Let’s make the Imperial family our ally?
Yuriel’s eyes widened.
No, weren’t they just talking about how the Crown Prince is living by pretending to be the Emperor using dark magic? How can they possibly make the Imperial family their ally?
Yuriel was utterly bewildered, but Arthur seemed perfectly calm. He faced Shekina with his usual serene expression.
“What do you mean, Lady Shekina?”
“What do I mean? I mean, let’s make them our allies.”
Why is she repeating herself…? Yuriel observed nervously. But Arthur, looking accustomed to this, shrugged his shoulders.
“We common folks don’t quite understand what you mean. Could you explain a bit more?”
“Hmm.”
Shekina’s eyes narrowed.
“Why are you treating me like a child?”
Because you are a child… Yuriel sniffed.
“Well, I’m a smart child, so I can explain.”
“Wow. Lady Shekina, you’re the best.”
“You don’t seem sincere.”
“That’s a misunderstanding.”
Shekina glanced sideways at Arthur, then straightened up and lifted her chin.
“There are three princes in the Imperial family. If we make one of them our ally, it will work.”
Yuriel’s eyes wavered.
“But, the third prince is… quite young!”
“How old?”
“I believe he is eight years old.”
“I’m three.”
You are young enough too… sometimes you don’t seem your age…
Yuriel swallowed his rising words with effort.
“It doesn’t matter how old he is. What’s important is that his mother is the Empress. Besides, she is the daughter of a Duke.”
Shekina was not wrong.
The third prince, Benita, and his mother Diana are the only daughter of the Ardi Dukedom.
Since she married the Emperor after the previous Empress died, there is a significant age gap between them. However, marrying into the Imperial family was an honor, so others joyfully blessed the union, except for the Ardi Dukedom.
The Duke of Ardi reportedly fell ill for a week upon hearing of Diana’s intention to marry. He couldn’t bear to send his only daughter, whom he cherished dearly, to an older and notoriously bad-tempered Emperor. Despite this, Diana insisted on the marriage and had a grand wedding ten years ago.
There’s a saying that no parent can win against their child. Despite his opposition, the Duke of Ardi had no choice but to support Diana, who then became the most prominent woman in the Empire, backed by the most powerful family.
However, her son, the third prince Benita, couldn’t become the Crown Prince since the previous Empress’s child already held that position. No matter how influential Diana was, she couldn’t dethrone the Crown Prince to seat her young son.
They waited for an opportunity, and then the Crown Prince died.
Diana seized this chance to make Benita the Crown Prince immediately.
But the Emperor didn’t allow it.
Even though he discussed Benita’s enthronement the night before!
Feeling deeply betrayed, Diana ended up maintaining a cold relationship with the Emperor.
Considering all this, Shekina’s words made sense.
“The Empress must sense it too. That something is off with the Emperor. But she can’t reveal it, so she’s enduring it.”
“Hmm.”
Arthur’s eyes sparkled.
“So, we give the Empress proof that the Emperor is actually the Crown Prince, and in return, we join hands with the third prince and the Empress?”
“Exactly. We overthrow the Emperor and make the third prince the new Emperor.”
“And what happens to us?”
Arthur’s question meant, ‘What will happens to us, the demons?’
Shekina grinned broadly.
“We can move around more freely.”
Not being chased out to the northern regions by the Imperial family as they currently were, they could move about the capital without being cautious, travel across the continent confidently, and work to break the seals of their power.
Arthur mirrored Shekina’s smile.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
They laughed slyly together.
At that moment,
“Wait……!”
Yuriel, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand.
“Isn’t the Prince’s opinion important?”
Shekina and Arthur’s brows furrowed.
“What?”
“What is he talking about?”
They snorted.
“Of course, he wants to become the emperor. He was born a prince, and unless he dies without ever drawing a sword, that’s what he aims for.”
“Well……”
Shekina’s point was valid. Human ambition knows no bounds and reaches for the sky.
But… there are humans who aren’t like that…
“The Prince is…”
Yuriel closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
“He is a bit… delicate…”
Shekina widened her eyes and looked at Arthur, then back at Yuriel.
“More than you? Is that even possible?”
“………”
You don’t need to insult someone to their face.
Yuriel clutched his wounded heart and responded.
“If I say he’s delicate, you can imagine how severe it must be.”
“Well….. um.”
“………”
Shekina scratched the corner of her eye and frowned. She exchanged glances with Arthur.
“So……”
“Should we look for another way?”
Seeing them quickly change their stance, Yuriel sighed in relief, but it was short-lived.
What do these people think of me…?
***
“Mother!”
The third prince, Benita, burst into the Empress Diana’s room, his light blue hair flowing.
But he couldn’t enter immediately.
There was someone sitting across from Diana, who was elegantly seated on the sofa.
Clink. Diana set down her teacup and spoke leisurely.
“Didn’t I tell you not to run when there are people around?”
“Uh… oh, yes. I’m sorry…!”
Benita bowed his head in apology. Then he greeted the man sitting across from Diana.
“Uncle. It’s been a while.”
“Yes, Your Highness. You seem as spirited as ever.”
It seemed like a loaded remark, but Benita pretended not to notice. He looked back at Diana.
“So, what is it?”
Diana’s deep blue eyes scanned Benita’s face. The sharp gaze made him shiver momentarily, but he shook it off and cautiously approached Diana.
“I, uh, just came back from the garden. I saw flowers that reminded me of you…”
He took out a flower crown he’d hidden behind his back and offered it to Diana.
“I made this.”
It was a roughly made crown of navy chrysanthemums and forget-me-nots. It looked terrible, but considering it was made out of love for his mother, it was touching.
Was it because of that?
A faint smile appeared on Diana’s lips.
“Thank you.”
“……Yes!”
A blush spread across Benita’s cheeks. He looked happy, but then he noticed the tea between Diana and his uncle hadn’t cooled yet and quickly said,
“Then, I’ll be going now! It’s time for my history lesson…!”
“Alright. Study hard.”
“Yes!”
Benita answered energetically and hurried out of the room.
As Diana watched her son’s back, she clenched the flower crown in her hand.
The moment the door closed with a click.
“Useless.”
With a sneer, she dropped the crown on the floor.
“Everyone is useless.”
Diana’s heel crushed the delicate petals.
