episode_0131

The day the night market opens.

Normally, I would go out to practice secretly, but today is a little different from ordinary secret practice.

Sitting in an ordinary carriage that a great merchant might use, countless people gather to watch the gathering.

[everyone! Is this correct?! Is it right to arrest our hero, Sir William, and arrest the Golden Knights who protected us and our ancestors as traitors?]

-Wow!

[That gora! Attend the academy to advance the empire! And for your good majesty! I have been studying for a long time. yes you’re right. The reason I wanted to study for so long and become a bureaucrat was for the sake of the imperial family, which has cared for the people of our empire like their own children for a long time! This is not the Grand Duke who was struck by lightning! This is it!]

-That’s right! The owner of the empire is Your Majesty the Emperor!

-The Grand Duke, go away!, go away!

[If you want to become the Grand Duke’s dog, a usurper who torments people like a demon and gives ridiculous orders, then living in the open and starving would be a better life!]

Did you say Gora? You speak well.

As I remember, that guy named Gora was a member of the Intelligence Department and was a friend that I personally interviewed and selected.

Really… no matter how much I told him to lead the protest, it’s funny that he said he would rather starve to death than work for me.

[If you choose me, I will be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Grand Duke until the end of time!]

It’s hard not to laugh as it reminds me of Gora who used to talk so excitingly.

“Tsk tsk… Carol, don’t you think that friend named Gora is more shameless than you think?”

As I spoke with a burst of laughter, Carol sighed.

“You can’t imagine how much the Ministry of Intelligence hates you.”

Not long ago, when Carol was doing business in the bathroom.

[The Archduke is such a fucking bastard! Let’s get some rest!]

[Are you really crazy? What are you doing, Minister? Do you do everything you’re told? If you’re a superior, shouldn’t you cut out nonsense and do that?]

[I’m really saying… Ha… I would have been hit if it wasn’t for the loan. Tsk! No, seriously, I’m an analyst in the intelligence department. Why is an intelligence analyst holding a sword against knights in prison!]

How shocked Carol was when she heard those words. I remember coming to me and complaining.

That moment…

-Wow! Street march! Street march!

[Let us march in front of the imperial palace and show the Grand Duke our determination!]

Intelligence agents disguised as ordinary people tie red bands on their heads and take the lead holding pickets.

[Release Sir William!, The Archduke step down!]

-Release Sir William!, The Archduke, step down!

[Return power to His Majesty the Emperor and the Council!]

-Return power to His Majesty the Emperor and the Council!

“But you might get hungry while protesting. How long will the food wagon be here?”

At my words, Karl looks at the protesters and then at the clock on the carriage and says:

“I decided to come in front of the imperial palace in about 30 minutes.”

“Did you say tacos and consommé soup?”

Among the foods brought here from the New World, tacos are one of them.

Since it is easy to hold and eat with one hand, I thought it would be easy for protesters to eat while protesting, so I ordered it.

The situation is funny.

They planned a protest to tell me to step down, sneaked in, and even ate before leaving.

I think it’s fun just to imagine it.

“Afterwards, let’s pretend to protest and eat nearby.”

When I said that to Carol, Carol said with a worried face.

“Really. There will be no conflict, right?”

“Yes, don’t worry. I told it to Minister Gaston and the palace guards. If you don’t cross the white line in front of the imperial palace, just leave it alone.”

In modern times, you can think of it as a police line.

“We told the kids in advance… but it’s really okay, right?”

I say this while looking at Carol who looks anxious.

“The intelligence department kids will do a great job. If the protesters stormed into the imperial palace, they surely knew they wouldn’t survive, right?”

Carol sighs at my words.

“Please… I hope nothing happens.”

***

While Debian was watching the anti-government protests.

“Your Majesty the Emperor! Big… it’s a big deal.”

Ifa stops me as I rush to the newlyweds’ room with a thoughtful look on my face.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

I am worried as I see Ipa with a pale face.

“The Grand Duke…”

“Huh? Why him?”

When I ask a question, Ifa looks at the servants around her and hesitates.

“I guess there are a lot of listening ears here…”

Seeing Ifa hesitate, I feel puzzled.

“Really? Let’s go to my room.”

He leads the restless Ifa and takes her to the honeymoon room.

-Squeak.

He says to Ipa, who came into the room, and sits her down on the sofa.

“Would you like to have some tea after a long time?”

When I deliberately spoke in a bright voice while looking at Ipa with a stiff expression, Ipa nodded slightly.

There is silence while the teapot is taken out and the tea is made.

– Dagrak.

I pour the steaming tea into Ifa and my cup.

“So, what happened that made you think so much?”

I feel sorry for Ifa’s stiff expression, so I try to talk to her in a bright tone and expression, but her expression doesn’t calm down, so a little anxiety arises in my heart.

“Your Majesty… you should not be surprised to hear this.”

My anxiety grows as I see Ipa’s expression mixed with fear, worry, and tension.

Could it be that Ioanes came before Roman?

If it weren’t for such a serious matter, this group wouldn’t be so anxious.

“Don’t worry, what are you shaking like that? What made you so anxious?”

Ifa cautiously opens her mouth to my words.

“The… His Highness… handed over Epirus and Ezip… to Ioannes.”

-Click…

what? Who hands what?

I lost my cup of tea without realizing it, but that’s not important right now.

“Your Majesty… Are you okay?”

A little hot tea spilled on my skirt, but that’s not important.

Ifa’s words were completely unexpected.

“What? What did you say just now?”

Her words distort my expression.

“Who is he handing over what to? What does that mean?! Speak clearly so they can understand!”

What did you hand over to Nicaea, which is currently at war?

“Well… Haven’t the imperialists invaded Roman before?”

“That’s right?”

Before marrying me.

In other words, Valorant committed treason and gathered an army from the imperial faction and advanced to Roman.

at that time. I remember that the imperial faction exchanged some negotiations with him and actively supported his marriage with me.

At that time, I really felt the terrible feeling that the world was falling apart.

“At that time… as a condition of concluding peace… Epirus and Egypt were handed over to the imperial faction, and Princess Joy was betrothed to the son of King Ioannes… ”

“What… what?! Whose will it be? Are you making my territory and my sister engaged?!”

“That…”

“Tell me more! Right now!”

That’s how Ifa’s words flow out.

“So…”

Ifa’s words are long and long, I feel nauseous and dizzy.

That can’t be… he can’t do that.

So up until now, has he… been deceiving me?

Love, faith, and trust are broken into pieces by Ipa’s detailed explanation that I can’t believe.

And that gap…

Anger, helplessness, and despair fill me.

What am I… listening to?

As soon as Ipa finished speaking…

“Well… that can’t be happening, right? It’s definitely a conspiracy. He has many enemies. It is clearly a conspiracy by hostile forces.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Invite the officials of Epirus and Egypt to the imperial palace immediately!”

I can’t believe this conspiracy that is trying to spread the gap between me and him, so I give an order to call the officials of the two territories, but Ifa looks at me pitifully and says cautiously.

“It is said that Epirus and Egypt have already been taken over by King Ioannes.”

“That can’t be possible, right?, he… he always…”

He respected me. There is no way he would have done such a ridiculous thing on his own.

It makes no sense considering what he has done for me and the Empire so far.

okay! This is definitely a lie, it’s definitely a political maneuver!

It certainly should be so. otherwise…

okay! He will explain all this.

“He… Where is he?”

I shout to the guard outside as Ipa shakes her head as if she doesn’t understand.

Is there anyone else but “?!”

[your majesty! What’s going on?]

I give an order to the voice of the gatekeeper outside the door.

“Where is he now?! Find him right now! Come on!”

[yes!]

I give the command like that and get lost in thought.

Yeah… it was definitely weird.

It was incomprehensible how the imperialists, who arrived in Roman with an overwhelming force, easily concluded peace with him.

Maybe… is it really him?

Have we passed Epirus and Ezip?

Since ancient times, there have been three kingdoms under the direct jurisdiction of the emperor.

Roman Kingdom, Epirus Kingdom, Egypt Kingdom.

These three places are territories that the emperor must secure in order to rule the entire empire.

But if you gave that place to Ioanes on your own…

Wouldn’t this be the same as encouraging Ioannes to commit treason?

His actions are a clear violation of authority and are tantamount to inciting treason.

Plus, you’re engaged to Joy.

I heard that Joy is a young girl, not yet 20 years old, but Ioanes’ son is already in his mid-30s and has a 10-year-old daughter.

A man like that is getting engaged to Joy!

It’s absurd.

Even if I die, I can’t bear to see something like that.

How could I watch my younger sister marry a man older than my older brother?

And the most absurd thing is…

My husband, whom I trusted…

I feel deep anger and despair that I planned such a terrible thing and that I have been deceiving myself all this time.

“Not yet! Couldn’t you find him?!”

[Tuesday… The Emperor is here. Well… it hasn’t been long since I sent a messenger.]

“Your Majesty… Please fix your Majesty.”

I ask as I see Ipa shivering.

“Ifa. When did you find out about this?”

If Ipa knew about this and hid it from me…

Ifa will not survive.

Ifa seems to know what I’m thinking and bows her head at my words.

“A little while ago… I heard it from Julia, who returned to the imperial palace.”

“Julia?”

I know her as a maid in her 30s, with blonde hair that suits her well.

“Bring her right now, no, I will go there myself and guide her.”

So, I head to the maid’s quarters with Ifa.