****
The next morning. In the exceptionally bright sunlight, the majesty of the Empress Dowager Palace seemed to shine even more.
In the audience room was her son, Grand Duke Edgar Del Quantil, who arrived early in the morning by carriage. Soon Patricia finished dressing up and entered her audience room. Patricia and Edgar sat facing each other at the golden table.
At that moment, a maid hurriedly approached Patricia. Her eyes lit up when she heard the maid’s message.
“You mean the Empress and the Emperor slept together yesterday?”
“Yes, Your Highness. This is a difficult story to hear. Currently, only maids appointed by the Empress can enter the Empress’s Palace…”
Edgar, who was next to Patricia, hardened his expression when he heard the story.
‘How is Liv……’
It was Liv, who once said that she loved only him and no one else.
How could Liv be like that? How could Liv possibly sleep with Carius whom she had turned down coldly?
‘Why do I keep thinking about it?’
Edgar’s heart sank as soon as he heard the message.
As if to awaken his thoughts, the maid hurriedly prepared the tea and served it on a tray. And put the teacups between the two.
Patricia picked up the teacup and took a sip of her tea.
“It’s not normal for that Empress. It’s embarrassing to even speak of the actions she did to me last time.”
(*they are wife and husband, can’t they sleep together? Is it a crime to sleep together! Patricia is ridiculous.)
Patricia put down the teacup and shook her head.
“I’m glad she didn’t marry the Grand Duke. Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.”
But Edgar didn’t say anything, looking only at the teacup. Patricia quietly looked at her son.
“I thought she received a great education because she’s the daughter of Edinburgh, but where did she learn only such cunning techniques…… ”
Edgar refuted Patricia’s words before she could even finish.
“That was the charm.”
At those words, Patricia clicked her tongue, exasperated.
“Get a hold of yourself. Even after hearing that story, are you still saying she’s charming?”
“She was my first love.”
At Edgar’s words, Patricia eventually raised her voice angrily.
“This is not a time for love or fortune-telling. Do you know what kind of agenda I will bring at the imperial meeting?”
It was called the Emperor class of the Emporium Empire. It was a kind of formal procedure for the next emperor to complete various educations such as cesarean studies.
In a word, it was a procedure that meant that if he passed this class, he could soon ascend to the throne of emperor. Edgar recognized Patricia’s intentions and shook his head.
“His Majesty, will he allow it?”
“We have already received letters of recommendation from the nobles. Right now, there is no heir to the throne to succeed Carius.”
“There is a prince.”
Unlike Edgar, who was anxious, Empress Dowager only raised the corners of her lips.
“Oh my gosh. What noble would like a cursed prince who is imprisoned in a tower to be the heir?”
“Will the Prince be trapped in the tower forever?
“They say that the Empress has recently entered the tower. As a result, I could not see Priest Jack. There’s nothing good about being noticed by the Empress.”
Edgar’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The Empress went to the tower?”
“Do not worry. No matter how many times she goes there, she won’t be able to get the Prince out.”
Edgar took a short breath and then removed his gaze from Patricia.
“His Majesty’s opposition will be fierce.”
“There will be a riot. But the establishment of an emperor is an open fact. This is a matter that must be passed at this imperial meeting.”
“If it passes…”
“We drive out the tyrant emperor and you’ll ascend the throne.”
Patricia slowly came and sat next to her son with warm eyes.
“Soon my Grand Duke will become the Emperor of the Emporium Empire.”
“Then the Emperor and Empress…… ?”
“We’ll kill them. You must not leave any regrets.”
Patricia spoke firmly with her eyes full of life. Edgar had complicated thoughts.
Although, as she said, it has already become a fact that he himself would ascend to the throne, the problem was happening elsewhere.
If he was to ascend to the throne, Liv would be mercilessly killed. Edgar started to worry about it.
Seeing her son with an unusual expression on his face, Patricia changed the topic.
“Have you heard of the return of Count Duncan von Baxter from the Delta Kingdom? Count Baxter said the royal Princess of the Delta Kingdom is looking for someone to marry.”
Edgar stared at Patricia with some uneasy aura. Seeing her son’s expression like that, she smiled even more.
“I heard that a diplomat from the Delta Kingdom will be visiting soon. If you marry the Princess, it will be a great help for the Grand Duke to ascend to the throne in the future.”
“… ”
Seeing the son who somehow did not respond, Patricia emphasized once again.
“Marriage is not something to be done with personal emotions. Be mindful.”
“…yes.”
Even Edgar’s reluctant reply bothered her. But Patricia believed that her son would act as she intended, so she did not speak any more.
After organizing her thoughts, she picked up the teacup placed in front of her. And she savored the scent to her heart’s content.
She was looking forward to the moment her son ascended to the throne.
***
Imperial meeting day.
The Imperial nobility council differed from the general council in that it was an observer. This was because only the people of the royal family, the nobility involved in the agenda, and the priests were able to attend.
At the long table, there were four golden chairs at the top. They were the seats for the Emperor, the Empress, the Empress Dowager, and the Grand Duke.
Soon Patricia, in a luxurious purple dress and a high crown, entered. Then Edgar in a white uniform came in and sat down at the table.
“Greetings, Empress Dowager and the Grand Duke.”
The nobles who were present stood up and greeted them. At the same time, a loud cry was heard announcing the arrival of the Emperor.
“His Majesty has arrived!”
Soon the large door of the conference hall opened and Emperor Carius entered with the rough sound of his shoes.
Carius in a blue uniform with a golden insignia on his shoulders. He was perfect, as if boasting the majesty of the Emperor. In particular, his muscular body was threatening enough to overwhelm the audience.
The nobles hurriedly stood up and bowed their heads. The eyes of the Empress Dowager looking at Carius were quite different. She was like a fox in front of her prey.
Carius took a step and sat on the chair in the center.
“Tell me about today’s agenda.”
His low, thick voice filled the room. Then the Empress Dowager stopped Karius’ words with a fishy smile.
“Why is the Empress not present? Well, it seems that there is no such basic etiquette.”
Patricia said, pointing to the empty seat of the Empress.
Carius answered, ignoring her sarcastic tone.
“Let’s proceed first.”
Carius immediately glanced at the aide. At this, the aide took the parchment document in his hand and shouted loudly.
“The first agenda is about the Delta Kingdom. Count Duncan von Baxter, please speak.”
Count Baxter stood up from among the nobles dressed in a neat uniform at the words of the aide.
“This time, a diplomat from the Delta Kingdom will visit in person, and they want to form an alliance on trade negotiations and border issues. In response to this, we need someone who will prepare to welcome the envoys on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor.”
At his words, the conference hall became silent for a moment.
“I’ll do it.”
In the silence of everyone, the Grand Duke Edgar raised his hand.
Despite Carius’ disapproving gaze, he spoke boldly.
“It’ll be helpful to have quite close acquaintances in the Delta Kingdom.”
“Is there anyone else?” (The aide)
The Empress Dowager intervened in the aide’s urgent question.
“Before that, it seems that the external position of Grand Duke Edgar comes first.”
The nobles looked at Patricia at once, as if they had already anticipated the development.
Carius was silent for a moment as if thinking about the meaning for himself. After thinking, he raised his eyes and stared at Patricia.
“A tribute to Grand Duke Edgar.”
“It is an insult to the Grand Duke to welcome his ally, the Kingdom of Delta, without any position.”
The Empress Dowager looked at the aide with the utmost glare and spoke in a sharp tone.
“Should I have said that first?”
The aide looked at Carius and stood still. However, in the end, he had no choice but to say the second agenda at the stingy gazes of the nobles.
“Let me tell you about the second agenda first. To approve cesarean lessons for Grand Duke Edgar.”
The rest of the nobles, hearing this for the first time, began to roar. Carius’ brow furrowed.
In a noisy atmosphere, Empress Dowager confidently continued.
“In the meantime, the Emporium Empire has grown into a great empire that no other nation can surpass in a long time. But if there is no heir to succeed the Emperor, it will soon be destroyed.”
All the nobles except Carius nodded at her words.
“The Prince in the tower has long since lost his legitimacy among the nobles. If that is the case, then it would be right for Grand Duke Edgar, the blood of the family, to succeed him. It’s about having a future.”
“This is the process before being appointed as emperor, Mother Empres.”
Carius murmured, barely suppressing the anger that rose from within. Still, Empress Dowager did not back down.
“Many nobles already agree on this, Emperor.”
And the Empress Dowager handed out to Carius the letters of recommendation from the nobles that she had prepared. At that time, when all the nobles were in a hurry to look only at the Emperor’s face.
Suddenly, the large door of the conference hall opened.
“Your Majesty!”
Through the door adorned with golden eagles, Liv entered. She was wearing a black dress.
And after that, nine priests appeared wearing white coats, except for the priest Jack, whom the Empress Dowager was looking for.
“I see Your Majesty the Empress!”
All the nobles got up from their seats and bowed their heads in courtesy. Liv was also polite and greeted the Empress Dowager and Carius who were seated at the top.
“You’re late.”
The Empress Dowager looked at her and her priests with her puzzled eyes, frowning.
Liv turned her head and scanned the nobles. Everyone was watching her act…
At that moment, Liv turned, looking at the door and shouted firmly.
“Prince, come in!”