯t they do that to their daughters? Leticia reached for the cor of Countess Eunice¡¯s jacket. The cor had a brooch in the shape of a soft bunny doll. ¡°Aunt, this.¡± ¡°It was on Aunt¡¯s clothes.¡± ¡°Can I touch it?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± That¡¯s why, she purposely came wearing this cute brooch. Leticia was very curious when she saw something that was pretty and wanted to touch it. Thest time she squeezed a brooch that looked like a bunch of grain, she nearly cut her palm. ¡°Like a baby.¡± Leticia mumbled and fiddled with the brooch as she put her cheeks there. Countess Eunice did not know that her supple expression of affection woulde down. Mielle said with a smile, ¡°Yesterday, the nanny gave birth to her second child. She came to say hello to Miss Tisha, and she has been crazy about it.¡± Countess Eunice nodded her head. ¡°Do you want a younger sibling?¡± ¡°Baby is so cute.¡± Leticia said as she stroked the brooch with her fingers. ¡°I want a younger sibling, too. The baby is soft.¡± Leticia¡¯s fingers were so soft. Countess Eunice said with augh, ¡°Tell your Mother.¡± Leticia looked up at Countess Eunice, tilting her head as if thinking. At that time, Artizea in afortable dress came in lightly. ¡°Mom!¡± Leticia struggled to get down. Countess Eunice carefully tried to put her down, but she nearly dropped the child because Leticia was so strong while struggling. ¡°You have to be careful.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Leticia shouted as she hung from Artizea¡¯s skirt, ¡°Mom! A sibling, for me, too!¡± ¡°I wonder what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Artizea lightly stroked Leticia¡¯s hair. Expecting to hear negativity, Leticia burst into tears. ¡°Weren¡¯t you here to read picture books?¡± ¡°I want a sibliingg. Hiinngg.¡± Artizea let the whining flow away, stroking Leticia¡¯s head as she clings to her. And she said to Countess Eunice, ¡°You came all the way here, but Leticia bothered you.¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty. It is an honor.¡± Countess Eunice politely bowed her head. And she covered her mouth with her hand andughed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me at all. What an honor it is for the princess to call me Aunt.¡± She didn¡¯t even bother to change the subject. It has already been five years since she knew what kind of person Artizea was. Artizea would be looking into her mind anyway, so it was better to just let it out. After Leticia became aware of the concept of rtives, Countess Eunice was epted as a member of the Imperial Family in a different way than before. She used to be the Emperor¡¯s daughter and yet the illegitimate child, so she was not legally guaranteed a status. Her position gained by favor was inherently precarious, and without session rights, there were risks. Compared to that, how good is her life when she hugs the future Crown Princess and is called ¡®Aunt¡¯. The distance from power was perfect. How many people cane to the Empress¡¯ Pce after sending only one letter? Solicitations and gifts poured down like a mountain. Countess Eunice only took in moderation enough so that she would not be guilty. At first, she sent them all back to see Artizea¡¯s countenance, but Artizea didn¡¯t seem to really pay any attention to it. Instead she had in mind that she had to work. The rabbit doll on her chest was one of them. Countess Eunice sent Leticia¡¯s two-year-old birthday present a doll the same size as the baby and clothes made of rabbit hide. Ever since Leticia wore that outfit and she held her birthday party with a bunny doll the same size as her, neither bunny clothes nor bunny doll fashion would go away. The fashion spread to other ces. Thedies quarreled and wore cute rabbit fur ornaments. In the interim, she wore a fist-sized rabbit fur decoration on her bag. Besides, she loved babies. Artizea offered her a seat. Countess Eunice said with a bashful smile, ¡°By the way, are you really not considering it?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A second.¡± Leticia thought that Countess Eunice was going to take her side, and she clinged to herp. ¡°One is lonely.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. When I gave birth, I suffered so much¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Of course, our princess is in such good health, but it¡¯s because you never know what the world will be like. The stronger the heir, the better, and Marquisate Rosan should also be passed on.¡± Countess Eunice covered her mouth and said that she had said something silly. It was amon story when the first baby grew up a little, but it was hard to say that because she was an imperial rtive. Perhaps, the Empress Dowager was the only one who can talk like this. Maybe she¡¯s trying but it¡¯s not happening. ¡®Well, she was so weak.¡¯ Before and after the Coronation, she thought she had grown old. People thought that it was the reason why she didn¡¯te out of the Empress¡¯ pce at all and didn¡¯t go out. Now, Countess Eunice found her looking as fine as she was, except that in her view her hair color had not fully returned. ¡°I have no intention of leaving behind Marquisate Rosan. The same goes for the title of Grand Duke Evron.¡± Artizea said. ¡°What¡¯s the point of forcing generations to inherit? If you leave the old honor only, I think that¡¯s enough.¡± People already know how to separate lineage and ability. Sacrifice for the glory and lineage of the family is a value that should be abandoned. The hereditary title was simply not worthy of the new era in itself. Artizea looked at Leticia as she sat on Mielle¡¯sp and shook her leg. ¡°Sister Mii, my book.¡± It seems that she only rolled over yesterday, but Leticia was now able to talk and read picture books. It was before she was two years old that she began to mimic flipping pages of a book. She didn¡¯t know the letters yet, but she used to pretend to read by memorizing words on pages that Mielle often reads. But when Artizea didn¡¯t open the book next to her but instead opened the picture book, Leticia crawled back down from Mielle¡¯sp. Chapter as4: After Story 4 Proofreader: somnium Leticia grabbed Artizea¡¯s hand and pulled it. And she patted the couch where she usually sits with her palms. ¡°Oh my.¡± Countess Euniceughed. Artizea showed a perplexed smile to her and sat down as Leticia told her. Then, Leticia pulled a cushion and ced it on Artizea¡¯sp, shouting, ¡°Mom, book!¡± Countess Eunice grinned and said, ¡°If you and Mother want to read a book, Aunt has nothing to do. Shall I go home?¡± Thest time, Leticia was crying when she said she was going home. But in the meantime, Leticia has grown once more. The baby grabbed Eunice with her soft hands and dragged her onto the sofa. She then whimpered and lifted a book lying on the side table. Artizea¡¯s books are usually of heavy binding, so Leticia almost dropped the book. ¡°You can¡¯t do that, Miss Leticia. If you do it wrong, you¡¯ll hurt your toe.¡± Mielle came quickly and held the book for her. ¡°Aunt¡¯s book.¡± Leticia said, raising her arms high. ¡°Stay here and read!¡± Countess Euniceughed. Mielle smiled awkwardly and handed over the book. ¡´Language and Culture in the Age of Saint Thomas Nathan, Shield of Thold¡µ It was a title that looked more like a first page than before. Of course, Countess Eunice was not interested in any of that. In the first ce, she had never been interested in reading in her entire life. As she quietly ced the book on herp as instructed, Leticia eximed, ¡°Hmm,¡± as if satisfied. If sheughs out loud, Leticia will sulk. Leticia crawled back to her seat and tapped the seat next to her. Mielle sat next to her and opened the picture book. Countess Eunice saw it and sighed. ¡°Maybe the princess likes books.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know how to read letters, yet. It would be fun to look at the pictures.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Your Majesty says because you don¡¯t know other children. My children were startled when they saw a book from a very young age and ran away.¡± Countess Eunice grumbled. ¡°Paper was of no use except for folding and tearing. Larnie has loved to y outdoors since she was a child, but even if Fiona sits still at home she never reads anything like a book.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Actually, my husband and I have had a hard time reading, so I have nothing to say to the children. Like Your Majesty, I wish to have set an example from such a young age.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Artizea made a soft face. ¡°Because having talent in education does not necessarily guarantee happiness.¡± To that, Countess Eunice replied with an ambiguous face, ¡°I thought that it was only necessary for them to be healthy when they were young. When they grow up, it won¡¯t be like that anymore.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Artizea thought of her own childhood, so she didn¡¯t really dispute it. Countess Eunice looked hesitant for a moment. Artizea guessed what she was trying to say and said ahead of her, ¡°I have no intention of epting Lady Fiona or Larnie as ady-in-waiting.¡± ¡°Empress!¡± Countess Eunice voiced her discontent. ¡°I have heard rumors that Lady Viscount Pescher hase in as ady-in-waiting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you came.¡± ¡°No, not just that.¡± Countess Eunice coughed as if it wasn¡¯t, even after revealing all of her secrets. Leticia opened her eyes brightly and looked at her. Just then, a knock sounded. The one who opened the door and entered was Lady Viscount Pescher, who has be a hot topic. ¡°I have brought tea, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Leave it there.¡± Lady Viscount Pescher entered the room with careful steps. The maid followed her in and set the tea tray down on the table. Lady Viscount Pescher poured hot water into a teacup and heated it. Artizea looked down at the gesture with quiet eyes. At first, she was so nervous that her hands would tremble. She broke several sses so much that the maid brought tea set aside some spare. But now, Lady Viscount Pescher has be quite used to it. Artizea didn¡¯t really teach or intend to do anything, anyway. She had nothing to do with her education as a noble. The Empress Dowager has already done enough. It¡¯s probably been a month or two since she kept her as ady-in-waiting. The Empress Dowager hoped to add a line in Lady Viscount Pescher¡¯s biography, before her marriage, saying that she was thedy-in-waiting of the Empress. Artizea herself was the Empress Dowager¡¯sdy-in-waiting before marriage, which she could not refuse. It was also with the intention of trying to practice acting as a dignifieddy in unfamiliar ces, by staying away from the Empress Dowager for a few months at Artizea¡¯s side. She filled a cup shaped like a calyx with red tea. Countess Eunice took the teacup from Lady Viscount Pescher¡¯s hand. ¡°It smells good.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lady Viscount Pescher opened the lid of the sugar bowl and walked away. The sugar was not sugar cubes, but sugar crystals dyed in various colors. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s pretty.¡± ¡°It was sent from the South. It seems like this is going to be a new trend again.¡± Countess Eunice picked up some sugar and put it in the teacup. Leticia struggled. ¡°Me! Me!¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s sweet, Miss Leticia.¡± Mielle tried to catch her, but Leticia slid off the sofa and ran to the tea tray. Artizea smiled bitterly. ¡°As you can see, the kids love it, too. I only give her one as a prize¡­¡­.¡± Leticia, with gleaming eyes, clung to Countess Eunice¡¯sp. Countess Eunice looked at Leticia, looked at Artizea once, then looked back at Leticia again. ¡°I can¡¯t give her any, right?¡± ¡°Auntiiieee.¡± Leticia grabbed Countess Eunice¡¯s knee and pressed her body against her leg. Artizea quietly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Princess.¡± ¡°Hnngg.¡± When Countess Eunice spoke, Leticia let out a mournful voice. Mielle intervened. ¡°Miss Leticia, then, shall we go eat some fruit?¡± ¡°Fruit?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s go to the kitchen. New fruits must have arrived in the morning.¡± Leticia jumped and stood up. And she, excitedly, took Mielle¡¯s hand, and as if she remembered, she turned to Artizea. ¡°Mom?¡± ¡°Mom is going to talk with Aunt here, so go with Sister Mielle.¡± ¡°I should read a book¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You can read itter in the evening. Mom will read it to you.¡± ¡°Really? Promise!¡± ¡°Promise.¡± It wasn¡¯t until their fingers crossed that Leticia wiggled and bounced her behind, grabbed Mielle¡¯s hand and walked out. After Artizea looked at the back, sheughed and chuckled slightly. Countess Eunice said, ¡°How could she be so kind? Fiona would have been lying on the floor crying twelve times already.¡± ¡°Miss Fiona will be getting engaged soon, and if you keep saying things like that, she will be sad.¡± ¡°Even if I im that she has all grown up to others, she has to act like an adult to be treated as an adult. But really¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No, not in the Empress¡¯ Pce.¡± Artizea spoke again. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the most desired thing to enjoy wealth as a rtive of the Imperial Familyfortably without getting entangled inplicated affairs?¡± Countess Eunice bit her lips at those words. Was something really going to happen in the Empress¡¯ Pce? Well, Artizea has been very quiet all this time. Although her policy of not doing official activities outside of the protocol hasn¡¯t changed, Artizea has been quietly saying that she only stays inside the Pce, but she¡¯s not one who can¡¯t do anything. She didn¡¯t think her immature daughters, who had only grown up to be precious, would be able to act sensibly. Seizing a chance was not something anyone could do. Seeing Countess Eunice, Artizea smiled at her. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re imagining, but probably not.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Countess Eunice answered bluntly. Artizea said softly, ¡°I¡¯m going to bring in some people from the North soon.¡± ¡°Oh, from Evron?¡± ¡°Yes. I was thinking of picking a couple people as Leticia¡¯sdies-in-waiting? They will also serve as an escort, and this time they will organize Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s estate as a directmander, so it is necessary to change a number of people.¡± ¡°Aha. Come to think of it, my husband also told me such a story. Your Majesty now wants to entrust the dealings of Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s estate to the upper managements, not the estate officials¡­¡± ¡°Yes. We are going to send a governor in the near future. It¡¯s not about entrusting a vassal as an agent.¡± ¡°Oh,e to think of it, until now, the management of Evron¡¯s stronghold was also done by the head of the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, right?¡± ¡°Yes. I n to call her this time. She¡¯s the perfect escort for Leticia.¡± Countess Eunice¡¯s mind was busy. As a result, her facial muscles were also very busy. Artizea took a sip of the tea and looked at her face. Until the officials dispatched as direct subordinates adjusted to them, the Jordyn family and the old vassals will stay in the Capital. Finally, what the nobles were worried about is happening. The northern nobles came down and took over the vested interests. Of course, the kind of thing they worry about won¡¯t actually happen. ¡®It¡¯s a perfect blindfold.¡¯ Artizea also looked away from Countess Eunice. It would be nice if there were no storms. It was also why she did that. Chapter as5: After Story 5 Proofreader: somnium Thump, thump. The sound of refined military steps echoed through the hallway. Freil clinged to the hallway wall, sobbing like a moving corpse. The officers who were assigned to the Central Army posts for the first time this year passed through the corridor in line. It looked like they were going back after seeing the Emperor. ¡®The chief. Full of hope.¡¯ This time, as the organization of the Central Army, Eastern Army, and Northern Army was changed at once, many people from the province entered the Capital for the first time and entered the Pce. It was not like the Emperor had summoned amander who had made outstanding military achievements and ced them in an important position. Themander-in-chief was reced, and nearly half of the mid-level officers were raised. The Northern Army was properly formed under the name of the Northern Army, rather than in the form of a loose alliance that Grand Duke Evron cooperated with the military as before. In order to break the ties between the military and the nobility, most of the Eastern Army officers were deliberately dispatched to a new area. The resistance was great. Cedric responded by firing all those who refused to be assigned. For a moment, the tension had increased as the dismissed officer formed a group. However, since the Central Army was appointed one step earlier, they were able to take over the Eastern Army without any issue. Because there were many dismissals, there were many promotions. Even if it was not, the transfer to the Central Army could be seen as an open path to sess. In addition to that, arge number of people were promoted, so morale was high and loyalty seemed to skyrocket. From the change of organization to responding to tensions in the Eastern Army, Freil was involved in institutional reform on the surface, and on the other hand, collected and analyzed information from the East. He was now involved in the qualitative integration of the Central Army, which was the sum of the three regional armies. Because he was a staff member. ¡®Does His Majesty think I¡¯m a fairy wand?¡¯ Freil¡¯s current full post was as staff aide. There is no specific job assignment. It was a role that changed as much as needed. Even as a lieutenant to Grand Duke Evron, there was nothing that could be called a specific task. But back then, there wasn¡¯t much to do. Until Artizea started grinding him. There was a time when he was making things that didn¡¯t exist. There was a time when Grand Duke Evron¡¯s simplicity was frustrating and he felt a sense of responsibility to do something, but now he desperately misses that time. ¡®Isn¡¯t this the time to write my resignation letter? Will he give me a pension?¡¯ To be honest, in terms of time served, perhaps he didn¡¯t work long enough to retire because he was old. Freil arrived in front of his office, dragging his heavy body with a darkplexion. A secretary stood in front of the office holding a mountain of papers. He looked very weary, but he looked at Freil and said in a sympathetic voice, ¡°Did you not go home yesterday?¡± ¡°I have no home to go home to.¡± Freil sighed deeply. In the year of the Coronation, he had rented a small house in the Capital. Because he once thought the hard moments were over. Whether it was Grand Duke Evron¡¯s residence or the Imperial Pce, he thought he would have some time to himself by getting away from his ce of work. There was no getting away from his ce of work. The creation of a private room in the Imperial Pce was proof of power and favor. There has never been a more pleasant preference than this. But when he opened the door to the office, it was also in ruins. Clearly, the air was ventted in a timely manner in a spacious, ornately decorated space, with a refreshing fruity scent. Flowers and green branches were ced in vases scattered all over the ce. Still, it was in ruins. Instead of dust, fatigue settled down. ¡°Did you call, Your Majesty?¡± Cedric, who was looking through the documents, raised his head. He had a rather tired face. Even though he fought on the battlefield for a week without a break, it did not erode his stamina, but he could not ovee the two years of gnawing at his desk. Cedric said as he looked at the dim light that had settled under Freil¡¯s eyes, ¡°I thought you had a good rest for a few days. You were on vacation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so¡­¡­.¡± Freil ruffled his words. ¡°I haven¡¯t been able to take a break because it¡¯s been so long. No, why are you looking at me like that? Your Majesty put me to work, not voluntarily.¡± Freil said as he faced Cedric¡¯s gaze. When he was in Grand Duchy Evron, he was frustrated and did a lot of things instead. However, there were many capable people in the Capital, and many were anxious to prove theirpetence. The formation of the Imperial Army, which took more than a year, was finally over. Now was the time to be relieved to some extent. So he never had to split himself up again for the time being. Recalling that situation, Freil took control of his mind. He had a list of suitable people to rmend no matter what new assignments would be taken. But Cedric asked, ¡°How is it with Hayley these days?¡± ¡°Co, cough, cough, ugh!¡± He was overtaken by the unexpected surprise attack. Freil coughed violently. A servant who stood quietly in one corner of the office brought water. Freil covered his mouth with his hand and drank the water. He tried to forcefully put it up, and eventually shed tears and a runny nose. The servant handed him a handkerchief. Freil wiped his reddened eyes and nose, barely speaking back. ¡°It was an ident, that!¡± ¡°Did you have an ident?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough!¡± It was self-defeating. Cedric didn¡¯t seem to know anything he was asking. He wanted to dig a grave and lie down. Freil coughed painfully. If caught, Hayley will kill him. He was as sure as he would have been pped in the face if he had said he would take responsibility. What happened a few days ago was an ident. As long as a person lives, such a thing happens. Hayley and him werepletely in agreement about that. Cedric said with a grin, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t mean to interfere with your private life.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, there will be no problem leaving as the Northern Governor.¡± ¡°Uugh, ugghh!¡± A second shock was heard. Freil grabbed himself by the neck. The vertigo made his eyes flutter. ¡°Are you kidding me? The Northern Governor?¡± ¡°Why should I kid you?¡± Cedric asked with a smile on his face. Freil opened his mouth. ¡°It is unreasonable to send people from other regions. However, if I change it to direct control and make the Jordyn family or a person from another traditional family as governor, it will only be a change in the name.¡± Only then the meaning of making it a direct control of the Emperor disappears. Grand Duchy Evron must no longer be moved by outdated customs. So the governor had to be a Northerner but also a new man. Freil was just right. First of all, his status was appropriate. More than half of the high-ranking officials were frommoners, and Freil had a high enough rank. However, he wasn¡¯t from a good family enough to be seen as a good lineage. He wasn¡¯t too old either. Over the past year, many of the high-ranking officials have retired for various reasons, and the positions have been filled by young officials worthy of the young Emperor. There was nothing wrong with being a young governor. In the Capital, Freil was one of Cedric¡¯s close associates from his days as the Grand Duke. If he just goes to Evron, it wouldn¡¯t be ridiculous to simply use the fact that he was a close associate or something. However, if he was to be officially appointed governor, he had to meet the standards demanded by the Capital¡¯s nobles and officials. Cedric said, ¡°It is a sensitive time. Within three years, the gates of Alia Wall will be opened, and a few units of the Central Army have already gone up north.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The conflict between the North and the maind seems to have already urred.¡± Cedric said, ¡°I need a trusted representative. Because you know my goals and are good at dealing with information.¡± Freil squashed his face. But he didn¡¯t say no. ¡°But if you ever marry Hayley, it won¡¯t be breaking the rules. The North will ept that the Jordyn family bes Evron¡¯s representative.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I have no intention of embarrassing you. It¡¯s your private life, and I don¡¯t even want to say this or that. It¡¯s just that the circumstances have confirmed it.¡± Cedric looked at Freil. ¡°So, you haven¡¯t proposed yet?¡± ¡°No, why do you keep doing that? We¡¯re not dating.¡± ¡°Then, can I appoint you?¡± Freil was speechless. He didn¡¯t even know why. Cedric lowered his gaze to the papers, and said, ¡°This is my advice, not as a master, but as a friend.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You should do it when you¡¯re thinking of it, otherwise you will regret it.¡± Freil had nothing to say. There was no energy in the mumbled words, ¡°But it¡¯s not like that.¡± £ª£ª£ª Cedric finished work early that afternoon. Following the doctor¡¯s advice, he set a regr holiday to rest. But more than that. This irregr half-day felt more like a vacation. Instead of riding his horse, he walked to the Empress¡¯ Pce. The sun was warm and his body warmed up quickly. ¡®It¡¯s sunny.¡¯ Winter passed and it was spring. He used to rx every winter when he heard reports that the harbor had melted during the nerve battles both on the northern border and on the maind. But it was different this year. Work raged like a wave without rest, but winter never drove him mad. It simply felt like the seasons had changed. Only now did he feel a little used to the new location. During the winter, the Empress¡¯ Pce also changed slightly. During the winter, they cut down the trees south of the Pce. It was also intended to open the sight to prevent the assassin from invading. But the first cause was that Leticia climbed over the railing to climb the branches outside the window of her room. They pruned down the trees in the path that she would be able to catch if she jumped out of the window, and cleaned everything up to the front. Originally, Artizea had little interest in decorating the residence. She had repaired the old Grand Duke¡¯s residence in the past, which was done out of necessity. Decorating a wedding hall or properly adorning the Imperial Pce also had political implications. But now there was no need. Cedric seeded Emperor Gregor, and had military power. The Emperor¡¯s power was high enough, and he no longer had to show off his authority. Artizea didn¡¯t do anything as she said. Immediately after the Coronation, there were countless opinions about reconstructing the Pce to fit the new Emperor and his wife, but neither paid any attention. However, as the baby¡¯s range of activity begins to widen, it has to be a little different. So, while cutting down trees in winter, the south living room was opened to the outside, and arge terrace was created. On the outside, white sand was taken andid thickly. To install the swing, only one tree with a strong trunk was left. Cedric paused for a moment. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± The guards guarding the Empress¡¯ Pce raised their spears and saluted him. Cedric smiled and nodded at them slightly. The servants ran out, bent their knees and bowed. ¡°Ddaaadddd!¡± The excited Leticia ran out. Chapter as6: After Story 6 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Dad, dad!¡± Leticia shouted and clung to Cedric¡¯s leg. Cedric raised his leg. ¡°Kyaahaha! Up uuuppp!¡± Leticia eximed excitedly as her body floated in the air. Cedric smiled at her and held her up. ¡°Dad, again! Me again!¡± ¡°No, Dad will be scolded if caught.¡± ¡°Want to up!¡± Reluctantly, Cedric threw Leticia lightly into the air. Leticiaughed softly. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Mrs. Keshore, who hastily followed Leticia, uttered a voice of reproach. ¡°You can¡¯t keep teaching her dangerous games.¡± ¡°I will be careful.¡± Cedric had no choice but to answer that. The servants who had been watching bowed their heads to express their apology because they could not dare say no to the Emperor. ¡°Mom is very strict. So do other people.¡± Mielle said. Cedric said to Leticia with a smile on his face, ¡°Look at that, Dad got scolded.¡± ¡°Hng.¡± Leticia hugged Cedric¡¯s neck and let out a grunt. Her ticklish breath touched his cheek. Cedricughed unconsciously. The baby, whom he didn¡¯t know if she had weight or not, was now quite heavy. Thinking about that, he wondered how many days left when he could throw her like this when she asked for it. Cedric always felt sorry for Leticia, probably because he didn¡¯t see her every day. He tries to make the time so they can be together, but there is so much to do. As a result, it was difficult to be strict to Leticia when she was begging. ¡°What did you y today?¡± ¡°Aunt here.¡± ¡°Aunt Charlotte?¡± ¡°Yes. She talk with Mom. She no read picture books to me.¡± ¡°Dad will read it to you.¡± ¡°Mom will read to me in the evening. Dad read to me, too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric replied with a grin. Leticia groaned. ¡°By the way, Sister Fi didn¡¯te today.¡± ¡°Do you want to see Fiona?¡± ¡°Yes. Sister Fi pretty.¡± Leticia¡¯s cheeks blushed and she said that. From an objective point of view, Fiona was not particrly beautiful. She tried to be nice to Leticia, but she wasn¡¯t very caring. However, in the eyes of the baby, there was no one as pretty as that older sister of marriageable age, who dresses up splendidly. ¡°Shall I ask if we can go y next time?¡± ¡°Yay!¡± The baby, who had the most fun going out of the Empress¡¯ Pce,ughed and rubbed Cedric on the cheek. Her character, who used tough well when she was younger, did not go anywhere, and Leticia still lives with a smile on her lips. Laughter spread among the attendants as if drawn to her by that smile. ¡°Dad, can I go to Rosan¡¯s house today?¡± ¡°What are you going to do there?¡± ¡°There is the doggy. Doggy! Doggy!¡± Leticia swung her arm and made dog noises several times. And she said to Cedric with a sullen face. ¡°I told Dadst time!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He really couldn¡¯t remember, so Cedric apologized neatly. Mielle exined. ¡°The gardener¡¯s dog gave birth four weeks ago. She begged me to see it¡­¡­.¡± ¡°By the way, you were therest week. Dad thought you were going to see Marcus.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see Marc, too.¡± Leticia said, hiding what she had forgotten. She proudly opened her chest, but all the grown-up eyes could see it. Cedric smiled. He couldn¡¯t help it. She was at an age that would find it far more memorable to wallow with a dog than to sit by an old man. ¡°It is today. Can I go today?¡± As Cedric asked, he looked at Mrs. Keshore. Although he is the father, the primary caregiver was the nanny, Mrs. Keshore. Mrs. Keshore nodded her head. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s Rosan¡¯s mansion.¡± ¡°Anything else to do in the afternoon?¡± ¡°All the Princess does is to make the day enjoyable.¡± Mrs. Keshore said with a soft look on her face. ¡°Then, to ease the burden on Madam and Miss Mielle after a long time, let me take her with me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to take her with you.¡± ¡°We should also give a good rest from time to time to Miss Mielle. Right?¡± Cedric asked Leticia, waving her hand. Leticia replied cheerfully, not knowing exactly what that meant. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Then, let¡¯s ask Mom and go together.¡± Cedric pulled Leticia up and hugged her. Leticia said, ¡°Mom, ceeping.¡± ¡°Try, sleeping¡± ¡°Sleeping.¡± ¡°Good job,¡± Cedric patted Leticia¡¯s head. ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Leticia turned her neck as hard as she could and looked back at Mielle. Mielle answered instead. ¡°Her Majesty is on the south terrace.¡± ¡°I see. Now, you can go back and rest.¡± ¡°Yes. I will take my leave, Your Majesty.¡± Mrs. Keshore spoke first and bowed down. Mielle also bowed down afterwards. Cedric headed to the south terrace while holding Leticia. Only a few escort knights followed. It is a family time that is difficult to obtain, so it would be better not to disturb it. He was anxious to leave her to someone else. But Leticia is so precious that they were afraid she would be blown away by the wind so it was right for her to be raised by her parents. Mielle lightly crossed her hands with Mrs. Keshore¡¯s arms. ¡°Then Mom, shall we go on a date, too?¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Why not? I was going to go to the Mason boutique.¡± ¡°Mason boutique? Isn¡¯t there a ce that sells men¡¯s clothes?¡± ¡°Hazel says they make great hats. I want to buy one for Dad.¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡± Mrs. Keshore looked at Mielle with astonished eyes. Mielle¡¯s face turned a little red. ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong with buying Dad a hat?¡± ¡°Since when did you start taking care of that?¡± ¡°Last time Dad came with Aunt, my dad was so¡­¡­.¡± Mrs. Keshoreughed. ¡°You have to understand that. Your father was a man who lived his entire life in a uniform.¡± ¡°Still, he doesn¡¯t have a hat, so it doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Mielle said, ¡°I made a lot of money, Mom.¡± ¡°By the way, do you only send gifts to your father?¡± ¡°I also have one for Mother. What it is is still a secret.¡± Mielleughed softly. Mrs. Keshore smiled after her, but looked at her face with a strange feeling. It was Artizea who saved Mielle. It was natural to repay her favor. It was also on her own ord that Mielle risked her life for loving Leticia. But it was not without resentment. She dared not speak out of her mouth, but she thought Artizea had put the weak child in such a ce. Even though Mielle wanted to take care of the baby herself, she thought Mielle would just y with her at best and do peekaboo. So she entered the Pce with the intention of helping Mielle at her very side, even when she was invited to be Leticia¡¯s nanny. Instead of helping her daughter look after the baby, she intended to look after her and the baby together. But Mielle had grown up to a surprising degree. Compared to when she sat in bed and only dreamed, her body moved as much as her heart was happy, and her will became stronger as she became responsible. The Keshores were counting the time of 10 years day by day. Mielle doesn¡¯t know that. But she was making all the remaining days meaningful with the child growing up. * * * In front of the south terrace, Cedric put Leticia down. ¡°Wow¡­¡­.¡± He ced his index finger in front of Leticia¡¯s lips as she was about to scream. Leticia quickly covered her mouth with her two hands. ¡°Can¡¯t wake Mom.¡± Leticia said in a whisper. Cedric nodded his head. Leticia spoke again, ¡°Only Dad can wake Mom up.¡± ¡°Our Ticia is smart.¡± Leticia nodded her head. It¡¯s partly because he doesn¡¯t want the baby to stop Artizea from resting, and partly because he¡¯s afraid the baby will have experiences she shouldn¡¯t. Cedric patted Leticia¡¯s hair once and spoke softly, ¡°Dad will wake her up, so will you go over there and y?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Whispering seemed like a fun game to y, so Leticia whispered and ran like a lightning bolt towards the sandpit. Artizea was half asleep on the sofa in front of the terrace. Afraid that the sun might get in her eyes, Alice put a thin shawl over the sofa like an awning. Cedric beckoned Alice not to say anything. Alice stood up quietly, and she politely greeted him and went towards Leticia. Cedric watched Artizea silently. His mind rxes a little by making sure her chest rises and falls with every breath she takes. It wasn¡¯t just for Leticia that they made arge terrace on the south side. It was something he wondered if she would get better if she got more sun, and if it was easier for her to go out, she would be able to walk even a little bit more. There was no visible effect. Artizea was still sickly, and she was easily exhausted. Still, her sleeping face was as calm as if she had forgotten everything in the world. He didn¡¯t know when or how she would leave. It would be better for her if her body first became ill and debilitated, and theny in her bed and left. Because she¡¯ll be able to wrap up her life and say her final goodbyes. But there was no guarantee that it would be like that. [¡°If I fall asleep and leave, nothing could be better than that.¡±] Artizea said so with a calm face. However, he was worried that Leticia would witness thest time she fell asleep and left. So when Artizea fell asleep, he made sure no one woke her up. Because it was important for her to get a good sleep. And above all else, if she left, the first one to know about it would be Cedric himself. ¡°Tia.¡± He lowered his voice and called Artizea. There was no answer. Cedric reached out and touched her cheek lightly. Her body was warm and her breathing was still. He lowered his head deeper and pressed his lips to her cheek. ¡°Umm.¡± Artizea made a small noise and turned her body. Chapter as7: After Story 7 Proofreader: somnium Artizea was back and forth on the boundary between reality and dream. The sunlight was shining on her body, but the wind was cool. Her ankles and knees were sore. The sound of the stepping and crunching on the sand could be heard. There was the sound of waves sweeping the white sand. Even with her eyes closed, Artizea felt as if she was looking at the deep blue sea. ¡®I¡¯ve never been to the South Sea.¡¯ Even in her dreams, Artizea realized that the color of the sea was simr to the salt she had offered to the Empress. Is she dreaming like this because they talked about Lady Viscount Pescher? Since when, the Empress Dowager has stood by her side; a facelessdy-in-waiting who was holding a parasol behind her. A blue silk belt, which the Empress Dowager tied around her waist, flew in the wind. ¡°I always wanted toe back.¡± ¡®To the South Sea?¡¯ It was a strange dream. It was a simple trip for Empress Catherine to go to the South this time. It was true that she went to clear her mind, but she was not in a position to have such a conversation with Artizea. So, this dream was not a depiction of a possible event. Artizea thought with her eyes closed. ¡®It¡¯s even weird. Why does it matter?¡¯ ¡°You wonder why I came out to organize my thoughts?¡± Artizea got up and sat down. The Empress Dowager had a youthful face that she had never seen. Artizea had never looked closely, and it seems that the portrait of her youth had left an impression beyond her thoughts. ¡°Nothing will happen in the South.¡± ¡°It is meaningless for the Empress Dowager to say that now. After all, it¡¯s my dream.¡± Then, was it because she got something to worry about in the South and she¡¯s dreaming like this? Artizea did not believe that there was any kind of foreknowledge in her dreams. What she sees in her dreams only resurfaces as an extension of what remains of her impression or what she thought before falling asleep. The Empress Dowager smiled brightly at her. ¡°You are right. Actually, I didn¡¯t mean to talk about the South.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you care about?¡± The Empress Dowager held out something she was holding in her fist. Artizea realized that she was holding a bouquet. It was a really odd dream. The Empress Dowager ced the golden orb she was holding in a white rose bud in the center of the bouquet. ¡°What does this mean? I cared about this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your dream, you know. Not mine.¡± The Empress Dowager said so and turned back towards the sea. The water color had now changed to a color resembling the jewel that Natalia had given her. ¡°The climate is very nice. Come once. I have a really beautiful vi here.¡± That was the phrase written in the Empress Dowager¡¯s letter not long ago. Artizea muttered to herself, ¡°There are many enemies in the South Sea¡­¡­.¡± Then something lightly touched her lips. Artizea realized that this swooping sound was not the sound of waves, but rather the sound of branches swaying in the wind. ¡®Ah¡­¡­.¡¯ She thought her body was cold from a while ago, but it got colder in earnest. Artizea shrugged her body and closed her eyes. ¡°Now, wake up.¡± She heard Cedric calling. Artizea found herself curled up on the sofa. She suddenly woke up with heat rising from her body. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± A cracked voice echoed in the reality. Cedric asked, lightly brushing her hair, ¡°What were you dreaming of?¡± ¡°A dream?¡± Her memory has already faded. ¡°Something¡­¡­ I think I had a good dream.¡± The wind was still vivid, like a gentle rippling wave, brushing the nape of her neck. Thest image left in her memory was a turquoise wave that seemed out of this world. ¡°A good dream?¡± Cedric¡¯s brow wrinkled slightly. Artizea looked up at him curiously. A kiss came down before an answer. Artizea closed her eyes in bewilderment. ¡°Uh, umm¡­¡­.¡± Her breathing quickly slipped. Cedric buried his finger into Artizea¡¯s hair. He supported her back andid Artizea deeper on the plush sofa. She was startled and grabbed Cedric¡¯s cor. She might be used to it now, but Artizea was still surprised every time, and she doesn¡¯t know what to do every time. A small groan escaped her as he pushed their lips together, not letting her breathe out even for a few short breaths to release the tension. But they couldn¡¯t do more than that. Cedric heard footsteps running behind him. ¡°Haa.¡± It was inappropriate to do that in front of a child. Cedric took his lips off of her regretfully. Btedly, his face turned red as he rubbed Artizea¡¯s wet lower lip with his thumb. Leticia rushed right into Cedric¡¯s thigh. Cedric made an ¡®ugh¡¯ sound and pretended to fall down. ¡°Don¡¯t bully Mom!¡± Leticia pushed Cedric out with all her might and climbed up onto Artizea. She pushed Cedric as hard as she could. ¡°Mom sick, you can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°¡­¡­ she wasn¡¯t bullied. It was a kiss.¡± ¡°Kissing not like that!¡± Leticia kissed Artizea¡¯s cheek as if to show a demonstration. Cedricughed like a fool. Artizea looked embarrassed. ¡°Then, don¡¯t do this outside.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything bad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because it¡¯s a bad thing.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Leticia grabbed Artizea¡¯s hair. ¡°Are you sick?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sick.¡± ¡°But Dad.¡± ¡°It was a kiss.¡± Artizea said with a slight redness. Leticia tilted her head. ¡°Really?¡± Dad sometimes glosses over, lies, or doesn¡¯t keep his promises, but Mom never did. Leticia nodded her head with a trusting face. ¡°Then me, too.¡± ¡°Kiss?¡± ¡°Kiss!¡± Leticia kissed Artizea¡¯s lips while Cedric put his hand between Leticia¡¯s armpits and lifted her up. ¡°To Dad, too.¡± ¡°No.¡± Leticia¡¯s cheeks swelled with discontent. She didn¡¯t seem to understand yet. ¡°Then, Mom is sick, so shall we go alone to see the doggy?¡± Leticia looked like her heart had dropped. Artizea said as she brushed her tangled hair with ab, ¡°You can¡¯t make fun of a baby.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t really kidding. If you¡¯re sick, I¡¯ll just take her with me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sick. Let¡¯s go together.¡± When Artizea said that, she smiled broadly, letting Leticia forget that she had been sulking a little while ago. And she kissed Cedric on the cheek. Cedric¡¯s face flushed. ¡°By the way, are you going to see dogs?¡± ¡°I heard there is a dog in the Rosan mansion.¡± ¡°Ah, the gardener¡¯s dog.¡± Artizea shook her head. For three days since the day she came to see the puppy, Leticia said she wanted a puppy andined. It wasn¡¯t difficult in itself. There was plenty of space, and there were hands to look after it. It wouldn¡¯t be bad for a child to grow up with a puppy. However, she was troubled because it seemed that there was a problem with immediately indulging her right away after she begged. Cedric held Leticia in his arm as if sitting on his forearm, and extended his hand to Artizea. Artizea took his hand and stood up. ¡°But you finished your work early today.¡± ¡°Only one appointment ceremony was scheduled in the morning. I n to rest in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­.You said that.¡± Artizea sighed that her memory wasn¡¯t what it used to be. Cedric thought that was a good thing. Now, she doesn¡¯t feel the need to remember, use and manipte everything. She could listen, ignore and forget. ¡°Go in and change your clothes into something light. Give Ticia to Alice.¡± ¡°Well, I can go like this.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t just go and hold Ticia like that. With those clothes.¡± Cedric looked down at his outfit. Beforeing to the Empress¡¯ Pce, all of his insignias were removed for fear that Leticia would get hurt. But for the appointment ceremony in the morning, he was wearing a formal robe. The Emperor¡¯s robes are precious. He really shouldn¡¯t have let it get crumpled up like this. ¡°I will change intofortable clothes. Make sure you dress warmer, too. I will be back in the evening.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Even with that said, Cedric didn¡¯t know how to put Leticia down. Alice said, ¡°I will apany Miss Ticia. Sand got into her clothes.¡± ¡°Yes. Please dress her in y clothes.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric put Leticia down. Leticia grabbed Cedric¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Dad wille back quickly.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡± Leticia nodded her head. But her hand didn¡¯te loose. ¡°I am not leaving today. Really.¡± ¡°Keep your promise to read a book with Mom in the evening, right¡± Whether Leticia was checking or not, she asked in an ambiguous tone. Cedric said he would keep his promise and patted Leticia on the back. Leticia soon took Alice¡¯s hand and headed towards the baby¡¯s room. Cedric took Artizea to the front of her toilette room. The servants who took care of the clothes were already prepared. It was thanks to Mrs. Keshore told them in advance that the imperial couple would be going out. Sophie grinned and smiled and bowed to the two of them. There were already three dresses in the toilette room. Artizea let out a small sigh. She wondered if this was getting closer to Sophie¡¯s hobby, making and dressing her these days. ¡®Should I make her do something else soon?¡¯ Just because she cared for Sophie, it¡¯s not that she could just keep her by her side until she dies. It would be better for Sophie to have the opportunity to fulfill her own will than to attend Artizea at the Empress¡¯ Pce. ¡®Because sending her out doesn¡¯t mean thatmunication will be cut off.¡¯ It was when she thought to herself. Cedric asked, ¡°What were you dreaming of?¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea looked up at him, tilting her head, not understanding what he was saying for a moment. Cedric averted his eyes with an ufortable face. ¡°I think I was dreaming of something. I don¡¯t remember. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The climate of the South Sea is nice.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Cedric shook his head, released Artizea¡¯s hand and left the ce. Chapter as8: After Story 8 Proofreader: somnium The guards first lined up on the wall of the mansion and controlled the road. About half an hourter, the carriage stopped in front of the mansion. Marcus was still wandering around in the garden, looking at the carriage and smiling softly. As soon as the servant opened the door, Cedric snatched Leticia, who was about to jump off. Leticia wiggled her feet as she floated in the air. ¡°How can you go down from this height alone?¡± ¡°I will get off!¡± Leticia struggled with her limbs. Cedric lifted Leticia and got off the carriage. As soon as she put her feet on the floor, Leticia jumped out like a ball. Behind him, Artizea took Cedric¡¯s hand who lowered her. ¡°She runs all day. Lord Cedric did that when you were young too, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Ansgar said you have the same taste.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t look for fruit like Leticia.¡± Cedric answered and added, ¡°Maybe.¡± Although there were asional memories when he was four or five years old, he couldn¡¯t recall them in detail. ¡°I would have been more gentle than Ticia.¡± ¡°That¡¯s also ¡®maybe¡¯, right?¡± Cedricughed. Artizea wasn¡¯t serious about it either. At that age, Cedric would not have run as wild as Leticia. Because young children know their situation better than adults think. So did Leticia. She recognized who loved her very well. ¡°Marc!¡± Leticia spread her arms as she ran. Marcus held the child up and cried ¡®Oh gosh¡¯. ¡°Our baby.¡± ¡°Marcus, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°She still deserves a hug.¡± Marcus replied with a smile. And he bowed his head to Cedric a beatte. ¡°Wee, Your Majesty. We have prepared a light snack for you before dinner.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Cedric answered, and joined his arms with Artizea and followed Marcus into the Rosan mansion. It was shortly after the Coronation that Marcus returned to the Rosan mansion. After Artizea heard the story of when the Crown Prince¡¯s Pce was attacked, she summoned Marcus. Leticia was guarded by the Empress Dowager, and Marcus was keeping a low profile. The atmosphere was not very good. But it was safe, so it could be said that it was a relief. However, there was no change in the fact that Marcus was suspicious of Evron. Except for Artizea¡¯sdies-in-waiting, most of the nanny maids around Leticia were from Evron. Even though he said it was a relief, the gritty air flowed helplessly. [¡°I know you really did it for Leticia. As her mother and as Marquis Rosan, I am truly grateful for your loyalty.¡±] Artizea said in a calm voice. [¡°But in the end, the fact remains that you disobeyed His Majesty¡¯s orders and deliberately ruined a pre-nned operation.¡±] [¡°Yes¡­¡­ . I know that what I did was no different than breaking the friendship between Evron and Rosan.¡±] Artizea thought it was just lucky. If there were any more troops that stormed the Imperial Pce, if Natalia didn¡¯t help, if Leticia continued to cry, if Mielle copsed, or any one of those things, Leticia would have been taken away. Then, they could have gotten into a worse situation. Per the original n, she would be left in the hands of the knights. Cedric said it was all right because nothing happened. In a way, even luck could qualify a monarch. However, from Artizea¡¯s point of view, she could not move on without taking any action. She couldn¡¯t hold Mielle and Natalia ountable, so only Marcus was left. Marcus said with tears in his eyes. [¡°Since the baby is safe, that is enough. Please punish me.¡±] [¡°I have no intention of doing that. Disobeying His Majesty¡¯s orders is as good as being pardoned by His Majesty¡¯s refusal to punish you. If I punish you here again, you will end up being wary of Evron.¡±] Leticia also had a different position from Cedric. She was neither Evron¡¯s daughter nor Rosan¡¯s daughter, but a princess of the Krates Empire. The loyalty of Grand Duchy Evron was not unknown. It will be an important political asset for Leticia in the future. But it was difficult for Grand Duchy Evron toe to regard Leticia as theirs. In that case, the master and servant will be reversed. Artizea decided to get out of politics, but it was also about raising a baby. It was impossible to separate Cedric from Evron, so she had to do it herself. [¡°I won¡¯t punish you, but you should step down from your position as a nanny. In the future, if you continue to be in charge of parenting, Evron will criticize Leticia for being overly inclined to Rosan.¡±] [¡°Yes¡­¡­ .¡±] At this point, Artizea was somewhat narrowing the new nanny¡¯s selection. Now, it was not to risk being a daughter of Evron¡¯s nanny, but to be the princess¡¯s nanny. So she would be able to pick a more neutral one. Marcus had a sad face, but he epted it. That was a punishment for him. Artizea said without moving an expression on her face. [¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you should take your hand offpletely.¡±] [¡°Yes?¡±] [¡°Leticia has too few rtives. There are many vassals in Evron, and the estate itself remains¡­¡­, because there is nothing in the maternal house.¡±] There was no story to tell about her roots, let alone a loving rtive. It was something that had to be prevented from entering the ears of the child. [¡°When little Leticia bes an adult, Marquis Rosan will be the first title she will have. Until then, I hope you will be Leticia¡¯s guardian, managing all of Marquisate Rosan.¡± [¡°To be the Miss¡¯ guardian, what do you mean? The Master is here, how can I¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Go back to Rosan mansion. It¡¯s good for Leticia for you to be at her maternal house.¡±] Artizea said so. He had few good memories of the Rosan mansion. So she hoped that Marcus would spend the rest of his life there, redecorate the mansion as he remembered it, and tell the baby the old tales beautifully. So Marcus returned to the Rosan mansion. Marcus was probably the only one who could say ¡®return¡¯ there. And he betrayed Artizea¡¯s expectations in a good way. He remembered the appearance of the old Rosan mansion, but he was not obsessed with it. The splendor of Rosan mansion was not only because Mira reigned as the queen in this house. The original Marquis Rosan were also wealthy, and loved luxury. Marcus was ustomed to revealing wealth, but not showing off to the vulgarity of it. However, instead of returning the mansion to its former glory, he decorated it all for the children. All corners of the furniture were grinded into round ones, and expensive furniture that should never be damaged were brought into the warehouse. A separate handrail is installed on the stairway that is low enough for a child to hold on to. A new soft carpet wasid on the floor so that everyone would not be injured if they fell. All sharp decorations were removed, and the vases were reced with carved wood. Crystal balls were attached to the windows so that the light scattered throughout the house like a rainbow. In the banquet hall, they could ride a wheeled horse or y with a toy sword. He also made a small and pretty house like a fairy house. To please the children. Marcus thought that if Leticia grew up a bit and made her friends, she woulde to the mansion to hang out with them. He wished the house was worth it. The dignity of a mansion of a great noble was lost. But it was better than a house that was morous and noble, but without a master. And since Leticia liked it, Artizea naturally came to visit it often. The atmosphere in the mansion has changed, and he no longer has to think about it. Marcus was satisfied. In fact, given that he was at the normal age to retire, he was rewarded rather than punished. ¡°Marc, doggy. Doggy!¡± ¡°I thought you would want to see it, so I kept it in the main building.¡± Marcus said kindly. And holding Leticia in his arms, he headed towards the hall. Cedric and Artizea followed. A soft fence on the side of the sunny terrace wasid. There were puppies, one month old, lying around. The gardener sitting in front of the fence jumped up and groveled. ¡°Greetings the sun of the Empire, the, then¡­.¡± ¡°At ease.¡± Cedric waved his hand. Leticia struggled with her body. Marcus said, ¡°You must not touch it. They are still babies, so they might get sick.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even bother the mother. You must not grab her by the tail or pluck her fur.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Marcus put Leticia down only after receiving her promise. Leticia often ran up to the fence in sprints. Leticia jumped over the fence to the familiar mother. It licked Leticia¡¯s cheek. The gardener said, as if foreseeing Cedric¡¯s concern, ¡°Leah is a very gentle one. She will never hurt the princess.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s fine. Rather, I am concerned that Ticia will bully the puppies.¡± ¡°Dad Dad. Look at it. Red.¡± Leticia grabbed Cedric¡¯s hand and pulled him with her two small hands. ¡°The one with the red ribbon?¡± ¡°Yes, red. Red is pretty. Pretty.¡± They all looked alike because they were born in the same litter, but to Leticia, this was not the case. Cedric nodded his head. ¡°Yes, red is pretty.¡± ¡°Red is pretty. Prettiest.¡± ¡°Thest time I came, she said that the puppy was pretty. I told her not to take it.¡± ¡°Mooomm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still a baby? You mustn¡¯t take it away from its mother.¡± Leticia¡¯s mouth protruded out five feet. Cedric saw it andughed. ¡°Did you ask Leah?¡± ¡°To Leah?¡± ¡°Leah is Red¡¯s mother. You should ask Leah as well.¡± Leticia¡¯s expression has be the most serious face in the world. Then, she grabbed Leah that was sniffling on Cedric¡¯s leg. ¡°Leah, can we live with Red?¡± Leah licked Leticia¡¯s face from the front and pushed her away. Instead, Marcus answered with a smile. ¡°It will take three more months for it to get away from its mother and go to another house.¡± ¡°Three months?¡± ¡°It means you have to sleep ny more nights.¡± Leticia started to cry as she counted the numbers with her fingers. It was an incredible time for Leticia, who she still can¡¯t count to ten. ¡°Huuuwaannngg, no, I want Red to grow up! Uwaanng!¡± Leticia began to weep. Artizea was embarrassed, she didn¡¯t mean for her to cry. Chapter as9: After Story 9 Proofreader: somnium Leticiay her head down for a while and cried, then fell asleep on the floor. The mother, Leah, who had been fidgeting around Leticia the whole time, was also lying with her nose on her side. Leticia moaned and grabbed Leah and hugged her tightly. Leah didn¡¯t like it, but she was quietly being embraced without making a singleint. ¡°She¡¯s stubborn.¡± Artizea sighed and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t think Lord Cedric was like this.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. No matter how much I think about it, isn¡¯t it your side who is stubborn?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Artizea thought she never did. Cedric chuckled. ¡°You never listen to my words to take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s not just one or two things you didn¡¯t listen to.¡± Artizea¡¯s face turned slightly red. ¡°Because it¡¯s all necessary¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You just did what you thought was right.¡± Now, it was no longer a matter to argue about. Cedric looked down at Leticia, who was asleep, and said, ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t forget even after three months?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that there isn¡¯t a lot of space, but it¡¯s about epting it because she kept begging for it.¡± ¡°And, uh¡­¡­.¡± The gardener said, stuttering, cautiously, ¡°These guys are mongrels. Leah is a gentle one, but she¡¯s a stray dog. She is not something a princess can raise.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking for a hunting dog or a military dog, they just had to be gentle. But if you don¡¯t want it, I have no intention of taking it away.¡± ¡°Oh, no. How dare I¡­¡­.¡± The gardener bowed his head. Cedric bent over into the fence and lifted the red ribboned puppy. ¡°It seems like she was particrly obsessed with this guy.¡± ¡°I think she liked the speckles, or it walks the best.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Cedric ced the puppy on Artizea¡¯sp. A puppy as active as Leticia struggled to get out of herp. Artizea stroked the dog¡¯s back with her fingers. Her hands weren¡¯t very strong, but the puppy was so soft that even her hands seemed to crush it. Cedric watched Artizea¡¯s lips crumble. ¡°I think it would be okay to raise it.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t handle it.¡± Artizea spoke and put the puppy down slightly. The puppy toddled and walked away. Marcusughed. ¡°Then, we will just raise it here. The child cane to see it anytime. If we do this, we can let her raise it, or she can take them with her when she wants.¡± ¡°She might say she¡¯s going to live here.¡± Cedricughed. Leticia struggled to move her legs even in her sleep. It looked like she was running somewhere even in her dreams. Leah stood up and fixed her posture. ¡°She was so gentle.¡± Only until she crawls. As she walked and ran, she made the insides of those who cared for her tangled like a knot. ¡°No matter how I think about it, she must resemble Lord Cedric. Because I am not like this.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not such a troublemaker.¡± Cedric argued. * * * But when Ansgar heard the story, he smiled slightly. ¡°Miss Ticia looks a lot like Ced.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never used the curtain like a swing.¡± ¡°Well, if that was the case, there would be no friends to y with.¡± Cedric¡¯s face changed to ¡°Ah.¡± At that age, if there were people he could call a friend, there was no one but Prince Pavel. He must have known at the time that he had to save himself in the Imperial Pce, so it was natural to be more modest than Leticia now. ¡°Dame Mel knows very well what it was like when you were a little older.¡± Ansgarughed haphazardly. At this point, Artizea also became curious. ¡°What was he like?¡± ¡°He was just interested in big horses and big weapons.¡± Ansgar answered. Cedric added, trying to keep hisposure. ¡°When I was seven years old.¡± Artizea smiled. She had a rough idea of what would happen when Leticia turned seven and she became interested in horses and swords. ¡°I don¡¯t have to worry. Lord Cedric said he would take care of it all.¡± ¡°I have never fallen off a horse.¡± Artizea had already passed the topic, but Cedric spoke like an excuse. Ansgar reached out to the sleepy Leticia, who drooled on Cedric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on, Miss Ticia, I will take you to the baby¡¯s room. It¡¯ste, so the two of you should go in.¡± ¡°She fell asleep early, so I think she¡¯ll wake up in the morning. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I will block her from going to your bedroom in the morning.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Cedric ced the child in his arms and took Artizea¡¯s hand and made her link her arms. Ansgar took Leticia and headed to the baby¡¯s room. The maids, who had been scattered and restingfortably while the child was away, quickly found their ce and moved. Ansgar shook his head saying it was fine. Leticia¡¯s new bed, madest fall, was spacious andrge enough for her to not fall off even when rolling around. A gable roof was made of wood and a light gray thick cloth was hung to create a cozy wall. It was also Leticia¡¯s hideout, which she entered when she sulked. ¡°My baby, how can you sleep so well?¡± Her cheeks were swollen from crying and falling asleep. Ansgarys her on the bed and wipes her cheeks with a towel, Leticia muttered, half awake from her sleep. ¡°Ansu.¡± Ansgar smiled. His name was too long for a baby to call. Cedric also called him this when he was young. He must have already forgotten, though. At that time, Ansgar had the same desire to do for Leticia what he couldn¡¯t do for Cedric. ¡°Picture book¡­¡­.¡± ¡°A picture book?¡± ¡°Promise¡­¡­ uhhng. Red¡­¡­.¡± While speaking, Leticia turned and fell asleep. Ansgar smiled. He knew that Red was a puppy born in the Rosan mansion. Because Leticia said it was a secret and she only told him. She asked what she had to do to get permission to raise Red. ¡°Good night, Miss Ticia.¡± Ansgar whispered in a low voice. He thought he should go to the Rosan mansion with her tomorrow. He has not met Marcus in person in the past two years. He had thought he had met a friend who would grow old together, but the distrust was painful. Ansgar didn¡¯t even think it was a betrayal. He also knew it wasn¡¯t enough time to build his trust, and he understood Marcus. However, as Evron was distrusting Marcus, he could not ovee the emotional hurdle alone. Marcus didn¡¯t even apologize. He also acted ording to his beliefs, so he would not have been able to apologize. But now it will be fine. Time had passed, and it was time to tear down the fence that Evron had been obsessed with. Above all, Leticia loves both of them. Everything was going to be fine. * * * As she walked towards the bedroom, Artizea asked, ¡°How about dinner?¡± ¡°How about eating at the terrace? The moon must have risen.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to bring you something to wear.¡± Artizea caught the servant on the way and told him to bring a mantle. She then went out to the south terrace with Cedric arm in arm. As Cedric said, the moon shone brightly. There was no need to light the torch, but they had to light it because Artizea needed warmth. The servant quickly lit the brazier and put it under Artizea¡¯s chair. ¡°This is my favorite thing from the North.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I handed out some to Charlotte and Mrs. Belmond. Even if the weather is mild in spring and autumn, it feels good to have a warm chair, so I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll use it well.¡± It was a feeling that was difficult to understand for Cedric. ¡°The foot warmer will be quite popr, too. Check it outter. The public figures in the Capital may have copied it in an instant, but the transaction volume must have increased quite a bit in Evron as well.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t make it fashionable, did you?¡± ¡°From the beginning, the North is the best for cold weather products. It wasn¡¯t popr because the transaction was closed.¡± Artizea said so while fiddling with the woolen cape. This was also a gift from the North. Now, if they open the Alia Wall and allow the exchange with the merchant, there will be a path that can be used even in winter. Soon, the attendant brought a creamy stew with pork, mushrooms and various spices and stir-fried tomatoes and eggs. The main dish was eggnt casserole topped with cheese. Cedric didn¡¯t like dinner very much, so instead of keeping the order, the whole thing was brought to the table at once. The Empress¡¯ Pce¡¯s cook was ustomed to Cedric eating like this. The stew was served for two, but the stir fried tomato and egg and casserole were piled high. The amount of bread and fresh butter that was always on the table was three times more than usual. ¡°If Lord Cedric had been a normal person, the house would be stumbling just to pay for the food.¡± If Leticia was included, the root of the pir would have been uprooted. Leticia has already eaten more than one person¡¯s share. She ate more than Artizea, and she never skipped snacks. Compared to her running away not eating much, she¡¯s really grateful that she ate well. But seeing Cedric eating with a simr momentum, she couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I would have paid for the rice.¡± ¡°By bing a knight?¡± ¡°If I was born in the North or the West, wouldn¡¯t I? Because I liked to move my body. I was also talented. In the North and West, they teach you to a considerable level just by enlisting.¡± ¡°You would have enough talent.¡± Cedricughed softly. He didn¡¯t even need to be humble. ¡°Does Ticia have any talent?¡± ¡°I am trying to teach her. It¡¯s rare that Ticia will go to the battlefield like me, but¡­¡­.¡± Cedric cuts the bread and dips it into Artizea¡¯s stew. ¡°Because she has so much energy. Martial arts is also about learning how to control one¡¯s body.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea scooped out the bread he had dipped with a spoon. It always pleased Artizea that Leticia was healthy and energetic. She wants her baby to be healthy, like any parent, but Artizea is particrly fond of Leticia using her arms and legs. She used to feel like her heart was refreshed whenever she moved freely regardless of anything. Chapter as10: After Story 10 Proofreader: somnium ¡°I wish she had talent.¡± This was the first time Artizea had spoken about Leticia¡¯s education. She¡¯s been trying not to talk about the baby¡¯s future prematurely. She didn¡¯t want to do it twice because she had already once made the mistake of saying that she owned the baby¡¯s future as her own. Leticia should be able to y freely, be loved a lot, and grow up freely. Of course, she had to learn responsibility, but she wouldn¡¯t force anything more than that. But if she wants to be a little bit greedy, he hopes Leticia is a person who can manage herself well. She wished she was able to stride forward on her own, rather than someone who struggles to take responsibility. Cedric smiled. ¡°Mel will be a good teacher. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Artizea nodded her head. Cedric emptied the casserole bowl clean. Then, he said cheerfully. ¡°Shall we go for a walk? If you can walk.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°After eating the rest.¡± Artizea slowly ate the rest of the stew at his prompt. Cedric stood up first and held out his arm. Artizea grabbed his arm and stood up. ¡°Wait.¡± Before Cedric folded his arms, he meticulously wrapped a fur shawl over Artizea¡¯s cape. Artizea smiled. ¡°You got used to it.¡± ¡°I worry more about you than Ticia.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t cough that often.¡± ¡°If your neck is cold, you will get cold quickly.¡± Artizea hesitated for a moment. It wasn¡¯t that she hesitated whether he could or not. She knew that Cedric would do it no matter what. If anything, this was also her right as a wife. She was still not used to giving her body to his urge. Her old habits slowed her down, though she knew she didn¡¯t have to think and count and move carefully one by one. It was a leisurely evening, but she quickly put away her thoughts. She wrapped her arms around his neck before Cedric stepped back. ¡°Tia?¡± Cedric called her in a slightly startled voice. Artizea lowered her eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s not the only way to get warm.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Cedric smiled and wrapped an arm around Artizea¡¯s back. Artizea rxed her strength and leaned on him, and her body fell into Cedric¡¯s arms. ¡°Just. Or shall we go for a walk?¡± ¡°You know how to make people excited.¡± He put his other arm behind Artizea¡¯s knee and lifted her up lightly. ¡°I can walk.¡± ¡°I just do it because I want to.¡± Cedric said and walked inside. Artizea buried her face in the nape of his neck. The servants went ahead like a shadow and opened the door. In fact, in the living room next to the bedroom, Hayley and Hazel were waiting because they had something to report to Artizea. But when they came out into the hallway, they quietly bowed their heads, and took a step back. As they entered the bedroom, the door closed silently. Cedricid Artizea down on the bed and bent over her. ¡°Umm¡­¡­.¡± The second kiss that day was sweet and tender. Cedric¡¯s hand pulled Artizea¡¯s essories off her head. Her long, golden hair, fluttering in the light of the candles, slid down her back. ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Artizea let out a small moan as heid her back on the bed, holding her back. ¡°Turn off the lights, please.¡± ¡°A moment.¡± Cedric got his body up after kissing Artizea one more time. After extinguishing the candle on the nearby bedside table and all the lights on the other side of the bedside table, white moonlight permeated through therge window. Artizeay still in the bed until then. Her hair was messed up on the bed and her face looked whiter in the moonlight. Cedric went back to bed and gently stroked her hair. Artizea called him with her arms wide open. He willingly sank into it. £ª£ª£ª It was a monthter that a guest arrived from the North. This time, the representative of the vassals summoned from Evron was Mel Jordyn. ¡°Long time no see, Your Majesty.¡± Mel got down on one of her knees and bowed politely. The dress she wore was a simple yet elegant robe suitable for the Empress¡¯dy-in-waiting, but perhaps because of her appearance, she looked like a knight. ¡°Wee.¡± Artizea greeted her with a gentle face. Mel had nevere out of the North before, so it was their first reunion in 4 years. ¡°You must have worked hard. The North must have changed in many ways.¡± ¡°It is all by the grace of Your Majesty the Empress. It is full of vitality as a considerable number of merchant guilds havee and gone at the stronghold.¡± Since it was the official ce where she was greeted, she responded only like that to Artizea. This is because her job as chiefdy-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Evron was to care for the stronghold. She actually had a lot more to see and do. The statistics had already been conveyed, but the changes taking ce in the North were not limited to the stronghold. From the Thold Gate to the southernmost viges, more people than ever before have left their viges to find new jobs. The spread of new crops increased the poption. Grain merchants from the West came up to the North. In the past two years, even in a vige isted by a snow storm, there has been no starvation. Fewer babies born in winter die. The changes taking ce in the northern vige were even more dramatic. The development of ore veins, which had been neglected due tock of manpower, also began. Some fast-moving upper management have even offered to invest. Many in the stronghold thought that Melbon¡¯s spread was a coincidence. There were more people in the West than in the North who revered Artizea as the Saintess. The magistrates praised the Grand Duchess¡¯ influence, but they knew only about her refining the administrative system and revitalizingmerce. As Cedric became Emperor, the North became more lively. Not many people knew what role the Grand Duchess was in the process. But Mel knew what kind of threads Artizea had pulled behind the scenes. The incident of the dead youngest did not go unnoticed in her heart. But she had so much respect for Artizea that she couldn¡¯t keep it in her feelings. ¡°It must have been harding from a long way, so first, rest. Until now, there has been no chiefdy-in-waiting in the Empress¡¯ Pce, so you will have a lot of work to do.¡± ¡°I was concerned that Hayley might not have been able to properly serve Your Majesty because of herck.¡± ¡°Hayley has a role that Hayley does. There is another thing you have to do. Instead of giving you a reward, I think I¡¯ll have you do some work again.¡± ¡°Order me anything. I am determined to do my best for the sake of the Empress and Emperor.¡± The way she spoke was definitely the same as a knight, Artizea smiled. ¡°You have a lot of stories to tell, so I¡¯ll make time for you againter. Hayley, please guide Mel to her residence and tell her about the Pce.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Hayley politely bowed her head to greet her. Artizea said before Mel stepped down, ¡°Oh, Leticia is very interested in the new arrivals to the Empress¡¯ Pce. She especially wants to see your children, so please understand me if she suddenly jumps into your ce.¡± ¡°We were all looking forward to the day we would see the Princess.¡± Mel answered with a smile. And she withdrew from Artizea¡¯s parlor. Hayley wrinkled her face until she stepped back from the parlor and headed towards Mel¡¯s quarters. ¡°The room is cleared. Where do I start the handover?¡± ¡°No need to hurry, Hayley. Why are you frowning so much?¡± ¡°Sister may not be conscious of it, but you are now in the middle of the most hell-like ce in the Capital.¡± Not one or two people were keen to find out what might change in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Until now, the chiefdy-in-waiting was officially absent from the Empress¡¯ Pce. When a ceremonial rank was needed, considering her age, Mrs. Keshore was at the top, and in reality, Hayley was acting as the chief handmaiden. There were no power struggles orpetitions for favor among the maids. Mrs. Keshore entered the Pce as Leticia¡¯s nanny from the beginning, and Hazel and Mielle depended heavily on Hayley. She had nothing to say about Lady Viscount Pescher, who was only going to stay for a while. But now, there was an official chiefdy-in-waiting in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Moreover it was Count Jordyn who came down from the North. Will the Northerners take the initiative in the Empress¡¯ Pce? Will thedies-in-waiting go under the chiefdy-in-waiting, who has not been seated until now and is virtually new, smoothly? Can Mel Jordyn take over the social world on behalf of the Empress? It would be even more exciting if the real sisters quarreled over the power of the Empress¡¯ Pce. Mel didn¡¯t even know what Hayley was talking about. But she answered calmly, ¡°I have heard that you are doing very well. You can do it like you did before.¡± ¡°What about Sister?¡± ¡°My role is to protect the Empress¡¯ Pce and the Princess. I can¡¯t do it for you, and I don¡¯t want topete with you. If you don¡¯t help, it¡¯s rather difficult.¡± Mel said. Then, she stopped and looked at Hayley curiously. ¡°You should know that? Or do you have any other reason to frown at me foring to the Capital?¡± ¡°Some other reason.¡± Hayley¡¯s voice stiffened. It¡¯s been 4 years since she came to the Capital. Hayley thought she would be well-adapted amongst the snarky Capital¡¯s politicians. But Mel calmly prated through her sister¡¯s insides. ¡°When I arrived at the Capital, I decided to consult with His Majesty the Emperor about the appointment of the Northern Governor.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ yes.¡± ¡°If you have anyints, tell me now.¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°No? What do I have to do with the Northern Governor¡¯s affair?¡± ¡°His Majesty has Sir Freil in mind.¡± Without asking if it really didn¡¯t matter, Mel said bluntly. ¡°If it¡¯s a serious rtionship, say it now, if it¡¯s just dating, just break up.¡± Hayley¡¯s face turned red. Chapter as11: After Story 11 Proofreader: somnium At that moment, the correct response Hayley should have given was, ¡°What is that nonsense?¡± But she couldn¡¯t. It¡¯s because she had never been asked so directly before. Hayley realized that the facade was broken. She was the real power within the Empress¡¯ pce, but in front of Mel, she was nothing more than a younger sister with a big age-gap. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± In the end, Hayley responded with a blush. Thinking that she had made a mistake, she looked around and the gazes of the attendants scattered all over the ce. Hayley was now the most eligible bachelorette in the social world, and Freil was the most eligible bachelor. Both were public attendants of the Emperor, and were favored by the Emperor and the Empress by their own ability. Moreover, she was not the heir who would inherit the family. So, if they could bring her into their family through marriage, they could get the full influence. In addition, Hayley had the added bonus of having a tie with County Jordyn. Some thought it was an advantage, and some thought that Freil was better, but anyway it was certain that every parent with a son at least 17 and older but younger than twenty-five was salivating. Apart from important information of the Empress¡¯ Pce that they did not dare to ess, this must have been the best money-making information. Aside from that, of course, it was an interesting story. How could they do a hard day¡¯s work without these little fun things? Hazel and Mielle had an interested face without even trying to hide it. Hayley grimaced. Mel said with a sullen face, ¡°As an older sister, I can¡¯t stand seeing you having a rtionship you can¡¯t define.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that! Where the hell did you hear that from?¡± ¡°I can tell just by looking at the letters you write. It seems that you are still in doubt.¡± Hayley kept her mouth open and couldn¡¯t shut it. Naturally, she never wrote such a story in her letter. In the first ce, she wasn¡¯t the type of person to write a sloppy story. Mel didn¡¯t even tell her by which context of the alteration within the letter she noticed, she said sternly. ¡°As you can see, the North is at a very important crossroads right now. Your reckless love affair can¡¯t ruin His Majesty¡¯s Northern policy.¡± ¡°Sister, it¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not a wrong rtionship, you can meet the parents sooner orter.¡± It was then. Apparently, Freil suddenly appeared from the opposite side of the hallway. An earthquake urred in Hayley¡¯s pupil. The gazes of the attendants rushed towards it, and then dispersed as if they had been hit by a bomb. ¡°Pfft.¡± Hazel finally burst. Mielle pulled her hand to stop her, but there was an unbearable smile on her lips as well. Only the ignorant Freil tilted his head. But he first greeted Mel in a military salute. ¡°Long time no see, Dame Mel. It must be harding a long way to the Capital.¡± ¡°It was nothing. Nice to see you again.¡± Instead of greeting him with a military salute, she greeted him with the usual salute. This was because she dropped her military post when she became Artizea¡¯sdy-in-waiting. Freil said, ¡°His Majesty has left all the time avable for tomorrow afternoon. Before that, I thought it would be better for you to prepare a briefing with me first, so I came to see you.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°There are things we need to discuss about security. Did Ie too early?¡± Freil looked at Hayley. Hayley raised her eloquent eyebrows, but Freil looked back at Mel, having no idea why she was doing it. ¡°If you are going to have a family conversation¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Mel answered. Freil turned to Hayley again with suspicious eyes. Hayley now looked away from him and rolled her eyes down. Behind her, Hazel was still grinning, and Mielle was biting her lip. Mel had an unchanging face. Freil felt something threatening, but he had no choice. He shouldn¡¯t havee out of the hallway when he felt the attendants¡¯ gazes were terribly sharp. Hazel interjected slightly, ¡°Well, Sir Freil and Miss Mel, are you two close?¡± Hayley¡¯s eyes were stinging, but Hazel did not give in to those gazes, how else could she be called Belmond¡¯s daughter? Mel had a dull face, but Freil¡¯s eyes rolled. It¡¯s just a question that¡¯s not a big deal, but the atmosphere was strange. However, he had to calmly tell the truth because it was something he had to answer, ¡°I was in Sir Mel¡¯s army when I was a squire.¡± ¡°Oh my goodness~ ack!¡± Hazel covered her mouth with excitement. Mielle pinched Hazel¡¯s side. Hayley interrupted in a cold voice. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. If you¡¯re going to talk about security, we¡¯ll be going.¡± ¡°It¡¯s within the Empress¡¯ Pce, so we need Miss Hayley¡¯s help.¡± ¡°The chiefdy-in-waiting is Older sister. You can decide, and if there is something you need, I can do it.¡± Hayley said it, unclear whether it was to Mel or Freil. She turned around, beckoning Hazel and Mielle to go back. The two hesitated. Mel is the chiefdy-in-waiting, so if they had to follow either one it would be Mel. But Hazel was used to following Hayley, and Mielle had to go to Leticia now. She didn¡¯t think she was allowed to intervene in Freil¡¯s business. Without a word, Mel beckoned them to follow Hayley. Hazel asked politely, ¡°Can we really follow Hayley?¡± ¡°I told Hayley earlier, but I have no intention of meddling in what you guys are doing. Make yourselffortable. And now, I want you to step down.¡± Hazel and Mielle quickly greeted and left the ce. Mel also dismissed the attendants. And she started walking side by side with Freil. ¡°There must be a lot of things that are unfamiliar to you. There are many eyes, ears, and mouths.¡± ¡°I made amitment. So I have to do it.¡± ¡°Did you unpack your luggage? Are you and your children ufortable?¡± ¡°They set up a separate ce for the children in the Empress¡¯ Pce. By the baby¡¯s room.¡± ¡°It is the safest ce. Still, your husband will be concerned.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t the kids old enough to be separated now? It is an honor to be close to the Princess.¡± ¡°But I remember he was a conservative person. Did you have any troubleing to the Capital?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a little bit worried, but he¡¯s not a man who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s important.¡± Mel gave a faintly warm smile. ¡°The North is changing much faster than you can imagine.¡± As if waiting for someone to give it a chance, the society that had been stagnant for decades began to change explosively. The flow was at a level that could not be stopped by the worries of stubborn elderly people. Freil followed her and smiled at her. ¡°If you said it was going to be like this four years ago, you¡¯d probably get an earful.¡± ¡°Anyone in Evron can¡¯t help but be impressed. For good or for bad.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, have you made a decision?¡± ¡°Did Dame Mel rmend me as Governor of the North?¡± ¡°I have put up a few words so that His Majesty may deduce who is right. His Majesty was originally thinking that it should be someone unrted to Jordyn.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± Mel stopped her steps and looked at Freil. ¡°Things are prettyplicated. Even if the world is changing, Evron¡¯s istionism has notpletely disappeared. The new Governor of the North will have to keep Alia Wall and Thold Gates open at the same time, while hiding what¡¯s going on in Evron to a reasonable degree from the maind. It is an added bonus to exhort those who are dissatisfied.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like a humanly possible thing to do just from listening to it.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s what our Master wants. For Evron.¡± Freil looksplicated. ¡°Are you willing to lead the North?¡± When asked if he had any ambitions, he could have answered none at all. Power should only be sufficient to allow one¡¯s own body to function freely. It was nice to have wealth, but he didn¡¯t think it was worth sacrificing something to achieve it. The life that Freil wanted was a life where he worked moderately, got home before sunset, had a book he wanted to read, had a drink with delicious snacks, and then fell asleep. ¡®Wait, wipe your tears.¡¯ He did not be the Emperor¡¯s favorite and became a powerful person, but rather, he became a ve who can¡¯t do anything about his life. But Evron was his hometown. Just as Hayley in the past was frustrated with her love for Evron, hopeful but loathed, he had many thoughts. After thinking about things for the past few days, he suddenly realized why he was staying as an aide. He is not the leader himself. He wasn¡¯t sure about the ultimate ideal that the world should change into. He was ustomed to setting up a strategy for a given goal and measuring sess and failure. But he couldn¡¯t set goals with his own mind. He wasn¡¯t sure he should. He wasn¡¯t the kind of person who could set a goal that was unlikely to be possible. However, being the Governor is probably not something that can be done with that kind of mindset. [¡°Sir has too many thoughts.¡±] Artizea had said that before. Freil couldn¡¯t use himselfpletely as a means as she did. But it was Evron. Freil knew he was strategically suited to Cedric¡¯s goals. Evron was his hometown, and there was a lot he had been thinking about. There is no one who is notpletely political. Everyone has ideals about thend in which they live. So maybe. The anguish on his face reflected his troubles. Mel said, ¡°If you are hesitant, you should not do it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°Well, there is still time. Think about it.¡± Freil nodded his head. ¡°By the way.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Know that when there are tears in Hayley¡¯s eyes, you will see drops of bloode out of your pores.¡± Mel uttered a terrifying word in a tone not unlike the story she had just told him a moment ago. Freil¡¯s legs understood the words before his head. His steps stopped involuntarily. ¡°Yes?¡± He asked back, but Mel didn¡¯t answer. Instead, the scabbard around her waist rattled. Drops of blood hadn¡¯te out of Freil¡¯s pores yet, but a cold sweat was pouring out. Chapter as12: After Story 12 Proofreader: somnium Artizea finished the audience and headed to the library. Hannah was in the library. She was one of Evron¡¯s vassals and was one of those who arrived with Mel this time. Even in Evron, only a few knew why Hannah was named and called. She was amoner, and her position was not high. Those acquainted with the secrets assumed that she was going to receive a silver award this time for the Karam crop, Melbon. After Artizea brought Melbon to the public world, Hannah did a lot of work in spreading it to the North. Researching farming methods in the North for several years was not in vain. Of course, it was also a diversion. The first diversion is the vassal itself, the second diversion is Mel, and the third diversion is Hannah. The real ¡®guests¡¯ from the North were those waiting with Hannah in the study. Artizea took a deep breath in front of the study door. And she opened the door with her own hands. Wearing long cloaks and wearing hoods up to their heads, they were all the same size. The Northerners were also tallpared to the Mainders, but they were about one head taller than the general Northerners. Byparison, Artizea almost looked like a little girl. There was one person who gave away his face. He was covering his forehead with a hood. Hannah and the hooded man got down on their knees and bowed to Artizea. Behind her, the guests, who pressed their hoodie down, bowed their heads awkwardly. Before answering Hannah¡¯s bow, Artizea first spread the hem of her skirt, bent her knees, and greeted politely, ¡°Ka il paja quie.¡± It means e by my fire¡± in Karam¡¯snguage, and it was a wee word. Hearing those words, the guests took off their cloak. The third eye on the forehead and a number of thick hairs running up to their neck were revealed. The upper arm, protruding from the cloak, moved in the air ording to their etiquette. ¡°Thank you.¡± Its pronunciation was awkward, like a parrot mimicking a human voice. Perhaps, Artizea¡¯s pronunciation sounded that way to them as well. Artizea was not afraid and smiled. Ignorance is fear. She was astonished when she first saw Karam, but now she knew Apua. She read all the hundreds of letters he exchanged with Cedric. In the first letter of the year, Apua also sent the first flower that bloomed in the far north, untouched by human feet, in an envelope. Artizea has been learning Karam¡¯snguage over the past two years. And now she can understand Karam, even though she can¡¯t speak. She memorized faster than others and had a talent fornguage. She had memorized every sentence of the scripture, and was acquainted with doctrine and history. She has used her talents only for the vilest things she has done. But she was moving towards the future, this time shemitted no crimes. She exchangesnguages, determines the manner of diplomacy, and acknowledges each other¡¯s existence. A foothold for official exchanges will beid here. £ª£ª£ª The Archbishop was stubborn. He hadn¡¯t thought of leaving yet, even though he eventually put on his robes. ¡°You go alone.¡± ¡°It is the order of the Saintess.¡± Bishop Nikos* sighed and said, ¡°Ick!¡± It sounded like the Archbishop was whining. And he looked up at Bishop Nikos with a face that said he had much to say. But the grievance never came out of his mouth. Artizea renounced almost all her powers as she became Empress. Her intelligence organization was immediately disbanded, and was incorporated into the Imperial Intelligence Service of the Emperor through Freil. When she became Empress, she renounced the title of Marquis Rosan, and her property was put into a trust and left in the custody of her heirs¡¯ guardian. She made no effort to shape her power as Empress. As long as the Emperor¡¯s love stays in the Empress¡¯ Pce, she will be able to resume her activities at any time. But it was also true that she didn¡¯t have it in her hands right now. But she never let go of the temple. It was the same even after she dered that her mission as the Saintess was over. The powers of the temple were informal and a kind beyond external control. Faith was deeper than ever, and the influence of the temple was strong. There was also Artizea¡¯s own fault. Religious power was empowered to intervene in the secr world when she falsely recited the oracle, ¡®the Saintess shall be the Empress.¡¯ After that, Lysia cured the gue. That work continued to this day. There were also many witnesses that she had prevented the flood. Even those who did not believe in the oracle could no longer say that they did not believe in the Sainthood. The atheists did not deny it outwardly though she didn¡¯t know what it was in their mind. She could not leave the temple alone where the momentum had risen like this. Artizea could not entrust the temple to Lysia. She loved and trusted Lysia, but she did not believe that she had the power to control the temple. Especially considering Karam¡¯s work. The goal was not to legally cultivate Melbon and keep the half-bloods from being stigmatized and killed as monsters. Karam is needed in order to save the North. Artizea remained unchanged in her opinion that humans should retreat to Alia Wall. If they can¡¯t, they must ept and interact with Karam¡¯s migration, at least to the North of Grand Duchy Evron¡¯s estate. As a result of weing the mixed race over the past two years, creating a family register and actively epting them, cultivation andbor force have increased dramatically. Only now did the North see the potential to go beyond survival and develop industry. The temple must cooperate in this work. If the temple continues to shout that Karam is a servant of the devil, the entire North will be ostracized once again. The first thing Artizea did was to intervene in the Council of Bishops and to ce the Bishop of Evron¡¯s stronghold in an important position in the temple. In his ce, she again selected one of the Northern priests and ordained him as Bishop. Soon, the first two northerners took their ce in the Council of Bishops. Up to this point, the Archbishop epted it with a smile on his face. Since the Emperor came from the North, it was a matter of course that the Northern influence would grow stronger. But Artizea didn¡¯t stop there. She had academic priests study at which point theological theory began to call Karam the servant of the devil. In fact, she already knew the answer. The Archbishop was not a personcking in studies either. Like Artizea, he knew the answer. It was during Karam¡¯s great migration to the south when the Duchy Evron still existed as a principality. The defense line was pushed almost to the central region. Duchy Evron recognized its inability to maintain independence, and the Empire built walls. It was then that the natives of the Empire met Karam for the first time. Their unfamiliar appearance and fierce war like never before were enough to make Karam be remembered as a monster. Artizea had to study the records of earlier times in order to prove that their interactions with Karam did not go against the temple. The Archbishop was a person who valued faith, but he had to raise his voice here. [¡°Your Majesty, this is aplete overturn of doctrine!¡±] [¡°Archbishop, I did notmand you as the Empress.¡±] Artizea said with a face cold enough to freeze. [¡°Nowhere in the temple is there a direct reference to Karam. Is the word ¡°Devil of the North¡± coined by the temple, the Imperial Family, or Duchy Evron?¡±] It is natural for fear to spread. But what had be a perpetual fear, not understanding, became an effective means of domination, for hundreds of years. [¡°It is a doctrine created based on interests, so it can be reinterpreted.¡±] [¡°You must not do it this way. Your Majesty, I acknowledge that the Karam half-blood is listed on the temple¡¯s registry. Even now, we are condoning interactions with Karam in the North.¡±] That was for political reasons. At the right time, they would be able to receivepensation from the Imperial Family as much as they had conceded. However, Artizea had no intention of engaging in politics with the temple. [¡°If you think that it requires the Archbishop¡¯s consent, you are mistaken.¡±] [¡°Empress!¡±] [¡°I am the Saintess, Archbishop.¡±] [¡°Your Majesty has already finished your duty as the Saintess¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°Will Archbishop deny that I am a saint?¡±] [¡°I didn¡¯t say that.¡±] [¡°I, who was Grand Duchess Evron, received an oracle to be the Empress as a saint.¡±] The oracle would be a lie. The Archbishop knew. But he couldn¡¯t deny it. It was he himself who guaranteed that Artizea had received the oracle before the previous Emperor. [¡°To me, this feels like something God hasmanded me to do.¡±] Artizea looked down at him. The Archbishop was taller than Artizea, but he certainly felt that way. [¡°So, I have no intention of negotiating with the temple on this matter, Archbishop.¡±] Because there were too many weaknesses for that. If the temple was allowed to say yes or no, that alone could turn things around at any time. Artizea thought she was lucky to be the Saintess. She was different from Lysia in her past. She was the Saintess with worldly power itself. She had both the cause to present it to the faithful and the real power to press on the temple. So, with a cold face, she forced the Archbishop. [¡°Karam called themselves ka ersa, children of God. It would be quite theologically interesting to see how their God rtes to our temple.¡±] Eventually, the guests from Karam entered the Imperial Pce. The Saintess, who became Empress, sent an invitation to the Archbishop. If he refuses, he rejects the Saintess¡¯ invitation, and if he epts, he meets Karam. So the Archbishop was being stubborn. Bishop Nikos sighed andforted him. ¡°If the Saintess says that this is an oracle, that alonepletes the cause. Even if the temple disobeys, she will keep going.¡± If she makes a new doctrine established through Brother Colton or the Northern temple side, the bnce of power in the temple will bepletely tilted. Rather, it would be better to follow the will of the Saintess and engage with the closest aides. Politics is not only done with the Imperial Family, but also within the temple. The Archbishop knew. ¡°Haa¡­¡­. Well, yes. I can¡¯t let her have it her way.¡± The Archbishop finally lifted his heavy hips. In any case, shouldn¡¯t it be safe to sit in the Archbishop¡¯s seat? He did not want to be an Archbishop who was brought down by the Saintess. *Bishop Nikos was the one who treated Tia nicely while she was fabricating the heresy charge to get rid of her mother. Chapter as13: After Story 13 Proofreader: somnium After that, Artizea guided the guests to the backyard. There was an unused annex in the back of the Empress¡¯ Pce. It was said to be the Empress¡¯ personal space since the predecessors. It was rumored to be the ce where the Empress and her lovers met. It was such a secluded ce, and it was nted with trees that were much taller than a human height, as if to make it inconspicuous. So even when she was walking around the backyard, she couldn¡¯t see the roof of the building. Empress Dowager Catherine never used this annex. When she was a powerful empress, she managed every nook and cranny of the garden. However, after the gates of the Empress¡¯ Pce were closed, there was no one to look around, so the building was old and the surrounding trees grew more lush. When Artizea entered the Empress¡¯ Pce, she had another chance to manage. But she didn¡¯t do it on purpose. The building itself was repaired, but the gardens were left lush. Rather, she fenced it outside. It was a waste on the surface, apparently because there were no guests toe to the Empress¡¯ Pce. She used the excuse that the fence was to anticipate that it might be dangerous for Leticia to get in. But that¡¯s not the real reason. It was for today. The Karam, who introduced himself as Weil, stood enthralled in front of a tall maple tree. Then, he touched the trees and touched the new leaves that had just bloomed, rejoicing like a child. Kesa said, ¡°It¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve seen a tree with suchrge leaves. In ournd, big trees are as hard as iron and their leaves are as sharp as needles. The new shoots are light, but it¡¯s not pretty or soft like a baby¡¯s hand.¡± Weil nodded his head and said something. Kesa smiled. ¡°He said he never thought he would see a tree like this before he died. While we were here, we were barely able to get off the ship due to security.¡± ?Mister Weil is the greatest carpenter in the Ironmaker tribe.? Apua said. Karam¡¯s technologygs behind humans. There could be no other disagreement here. If he had been a craftsman, he would have felt that fact more acutely. ¡°We are not yet at the stage where we can reveal who you are, but if there is something you want to know while you are here, we will try to let you experience it as much as possible.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Weil answered, and Kesa tranted. ¡°Actually, just experiencing such warm weather is a great experience that seems to expand the world. I¡¯ve been to the south, but I¡¯ve never imagined the weather so warm.¡± ¡°It was really cold in the North.¡± Artizea shuddered just by imagining it. Kesa had a whiteplexion and her face looked fresh with the spring dress inside her fur cloak. ¡°I heard that there are alsonds in the Empire that are midsummer all year round. But looking at Your Majesty¡¯s outfit, it looks like it¡¯s getting hotter than it is now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too hot for the human body, so we use very thin fabrics to make clothes.¡± ¡°You mean clothes like something for a handkerchief?¡± ¡°Yes. But, it must be hot.¡± Artizea said while looking at the slightly different Karam. Kesa and Apua had shaved their faces cleanly. Thanks to that, they didn¡¯t look much different from a human, except that the part of their hair was too stiff and thick. If they only covered their arm and third eye, anyone would think that they were a distant local from somewhere or that they had a peculiar appearance. Seeing that the nape of their neck was also exposed, it was as if they had cut off the hair that ran like a mane on their back. But other Karams did not. They trimmed and cut some of their hair to show manners, but the choice to shave them neatly was impossible for them. It looked hot. It will actually be hot. But they didn¡¯t take off their clothes, they were being polite. Kesaughed. ¡°There were plenty of opportunities to shave on the boat. It¡¯s a given.¡± ¡°Actually, I was going to serve tea, but from the looks of it, I can¡¯t because it¡¯s hot. Are you two okay?¡± ¡°A bit hot, but tolerable.¡± ?This is my first visit, so I visited in spring because of various circumstances, but if there is a second chance, I would like to cross the Thold Gate in the fall and see you in winter.? Kesa tranted those words. Artizeapared her understanding with Kesa¡¯s interpretation and nodded her head. In fact, the reason she put the words in her head even if it was too much was because she was afraid that the interpreter would make a trick in the middle. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s too hot here, and it¡¯s easy to get people¡¯s feet tied up in the North, even in midsummer.¡± The reason for being able to coexist with Karam is that above all else. Even if Karam goes south in the middle of winter, they have to go up north again in summer. Karam and human habitation only partially ovep. Artizea had them bring a chilled beer instead of hot tea. Kesa¡¯s face brightened. In the North, where food was scarce, alcohol made from grain was quite precious. Weil, who was kneeling on the floor and touching the soil, and other Karam, who were looking at the building with strange faces looking at the huge Imperial Pce from afar, also gathered around, smelling the alcohol and twitching their noses. Hannah gave them a beer cup one by one. Although it was not a useful object in the Empress¡¯ Pce, it was thought that this was safe for Karam, whose hands were not delicate and had hardly touched ceramics or ssware. ¡°Make yourselffortable. I will prepare the clothes a little thinner.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Apua said. His pronunciation was still unclear, but it didn¡¯t feel like he didn¡¯t understand or was just mimicking the meaning. He didn¡¯t seem to have any trouble understanding the conversation between Kesa and Artizea. Come to think of it, it was natural. He was poor at writing, but he had little trouble reading and writing. It meant that he was learning the grammar of the Imperialnguage almostpletely. Artizea looked at him. Questions that had not been solved while exchanging letters over the past two years rose in her chest and scratched her heart. She knew he was the ¡®returner¡¯. However, she did not know why he started doing this. Apua was the son of the Ironmaker tribe¡¯s chief, and the Ironmaker tribe within Karam has always been one of the strongest tribes. When they reached out to the chief of the Goldmaker tribe, they became even more prosperous, epassing all the tribes in the region, and earning respect as a ¡®keeper of the fire¡¯. In fact, it is equivalent to being the king. Such tribes do not need to interact with humans. If there is somethingcking, it is much more convenient to plunder other lesser tribes. In fact, the Karam Evron had interacted with in the past were from the weaker tribes to which Kesa belonged, as well as from the smaller tribes that had been pushed to the mountains. Karam does not inherit the title. The son of a chieftain does not necessarily be a chieftain, and Apua¡¯s brothers and sisters total eighteen. Even so, it was clear that if he was the son of a chieftain who was even called the king, he would be in a considerably higher position than a normal Karam. In fact, he hase this far by leading the unprecedented event of interaction with humans. So, why did he study so much about humannguage and culture? Even if culture prated each other while coexisting, it would not have happened to the ruling ss in a short period of time. Artizea carefully selected her words. Still, she wrote it down on a piece of paper, just in case Kesa could not understand. May I ask how you learned to speak mynguage? Although I have only studied for two years, it is considered by Karam and humans that learning to write ournguage is easier than learning to speak. Since Karam has no writing, it makes sense if he only learned to write and read books. However, the difference between words and grammar was not muchpared to the difference with pronunciation. Unlike the barking of a dog or the pping of a bee¡¯s wings, it was distinguishable and recognizable. Studying it, it seemed that there were probably those with an affinity for it. There are those who, like Kesa, can speak bothnguages. However, it will take a lot of effort to understand thenguage so skillfully. Even now, Artizea had to be very careful and match the sounds she had heard in her mind with the words she had memorized before she could understand it. Apua must have put a lot of effort into it. Artizea only added that. Apua¡¯s lips had a faint smile. He picked up a pen. Thanks to the monarch. Cedric was called the monarch. In the North, the Karam seems to have called him so, where they conquered before returning. Artizea made them bring the brazier while he wrote the long text. It was to burn the writing that should not be shown to others. Meanwhile, Apua kept filling the sheet of paper. The Empress must know that the monarch once killed the king in a surprise attack with his detached troops during the war. That was when Artizea stopped the supply to Evron¡¯s stronghold. Artizea controlled her breathing slightly. The king who died at that time was the present-day chief of the Ironmaker tribe, Apua¡¯s father. Apua looked at Artizea¡¯s expression and wrote it down. A great warrior was just defeated by a greater warrior. Don¡¯t worry. It was an honorable fight. I don¡¯t think that would immediately weaken the Ironmaker n. After that, a fight broke out over the position of the chieftain. He was ambushed, and when he came to his senses, he had two of his arms cut off and was abandoned in the Thold Mountains. An old man living alone near the Thold Mountains felt pity for Apua and saved him. It was said that the vige where he lived was looted by Karam, leaving only traces of it. People dispersed or became refugees and went down south in search of rtives they could rely on. But the old man remained in the vige. His daughter and her husband were said to have died when the vige was looted. His son, who was taken to the battlefield as a soldier, lost one of his arms and returned, but eventually passed on to a mountain beast. None of his grandchildren were left. But the old man had pity on Apua. [¡°My son didn¡¯t have one arm either.¡±] The old man looked at Apua¡¯s empty shoulders and murmured. [¡°The bad one is that devil-like woman. You are just a pitiful bastard.¡±] It took Apua years to fully understand the words. It took him longer to understand the full meaning of the words. But he could see the way the old man looked at his arms and cursed those who took his children. He piled up firewood like a mountain in ce of the old man¡¯s lost children. Even without his two arms, his superior physical abilities did not disappear. When an animal was hunted, the old man made a fire and smoked it. Apua also learned from him how to grow root nts. The Thold Mountains were also warm and well-cultivatedpared to thend of Karam. Apua lived there for 15 years. Chapter as14: After Story 14 Proofreader: somnium From Karam¡¯s point of view, where meat-eating is the staple, farming was a job for young people and old people who couldn¡¯t keep up with hunting. Apua was the son of a great chieftain, and once spearheaded the warriors running the snowfields. He was an excellent hunter. When he went out hunting, he never returned empty-handed. He once captured a young reindeer alive and offered the milk to his father. So he started making food with his own hands while living with the old man. To preserve meat, salt and smoke it, or freeze it by burying it in snow is also a method used by Karam. But in the old days, Apua always only took the game and threw it to the trimmers. It was the first time he knew that such a job was as difficult as hunting. It required much moreplex skills than he had vaguely thought. The old man often cursed at him. His hands are not delicate, but his strength is strong, and he often breaks farm equipment or wastes salt. The first time he dug up crops from the ground, he was moved to tears. Hunger and cold were inevitable even for the ruling ss of Karam. During the harshest times of the year, and sometimes during the regr inhibiting seasons, there have been times when they ate extremely poorly and fought starvation with neighboring tribes. But making food with his own hands and piling it up in the warehouse feltpletely different. It was no different than when he was discussing food at a tribal meeting or when he shared his father¡¯s concerns. Food was no longer prepared when ordering the working ss, but was prepared with constant care and attention. Apua lived alone with the old man for 15 years. But his world has expanded beyond imagination. The old man was not an educated man. He didn¡¯t even know how to write, and he didn¡¯t know how the human world works now. However, Apua knew that he could live alongside humans as he was a warrior. The old objects and techniques used by the old man always surprised him. The candles that the traders sometimes bring, the scentlessmps made from nt-derived oil, were as shocking as the steel plows or wheel axles. The old man gave him a picture book and colored pencils. The old man did not know how to write. He said he had bought it to give to his grandchildren. On a day when work was over, the old man opened the picture in the picture book and said the name of the object drawn on it. The words were written under the picture. That¡¯s how Apua learned to write. He knew that merchants were carrying things like wooden boards and disying their own transaction details. There was also a way to convey the history of the tribe orally by assisting the memory with pictures. However, he did not know that these words were left on paper as they were. There must have been some things that mixed races had learned from their human parents, but most Karam were not interested in such things. So did the ruling ss. Merchants were despised in Karam, and mixed races seldom became the upper sses. Being a warrior was the most valuable thing, and in order not to be defeated, he had to constantly polish his body. Humans were not objects of exchange, but opponents to be plundered and trampled upon. Apua was the ruling ss of the fallen Karam, and he could understand the meaning of the characters. History remains and technology is passed on. Organize his failures and remember how to seed. Human skills that look like magic to Karam are developed in this way. What they really had to learn wasn¡¯t the smelting of steel or how to make cannons that Karam always wanted. Apua realized, but there was nothing he could do. He had already been pushed back. When he returned, he would only be killed. It was after the old man died that he came back into the wide world. At that time, Apua was already over forty. It was an unusually long age for Karam. Most of the peers who could be hostile to Apua would be dead and gone, so he decided to return to the Ironmaker tribe. They will not wee an elderly person with a disability, but they will not expel them either. So he wanted to go back and pass on to the children what he had learned. He didn¡¯t know because he lived in the mountains, but at that point, Karam had already entered the North. Artizea took the paper, read it slowly, and put it in the furnace. Apua¡¯s expression was different from what Artizea knew. She thought the Thold Gate was breached and the northern defense copsed. And that it was Karam who conquered Evron. You are wrong. It was the monarch himself who opened the gates of the fortress. ¡°What?¡± Artizea, who was looking at the sentence Apua was writing upside down, involuntarily asked, surprised. After the death of the king, the tribes continued to quarrel, forming a federation into nine factions. And the monarch took the ce of one of those factions as the power of Evron. Artizea was so surprised that she looked at the sentence nkly, looked at Apua, and looked down at the sentence again. You didn¡¯t know at all. Perhaps no one on the maind would have known. She thought that Cedric was still maintaining the Knights safely. She knew the Northerners were helping, but she thought, ¡®Is that enough?¡¯ He had already lost his base and thought he would be getting help informally. Since Karam had nothing to call a nation, it was possible for him to lead the knights through the emptynd. However, ording to Apua¡¯s words, he had never been the monarch of Evron. Artizea rolled her eyes and recalled her memories of that time. Her information wascking. Initially, Artizea had failed to create a usable intelligence organization within Evron, at which point she was even disbanding it. In the course of the negotiations with Apua, it seemed like the North was fighting Karam. It seemed possible enough to make it known that they were defeated. So, does that mean that the Thold Gate was not prated? Artizea asked. Apua really had a slightly bewildered face to know that she knew nothing, but he did not hesitate to write down the answer. I did not experience it firsthand, but I was right that it was a risk. The humans resented the fact that if the woman who embraced the light was not taken away, so many would not have died. Karam broke through the Thold Gate. It was a cold season that could onlye once in several decades. Karam was also desperate, and the situation in the North, which had been isted without supplies, was already at its worst. First, the supplies ran out, and then the gunpowder was used up. The diminished army had no prospect of being replenished. The fortress walls that could not be repaired copsed. At that time, Karam did not have the same focal point as the current king, and they came down only to live. Even then, Cedric could only rely on his own skills. He opened the door of the Thold Gate and went out. And after fighting with Karam¡¯s great warrior alone and winning, he offered to negotiate. Karam respects great warriors. In fact, the warrior who killed the king would have already be a legend. For Karam, a generation had already passed. When Apua went out into the world, the Karam were enthusiastic about the fact that the legend of the previous generation survived and had defeated the great warrior again. So the negotiation was concluded. After all, Karam also made a huge sacrifice. It would be better if they could go south without any more bloodshed and take up suitablend and get food. One of the nine factions that made up the confederacy was human. ording to Karam¡¯s custom, he was unable topletely prevent looting. Cedric¡¯s influence was only 1/9. But human did not be ves. Coexistence began for the first time, andrge-scale transactions urred. They exchanged groceries they had encountered for the first time. Karam learned how to fertilize and make a chimney. The northern part was a rich and warmnd for Karam. There was less looting and less infighting. There were alsonds that were cultivated on arge scale by the working ss. As a result, their lifespan increased. Few old people lived when Apua was young. But now he could see not just a few of the working-ss elders participating in the cultivation in good health. Even while he was living in hiding, Apua used to think about how he could coexist and ept human culture. It was useless to think about it. He¡¯ll never be the warrior of the Ironmaker n again. Still, what he continued to worry about was that he still had the heart of when he was the chieftain¡¯s son of the Ironmaker n. But what he was worried about had already been done. He spent the end of his life exploring the changes in the North. No one thought that the trader carrying a bag of soap and candles was Karam, the son of a once great warrior and himself a great warrior. So he must have closed his eyes that way, but when he opened his eyes one day, he was back in his youthful moment. He now knew which way Karam had to go. He couldn¡¯t figure out a way. In any case, change would not have begun unless they crossed the Thold Gate and made direct contact with humans. ¡°So, war¡­¡­.¡± While the king was alive, Karam had crossed the Thold Gate. Now that Apua is there, it would be possible not to lose their focal point this time. However, unteral victory and conquest was meaningless. When plundered and enved to rule, humans cannot interact as equals as when they were one of the nine factions. epting their culture will be even more difficult. So Apua decided to knock on the door first. The siege weapon made with the clumsy knowledge obtained from the book was poor, and it was even more difficult to understand the concept of guerri warfare. But if there is someone out there who has experienced a future like Apua, there will definitely be a reaction. Grand Duke Evron must have been thinking about exchanges much longer than Apua. I thought that if we met, the way would somehow open. I thought it was an adventure. There was a smile on Apua¡¯s face, who handed her thest piece of paper. Artizea¡¯s mind wasplicated by many thoughts. Most of it was meaningless to think about now, but he wanted to see Cedric¡¯s face anyway. She put thest piece of paper in the brazier, and scattered the ashes. Artizea smashed up to thest shard and then bowed her head to Apua. ¡°Thank you for telling me. You must already know who I am.¡± ?I don¡¯t know you. I¡¯ve heard rumors, but I haven¡¯t experienced it. And there are many things in the world that you don¡¯t know unless you check it yourself.? Apua spoke like an old man. Kesa looked at the two curiously. She could speak but did not know how to write, so she did not know what was going on in the writing while sitting next to Apua. ¡°The rumors you¡¯ve heard aren¡¯t all there is to it. Come to think of it, rather than all of that¡­¡­.¡± Artizea muttered as if trying to make an excuse. It was then. ¡°Your Majesty, the Archbishop has arrived.¡± A knight waiting outside the fence came in and reported. Chapter as15: After Story 15 Proofreader: somnium There were four men who visited the Empress¡¯ Pce: the Archbishop, Bishop Nikos, Brother Colton, and Bishop Monte from the North. It could be said that they were the real powers of the temple. However, their visit was not treated as special at the Empress¡¯ Pce. No matter how high a priest was, he was still a priest. It was not strange to be called directly to meet the Saintess. Hazel is out to meet them. Two years ago, the youngestdy-in-waiting, who was epted as symbolic in consideration of her parental status, is now in a fairly mature and trusted position. ¡°The Empress is in the prayer room.¡± The prayer room refers to the annex. Artizea paid more attention because she could not feel relieved even though she had triple diversion in the Empress¡¯ Pce where outsiders rarely came in. She called the annex a prayer room and brought holy relics here a few months ago. Artizea made it a forbidden zone, telling them not to interfere with her meditation. This is the Saintess¡¯ prayer room. They wouldn¡¯t have dared to break in without permission. No matter how Artizea said that she had now finished her mission as a saint, there were those who did not ept it. The bishops were an exception in this respect. It was natural for the Archbishop to go to the sanctuary to meet the Saintess. The Archbishop smiled kindly as Hazel went out to the garden. ¡°How is the Princess doing these days? It¡¯s been a long time since I saw her.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see her at a servicest month? I remember that the Emperor took the Princess to the temple.¡± ¡°A monthter, the child should have grown up.¡± The Archbishop understood the sarcastic remark, but he didn¡¯t care at all and said with a gracious smile. There was no way he could have ascended to the position of Archbishop by not noticing each and every one of those things. Hazel pursed her lips. ¡°She¡¯s still active. She didn¡¯t break the habit of hanging on to the curtains in a month.¡± ¡°It reminds me of the time when His Majesty the Emperor was still young.¡± ¡°Pft.¡± The Archbishop spoke softly as if it was a good memory, but Bishop Monte spit it out without notice. The Archbishop red at him. Hazel looked at Bishop Monte with interest. Evron¡¯s vassals, including Ansgar, were desperately protecting Cedric¡¯s reputation, so the only information that could be known about his childhood was leaked by mistake or subtly implied in conversation. So wouldn¡¯t it be necessary for the bishops to keep their loyalty like that? Bishop Monte, who struggled to swallow theughter, gave a calm expression with a red face. ¡°He never hung from the curtains.¡± Of course, the Archbishop didn¡¯t know. Though, his association with Cedric was long enough that he even participated in Cedric¡¯s naming ceremony as an assistant priest. But while he knew that Cedric¡¯s youthful days were lively, he knew at best that he ran with Prince Pavel in the halls of the temple, and bumped into a pole, causing a lump. On the other hand, Bishop Monte was a native of Evron¡¯s stronghold, and had been holding the position of Bishop of the North for a long time. Finally, a smirk slipped out of his mouth. Hazel was frantic with curiosity. If it could be published in a newspaper, sales were guaranteed. But Bishop Monte shut his mouth and nced away. The gentle Brother Colton said, ¡°Her Majesty will be waiting. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Ah yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Hazel bowed her head slightly, apologized, and took the lead again. As they crossed the backyard, six guards were vignt around them. The guards flinched for a moment, but soon bowed their heads in front of the Archbishop to pay their respects. The Archbishop, with a gentle face, blessed the guards and entered. There were four more knights. They were all Evron knights that Mel brought this time. The section of the annex was within it. There was something that sounded like a conversation or growling over the fence. Recognizing that the Archbishop was nervous, Bishop Monte took the lead and went inside. Brother Colton followed. Bishop Nikos noticed the Archbishop. The Archbishop took a deep breath and went inside. ¡°Wee, Archbishop. And three of you.¡± Artizea got up from her seat first and greeted them. The Archbishop took a bow to the Saintess by bending his knees to her. ¡°Thank you for making the trip during the difficult time.¡± ¡°It is not a difficult time. We had a precious audience prepared by the Saintess, so of course we shoulde at once.¡± Bishop Nikos stepped forward and said so. The Archbishop nced at the brazier of papers and ashes on the table. Apua and Kesa stood up. Apua encouraged the other Karams to stay indoors, so they were the only ones outside. There was no need to reject each other from the first meeting. Apua was well aware that the biggest obstacle tomunication between the two sides was the doctrine of the temple. ¡°This is Prince Apua. Prince, this is the Archbishop I mentioned.¡± Artizea took off the small words and introduced them. A person like the Archbishop is often bound by titles and positions, so it would be much easier to get cooperation if she said that rather than saying that he was the son of the leader. ¡°And Bishop Nikos, Bishop Monte, and Brother Colton. You must know about Bishop Monte.¡± Apua bowed his head in a polite manner. His arms were exposed, but a hood was deliberately concealing his third eye. His gestures and expressions were not much different from those of humans. There were traces of shaving on his face. The Archbishop was internally astonished. When Evron was used of having an affair with Karam, he took the mixed race as evidence to the temple and took care of it. At that time, those mixed races looked very disgusting and acted like beasts. The Archbishop did not believe Karam was a real devil, but he thought it was natural to reject such a beast. But Apua was gentle and well-mannered. Besides, he¡¯s pretty decent, isn¡¯t he? The Archbishop¡¯s expression softened slightly. Even if he was called Karam, he thought Apua would be different as he was a prince. ¡°You all sit down. I will prepare the tea.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± The Bishops sat down. Artizea had the furnace and papers cleaned and put away. Brother Colton asked curiously, ¡°Did you have a conversation?¡± ¡°Yes. Apua is fully capable ofmunication with words. He can understand the Imperialnguage.¡± Artizea said. Then, a light of surprise shed across the Bishops¡¯ faces. ¡°Have I told you before? It is quite possible to learn thenguage of each other. Karam¡¯s pronunciation is articte and has a grammatical system.¡± ¡°You said that.¡± Brother Colton replied. The Archbishop did not believe those words, so he let it slip. Artizea spoke this time to Bishop Monte. ¡°The first temples built in the North were before the time of the Shield Saint, right? The Shield Saint had received an oracle in a small temple built in his vige.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°I would like you to find some records of that time.¡± This was something that Bishop Monte had secretly been ordered since he was in the North two years ago. What he had to say again here was so that the Archbishop and Bishop Nikos could listen. And now that things havee this far, there is no need to continue in secrecy anymore. Artizea also had some confidence. ¡°Before the Thold Gate was built, there would be records of Karam, right? Names that could not be written in the Imperial text must have been written using ancient symbols.¡± ¡°That is correct.¡± Bishop Monte answered. The Archbishop, not knowing which direction this story would take, nced at Bishop Nikos and Brother Colton a little, without realizing it. Brother Colton maintained a dignified expression, but Bishop Nikos showed a slightly startled face. Artizea said, ¡°If you can write in ancient script symbols, it means that humans can pronounce it, too.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Realizing what Artizea was about to say, the Archbishop interrupted her. ¡°The pronunciation of ancient characters and symbols are merely guesses and guesswork. With that, there is the argument that Karam and humans were the same kind or had exchanges in the past.¡± ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± The Archbishop made a resentful voice. Artizea said, ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was the same. I don¡¯t know much about biology, so I¡¯ll leave the research on such things to the Imperial University.¡± The Archbishop felt dumbfounded. There was no way that the Empress could revoke what the Empress said out of her mouth, so research on Karam at the Imperial University became a fact. ¡°There is no doubt that there was an exchange. On the contrary, it would be illogical to live on the samend and not have any interactions with people who couldmunicate and be of mixed race.¡± ¡°But Karam,¡­¡± The Archbishop was not foolish enough to say in front of Apua that he was a servant of the devil. But Artizea calmly epted those words. Because she knew that Apua had enough understanding. ¡°Were there not one or two humans who would even work with the devil if it was profitable?¡± ¡°Empress¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not what I¡¯m trying to say. If you can write it down as a symbol, you can also record it, so I¡¯m trying to make a dictionary.¡± Bishop Nikos did not hide his surprise. ¡°A dictionary, you say?¡± ?Even if you can¡¯t speak properly, it¡¯s enough tomunicate by just understanding the words partially.? Apua answered, and Kesa tranted. Artizea said, ¡°It¡¯s just writing a book. There will be no harm, right?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t, but¡­¡­.¡± The Archbishop came with a lot of determination, but if she made a dictionary, there was no problem. At the moment when her heart was rxed, Artizea smiled and added one more word, ¡°If the temple doesn¡¯t take care of it, I will call the professors from the Imperial University and ask for it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Saintess. It¡¯s probably a sensitive issue. After all, it is only right for the temple to take charge.¡± The Archbishop immediately changed his stance. Even so, he was falling behind Imperial University in fields except for some disciplines such as theology, philosophy, and history. He could not miss what the Empress was determined to push. Moreover, there are no universities in the North, yet. The Archbishop suddenly realized it. Perhaps, he might be involved in taking the initiative for the North in the future. What harm would she do with making a dictionary? That was enough to make up for it. ¡°I am assured now that you are in charge. I hope trustworthy academic priests will visit often. When they visit, I think it would be good if they can record Karam¡¯s oral traditions, and study itter.¡± Artizea casually added one thing. The Archbishop¡¯s lips trembled, but what could he do more than saying that she could do it? Chapter as16: After Story 16 Proofreader: somnium The most important thing to do in recent times was happening at the Empress¡¯ Pce, but Cedric was quiet in the Main Pce¡¯s conference room. Externally, the vassals from the North did note for political affairs, but for a courtesy call from Grand Duke Evron. It was more of a private matter. However, it was difficult to concentrate on the meeting. The officials were concerned that the Emperor would split up important interests in their position and give it to the Northern nobles. Behind them, there will be nobles whom they each have a connection to. Or, they were concerned that some of the vassals from the days of Grand Duke Evron would be selected and given a high-ranking position with great political influence. Cedric had no intention of doing so. Even if he would have lived for 20 years without a problem, there would never be enough time. It takes half a day to demolish a house, but it takes a long time toy the foundation to build it. It was unknown if it would be possible for one man to dedicate his entire life to rebuilding the foundations of the empire. He wanted to save time. That way he won¡¯t overburden Leticia. In his generation, he must bring the trend of the times to the point where the power of a few cannot stop the change. Even if theter Emperormitted a tyranny, a system had to be put in ce to prevent it. He has already seen how quickly a single tyrant can destroy a country. Such a thing should never have happened again. So, even if there was affection and trust, he had no intention at all to give them an important position with that alone. Even if he said so, not many people really believed it. The more they couldn¡¯t believe him, the more untrustworthy he became. It was a meeting about reestablishing the administrative system in the East, but it could not bepleted because the mind was at the North. Still, Cedric patiently finished all he had to say, and ordered the attendees to bring proper reports and suggestions at the next meeting. By the time he left after the sloppy meeting that hadsted all afternoon, the sun was setting. ¡®It¡¯s not that there¡¯s no result.¡¯ Artizea¡¯s purpose of turning the gaze was definitely achieved. Few would now be interested in such things as priests going quietly to meet the Saintess. Even if someone noticed, they would think it would be a matter of strengthening the voice of the priests from the North within the temple. It was frustrating for Cedric. But he knew it would take too long to resolve it by persuasion. There was no more time for Karam than for him now. Their lifespan would gradually increase, but there was no guarantee that someone with as much understanding and influence as Apua could emerge again in Cedric¡¯s reign. A guarantee that he will be able to meet the same conditions as he is now. [¡°Now is the right time. Even without considering the influence of Prince Apua, there are now a lot of materials that can divert people¡¯s attention without causing major problems to the people¡¯s livelihood.¡±] After his reign waspletely stabilized, it would not be possible to blindly look at the fact that people came from the North as it is now. And perhaps Artizea seemed to be thinking that she should do it while she was still alive. In the end, the Karam problem had to be seen as a tie-up with the temple somehow. Cedric felt bad, but he couldn¡¯t help it. [¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. It¡¯s not that I want to do practical work, it¡¯s just that I¡¯m asking for cooperation from the Archbishop. Once the Archbishop is brought in, he will work hard to make up for himself, even for his own sake.¡±] [¡°Can I not worry about the amount of books you read?¡±] [¡°That, too, is about half a hobby. I¡¯m like Lord Cedric, who reads the paperwork until after midnight the previous day, gets up at 5 a.m. the next day and goes out to wield your sword.¡±] [¡°¡­¡­.¡±] [¡°You are doing something that you can leave behind for the future generation. Do not worry. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m preparing to die, I¡¯m just watching to the extent that interpreters and academic priests can¡¯t do their tricks anymore.¡±] She said so, but Cedric knew that Artizea couldn¡¯t stop at that level ording to her nature. She promised to stop right away if it hurts her health or if she¡¯s tired, but how reliable that will be is unknown. He was aware of his high degree of dependence on Artizea. However, he does not have two such people in the world, and there is no guarantee that they can be trusted even if there is one somewhere, so he continued to rely on her with a heavy heart. Cedric stopped by the Main Pce to change his clothes, but Leticia was there. ¡°Ticia, when did youe?¡± However, the reaction was a little different from usual. Instead of running into his arms calling ¡®Dad¡¯, she put the chair in the middle of the living room and sat with her back from the door, there was no answer. The servants kept their posture upright, but they couldn¡¯t hold back theirughter and were having all kinds of conversations with their faces. Mrs. Keshore bowed down to him without a word. Cedric closed his mouth and pointed to Leticia and asked what was going on with his face. Mrs. Keshore spoke only with the shape of her mouth. ¨C Hide and seek. ¨C Ah. Cedricmented only with his mouth. He had promised Leticiast night that he would y hide and seek with her after they finished the meal. But Leticia fell asleep before dessert was even served. While he was talking to Artizea whether to wake her up or not, there was an urgent report from outside. If she had been awake he would have given an exnation. But she just happened to be asleep, so he just put her to sleep and came out. She seemed to be angry about it. ¡°Ticia.¡± Cedric called Leticia in a friendly voice. Leticia¡¯s shoulders swayed. But she didn¡¯t look back. It was as if she was saying, ¡°Hng!¡± with her whole body. ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°HNG.¡± This time she made a loud sound. Cedric looked at Mrs. Keshore with a puzzled look. Mrs. Keshore shook her head. It was a signal to do as he wanted. Cedric went in to change his clothes. The clothes he was wearing now had decorations with pointed corners. It was a piece of clothing to avoid when carrying a baby. He had originally nned to take a leisurely bath and go to the Empress¡¯ Pce. But now that Leticia is waiting, he simply washed his hands and face and changed intofortable clothes. Then, when he went back to the living room, Leticia was sitting again with her back turned. The wardrobe was inside the bedroom, and the door leading to it was on the opposite side of the door leading to the hallway. In short, while he went in to change his clothes, Leticia turned the chair over and sat with her back to him again. He didn¡¯t know if the smile would disappear from the lips of the servants. Cedric wiped his lips with his palm. If he smiles, she will be angry. In fact, when Leticia was angry, she was cute and heughed so many times that he made her cry. He could never make that mistake today. Cedric said solemnly, squeezing out the wrinkles ofughter that were about to form on his lips several times. ¡°Leticia Maureen, if there is anything wrong,e and tell me.¡± Of course, Cedric had never used such a tone before. But the kings in the fairy tales that he read to Leticia always spoke like this. Leticia flinched. Cedric also coughed once ¡®Uhumm.¡¯ Leticia rocked her butt out of the chair, this time startled. Leticia¡¯s attendants twisted their heads to contain theirughter. The servants of the Main Pce were ustomed to suppressing their emotions more than that, but they could not hold back the corners of their mouths. Cedric walked over to Leticia, bent over to her and made eye contact. ¡°Why are you so upset?¡± Leticia turned her annoyed face around. Cedric had to strain his facial muscles to pull the rising corners of his mouth down again. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, Dad won¡¯t know.¡± The battle between Leticia and Cedric continued for a while. But in the end, Leticia lost. ¡°I hate Dad!¡± Leticia sprang up to her feet and shoved the chair. Cedric took the chair with one hand and held Leticia with the other so she wouldn¡¯t fall over. Leticia burst into tears as he lifted her up. The small clenched fist hit Cedric¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Yesterday, yesterday too, uhuuu, y hide-and-seek together, huwaaaa!¡± ¡°Sorry. It was because Dad had an urgent matter.¡± ¡°Huhhngg, always like that, uwaaa!¡± Cedric patted Leticia on the back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Dad is bad. Huhu, when Mom breaks promise, hhngg, uwaahhh!¡± Leticia couldn¡¯t speak until the very end and began to cry. ¡°Sorry. I was going to exin, but Ticia was sleeping so well and I didn¡¯t want to wake you up.¡± ¡°Then, then, morning?¡± As Leticia teared up, she pulled Cedric¡¯s cor. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say hello?¡± Cedric got up three hours before Leticia¡¯s time to wake up, and he couldn¡¯t take the time to go to breakfast together. But instead of makingme excuses to the child, he apologized frankly. ¡°Dad is sorry that I couldn¡¯t keep my promise with Leticia. Please forgive me.¡± Leticia doesn¡¯t say he was forgiven, but she wraps her arms around Cedric¡¯s neck and rubs her face between his cor. Cedric patted Leticia on the back a few more times and said, ¡°Should we go to Mom?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Eat ice cream together?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Leticia stopped crying and lifted her head. Cedric said, ¡°I heard from the cook this morning. Since the strawberries are in, he was going to put them in the ice storage.¡± ¡°Strawberry! Ice!¡± Leticia eximed and struggled to go down. But when Cedric refused to put her down, she appealed with her words. ¡°I¡¯m fast!¡± ¡°We¡¯re going now, so I can¡¯t give it to you yet.¡± ¡°Iiieeecrreeeaaaammm!¡± It was not something that could be tasted at any time even for the Imperial Family. Cedric was forced to drop Leticia down. Leticia took his hand and trotted with her feet. Yes, it would have been much faster to go there if he held her. Anyway, Leticia still can¡¯t get to the Empress¡¯ Pce on her own feet. ¡®I¡¯m going to wear out my energy like this.¡¯ Cedric grinned as he thought about it. Chapter as17: After Story 17 Proofreader: somnium When they arrived at the Empress¡¯ Pce, the sun had already set. It was a slow walk for Cedric, but Leticia ran and walked. She yelled at him that she was going to go first, but in the end, in the garden of the Empress¡¯ Pce, Leticia reached out her arm. ¡°Dad, hold me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cedric held Leticia up. Some people from Evron, including Mel¡¯s family, were probably staying there, but they didn¡¯t show their faces. Cedric decided that the time he spent at the Empress¡¯ Pce after sunset waspletely private. If there was an urgent matter, he had to go out after receiving the report, but if it was to receive a greeting, he decided to postpone it until tomorrow. Dinner with Mel¡¯s family was due in a few days. The Count Jordyn¡¯s family would need time to adjust. Artizea was waiting in the family dining room. ¡°Mom!¡± Leticia begged toe down, and she immediately jumped into the hem of Artizea¡¯s skirt. Artizea said, stroking the child¡¯s head, ¡°You¡¯rete. It has been a while since the news came that you were leaving the Main Pce.¡± ¡°Because Ticia walk.¡± ¡°Did you really walk?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Leticia hesitated. She didn¡¯t walk all the way, but she did walk all the way to the Empress Pce. She wants to brag that she¡¯s done it, but that doesn¡¯t count? The little thoughts were tangled in her little head. Cedric said, putting his hand on Leticia¡¯s shoulder, ¡°She didn¡¯t walk. She half ran.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Leticia smiled reassuringly. ¡°I see. But why is her face like this? Did you make her cry?¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t keep my promise yesterday and didn¡¯t even say hello.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t help it because you were busy.¡± Artizea said in a low voice. Leticia puffed up her cheeks. ¡°But. If you break promise, you a bad person.¡± ¡°Then, is Dad a bad person?¡± Leticia¡¯s eyes shook. She would have said he was bad without hesitation when she was very angry, but now she wasn¡¯t. Cedric rescues Leticia from the chaos. ¡°Come on, we have to eat now, so let¡¯s go wash your hands and face.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Leticia meekly took Cedric¡¯s hand and moved to the room next door. A porcin basin filled with warm water was prepared on a table made for Leticia¡¯s height. As Cedric rolled up his sleeves, Leticia closed her eyes and dipped her face into the basin, like a knight meeting his adversary. Water overflowed from the basin and sshed in all directions. The servants had expected her to do so in the first ce, so they were waiting with their mop. ¡°Your clothes are all wet, Ticia.¡± Cedric¡¯s warning was to no avail, Leticia stirred the water with her arms. Then, she raised her head sharply, closed her eyes, and buried her face in the towel Cedric was holding. Her bangs were all wet. Cedric sighed and wiped the towel on her forehead. From the moment Leticia was born, he¡¯s been trying to do everything he can while he can, as they couldn¡¯t be together for most of the time. That said, it was also a pity for the servants, so they all bowed their heads. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s clean. Does your eyes hurt?¡± ¡°No hurt.¡± ¡°Then, go with Mrs. Keshore and change your clothes. It¡¯s all wet.¡± ¡°Dad, Ticia¡¯s strawberry ice cream.¡± Leticia tugged at the hem of his pants. ¡°Change your wet clothes and eat afterwards.¡± ¡°Hnng.¡± ¡°No.¡± Leticia tried to sulk again. Cedric thought for a moment. He knew better than Artizea about a valid answer at this time. He was just wondering if it could be done educationally. But today is a day he was sorry for her, he rationalized it himself. ¡°Go and change your clothes ande back, I¡¯ll give you Dad¡¯s, too.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Leticia eximed excitedly. And she ran to Mrs. Keshore. The servants were expecting this too, so Leticia¡¯s new shirt was ready. While Cedric was washing his hands, Mrs. Keshore changed her clothes. Leticia begged to go quickly, and she grabbed Cedric¡¯s hand and dragged him away. Artizea sat at the table, staring nkly at the candle, then raised her head. ¡°Did we take too long?¡± ¡°No.¡± Artizea motioned for them to sit down. Dinner was already set on the table. Cedric did not hide his joyous face as they had Northern-style ham grilled on wood. ¡°Haha.¡± Artizea let out augh. Cedric made a puzzled face. But he soon understood why. ¡°Wow!¡± Seeing therge omelette, Leticia gave a cheer. And after poking the omelette with a spoon, she was excited to see the half-cooked egg flowing out. Now, Cedric knew that Leticia¡¯s face looked exactly like his. However, ¡°Am I making that face?¡± He caressed his cheek awkwardly. Artizea smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t show your face like that.¡± Cedric was relieved. Artizea said as she wiped the eggs Leticia spilled, ¡°I thought it would be better to mix a lot of food familiar to the guests, so I told them to do it. If it¡¯s your favorite food, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something you can find and eat.¡± Cedric replied that way, but Artizea said without answering it otherwise, ¡°Mel brought the chef separately. For the time being, your dishes will be served here as well.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you must have encountered quite a bit of the Central cuisine, but I n to make use of Eastern and Southern ingredients as well. The main purpose is to broaden the horizon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m familiar with it.¡± Cedric denied it again. Artizea smiled brightly. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Ummm.¡± ¡°Because there are many other things that you like. But hams like this don¡¯t take a lot of effort to transport, so it¡¯s good to bring them in sometimes.¡± When Artizea said that, Cedric was embarrassed. ¡°I knew at first. You used to eat it often in the North.¡± This time Cedric shut his mouth and quietly sliced the ham. Each piece of ham was ced on Artizea¡¯s and Leticia¡¯s tes. Leticia swung the omelette in the spoon to her mouth that her cheeks got puffed. Artizea told her not to do that. ¡°It¡¯s just because I¡¯m observant. Even if you like it, it¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of, right?¡± ¡°I never felt ashamed, but¡­¡­.¡± Cedric coughed. There was no shame in having a favorite food. However, it would be a shame if he had a face like Leticia when seeing the omelette. After the meal, strawberry ice cream was served for dessert. Artizea, who doesn¡¯t like the cold too much, had just cream on top of her strawberries. Cedric pushed up his share, and Leticia looked at him with twinkling eyes. ¡°Because it¡¯s a promise.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t mean to give it to her because you were sorry, did you?¡± This time, it was Cedric¡¯s turn to lie. As he flinched, Leticia took his side. ¡°Dad giving it, because Dad loves me.¡± The lie was visible. Artizea was dumbfounded, but she closed her eyes and decided to move on. ¡°Alright. But I¡¯ll tell Mrs. Keshore.¡± ¡°Ummm¡­¡­.¡± Cedric moaned. He had always read that he shouldn¡¯t reward the child with material things, but it didn¡¯t work out because there was a lot of time they couldn¡¯t spend together. Leticia moved the spoon hard, not knowing Cedric¡¯s fate of hearing the naggingter. Cedric only had a cup of tea. Tea with ice was as luxurious as ice cream from spring to autumn. Because in winter nobody wastes body heat, and as the weather warms up, ice bes more expensive. It was the only luxury that Cedric sought after bing emperor. Then, he sighed and asked, ¡°How were the guests?¡± ¡°It was a fruitful meeting. In fact, I thought that even if I said I was studying the words, it wouldn¡¯t really be of any use. But once I get used to it, I feel confident that I can understand everything.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you too eager for something like that?¡± ¡°If you know even part of a word, the interpreter won¡¯t be able to trick it. And more than that, to find simrities in the pronunciation of old northern dialects and ancientnguages.¡± ¡°You¡¯re confident, are you?¡± Artizea nodded her head at Cedric¡¯s question. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have to do some research to find out, but I¡¯m sure it has something to do with at least northern dialects. I have to go back hundreds of years. The pronunciation of the ancientnguage is now only spective, but the Karamnguage can be recorded.¡± That was why she dared to ask the temple to make a dictionary. Most of the academic work on writings andnguages before hundreds of years ago belonged to the temple. It was also the temple that left a record for the North. Artizea has already checked the list. But she had no intention of touching it herself. It was not something that one person can finish in a short period of time, and it would be much easier for her to convince them to find out and study it inside the temple. ¡°Anyway, now we are in the stage where we are learning about each other¡¯s existence. I try to have simple conversations several times.¡± Artizea¡¯s short-term goal was to discover within the temple an academic priest who was interested in this matter. And during the visit, Apua was going to let the Karam people experience the new culture with their body. In fact, none of the items he asked for were important technologically. With the exception of steel wheel axles and some borate hardware, the rest were mostly children¡¯s books, colored pencils, scented candles, pottery, and flower pots. The time allowed was not long. They will leave before the day gets hot. Summer in the Capital was not a weather that Karam could tolerate. Artizea put the strawberry topped with whipped cream in her mouth and suddenly felt nauseous from the sweetness. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I must have eaten too much.¡± It wasn¡¯t that the amount was small in Cedric¡¯s view, but objectively, she ate less than usual. ¡°It must be because I am tired. And I drank too much tea during the day.¡± Artizea said so to Cedric who had a worried face and put down her fork. oho thatst scene *wink wink* Chapter as18: After Story 18 Proofreader: somnium ¡°In that way, Milk lived happily with Grandmother for a long time.¡± Cedric read thest sentence and nced at Leticia. Leticia was asleep, snoozing. ¡°Uuuu, Dad, my Red¡­¡­.¡± Cedric felt a movement, and Leticia turned around. But her muttering seemed to be a sleep talk. The child went far away to thend of dreams. Cedric closed the book and looked at the cover. On the cover of the book was a picture of a fluffy white-haired puppy. It was about a puppy ying hide-and-seek and falling asleep in the cart of the neighbor, and then it went to a distant city, and after an adventure it returned home and reunited with its worried grandmother. Leticia seemed to think of Red just by hearing the word ¡®dog¡¯. Cedric stood up slightly and put the children¡¯s book in its ce. Come to think of it, there were a lot of picture books about dogs on the bookshelf. In the picture she drew while ying during the day, Red was also drawn next to Mom, Dad, and Mielle. Cedric picked it up and smiled bitterly. ¡°I thought she might have forgotten.¡± ¡°I know. I thought that she would only say that when she went there to y.¡± Artizea, who had been sitting a little away, reading her book, stood up and came to his side. Cedric showed her the picture and said, ¡°She¡¯s more persistent than I thought. How about giving her permission now?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that if Lord Cedric thinks it¡¯s right.¡± Cedric looked at Artizea in surprise. ¡°Didn¡¯t you not want it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really not want it, I don¡¯t really dislike it. I was just wondering if we could give her everything she asked just because she begged for it.¡± Artizea answered. ¡°Moreover, it is a living thing.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­. We should watch it closely. It¡¯ll be fine, though. Because Ticia is kind.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric grabbed her hand and folded it into his. The nanny came in and took over. After the two left, the servants closed the veil. Normally, by this time, it was already time to calm down. But today, there were some peopleing and going, and the lights in the hallway were brightly lit. Hannah and a few other vassals were also setting up amodations on the same side of the house that was given to Mel¡¯s family. The number of people increased, and besides, each of them had an important task, so there was no way they could have fallen asleep already. Cedric escorted Artizea to the bedroom. He was going to wait until the time when the Empress¡¯ Pce was all asleep, and then go to the annex quietly by himself. But Artizea sat neatly on the bed and said, ¡°Sit down for a moment.¡± ¡°Do you have anything important to say?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s not important, but there¡¯s something I want to hear.¡± Cedric pulled a chair from the tea table and sat facing Artizea. He felt awkward as he was doing this in the bedroom. Artizea said, ¡°Are you hiding something from me?¡± Cedric looked at Artizea curiously. Of course there were things he didn¡¯t say. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t want to tell her, it¡¯s just too much work. Issues rted to his work were not worth discussing, and after Artizea said that she would retire, he did not ask for her opinions about internal affairs, whether it was big or not But hiding? He had no idea what she was talking about. Artizea spoke first. ¡°Apua told me. After the Thold Gate copsed, you were part of the nine factions that ruled the North.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Cedric was surprised to hear something he hadn¡¯t thought of. Because he never had any intention of hiding it. No, he did hide it. He kept it from being known on the maind rather than hiding it from Artizea. The heretical interrogation of the temple was no longer a cause for concern. However, knowing that the North was notpletely destroyed, there was a possibility that Lawrence would go crazy even more. But he thought Artizea knew. ¡°Did you not know?¡± ¡°I¡¯m proud of myself for being able to roll my head quite a bit, but I didn¡¯t even know that I couldmunicate with Karam, so how would I have thought that an alliance would have been formed?¡± ¡°Otherwise, how did you think I could leave the North and wander around so freely?¡± Artizea paused for a moment. He was right. At the time of Lawrence¡¯s reign, Cedric made a long stay in the West, taking her to tour both the East and North. Artizea had thought he had be one of the warlords of the West after losing thend of Evron. She didn¡¯t know the details. Because she had already retired. But now that she thought about it, it was impossible for him to wander around like that without a base in the North. It¡¯s apletely differentnd from the East, where they can live in abundance. It was something she could judge because she now knew the North. If she thought of it differently, it meant that even if the master left with the knights, the base would be unharmed. ¡°Even if it is an alliance, it is not as political as you think it is. There was no such thing as a proper meeting.¡± Cedric said. ¡°Because the North is wide and there was enoughnd to share. Besides, at that time Karam was more like a nomadic people. Even if it was called an alliance, it was just at a primitive level.¡± ¡°The faction was divided.¡± ¡°There was. There was also an attempt to select a king. But Karam has no concept of territory. Thew follows the conventional, and there is no concept of administration. There is not even a tax.¡± So, even if it¡¯s an alliance, it was to not fight with each other and work together to respond to amon problem, that¡¯s about it. Karam does not move rtive to the ground. Their concept of politics was also different from that of humans. The first thing to check for dispute resolution or profit sharing was blood ties. So even though he joined the alliance, Cedric was an outsider. ¡°Actually, a non-aggression pact was formed not to fight the Knights of Evron any more, and humans did not function as a political force in the North at that time.¡± But that wouldn¡¯tst long either. From the beginning, rather than Evron being recognized as one of the nine factions, it was Cedric who received the same level of respect as the head of each faction. It was a position that would disappear when Cedric grew old and was no longer a great warrior. And that time was soon toe. He was already middle-aged. He had no illness, but his body was not the same as before. His body had reached its limit due to the injuries and fatigue umted over the years. It was of course unreasonable to fight Karam¡¯s great warrior once again. That didn¡¯t mean he had a sessor to fight for him like that. Cedric did not have to tell Artizea such a story. It has already passed. There was no need to add to Artizea¡¯s guilt by saying that the Grand Duke had done so. Instead, there was one thing he was curious about. ¡°I thought it wouldn¡¯t affect the general trend. If¡­¡­ If you had known that, would your judgment have been different?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It was about the time when Cedric asked Artizea for a n. It was useless toe and wonder now. When they needed to go back in time, it was already impossible for humans to decide right from wrong. The total amount of sacrifice would have been reduced. For the two of them as well, in spite of the many sufferings and sorrows they have been through, the situation has improved and they have also had a lovely baby. Nevertheless, there was always a memory of that time in the corner of Cedric¡¯s heart. Artizea thought for a long time with her eyes closed. And she asked cautiously, ¡°Whether I was there or not, could Lord Cedric be able to gather forces from the North and create and as stable as the Lords of the West?¡± ¡°It would have been difficult. In the North, there is no crop that can sustain an army on a small piece ofnd. The administrative ability topensate for that had already been lost.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t hesitate for long. Because it was a problem he had been thinking about countless times. If all the remaining Northerners could be gathered in one area, they might have been able to function as a political force. But Cedric didn¡¯t. He would rather have dered a certainnd as a territory and gathered people there if Karam had a concept of borders, but Karam does not live that way. It would have been possible enough in the West. He could have rallied warlords and crushed those who resisted, taking thend. The reason he didn¡¯t do it was because if he did he would be immediately targeted by the Emperor¡¯s central army. Having a fixed base would make it inevitably happen. Hearing his answer, Artizea said, ¡°Even without my health issues at the time¡­¡­, there¡¯s no way I could do it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. By then, we were both already¡­¡­too old. We didn¡¯t have enough time or people to start building a new foundation in the mud¡­¡­.¡± Artizea murmured. It was not an era when a nation could be a nation where a hero stood tall alone. Artizea thought about how much despair Cedric must have resisted. She spread her arms and Cedric walked over to her and surrendered his body to her embrace. Artizea stroked his hair. ¡°You suffered.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Cedric made a sound that was unknown whether it was augh or a moan. Then, he faced Artizea and hugged her tightly. Chapter as19: After Story 19 Proofreader: somnium The Jordyn family¡¯s dinner table was cordial; for the first hour or so. Count Jordyn¡¯s husband, Juli, was a good and honest person. This was the personality that Mel gave priority to when choosing a marriage partner in the first ce. Good and sincere, healthy and not too greedy, kind and like children. She was the heir to County Jordyn and the future custodian of Evron¡¯s stronghold. Therefore, the one who would be her husband had to be a man who knew how to provide adequate assistance and could provide a healthy heir. Although it was an arranged marriage, the couple had a good rtionship. Juli gave Mel healthy babies, and raised the children without a cloudy face while Mel was out on the battlefield. Although the family fell considerably, nheless, all the people of the stronghold recognized him as the son-inw of the Jordyn family, without any blemish. So was Hayley. She liked Juli. Just as much as she has an age difference with Mel, she has a significant age difference with Juli, too. There were times when she cared for him. However, from the moment they met, more than an hourter, the affection disappeared behind those distant memories. The original family is affectionate when they are not living together. In that sense, Juli was definitely Hayley¡¯s family. ¡°You are already past marriageable age, Hayley.¡± Juli dered with a solemn face. ¡°If you want to have a healthy baby, you have to get married as soon as possible.¡± Hayley struggled to straighten her shriveled face. There were three folds of wrinkles around her eyes, but the corners of her mouth were raised somehow. It was a family meeting after 14 years. She didn¡¯t want to cause a dispute at the table. Besides, Juli wasn¡¯t a person to just speak without a thought. He sincerely believed that the happiest thing for a person to do once they get older is to get married and to have children and raise them. And he himself lived that way. Four years ago, Juli said something simr. That she would be a spinster. But when Hayleyughed and said there was no one suitable, he would end the conversation bymenting that he had no one to introduce. ording to Juli¡¯s standards, there was hardly anyone suitable for Hayley. Hayley also works as an official and she is Jordyn¡¯s daughter, so the husband should prefer to help. However, among young men of suitable status, there were hardly any usible candidates. Juli¡¯s low status also became a bit of a barrier. Later, when Mel bes Count Jordyn and a generation change takes ce, Juli bes the patriarch of the family. If the third husband had a higher status than Juli, the order in the household could be disturbed. Juli once told the second, Fiona¡¯s husband, that he was worried that Hayley might not be able to meet her partner because ofck of himself. Hayley heard this from Fiona and closed her eyes tightly. She wanted to scream. [¡°The problem is, even if you say no, eldest brother-inw will never understand.¡±] Hayley said so, pretending to plug her ears tightly. But Fiona turned her gaze away and said she didn¡¯t know what Hayley wanted to say. [¡°It¡¯s not like brother-inw¡¯s worries arepletely unfounded.¡±] [¡°What right does the husbands of three daughters have topete as the future patriarch?¡± [¡°To be honest, though, how do people be like that? It¡¯s not that we didn¡¯t know each other until now, and honestly, he¡¯s that kind of person. Well, you¡¯re smart, so you understand people who create disputes over things like that.¡±] Thest sentence was to tell her to listen to it no matter how much she disagreed. Then, Hayley recalled that thought again. The family, too, had to be distant to be affectionate. In that regard, Hayley was well aware that she was not fit to start her own family. She loved her parents and her sisters. She respected Mel, and she liked their children, too. However, when they were together, it was difficult to breathe, just like when she had a fever. ¡°When you were in Evron, it was difficult to find a suitable person for you, isn¡¯t it different now? I heard that Her Majesty is very fond of you.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­. That¡¯s right¡­¡­.¡± Hayley replied without hesitation. Mel¡¯s eldest son Isdin, who was sitting across from her, giggled. Hayley kicked Isdin¡¯s ankle under the table. Mel opened her mouth. ¡°Stop it.¡± ¡°But Mel.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve seen each other, and if we just nag, we¡¯ll get hated.¡± Juli bit his mouth. Hayley sighed in relief. But then her spine chilled. ¡°I¡¯m sure she will take good care of herself. It¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t have a man to meet.¡± Those words only sounded like a warning to be careful. It felt like the pieces of bread she was chewing were made of grains of sand. Hayley nced secretly and saw Juli¡¯s eyes twinkling. ¡°Ah, I see! I didn¡¯t know that. Well, our Hayley is so smart that she wouldn¡¯t have met anyone in our narrow stronghold, but the Capital is different.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t put too much pressure on her, Juli.¡± ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t mean to burden her. It¡¯s because I¡¯m happy.¡± Juli would have meant it. At least, it was definitely for Hayley rather than Fiona. This is driving her crazy. Hayley sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that?¡± ¡°I still have a lot of work to do. Now is not the time to be interested in such things. Besides, if I marry, I will have restrictions on my actions, but right now, I am busy only supporting the Empress ¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your life will be more stable if you have a spouse, Hayley.¡± Hayley pursed his lips andughed. Does marriage make it stable? To do that, she has to meet a man like Juli and get help, but she will go crazy with frustration. It was then. The savior hase. The servant who knocked on the dining room door cautiously entered and handed Hayley a note. Meet me in a moment. It was only that, but it was enough to know whose it was. Hayley put down the napkin and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to go out for a while.¡± ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°Enjoy your meal. Brother-inw, don¡¯t make that face. We are going to live together for a while.¡± It¡¯s frustrating that it¡¯s driving her crazy. Hayley added that in her heart, and left the dining room. * * * It was still chilly at night, but it felt like a summer night for Northerners. Without a shawl, Hayley went out in her sheer indoor dress. The wind was refreshing because she was hot under the stress. She went out into the garden, and Freil was waiting with amp. ¡°Hey, where¡¯s your coat?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just for a moment. It¡¯s not cold, why are you wearing outerwear? And, where are you going?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that. Amp?¡± ¡°I have it. Here.¡± Freil looked at themp in her hand. It seemed to mean that it was all she needed. ¡°I have to go back to the Main Pce.¡± ¡°What. Won¡¯t you take me?¡± ¡°No, not that.¡± ¡°Or, do you need time until the lights go out?¡± ¡°No, not even that.¡± Freil replied. Hayley shrugged her shoulders. The two took a short walk in the garden. There was nowhere to go. It would be foolish to think that something could be hidden in the Imperial Pce with eyes on the walls and floors. ¡®Sometimes the problem is that you do such stupid things yourself.¡¯ Hayley looked up nkly at the night sky and thought. It was a clear day, so the sky looked like it was going to be full of stars. ¡°How was it? It must have been a long time since you saw your family.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference after a long time? It¡¯s nice to meet them, Eldest Sister is scary, and I hate getting nagged. Oh, I was surprised that my nephew was so grown up.¡± ¡°Did you get nagged at home?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°My grandfather is a person who will give you meals and a bed, so you can do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡­.¡± Freil lost both his parents and grandmother at a young age and was raised by his grandfather. She remembered hearing stories about him being an incredibly free spirit. ¡°Well¡­¡­. Not just Eldest Sister, but Eldest Brother-inw.¡± Freil looked at Hayley with pitying eyes. He did not have any personal acquaintance with Juli. But he knew about Jordyn¡¯s eldest son-inw, as much as others knew. ¡°Well, that¡¯s fine. What are you going to talk about?¡± Hayley asked, shaking her head sharply. Freil hesitated for a moment. Cedric advises that when ites to mind, he has to speak up so he doesn¡¯t regret it. He was determined to listen to the advice, but it was not easy for him to speak out at first. ¡°Dame Mel brought me up on the matter of the Northern Governor. I think I am going to talk again about it with His Majesty tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Hayley bit her lips. She, too, was aware of the problems involved with Freil¡¯s appointment as Governor of the North. In fact, if she doesn¡¯t think about Freil¡¯s personal problems and just looks at it purely politically, it would be better for him to get married and take his post. The best partner would be a daughter from a central official who is emerging with a prestigious ss. If the time bes difficult, then the knights of the North would be fine. Hayley had aplicated mind. ¡°Are you not going to tell me to go or not to go?¡± ¡°Does my opinion matter? What¡¯s our rtionship?¡± Hayley answered in a hostile way, unknowingly. It was because she heard a lot of nagging about marriage a while ago. That didn¡¯t mean she wanted Freil to propose. Marriage was not what she wanted. People she did not choose follows her husband into her family, and the kinship continues to expand after that. Her mother or her second sister said she was unusual. That¡¯s normal, and the rtionships that result from doing so support each other¡¯s lives. Mel, who was in charge of everything, used to smile. [¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t think the responsibility is heavy. But that responsibility also makes people stronger.¡±] She thought that maybe she was of a different race from her oldest sister. It wasn¡¯t that she wasn¡¯t gripped with some urge from time to time. But she had already missed that moment. Now, Hayley was stable. Artizea withdrew from the front and became the ruler of the Empress¡¯ Pce. Artizea¡¯s judgment that she would adjust well to Capital life and might move for power was not wrong. Hayley was now satisfied. It was rewarding and substantial. In a few years, she had ns to share the responsibilities with Hazel and move forward as an official. Considering the many challenges she faces in public life, her private life was just good to be drinking tea in the sun in afortable room. If she thinks about it that way, it seems that there is something called the ¡®appropriate time¡¯ that Juli used to say. Hayley was about to walk back, but Freil grabbed her hand. Hayley looked back at him, bewildered. ¡°I am going to the North.¡± The tension released from Hayley¡¯s shoulders. It let her know what made her nervous. She shook her hand away, and Freil let go. ¡°Good for you. His Majesty will be pleased.¡± ¡°Hayley.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hayley realized that she wasn¡¯t smiling. So, she deliberately pulled up the corners of her mouth with her two fingers to make a smiling face. ¡°Congrattions.¡± ¡°Is it something to congratte?¡± ¡°Actually, that¡¯s what you wanted to do the most, right? Isn¡¯t your ambition to have power or swimming in a mountain of gold coins.¡± Freil¡¯s eyes rolled. ¡°I have power, but I want a mountain of gold coins.¡± ¡°Then, it would be illogical to be Governor of the North. Ask him to send you to the South.¡± Hayley exined. Chapter as20: After Story 20 Proofreader: somnium ¡°In the South, gold coins roll into your pocket just by being an official of a small city.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time dream of mine to be a duck that sucks honey safely. If possible, it would be better if there was less work.¡± Freil replied. Of course, Hayley knew it was a joke. Heughed quite a bit, but the conversation was cut off there. Hayley didn¡¯t think about anything. Freil walked silently for a while, then carefully chose his words. ¡°I thought about various things, but I thought it was the right thing to do. After all, it¡¯s home. Grandfather is there, too.¡± ¡°Returning home with gold.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean that.¡± Freil scratched an eyebrow with his little finger. And he said frankly, ¡°Actually, I wasn¡¯t going to go back for a while. Sometimes, my grandfather would havee to see me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I know.¡± Hayley had the same idea. The North was a breathtaking ce. It was home, and it was familiar. She had family and she had friends. But being there was frustrating. There were times when she thought that it was as if she was born with only gills and was living in a drynd without water. It¡¯s not that she came to love the Capital more than the North. Hayley is disgusted with all the intrigues that take ce here, and the number of those whom she hates is innumerable. In the North, closely connected by blood and kinship, she could also see the ugly malice that could not be revealed in various ways. But the Capital had vitality. In a sense different from the breadth of thend, their society was wide. There were some whom she could admire as much as she scorn. Not all things are moving in the right direction, but the world is moving in the direction of improvement. Hayley had no intention of returning to that stagnant world again. And it would be the same with Freil. Because he felt the same frustration as her. So, it was easy to open her heart. No matter how smart Hazel was, and no matter how smart Artizea¡¯s thoughts were, there was only Freil who could sympathize with her from his heart. Perhaps, the same goes for Freil. He can¡¯t talk like this with Cedric. Something at the bottom of her heart that could not be shared with others ovepped with his. She received an understanding and empathy she couldn¡¯t even hope for from her family. So she could sincerely congratte him. ¡°Four years ago¡­¡­, No, I never thought that an opportunity like this woulde even two years ago. The opportunity to make changes with my own hands hase.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Freil replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think I have the power to change the North. It¡¯s not like I really want to be a governor or anything like that. But I think it will be possible to convey the direction His Majesty is pointing toward without distortion.¡± ¡°You can do it.¡± Because there are many thoughts that have umted in his mind until now. And he had many thoughts within himself. ¡°Hayley.¡± Freil stopped his steps. It wasn¡¯t until she heard him call up that Hayley realized that she had been preupied with bottomless thoughts. That thought was in vain. This was the right thing to do. Freil will do just fine. And she herself will remain in the Capital. First of all, who were they to each other? As a colleague and as a friend, she was able to celebrate, so that was enough. The chance to be something else, she doesn¡¯t know if there was, but it¡¯s already gone. Still, her heart ached. When Hayley turned around, Freil had a vaguely strange face, as if he was smiling. Hayley realized that she must have made a face like that herself. Luckily, she wasn¡¯t holding amp, so Freil wouldn¡¯t be able to see her face for sure. ¡°I want to stay in the North for 10 years.¡± Freil said. ¡°The world won¡¯t all change in 10 years, but at least I will be able to check whether my thoughts are correct or not.¡± ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± ¡°So.¡± Freil reached out and took Hayley¡¯s hand. Hayley flinched, but she didn¡¯t dare avoid it. ¡°When that timees, I will retire and try to build a house in a suitable ce. Not in a crowded ce, but on a quiet outskirts, with a spacious terrace, and a tea table in front of the firece.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I want you to leave that house for work.¡± It was a hunch from the moment Freil said he was going to build a house, but Hayley couldn¡¯t get the words out because her throat was stuffed. ¡°It¡¯s not about getting married. But, I can only think of Hayley as the person to be with in that house.¡± ¡°You would need a separate cab to store 10 years¡¯ worth of letters.¡± Hayley said in a locked voice. Freilughed. ¡°Don¡¯tugh. I haven¡¯t said yes, yet. What a tactless person.¡± ¡°I am not that tactless.¡± ¡°I know. I see your head spinning while you work. You are deliberately not looking at yourself.¡± ¡°That needs to be understood by Hayley. I may be from a knight ss, but at best, the only connection is my grandfather who was the second son of a knight. On the contrary, I¡¯m the grandson of a cksmithing house. Even from that position, I was chosen as His Majesty¡¯s lieutenant. How should I live knowing all these things? ¡°Oh my. Are you trying to im that living with your eyes closed is being self-conscious?¡± Hayley shook her head. and she said, ¡°So, you are thinking about what to do after 10 years with the retirement, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Freil was holding Hayley¡¯s hand in one hand and themp in the other, and wondered what to do because his hands were not enough. Hayley reached out to Freil to take out themp. Freil handed her themp and put his hand in his arms. What he pulled out of his arms was a ck velvet pouch. He foolishly opened the pocket with only one hand and tried to take out the contents, but it didn¡¯t work, so he shook it and made a fuss. Hayley looked at the scene with a puzzled look. When he¡¯s normal, he¡¯s fine, when he was working, he was quite cool, she was upset that he has these many embarrassing sides. ¡°Let go of my hand and take it out.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right.¡± After taking out the contents, the velvet bag was tossed on the floor. Out of the pocket was a two-row pink sapphire bracelet. The idiot grabbed it and scratched the side of his eyebrow with his little finger again. Hayley almost shot at him as a man who wouldn¡¯t find romance even by scourging the floor. ¡°Honestly, when His Majesty bought this as an engagement gift, I wondered why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It seems fine. It¡¯s less heavy than a ring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably not why he bought the bracelet.¡± If it was Cedric, he would have bought it thinking that it would suit Artizea¡¯s wrist in her own way. He hung the bracelet on Hayley¡¯s wrist, which Freil was holding. ¡°I know diamond bracelets are in style as an engagement gift, but I don¡¯t like the ones Her Majesty always wears.¡± ¡°Are we engaged now?¡± ¡°Without a decent rtionship, Dame Mel will blow off my wrist, even if only in name.¡± Freil finally let Hayley go. ¡°Hmm,¡± Hayley said, lifting her wrist and looking through the bracelet. ¡°It¡¯s a good choice for you, I like it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°By the way, this won¡¯t work, though?¡± Freil tilted his head. Hayley looked at him, who had a genuinely ignorant face. ¡°I told you to do one of the two things, whether we break up or you go to the North, because you can¡¯t be the son-inw of the Joydyn family, but if you get engaged with me, what¡¯s the use of that? I¡¯m not even going to make an official announcement that we¡¯re engaged, even though we¡¯re engaged in name.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Freil opened his mouth. ¡°You really didn¡¯t think about it?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I believed in a man like this.¡± Hayley snorted. Then, she picked up the velvet pouch from the floor, dusted it off, and put it in her pocket. ¡°There is something wrong with your n in the first ce. Can you retire in 10 years?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Freil turned away from reality. Hayleyughed out loud. As she reached out her hand, Freil quietly took themp back, and he took her hand. Instead of being escorted by him, Hayley sped his hand and moved back again. ¡°You won¡¯t take off the bracelet?¡± ¡°Shall I take it off?¡± ¡°No¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go home and take it off, okay? If I keep it well and don¡¯t change my mind even after 10 years, I¡¯ll wear it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s not even a diamond after all, can¡¯t you just say you got it as a gift?¡± ¡°Then, can I say that it was a gift from a man whose identity cannot be revealed?¡± Freil bit his lips in a gloomy mood. Hayley¡¯s heart was somehow lighter, and she smiled. Then Freil grumbled, ¡°Why are youughing so much? Are you so d you didn¡¯t make any promises with me?¡± ¡°Of course. It is very sweet to think that you will be courted after 10 years, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, would you like to take the bracelet back now?¡± Freil said with a resigned face, ¡°Let¡¯s try. But, where are we going now?¡± While walking, they got quite far from the Empress¡¯ Pce. The light slowly faded away, and now only the moonlight and the singlemp Freil was holding were illuminating the path. ¡°Anywhere, where there are no other people.¡± ¡°In the middle of the night?¡± Freil stopped, trying to respond reflexively, as was his habit. Hayley turned her head to the side to avoid his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Actually, I wanted to say this.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I may have made a lot of mistakes, but I have never had an ident.¡± Freil said so and lowered his head. Chapter as21: After Story 21 Proofreader: somnium This spring has been a very busy time for western administrators. In addition to thend ledger arrangement, the restructuring n was introduced. The proposal of one of the agricultural overseer was epted. It was taken for granted in the East, but it was the first time in the West. In fact, until now in the West, except for some areas close to the central, there was no need to care about agriculturalnd. This is because there were times when they cannot regrly farm because of the monster wave. Moreover, most farmers in the West are self-employed. Thend had to be farmed for a year to barely make a living, and if they had any wealth, they had to prepare for a monster wave. Therefore, it was impossible to intentionally let thend rest. But this year was different. There was a monster wavest winter, but most of them were blocked by rivers and walls. ¡°In the first ce, we should not make a policy based on the copse of the wall. If we continue cultivating as we are now, then wouldn¡¯t the limits of our agriculturalnde?¡± Cedric said so and rallied widely among western officials. The report piled up like a tower and it was sent to each ministry before calling a meeting. ¡°The West is prosperous, so there will be no problems for the time being. It hasn¡¯t even been a few years since the economy started spinning.¡± ¡°They said that these days, spring wheat and winter wheat are being nted one after another on the samend. It¡¯s money these days.¡± ¡°The grain dealers are moving tremendously. It¡¯s a big help to the extent of them voluntarily doing road repairs.¡± ¡°Most of the farmers are not moving with a long-term n in mind right now. All they can do now is earn as much as they can and prepare for the next monster wave. We can¡¯t do that, can we? We have to be determined to stop the monster wave unconditionally, and think about what happens after that. If the wheat yield declines in 10 years, are we going to survive off of Melbon again after that?¡± ¡°If we think about 10 years from now, now is the time to raise money and expand the infrastructure. You spoke well. To stop the monster wave, we need to prioritize supply routes and construction, not just investing in the Western Army! It¡¯s not a good idea to just focus on how to farm right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying we should discuss the affairs of the Ministry of Defense right now!¡± The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture shed in the Imperial Pce conference room. Chancellor Lin said it was a good meeting and smiled. It was so healthy and happypared to the time when they discussed only how to keep the Western Army on a minimum budget and to bring in taxes while squeezing military power to the castle lords. An agricultural overseer, Forb, like a sack of wheat, sat in a corner and listened to the discussions idly by. He was highlymended for his discovery of Melbon, and was conferred a barony after Cedric became emperor. It was good up to that point. It was the glory of his life. A feast was held in his hometown, and his acquaintances gave him all kinds of gifts. Above all else, there was nothing more joyous than to think that the future of his children had been opened brightly. He consulted with his wife, and put together all the riches he had received as his reward. He intended to educate all of his grandchildren to college. But when he came to the ceremony, he did not think he would be seated in the Imperial Pce. [¡°Most of the senior positions from the West are in the Ministry of Defense. Of course, it can be said that defense is the most important thing because there is nothing more to lose if you lose your life. But in the end, the basis of people¡¯s livelihood is in the mouth, isn¡¯t it?¡±] [¡°Yes, yes.¡±] [¡°I need someone like Lord who is straight-forward and can do practical things. Please stay in the Capital and work for me.¡±] Forb was thrilled with the undeserved honor of having an audience alone with the Emperor, but he considered these words to be a courtesy. But the Emperor said, [¡°Of course, as an emperor, I am very proud of Lord¡¯s achievements, but more than that, I am grateful as an individual whose hometown is in the North.¡±] [¡°Yes?¡±] [¡°What I couldn¡¯t aplish no matter how hard I tried, and things that would have been difficult if it was not for a wise person who worked on it, was done based on the character and trust you have built up throughout your life. Half the power that saved the North is from Lord.¡±] By the time it got here, Forb was half insane. He came out shouting that he would be faithful by giving his allegiance unconditionally, but he thought he was crazy when his excitement was gone. He returned to the hotel where his wife was waiting and banged his head against the wall. [¡°I must be crazy. How can I work in the Imperial Pce when I have been touching the soil from our field to the others all my life? With those smart and high-ranking people.¡±] [¡°His Majesty must have just said something to congratte you. Isn¡¯t it?¡±] [¡°Oh, is that so?¡±] [¡°Honestly, isn¡¯t it time for you to stop working because you¡¯re all old now? So, I guess you¡¯ll be given something like an honorary title. Maybe it¡¯s just to set an example as you have lived this hard.¡±] [¡°Then, I¡¯m relieved. Huh, thinking about it, you¡¯re right.¡±] [¡°Let¡¯s take this opportunity to buy a house in the Capital, too. Wouldn¡¯t it be better here for children to study and learn?¡±] [¡°That¡¯s right, yes.¡±] But before the couple could find a ce to live, the house came down as a reward. It cannot be called a nobleman¡¯s house, but it was a small two-story house with a pretty good garden. [¡°I think it¡¯s to let people know that you will be rewarded if you are faithful to your work under any circumstances.¡±] Forb was almost convinced that way. He had no idea that he would really be attending the meeting hosted by the Chancellor. It was not for a small policy, but a big decision that affected the entire western farnd. No matter how much he thought about it, it was not a meeting in which a person like him could be involved. But as he listened, his mouth was itchy and it was hard to bear. Chancellor Lin noticed that Forb was holding back his words. ¡°Do you have anything to say, Lord Forb?¡± ¡°Oh, what? Yes. That is¡­¡­.¡± Forb stuttered. He broke into a cold sweat when he met with high-ranking officials because of his rise to fame. But he had to say something. ¡°Most Westerners don¡¯t know what fallownd is.¡± The Ministry of Agriculture officials looked puzzled. Forb started out stuttering, but as he spoke, his voice became more and more confident as he was talking too much of the obvious thing. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean you just leave thend unattended, right? If you tell them to make use of thend instead of abandoning it due to the monster wave, everyone will start thinking about reiming the devastated fields.¡± ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡­ It always happens. I always hear stories about border disputes in arablend.¡± An official from the West murmured. He was the son of a wealthy family, and he had never experienced it firsthand because he hade to study in the Capital early. But it will certainly be like what Forb said. He guessed it. ¡°The resistance will be extraordinary. It is one of the most difficult things for farmers. So we need to educate ourselves before we worry about running out of agriculturalnd.¡± The audience listened. Forb licked saliva on his parched lips. ¡°And if you are concerned about the depletion of agriculturalnd, you should organize the legal system for reiming rather than fallow.¡± ¡°Reiming?¡± ¡°If yields are low due to ack of agriculturalnd, we can abandon farnd and continue to clear newnd. Until now, in the West, once a monster wave has passed, there are a lot of things that have to start over anyway, so I don¡¯t know why they didn¡¯t manage it.¡± ¡°Oh, thend ledger is going to be messed up for some other reason than the East.¡± ¡°If itsts a decade or so, the problem will be very serious. The ins in the West are much wider than in the East.¡± The officials of the Ministry of Finance and Agriculture quickly agreed on amon problem. And thanked Forb . ¡°If Lord Forb had not pointed it out, we would have missed the most important issue.¡± ¡°We must integrate agricultural rearrangement and agriculturalnd-rted education at once. As you said, it would be good to implement the restructuring n in advance, even in some regions.¡± The meeting was decided primarily. Unlike the time when Forb entered the conference room, when he came out, his legs gained strength. His shoulders were straight. Didn¡¯t he act quitepetently today? ¡°Lord Forb.¡± Chancellor Lin called him. Forb looked back in surprise. His heart raced, wondering if he had done something wrong. He looked back at the etiquette that he had memorizedst night until he couldn¡¯t sleep. He should have bowed to the Chancellor again before he came out. However, Chancellor Lin suggested that he didn¡¯t have to do that, but in a polite and kind manner. ¡°How about having a cup of tea in themon room for old men to rx?¡± ¡°Me, me, with the, the Chancellor?¡± ¡°The number of young people is increasing these days, so it¡¯s good for everyone to work hard, but it¡¯s a bit tiring for an old man to keep up. You have to rest in between.¡± Chancellor Lin smiled mischievously. Forb smiled awkwardly after him. ¡°It¡¯s good to see.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll soon find out that it¡¯s only good to look at.¡± Without understanding the true meaning of those words, Forb willingly followed Lin, thinking that tea time with the Chancellor would once again renew the glory of his life. * * * In doing so, officials in the West had to take on an enormous amount of work. Even if the upper management gave guidelines and budgets, in the end, the actual work had to be done from the bottom. ¡°That¡¯s why I ask for your cooperation, Miss Lysia.¡± Secretary Ranie reported. In policies targeting self-employed farmers in the West, a grain loan office was inevitably involved. In the past two years, a significant number of new officers have been hired. However, the administrative power still did not reach the entire western region. A new register and agricultural map were being written. The ledger of the grain loan office was much more urate than the government office¡¯s that they must ask for the cooperation. Even after the gue had subsided, Lysia remained in the West. It is hard to say if there are more pitiful feelings in the North, or more in the West, and it was difficult to distinguish between superiority and inferiority. But it was the West that actually needed Lysia. The North could move with Cedric¡¯s orders alone, but the West needed an otherwise influential person. However, she did not assume the position of Governor of the West. Lysia knew that she had little administrative capability. It is better to remain as a symbol. In the West, she was the little saintess who drove the gue away. Lysia imed to be the Saintess¡¯ agent and the Westerners did not hesitate to worship her, knowing that it was the Empress who caused the miracle to prevent the flood damage., It was just right because the Saintess was in charge of the grain loan office both as a symbol and as a substance. It was also positive to give the impression that the Empress cared for the West through the grain loan office. Lysia folded the letter, which she had been holding for hours, and put it back in the envelope, even though she had read it all. Normally, when people visit for an important issue, Lysia usually meets with them in person. But when she got the letter, she told them not to disturb her for a while. So she asked Ranie to wait, instead. Ranie nced at the envelope on the desk. It doesn¡¯t look like there was anything special among the many letters brought to Lysia today. The secretary wondered if there was a plea that particrly touched Lysia¡¯s heart. Chapter as22: After Story 22 Proofreader: somnium Lysia took the envelope and went towards the furnace. Because it was a mild day, there was no fire in the firece, and the brazier seemed to be extinguished. Lysia stirred the brazier with the poker to revive the embers. And she put the envelope there, took a bottle of oil and sprinkled a few drops. Rainier widened her eyes. She wondered what kind of letter she was burning like that. Lysia said, ¡°Of course, we have to cooperate. We have nothing to hide, so let¡¯s make the bookspletely public.¡± ¡°Sir Adevan will object.¡± ¡°The grain loan office does not need authority.¡± After Lysia spoke, she thought for a moment. ¡°But if we have applied for it, whether it¡¯s for budget, manpower, or information, it should be approved.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rainier had a bright face. Although she was not in a position to be ignored wherever she went as Lysia¡¯s secretary, of course, it was true that there was a subtle quarrel between the grain loan office and the administrative office. ¡°Let¡¯s leave the responsibility of the audit to Sir Adevan. You are responsible for cooperative support.¡± ¡°What? Me?¡± Rainier was startled. ¡°The winter wheat harvested this year is already bountiful. The warehouse is full, so it won¡¯t be a big deal.¡± ¡°Where¡­¡­ are you going?¡± Rainier asked cautiously. Lysia spoke softly, as if it was nothing, ¡°I¡¯m going to the Capital for a few days.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a personal matter. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Even so, considering the time it takes to travel, it will take two months. Rainier had a concerned face. ¡°I will organize an escort squad as soon as possible.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯m going to go lightly. It is a private business.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°It takes too long to take escorts. It¡¯s faster to just go with a couple of knights.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going alone, right?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m going to ask Sir Joffrey and Sir Adele. On the way, I will use the Western Army Garrison.¡± Still, Rainier had a troubled face. Lysia was an important person. There were never a few people who would mobilize force to take advantage of her or to eliminate her influence. Lysia said as if she knew the truth, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t be the same as before. It was an unstable and ugly time in many ways at that time. It¡¯s different from back then.¡± Behind those words, she was hiding that the one who was obsessed with her was gone, but it was something that Rainier did not know. Rainier couldn¡¯t help but nod her head. When Lysia had already decided, she had no power to stop it. ¡°What about Venia?¡± ¡°What to do? Leave her to what she¡¯s doing.¡± ¡°Next month, she will be upset if she finds out that Miss Lysia left her alone.¡± Rainier shrugged her neck a little. She had a hard time with Venia. Even though she was younger than Rainier. Her work skills were mature for her age. Lysia sent Venia to the department overseeing the grain loan so that she could keep moving. She wanted to soften Venia¡¯s heart a little bit by going to various ces and observing the changes. It seemed too early. Venia, unable to release her umted emotions, was relying on Lysia for her unstable state. But one day she will change. For Venia now, neither just the westernnds, nor Lysia herself, was an object of love, but more of an object to which she clings to endure despair. So when she understands that her despair is over, the day wille when her heart will be opened and she will see the world through full eyes. Venia was a strong enough child, Lysia believed her. ¡°I¡¯m going to write her a letter, so give it to her when Venia arrives. Even if shees, she¡¯s busy and she¡¯ll have to go out again soon anyway.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lysia gave Rainier a few more instructions. Even though she was the head of the grain loan office, she was not directly involved in the business. All she had to do was decide on the basic policy. Early on, she left the office and headed for her private residence. She simply packed her things and left, and the two knights had arrived. Lysia said her greetings with her light heart. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Capital.¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Lysia.¡± Lysia put the pistol into her waist onest time. It was the first time in two years. £ª£ª£ª It was at the end of April that the Empress Dowager returned from her trip. If she had gone to avoid the weather, she would have returned at just the right time. But she stayed a little longer than that, so Artizea wondered. ¡°I heard Southerners say that summer is the best part of a trip to the South Sea, but you came back early.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t sea fishing and boating too difficult at this age? After living in the Capital for a long time, the heat is hard to bear now.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Did nothing happen?¡± ¡°Yes. Nothing happened. There are many things that happen in history, but there is nothing that will change the social circle of the Capital in the short term.¡± The social world was fluctuating with the arrival of the northern nobles, including Mel. However, once they knew that the Emperor had no ns to focus on the northern nobles, it was nothing. It¡¯s for a distraction anyway. The issue of Karam was a secret even to the Empress Dowager. And the exchange with the temple was going smoothly to the extent that it went unnoticed. ¡°How is the South? Seeing that you came back early, it doesn¡¯t seem like a big deal, right?¡± ¡°What do you mean by big deal?¡± ¡°Like increasing armaments in the Eidel Kingdom.¡± ¡°It¡¯s something that always happens, so I feel refreshed.¡± ¡°It is.¡± ¡°Rather than that, it is noisy over the king¡¯s marriage. Atst, it seems that Eimmel¡¯s vassals have reached their limit.¡± ¡°Is that so? Is there a proper queen candidate?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing particrly new about it. They say that from the beginning they were going to choose princesses of several countries with marriage alliances in mind.¡± ¡°The power map in the South will also fluctuate.¡± Artizea answered indifferently. It is unknown which country Eimmel decided to ally with. But nowhere has there been a princess so ambitious and daring enough to be Cadriol¡¯s lifepanion. Rather, if the new queen tries to cause internal disputes or fight for power, only Eimmel¡¯s national power will be consumed. ¡®It might be better to have a queen who is not famous. Even King Cadriol would know.¡¯ Interestingly, it was unlikely that it would be such aplex political problem that the Empire would have to take it seriously. ¡°More than that, I got a lot of gifts from Iantz.¡± It was then. CRASH-BANG! The living room door swung open so hard. The Empress Dowager frowned, but when she saw the child jumping in, she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Grammaa!¡± Leticia screamed and ran with all her might. But she flinched before she rushed to the Empress Dowager¡¯sp. The Empress Dowager looked down at the child with a happy smile, and then she grinned. ¡°Ticia forgot Grandma¡¯s face.¡± ¡°I, I ¡­¡­ not.¡± Leticia got very shy. She hadn¡¯t forgotten, but she seemed to be hiding her face after seeing the Empress Dowager after a long time. The Empress Dowager put her hand under Leticia¡¯s and held her up. ¡°Oh, you got heavy. Even after a few more months, it will be difficult to hold you like this.¡± ¡°Compared to the amount she eats, she is not gaining that much weight.¡± ¡°It must all be piling up on the bones. Because Cedric did.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°He fell from the ceiling and hit an iron gpole without breaking a single bone.¡± ¡°What?¡± Artizea asked. What does it mean to fall from the ceiling? The Empress Dowager turned her gaze back and forth. But Artizea¡¯s living room wasn¡¯t veryvishly decorated, so it didn¡¯t have the kind of drapery she was looking for. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have it here? An Imperial Insignia to be hung in conference rooms or reception rooms.¡± ¡°Ah yes. It goes down from the ceiling to the point where it almost touches the floor.¡± ¡°He imed it up to the ceiling and fell; in my parlor.¡± Because it was a ce to be dignified, it was more than half a floor higher than other ces. Artizea widened her eyes. The Empress Dowager was happy because it was a face that Artizea was rarely seen with. ¡°Did you not know?¡± ¡°Why did he climb it up like that?¡± Then, the Empress Dowager¡¯s face darkened a little. It was because she remembered the past. ¡°Pavel flew his kite there. Since the floor height is higher than other ces, he must have thought that it was sufficient. It got caught and it looked like he was going to take it down because he was afraid of Pavel being scolded.¡± Then he fell, terrifying the nanny and attendant. The Empress Dowager also scolded him for greatly shocking her. Luckily he wasn¡¯t hurt, so he couldugh and say something. Artizea also grinned. ¡°Then, it¡¯s a lie to say he didn¡¯t hang on the curtains like Ticia did. He didn¡¯t ¡®ride it like a swing¡¯, not that he never climbed it up.¡± ¡°Ticia, you, too?¡± ¡°Aaahhh.¡± When the Empress Dowager looked at her, Leticia, who was in herp, covered her face with her hands. She was scolded several times for that. The Empress Dowager warned with a smile, ¡°You must be careful with the stair railing.¡± ¡°Ticia isn¡¯t that tall yet, but I have to be prepared.¡± ¡°So is the sled.¡± ¡°I have to let them ride a sled and y.¡± ¡°On the stairs.¡± Unlike Ansgar, the Empress Dowager had no reason to protect Cedric¡¯s face. ¡°Pavel was very mischievous. Cedric may be pretending to get involved, but he was never innocent.¡± ¡°The nanny must have had a hard time.¡± ¡°If she takes her eyes off them, they disappear at that moment. There were times when I thought about using several servants, but that was not an easy task¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes. idents happen if there is no one watching, but there might be a mix of people who cause idents¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ticia doesn¡¯t have that concern, so you can get a bunch of people.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizeaughed. aaaahh had a goodugh knowing cedric¡¯s childhood embarrassing stories :p Chapter as23: After Story 23 Proofreader: somnium The two then talked about the marriage of Celine, Lady Viscount Pescher. The Empress Dowager originally nned to help Lady Viscount Pescher find a partner from a prestigious family. To make a new connection and strengthen exchanges with noble families. It was absolutely necessary to rebuild a family that had once copsed. ¡°But now that I think about it, I wonder if I have to.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t there a family in the South that could be used?¡± ¡°To say no is like spitting in my face.¡± The Empress Dowager smiled bitterly. ¡°If I only think of them as a Viscounty, there would be a perfect partner, but my heart is not like that. If they are ambitious, the children will suffer.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Despite saying this, Gregor chose people really well. Just thinking about it, it¡¯s hard to find someone like Count Eunice or Count Josiah.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it, too.¡± Artizea said. ¡°If you don¡¯t think about family traditions, it will be easier to find. It would be even better if they were in a position that needed the prestige of Viscounty Pescher, or if they were amoner who had no titles at all.¡± The Empress Dowager had a subtle face and then sighed. Although she knew the world was changing, her heart did not change easily. epting a low-ranking person as a servant and epting them as the husband of her foster daughter was different. ¡°I know what you mean. After all, the people don¡¯t matter. The child will seed Viscounty Pescher anyway, so that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°And Celine¡¯s happiness is more important.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡­. That¡¯s right.¡± The Empress Dowager lowered her gaze for a moment to hide her sad gaze. Thest thing the Empress Dowager had was too disastrous to call it a victory. But she was no longer trampled on by anyone. All the doors were open, only the door to the ossuary where the dead were buried was closed. So, now that everything has passed, she could say that it is nothing, and that life is meaningless, so living the given time happily is the most important thing. ¡°Gramma, gramma.¡± As soon as the adults stopped talking, Leticia pulled her cor. ¡°Can¡¯t I open the gift?¡± ¡°What? Aahh, you can open it then.¡± The Empress Dowager smiled and picked up one of the items on the table and ced it in Leticia¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s a gift for Ticia.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Artizea spoke instead. The Empress Dowager shook her head. ¡°I left the souvenirs I brought with me aside. It¡¯s nothing special. This is from the Crown Princess Iantz.¡± Leticia tugged at the ribbon on the gift and tore the paper folded flower. ¡°Gramma, this, sniff, is, sniff, pretty.¡± Leticia began to cry. The Empress Dowager took the gift box and ripped open the wrapping paper. She was looking forward to something pretty toe out that she forgot about the ribbon. What came out of the box was a fist-sized ore shining in rainbow colors. ¡°Wow!¡± Leticia instantly fell in love with the stone. The Empress Dowager weighed it and ced it in Leticia¡¯s hand, who begged her with an outstretched hand as hard as she could. ¡°Wow! Mom, this is snail! Snail shell!¡± Leticia made a fuss and showed it to Artizea. It was an opalized fossil. It¡¯s not that expensive, but it¡¯s notmon to have such a pretty color in a perfect shape. It was just something a child would love. ¡°If you drop it, it may break, so y with it carefully.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Leticia eximed excitedly. ¡°Mom, I show this to Ken.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Leticia jumped down from the Empress Dowager¡¯sp, holding the fossil. Then, fearing that she might even bang her forehead on the table, the Empress Dowager quickly grabbed her. Leticia jumped out regardless of it. The Empress Dowager let out a sigh. Artizea opened the other gift box on the table. Inside was a small jeweled headdress. Artizea smiled. The pin looks like the headdress Natalia gave her a long time ago, but it was a child¡¯s. There was a letter, Dear Your Majesty the Empress. I recently received several pebbles as a gift from my mother, and I thought of the princess and sent it to you. She must have grown up a lot already, right? These days, it¡¯s fashionable for mother-and-daughter to wear the same ornaments like this in Iantz. Please stay healthy. I hope to see you again someday. Natalia. Like Natalia, it was a simple letter without rhetoric. Artizea smiled at it, seeing that this too had been written and rewritten by her many times after much thought. In addition to that, there was one more ne box made of the finest Southwest Sea tourmaline. It came in the name of Bernat, not Natalia. Of course, the apanying letter was also brilliant. ¡°This jewel is pretty good. Even if it is not enough to make it a national treasure, it is enough to pass it down to your daughter.¡± ¡°I hardly ever think the day wille when Ticia will wear a ne like this.¡± ¡°She will grow much faster than you think.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea smiled. Knock, knock. There was a knock on the door. Artizea told Leticia to juste in if something happened. Lady Viscount Pescher came in with a tray. Sandwiches cut into bite-size pieces and baked ravioli about the size of a thumb were served casually. ¡°Today, the Empress hardly ate her lunch, so I had this made in the kitchen and sent here.¡± Lady Viscount Pescher spoke politely and set the snack on the table. The Empress Dowager looked at it with a happy face. There were a lot of things that she didn¡¯t pay attention to because she was trying to hide it, but it was nice to see her behaving with dignity as she became a dignifieddy. Artizea¡¯splexion deteriorated. The Empress Dowager was trying to pick up the sandwich when she realized it and looked at Artizea. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. The smell of ravioli. Ugh.¡± Artizea was nauseous. The Empress Dowager had the trays cleared. Lady Viscount Pescher, at a loss, left the tray to the servant and apologized. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty. But yesterday, you ate only a little light food.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. You can go. Uugh.¡± Artizea struggled to speak as the nausea did not sink easily. And she staggered to her feet. Alice came quickly and helped. Artizea said, holding back her dizziness, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Empress Dowager. I haven¡¯t been eating foodtely. I will leave first.¡± ¡°Tia, you¡­¡­.¡± The Empress Dowager realized something by looking at her pale face and the thick shadows beneath Artizea¡¯s eyes. She looked like she had lost some weight, too. ¡°Call Celine and have her take care of the Empress.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The servant replied politely. The Empress Dowager did not stop Artizea, who was rushing to go back. She nced at the atmosphere around her, but no one seemed to think of anything special. Lady Viscount Pescher said anxiously, ¡°She can¡¯t eat well these days.¡± ¡°Is the Emperor not saying anything?¡± ¡°We have been given an order to remain silent from the Emperor. I think the doctor is paying attention.¡± Lady Viscount Pescher wasn¡¯t in a position to get involved in anything important, so she said so. ¡°She always has a bad stomach. Recently, it¡¯s been a bit harsh.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Empress Dowager reclined her bodyfortably on the sofa. Although it was always the case that Artizea doesn¡¯t eat well, it was the first time for her to leave like that, unable to hide her condition because she couldn¡¯t stand the smell and nausea. Maybe some good news wille soon. ¡°I should prepare a present.¡± The Empress Dowager said with a happy feeling. Lady Viscount Pescher tilted her head, wondering why the Empress Dowager was preparing a present when Artizea was sick. £ª£ª£ª She tried to vomit, but she had eaten nothing, so nothing came out, only pain. After much pain, Artizea finally calmed down andid down on the bed. Alice wiped her blue lips with a towel soaked in warm water. The Empress Dowager had returned, and Artizea couldn¡¯t help but greet her, but she couldn¡¯t get out of bed. ¡°In Miss Leticia¡¯s time, you ate well and slept well.¡± Alicemented. Artizea struggled tough. ¡°That time¡­¡­ I feltfortable until I was full.¡± ¡°Iined that Miss Leticia ate all of the nutrients alone, but this time the baby looks like the Empress.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even me the baby.¡± Still, it was a little better until two or three days ago. She felt a little nauseous, but the food went through one way or another. Even in front of Cedric, she could pretend to be calm. But now it didn¡¯t seem like she could pretend no more. Sophie added the candied lemons to the warm water and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell His Majesty?¡± ¡°I will. After more certainty.¡± ¡°What could be more certain?¡± ¡°I wonder if I can have a baby.¡± Artizea muttered, closing her eyes. She first confirmed her pregnancy three weeks ago. She still doubted herself because she had months without her period. But when it was the second time, she could be a little suspicious of herself. Since she sees the doctor almost every week anyway, the diagnosis was quick. The doctor carefully advised, [¡°Giving birth can be dangerous.¡±] Artizea did not make hasty decisions. She knew early, so she had plenty of time. Alice and Sophie secretly made eye contact with each other. They couldn¡¯t say no. It wasn¡¯t because they were unable to say such things to Artizea. The reason they were troubled was not that the number of the Imperial Family was too small. There was a slight knock on the door. Sophie, who was standing next to the door, gave Artizea lemon water and opened it. Mielle poked her head out and whispered, ¡°Is the Empress sleeping?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good. Miss Lysia has arrived.¡± Sophie turned to the bed and said, ¡°I heard that Miss Lysia is here.¡± Artizea handed the water cup to Alice and got up. Chapter as24: After Story 24 Proofreader: somnium Lysia poked her head behind Mielle and asked, ¡°Long time no see, Sophie. Should Ie backter?¡± ¡°How have you been?¡± Sophie greeted Lysia with a friendly face. Artizea tried to get off the bed. Lysia beckoned her not to do that, and Alice quickly put the cushions on her back and made her sit up. Sophie quickly opened the door. Lysia took a step into the bedroom. She looked around the bedroom without speaking for a while. Artizea waited in an indescribable mood for Lysia to let the sentiments flow through. It has different furnishings and decorations than when she was in the Imperial Pce. But this was the bedroom where Lysia had closed her eyes for thest time. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Lysia opened her eyes clearly and spoke cheerfully. Alice, Sophie, and Mielle tilted their heads, not knowing why Lysia was doing this. Artizea followed Lysia and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you can go.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Both Alice and Sophie knew how much Artizea had been waiting for Lysia. The door closed quietly. There were only two people left in the bedroom. Lysia came with a light footstep and sat down by the bed. Her hair was bobbed. ¡°Did you cut your hair?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I cut it. How is it? Does it suit me?¡± Lysia shook her head once. Her wavy hair moved lightly as if flying. ¡°It suits you. It¡¯s a bit of a waste¡­¡­.¡± ¡°My hair will grow again. It was a mood changer. Since I cut it, I have done many good things.¡± Lysiaughed as she said she gave it to a child whose hair was no longer growing due to burn scars. Artizea answered this time with only a smile. It was a shame to think about it again, but if Lysia liked it, then it¡¯s fine. The short hair also suited her lively outfit. In the social world, her appearance would cause a lot of noise, but now she didn¡¯t have to attend any of those things when she didn¡¯t want to. ¡°Isn¡¯t it difficult to live there?¡± ¡°There are difficulties. The standards that Lord Cedric demands are high, and the time and manpower are insufficient.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The budget is increasing, but the fact that we have a lot of money is because we don¡¯t have the ability to properly invest. Because there is ack of educational facilities in the West. In that respect, it is worse than the North.¡± ¡°Because in the North, Lord Cedric had always been concerned about it.¡± ¡°Yes. But in the West, the only educational institution is the monastery.¡± Lysia let out a sigh. ¡°It will get better gradually. We are making sure that they receive basic education on the condition that they pay for it in grain from the granary.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Artizea sincerely thought so. It was good for Lysia as well as for her work, but more than anything else, she seemed to enjoy it. ¡°But, if there is someone I can entrust with a certain amount of work, I will take a break. About three years, Lord Cedric wouldn¡¯t be able to tell me to work harder, would he?¡± ¡°Since you mentioned three years, do you have any ns?¡± ¡°I want to travel.¡± Lysia smiled. ¡°Because I have never been to the South. Please lend me a vi, Tia. I want to lie down with my feet in that beautiful sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, too.¡± ¡°But if I find someone I can trust, Lord Cedric might covet them. The grain loan office needs people, too, so if I dig them up because I think they¡¯re useful, they will quickly be taken away.¡± ¡°Now, the importance of the grain loan is rtively low. We have a good harvest.¡± ¡°Did you know that I¡¯ve been holding onto a grudge against Lord Cedric since a while ago?¡± Lysia¡¯s eyes seemed to burn. ¡°It really hurts to lose Lord Forb.¡± Artizea couldn¡¯t help butugh. Lysia probably joked like this to put her mind at ease. She was happy and amazed that Lysia could tell a story like this now with a smile. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard one way or another, but maybe this is normal. Because Leticia was a much, much calmer child when she was in the womb.¡± Lysiaughed a little. It seemed that Leticia¡¯s remarkable contribution was known even to the far west. But she soon asked with a serious face. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be difficult.¡± It may be somehow manageable to keep the pregnancy. However, Artizea did not have the stamina to endure childbirth. During Leticia, she was in rtively better condition than she is now. She was mentally extremely sensitive, and her nerves bristled. But she ate like never before, and her stamina managed to stay. Still, she couldn¡¯t stand the pain. They say the second birth is easier than the first birth, but if both were impossible anyway, there was no need to think of the easiness and difficulties. Even though there was virtually only one Imperial Descendant, Leticia, it didn¡¯t mean that she wouldn¡¯t make an effort. [¡°Kill me, Empress. However, no doctor from thisnd would dare to say that the Empress and the child could be saved together.¡±] The doctor knelt on the floor and said with a bitter face. Artizea said she understood and forced him to step down. ¡°To Lord Cedric¡­¡­ You haven¡¯t told him yet?¡± ¡°Yes. He¡¯ll probably give up on the baby.¡± She knew without even thinking deeply. Because she knew that despite how much he love Leticia, he had regretted telling her to give birth to the baby. ¡°So I wanted to ask Miss Lysia first. What do you think? Can I have this child?¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­. I am not a doctor.¡± Lysia grabbed her hand and said, ¡°You know. My healing powers can heal wounds and disease, but¡­¡­ , I can¡¯t make the weak better. Even if I replenish their vitality with divine energy, it is only a temporary measure.¡± From the moment she received Artizea¡¯s letter, she thought about what to say. Even while running her horse. Artizea did not have a disappointed face. ¡°Is this going to shorten my life even more?¡± ¡°It won¡¯t matter. It¡¯s not about magic or divinity. You are alive¡­¡­ , you are doing things that are natural as a person.¡± ¡°But¡­¡­. The baby has nothing to do with the price I have to pay.¡± Artizea said as if muttering. Then, she raised her eyes and looked at Lysia. ¡°Did you hear how I gave birth to Leticia?¡± ¡°Tia, are you going to put a knife to your body?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t have the strength to endure childbirth, I thought about how to do it like it did back then. If Miss Lysia heals me, I think it will be possible.¡± Lysia¡¯s face changed slightly. She was deep in thought. With her healing, it was quite possible. If only her life was still there, she could be saved, and if it was wounded, it could be restored without a trace. Even now, there were no traces of the knife left on Artizea¡¯s stomach. ¡°It is possible. It¡¯s possible, but first of all, it¡¯s about making a big wound to the body¡­¡­.¡± Lysia said with a choked face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t affect your lifespan, since you don¡¯t have to pay for the magic anymore, but it doesn¡¯t mean your body will be okay.¡± ¡°I understand, I have no intention of giving up my life to give birth.¡± Artizea said. ¡°If it¡¯s impossible to keep the pregnancy or if things get worse, I¡¯m going to have to let it go. I¡¯m thinking about it, too. But, if possible.¡± Artizea closed her eyes and took a deep breath. ¡°Then, I want to have a baby.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± Artizea bowed her head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange? I was so scared when I had Leticia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not strange.¡± ¡°I think I can do well this time.¡± Artizea said in a low voice, as if in a whisper. She loved Leticia. More than when she gave birth, more than when she raised her for a month, more than when she raised her for a year, she was more in love now. There were times when she thought that it was only after four years that she had finallye to love the child as much as everyone else. But it was different this time. ¡°I can love it. No, I think so already.¡± She learned to love her baby. She also learned that it¡¯s natural for the baby to love her. And that she deserves that love. Although she may not be a very good mother herself, she also confirmed that she may have a different parent than Mira. What was growing in her belly was neither sin nor fault, but the result of loving hours. She was able to ept the baby with apletely different heart than before. ¡°I feel like I have be a human, Miss Lysia. Help me.¡± Artizea said as if confessing. Lysia let out a sigh. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. It¡¯s the first time you¡¯ve asked for help. I can¡¯t refuse that.¡± Lysia smiled and tightened her grip on her hand even tighter. A green blessing rose from within her palm, and then sank. ¡°Promise. If the doctor says it¡¯s dangerous, give it up right away.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea followed with a bit of relief and kept her smile. ¡°If it¡¯s hard, rip Lord Cedric¡¯s hair off. If walking is difficult, use his feet instead. No matter how much I think about it, it¡¯s all Lord Cedric¡¯s responsibility.¡± Artizeaughed. ¡°I would. I thought Leticia was a miracle, but I got it again.¡± ¡°If a miracle happens twice, that¡¯s a good thing.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Artizea bowed her head without letting go of Lysia¡¯s hand. The miracle was here again. Although they were in different positions, they were facing each other in this room, just as they were back then when they gave up everything. * * * After that, the two exchanged stories about those they had not heard of because they were far away. It was when Lysia heard that Hayley was running away from Juli that she had just started tough. Thump thump. There was a loud knock on the door. Lysia stood up. ¡°I will go and see.¡± It was known who hade anyway. Cedric was standing outside the door. It was a face without a smile. ¡°Lysia.¡± It wasn¡¯t a look to greet each other dly with a hug. Chapter as25: After Story 25 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Thank you foring.¡± Cedric said in a low, soft voice. ¡°But can you leave for a moment now?¡± Lysia nced back at Artizea. Artizea replied with a calm face, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Lysia.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry.¡± Lysia gave Cedric a hint not to be angry with Artizea and left. Cedric confirmed that the door was closed and approached Artizea. Artizea said, ¡°You are angry.¡± ¡°Because I am not the first person you discuss such an important issue with.¡± ¡°Did you know?¡± Cedric wiped his face once. ¡°You started refusing to sleep in the same bed, so how could I not even notice that something was wrong?¡± ¡°You pretended you didn¡¯t know until now.¡± ¡°Because I never thought it was a baby. I thought you wanted to hide it, so I was going to wait until you make up your mind and tell me. Now, I thought you would.¡± There seemed to be no more concerns in her heart. So, he thought that her health had somewhat copsed. He kept getting reports from the doctor about her health. It was said that she had a bad digestive system and she sometimes vomited until midnight, but it wasn¡¯t out of the question considering Artizea didn¡¯t eat well in the first ce. Then, it could just get better. The doctor said so. He doesn¡¯t know if she wasn¡¯t seeing the doctor, but he knew Artizea was taking care of her body, so he endured it. He believed the promise and waited. Because she said she¡¯d talk about something really important. But he was slowly reaching his limit. When he heard that Lysia had rushed into the Capital, he knew something was really wrong with her. So he immediately called and questioned the doctor. The doctor turned pale, knelt before him and apologized. [¡°Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn¡¯t mean to tell a lie, but the Empress hasmanded those words not toe out of my mouth because she would make a decision.¡±] [¡°It¡¯s nothing else, but the health of the Empress. If anything happens to the Empress while I am unaware, Sir will be held ountable.¡±] Cedric almost threatened him until he got an answer. [¡°She has conceived.¡±] The doctor said, trembling in fear. Cedric sat by the bed, where Lysia had been sitting, and then stood up. It felt like his stomach was burning, so he drank two cups of water but it didn¡¯t go away. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t understand the situation. The Empress¡¯ pregnancy was something everyone would be delighted with. She just had to be more careful than she was. She didn¡¯t have anything to reveal to anyone until she was in a stable state. Even more so if it was a baby she couldn¡¯t bear to give birth to. Better if no one knows. Artizea would have judged that, too. ¡°Still, you should have told me. I need to know. About your body and your baby.¡± Cedric returned to Artizea¡¯s side again. ¡°Both are my responsibility. Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hide it. I didn¡¯t mean to let it go and take responsibility alone without saying anything.¡± Artizea said calmly. ¡°I wanted to check as many possibilities as possible before making a decision. It¡¯s about my body, so I should check it first.¡± ¡°Possibility? What¡¯s the possibility? Doctors will try to figure out which method is least harmful to your body.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say it because I know you¡¯d say that.¡± Cedric looked at Artizea¡¯s face and was silent for a moment. Then, he said with a painful expression. ¡°Are you nning to give birth?¡± ¡°If possible.¡± ¡°Out of the question!¡± Cedric half shouted. He, too, had heard the story from the doctor and hade to a half-final conclusion. If she wants to end this pregnancy, the sooner the better. For now, it can still be ended by taking a less toxic drug without doing too much damage to the body. Considering Artizea¡¯s health, the doctor emphasized the meaning several times that it was better. In fact, in the context of hearing those words from the doctor, Cedric should have guessed Artizea was going to give birth to the baby. Had she decided to end it right away, she would have done it already. But he didn¡¯t even think about it because it was improbable. ¡°Are you going to leave me and Leticia?¡± ¡°I have no intention of risking my life.¡± ¡°You almost died once when you had Leticia! At the time, the doctor said you would be fine, so this time is. Much more!¡± Cedric clenched his fist. ¡°Now, the doctor said that you will die with certainty, so what do you mean you¡¯re not risking your life?¡± ¡°Calm down, Lord Cedric.¡± ¡°One child is enough. No, it didn¡¯t matter if I didn¡¯t have any. I still regret telling you to give birth at that time.¡± ¡°My health problems aren¡¯t caused by having the baby.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because that damn god gave you an imperfect power. Whatever the cause, you are already not healthy enough to have a baby!¡± Artizea was quietly listening to the words he was pouring out with a smile. Then, she realized that now she wasn¡¯t afraid of Cedric at all. She had no fear of physical pain, nor fear of being hated. So, she held out her hand. Cedric grabbed her hand. ¡°Tia.¡± He lowered his head and rested his forehead in the palm of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless. Even if you don¡¯t know how many days you have left, you promised to try to stay with me and Leticia as long as possible.¡± ¡°I want to give birth.¡± ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°Because there is a possibility. I¡¯m not giving the rest of my life to the baby. If Miss Lysia is by my side, I can stop at any time in any situation.¡± ¡°Are you nning to put a knife to your stomach again?¡± ¡°I can recover without any aftereffects. That alone is far safer than other pregnant women.¡± ¡°Not dying doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s an eptable risk.¡± Artizea grabbed Cedric¡¯s hand that was trying to get angry again and shook it. Cedric suppressed his anger. ¡°Tia.¡± ¡°During Ticia¡­¡­ I didn¡¯t know anything about giving birth to a baby. In fact, if Lord Cedric hadn¡¯t told me to give birth, I would have erased the child without hesitation.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ I regret it.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that. Without Ticia, I would have never known that I was a person who could fully love others.¡± Artizea said softly. ¡°This time, I have decided. You told me to.¡± ¡°That¡­¡­ It meant the opposite. I didn¡¯t mean that I wanted you to have a baby while hurting your body and mind.¡± ¡°I just want to try as best as I can. Or do you not want a second one?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. It¡¯s not like that!¡± ¡°Whether it is a child who resembles me or a child who resembles Lord Cedric, this time, I will be able to cherish and raise them.¡± ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Trust me that I have be the person who can do that.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t say anything anymore. It was because he understood very well why Artizea said that. He lowered his head for a moment and looked down at the hand holding him. ¡°I regret holding you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seeded in another unlikely task.¡± ¡°It¡¯s noughing matter.¡± Cedric said in a cracked voice. ¡°There will be no third.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Tia, please. Promise me you¡¯ll give up right away when you¡¯re in danger.¡± ¡°Yes. I have no intention of exchanging my life for it.¡± ¡°If something went wrong with you, many people will resent it.¡± ¡°But I know you will love them in the end.¡± ¡°Stop trusting me now.¡± Cedric moved to the edge of the bed. And he hugged Artizea. ¡°I told you. I can¡¯t stand losing you anymore. I will really resent it.¡± ¡°It was Lord Cedric who taught me that the more people you love, the better it gets.¡± Artizea said, burying her face in the nape of his neck. A soft, warm breath tickled his skin, and Cedric grimaced slightly. ¡°Then, I must me myself first.¡± ¡°If you carry two babies like Ticia, you may feel resentful towards yourself.¡± ¡°Tia, I¡¯m not joking.¡± ¡°I know you will always do well.¡± Artizea smiled and ran up along his jawline with her index and middle fingers. And she touched his bluntly closed lips. ¡°Tia¡­¡­.¡± Cedric tried to get a little more angry, but in the end he couldn¡¯t. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to Artizea¡¯s. His stomach churned and the inside of his eyes was sore. A mixture of pain and joy glided up to his throat. Cedric sighed in his troubled heart. That sigh disappeared inside Artizea¡¯s lips. The breath he exhaled returned and rested sweetly on Cedric¡¯s lips. Unlike when her tears disappeared into his mouth, the kiss didn¡¯t taste salty. He could only feel the breath of a living person. Cedric: ¡°There will be no third.¡± me and somnium: NOOOOOOO on the other hand, final 5 chapters T.T Chapter as26: After Story 26 Proofreader: somnium ¡°Woof!¡± Artizea was half asleep when she heard the puppy barking. ¡°Huff! Aarfff.¡± Following the sound of the long tail, the mattress of the bed dipped firmly. Artizea stretched out her hand in her sleep. The puppy, who struggled to climb onto the bed, rubbed its head in her hand. ¡°Um.¡± Artizea let out a small sound. Soon after, Leticia shouted. ¡°Aaahh! Red! Don¡¯t wake Mom!¡± ¡°Awwooo.¡± ¡°Only Dad wake Mom!¡± Without pretending to hear the words, the puppy stepped on Artizea¡¯s shoulder and looked into her face. The smooth, soft tongue licked her cheek, and she couldn¡¯t sleep any longer. Artizea tossed and turned her body, stroking the puppy¡¯s head with her hand and pushing it away. ¡°Mom! Wake?¡± Leticia came running with a cheer. And she crawled over the bed like the puppy. ¡°Mom! Mom!¡± Leticia rushed into her arms, not knowing whether she was asking for a hug or jumping over her body. Hazel, who ran after her, was terrified and grabbed Leticia. She was out of breath. Hazel was also confident in her stamina, but that meant she could work for a long time, not that she was used to sprinting down the hallway. No, how can a child not yet five years old be so fast. The speed itself seemed to be something she almost caught on, but like a rabbit targeted by an eagle, if she stretched out her hand, Leticia slipped away and escaped. It was added after the puppy arrived. As she ran and yed in the garden every day, it seemed that her agility was being trained, not just strengthening her body. ¡°You can¡¯t, Miss Ticia. What if you get hurt?¡± Hazel breathed and barely spoke. Leticia these days was not in a condition that Hazel could handle at all. She even moved around looking for her nanny. [¡°Sister Mii is weak, I protect her!¡±] She had no idea where Leticia had been taught such words. Hazel thought seriously, maybe sooner orter she¡¯ll have to change the nanny to one of the knights. She would have already lifted the white g if neither Mrs. Keshore nor Sir Keshore helped her. Now, the only hope left was Lysia. ¡®I hope youe back soon.¡¯ Lysia returned to the West for now. She had a lot of work to do, so she decided toe back after organizing everything all together and handing over the grain loan office to a sessor. While Artizea had not yetpletely woken up from her slumber, she hugged Leticia and Red together and muttered. ¡°Our Ticia, did you break your promise? You¡¯re not supposed to wake Mom.¡± ¡°Not me. Red.¡± Leticia said that, but feeling responsible, she crouched her neck and slipped out of Artizea¡¯s arms. As if taking advantage of that gap, Red dug into Artizea¡¯s arms. Artizea doesn¡¯t take much care of it, but perhaps influenced by Leticia, this puppy was very fond of Artizea. ¡°Woof!¡± Red shoved its nose into the nape of her neck as if to ask her to get up. Artizea stroked the soft puppy and made eye contact with Leticia. ¡°Did you finish studying the letters?¡± ¡°Ung¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Did you y with Red?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Leticia said confidently. Artizea smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Even if you couldn¡¯t memorize it all.¡± ¡°Really? Dad said he check.¡± ¡°Our Ticia, it¡¯s not that you hate studying letters. What if we read a picture book a day or twoter?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Leticia smiled broadly and nodded her head. ¡°But if you want to read to your sibling, you have to learn quickly¡­¡­.¡± Hazel inadvertently made a mistake in her words. Leticia did not respond immediately. Hazel quickly covered her mouth and lowered her head to apologize to Artizea. Leticia, who had been lying on Artizea¡¯s arms and blinking her eyes, suddenly rose to her feet. ¡°Sibling?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Hazel was trying to fix it quickly. Artizea looked at her. Hazel stroked her lips with her fingertips. Her father had advised her several times that she would be able to do great things only if she changed her habit of saying what she thought, but it was hard to change. Leticia looked down at Artizea, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Mom, I have sibling?¡± Artizea hesitated for a moment. She was going to tell Leticia sooner orter. Her official announcement was expected to be dyed much further, but she didn¡¯t have to keep hiding in the Empress¡¯ Pce. Her morning sickness was not light. When she only told her exclusive cook, rumors spread through other kitchen workers who did not know it, that the Empress¡¯ health was rapidly deteriorating. Moreover, it was because she tried to lie down as much as possible until she was stable. Maybe, it was time to reveal it. For Leticia, it¡¯s a heads-up. She was also told that it would be educational. ¡°Umm.¡± ¡°No?¡± Leticia asked with tearful eyes. ¡®It would be nice to talk together.¡¯ Artizea slowly raised her body. The puppy turned towards herp and showed its belly. ¡°Woo.¡± ¡°Ack, Red. Only like my mom! I want touch Red belly too!¡± Leticiained as if she had forgotten what she was talking about. Hazel said cautiously, ¡°Are you going to get up, Your Majesty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m all awake. I want to get some air.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll prepare a room on the terrace. Is there anything you would like to eat?¡± Artizea shook her head. She was in pretty good shape as long as she wasn¡¯t terribly nauseous. The attendant, who was waiting for her, brought a basin of warm water. Artizea slowly got down from the bed. The daughter and puppy cling to her feet as she lightly washed her face and hands. Artizea draped over her pajamas with a long winter robe. ¡°Woof!¡± Red barked once in excitement and ran out in front. Leticia followed, chasing Red across the hallway and vanishing. ¡°Dad!¡± Soon after, Leticia¡¯s voice was heard. Red ran back. Cedric, who had Leticia in his arm, followed. The servants hurriedly bent their knees and bowed their heads. Hazel also bent her back. Artizea asked curiously, ¡°Lord Cedric, isn¡¯t it time for work, yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be here for a while. It¡¯s afternoon break. I will have time for a cup of tea.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s up to Lord Cedric to decide, it¡¯s something you should ask your secretary, right?¡± Cedric did not respond to Artizea¡¯s words. She guessed it all in the first ce. He came without sending any news in advance because he doesn¡¯t have time. Artizea didn¡¯t have to chase him away. Cedric put Leticia down and grabbed the little box he was holding on the other hand. ¡°This is a present for Mom, Ticia brings it for her.¡± ¡°Ung¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t drop it.¡± Leticia then sped the box with her arms. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It is not fragile. It¡¯s a wooden box, so it¡¯s okay.¡± Cedric said so, and when he was empty-handed, he lifted Artizea up. ¡°Lord Cedric!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the doctor say it¡¯s good to lie down?¡± ¡°Just to the terrace.¡± ¡°There is no one else to hold you but me, so let¡¯s just go.¡± Cedric said so and moved forward. There were armchairs on the terrace. Cedric sat Artizea in her seat and put Leticia on her chair. Soon the attendant brought a tea tray. Red circled around the table a few times before taking a seat under Leticia¡¯s chair. Leticia handed the tightly hugged box back to Cedric. ¡°What is it?¡± Artizea asked again. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I remember you wanting to eat sugar during Ticia¡¯s time.¡± Cedric opened the box lid. Inside were sugar crystals dyed red. ¡°At that time, I was told that if the baby grows too big, it will be difficult to give birth. You have to eat something now.¡± Cedric made a bted excuse. Artizea smiled. ¡°Were you worried about that?¡± ¡°It kept bothering me.¡± Artizea picked up a piece of sugar. Unlike candy, the sugar crumbled right in her mouth. The sweet and sour cherry scent spreads. She felt her stomach calming down a bit. It was apparent on her face. Cedric said with a relieved face, ¡°That¡¯s a relief you can eat something.¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± Artizea put another one into her mouth. The attendants quickly brought cookies and madeleines. Artizea dly sliced the orange madeleine. It smelled fresh. ¡°This baby seems to like sweets. Ticia was devoted to meat.¡± ¡°Mom! Mom!¡± Leticia raised her arms and caught her parents¡¯ attention. Knowing that she would normally ask for sugar, Cedric defended the box first. But Leticia asked smartly, ¡°Where is baby?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Artizea looked at Cedric. Cedric looked at Leticia curiously, then looked at Artizea again. ¡°Well, we should talk.¡± Cedric coughed. Artizea motioned for him to speak. ¡°Dad?¡± ¡°Baby, it¡¯s in your mother¡¯s stomach.¡± ¡°No! When baby in Mom stomach, it¡¯s this big!¡± Leticia said confidently, having experienced it once when her nanny was full term. ¡°It¡¯s because the baby is still this small.¡± Cedric said. Leticia widened her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to have a younger sibling, Ticia.¡± Artizea wedged it. Leticia shouted, ¡°SIBLING!¡± Leticia jumped up. She almost fell off her chair, so Cedric quickly picked up Leticia and put her down. ¡°Ticia have sibling? Really? Really?¡± ¡°My Ticia, will you take care of your younger sibling?¡± ¡°Yes! Always give milk, y, and read picture books every day!¡± ¡°You have to study hard to read picture books.¡± At Artizea¡¯s words, Leticia did not know what to do. Cedric smiled and hugged Leticia snugly, cing her on hisp. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Ticia is also a baby, so you¡¯ll learn slowly. But Mom is weak, so Ticia and your younger sibling have to take good care of Mom together.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Promise.¡± Leticia reached her finger and reached out for the sugar. ¡°Give this to baby!¡± Leticia grabbed the sugar, but she didn¡¯t know how to give it, so she pondered, ¡°Ung.¡± And she reached out to Artizea¡¯s stomach. ¡°Now, the baby will be healthy if Mom eats it, so give it to Mom.¡± Cedric said. Leticia stretched out her hand with all her might. Artizea took the sugar from her smooth fingers and ate it. Leticia grinned. A warm breeze blew softly on the terrace. It waste spring, when the flowers were in full bloom, and the wind that blew from afar carried the scent of flowers. The white garden was filled withrge blossoms hanging on the branches that would droop when they looked away. Artizea thought it was okay to remove the brazier from under her chair. Cedric poured tea into her cup. It was a peaceful time. After Story 2. Spring Wind END Chapter as27: After Story 27 Proofreader: somnium After Story 3. Summer in the Mountain ¡°If you don¡¯t put your hand, you¡¯re the tagger, rock, paper, scissors!¡± ¡°Ack! Prince, you¡¯rete again!¡± The voices of the children echoed through the courtyard. The young Prince, with his tinum hair cut short, was in tears and grabbed his sister¡¯s hem. Leticia eximed, ¡°Because you guys are angry, Yuci keeps getting nervous and makes mistakes!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not angry!¡± ¡°You are angry! Yuci is still young, so he can¡¯t get his hands out quickly!¡± It was hard to understand for Leticia, who was overwhelmingly fast in her mind and body, but the nanny said so anyway. ¡°The one who screams the most and gets angry the most is Miss Ticia¡­¡­.¡± As Ken, the sibling¡¯s milk brother, mumbled a quietment, his sleeves waved. It was Prince Yucis. ¡°Oh, Lord Yucis. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I go.¡± ¡°To your room?¡± ¡°No, ove theee.¡± While Leticia was engaged in unwanted fights as her brother¡¯s proxy, Yucis decided to satisfy his curiosity. He toddled behind Ken¡¯s back and headed towards the Karam mixed-race boy who was standing on the other side. Ken was startled and followed. ¡°Lord Yucis, you can¡¯t go alone. And to point your finger at someone like that.¡± Ken spoke, but Yucis asked without listening, ¡°Oh, Big Brother, why you three eye?¡± The boy inadvertently took his hand to the eye on his forehead. Ken, who was more mature than Yucis, and grew up as a more discerning child than Leticia, said with a burning heart, ¡°Lord Yucis, you learned from the chiefdy-in-waiting that you shouldn¡¯t ask questions about other people¡¯s bodies.¡± Yucis blinked his eyes as if it was a spur of the moment and said. ¡°Not body. Eye.¡± ¡°Eyes are also the body.¡± ¡°Eye the body too?¡± Yucis asked with an innocent face. Ken became frustrated, but he was unable to exin clearly to the baby about the rtionship between eyes and bodies. The boy fiddled around his eyes in a flustered manner. He was sorry that Ken was in trouble, and it seemed rude if he didn¡¯t answer a question from a high-status Prince. ¡°It was always like that.¡± ¡°You really have three eyes?¡± ¡°Yes, Prince.¡± Yucis tilted his head in disbelief. ¡°Mom no said that it had ever happen.¡± ¡°But I have had three eyes since I was born. So is my mother.¡± ¡°Mom also three eyes?¡± Yucis¡¯ eyes widened in surprise. ¡°My aunt has four arms, and she¡¯s this big. She is the best at cutting firewood in our town, and she is strong. My maternal grandmother was Karam.¡± The boy said proudly, showing the size with his arms wide open. There, Yucis, who got scared, raised his arms and shouted, ¡°Dad this big too!¡± ¡°No¡­¡­ Although His Majesty is tall, Karam is more¡­¡­.¡± Ken mumbled. At that moment, Leticia¡¯s roar overshadowed Ken¡¯s murmuring. ¡°Yuci must be with me! Mom told me to take good care of Yuci!¡± Although they had only met for two days, Leticia had already won the hearts of the children. It may be different like house y, but it would be fun if there were many children involved in the tag game. And they couldn¡¯t help it when Leticia said she would y a different game. ¡°Alright. Then, the prince will be the truce.¡± ¡°Truce?¡± ¡°The truce can keep on ying tag.¡± ¡°Then, no fun.¡± ¡°Otherwise, if the prince bes the tagger, it won¡¯t end.¡± There was no way the young Yucis could catch up with the children of seven or eight years old. Leticia hesitated. No matter how much she thought about it, it didn¡¯t seem like it would be fun if he could always get tagged. But everyone decided to y tag. If she insisted on not doing more than this, and not ying this game, she would have to y house with Ken and Yucis, or go into a stuffy room and fiddle with the toy soldiers. ¡°Good. Come on, let¡¯s do it again!¡± Leticia, who had reached an agreement, spoke lively. Yucis was stunned and just stared at the scene nkly. ¡°If you don¡¯t put your hand, you¡¯re the tagger, rock, paper, scissors!¡± ¡°Waaahh-!¡± The victory and defeat were decided by excluding Yucis. The mixed race boy quickly ran away. But Ken faltered, unable to get far from Yucis. Leticia ran and grabbed Yucis¡¯ hand. ¡°Let¡¯s run away, Yuci!¡± ¡°Sisteeerrrr! Huwaa!¡± Yucis, who could not keep up with Leticia¡¯s pulling power or her speed, ended up in tears and ran uncontrobly. Soon, he was short of breath. It was at this time that Cedric came out into the courtyard. The nannies and escorts, who were watching the children with a smile, bowed politely. Cedric waved his hand for them to be at ease. And he called out loudly, ¡°Ticia! Yuci!¡± ¡°Wah, it¡¯s Dad!¡± Leticia quickly turned around and eximed excitedly. And she grabbed Yucis¡¯ hand tightly as she ran towards Cedric. ¡°Sister, ack!¡± Yucis, who was not good at running, tripped over and fell. Leticia reflexively pulled Yucis¡¯ hand upwards, trying to stand him up. On the contrary, Yucis¡¯ body spun around and fell to the side with the hand held by Ticia as an axis. ¡°Ah!¡± Leticia was startled and squatted next to Yucis. ¡°Hu, Huwaangg! Uwaaaahhh!¡± Yucis cried out loudly. Cedric hurriedly approached Yucis and lifted him up. Leticia cried out, ¡°Yuci, what to do? Your forehead is bleeding.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see. It¡¯s just a little scratched, it¡¯s okay.¡± Cedric ruffled Yucis¡¯ hair, examining the wound on the side of his head. Leticia wept bitterly and apologized. ¡°Yuci, are you okay? I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Huwaaahh!¡± Yucis wept as if his sorrow had exploded. Cedric stood up and patted Yucis on the back. ¡°If you cry, you¡¯ll have a fever again, Yuci. You don¡¯t want to be sick.¡± ¡°Arm hurt. Sniff. Dad.¡± Yucis hugged Cedric¡¯s neck. ¡°Prince, are you okay?¡± Ken approached with an anxious face. Cedric patted Ken¡¯s head with the other hand while holding Yucis. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°However¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Sometimes you get hurt when you y, that¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Did Ticia forget what Dad said? Yuci couldn¡¯t y the same way as you because he is too young, so you shouldn¡¯t pull him by force.¡± ¡°¡­¡­ sorry.¡± Leticia said in a withering voice. ¡°Who should you apologize to?¡± ¡°To the hurt one. I¡¯m sorry, Yuci.¡± ¡°Hnnngg.¡± Yucis shook his head and buried his face in Cedric¡¯s shoulder. Cedric moved Yucis to his left arm, and his right arm lifted Leticia. Leticia was now heavy enough to make his arm stiff. ¡°Oh my, this child. You already got so heavy. I won¡¯t be able to hold you soon.¡± Ken¡¯s father, who followed him as a squire, quickly followed and hugged Ken and said what Cedric wanted to say. Cedric chuckled. Leticia said, ¡°Dad, but I have to say goodbye to my friends.¡± ¡°Okay, there¡¯s your friends. Wave your hand to say ¡®goodbye.¡¯¡± At one point, Yucis, who had stopped crying, heard these words and waved both of his arms. But Leticiained as she waved her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave like this. Because of me and Yuci, it took a very long time to decide on the tagger.¡± ¡°You can meet your friends again tomorrow? Did you forget the promise you made with Dad?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡± Leticia tilted her head. Yucis whispered in a small voice, ¡°Ancestal grave.¡± ¡°Ack.¡± Leticia eximed in surprise. Cedric asked with a smile, ¡°Did Ticia forget your promise to Dad?¡± ¡°Nope! I haven¡¯t forgotten!¡± Leticia replied with a tant lie, but her face turned red and she hugged Cedric¡¯s face. ¡°Sorry¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. If you¡¯re having fun, you might forget it. You can¡¯t lie, though.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­.¡± Leticia said in a low voice as if embarrassed. Cedric strode inside, holding the two children. Changing clothes and warm water were already prepared in the main building, which was decorated as a children¡¯s room. It was because he had prepared in advance to let the children y a little more and went to pick them up. ¡°Oh no, Lord Yuci, there¡¯s a cut on your forehead!¡± The nanny, forgetting that she was in front of the Emperor, shouted and stretched out her hand. Ken got down from his father¡¯s arms and grabbed his mother¡¯s skirt. ¡°Lord Yuci fell while running because Miss Ticia was holding Lord Yuci¡¯s hand.¡± ¡°Oh goodness¡­¡­ I always tell you to be careful. Lord Yuci is still young, so he can¡¯t run as well as Miss Ticia.¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡­ I¡¯m sorry. Yuci, does it hurt a lot?¡± Leticia showed a gentle face and asked Yucis again. Yucis shook his head saying it was okay. ¡°Come this way. I will take care of your wounds.¡± ¡°Please.¡± Cedric handed Yucis to the nanny¡¯s arms, and put Leticia down as well. The nanny wiped Yucis¡¯ forehead with a wet towel. The scratch stinged, and Yucis cried again. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°What were the nanny maids doing that allowed you to be like this? What if you get a scar on your pretty forehead?¡± The nanny frowned, ring at the nanny maids. The maids bowed their heads. Cedric said instead. ¡°Don¡¯t do that. At the age where he can still y to his heart¡¯s content, he should yfortably. He wasn¡¯t seriously injured.¡± Moreover, after Leticia grew up to be able to articte her intentions clearly, the maids, even adults, could not easily limit her range of action. It was because it would mean they dared to block the Princess¡¯ steps. Of course, Leticia wasn¡¯t hurt often, and if she did get hurt a little, he wasn¡¯t too worried. However, Yucis waste in his development. His build was thin because he had been pulled out from his mother, and he looked more slender, probably because of the color of his hair. He also had frequent illness, which would keep Cedric awake. Though he thought that Yucis should be raised freely like Leticia, as they were both children, he could not stand the desire to openly wrap him in a warm nket and keep him from doing nothing. ¡°Ticia,e here. Let¡¯s wash your face and hands before changing your clothes.¡± ¡°We will wash her and change her clothes. Hasn¡¯t it been a long time since you went to the ancestral grave? You must have many things to prepare.¡± Mel said politely. Cedric nodded. ¡°Then, please. Ticia, you must listen to Dame Mel and be good.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Leticia, who is starting to learn manners from Mel these days, said calmly in disappointment. Cedric gave a bitter smile, stroked Leticia¡¯s hair once, and then stepped outside. Chapter as28: After Story 28 Proofreader: somnium Even in summer, the wind was cool. Artizea sat by the window and looked at the green mountain in the distance. Last time here, she experienced the Northern winter. Compared to that winter, when people¡¯s lives could only be endured, and they felt great just to be alive in the terrifying stronghold, the summer was cool but not cold. Even so, the mountain light looked more dark blue than green. The ice cap of the steep Thold Mountains was so dazzlingly white that even the sunlight here seemed to be reflected from it. Artizea thought that this must be the reason the Northerners were humble. There is a barrier in front of them too great to be arrogant. No one here will ever make the mistake and think that they can rule everything as they pleased. ¡®Maybe, it¡¯s better to let the childrene more often,¡¯ This time it was especially to visit Evron¡¯s family grave, and to introduce the children to the North. But she thought it would be rare for her toe again. However, when the children are a little older, it might be good to let them stay in the North for a while. Artizea knew best how important it was to see thend where the people lived with their own eyes. It would be good not just going to the North, but the West and South as well. In the West, they had to look around the fortresses, castles and monasteries built against the endless wheat fields and monster waves, and the viges scattered around it. In the South, they must experience the blessed climate, the salt crystal coast of Duchy Riagan, and above all, the always lively and vibrant port. ¡®Since Miss Lysia is in the West, it¡¯ll be fine if I send them out early. I might as well ask Brother Colton to take care of the journey.¡¯ It would be better to go to the Southern part with her. Even young Yucis can go to the South. The Empress Dowager will also be pleased. She has always wanted the children to visit at the family grave of Duchy Riagan. The climate is nice too, so it would be good for her to recuperate there, too, for a few months. After a long time, she wanted to see Natalia. ¡®There is no one to trust in the East.¡¯ Artizea thought carefully, flipping through the thoughts in her head. The East was still a messynd. They took control of the Eastern Army and prevented the war, but the seeds of discord proposed and sown by Emperor Gregor remained. ¡®It might be okay if I don¡¯t send them to the East. Rather, leaning in that direction would cause concern.¡¯ Should the East learn of their lost pride? She wasn¡¯t sure if that was necessary for the future or not. Dignityes to the people who have lived the life given to them to the best of their ability. At first nce, there was an idea that crossed her mind. But before Artizea could confirm it, her door was opened. Cedric popped his head in. ¡°Tia, your clothes are thin.¡± That was the first thing he said. Artizea stood up. Hazel put a thick cloak over her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not cold yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay here, but the mountain breeze is cold.¡± From the beginning, wearing thick clothes didn¡¯t seem like a suggestion. Cedric opened the overcoat made of cloth stuffed inside with short fur to Artizea. Artizea walked over to him and pushed her arms through the coat as he put them on. ¡°What about the kids? Were they having a good time?¡± ¡°There seemed to be no problem. Ticia makes friends quickly.¡± ¡°What a relief.¡± Most of the children brought to this castle now are the children of Cedric¡¯s childhood ymates. Cedric refused to do so, but Artizea wanted to make them friends with Leticia. Like Cedric, those children will be the greatest asset to Leticia in the future. It¡¯s not just about getting a good servant. Even when Leticia is at the Pce, it will help her understand properly all kinds of people from distantnds. Cedric held out his arm. Artizea put her arms around his and walked slowly. Cedric asked again when she wanted to talk about what she had thought before. ¡°This winter, you¡¯re escaping to the South?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it good for the children¡¯s education to experience a new environment? Yucis is still too young, but it will be a good learning experience for Ticia. Because the world is changing the fastest.¡± ¡°I see. Well, in the South, public security is pretty stable these days.¡± ¡°I want to meet Her Highness Natalia while I am there. It will be a great experience to meet the Royal Family of another country safely. By the way, why are you speaking in such a harsh tone?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What do you mean no?¡± There were rumors that the king of the kingdom, who was not yet married, had an affair with a married woman, and Cedric could not say it even if his mouth was torn. It wasn¡¯t that he cared about it. Never. It was because it was Marchioness Camellia who was being mentioned as the other person in the rumor. Artizeapletely misunderstood his thoughts. ¡°I am not talking about the issue of bestowing Duchy Riagan to Yucis. It is still too early.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Then what¡¯s the problem? Artizea tilted her head. Cedric turned around without knowing it. ¡°In winter, I will be lonely by myself.¡± ¡°You have to be so busy that you won¡¯t feel it.¡± Cedric, speechless, shut his mouth and made a sad face. Artizea smiled. ¡°Not only because of Ticia¡¯s education, but also because I want to show Yucis a wider world.¡± ¡°I agree with that. By the way, I have never been to the South.¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote for Lord Cedric. If you want to travel, you should have done that in the past. How are they going to handle the Emperor¡¯s procession in the South?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Unless you want to make a multteral summit.¡± ¡°Just thinking about it makes me feel like a pile of work will be poured over my head, so I¡¯ll bear with it.¡± Cedric sighed. Artizea said, ¡°I hope to send them to the West once in the next year or the year after that.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, too. The West is really a ce that expands your horizons just by looking at it.¡± ¡°So is the North.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It was an unimaginablendscape for those who lived only in the Capital.¡± Cedric was silent for a moment in thought. Artizea said, thinking he knew better than she did, ¡°First, let Ticia experience the North well.¡± ¡°Is that an order?¡± ¡°What do you mean by an order? I can¡¯t do it in the North, so of course Lord Cedric should do it well. Even Yucis probably won¡¯t be able to go with you.¡± Cedric smiled shyly. ¡°Actually, I was just going to take Ticia and go here and there for a while.¡± ¡°I see. But can Ticia ride a northern horse?¡± ¡°It is still difficult. It will be possible when she is twelve years old.¡± ¡°Lord Cedric is also taking a long break, and you don¡¯t know when you wille to the North again, so do a lot of them.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedricughed. Artizea added briefly, ¡°¡­¡­ It¡¯s good to meet people from the East, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about it, too.¡± They both knew whom they were talking about, but they didn¡¯t say their name. Both children were in front of the carriage. Yucis, who became round with his wool robe and woolen hat, raised his arms that were sped by Mel. ¡°Mom! Mom! I see thing strange today!¡± ¡°Strange?¡± ¡°A big brother three eyes!¡± Yucis said excitedly. What Yucis liked the most was observing new objects and phenomena and organizing them in his own way. Artizea smiled. Yucis struggled, reaching out his arms to hug Artizea. Cedric embraced him instead. Even though Yucis was still young and his development was slower than Leticia, it was too much for Artizea¡¯s arm. ¡°That big brother and mom also three eyes, and aunt four arms! Strongest in town!¡± Then, Yucis looked at Cedric and said, ¡°Taller than Dad.¡± ¡°It could be, why?¡± ¡°Dowant to.¡± Yucis began to cry. Cedric put on a strange face. Although he was on the tall side, there were plenty of people in the North who were as tall or taller than him. If it was Karam, it needs no mention. There was also a knight that Yucis knew. So, Yucis¡¯s reaction was surprising. ¡°Do you think that if you are small, you are weak?¡± Artizea asked with a smile. Yucis nodded his head with his finger in his mouth. ¡°But then, is Mom weaker than Dad?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡­.¡± The child, who was confused about the meaning of the word weak, fell into agony. He himself was smaller than Leticia, so he was weaker than Leticia. Although his Mom is an adult, he was told that her body was weak. But when she asks if she was weaker than his Dad, it doesn¡¯t seem like it. ¡°No, Dad is stronger than your friend¡¯s aunt.¡± Cedric said sternly. Artizea made an absurd face. Even Mel, who rarely changes her expression, moved her eyebrows and corners of her mouth at the same time. Cedric coughed. He knew it was childish. ¡°Mom! Dad! Look at this! I found something amazing!¡± At that moment, Leticia, who was squatting by the wheel of the carriage, fussing alone, ran over to her, screaming at what she had found. Artizea looked at Leticia curiously. And she was horrified to see Leticia gently sping her hands together. ¡°Ticia, don¡¯t open your hand.¡± ¡°The shell ispletely white, but it¡¯s rainbow-colored!¡± Without heeding the warning, Leticia put her hand out in front of Artizea. A bug the size of her thumb flew from her palm. ¡°Kyaak!¡± Artizea reflexively screamed. Cedric grabbed the bug with one hand before it ran towards her face. ¡°Ticia, your Mom doesn¡¯t like things like this.¡± Cedric sighed. Artizea nced at his hand clenched into a fist. Leticia said in a sad voice, ¡°It was really pretty.¡± ¡°Dad will look after it.¡± Cedric sneaked a nce at her secretly before looking at Leticia¡¯s eyes, and took Leticia¡¯s hand with the other hand and walked away. Artizea secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and got on the carriage with Yucis first. Chapter as29: After Story 29 END Proofreader: somnium Yucis fell asleep on Artizea¡¯s knee while the carriage was swaying. She was worried he might get motion sickness, but she was d he didn¡¯t. Artizea stroked Yucis¡¯ head. Yucis¡¯ hair was exceptionally thin. As she patted him like this, he felt like a young puppy with white fur. She heard Leticia shouting excitedly from the front. ¡°It¡¯s high! Dad, the top of the mountain is so close!¡± Artizea smiled. Leticia insisted that she be on the horse, so she went ahead with Cedric. By next year, she won¡¯t be able to let her go without a real horse. She had once wondered what Leticia was doing, maybe it was because she herself wasn¡¯t interested as she wasn¡¯t likely to have a horse or a dog when she was young. She wondered if as a child, they usually like to run and y, so they all should have been curious about animals. But seeing that Yucis sits quietly in the yroom, likes to touch y and draws, and learns to make words out of spelling blocks faster than running, it seems innate. So, it strangely softened Artizea¡¯s heart. At that moment, the carriage, which had been traveling on the incline the whole time, came up to a t surface. They seemed to have arrived. Artizea stroked Yucis¡¯ forehead and gently shook it. ¡°Yuci, wake up.¡± ¡°Ung¡­¡­.¡± Yucis turned his head in his sleep. Artizea stroked Yucis¡¯ cheek again. Mel said, ¡°I will carry him down, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°He has to get up anyway.¡± The carriage stopped. From outside, Freil knocked twice and opened the carriage door. ¡°Was the road unco, ugh.¡± Red rushed over like an arrow and dug into the side of his thigh before jumping into the carriage. ¡°Ack.¡± Freil groaned. It was because Red had put its feet on Artizea¡¯s knees, when its feet were muddy from running along the mountain road. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Artizea said. Her clothes were not soiled because she was covering herp with a nket. ¡°Huff huff!¡± Red gasped and looked at Artizea, then licked the sleeping Yucis¡¯ face. ¡°Hng, uwaah, Mooommm¡­¡­. uwaah.¡± Yucis closed his eyes and twisted his body into a huddle, but he couldn¡¯t beat Red. ¡°Red, stoopiiiitttt. Uwaaaah.¡± Neither Artizea nor Mel bothered to stop it. When Yucis finally woke up and sat on the floor of the carriage, Red stepped back and ced its chin on Artizea¡¯sp as if its mission had beenpleted. Melforted Yucis, who had woken up in tears, and wiped his face. ¡°Red! Red!¡± A call from Leticia came over there. Red licked Artizea¡¯s hand once and then jumped out of the carriage again. Freil shook his head. ¡°Hasn¡¯t it also grown?¡± ¡°Red is grown up.¡± It was Leticia¡¯s side whom she was worried about when Red would grow old. Artizea took Freil¡¯s hand and got off the carriage. ¡°Was the road ufortable here?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t very shaky. The whole road has been repaved.¡± It was natural to make the road, but it was made so that not only horses and carts but also carriages could move without shaking. There was no need to do this for general supply distribution. ¡°Ahem,¡± said Frail. ¡°Now, I can afford it. Isn¡¯t it important to take care of the symbol?¡± ¡°Still, it is not for the governor to directly act as an attendant. This is a family outing, not an official itinerary.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. I am also a person who has served Lord Cedric for a long time.¡± Freil said so and grinned. ¡°And it¡¯s not an official business, but isn¡¯t it important that the Governor did it himself?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡­.¡± Artizea did not have to deny it. Anyway, this isn¡¯t on an official schedule, so it could indicate that Cedric has no intention of overturning the imperial lineage. However, since the Governor followed directly as an attendant, it means that he was fully devoted. Freil pointed to the chapel leading to the family tomb and exined, ¡°The security system has alsopletely changed. Destroying them to protect them is dangerous and too outdated.¡± ¡°Have you dismantled all the equipment?¡± ¡°It didn¡¯te that far. That will have to be at the level of rebuilding the tomb. Instead, we removed all the machinery that could have caused the copse and destroyed some of the buried parts.¡± It would be nice not to have a war with Karam again, but even if it did, there was no need to fear that their ancestral tomb will be defaced. It was not such a time. ¡®One day, the fortress will disappear and only the family tomb will remain like a monument.¡¯ Artizea thought so. Evron became directly under the direct control of the Emperor. The title of Grand Duke Evron will be inherited by the Emperor¡¯s eldest child, but only honor and formality will remain, and it will be another title for the Crown Prince. As a result, there were no great nobles left in the Krates Empire. So no one else will be buried in this family tomb. There are not many people who remember grandfathers and grandmothers whom they do not even know their faces. After Cedric died, Leticia or Yucis did not have to visit this ce. Officially, these two children are descendants of the Krates Imperial Family, and Emperor Gregor was their grandfather, so there won¡¯t be a protocol for them toe for any reason. In the meantime, there have been several people who encouraged Cedric to honor Princess Floe as he was the Emperor and to transfer his parents¡¯ remains to the imperial tomb. It was understandably humane to miss one¡¯s parents, and even though Cedric didn¡¯t say anything out of his mouth, there were many people who tried to win favor by guessing prematurely that he would actually want to honor his mother. Meanwhile, there were even calls for the nullification of Emperor Gregor¡¯s regime after his death. Few would really think that it would be possible. However, there were many who wanted to at least undermine legitimacy, thereby invalidating thews and political decisions he made. Even though he made it clear that Emperor Gregor had abdicated and he was the adopted son of Emperor Gregor. Artizea also told him. [¡°It is difficult at the moment to honor your mother as it will incite controversy over the legitimacy of the Emperor, but I don¡¯t think this is a bad thing. There will be no more opportunities to go to the North in the future.¡±] [¡°I¡¯ve said it before, but it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve already obeyed all the filial piety, but if she was upset that I didn¡¯t visit her, she wouldn¡¯t like it even if I brought her there.¡±] Cedric said that with an awkward smile and made a soft face. [¡°I think it is right not to do things that may cause trouble for future generations. It¡¯s not like everything is really over.¡±] At that time, Artizea just nodded her head. Still, he did one thing. Cedric hung a portrait in a private living room in the Main Pce. The gentle painting of the couple together against the backdrop of the Capital¡¯s Grand Duke¡¯s residence, the faces of Princess Floe and the predecessor Grand Duke Evron, were copied from different portraits and repainted. It¡¯s because there were no portraits of the two together before. It was a sign that he had not forgotten his birth parents, but would not drag them out into public spaces. Just as Cedric feared beforeing here, the mountain breeze was cold and crazy even in the summer. She straightened her coat, which was fluttering in the wind. ¡°Achoo!¡± When the cold wind blew, Yucis, who quickly caught a cold, sneezed. Mel tightened Yucis¡¯ clothes, put his hat on, and then put him down. From how far she had gone in front, Leticia hurriedly ran from the other side and shouted, ¡°Mom! Mom! I want to go up there!¡± ¡°If you get permission from Dad.¡± ¡°Dad told me to ask Mom¡¯s permission! Then, can I go?¡± ¡°After the visit to the ancestral tomb, with Dad.¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s not going?¡± ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t want to.¡± She was curious to see how the scenery beyond the Thold Gate had changed, but she didn¡¯t dare to walk up that height. Cedric followed Leticia with arge flower basket. The basket of fresh white flowers overpacked, and Red bit one of the fallen flowers and went round and round. ¡°Wow.¡± Artizea gave a brief exmation. Yucis rubbed his eyes and eximed, ¡°Moth ochids!¡± ¡°Wow, our Yuci is smart. how did you know?¡± ¡°I saw in book.¡± Yucis said suddenly shyly. ¡°Really?¡± Artizea asked, tilting her head. This was because she wondered if Cedric knew the name of a flower well. ¡°It¡¯s exactly that, it¡¯s probably the same kind of flower. Here, even in summer, it can only be grown in a greenhouse, so it is quite a precious flower.¡± Cedric smiled and handed a flower to Artizea¡¯s hand. ¡°It also resembled a butterfly.¡± Yucis eximed, ¡°I have two!¡± Then Leticia shouted, ¡°Mine¡¯s full!¡± as if inpetition, and gathered flowers from the basket. ¡°You must not drop it on the ground.¡± Cedric said. Leticia nodded her head and took the flower carefully. Cedric put a basket of flowers in one of his arms, and extended his other hand to Artizea. Artizea made sure the two children were following along, and she and Cedric went into the chapel leading to the family tomb. Even though they had renewed the maintenance and cleaned it, the calm atmosphere as if dust had settled down did not change. Cedric did not this time go to the outermost room where his parents were housed. He started with the innermost room of his ancestors, ced flowers one at a time in front of the altar and lit candles. As the children had learned beforehand, they put their hands together and prayed. So, they visited all the tombs from the inside, and came to the tomb of the predecessor Grand Duke Evron and his wife that was outside. There, two silk flowers, which Cedric and Artizea had left behind a few years ago, remained, yellowed now. Cedric had never really been here before. Artizea knelt in front of it on one knee, removed the silk flower with a polite gesture, and put down the flower she was carrying. Between the two bs stood a small monument carved out of a stone. ¡°May you rest peacefully without worries in paradise. ¨C Cedric Artizea caressed the monument with a fresh feeling. ¡°Is Grandma and Grandpa here?¡± Leticia, who understood the concept of death as she had the experience of visiting the imperial tomb, asked. Cedric answered in a hoarse voice. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s Dad¡¯s Mom and Dad.¡± ¡°Why did you take them so far? Isn¡¯t it hard for Dad toe to see them?¡± ¡°When they died, they didn¡¯t know Dad would go this far.¡± ¡°It will be difficult if Dad doesn¡¯t see them often. I don¡¯t want to be so far away from Mom and Dad.¡± ¡°Me, too.¡± Leticia said maturely. Yucis followed her. Cedric smiled a little and patted the heads of the two children. ¡°When I be an adult, even if they¡¯re close, I won¡¯t be able toe often because I¡¯m busy¡­¡­. Grandma and Grandpa will understand.¡± ¡°Right. Dad is too busy.¡± Leticia said sullenly. Artizea called the two children. One flower was ced in each of the tombs, so Leticia¡¯s hand, who was holding the flower, became empty. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s say goodbye.¡± They took the flowers that Leticia and Yucis were handing, ced them on the altar, and put their hands together. ¡°Grandma, Grandpa, Leticia is here. Even if Dad pretends he doesn¡¯t know that he is busy, please don¡¯t be too harsh. I will visit you often with Yuci. Please help Mom and Dad and me and Yuci to get along well. I like a pony as a birthday present.¡± ¡°Yuci likes sunlight-colored paints.¡± ¡°Leticia.¡± Artizea raised a stern voice. Leticia, who had learned her manners, quickly corrected her words. ¡°May you be warm andfortable in the arms of God.¡± Leticia drew a cross. Yucis stammered in drawing the cross. Cedric poured all the rest of the flower from the basket on the altar to make a pile of flowers. And without a word, he just drew a cross. Artizea saw Cedric made a cross for the first time, except when attending temple ceremonies or receiving a blessing for the baby. Come to think of it, he never even prayed. His eyes were dyed red. Artizea noticed it, but she didn¡¯t bother to mention it. Instead, she took hold of the hands of Leticia, who slowly began to twist her body, and Yucis, who was yawning. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Cedric didn¡¯t say anything this time either. It wasn¡¯t really all over, but in some ways it was over. Artizea learned that she was now able to pray to God. ¡°Up you go.¡± Cedric grabbed Yucis with one arm and lifted him up. Then, holding Leticia¡¯s other hand, he and Artizea headed out of the tomb. END hello, this is effe again! we have finally reached the end end of TVLT! thank you for sticking until the very end! pardon me if the trantions is stillcking in parts >.< even though there might be some unanswered questions () i think this is a good enough ending for our beloved characters! once again, thank you for reading and loving TVLT! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!