For once, all high-ranking nobles, including the Grand Duke, participated in the meeting held at the Imperial Palace.
While the meeting was just a formality, many nobles attended partly to confirm the rumors of the Grand Duke’s return that had been circulating in the capital recently.
It was a busy season for social events. It was also the busiest time of year for nobles with children coming of age. Amidst all this, the Grand Duke’s return—could there be anything more timely?
The fact that Declan Monferrato was the most sought-after bachelor in social circles had remained unchanged since he came of age.
As Declan Monferrato appeared at the appropriate time, the nobles’ gazes moved silently but busily. While outwardly offering polite greetings, most of their inner thoughts were similar.
Jealousy and curiosity. It was mostly along those lines.
“Through this war, the Empire has gained northern ports. All thanks to having an excellent Commander-in-Chief.”
The Emperor, seated at the head, opened with a pleased expression.
“Thanks to the army’s dedication, the Empire has become the largest empire ruling the most vast territory on the Kralto continent. In light of this, I’m thinking of holding a banquet soon to honor the soldiers’ merits. What do you think?”
“How could we object, Your Majesty?”
The nobles bowed their heads in agreement. The Emperor’s expression became even more satisfied.
“As our territory has expanded, it seems we need to focus more on internal management rather than checking external forces for the time being. We’ll also need to form more friendly relations with neighboring kingdoms. After all, prolonged tension within the continent won’t do anyone any good.”
Again, the nobles agreed without protest. It was a meeting proceeding in a warm atmosphere after a long time.
“In that sense, I’m thinking of calling the Second Imperial Princess back to the capital.”
But when this unexpected presence sprang from his lips, the warm atmosphere quickly froze.
Wasn’t the Second Imperial Princess exiled to the frontier last spring? No one could guess why she was suddenly being called back to the capital. In a situation where no one knew the Emperor’s intentions, no one dared to speak hastily.
The Emperor continued with a smile.
“I’m thinking of sending her as King of Parma’s second wife.”
Despite the Emperor’s gentle voice, the atmosphere cooled even further.
It was already abrupt that the Emperor mentioned the Imperial Princess he had personally banished to a distant place, but to send her as a second wife to a foreign country? The nobles could only awkwardly glance at each other, unable to say anything.
They seemed unable to decide whether to agree or disagree with this sudden issue of the Second Imperial Princess’s future.
“The King of Parma might not be pleased with this.”
Among them, the first to speak was the Grand Duke of Monferrato, Declan.
Although she was called an Imperial Princess, Sienna’s position was ambiguous.
While she inherited the blood of the supreme imperial family, the other half came from a family branded as traitors.
Even though Parma was a weaker country compared to the Empire, accepting the daughter of a woman executed for dishonorable reasons as their queen would be a matter of pride for them as well.
“The Grand Duke’s words are correct, Your Majesty.”
“Moreover, it seems premature to decide on the Second Imperial Princess’s marriage while the First Imperial Princess remains unmarried.”
The nobles who had been silent finally nodded and subtly aligned themselves with the Grand Duke. Nevertheless, the Emperor showed no signs of backing down.
“As you all know, the First Imperial Princess is too frail to live in a foreign country. Moreover, as Maria holds a higher rank within the imperial family than the Second Imperial Princess, I’d like to match her with a suitable man within the Empire, not abroad.”
The Emperor’s gaze moved pointedly from the Grand Duke to Duke Lowell, seated opposite him. As the old duke’s eyes met his, the Emperor smiled, crinkling his eyes.
“That said, we can’t send the young Lady Lowell either.”
“Your words are most wise, Your Majesty.”
Duke Lowell agreed with a satisfied smile.
Declan’s gaze, which had been fixed on the Emperor, slowly turned to Duke Lowell. Seeing the duke’s face full of smiles, he finally understood the situation. Declan let out a silent, hollow laugh.
With Duke Lowell’s involvement, the Emperor seemed even less inclined to bend his opinion.
“Moreover, isn’t the position of queen of a country quite generous for the daughter of a traitor?”
“That’s precisely why it doesn’t make sense, doesn’t it?”
“Don’t worry, Grand Duke. Though the child’s origins may be somewhat lowly, her beauty is quite remarkable.”
Then, in a voice tinged with mockery, he added.
“Even after her mother was executed for treason, there were more than a few men interested in the child’s appearance. Isn’t that right?”
As the Emperor’s gaze slowly swept across the nobles seated at the long table, several men cleared their throats and averted their eyes. Many of ‘those men who had been interested in the Second Imperial Princess’s appearance’ were present at the meeting.
The Emperor, who had been looking at them with a sneering face, composed his expression again and turned his head forward.
“Anyway, I’ve already sent a letter to Lopwell. Given the time since I dispatched the imperial guards, they should have arrived there by now.”
At the Emperor’s words, the Grand Duke’s jaw tightened.
So, the Emperor was not holding a meeting, but making an announcement. He had already decided everything. With the Emperor personally sending the imperial guards and a letter, there was no way to back out.
After the meeting ended in a chaotic atmosphere, as soon as the Emperor left the conference room, Declan spoke with a coldly set face.
“You haven’t changed, Duke.”
At this sudden reproach, Duke Lowell raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You must know. It must have been you, Duke, who recommended Her Highness as King of Parma’s second wife.”
“Oh my. Are you upset that I didn’t take your side?”
When it came to experience in the political arena, Duke Lowell had a significant advantage. Even with his misdeeds exposed in front of the nobles, the duke countered without the slightest hesitation.
“But you have no reason to be angry. His Majesty and I just happened to have aligned interests. He finds the Second Imperial Princess’s existence uncomfortable, and I simply disliked the idea of Dahlia being sold off to an old man in a distant country just because she’s of the former Emperor’s bloodline.”
The duke tilted his head slightly as if asking what the big deal was. He calmly smiled as he met his godson’s cold gaze.
“Whatever the case, it’s none of your business, is it?”
****
The Abbot of Lopwell read the letter with a disgruntled expression. He read the short letter several times, occasionally glancing at the Imperial Princess sitting across from him.
“His Majesty has summoned Your Highness to the capital?”
He asked again, still looking incredulous. Sienna gestured indifferently at the letter the Abbot was holding.
“You can see it for yourself, can’t you?”
“Yes, but…”
The Abbot looked back and forth between the letter, which hardly contained any information, and the imperial seal stamped on the envelope that had sealed it, his face full of disbelief. Though Sienna could guess what he was thinking, it wasn’t her concern.
“The imperial guards will arrive soon.”
Sienna indifferently ran her thumb over a slightly chipped part of her teacup.
“I’m thinking of taking Jane with me when I go down to the capital.”
“Pardon? Do you mean Sister Semalin?”
So her surname was Semalin. Come to think of it, Sienna only knew her first name and couldn’t remember asking for her surname.
Tapping the teacup lightly with her index finger, Sienna rested her chin on her other hand.
“As you know, I’ve been quite ill. I’d like to have someone who knows healing arts accompany me in case of any unforeseen situations… But it’s not like I can bring a healer, can I?”
“Yes… that’s true.”
The Abbot replied in a disgruntled tone. Then he heaved a deep sigh.
“If Your Highness needs her, you may take her… but since she came here for committing a crime, as long as her sentence is valid, you must send her back here.”
“I intend to speak to the Emperor about that myself. She saved the life of his sister who was nearly dead. Surely he’ll show leniency for one priestess.”
Even knowing that Joseph would sooner shower riches on the one who ended her life than feel any affection for the one who saved her, Sienna lied without batting an eye. Though she felt self-loathing, she had no other choice.
What fool would voluntarily tell someone who didn’t know the details that they were treated as a thorn in the Emperor’s side?
Moreover, it seemed to have some effect. The Abbot couldn’t hide his bewilderment at words that completely contradicted the rumors that the Emperor not only disliked but despised this Imperial Princess. Seizing the moment, Sienna brought up her main point.
“In that sense, I’d like you to help me with my preparations as well.”
“What kind of help do you mean…”
“Do you really need to ask?”
When the Abbot hesitated, Sienna retorted sharply.
Still, the other man just stared at the Imperial Princess’s face, looking lost. Sienna’s gaze pointedly moved to the red velvet cloak the Abbot was wearing.
Even to the naked eye, his cloak was of superior quality, unfitting for Lopwell.
As the Abbot looked at her with an expression of disbelief, Sienna smiled quietly.
“Surely you’re not suggesting I go to the imperial palace dressed like this. I believe you’re a priest who knows at least the basics of propriety.”
Though her face was clearly smiling, there was a sting in her words. It meant that she wouldn’t blame the Abbot for his rudeness so far if he would quietly hand over the clothes.
The answer the Abbot had to give was already decided.
thanks for the chapter!!