✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Translated by: Sienna
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
It was Fritz’s incompetence and the Empress’s extravagance that caused the rebellion in the first place.
At first, I thought about correcting Fritz’s behavior because he was still my brother.
But after visiting the palace, I quickly dismissed that idea.
‘That fool is beyond help.’
He’s grown up disregarding me.
Even if I tried to correct his behavior using his weaknesses as leverage, it would be futile.
‘He’ll probably just scoff at me, call me an arrogant raven, and try to meddle in my affairs.’
Unlike the Empress, who would agree to anything Fritz said, the Emperor is a man of discernment.
Moreover, he’s a perfectionist who can’t tolerate anyone ruining what he’s accomplished.
‘That’s why he tried to educate Fritz directly.’
But that plan went horribly wrong when he fell ill, and after his death, Fritz was crowned emperor and began to indulge in pleasure and luxury.
‘Yes, the Emperor’s plan was a failure from the start.’
So the solution was clear.
To eliminate the rotten branch, Fritz, and ensure the survival of this damned empire, it was necessary to groom a capable successor to the throne in order to reduce the likelihood of rebellion.
For that reason, it wouldn’t hurt to start laying the groundwork slowly from now on.
For instance, there were rumors that the Crown Prince had established unauthorized mines in the North, thereby allowing barbarians to freely roam the northern border.
I told Sardin to tell the Emperor about spreading rumors to get Erich out of the way, but it wasn’t a rumor in the first place.
The barbarians were indeed roaming freely along the northern border.
And the reason this fact hadn’t been exposed until now was because Fritz had ordered that any mention of the unauthorized mines be strictly concealed.
‘Wouldn’t getting caught result in more than just a scolding from the Emperor?’
In the first place, even if mines are discovered at the border, it’s forbidden to mine them.
This is because it could be perceived as a border violation, and the area could become a secret passage for crossing the border.
But Fritz, being the greedy man that he is, couldn’t let the fact that there’s a mine on border land that belongs to the Empire pass him by.
He insisted on mining there to fill his own pockets.
When the issue with the barbarians emerged and the unauthorized mines came to light, Fritz placed all the blame on his subordinate.
The subordinate took his own life after being threatened by Fritz, but the barbarians had already learned the terrain and routes of the North and began infiltrating in earnest.
At that time, it was Erich who suppressed the barbarians.
I merely advanced the timeline by about a year.
‘So Fritz won’t be able to pass the blame onto anyone else.’
Once Erich goes north, he’ll uncover everything, and Fritz will be in a dire situation with no way out.
At this point, I just need to nudge the Emperor a little.
Not only will he be disappointed in Fritz, but his trust in his son, whom he considered a successor, will slowly diminish.
‘After that, I’ll take my time to think about who would be best for the throne.’
For a moment, I glanced out the window, then frowned.
I saw Erich talking with his subordinate, Xenon.
‘I didn’t expect that annoying lackey to be with him.’
Just as I was about to close the curtains, I paused.
‘Come to think of it, I still haven’t dealt with Xenon properly.’
Despite Sardin’s attempts to investigate, Xenon either sensed something or didn’t leave the house at all.
‘Yeah, it doesn’t matter anymore now that he’s here.’
It didn’t matter who Xenon belonged to.
In any case, as long as the letter he showed with the Blant family crest was genuine, it was clear that Erich was on their side.
‘So I will never forgive you, even if…’
[Please don’t hate Dad too much.]
Even if my child had said so, I couldn’t help but hate him.
‘Yes, maybe someday, with time, I’ll forget you, but not now.’
Every time I saw his smug face, memories of my unrequited love and mistakes flooded back.
Chasing after him foolishly, tormenting him, yearning for an unattainable love.
And tormenting the women who approached him regardless of their status out of jealousy.
Yet, despite his disdain for me, he never divorced me.’
Maybe it was to prevent upsetting my father, the Emperor, who supported our union.
‘Yeah, I must have been nothing but a villain to you. That’s why you probably didn’t want to have a child with me either.’
I stared at him with a cold gaze.
The hatred I felt for him surged through me.
Then I drew the curtains and said a final goodbye.
‘Goodbye, Erich. I will now disappear from your life forever.’
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Meanwhile, Erich was going over the arrangements for his departure for the north.
“Your Grace, everything is ready for your departure at 6 a.m. tomorrow.”
Erich nodded in acknowledgment.
“Understood.”
With that response, Erich instinctively lifted his head.
His gaze drifted to the second-floor couple’s room, which he shared with Cornelia.
“The curtains are drawn. I won’t be able to see it for a while after I depart…”
And in that moment, an intense desire arose in Erich’s mind.
He wanted to see Cornelia’s face.
Erich let out a mocking laugh.
‘Foolishly being swayed by such dreams…’
For the past few days, a blond boy claiming to be his and Cornelia’s son has appeared in his dreams.
Strangely, every time he saw the child, he felt a tender emotion and ended up embracing him, which was quite absurd.
[Dad, can’t you stay with Mom and me? Please don’t regret it.]
Erich smiled bitterly.
‘Yeah, dreams are just dreams.’
The child in Cornelia’s womb wasn’t his. Therefore, the dream was merely a hopeful fantasy he concocted himself.
‘So, there’s nothing for me to regret.’
Despite thinking this, Cornelia’s words echoed in his mind.
<You’ve always regretted marrying me, and now that I’ve given you an excuse, you can divorce me in peace.>
<You never treated me as your wife.>
<Exactly. I was sensitive. I would get angry over trivial things, resent you, and act annoyingly. I understand that you dislike me.>
The more he thought about it, the more he couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason, but he felt angry.
‘It has nothing to do with me. Why…….’
Erich’s gaze was fixed on the window, which glowed faintly in the darkness.
Just then, someone approached him.
“Your Grace, your aide says he needs to discuss something with you.”
He stared at the window and thought.
‘Yeah, let’s talk when I return.’
Erich then turned to the servant.
“Very well, I’ll go to the office.”
Erich turned his steps, appearing reluctant to leave.
8: The End of That Wretched Man
Early in the morning, the Blant Matriarch bid farewell to Erich.
“My son, please return safely.”
Her compassionate yet subtly saddened demeanor moved the nobles and knights from other houses who came to offer their support.
“It seems the Grand Madam of Blant cherishes her son deeply.”
At that response, the matriarch swallowed back a sneer, then glared at Erich, who stared at her coldly without replying.
‘You insolent bastard.’
But instead of being angered by his demeanor, she couldn’t help but laugh.
‘I wonder. Will you still be so arrogant when you return?’
Then she spoke up.
“Don’t worry and go on your way. I’ll take charge of your wife and take good care of her.”
Her words, something she would never say under normal circumstances, made Erich feel uneasy.
‘What is she planning?’
Since he was going to be away for an extended period of time, Erich gave orders to his knights, not only to Janet, just in case.
He made it clear: protect the Duchess at all costs.
Having taken thorough precautions, Erich felt reassured about Cornelia’s safety.
Yet, amidst these thoughts, Erich couldn’t shake off his lingering unease.
Eventually, he lightly embraced the Grand Madam and whispered into her ear.
“It would be wise not to entertain foolish thoughts. If anyone dares to harm her, I will not hesitate to take action.”
For a moment, the Grand Madam flinched at the sternness in his voice.
“Then I shall take my leave. Mother.”
As everyone turned away, the Grand Madam cast a scrutinizing gaze at her fake son’s broad back.
‘Don’t touch your woman?’
She chuckled inwardly.
‘Yes, I won’t touch your woman, as you say. But…’
Her blue eyes drifted towards Cornelia’s chambers.
‘You didn’t tell me not to touch your unborn child, did you?’
But there was one issue…
‘It’s not yet time for that rebellion to take place.’
The Grand Madam hesitated for a moment, then chuckled again.
‘Well, since she’ll soon be under my watchful eye, I’ll wait a bit longer.’
