Chapter 65
After the emergency meeting ended, a more detailed meeting began.
After two hours of discussion, it was decided that the 3rd and 5th Knight Orders would be sent to the North.
Then, including the Minister of Finance, they discussed how much money and food could be sent immediately to the North. By the time they finished, the sun was already setting in the west.
But there was still much work to do.
The Emperor stayed in his office, thinking about how to persuade the local lords to open their wallets.
Soon, however, the commotion outside grew louder.
-
Bang!
“Your Majesty! What is this noise?!”
“…Empress.”
“Is it true? The Crown Prince’s appointment? How could such a serious matter be decided so impulsively?!”
“Empress…”
The Empress, her eyes wide with anger, seemed not to notice anyone trying to calm her.
The Emperor clicked his tongue lightly and gestured to the attendants and knights in the room.
“Everyone, step outside.”
“Your Majesty…”
“What are you waiting for? Didn’t the Emperor say to leave?”
With the Empress shouting, the attendants and knights bowed and left.
With a thud, the door closed, leaving only the Emperor and Empress in the office.
The Emperor sank into his chair, removing his glasses and pressing them gently against his nose. Even then, the Empress stepped forward, raising her voice.
“Explain yourself. Are you really going to make Lionel the Crown Prince? Surely not?”
“I said it myself. If he brings successful results, I will appoint him Crown Prince.”
“How can you say that!”
The Empress glared at him with fiery eyes.
“Didn’t I tell you that Kaien has started treatment? Unlike before, there are visible results. Give that boy a chance!”
“…”
“Of all people, at least you should pity him!”
“Empress!”
“I could go out to the square right now and scream like a madwoman. The rebellion 18 years ago… you poisoned me yourself!”
“And? Do you think I have nothing to say?”
The Emperor snorted, looking at the Empress.
“You brought a giant wolf to the hunting grounds to harm the son I bore myself, and now you dare complain?”
The Empress’ eyes widened in shock. She quickly composed herself, but the Emperor had already noticed.
Though partly unsure before, the Emperor now realized that the Empress had indeed orchestrated the hunting incident.
He clicked his tongue in disdain.
“You’re cruel. Both are my sons, yet you tried to kill one to save the other.”
“I… I never intended to kill him. Lionel has the prophecy…”
“Yes, that prophecy. I have one too. That wretched prophecy that he would die miserably!”
Finally, the Empress understood why the Emperor had sent Lionel to the North and tied his Crown Prince appointment to it.
“You don’t mean…”
“This was too extreme. If you’re going to cause trouble, at least consider who will be there.”
The Emperor had been embarrassed and almost killed during the hunting contest. So he held a grudge and took decisive revenge on the Empress.
“I trust you know I could accuse this of being an attempt on the Emperor’s life.”
“…”
She had no argument. If she did something wrong, she could be deposed and lose the chance to help Kaien.
The Empress bit her lips and asked in a trembling voice:
“No matter what… isn’t Kaien your son too?”
“Lionel is also my son. You gave birth to him yourself.”
The Emperor raised one corner of his mouth, confused by the Empress’ harsh favoritism toward Lionel over Kaien.
Her second pregnancy was unwanted, she claimed—but so what? The first pregnancy wasn’t exactly her choice either. It was a political marriage, not love.
“Besides, your plan is half-successful, isn’t it? I don’t understand why you are yelling at me like this.”
“What plan?”
“Sending Lionel to the North makes it uncertain when he will return.”
Caught off guard, the Empress stayed silent.
The Emperor thought that, in a way, this could be an opportunity for Kaien. With Lionel away for years, he could prove himself without anyone questioning him when Lionel returned.
That was true. The Empress had contacted Marquis Liam to send Lionel to the North as soon as she heard about the Monster Wave.
But the Emperor promising Lionel the Crown Prince title had become a critical and dangerous factor.
“If the condition is stopping the Monster Wave successfully…”
If Lionel failed, he couldn’t become Crown Prince. The Empress’ eyes flashed with realization, and the Emperor noticed.
“Consider this a warning: do not interfere in the North.”
“You speak too harshly. I have no intention of interfering.”
“I know what you did with Lionel’s teachers and sending him to the temple. I let it slide because it wasn’t serious. But the North is different. People could die there.”
And now, the Empress would bring more chaos just to make her first son Crown Prince?
“Understand me clearly. If you ignore this warning, I will replace the Commander-in-Chief immediately.”
The Emperor’s meaning was clear.
“You want to send a sick child there?”
“Didn’t you say he’s receiving treatment and showing visible results?”
“This…!”
“And what is there to worry about?”
The Emperor smirked cruelly.
“The prophecy will protect him.”
The Empress glared red-eyed. There was nothing more she could do here.
“You… will regret this.”
Grinding her teeth, she turned and left.
Watching her go, the Emperor chuckled softly. A small twinge of regret lingered.
“He’s already in enough danger.”
Even if time could be reversed, he would still choose practicality over love. The Emperor closed his eyes, remembering a woman he once loved—the beautiful alchemist who had loved him in return.
After the palace restricted access, people in high positions were called multiple times a day for emergency meetings.
Even my older sister, not part of the 3rd or 5th Knight Orders sent North, couldn’t leave work.
So imagine how busy Lionel, now Commander-in-Chief, must be.
I feared he might even be in a meeting at night, and I didn’t dare contact him by Bluebird. I was alone and anxious.
‘Will he be sent to the North before I even get a chance to speak with him?’
That could never happen. I needed to find a way to talk to Lionel, using my mother’s and brother’s help to gather palace information.
But that attempt failed.
It wasn’t that the palace’s security was too high for my mother and brother to find anything.
The truth was closer to them simply not trying.
The reason?
“Your father is coming to the capital right now.”