HPBUY Chapter 127

After the two nobles departed, the Empress remained seated until sunset, unable to leave. She anxiously nibbled on her lips.

‘What should I do now?’

Today she had fully realized that even veteran nobles with significant experience, like Count Smith and Marquis Howard, were merely part of a faction centered around Duke Lowell.

Of course, their words had some merit. If the Duke returned to the capital, the situation would certainly be handled more skillfully.

Not all nobles sided with the Duke, but his influence was so great that he could easily accommodate a few opposing factions. Even now, when he was imprisoned for serious crimes, there were still factions willing to defend him in front of her, the Empress. That said everything.

But what served the Empire’s interests wasn’t necessarily the same as what served the Imperial family’s interests.

While Duke Lowell might be the best choice for the former, he was certainly not for the latter. He had already betrayed both the former Emperor and the current one. As Marquis Hoffman said, even though he ended up helping the current Emperor, the fact that he deceived the Emperor was clear.

There was no guarantee that Leopold wouldn’t be next.

If Duke Lowell truly became regent, he would wield absolute power. With his firmly established authority, the balance of power would tilt even more steeply.

Could Leo remain safe in such circumstances? Moreover, would this truly be beneficial for the Empire’s future?

The Empress sighed deeply, pressing her forehead.

[I believe that right now, Your Majesty the Empress needs His Grace the Grand Duke.]

Dahlia’s words echoed in her ears like a whisper.

She knew it intellectually. In the current situation, that man would certainly be a useful weapon for her.

Although the overall situation had deteriorated to the worst, the Grand Duke’s lifetime of actions couldn’t be erased in an instant. It was for this same reason that the Empress and the Empire’s nobles had not publicly disclosed what happened at Sendelk Mountain.

The situation was ambiguous on all fronts. Amidst this chaos, they lacked the capacity to withstand the aftermath if the public learned that someone revered as a national hero had suddenly fallen to become a traitor.

Were the nobles any different? Despite the Grand Duke’s confession, surprisingly little severe criticism or abuse had been directed at him. Ironically, most people either criticized the Princess for fleeing from this crisis or remained perplexed about why the Grand Duke had committed such acts.

Of course, those supporting the Duke stubbornly advocated for the Grand Duke’s dismissal regardless.

Making the Grand Duke the regent would not be an easy task. No matter what, the fact that he had aided in harming the Emperor remained unchanged.

Even though many nobles questioned the Grand Duke’s actions, would they support the Empress openly pushing him as regent?

They might instead denounce her as a shameless woman trying to give power to someone who had attempted to kill her husband.

Feeling trapped on all sides, the Empress anxiously bit her lip.

But it was clearly better to exist before them in some capacity than to disappear silently. Though she felt remorse toward Joseph, when faced with a choice between her husband and son, her path was already obvious.

Once, she had endured everything for her husband’s sake, but he could no longer protect her and their son. From now on, protecting herself and Leopold was solely her responsibility.

She had considered asking her family for help, but concluded it would only increase the imperial nobles’ resistance. Moreover, while it might help her in the short term, it seemed like a poor move for Leopold’s future.

So the answer was already clear. What choice she needed to make—to protect her child from the nobles who wanted to use Leo for power, and from Marianne.

If she had to betray Joseph to protect Leopold, even that was unavoidable now.

Even as her thoughts solidified in one direction, the Empress found it difficult to act.

Guilt toward her husband, unresolved negative feelings toward the Grand Duke, and incomplete confidence in her chosen path—all these seemed to cling to her ankles like metal weights. But she couldn’t stand still at the center of a path where warning bells were already ringing loudly.

After ruminating on her thoughts for a long time, the Empress finally summoned her head maid late at night and issued orders.

Not long after, Marquis Hoffman arrived before her.

“Your Majesty the Empress, I heard you were looking for me…”

The Marquis, who had already left the palace after the meeting ended, found the current situation perplexing. Not only was the Empress’s summons sudden, but the fact that he alone had been called made him nervous.

“Take me to where the Grand Duke is.”

“Yes… Pardon? The Grand Duke?”

The Marquis, who had habitually given an obedient answer, suddenly raised his head. The Empress gestured toward the door as if there was no time to waste.

“Quickly.”

When the order fell, the Marquis took heavy steps with a disgruntled expression.

If she wanted to interrogate him, she could simply summon him directly in front of the nobles. The Empress’s intention to head to the underground prison using him as a guide was completely incomprehensible.

After puzzling over it for a moment, the Marquis gave up trying to guess.

Whatever the case, he fervently hoped that the fallout wouldn’t affect him.

****

Declan leaned against the wall, gazing at the flickering light near the ceiling.

Being confined in a space without a single point of light, he couldn’t even gauge how many days had passed. Counting the number of guard changes was the only rough method of calculating time.

Since being imprisoned here, he had been completely cut off from the outside world and heard no news. Judging from the circumstances, it seemed Sienna had safely escaped from Sendelk, but there was no way to know if she had safely arrived in Parma.

When the heavy sound of the door opening was heard, his eyes, which had been fixed on the swaying light, fell in the opposite direction.

It took Declan several seconds to clearly identify the identity of the untimely visitor.

The Empress, who had entered the prison, examined it with visible displeasure on her face, then met Declan’s gaze through the bars.

“Your Majesty the Empress.”

Despite the unexpected guest, his attitude toward the Empress was respectful. The corners of the Empress’s eyes distorted strangely as she looked at him.

His posture, as upright as ever, was uncharacteristic of a prisoner. Unlike the chaotic situation outside, the man who had become the starting point of it all maintained his dignity even at this moment.

The Empress gave a small laugh and once again looked around the prison. It wasn’t a space suitable for an honorable noble, but it was quite fitting for a criminal who had committed a serious offense.

Despite her casual assessment, as she stood facing the Grand Duke, the Empress felt a fire rising within her.

Biting her lip firmly, she maintained her composure as much as possible and stood directly facing Declan. He, too, did not avoid her gaze.

“I don’t need to remind you of your crimes, Grand Duke.”

She brought up his crimes in a monotone voice.

“Not only did you try to assassinate His Majesty the Emperor in a brutal manner, but you also dismantled the border security for your own personal gain. I think you understand the severity of your crimes better than I do.”

Even to her sarcastic words, the Grand Duke did not deny anything. Seeing him not even attempting to make excuses, the Empress’s face contorted with clear anger.

“…What was your reason for doing this?”

“What you’ve heard is all there is.”

“You harbored resentment because the Emperor didn’t grant the Princess’s request, and that’s why you committed this act?”

The Empress raised her voice. It wasn’t a new issue, was it? Since when had the Empire been so open to women’s succession rights? Even if the Emperor hadn’t refused, it would have faced major opposition from the nobles.

“Do you think I would readily believe such an absurd claim?”

Her eyes, which had been fiercely glaring at him, soon cooled without leaving even a spark of fire.

“We cannot continue to entrust the Empire’s security to someone who has lost his qualifications as a soldier.”

The Empress murmured coldly. After silently observing his extraordinarily calm expression, she turned to Marquis Hoffman, who was standing anxiously a few steps behind.

“As of today, I am dismissing Grand Duke Monferrato from all his military positions.”

After issuing the order in a monotone voice, the Empress glanced at Declan.

“Do you have any objections?”

Considering his enormous contributions as a national hero, the Empress accorded him this final courtesy. The answer that would come from him was already predetermined.

“I will abide by Your Majesty the Empress’s wishes.”