Episode 11

Once, with a condition attached, I said I would let myself be chosen, so isn’t it the same thing?

“It seems so, Chamberlian.”

“It’s hard to believe. To think the sword could belong to someone other than its master.”

“Does that statement have a significant meaning?”

“It means he is willing to use that ability I mentioned before, Your Majesty.”

Only after listening to Tito’s explanation did I realize I had received an enormous gift.

Tito held his breath and explained further about his ability.

“If Your Majesty commands me to use that ability right now, everyone in this banquet hall would become corpses.”

Everyone in this banquet hall.

Including Lian Zernia and Vitren Kidmilan.

It meant that if I commanded, I could eliminate both the snake and the eagle threatening me and Lothania at once.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t tempted, but I soon shook my head.

“Tito, you said that no one other than the master can control him, and we are here with Lothania as well.”

“Judging by the Duke of Tilender’s words, doesn’t it mean the one who gives the command can control him?”

“I don’t want to take an uncertain risk.”

“You’re absolutely right. The safety of the Empress and the Crown Princess is of utmost importance. However, it’s clear that Your Majesty has gained a very valuable card.”

He was right.

Lothania and I, who had no power, had gained a chance to use an extremely powerful force, even if it was only once.

It was the most satisfying gift I received today.

After that, the banquet proceeded as usual.

The three beasts spent the entire day glaring at each other as if they were ready to tear one another apart, but the children’s laughter eased the tension.

Due to her relationship with Bonita, Lothania, who had been wary of Henry, soon joined the trio, their heads together, laughing heartily.

In moments like these, she was nothing but a child.

It saddened me to realize that Lothania could only laugh freely when the three beasts remained motionless in their places.

That day, the three men stayed until the end.

As the music played and their subtle power struggle intensified, the person I danced with at my twentieth birthday banquet was the one who genuinely celebrated my birthday.

Holding the hand of my young daughter, with whom I shared no blood, I had the happiest day since the arrival of summer.

* * *

August arrived.

Summer in Brincia was dry and scorching.

News came that heavy rains had begun in the southern regions, causing a stir in the council meetings.

The council room, dominated by the southern nobles’ raised voices, was under the sway of the beautiful and sharp-witted serpent, Lian.

I had become quite accustomed to the Belpator council meetings, but I couldn’t help but admire Lian as he led the proceedings.

As he had confidently asserted, no one understood the empire’s political landscape better than he did.

Taking advantage of the emperor’s absence, Lian pinpointed the flaws in the southern nobles’ attempts to exploit the natural disaster.

As I observed Lian and our eyes met, he gave a subtle smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, and I remembered that today, August 1st, was the day of my date with the serpent.

Only one agenda item remained.

Lian quickly scanned the last document before him.

Placing the document firmly on the table, he lifted his head and smiled widely, revealing teeth I had never seen before.

The tension among the other nobles seated around the table was palpable.

“I must commend your courage, Marquis Senwood, for sneaking this rubbish onto the agenda behind my back.”

His gaze shifted to Bonita’s husband, Marquis Senwood.

Receiving the serpent’s gaze, the marquis trembled visibly, then stood abruptly, coughing loudly.

“Rubbish! This is a formally processed agenda item. Duke Zernia, mind your words.”

“If I were to keep my mouth shut, I might be tempted to do other things. Don’t you think it’s better for you if I keep talking?”

The atmosphere grew seriously hostile.

Marquis Senwood ducked his head, avoiding Lian’s gaze, but did not retract his statement or sit down.

Several nobles seated beside Marquis Senwood stood up to support him, indicating they had planned to face the serpent head-on.

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I asked Lian.

“Duke Zernia, what is the agenda item?”

“It’s about deposing the Empress. Sione Rinkel Luminal, they propose to dethrone you, Your Majesty.”

Lian responded with a scoff. The room was thrown into turmoil.

Lian started laughing, waving the proposal for deposing the Empress.

“The reasons are even more amusing. Crimes of tyranny for barring Princess Bonita from the palace. Disgracing the Luminal Imperial Family through inappropriate relationships. Embezzling the Imperial Treasury to support your natal kingdom, Dirmil. And based on these reasons, they propose to dethrone you and banish you to Dirmil.”

My gaze shifted to Marquis Senwood.

Apparently finding me less intimidating than the serpent, Marquis Senwood dared to look at me. But when Lian slammed the table, he quickly recoiled again.

Bonita was more persistent than I had anticipated, and the serpent was angrier than necessary.

Looking around the room, I asked calmly, “Is it a problem that I, as the Empress, barred the marquis’s wife from entering the palace?”

“My wife is the only sister of the late Emperor and the sole blood relative of Crown Princess Lothania. You have no right to summon or dismiss her.”

“If even I, as the Empress, have no right to restrict the entry of someone who has married out, on what grounds do you propose to send me back to my natal family?”

“It’s not about me having the right; it’s that you, Your Majesty, are not fit for the position! You are attempting to change the Luminal Imperial lineage!”

“Indeed, Duke Zernia was right. You are saying quite amusing things.”

My voice remained calm, but Marquis Senwood’s face turned red.

Meeting my eyes, Lian seemed to have forgotten his earlier anger, now looking thoroughly entertained.

I turned to Marquis Senwood and the nobles supporting him.

“My intention to marry one of the three dukes is because they are to be the empire’s protectors who will swear loyalty to Crown Princess Lothania in the future. Can you propose anyone else capable of temporarily occupying the vacant throne until the Crown Princess awakens? Marquis Senwood, surely you are not volunteering yourself?”

Marquis Senwood and his supporters remained silent, and I stood up, driving the point home.

“Additionally, the absurd claim that I embezzled the treasury to send funds to Dirmil must be investigated. Duke Zernia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Ensure that this matter is thoroughly investigated.”

“Leave it to me.”

Lian bowed with an exaggerated gesture, grinning broadly.

I lifted my chin slightly and spoke confidently.

“If anyone still believes I am disgracing the Luminal Imperial Family, speak now.”

No one spoke.

I ignored the chuckling Lian and the bowed nobles as I left the council chamber.

Why Lian was in such a good mood, I didn’t know, but I felt quite pleased myself.

The ridiculous annulment of the empress had been discarded, and with this opportunity, it was firmly established that the throne’s rightful owner was Lothania.

For the first time in the month since I married into Belpator, I felt like I was truly fulfilling my role as empress.

Trying to hide my excitement, I walked on, only to have Lian quickly catch up to me.

As we walked down the long corridor toward my room, I stopped and turned to face him.

“Duke Lian, do you have something to say to me?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I just wanted to tell you that you did very well a moment ago.”

Lian, for someone supposedly lacking empathy, smiled proudly.

It felt good to be praised for performing my duties as empress properly.

It would have been even better if the person giving the compliment wasn’t someone whose thoughts were as inscrutable as a snake’s.

Trying not to show too much of my pleasure, I turned my head away from Lian and resumed walking.

“This time went well, but the same issues will arise again in the future.”

“Indeed. The fact that the Crown Princess of Lothania has not yet awakened is an opportunity not only for us beasts.”

Lian responded, walking beside me.

“Besides Marchioness of Senwood, are there others I should be wary of?”

“Essentially, every noble in Belpator can be considered your enemy. As an empress who became regent after just one day, you are an obstacle to everyone who desires power.”

Saying this, Lian quickened his pace and moved in front of me, turning to face me while walking backward.

I didn’t stop walking, and he continued as if he had eyes on the back of his head.

“So marry me, Your Majesty. I will become emperor and protect you from them.”

“Aren’t you the one who sees me as the biggest obstacle?”

With a gentle smile, Lian stopped walking.