Ch.311103. If That Is My Duty.

*Cough! Cough!*

She continuously coughs while half-lying on her bed.

Though she had become the Empress, the nominal Emperor, no one believed she would be able to properly manage state affairs.

“How are you feeling?”

“…Better. Much better.”

When I placed my hand on her forehead, her fever had subsided considerably.

Though her complexion was slightly pale and her expression showed exhaustion from the cold sweat, she looked more stable than usual.

With her brilliant mind, she would attend to state affairs from her bed whenever she was conscious.

The only difference was that she avoided showing her face at meetings and other official business outside of imperial council sessions.

And that void was currently being filled by Kariel, who had become the Regent.

Kariel would sort through important matters and relay them to Elhermina.

He also took care of minor agendas and meeting minutes, helping her understand what had transpired even when she couldn’t be present.

Though these tasks might seem similar, Kariel was meticulously maintaining neutrality, eliminating any possibility of distorting affairs with his own influence.

He was strictly following procedures to prevent future accusations that the Emperor was merely his puppet, or comparisons to queens and empresses of old who neglected their domestic duties to play power games.

“Noble council meetings, bureaucratic sessions, and now receiving envoys from Lutania… ah, it’s exhaustingly tedious.”

“…”

“Don’t apologize again. This is simply what I should be doing.”

Having experienced her taking his casual complaints seriously and apologizing several times before, she was now carefully restraining herself from speaking.

“It’s not like we married for power or position.”

“…That’s why I feel even more sorry.”

“Family is meant to fill in each other’s gaps. We’re not strangers.”

“…Still.”

“Come now. I told you it’s fine.”

What probably caused her the most guilt was her difficulty bearing children due to her weak constitution and frequent illnesses.

Or perhaps, going further, her inability to frequently share the marriage bed?

“I’m too busy working to even look elsewhere anyway.”

“…”

“And I have so many different things I want to do… that’s just how it is.”

“If there’s a court lady or other woman you’ve taken interest in…”

“That’s dangerous talk. You’d have both nobles and commoners throwing stones at me.”

Elhermina was beloved by both citizens and nobles alike.

Partly because she was the only daughter of the previous Emperor, known as the Hero Emperor, but also because her many acts of kindness and good deeds as an Imperial Princess were renowned even in foreign countries.

She was capable and intelligent, proposing solutions to various problems including imperial policies, urban development projects, and numerous poverty reduction initiatives.

The number of households in the Empire who didn’t go hungry, found homes, and established families thanks to her must number in the hundreds at least.

She also actively supported stability in remote and border regions, funding these efforts with assets confiscated from criminals and lawbreakers, making her truly an ideal ruler in the eyes of citizens.

…If there was any flaw in this kind and capable woman, it was her weak constitution.

And this flaw somehow made everyone anxious yet determined to support her, which was, in its own way, the best Elhermina could manage.

‘Earning sympathy as someone ill or weak isn’t always easy.’

Even as the descendant of a hero, there are limits.

The most vicious rulers in the world aren’t dictators or war-crazed maniacs, but incompetent fools with excessive ambition and greed.

‘The previous Emperor shouldered the harsh decisions, so Elhe has been left with good impressions and reputation.’

Besides, any harsh measures that needed to be implemented could be pushed through under the pretext that the previous Emperor had applied pressure, and that was that.

The nobles would find it difficult to get a read on the situation.

It’s commonly accepted that power isn’t shared even between parent and child, yet this damned imperial family was desperate to look after one another.

Even Kariel, who wasn’t related by blood, was participating in this dynamic—historically, such examples must be extremely rare regardless of era.

‘Power and position themselves aren’t the goal.’

What matters is what you achieve with them.

Not that I intend to disregard the process either.

When you start obsessing over extreme efficiency and speed, things tend to get tangled and fall apart.

Humans are designed to walk on two feet, not on their heads.

They say our eyes look to the distance, and our minds imagine even further.

But since our two feet are bound to this place, we must carefully consider our intentions as we proceed.

“I’ll see you later then.”

“Okay.”

Elhermina saw me off from her bed with a warm smile.

The way she waved her small hand reminded me of a young bird or lamb that deserved protection.

“Hmm!”

And so.

Kariel proceeded according to schedule, attending several meetings, receiving and entertaining the delegation.

Then he spent the remaining time in his office buried in paperwork, and later held an urgent half-hour meeting with officials who arrived as evening approached.

After making decisions on matters that required immediate attention and gathering materials including those decisions, Kariel was finally able to return to Elhermina’s bedroom.

“My, that was quick.”

It happened in the blink of an eye.

When I entered the room, she was already asleep.

Since she would wake up in the early dawn anyway, I could just get some rest too.

Though the bed was spacious, whenever we slept together, she would show signs of anxiety, perhaps due to her own sweat.

Even though there wasn’t actually any odor.

That’s why this large bedroom had two beds.

If we could have gone to sleep at the same time, we would have shared one bed.

“Hmm.”

A bit disappointing.

As I watched her sleeping, I happened to catch a drop of sweat rolling down from her forehead, across her brow, and disappearing into her hair.

“…”

After dismissing the maids, I wiped her sweat myself, and when she seemed stable enough, I lay down on the small bed beside her.

‘Ah, even washing up feels bothersome.’

Time seems both ample and tight.

Yet somehow…

I don’t feel particularly regretful, tired, uncomfortable, or that anything is unfair.

Strange, isn’t it?

After living such an unremarkable daily life for a year or two.

Suddenly, as if Elhermina couldn’t bear it anymore, one day she made up her mind and held me back.

“Kal. This is a matter I should handle while I’m still alive.”

“What do you mean, my lady?”

“…”

Her determination seemed firm.

“Tell her to enter.”

At Elhermina’s command, the head maid briefly left and returned with someone…

“Seras?”

Why is she here…?

…

Everyone was in an uproar, calling it unprecedented.

Nevertheless, the Empress personally attended the imperial council meeting and strongly expressed her will on this matter.

“I, the Regent Kariel, and Seras have known each other since childhood. In our youthful innocence, we repeatedly joked and promised to spend our lives together even when we grew older.”

This was shocking news even to Kariel.

“Given my condition, there are concerns about producing an heir, but with her presence, that burden would be lessened. Naturally, I have no intention of abandoning this matter, and should anyone speak rashly about it, this issue will be dealt with severely.”

And.

Since even the previous Emperor attended this meeting, there weren’t many who strongly opposed the idea.

Though “not many” doesn’t mean there were none.

Even this was essentially a performance staged to preemptively resolve misunderstandings that everyone would likely have.

When this news spread throughout the Empire, it became quite the topic of conversation.

…To the point where all sorts of speculations, strange rumors, and misunderstandings circulated.

Nevertheless.

After many twists and turns under Elhermina’s watchful eye, the two were formally married, though Seras was essentially a concubine.

And.

Another surprising piece of news was delivered:

“…Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

At the news that Elhermina had successfully conceived, the Empire began to stir with positive excitement.

Kariel embraced the tearfully emotional Elhermina warmly.

And Seras, watching them, held Elhermina’s empty hand in both of hers.

Additionally.

The previous Emperor and Empress Dowager looked on at the scene with contentment.

Though the days had been arduous and difficult, it seemed as if heaven was acknowledging their efforts, and everything was going well.

Truly, everything.

And the following year.

“…”

Holding the swaddled child in his arms, Kariel gazed down at Elhermina, who lay in a coffin filled with flowers, her complexion pale. He stood there for a long time, imprinting her image in his mind, silent and grieving.

Only when the child began to cry did he come to his senses.

Even so, he found it impossible to leave her body, which had been laid in the cathedral.

‘Politically speaking, I should appear grief-stricken and sorrowful here.’

Though he truly was, having such intentions twisted in this way felt bone-deep painful, as if his heart was being crushed.

And he constantly questioned whether he could truly feel this way sincerely.

At least to those around him, he had refused food and drink for over a week.

If not all, most mourners shed tears or hid their grief as they continued to pay their respects.

As Elhermina had wished during her lifetime, the cathedral entrance remained open all day.

For over ten days, the cathedral was crowded with mourners from across the continent.

And Kariel, rarely leaving his post, received everyone with a hollow face, expressing gratitude to them.

Only after he collapsed did the previous Emperor take his place for a day, his face filled with sorrow.

The next day, after regaining consciousness, Kariel returned to his post and painfully received the mourners.

“…”

Though everything seemed to be settling back into routine.

Kariel was still disheartened and could hardly compose himself.

After several days passed.

The previous Emperor looked down sympathetically at the child in the Empress Dowager’s arms, then turned his gaze to Kariel, who stood pitifully to one side.

“I hope you will continue your role as you have until this child becomes Emperor.”

“Perhaps Your Majesty should instead…”

“No. One must remain steadfast, especially in times like these.”

What must parents feel when they lose a child?

And what if that child was more proud, wise, judicious, and kind than anyone else in the world?

“Consider it for El’s sake.”

“…”

“Taking care of yourself now is the way to honor El, who has left us. You know this well.”

The world was crumbling.

Life here was so sorrowful that his consciousness from the outside world was beginning to resurface.

‘Don’t regret it.’

Everything is predestined harmony.

This too… must be a process to go through.

Though his present self was filled with grief and pity.

His other self from elsewhere watched like a completely different person, his expression unchanged, stoically… calmly observing this day.

Only then did he realize.

Though the self here was certainly him.

The self there, while also him… could never become the same person.

That self asks:

‘Even so, must we not move forward?’

“…”

Kariel, his face gaunt and ashen, precariously knelt down.

Though staggering, he quietly paid his respects.

“…Then, as you wish, I shall carry out your command.”

If that is my duty.

…Gladly.