episode_0157

Late at night.

As promised with my mother-in-law, I walk to the newlyweds’ room.

No, but it’s almost been a year. Can I call it the honeymoon room?

Anyway, the gold area feels unfamiliar now.

The guard standing guard in front of the newlyweds’ room looks at me and says hello.

“Your Highness the Archduke? It’s been a while. It looks like your separation from His Majesty the Emperor is over.”

I laugh out loud at the guard’s humorous words.

“It’s nothing…”

“Good job. Isn’t it said that a marital fight is basically like cutting water with a knife?”

Me and her are legally married, but I never thought of ourselves as a real couple.

“You… you’re talking nonsense.”

Saying that, I knock on the door.

-smart.

[who are you?]

Sweet voice.

I know who owns that voice.

Come to think of it… I grabbed her by the hair in this room.

Ah… I should have held on a little longer then.

He shouldn’t have committed violence against women like Valorant did.

As I reflect on this, I speak calmly.

“came out.”

Saying that, he opens the door and enters the room.

“What are you doing here?”

Theodora’s red eyes widen as she looks at me, revealing an expression of surprise.

“That’s… Haha…”

Now that I think about it, I think something similar happened last time.

I remembered that the last time my mother-in-law asked me to share a room with her, I couldn’t refuse and I did.

Theodora looks at me and rolls her eyes.

“Did you have the courage to come into this room after doing that to me? I didn’t see it that way. You are so shameless.”

Now… Where are you saying your mother-in-law is in trouble?

Looking at her who is still cold, I sigh.

“I didn’t come because I wanted to either.”

Theodora asks me with a puzzled expression.

“Really?”

I shrugged my shoulders and pointed towards the room where my mother-in-law was staying.

She says, blushing slightly.

“Well… I see… your mother.”

She spoke in embarrassment, so she would know why I came here.

“So, I’ll sleep on the sofa for a while.”

Saying that, he heads to the sofa.

***

The next morning.

The report from the Ministry of Information contains unusual language.

A man named Amon offers a large amount of money and advocates expanding the protests nationwide.

So, first, I decided to receive a large sum of money and investigate Amon’s whereabouts at the Intelligence Department.

Blatant anti-government action.

Are they causing chaos and dreaming of the resurrection of the devil in the darkness?

You don’t plan on letting me down that easily, do you?

I guess I’ll have to prepare some bait.

So if they bite that… we’ll have to deal with it all at once.

No matter how rampant the demon worshipers are, if the knights and a few infantry units are together, they are destined to be annihilated.

So, that’s how you save yourself.

There are certainly high-ranking nobles among the demon worshipers, as well as a few knights, wizards, and even priests.

But they are very few.

Compared to the powerful state power, it is no different from fresh blood.

“First of all, I need to do as they ask, and gradually build a rapport with the Holy See…”

The current Pope, Gregory XV, does not like me.

No, it would be correct to say that I hate it.

I sent you proof that the previous Valorant was related to demon worshipers, but they hate me enough to ignore it.

So, he must have said something like that during the coronation ceremony and wedding.

Although he cannot be directly involved in the politics of the empire, the power the Pope possesses is enormous.

Numerous bishoprics and churches that receive strong support from the people and nobles and are directly ruled by the Pope.

That’s not all.

They have as many as three knightly orders, which are difficult for most nobles to have, and have been building enormous wealth since the founding of the empire through donations, taxes collected from the bishopric, and tithes.

Taxes collected for thousands of years.

In addition, there is a doctrine that officially prohibits luxury.

Of course, I know that you are extravagant behind the scenes.

Putting that aside, they might have formed a huge faction even if they weren’t banned from participating in politics anyway.

“The Pope has opened his eyes blue and hates me… There is no way.”

Until now, knowingly or unknowingly, he had tried to build a close relationship with the Vatican, but each time he failed due to opposition from the Pope.

Should I give up first?

Unless demons appear, there really isn’t much need for a priest.

With that in mind, we take a look at the tax reform bill and the declaration of dissolution of the Emperor faction.

Content that had previously been boldly removed out of fear of civil war is added, and content that was added to appease the great nobles is excluded.

“This should be enough.”

This is all possible because the Bohemian Kingdom and the Eren Kingdom suffered enormous damage.

So now we begin the Nicea-related procedures.

Andronikos Angelos, the eldest son of Ioannes.

Originally, he would have been the next king of Nicaea, but due to Ioannes’ rebellion, his succession was eliminated.

“First, we must ask the National Assembly to review the deprivation of the Kingdom of Nicaea.”

According to imperial law, if the emperor wants to strip a great nobleman of his title, he must first undergo a review by the Imperial Diet.

This part will probably be approved without much trouble.

I will not rule Nicaea, but Theodora, the formal emperor, will rule.

It’s not okay to say no to it.

So, I am busy working today as well.

***

Theodora sighs as she watches Devian leave early in the morning.

“Ha…, Mom too.”

Even though he and I are a couple, I can say that our relationship is at its worst since we got married.

It’s not that I don’t like it, but does that mean I don’t want to see it often?

It’s difficult to express how I feel about Debian.

How surprised I was when Devian suddenly came to the newlyweds’ room.

Of course, I knew that wouldn’t happen, but I couldn’t sleep at all because I was worried that something like that might happen.

“What time is it now?”

As I watched the sun slowly rise, I looked at the clock on the table…

It’s only past 6 o’clock now.

But I shake my head thinking about Debian already leaving.

“You are so diligent.”

So I sleep a little more, take a shower, and eat breakfast with my family.

“Terra, did your son-in-law come to your room last night?”

Today, my mother’s smile feels a bit obnoxious.

You weren’t like that before.

Because sometimes you go crazy thinking about your grandchildren.

The father and brothers have all died, and now only three members remain in the family.

I understand, but at the same time, I feel a little disappointed.

It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t disappointed that he prioritized his grandchildren and granddaughter over me, his daughter.

But I still have no desire to have children.

What should I say… I have no confidence in Debian?

I realized he didn’t love me.

How much did you cry in bed when you first found out?

I feel miserable because my husband is a piece of trash who plays with people’s hearts.

“I came.”

When I spoke coldly, my mother’s expression hardened.

“That… I see.”

As silence hovers over the table, Joy smiles awkwardly.

“Huh? What’s going on with you and mom?”

“No, there is none.”

I reply and stand up.

“I have an appointment this morning, so I’ll go first.”

Saying that, he puts on his street clothes and heads outside.

Today’s appointment involves a meeting with members of the Imperial faction at the Imperial Diet.

You need to know what they think and what they mean.

So today I visited a mansion owned by the Bohemian royal family.

The imperial faction members gathered there in advance.

Enrique, a councilor from the Kingdom of Bohemia, and Luis, a councilor from the Kingdom of Erne.

Including these two, about eight members of the Imperial faction pay their respects to me.

“Long time no see. Your Majesty the Emperor.”

“It’s been a while.”

“You are still so beautiful.”

“That’s too much praise, the burden already belongs to someone.”

I’ve heard so many compliments on my appearance that I’m not particularly impressed.

“Now! The reason I asked you to gather here today is to save your lives.”

Everyone’s faces stiffen at my words.

“Perhaps those who are astute will know. The Archduke is about to disband the Imperial faction.”

Lewis comes forward and speaks to me.

“Your Majesty, we, the imperial faction, have been loyal subjects of the empire since the time of the previous emperor. How can you disband us?”

Enrique takes those words and steps forward to speak.

“That’s right. your majesty! This kind of tyranny cannot be tolerated. Please stop the Archduke and stop him.”

I smile coldly at their words.

“Have you not handed over me and my authority to him? But now you want me to stop him? Didn’t you create this Sadal?”

If me and Devian hadn’t gotten married, this wouldn’t have happened.

It’s funny how they’re afraid to pay the price for ignoring Debian’s capabilities and ambitions.

“But… Your Majesty! We are for the empire…”

When another member of the Imperial faction tried to intervene, I firmly cut him off.

“Selling the emperor for the sake of the empire, does your loyalty mean selling your lord?”

Seeing the members of the imperial faction who cannot make eye contact with my words makes me feel relieved.

“Selling your belongings and asking for help? Don’t I already have no power?”

Louis speaks in a servile manner at my words.

“Your Majesty… Could you please exercise your right to veto? We were not loyal, as you said. If you give me just one chance, I will serve your Majesty wholeheartedly, unlike before.”

If the imperial faction disintegrates, the privileges they previously enjoyed will disappear.

That’s not all.

The small and medium-sized nobles who were oppressed by the powerless great nobles will rise up.

If the small and medium-sized nobles who were oppressed by their tyranny rise up, they will have a hard time holding on.

We will probably have to make many territories independent.

“Well? How can I believe what you say?”

Enrique kneels at my words.

“Your Majesty! Please have mercy. As you know, the reason we made that choice at that time was because it was close to impossible to capture Roman.”

“You still haven’t come to your senses, you’re trying to mock me even here.”

I say, glaring at them.

“You took the lead in marrying me and him, and together with him you planned to deceive me and rob me of my territory. How can I explain that?! Do you think I’m a fool?!”

When I raise my voice, everyone kneels and bows their heads.

“Your Majesty… Your Majesty is the Emperor.”

“Your Majesty the King.”

“I committed a mortal sin.”

These are all lawmakers representing their respective countries.

They are merely subjects of the king and nobles who took the lead in betraying me.

In reality, they do not have much power.

“I will give you a chance.”

Are my words giving them a glimmer of hope? Lawmakers gently raise their heads.

“What if it’s an opportunity?”

“I have a document to send to you in a few days. If all your masters sign it, I will exercise my veto.”

“That… That…”

I glare at Lewis who is trying to say something.

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

Louis gently avoids my eyes.

“Go tell your lord, if everyone does not sign… the imperial faction will only be disbanded.”

After saying that, I leave the mansion.