HPBUY Chapter 133

Given the situation had been serious enough to anticipate the possibility of war, it might actually be fortunate if the matter could be resolved through the Empress. Whatever proposal the Empress had, it was worth hearing before outright refusal.

Jeremiah, maintaining his guard until the end, told Sienna he would wait nearby and departed. With only the Empress and Sienna remaining in the small space, the Empress began speaking gravely.

“Soon there will be a hearing to determine the Grand Duke’s punishment.”

Getting straight to the point, Sienna’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

“In the current situation, he won’t be able to avoid execution. He himself doesn’t seem particularly interested in escaping his crimes. But I need him.”

“What…?”

“What I mean is that right now, I need the Grand Duke more than Ricata, if not the Empire itself.”

While the nobles seemed desperate to protect Ricata one way or another, the Empress honestly felt skeptical about it.

Wasn’t it a land that had been sealed off and abandoned for years? Even if the Empire continued to own it, regaining its former glory was already impossible, and it was clear that the situation would only grow more complicated after the seal was lifted.

In the current situation, ownership of Ricata territory was merely a burden.

Although the nobles were strongly opposing the prospect of the large eastern territory falling into foreign hands, in reality, if ownership was confirmed to the Empire, the embers would remain, causing further problems.

The existence of Ricata itself had been despised by Joseph, who was now gravely wounded. If a regent was appointed, the seal might be lifted more easily than expected.

But if, for instance, the newly appointed regent lifted Ricata’s seal, that alone would threaten the Empress.

No matter what hardships it had endured, Ricata was the largest domain in the east. If Ricata’s seal was lifted, rights to that land would naturally fall into the hands of whoever became regent, and it was obvious which way power would tilt in that process.

In this situation, power concentrating in someone other than Leo was, in itself, the worst scenario for the Empress.

Regardless of these circumstances, Sienna wasn’t convinced. She couldn’t take the Empress’s words at face value. Sienna’s normally expressionless lips twisted slightly.

“When weighing the grand eastern territory against the Grand Duke’s current situation, Your Majesty, I’m not stupid enough to fail to see the calculation.”

“Why would I lie to you, Princess?” the Empress retorted coldly.

“If this weren’t the only way to protect myself and my son, I wouldn’t be facing you like this. The same goes for the Grand Duke.”

Even as she spoke, the Empress inwardly regretted her arrogance belatedly.

Perhaps, as Sienna suggested, she had been complacent. Just as the Grand Duke had shown the effectiveness of Sienna’s existence as his vulnerability, she had unconsciously thought his existence would be a major weakness for Sienna as well.

Sienna was rational and cold-headed. Though it was highly regrettable to the Empress, it was too late to change her approach now.

“Let me ask again. Are you really alright with the Grand Duke being executed as things stand? At this rate, Ricata too…”

“What would change if I went to the capital?” Sienna cut in.

The Empress frowned at the interruption.

But Sienna met her gaze without averting her eyes. From their brief conversation, she couldn’t understand everything, but one thing seemed clear.

If the Empress had personally come here, it meant she too was backed into a corner.

Given that no nobles accompanied her, it seemed she hadn’t found anyone trustworthy. That made her all the more desperate. Even if Sienna returned to the Empire, it was questionable whether the Empress could properly protect her.

“If I return to the capital, it’s obvious my head will roll before the Grand Duke’s.”

“Princess…”

“Or is your plan to use the Grand Duke as a pretext to capture me and punish us both at once?”

As the Empress’s expression grew increasingly rigid, Sienna remained expressionless.

Just as her mind had gone blank upon hearing the word “execution,” her reason returned quickly as well.

If she got swept up in emotions, all her efforts until now might be in vain.

Noticing Sienna’s thoughts, the Empress softened her tone. Though her expression remained grim, she regained her composure and spoke calmly.

“Joseph can no longer live the life he once did. The Empire needs a regent now. To be precise…”

The Empress paused and took a breath. She continued in a lowered voice.

“We need someone who won’t get swept up in the power struggles of other nobles, who will maintain the position, and who can transfer power to Leopold as soon as he comes of age.”

“…So you’re saying you’ll use the Grand Duke as a shield for Leo and Your Majesty?”

“It’s not a bad deal for either party, is it? The Grand Duke’s disgrace can’t be erased, but at least he can keep his life.”

Unlike the Empress who continued speaking nonchalantly, Sienna’s expression grew increasingly confused.

Though it was relieving to hear there was a way for Declan to keep his life, it was difficult to agree with the Empress’s decision. It was clear the nobles wouldn’t accept the Grand Duke.

Sienna’s confused gaze fell on the Empress’s white, protruding knuckles.

“…So that’s why you asked me to come to the hearing.”

With him having already confessed, there was only one way to overturn it: for his confession to lose validity by the real culprit appearing.

So there was no other option but for Sienna herself to return to the Empire.

“You can think I’m blinded by greed if you wish. But I believe the Princess knows well that this is the only breakthrough for the Grand Duke too.”

“…”

“It goes without saying that it’s better for you as well. No matter what eastern territory you bring, Parma’s nobles won’t welcome you in your current disgraceful state.”

It was partly a guess, but seeing Sienna’s lips press into a line, it seemed to have hit the mark.

If that was the case, there was nothing more to discuss.

Even with the King of Parma’s protection, what use was it to stubbornly persevere without properly integrating into the group?

In the Empire, Sienna’s position as Princess had allowed her to be an outsider without consequences, but that was no longer the case.

What Parma’s people feared was the possibility of Parma suffering disadvantages because of Sienna.

Therefore, for her to establish herself honorably in Parma, the matters in the Empire had to be conclusively resolved.

Even if the Grand Duke’s crimes were transferred to Sienna, Parma’s nobles would only feel at ease once Sienna officially received punishment from the Empire and the situation was completely resolved.

The Empress looked at Sienna. Whether Sienna’s thoughts aligned with hers, conflict clouded her face.

The Empress quietly concluded the conversation instead of pressing further.

“I hope to hear your answer soon.”

Though she maintained a firm attitude now, from what the Empress had observed, the Princess wasn’t cold-hearted enough to turn her back on her lover in dire straits.

If she had truly intended to abandon everything and start anew, why would she have come here, looking as though she might collapse at any moment?

Regarding Ricata, there was no need for concern since the King himself had taken charge. The only reason she would drag her unwell body all the way here was obvious.

Moreover, she wouldn’t want to experience the same reputation in her new, hard-won home as she had before.

So her path was already determined.

****

She couldn’t even remember how she had returned to her quarters.

Even after returning to her bedroom, Sienna remained dazed for a long time.

She had thought everything would be resolved once she reached Parma, so why was everything still a mess?

It felt like she was only now beginning to pay the true price. Only after leaving Declan’s shadow did she fully realize how smoothly she had been able to operate under his protection.

And if he took responsibility for everything and was executed, Joseph’s matter would be concluded.

Though she understood that was the best way to ensure her own safety, what meaning was there in surviving by sacrificing him?

In front of the Empress, she had pretended to be cold to hide her inner turmoil, but from the moment the word “execution” left the Empress’s lips, her composure had already shattered.

The silence that settled in the bedroom pushed her back into despair. The emotions she had swallowed in front of the Empress gradually began to emerge through the cracks.

What was I trying to achieve?

Taking revenge on Joseph and obtaining Ricata. What meaning did those things have?

As images of the funeral procession from her previous life and his figure lying in the coffin came to mind one after another, her blood ran cold as if she had returned to that day. The sensation she felt the moment she confirmed his death with her own eyes was still vivid.

Then as now, the one who drove him to death was herself.

A groan-mixed breath scattered through Sienna’s lips as she stared into the void.