Chapter 42

Isilis held her breath at his words.

She couldn’t afford it. The Princess was born, but she didn’t have magical powers so there was no guarantee that the child would be safe if the same situation happened to target the princess again.

Although the Princess was well cared for by the nanny, that and her protection were separate. No matter how powerful Isilis’ magic was, there were many ways to get the Princess out of here… There was a limit to how her magic could protect her.

“I can’t believe you found out like this.”

“It doesn’t matter that the Princess isn’t endowed with magical powers, Your Majesty. The manifestation of her magical power…”

“I know best. It’s possible it will be later.”

“Buy your time until then.”

“I want to do that, too.”

“Do you need a cause?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, find the previous Empress.”

“The previous Empress?”

“Leaving the Empire to her for a while might be one way.”

“Duke.”

“Your Majesty… You’re still young. The previous Empress passed the throne too hastily and left. Don’t you know?”

“I know. But…”

“Make an excuse about the previous Empress’s consort.”

“What?”

“Say that you will investigate the death of Your Majesty’s father. If you do that, the previous Empress will return to the Imperial Palace.”

“If I do that, I will incur the wrath of the nobles.”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I will help you.”

“Duke Verus. Why are you doing this to me?”

“You know what, Your Majesty…”

“….”

“When Your Majesty’s true name is enshrined in the depths of the temple, you’d know that there are two people who have sworn an oath of allegiance there.”

“Right.”

“One of them is me.”

“You are my…”

“I will give my best effort, Your Majesty. I am your subject and godfather.”

Seeing the gentle smile on Duke Verus’s face, Isilis swallowed the rising cry.

Even though she thought she was alone, she wasn’t. One of her two hidden loyalists made an appearance. Where her true name was enshrined, there was always someone who protected the Imperial Family.

One of them was Duke Verus, the guardian she had been searching for all along.

“Why are you saying that now?”

“If I told you in advance, Your Majesty wouldn’t have grown this much.”

“Grown?”

“I think it is amazing that Your Majesty, who is young in age, has led the country to this extent. Still, Your Majesty, don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Did it look like that to you?”

“After the incident happened to the Princess, you became too agitated. So, ask the previous Empress for help.”

“I am also looking for the previous Empress’s whereabouts though what should I do about what is not easy?”

“If you make up your mind, I will take care of it.”

“Is there a way?”

“If you ask, I will look for the previous Empress.”

Isilis nodded her head. It would help her if he found the previous Empress and shared the burden she was carrying.

‘…At least I won’t have to discuss national marriage with someone I don’t want.’

If the previous Empress returned, other variables could have arisen.

‘Please don’t tell me to take Usman as my consort.’

Isilis was worried on the one hand, but she decided to take it slow. While it wasn’t the best way for her to avoid the nobles’ attack, she needed the second best… to buy time. It was the only way to give the Princess the time she needed, other than the imperial wedding.

“Duke Verus.”

“Please give me your order.”

“I know that you have been in touch with the previous Empress.”

“Did you know?”

“I can’t help but notice that the Duke’s residence is using a communication device like that. I let you go because you were loyal to me. Still, the previous Empress is the previous Empress. Her time has now ended.”

“I know, Your Majesty.”

“This is only a moment to buy time. I have no intention of sharing my power with the previous Empress.”

“The previous Empress will only buy you a little time.”

“When the time is right, she will have to step back.”

“I will convey your concerns.”

“Then, you can go.”

Duke Verus bowed his head deeply and stepped down after Isilis ordered him to go and tell the previous Empress’s ancestor what she wanted. She murmured in a low determined voice as she watched him.

“Everything according to my will.”

‘…Not according to mother’s wishes.’

“Urgent news!”

A messenger with a letter arrived at the imperial castle of the Hillenton Empire. Upon receiving the letter, the Emperor of Hillenton jumped up from his seat.

“What is it?”

The nobles flinched at the sight of the Emperor trembling with anger.

Everyone was curious about what was going on, although they didn’t make the mistake of opening their mouths first. It was clear that the first person to open his mouth because he couldn’t overcome his curiosity would receive all that anger.

“What is the matter, Your Majesty?”

The Crown Prince, unable to see the trembling Emperor, opened his mouth from the side. The Emperor looked at him with terrifying eyes and opened his mouth.

“They say Berthas Hillenton is a sword master.”

“What… what?”

“Berthas Hillenton doesn’t say that he has reached the level of a sword master?!”

The Crown Prince put on a bewildered expression at the Emperor’s outburst.

“Not too long ago, he was only a sword expert…”

“It’s clear he cheated on us.”

Hearing his words, the Crown Prince shook his head.

“It can’t be. It’s something that can’t be hidden…”

“If you reach a certain level, it will be possible.”

“Why does he stand still with such force?”

The Emperor sat down at the question.

“How do I know that?! Summon him now!”

“Your Majesty. Then, what about trade negotiations…”

The Emperor threw down the letter he was holding to the Crown Prince, and his son’s face, who had been hit by it, hardened with shame. He did not like being treated like this in front of his subjects.

“Does that seem important now?”

Glancing around at his subjects, the Emperor suddenly shouted.

“Everyone get out!”

With his anger, the subjects rushed out of the audience room, and the Emperor summoned the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, who approached the throne, was slapped on the cheek by the Emperor. As a ‘slap’ sound was heard, the attendants swiftly lowered their heads.

“Do you have any thoughts? Berthas Hillenton became a Sword Master… You don’t know what he was going to do with that excuse.”

“If he was going to do something, wouldn’t he have already done it?”

Swallowing the rising anger, the Crown Prince opened his mouth. As he rubbed his blushed cheek, he gritted his teeth and spoke again.

“What does it matter that he is a sword master? After all, he is someone who cannot ascend to the throne.”

“That is not the point. He only cannot ascend the throne, but he can’t scheme something else?”

“I know, though he will not do that.”

“Why.”

“How many years has Berthas Hillenton bowed to us? It’s been almost twenty years. But now, do you think anything will change if he becomes a sword master? We already have all the real power.”

“There are many followers of Berthas Hillenton.”

“Still, that is when he moves. I’ve been told that there are a lot of people he was in contact with, so I’m keeping an eye on it, yet I haven’t had any problems.”

“If he is blinded by power, it will change.”

“If he had been blinded by power, he would have already entered the imperial castle, father.”

The Crown Prince changed his title, so the Emperor turned his attention to him.

“I threw a bait to test him.”

“Bait…?”

“Clues to the death of his father, late uncle.”

“Are you crazy?”

“No. It was because I had to check.”

Hillenton’s Crown Prince, Kespine, uttered while smiling, “Even so, there was no response. It is clear that he gave up.”

“It can’t be. Where would that bloodline go? Just as the previous Emperor was terrible, he must be like that, too.”

“Father. Don’t worry too much, I will take care of it myself.”

“No. Summon him right away.”

“Father.”

“Didn’t I tell you to call me Your Majesty in public?”

“The subjects aren’t even here…”

“It’s an audience room, so of course, call me Your Majesty.”

“Your Majesty.”

The Emperor whispered at Kespine’s words as he corrected his title as if he couldn’t help it.

“I need to call in Berthas and question his intentions. Prepare for it.”

“Understood.”

“When Berthas returns, you will go to the trade negotiations with Larchen.”

“Me?”

“The Empress is getting married, so it would be nice to be you.”

“Your Majesty, I must rule this country…”

“I know. Who told you to marry the Empress? Just make the Empress fall in love with your handsome looks and steal the secrets of Larchen.”

“…Understood.”

As the Crown Prince left the audience room, the Emperor, who had been watching him, opened his mouth again.

“Berthas Hillenton. I saved him, yet he became trouble… I must kill him.”

“Your Excellency, a messenger has come from Hillenton.”

He didn’t even look at Hector’s sudden words. He waved his hand at Hector as he was looking through the documents for tomorrow’s trade deal.

“You read it.”

“All right.”

Hector’s expression changed every moment as he read the correspondence. Berthas, unable to see his face as he was reading another document, asked with his eyes still on the document.

“What?”

“Your Excellency…”

Only then did his head turn at Hector’s serious voice. Smiling at his stiff expression, Berthas opened his mouth.

“What is it?”

“…They told you to return directly to Hillenton.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“They’re saying you’re going to plead guilty.”

“For what crime?”

“The crime of hiding the fact that you became a sword master who would become the property of the Empire.”

—