episode_0107

Arrive at Hams Port and then take a carriage to Wynne.

“Your brother-in-law’s Grand Duchy has a very different atmosphere from Roman’s?”

Compared to the Roman Empire, which has many ornately decorated marble buildings, the buildings of the Grand Duchy are unattractive.

In the Grand Duchy, buildings other than churches are mainly made of wood or cement and the exterior is not decorated, so the plaster is visible as is.

“Right? Roman is a city with a long history, right? The Grand Duchy has been established for less than 500 years?”

Joey nods his head at my words and looks at Theodora.

“But sister. So then your sister becomes the emperor and grand duchess?”

At those words, Theodora looks at me and nods.

“Wouldn’t it be like that?”

“I’m not saying it would be so, but it’s the Grand Duchess.”

Here, the most senior title is officially written first, and subsequent titles are omitted.

Officially, Theodora holds the title of emperor and the titles of several kingdoms, duchies, and counts, and because she is my wife, she also serves as the grand duchess of the archduchy.

“Is that so?”

Since the laws on titles and positions here are complicated, the elders of the family usually inform the successor, so Theodora may not know.

When Theodora nodded slightly at my words, my mother-in-law looked at her and said.

“Oh my… Terra, don’t you know much about titles yet?”

My mother-in-law nodded slightly at those words.

“I see. Because women don’t usually receive this kind of education.”

Well, because it’s so complicated.

There are quite a few cases where it is not only complicated but also absurd.

In fact, in the past, wars often broke out because of titles, titles, or positions.

Someone has a certain title, and the title is inherited only through male inheritance, so there is an argument that the original title owner’s maternal grandchild cannot inherit the title, or some titles even include passing rivers, and wars break out in various ways. It all happened.

War broke out so frequently that the Imperial Council even made a law stating that war could only be waged with the permission of the Imperial Diet.

And this is not the end, it is still in progress.

Although there were attempts by the Imperial Council to prevent territory wars, there were quite a few cases in which wars were started first and allowed later for various reasons and excuses.

There are also instances where each side claims that the other started the war first…

In any case, it is not easy to learn because the titles, titles, and areas are so complex.

“It would be better to learn it now. Your father also had a hard time because of the title law.”

Theodora asked with a surprised expression.

“Your father?”

“That’s right. This is because the laws and customs applicable to each region are different. A lot of things happen that are difficult to understand. Not only that, the emperor must maintain ostensible neutrality, but he cannot avoid intervention.”

I nod my head at those words.

The position of emperor is a position that comes with many powers and responsibilities.

Unlike me and Theodora, I thought the former emperor, who maintained a stable power, also had a hard time. It seems that the future ahead of me and Theodora is not bright.

While we were talking…

-Squeak.

The carriage finally stopped.

-smart!

[Im here. your majesty.]

We heard a voice calling us across the door, and as soon as the carriage door opened, the purple carpet on the floor caught our eye.

I offer my hand to Theodora, who is about to get off the carriage first.

Her hand is placed directly on top of mine.

“We sincerely welcome your visit!”

Soldiers and officials inspected at the Grand Duke’s palace.

and…

Mary, whom I haven’t seen in a long time, is standing in the very center of them.

She wears a red and black dress and smiles softly as she looks at me and Theodora.

“Princess Mary. I am truly grateful for your hospitality.”

As Mary and Theodora’s greetings ended,

“Oppa. Long time no see?”

I say this while looking at my younger sister, who smiles at me in a slightly adult way.

“It feels like you’ve become a bit more adult since we haven’t seen each other?”

I used to feel like a child, and I still feel like a child now, but what can I say?

I feel like I have become an adult.

“Of course. Because I too will soon become an adult.”

I nod my head at those words.

“Yes, you are an adult now.”

Mary will soon turn 20.

As I remember her appearance when she was first born, I feel that time passes quickly.

“What, talking as if you lived your whole life?”

I smile and say to Mary, who speaks bluntly as if she is dissatisfied with her appearance.

“I just remembered the old days. Ah… will you take Theodora and the imperial family?”

I continue as I see Mary and Theodora making puzzled looks at my words.

“I wanted to say hello to my mother.”

Within. After seeing the two people nod as if they understood what I said, I headed to the mausoleum in the Grand Duke’s Palace.

***

In the basement of the Grand Duke’s Palace is the Ryan family mausoleum.

Everyone with the last name Ryan is buried here, unless there are special cases.

A round-shaped building made of pure white marble.

The ideal building has a large bronze dome on top.

Once inside, pass the statue of Pippin Ryan, the founder of the Ryan family, and go down the stairs in the center.

-Growling…

Continue down underground, following the torches placed here and there.

How far did it go?

Arrive at the last floor and follow the passage in the center.

Let’s walk along the path where the light of the torch softly shines through the darkness here and there…

Soon I see a piece of white marble and stop there.

I make the sign of the cross while looking at the statue of a woman in her 30s and two cherubs standing next to her.

Coming to my mother’s grave after a long time, I close my eyes and see that it is no different from the memory of my last visit.

Mother… I’m here.

It’s been quite a while, right?

Are you living comfortably with your brothers there?

I am living a hard life, busy with work every day.

While I was not here, I became a grand duke as my mother said, and I also got married.

I’m telling you in advance because you might be wondering who my wife is.

do not be surprised…

My wife is the emperor of an empire.

Thanks to this, I am busy every day without even waking up, running an empire that is not even in existence.

Since my kind and wise mother is there because of me, it is not that difficult to think that I am living to wash away my karma.

No, actually, it’s very difficult.

The imperial capital is colder than you might think.

Everyone only cares about their own interests and has no interest in the well-being of the empire and its people.

Haha… I feel like I’m complaining to my mother when I say this, so I’ll just end it here.

ah! And now Mary is getting married soon.

You may not know this, but I am marrying my dear friend Agrippa.

When I think of that childish old man getting married, I feel a surge of emotion.

It seems likely that the nephew born between them will become the next grand duke.

It would be terrible if the nephew inherited Mary’s ugly and simple hair, but…

I believe in Agrippa’s head that there is at least a head.

-Trudge…

That time when I reminisce and tell my mother about recent events.

I hear someone’s footsteps.

look. When I was reaching my mother. Judging from what he has shown, it looks like he is not a nobleman.

With that thought in mind, I smile and turn around.

“Mary, the people of the imperial family are well… huh? Theodora? What’s going on?”

I definitely thought Mary would come. When did Theodora change her clothes? I feel strange that she is wearing a black dress and holding a large bouquet of flowers in both hands.

“I also want to say hello to my mother.”

“Okay… come here.”

At my words, Theodora moves in steps, places flowers on her mother’s altar, and stands next to me.

After confirming that she is standing next to me, I immediately speak with my lips, not my heart.

“Mother. This is my wife, whom I told you about a moment ago.”

When she saw Theodora saying that, she bowed her head and said.

“My name is Theodora Augusta. Mother.”

Looking at that, I say with pride.

“Mom, you’re so pretty, aren’t you? She is rumored to be the most beautiful woman in the empire.”

As he says that, he looks at his mother’s statue.

“I’m busy, but somehow I’m doing well. My mother gets along well with older brothers Rohan and Roden. I’ll just leave now.”

There’s a lot more I’d like to say, but…

Then it will never end.

Now that Theodora is here, I decided to stop talking.

“Honey, may I also say hello to your mother?”

I nod my head at those words.

“Mother. Forgive your daughter-in-law for not greeting you until a few months after getting married.”

Theodora’s words begin like that.

“Actually, the start of our married life was not that good. When he first proposed to me. They took my family hostage and threatened me.”

uh…?

I never expected him to say this so openly in front of his mother, so I feel like I got hit on the head with a hammer.

“But now I have fallen in love with him and we live happily every day and get along well.”

If the next words hadn’t come out, I might have covered her mouth.

“After seeing my mother like this, I am thankful that he is handsome and resembles my mother. If he looked like Valorant, he would be ugly.”

A smile appears on my face as I see Theodora speaking with a slight smile.

“He is an upright person who is sincere and has a strong sense of responsibility. I sincerely respect my mother who raised and disciplined me to become that kind of person.”

Theodora said and continued:

“If we have a child in the future, I will raise him to be a great son like his mother.”

After that, she says some useless things to her mother.

How am I doing in Roman? That is, if you even bring up trivial matters.

“At that time. How heartbreaking it was to see him cry.”

I shake my head and say this as I watch her even talk about how she cried after drinking last time.

“Theodora… stop… let’s go up now.”

She tells her mother what I say.

“Look. You feel so embarrassed when I tell you that I cried, right? Aren’t you cute, mom?”

I say this with a sense of shame.

“Mother. It’s been a while since I came to the Grand Duke’s Palace, so I’ll come again next time. Please rest well.”

Saying that, let’s take Theodora’s hand…

“Ah… wait a minute. There is something I haven’t done yet.”

I sigh at her words.

“No… what else are you going to do?”

At my words, Theodora took out flowers one by one that were beautifully placed on the altar…

He says this as he puts it on the altar of Rohan and Roden.

“Grandfathers, I couldn’t say hello to him because he kept fussing, but I am his wife. I will come back to say hello later.”

Theodora says that and then looks at me and smiles.

“Ha… But. When did you prepare the flowers?”

Theodora speaks as if she were interrogating me.

“Of course, this is my first time meeting my mother. I need to bring flowers. But didn’t you prepare flowers?”

I say that while scratching my head shyly.

“Ugh… I forgot.”

“Ugh… stupid. I heard you’re always indifferent at times like this.”

When I shook my head because I had nothing to say, she grabbed my arm and crossed her arms.

“But what kind of person was your mother?”

He answers her question and walks out of the mausoleum.