episode_0020

Early morning.

After waiting for the Grand Duke who arrested Ipah yesterday to finally arrive, I returned to my room.

After breakfast.

As I was changing into new clothes to head towards the Grand Duke.

Early in the morning, Congressman Alexander suddenly requested a meeting with me.

What could this be about? Normally, when someone from the Imperial Council comes, it’s Chairman Charles who usually visits.

Anticipating his arrival soon, I wait for Congressman Alexander in the reception room.

A series of recent confusing situations.

The missing Grand Duke.

And immediately after his arrival, arresting Ipah and heading to the Imperial Council.

It’s strange… too strange.

There’s no news of the imminent arrival of the Emperor’s faction.

And the busy Grand Duke, who should be preparing for war, casually visits the Imperial Council?

Something feels off.

– Your Highness, Congressman Alexander has arrived for a visit.

Just then, Congressman Alexander enters.

“Please come in.”

– Creak.

With a big smile in response to my words, Congressman Alexander enters.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, I have been well. How about yourself?”

Smiling in response to my words, Congressman Alexander speaks.

“Thanks to Your Highness’s great virtues, I have been well.”

“Your words alone are appreciated. So, what brings you here today?”

Noticing his cold smile in response to my words, I inquire.

“I am here today to deliver the explanation of the bill passed in the Imperial Council yesterday at the urgent request of Princess Johannes and the declaration made in the Imperial Council as the Vice Chairman.”

Feeling puzzled by Congressman Alexander’s words, I ask.

“What about Chairman Charles… and why did you come instead?”

“He has been missing since yesterday, but the fair Grand Duke is searching for him, so good news should come soon.”

A moment of silence passes between us.

The disappearance of Chairman Charles… is this a coincidence? Or is it a sinister act by the Grand Duke?

The Grand Duke who visited the Imperial Council yesterday.

And Chairman Charles disappeared around the same time.

As I try to think about the connection between these two incidents,

“First of all, I would like to report that Princess Johannes and Duke Devian have formed an alliance.”

– Huh?

What…? They formed an alliance?

Just a while ago, they were at war trying to kill each other, and now they formed an alliance? This… this can’t be true…

I can’t predict the next situation in my mind.

Then… what about the Empire?

My mind becomes complicated.

If that wicked Grand Duke is removed, the Emperor’s faction will take power, but they have never followed my orders.

But I thought they wouldn’t ignore their own… their own rights.

At least I planned to remove the Grand Duke, make the Emperor’s faction and the Neutral faction fight each other to seek stability.

During that time, I don’t know what the Grand Duke did, but the news that the Emperor’s faction joined hands with the Grand Duke…

It can only be interpreted as a plan to ruin this Empire with the Grand Duke.

Before even starting, the main premise has collapsed.

Oh…

Everything becomes dark.

It’s been a month since my father passed away.

During that time… the coronation ceremony that should have taken place has been postponed day by day.

The Imperial Council has fallen into the hands of a wicked group.

In the meantime, what have I done…?

Oh… this can’t be happening…

What should I do…?

What should I do?

How can I get through this crisis?

Nothing comes to mind.

I don’t know what to do.

A perfect checkmate.

Could it be that after two thousand years of existence, the Empire is coming to an end not because of my incompetence, but because of my own actions, a terrifying thought…

Despair.

I believed, I believed in the Emperor’s faction…

The Emperor’s faction, who staunchly supported my father.

I didn’t think they would give me their full loyalty, but at least I thought they knew what justice was.

It’s confusing.

My known world… is crumbling.

What’s next? What should I do next? What should I do next?

My head is spinning.

The strengthening of the Emperor’s faction and the Grand Duke’s faction.

That is the bell tolling to signal the extension of this hellish time.

And… it signifies the beginning of their tyranny and exploitation.

In my confusion, Alexander speaks to me in a daze.

“And… a bill has been passed to change the imperial government structure.”

“Government… structure?”

“This time, the Grand Duke’s office will be established, and the five departments like the Foreign Ministry and the Treasury, which are directly under the Emperor, will be placed under the Grand Duke’s office.”

…”

It’s… over…

Everything… is over.

I don’t know how it came to this.

But one thing is certain… I feel that there is no situation where I can intervene anymore.

I fall into a deep despair as if the ground is giving way beneath me.

“And… the Imperial Council recommends that Her Highness the Crown Princess marry the Grand Duke.”

Alexander’s words snap me back to reality.

“Do you… think I will marry the Grand Duke?! I would rather die?!”

I cannot bear to mix my flesh with that despicable Grand Duke and bear a child with him.

How can a human… no, a person, marry and live with a pig who only knows power?

Marry that demon-like Grand Duke?

I can’t! I won’t, even if it costs me my life!

As I adamantly refuse, Alexander smiles faintly and says, “Well, that is not a choice for me to make.”

“…”

“Well, since I have delivered the recommendation decided by the Imperial Council, I will take my leave.”

– Sigh!

As Alexander leaves in a hurry.

My legs give out.

– Thud.

And my vision blurs.

I wipe away tears roughly with my sleeve.

It’s not… over yet.

The Emperor’s veto power. That absolute authority still remains.

First, I must become the Emperor. Somehow… as soon as possible.

***

What should I do…?

I am facing a great trial right now.

That is…

“If I ask Mary to lend me her maids… will I be criticized?”

Agrippa nods at my words and says, “Do you not know how much Lady Mary cherishes her maids?”

After arresting Ipha, the maid who used to assist Theodora has disappeared.

I need to hire a new maid right away, but it’s not as easy as I thought.

The qualifications are more stringent than I expected.

First, they must be loyal to me, not Theodora.

If they are more loyal to Theodora like Ipha and secretly spy on her, it could be troublesome.

Second, they must have the ability to prevent assassination or attack.

This is the most difficult condition.

It’s unlikely that an ordinary maid would have combat skills, let alone knowledge of poison.

That’s why I, the Grand Duchess, am so nervous about choosing a maid.

“Mary’s maids are perfect.”

I remember seeing the maids Mary personally trained.

A orphanage sponsored by my mother in the past.

After my mother passed away, Octavia and Mary sponsored the orphanage in her place.

Among them, if there were children with great potential, they would provide scholarships for education or help them become knights.

Some of the girls admired Mary and wanted to serve her closely…

Mary accepted those girls and raised them as maids, strong and… with a deep knowledge of poison, they became girls who were hard to call maids.

I think those girls would be perfect as Theodora’s maids, bodyguards, and surveillance.

“I agree, but… it won’t be easy.”

Agrippa shakes his head hesitantly.

Of course, he must have seen Mary’s maids before.

I gaze at Agrippa intently.

“Your Highness, is there something on my face?”

“No.”

I say that, but I continue to stare at his face.

“Such a judgmental gaze, how annoying.”

Agrippa slightly furrowed his brow…

“Agrippa, if you could… ask Mary on my behalf…”

At my words, Agrippa grimaced with all his might…

“Absolutely not, isn’t that like telling me to take the blame for the Crown Prince?”

“Or… if you were to ambush Mary at night…?”

At my words, Agrippa responded with a shocked expression.

“Your Highness, Lady Mary is only 19 years old…”

“It’s okay, I trust you!”

If it’s Agrippa, I believe he will take care of Mary.

At my words, Agrippa looked at me with cold eyes.

“No… even so, we have decided not to do such things until Lady Mary comes of age.”

“But still…”

“Your Highness…, and besides, I don’t want to mix our relationship with political reasons.”

I nodded my head and sighed.

“Hmm… what should I do?”

What does Mary want…?

Or does she want something from me?

I try to recall the things Mary likes.

Good weapons?, Agrippa?, what else was there…

Words?

As a Crown Princess, Mary leads a modest life, so only weapons and armor come to mind.

“Or Your Highness, how about searching through the palace warehouse?”

Hmm…

At that moment, a brilliant idea came to mind.

“I have a proposal that will satisfy both me and Mary.”

At my words, Agrippa tilted his head and asked, “What are you thinking?”

“Agrippa, let’s get engaged.”

Engagement, a promise made by nobles to marry in the future.

Although Agrippa is not a noble, if we get engaged, I can marry Mary even if I make a mistake later.

“Your Highness…”

Surely Agrippa will be moved, so I look at him expectantly…

He looks at me with a calm gaze.

“During the engagement preparations… you will still give me tasks, right?”

I nod my head.

“Of course, I feel like I’m going to die if you’re absent for a few days.”

It’s a natural statement.

What we need most right now is talent.

Agrippa is trustworthy and highly capable.

The moment such talent is absent for a day…

I will be exhausted. So, of course, he will have to carry out official duties even during the engagement preparations.

“Haha, Mary is a romantic, isn’t she? If I arrange your engagement, will I lend you some maids?”

“Then… won’t I have to work harder?”

I shake my head.

“No!, it’s been a while since I visited the Crown Kingdom, so we’ll go on a date with Mary and get engaged.”

But I don’t want to let Agrippa, a valuable talent, have fun.

There are many tasks to assign, and he has a lot to do with establishing new institutions.

“Sigh…”

Agrippa sighs.

And then…

“…”

I catch Agrippa muttering softly.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“It’s nothing. But becoming a noble is really difficult.”

“Isn’t it? You didn’t say anything, right?”

Loyal Agrippa wouldn’t have cursed, right? I must have misheard.

Yeah, that’s it!

“Ha… maybe we should just go to the countryside with Lady Mary and farm?”

I smile softly at his words.

“No, we can’t.”