Sienna’s expression was no different from when she first entered this place.
The Empress also did not avoid Sienna’s gaze.
“Furthermore, I will strip you of all rights associated with the position of Imperial Princess. The Princess will no longer be allowed to enter the Imperial Palace, nor exercise any rights as a member of the Imperial family.”
This statement included a considerable pension amount and all ceremonial privileges she could have received as the Imperial Princess. However, the Empress’s order meant more than just expulsion from the Imperial family. It was no different from saying she would be permanently banished from the Empire’s social circles.
“Do you have any objections, Princess?”
“I shall abide by Your Majesty the Empress’s words.”
Sienna answered calmly. After that, the Empress herself addressed the Grand Duke, listing his newly modified charges.
“The charges against the Grand Duke—concealment, abetting, and false testimony—are sufficient.”
No sooner had she concluded than one of the nobles abruptly rose from his seat.
“But Your Majesty, if you’re stripping her of her status as Imperial Princess, it would be right to also revoke her rights to Ricata territory.”
“Lord Nofert. The late Emperor’s will is a matter that neither I nor the Emperor can alter.”
As the Empress drew the line, the nobles who had been frozen in bewilderment finally began to add their comments with astonished expressions.
“No, Your Majesty the Empress. Then what meaning does the punishment hold?”
“This is absurd! How can you hand over land that has belonged to the Empire for hundreds of years to a criminal in this manner?”
“Then I’m curious about your opinions. What kind of judgment do you want me to make?”
The Empress shot back with a deliberately sharp tone.
“Should I issue a death sentence to the Princess here and now on charges of Imperial assassination, and also disregard the will left by the late Emperor? And if that’s not enough, should I summon Count Lowell, who deceived both Their Imperial Majesties, to the capital immediately? Is that what you want?”
The frustration that had been accumulating finally burst forth.
Those people would just repeat like parrots that something couldn’t be done until things flowed in the direction they wanted. Until now, she had endured their arrogance with patience alone, but this was the limit.
“I’ve already asked several times. I’ve asked for your opinions on how to resolve this situation wisely, but wasn’t it you who failed to give proper answers?”
The nobles’ faces turned pale at the Empress’s firm stance. But none of them could muster a proper rebuttal. In truth, there was nothing wrong with what the Empress said.
Claiming it was all for the Empire, or to restore the Emperor’s honor—no matter how smoothly they argued, it was ultimately for their own benefit.
Having already felt deep fatigue from such attitudes of the nobles, the Empress was determined to end everything today.
“Moreover, shouldn’t we take appropriate measures before the Empire’s disgrace is exposed?”
There was nothing wrong with the Empress’s words. Despite the King of Parma knowing all the facts, the Kralto continent remained quiet.
And there must be a reason why the King was keeping silent. The Empress knew the reason, but the nobles did not.
Though Parma might be a weaker country compared to the Empire, they couldn’t forcibly suppress an opponent who knew the Empire’s disgrace.
“So if you find my opinion unjust, present your strategy right now.”
At this, the nobles tried to continue their objections hastily, but Marquis Howard quietly stopped them.
Everyone seemed unable to discern properly due to excitement, but the Empress’s attitude at this moment was quite clear. She had no intention of charging the Princess with any further crimes from the beginning. The same applied to the Grand Duke.
Marquis Howard’s gaze narrowed.
Though he didn’t know her detailed intentions, if the Empress’s decision was clear, trying to go against it might rather have adverse effects.
The Princess and the Grand Duke’s crimes were already crystal clear, so there was no need to antagonize the Empress here.
No matter how powerless a woman might be, the one holding the reins now was the Empress. That fact should not be forgotten. They had already seen the end of those who, blinded by arrogance, forgot who held their leash.
Even Count Lowell, who had held power for decades, couldn’t set foot in the capital now. Those with even less standing, like themselves, needn’t be mentioned.
Having reached a conclusion, Marquis Howard gave a stern look, and though the nobles still wore dissatisfied expressions, they no longer opened their mouths.
The Empress looked at the nobles with a pathetic gaze, then turned toward Baron Vermont, who was busily rolling his eyes nearby.
“Since things seem to have been roughly concluded, let’s finish writing the judgment.”
Baron Vermont, who had been watching the nobles’ reactions, bowed his head.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
****
The Empress ended the hearing amidst the commotion. Outrage poured forth, but she left the hall without looking back.
The head chamberlain approached Sienna, who was standing alone in the middle of it all.
“Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see you separately.”
Sienna was about to follow him obediently, but suddenly there was a commotion behind her. Someone urgently shouted, “Hey!” and she reflexively turned her head. Or rather, tried to turn.
Before Sienna’s head could fully turn around, her wrist was seized with a strong grip.
“Where are you taking her?”
At the fierce voice, the head chamberlain looked at him with a shocked face. Seemingly frozen by instinct at the Grand Duke’s stern demeanor, he soon raised his voice as if recognizing the whispering surroundings.
“Wh-what is this….Let go of that hand. I am merely following Her Majesty the Empress’s orders!”
“I’m the one who wants to see the Empress right now. Shouldn’t I be the one the Empress needs to meet with in this situation?”
“Your Grace the Grand Duke!”
The head chamberlain turned pale at these insolent words.
Frozen in place watching him, Sienna rolled her eyes to look at the spectators gathered behind.
It was a meaningless quarrel. Sienna coldly shook off his hand. Declan’s gaze, which had been glaring at the head chamberlain as if to kill him, immediately turned toward her, but Sienna ignored it.
“Lead the way.”
At the short command, the head chamberlain glanced cautiously at Declan. Having been confined for quite a long time, his already cold impression seemed even more sensitive. Even so, his expression as he looked at Sienna was quite nuanced.
“This way, please.”
As the head chamberlain resumed his halted steps, Sienna silently followed him. This time, Declan did not stop her either.
Unrefined criticism poured toward Sienna as she left the hall.
How could she be so brazen after putting someone in such a state? Amidst vulgar curses saying like mother, like daughter, Sienna made her way through the familiar condemnation to reach where the Empress was.
“To be honest, I didn’t have much expectation. It wouldn’t have been strange if you hadn’t come, given the situation.”
The Empress suddenly said once the door was completely closed and only the two of them remained in the quiet space. Although she had directly asked Sienna out of desperation, it was no different from gambling for the Empress.
In the end, since the situation was resolved according to her intentions, the Empress asked a different question instead of adding more words about this matter.
“Are you going back right away?”
Without even meeting that man.
Understanding the unspoken words, Sienna inadvertently recalled the brief encounter she had just had with him. The sole purpose of coming here was wanting him to live.
That was also why she had tried to obtain Ricata. Not because of unfulfilled childhood ambitions, but because she believed that way was the path for both him and herself to survive intact.
Sienna’s wish was that simple.
Throughout the hearing, she had tried to ignore Declan’s presence by reminding herself of her purpose for coming here, but instinct habitually tried to defy reason.
A dark shadow passed over Sienna’s face as she unconsciously touched the area of her wrist where he had grabbed her.
He seemed quite gaunt up close. Perhaps because of that, his already prickly impression had become even sharper. Sienna’s gaze sank desolately as she belatedly recalled his face.
“The Princess has kept her promise, so I will keep mine as well. I will send a statement transferring ownership of Ricata at the earliest possible date.”
“……”
“The share that the Princess must bear is as I said earlier.”
“It’s something I’ve already prepared for, so it’s fine.”
Sienna deliberately spoke calmly.
It couldn’t be that being banished from her homeland didn’t affect her, but from the moment Joseph was engulfed in flames, she had already foreseen that the situation wouldn’t flow smoothly.
Rather, it’s fortunate that it ended with exile. Sienna was well aware of her position, which should be grateful just for the fact that her head was still attached to her body.
On the other hand, concern for the man who would be left alone in a land she would never be able to set foot in again from today did not disappear.
All the blame and contempt that had been directed at Sienna herself would be turned toward him the moment she returned to Parma. Thinking about this situation, which was no different from a predetermined course, made her feel stifled.
“Is everything really alright now?”
“To some extent, yes. Of course, the backlash will be severe for a while. But from now on, it depends on his abilities.”
