Chapter 54
Anel couldn’t hide her confusion.
“What do you mean—”
“I-i-if I were nominated as the Empress Consort candidate, His Imperial Majesty would have chosen me. There’s no way he would… he wouldn’t ignore me. So, s-so Empress Consort must not have nominated me—”
“Rose!”
Viscount Kenneth glared fiercely at Rose.
It was crystal clear what he meant: shut up now.
But Rose seemed utterly unwilling to comply.
Anel noticed the hollow of Rose’s sunken cheek.
It was a familiar sight to Anel, momentarily leaving her speechless.
“Please reconsider, Your Majesty.”
Seeing Rose speak so steadfastly to Anel, Anel hesitated.
She had indeed nominated Rose as a candidate for Empress Consort. It was just that Johan didn’t choose Rose.
Should she tell Rose this truth?
If she did, Anel’s honor might be restored. But Rose’s heart would likely plummet into despair.
If she didn’t, Anel would become the jealous Empress who blocked a woman’s path.
What should she do?
First, Anel decided to calm this pitiful lady.
“Lady Kenneth, please calm down—”
“I beg of you, Your Majesty. Please give me a chance next time.”
Rose pleaded almost desperately now.
People began to gather around them.
Mostly, their gazes were ones of pity towards Rose, mixed with disdain.
“Shameful, truly shameful.”
“Yes, Lady Kenneth hasn’t had any private audience with Her Majesty since the mourning period.”
“Becoming Empress would have been her only hope… and Empress Consort blocked it.”
“Still, this isn’t the place for such talk. Viscount Kenneth hasn’t even properly instructed his lady.”
“Not very noble-like. Behaving like commoners!”
“Well, it must have been frustrating. To think she couldn’t become Empress just because of Her Majesty’s jealousy… that must feel unjust.”
The murmurs grew louder. Anel realized this uproar wasn’t favorable to anyone, just the malicious enjoyment of those reveling in the situation.
This couldn’t go on.
Anel realized she had no choice in the matter.
“Lady Kenneth. I nominated you as a candidate for Empress Consort.”
“What?”
”
You must know, though, that the choice solely lies with Her Imperial Majesty—”
“That can’t be true! You’re lying!”
Rose collapsed as if she were fainting.
The viscount tried to support her, but Rose shrugged off his touch.
“His Majesty couldn’t have abandoned me. Even if he disliked me… did he have to resort to such lies?”
“Lady Kenneth. I-”
“I apologize, Your Majesty. My nerves are too unstable right now, I can’t speak. May I take this child and leave?”
The viscount forced Rose to stand up.
Anel wasn’t sure if she should let Rose go before finishing her explanation.
If Rose left like this, it was obvious that Anell’s honor would be tarnished.
But she couldn’t just leave it alone either.
“Madam.”
Then.
“There seems to be quite a commotion.”
The culprit behind all this chaos appeared.
Act 1 was over.
“It seems you need to move for a moment, Your Majesty.”
“We’ll talk after the opera.”
Johan lightly ignored his aide’s request.
He was in a very good mood right now.
Before watching the opera, Anel had clearly sided with Johan in front of the Duke of Magnum and Viscount Rodian.
Considering the timid nature of the woman, it could be considered a significant leap.
By the end of Act 1, it seemed like he had seen her sincerity for the first time.
“I dislike you.”
Johan liked that statement.
He liked her intense gaze that looked straight at him.
Even in the darkness, her thick eyelashes and the eyes staring straight at him were charming.
She probably hadn’t said anything harsh to anyone in her entire life.
The awkward tone and the slightly trembling voice proved it.
He didn’t want to be disturbed during this satisfying time.
Most of the urgent news brought by the aides and messengers usually disrupted his mood.
“News from Kinton.”
It was news from Samuel.
Johan had already admitted that this uneasy time had been disturbed.
He eventually stood up from his seat.
In a reception room somewhere in the opera house, filled with dignitaries, were the decision-makers of the military.
“Your Majesty.”
They saluted as soon as Johan appeared.
“Anyone would think a war had broken out when they see this.”
Johan chuckled and took his seat at the dais.
“That’s not the case, but it’s urgent news.”
“Tell me.”
Johan absentmindedly searched for a poem in his pocket before realizing he had left it in the box seat. He gestured impatiently to his aide, who hurriedly approached and handed him the poem.
“It’s news from Kinton, Your Majesty.”
“Has Samuel Gears been hung from the city walls?”
With a hint of mockery in his tone, Johan inquired as he lit the poem.
As soon as his aide lit it, Johan took a deep drag of smoke.
He hadn’t thought about this smoke while he was with Anel.
The immediacy of longing that came after a brief separation from that woman.
Johan scoffed at himself.
“That’s not it… Gears’ ball has gone missing.”
“Missing?”
Johan asked, exhaling smoke.
It was not particularly pleasant news.
“Yes. During the battle, he entered the Tamahuyu Forest after a pursuit with what appeared to be the leader of the Horeth’s army, and since then, he has been missing.”
“Have all the bastards who were after him died?”
‘That bastard.’
All the officers of the army flinched at the nickname that would never become familiar.
It was too harsh a term for someone who was once on the verge of being their lord, but no one protested.
Johan’s hatred for Samuel was well known.
“That’s not it… It was midnight, and the forest was too dark. It was impossible to light a fire easily during the battle-”
“Who the hell kidnapped that bastard?”
“What?”
Johan deeply sucked in the smoke of the poem.
“Are you lacking in understanding, Lieutenant?”
“No, Your Majesty. It’s just that…”
The lieutenant glanced at his immediate superior.
His superior nodded resignedly.
I don’t know how the Emperor doesn’t know, but it seemed futile to hide it further.
“It’s still a low possibility, but Horeth may have formed an alliance with Karthar-”
Thunk.
The ashtray in front of Johann grazed the lieutenant’s cheek as it flew and smashed into the wall, shattering into pieces.
Drops of blood dotted the lieutenant’s cheek.
“I addressed you improperly. The bastards were here all along.”
Johan’s tone was genuinely regretful.
“I guess I should apologize to those Kartharian bastards.”
Amidst incessant grumbling, the military officials all bowed their heads.
“I apologize, Your Majesty.”
“When exactly were you planning to report on that important matter?”
Lieutenant Colonel squinted his eyes.
“It was merely speculation, Your Majesty. We couldn’t report without sufficient evidence.”
“And what was the basis for this speculation?”
“There were soldiers claiming to have heard about Karthar’s spies in the Damahyu Forest. However, the languages of Horthes and Karthar are similar due to their common roots…”
“From now on, track assuming Karthar has kidnapped Samuel Geers.”
As Johann snapped his fingers, his aide unfurled a map in front of him.
Johan tapped the Damahyu Forest where Samuel disappeared.
The forest was as vast and intricate as joining two territories.
“Damyahu is inhabited by those who do not belong to any country.”
“…Are you referring to fugitives?”
Although Damahyu Forest belonged to Horthes, it wasn’t entirely so. Various tribes surviving independently from both countries’ long wars inhabited the forest. In short, it was the last gateway with minimal influence from Horthes.
However, there were Horthes military bases on the outskirts of the forest. Passing through these bases would lead to Daltan Harbor in Horthes. Getting aboard a ship to Karthar from the harbor was as easy as pie. Horthes had active trade with Karthar.
After that, they were uncatchable. They had to be caught in the forest.
“Bring back the bodies. Even if it means burning down the entire forest.”
“But…”
The man reporting hesitated, feeling Johan’s gaze.
“Of course, Damahyu Forest belongs to Horthes, but… the fugitives are tribes with formidable combat abilities. Even Horthes can’t recklessly interfere. Their escape into the forest this time was probably a significant feat.”
“So?”
“Pardon?”
“What are you suggesting then… Lieutenant Colonel?”
Johan stared at him sharply amidst the smoke.
The Lieutenant Colonel immediately bowed deeply.
“I’ll ensure we can determine the whereabouts of Geers.”
The military leaders quickly agreed.
It was a well-known fact among them that disturbing the new Emperor’s peace of mind could cost not only their positions but also their lives.
“If you report without a solution again, Lieutenant, consider it as submitting your report alongside your corpse.”
The Lieutenant froze.
Whether the Lieutenant contemplated or not, Johan pushed his chair back and stood up.
He couldn’t contain this wretched feeling.
Wasting breath among pathetic vultures was tiresome.
“You all might as well go watch an opera. The characters there seem more patriotic than you lot.”
