Let’s Tame the Insolent Beast – (Side Story 1)

Episode 1

The capital city of the vast Belpator Empire, Brincia.

At the heart of this enormous city, within the grandest chamber of the imperial palace, stood the solemn Council Hall.

From the resplendent imperial throne perched atop a high dais, a woman presiding over the meeting spoke.

“That concludes today’s political session.”

Sione declared the meeting adjourned as she rose to her feet.

Behind her, Aiden, who had been standing like a shadow, extended a hand to her.

All those in attendance stood, bowing their heads in respect toward the retreating figures of Sione and Aiden as they clasped hands and walked away.

As the pair exited the Council Hall and proceeded along a long corridor, Marquis Wolffs followed after them.

“Your Majesty, Imperial Consort, if you could spare me a moment,” he called out.

“Marquis, if you have more to say, bring it up as an agenda item in the next meeting.”

Sione dismissed him without breaking her stride, yet the marquis seemed intent on clinging to her skirts if necessary.

“But, Your Majesty, I have something to say regarding the customs proposal discussed earlier,” he persisted.

“Wasn’t that proposal already rejected?”

“Exactly, Your Majesty, which is why I must insist. This matter shouldn’t have been decided so hastily.”

“Hastily?”

Sione stopped in her tracks.

Turning to face Marquis Wolffs, a faint crease formed between her brows, while Aiden’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

Unfortunately, the marquis, oblivious to the growing tension, continued speaking with an aggrieved expression.

“If Your Majesty had examined the matter more thoroughly, you would have found no reason to oppose it. Besides, the Kingdom of Dirmil, your homeland, stands to benefit from the proposed tariff reductions.”

The very reason Sione had opposed it never even crossed his mind.

Inwardly, Sione felt relieved that the proposal had come up while Lothania was away on her honeymoon.

Her kind-hearted stepdaughter, willing to uproot the Empire itself for her stepmother, was spared unnecessary concerns.

Dirmil had brazenly demanded compensation after marrying Sione off to the Empire as if selling her in a trade.

Worse, they had colluded with Sione’s political adversaries to topple her.

Though it had been six years since those events, Sione had erased Dirmil from her mind entirely.

Now, her emerald-green eyes glinted coldly as she addressed Marquis Wolffs.

“One of the merchant guilds spearheading this trade belongs to your house, Marquis. Is that why you’re so desperate to lower the tariffs, even when someone like me, born in Dirmil, opposes it?”

“W-What? N-No, that’s not it at all…”

The marquis stammered, visibly flustered.

The crease between Sione’s brows deepened, and from Aiden’s scabbard came a faint click.

The marquis’s eyes darted nervously toward Aiden, whose sharp gaze silenced him.

They said the Mad Dog of Luminal had never truly recovered his senses, even after his leash was removed.

The atmosphere was sharper than ever.

Beside Aiden, whose gaze was intimidatingly intense, stood Sione the dowager Empress, Sione, now far more commanding than six years ago. Her piercing eyes pinned Marquis Wolffs in place.

“Marquis, if you persist in advocating for tariff adjustments that do not benefit the Empire, do you not think Her Majesty or I might question your loyalty?”

“Please, Your Majesty! Believe me! I have always dedicated my life to the Empire’s prosperity!”

“Then you will not bring up the tariff adjustments again.”

“Of course not!”

“Good. You may leave now.”

Marquis Wolffs bowed so deeply his nose nearly touched the floor before fleeing down the corridor.

Sione, watching the retreating figure with mild disapproval, tapped Aiden’s hand playfully, a small smile on her lips.

“Don’t scare him too much.”

“I wasn’t trying to scare him.”

Aiden had never lied to Sione.

Reading the truth he left unsaid, Sione revised her tone and reminded him firmly, “Don’t kill him. He may be greedy, but he’s still a useful man to the Empire.”

Marquis Wolffs had crafted his tariff proposal carefully, ensuring it wouldn’t harm the Empire. He had likely timed it to take advantage of Lothania’s absence, believing the young Emperor wouldn’t overturn a proposal approved under Sione’s leadership.

But underestimating Sione, who once led the Empire as Regent, had been the marquis’s critical miscalculation.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction, Sione looped her arm through Aiden’s and resumed walking.

Aiden’s expression softened as he adjusted his stride to match hers. “Will you inform Her Majesty the Emperor about this?”

“There’s no need. She’ll check the meeting records as soon as she returns.”

Thinking of Lothania, a fond smile spread across Sione’s face.

Lothania, who had ascended the throne at fifteen, had grown into a full-fledged adult. Her lifelong dream of becoming an exemplary emperor was steadily coming to fruition.

Two weeks ago, Lothania had married her cherished secretary, Melbrid, and the couple had departed for their honeymoon.

To ensure her daughter could fully enjoy her time away, Sione had taken on the duties of Regent once more.

Today marked the day Lothania and Melbrid would return to the imperial palace. With all official matters now settled, Sione only needed to prepare as a mother to welcome her daughter back.

As Sione walked toward the chamberlain Tito, a group of palace staff gathered at the far end of the hallway, murmuring noisily.

Curious but unsure what was happening, Sione tilted her head, while Aiden, with his sharp eyesight, sighed under his breath.

“It’s Trevor.”

“Trevor? What’s he doing in the palace?”

“He’s perched on top of one of the decorative suits of armor again.”

“Again?”

“Yes.”

Both turned their gazes toward the end of the hallway.

There, atop a massive suit of ceremonial armor, was their son, Trevor, heir to House Tilender. The palace staff anxiously paced beneath him, clearly worried he might fall.

Knowing her four-year-old son’s antics all too well, Sione let out a dry laugh.

“I always wonder—how does he even get up there?”

“At least he didn’t climb a column this time.”

“Thank goodness. That gave me a real fright.”

Just days ago, Trevor had scaled a column and hung from the arched ceiling, nearly giving Sione and Aiden a heart attack.

Raising a child brimming with energy and a fearless sense of adventure had proven to be a unique challenge.

Noticing his parents approaching, Trevor, who had been fiddling with the ornamental tassels of the armor’s helmet, beamed brightly and called out, “Mother!”

Before anyone could stop him, Trevor leapt straight to the floor.

The maids screamed in unison as the attendants scrambled to catch him.

Trevor, finding the commotion amusing, giggled joyfully before leaping from an attendant’s arms and dashing down the hallway.

For a four-year-old, he was remarkably quick, his short legs pumping determinedly. But soon enough, his feet tangled, and he tumbled to the ground with a loud thud.

The maids screamed again, imagining the repercussions of the treasured child of Sione and Aiden—the Empire’s most esteemed family—injuring himself.

But Trevor merely sat up, burst into laughter, and seemed to find his stumble entertaining.

Sione, long accustomed to such antics, crouched down and opened her arms.

“Trevor, come here.”

“Mother!”

As though nothing had happened, Trevor ran over and threw himself into Sione’s embrace.

Through countless heart-stopping moments, Sione and Aiden had come to understand their son well.

Trevor was an endlessly energetic, curious, and surprisingly resilient child.

Ensuring he was unharmed, Sione gently brushed back his black hair and said, “Trevor, didn’t I tell you to behave in the palace?”

“Trevor was being good!”

“Climbing the armor isn’t behaving.”

“But I didn’t break it.”

Remembering Sione’s warning not to damage the armor, Trevor pouted, trying to defend himself.

Though he wanted to obey his beloved mother’s every word, the palace rules were simply too numerous.

When Trevor’s head drooped in dejection, Aiden scooped him up.

“Trevor, were you bored?”

Seated in his father’s arms, Trevor nodded. His round cheeks, puffed with a slight pout, were too endearing for Aiden to resist.

Aiden kissed Trevor’s cheek lightly and whispered in his ear, “When we return to the north, I’ll take you to the forest.”

Trevor’s emerald-green eyes, so much like Sione’s, lit up with excitement.

“The wolf forest?”

“Yes, the ‘Forest of Wolves.’”

Trevor’s wide eyes turned to Sione, silently seeking her permission.

In House Tilender, it was well understood that Sione’s approval was final.

Even four-year-old Trevor knew this.

Seeing the hopeful look in his eyes, Sione laughed softly and nodded.