ã€ŠChaise a la Reineã€‹


 Prologue

    Famous beauties in the world are bound to have nicknames worthy of them.

    For example, Princess Salema Te Hanan of the Eastern Empire, famous for her deep blue eyes like an oasis, was nicknamed ¡®Tashneri¡¯, or ¡®The Pupil of the Lake¡¯, and Queen Gwyneth of Rodham, the head of the Five Nations, for the silver hair that flows down to the back of her knees. She was nicknamed ¡®Lady of the Stars¡¯ because of her hair.

    Even in Estina, the Western Empire, there was a national beauty with a nickname more famous than her real name. She was the Countess Patr¨ª, who was called ¡®Lady of Ivory¡¯.

    Countess Patr¨ª was nicknamed the Lady of Ivory because of her exceptionally graceful arms. As the name suggests, her arms, clear and transparent, like a statue carved out of ivory, were the most dazzling parts of her beautiful figure.

    Such captivating arms provided her with plenty of things.

    Her arms led the fashion movement for an unconventional evening dress that revealed one¡¯s skin up to her shoulders at the Imbert Palace. In addition, it served as an opportunity to remind many noble maidens of the importance of flawless white skin once again, and her name, despite only being a daughter of a baronet, was made known throughout the continent.

    However, the reason her arms were even called ¡®The Noblest Arms in the World¡¯ was not simply because of their beauty. Her arms were praised for being something more than just beautiful body parts and that is because the one who slept in her arms was one of the noblest people in the world.

    Emperor of the Western Empire of Estina. Ebroin V, the ruler of one of the two great empires that divided the Ladivenia continent, and the King of Kings who ruled over two seas and five rivers.

    Countess Patr¨ª, ¡®Lady of Ivory¡¯, was the most beloved of the Great Emperor.

    ***

    ¡°What did you say just now?¡±

    The Emperor asked quietly.

    ¡°A divorce trial?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    The young Prince Merrick, who had gathered up the courage to file a special petition, hesitated and carefully looked at the Emperor. However, it was difficult to fathom the Emperor¡¯s thoughts just by looking at him. The Emperor¡¯s eyes were infinitely indifferent.

    A divorce trial.

    The Emperor repeated Prince Merrick¡¯s petition in his mouth. It was the first time in his life that he had heard such a petition in a special audience requested by the nobles. The content of the petition itself was also a problem, but the person filing the petition was even a bigger problem. As ridiculous as it was, it was the Emperor¡¯s own cousin through his paternal aunt who petitioned for a divorce trial.

    ¡°Baroness Amieux, you said? Adelaide, just who in the world is she?¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª sitting next to the Emperor pouring tea, heard the question that had been thrown at her and spoke up.

    ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Baron Dumont, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Baron Dumont?¡±

    ¡°Baron Dumont is from the ancestral family of the Marquis of La Baille. I heard that Baroness Amieux is his niece.¡±

    ¡°The niece of the Marquis of La Baille? ¡­ Oh, I remember. Then she must be the wife of Vice Admiral Chastan.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª was terrified to hear the Emperor muttering to himself. The fact that Baroness Amieux was the wife of Vice Admiral Chastan was deliberately omitted and not stated. It was because she did not think that the Emperor, who had little interest in the social world, would remember the identity of a woman who was nothing more than a Baroness.

    Moreover, Baroness Amieux made her debut at the Imbert Palace during the past two years, when the Emperor had left the capital to lead a conquest with his soldiers. Countess Patr¨ª was embarrassed when the Emperor unexpectedly remembered her, thinking that the Emperor was unaware of such an existence.

    ¡°Vice Admiral Chastan?¡±

    But in this situation, she couldn¡¯t show that she knew him. The Countess tilted her head and asked the Emperor as if she was genuinely curious. Her pure blue eyes shone over her flawless, clear skin. At a glimpse, she gave off an innocent impression.

    ¡°Who is he? It¡¯s the first I¡¯ve ever heard of him.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a Navy Admiral. One of the capable admirals who stood behind me against the Federation of the Five Nations when I was at war with the barbarians of the East in Landrienne. If she is the niece of the Marquis of La Baille, then she would be the wife of Vice Admiral Chastan. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    It was a question he knew the answer to all too well, so he couldn¡¯t dare tell a lie. Prince Merrick bowed his head deeply and answered in a trembling voice.

    ¡°¡­ Yes, you¡¯re right. She is also the wife of Vice Admiral Chastan.¡±

    ¡°But what did you just say? Did you say you were going to take Vice Admiral Chastan¡¯s wife to a divorce court?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, that is-.¡±

    ¡°The Countess shall keep silent. Right now, the one I¡¯m asking is Prince Merrick.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s tone became harsh. Countess Patr¨ª cast her gaze on Prince Merrick with a gloomy expression on her face. Prince Merrick looked mournfully at the Countess, Countess Patr¨ª, with a pale blue complexion. It may have been a plea for help, but even the Countess could not rush out in this situation.

    ¡°What are you doing, Prince Merrick? I¡¯m the one who¡¯s questioning you¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, what it was meant to be-.¡±

    ¡°Tell me the facts without any excuses, Duke.¡±

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    ¡°Tfr. Tbeg Zjpfras. Ktja lr ktja P gfdefrafv.¡±

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    ¡°Is that what you¡¯re saying right now?¡±

    A majestic voice echoed through the Room of Ruby. Although it was said that the Room of Ruby was a place for the Emperor to have a private audience, the Emperor¡¯s matters could not be private, even in the smallest detail. The guards surrounding the perimeter, knights, court attendants, and the ladies-in-waiting. As other nobles were waiting for the next petition, a sudden bolt from the blue fell into this space.

    Everyone around could sense the Emperor¡¯s wrath. Even so, there was no sound of breathing in the quiet room. The Emperor¡¯s voice sharply pierced the silence, falling into the middle of the space as strongly as lightning.

    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Is that something a person who¡¯s the Emperor¡¯s kin can say? Vice Admiral Chastan is an honorable and loyal military officer who has made great achievements in the waters of La Tyllen. On the other hand, aren¡¯t you a subject who, despite being a prince, did not take part in the war and was busy taking care of himself in the safe capital during that time? How dare such a person petition me to take away the wife of a soldier loyal to his country?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t say that what I just said is not at all true. If the Duke had nothing to do with the divorce, he wouldn¡¯t have stepped forward and demanded a trial. You¡¯ve now admitted with your own mouth to being an adulterer.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s point of view was as fierce as a sharpened blade. Prince Merrick broke a cold sweat behind his back. He once again felt reproachful of his lover.

    The man was only being punished right now because he chose to do it of his own volition, though it wasn¡¯t what he wanted. If rumors had not spread in the capital, or if the war had not ended and the Emperor had not returned to the capital at such a time, this is a case that could have been passed on quietly.

    But things had already gone awry, and his life was at stake. He didn¡¯t know what the Emperor would have done if he hadn¡¯t taken the initiative in this way. He was a person who could inflate even the smallest tantrums, so there was no way to ignore such a huge fault. He knew very well how terrifying his maternal cousin, who was only a few years older than him, was.

    ¡°I plead guilty, Your Majesty.¡±

    In a reluctant tone, Prince Merrick admitted his guilt. It was a rumor that would soon reach the Emperor anyway, so the Duke had no intention of concealing his crimes.

    ¡°In the Great Code of Lex Ardica, which the Emperor must protect and the nobles must follow, it was said that the right to claim what one enjoys comes after fulfilling one¡¯s obligations. If you thought that you would be safe even if you violate the national laws just because you are the Emperor¡¯s kin, then you¡¯re mistaken. Guards! Drag out Prince Merrick. He failed to set an example as an Emperor¡¯s kin, violated the Code of Lex Ardica by coveting a married woman, and tried to bring disgrace to the imperial power by making immoral petitions to me. Behead this man, hang his head on the wall, and also expel his accomplice in adultery, Baroness Amieux, from the imperial court so that she can never set foot in the capital again.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty!¡±

    It sounded like another bolt from the blue. Not only Prince Merrick, who thought it was a matter of great rebuke, not knowing that he would receive such a severe punishment, but also Countess Patr¨ª, who had been sitting next to the Emperor by granting Prince Merrick¡¯s request to aid in the petition, were dazed. The change of countenance was the same for the others who were there. It was not unreasonable for everyone except the Emperor to be stunned as the Emperor¡¯s own kin¡¯s neck was about to be cut off.

    ¡°Please calm down, Your Majesty.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª whispered as she reached out her famous arms and hurriedly embraced the Emperor¡¯s shoulder. Her heart was beating like crazy. Beheading Prince Merrick, there¡¯s just no way such a thing could take place. Prince Merrick was not just the Emperor¡¯s cousin, but he was also the only son of Grand Duchess Alienor.

    Grand Duchess Alienor, the only imperial adult of the present Ardi imperial family, which had been nearly wiped out due to the tragedy faced by its predecessors, was as authoritative as her position, and a great figure that no one in the social world could ignore. The resentment may not be a big deal for the Great Emperor, but for the Countess, who was still uneasy, she was someone who should never be made an enemy.

    In fact, it was not because of Prince Merrick himself, but because of his mother, Grand Duchess Alienor, that Countess Patr¨ª came to help him today. She was favored by the Emperor for her outstanding beauty and resilience, and she entered the ranks from being the daughter of a Baronet to a concubine, but her social foundation was weak due to her poor background.

    Even though she was said to be the most beloved and favored concubine at present, at the end of the day, an imperial concubine was still an imperial concubine. Moreover, compared to the two older imperial concubines, her rank and family¡¯s influence were significantly lower, which is why she was ridiculed behind her back. If Prince Merrick was beheaded under such circumstances, it was obvious that she, too, would be in a bad situation.

    Far from gaining the support of the Grand Duchess, Countess Patr¨ª clung to the Emperor with an anguished heart, thinking that she might anger her for neglecting the death of Prince Merrick.

    ¡°This is not a matter for you to meddle in, Adelaide.¡±

    The Emperor spoke even more sternly. But Countess Patr¨ª shook her head. Even if she could have brought the Emperor¡¯s wrath, she could not back down.

    ¡°I¡¯m aware that this isn¡¯t a matter that I can meddle with. But I know that I am the only one who can say a word to Your Majesty who¡¯s enraged here, so while I¡¯m afraid, I have no choice but to step up.¡±

    Her voice became desperate. Tears welled up in her lovely blue eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not aware of the weight of the crime Prince Merrick has committed. But, Your Majesty, Prince Merrick is your own kin. And an Emperor¡¯s kin is not guilty of a crime unless it is the crime of treason.¡±

    She had a naturally soft and lovely voice. That sweet voice was even soaked in tears of sorrow, that any man would have no choice but to listen to her request. But the Emperor didn¡¯t budge despite her sincere pleas, as if he was not like any other man.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a crime equivalent to treason¡­ how can you guarantee that? Prince Merrick tarnished the honor of the nobleman who has fought to defend this country for the past five years. In addition, he directly violated the law of the Lex Ardica, which puts the family¡¯s survival first. If such a matter was easily passed on, who the hell would remain loyal to the country? To the east is the Eastern Empire, and to the west is the Federation of Five Nations. Military loyalty is a precious virtue that this country should cherish above all else. Nevertheless, it was Prince Merrick who tried to shake the foundations of the country for personal pleasure. How can you say that this is not treason?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s even worse because he¡¯s from the imperial family. I have no intention of forgiving him.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s decision was firm. The guards, who hesitated at his glance, approached and grabbed Prince Merrick¡¯s arms. Seeing this, urgency flashed in Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s eyes. She once again clung to the Emperor and begged.

    ¡°It is not unreasonable for Your Majesty, who must protect the law on behalf of the Gods and rule over all the people equally, to think so. But keep in mind that Prince Merrick is the one and only remaining male kin of Your Majesty. And remember that he is the only younger brother of Your Majesty.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª shook the Emperor¡¯s heart with remarks reminiscent of the three years of disgrace.

    In the imperial family of Estina, which had to endure deep shame due to what the imperial family of the empire suffered, the ¡®Tragedy of Lan¡¯ was a deep wound that was difficult to reveal and talk about. Yet, she dug up the wound right away. She reminded him that even as an Emperor, he should not cut off Prince Merrick¡¯s head at will.

    ¡°He may have committed a crime due to excessive ardor, but Prince Merrick is still young and inexperienced. Prince Merrick was simply trying to get the one he loved rightfully by holding a divorce trial, and he probably didn¡¯t want to be unfairly involved in the outcome. If so, would he have dared to plead with Your Majesty to open a divorce court? Please take that into consideration, Your Majesty.¡±

    From the looks of how she covered for him, it seemed as if Countess Patr¨ª, not the Emperor, was the one who shared the same blood as Prince Merrick. The Emperor was still furious, but he silently listened to her plea as if he could not continue to ignore the plea of his imperial concubine whom he cherished so much that she was the apple of his eye.

    Countess Patr¨ª gained courage as she saw him like that. At least because she knew that the Emperor had no intention of pouring out his wrath on her.

    ¡°It is an exaggeration to treat the young kin of the Emperor¡¯s mistake with such a severe punishment. The strong love between a man and a woman is something that even heaven cannot stop. Despite knowing how much a divorce is a great offense to the honor of aristocrats, you can see how big and deep the bond between the two is when they ask for a divorce trial. Even if you separate them with severe punishment, will they ever forget each other? Even if you force the Baroness back to the Baron, the marriage won¡¯t go on smoothly. You must not do this for the sake of the Baron, Your Majesty.¡±

    The words that came out of Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s mouth were both sensible and reasonable. Although she was famous for her beauty, it took more than that to capture the heart of the Emperor who ruled the empire. As famous as her beautiful arms, her speaking skills were being displayed here to the fullest.

    Hearing Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s words, the Emperor¡¯s furious expression somewhat softened. It must have been a request from his lovely imperial concubine, but as she said, he had to think about the position of Baron Amieux, who would have to suffer without actually committing a crime.

    That being said, even if the Baroness were to return the Baron, the problem would remain. This is because his wife¡¯s shameful scandal will leave a bad reputation not only for the Baron but for his successors as well. He looked at Prince Merrick with a brooding expression on his face and frowned bitterly.

    ¡°You certainly raise a point. I can¡¯t put the innocent Baron Amieux in trouble because of the fault of my kin.¡±

    The guards who were about to drag Prince Merrick out stood there in the hesitation of the Emperor, waiting for the next command to come out.

    If it were any nobleman, even if he was a great nobleman with great prestige, they would have carried out the Emperor¡¯s command right away, but it was too burdensome for them to hastily carry out the beheading of Prince Merrick, who was sixth in the line of succession to the throne. They kept their posture slumped, carefully watching the course of the situation. Prince Merrick couldn¡¯t breathe and waited for the Emperor¡¯s decision.

    ¡°¡­ Seems like I¡¯m left with no other option.¡±

    After a while, the Emperor sighed in disappointment and withdrew the command. The guards, who were observing the progress at the Emperor¡¯s sullen gesture, quickly stepped back. Prince Merrick fell to his knees and bowed deeply, with his back covered with cold sweat. He was unable to stand properly as his legs felt weak.

    ¡°I¡¯m extremely displeased with Prince Merrick for committing an outrageous crime, but given the face of his mother, Aunt Alienor, I will let it go just this once. Let the divorce trial proceed as you wish.¡±

    The Emperor, who was likely to have his head cut off at any moment before, changed his words. Lady Patr¨ª¡¯s face gleamed. Prince Merrick¡¯s pale face started to change color as well.

    ¡°However, the trial will be executed as a trial with the Emperor¡¯s presence, and I, myself, will be the judge. Not only the outcome but also the trial itself is bound to be talked about, so it would be a good idea to make sure that things are being done properly and to remain silent. ¡­Prince Merrick, step aside and keep a low profile. You cannot enter the palace until the trial is over.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I offer all my deepest gratitude to the Emperor.¡±

    The punishment, which was initially beheading, ended in probation, so even Prince Merrick could not protest any more. Prince Merrick thanked him as he trembled. The Duke, who had almost passed the threshold of death because of something he had committed while living, stood up with a dazed expression on his face. The Emperor cut him off with a blunt gesture as if he didn¡¯t want to see him.

    ¡°Go away.¡±

    The Emperor, who had expelled and dismissed Prince Merrick, clicked his tongue in annoyance. Countess Patr¨ª, who tried to hide her joy, handed the cold teacup to her lady-in-waiting, poured fresh tea into a new cup, and offered it to the Emperor. The Emperor barely managed to quench his anger as he drank his tea with a rich rose scent.

    ¡°Foolish prick.¡±

    The Emperor spat out in a mutter.

    ¡°Don¡¯t do that too much, Your Majesty. What would a young Duke know?¡±

    As has always been the case, Countess Patr¨ª took Prince Merrick¡¯s side.

    ¡°What do you mean young? He¡¯s already twenty-seven years old. How can a person who is a member of the imperial family of a country behave like that? If he had a relationship, he should¡¯ve just kept it in the dark. What the hell is a divorce trial? Is it normal to stay as a child in his little imaginative bubble?¡±

    ¡°As Your Majesty would say, there is nothing more romantic than that for a woman. I¡¯m rather envious of Baroness Amieux. It¡¯s like someone as noble as an Emperor¡¯s kin wants you at the risk of the serious crime of divorce. Who in the world is like that? I never imagined that Prince Merrick could be so romantic.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª smiled brightly and gave a naive voice. She looked incredibly innocent, flushed like a little girl, and envious of the unrealistic story.

    Seeing this, the Emperor made a strange expression as if he was about to laugh. It¡¯s like he¡¯s shocked by the absurd remarks she makes, but at the same time, he¡¯s unable to scold her as she cutely talks nonsense without any hesitation.

    ¡°Now that I see, it¡¯s you, not the Duke, who¡¯s young. No matter how much you love romance, where nonsense is it to bring romance to a divorce? Seems like there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t say in front of the Emperor, the number one protector of the Great Code.¡±

    The Emperor lightly rebuked the Countess. Countess Patr¨ª smiled sweetly at the words that were more mature than a mere scolding.

    ¡°I¡¯m saying this only because I¡¯m in front of Your Majesty. Isn¡¯t it a given that I¡¯d always like to be honest with Your Majesty? Or is it that Your Majesty does not want me not to be honest?¡±

    The Emperor finally surrendered to the imperial concubine who responded with a sugar-sweet smile. He shook his head with a wry smile. Shaking his head, he murmured lowly.

    ¡°I can¡¯t take it, Adelaide. I can¡¯t win against you.¡±

    Following the low sound of the Emperor¡¯s laughter, the stiff air in the room was gently released. Those who had been frozen like icicles as they observed the Emperor¡¯s mood relaxed, grateful for the timely charm of Countess Patr¨ª.

    When the harsh atmosphere had somewhat subsided, Countess Patr¨ª blinked and signaled the next petitioner. The petitioner, noticing her signal, quickly stepped forward.

    The caller called out the petitioner¡¯s name. The smiling Emperor turned his head to look at the petitioners as if he had just realized that they were present.

    The audience resumed as if nothing had happened.

    T/N: Below are the Author¡¯s notes regarding the setting of this novel.

    ¡ù Estina Empire setting

    Language ¨C Court language of the Estina Empire ¨C Eneca

    Language of the Former Electorate ¨C Disseor.

    Climate ¨C Oceanic, Continental, Mediterranean climate

    Religion ¨C Saint Regire, Goddess of Creation and the Sky, and Eustace, God of Fire and Agriculture

    Area ¨C 9,599,961km2

    History and Statute Law ¨C Lex Ardica

    Exchange rate ¨C Units of Money:

    Dinar (Gold Coins = 50 Dells = 250 Roux = About 200,000 Won) Around 154 USD present-day

    Dell (Silver = 50 Roux)

    Roux (Copper = A commoner¡¯s daily wage is about 200 Roux.)

    Weight unit ¨C Libra (450g)

    Length unit ¨C Paeta (30cm) Eron (3cm)

    ¡ù The Code of Salica [Lex Salica]

    [About the setting] It¡¯s a model of Lex Ardica, and it¡¯s closely related to the succession of most of Europe.  Originally, it strictly follows only the male direct line, and when the male direct line is cut off, the throne (or title) passes to the male of a collateral family rather than to the female. On the other hand, Semi-Salica Laws are flexible in such a way that when a direct male is cut off, it leads to a direct female. The empire in play was originally limited to the male line of succession, but with the change of Lan, it changes to a Semi-Salica law. For example, if the Emperor had three sons and two daughters, the son of the Emperor¡¯s eldest daughter, Princess Anne Meredith, would be fourth in line of succession after the other brothers, and so on.

    ¡ù Title [Peerage]

    [About the setting] The nobility titles, which are often used in romance novels, are not in the West but are based on the historical five-decade system that has been passed down from The Xia Dynasty in China. Since it is difficult to translate Western titles as they are, it is said that they were settled in the process of adapting them in an easy-to-understand way.

    However, actual titles in the West are more complicated than you think. In addition, it is easy to get confused because the origins and usage of terms differ from country to country. I mainly referenced French data, so I will explain accordingly. The name is also French. It is different from the English name.

    A Duke (Duc) is usually awarded to a child of an Emperor/King or nobles of equivalent status. At first, it was customarily given only to the imperial family, but as the descendants passed, the nobles often became the victors. It is the minimum rank required to become a monarch of a country, and the highest level a nobleman can ascend.

    Marquis is said to originally refer to a nobleman who owned a frontier territory. It means a nobleman in charge of defending the border, however, when I looked it up, there was also another title called ¡°Margrave.¡± But, in this novel, in order to make Eug¨¨ne¡¯s title a Baron, Count was established to be the same as a Margrave, treated as a Marquis. I thought it would be good to have the lowest title among nobles to give the impression of a fallen noble.

    Count (Comte) refers to those who were initially vassals of the Duke. It was like that until the 10th century, but after that, they became the owners of a small estate. Since the counts cannot own more than one estate, their status is limited, but these counts were usually the most powerful.

    Viscount (Vicomte) was named after the Count and was originally the chief executive of the Count. It is a higher rank than a Baron, but the title itself came later.

    Baron is a nobleman who has received the land directly from the King(or Emperor). In the early days, when the hierarchical relationship between the ranks was not established, the authority wielded by them was about the same as a Count, but as time passed, it became a title to refer to those who did not serve a lesser lord and directly managed the territories and was classified as a de facto lesser lord.

    A woman¡¯s title is the father¡¯s (or mother¡¯s) when she is young unless she was born as a daughter of a King(or Emperor), and in some cases, she inherits the rights of her mother if the Semi-Salica Act is followed. For example, in the case of Queen Joanna of Spain, known as ¡®Joanna The Mad¡¯, neither her husband nor her biological father was able to take over the rulership of Castile, inherited through her mother, without her consent.

    A woman¡¯s status is usually determined by her father¡¯s title, and when she grows up, it¡¯s mainly decided by marriage. Let¡¯s take Viscountess Gagnon in the main story as an example. She was a Lady when her father was Duke of d¡¯Estuaire, but after the humiliation of Landrienne, her family was demoted and she became the daughter of a Count. Eventually, she married Viscount Gagnon and became a Viscountess.

    In the case of France, it is said that in many cases, in order to give the King¡¯s paramour a title, her husband was often the one promoted. The Korean translation is ~lady, so it seems like a title given only to the wives of aristocrats, but it¡¯s not necessarily like that. Even if a woman inherits the Count¡¯s estate under the Semi-Salica Act, it would be translated as Countess in our country. Since the title of a woman itself is the feminine form of the male title. In Korea, the Countess and the Count¡¯s Lady are used differently, but the English name is just Countess.

    It is said that the children of the aristocracy are called differently, no matter how much you search the web in Korea, you can only find English titles. So, without reference, I just unified it as Esteemed Daughter/Estemeed Son.

    It is set in the era when the feudal system almost collapsed, the standing army and the centralized system were established, and aristocrats who lost their influence on local lands became court nobles. The reason the nobles with territories are all concentrated in the capital is not that there are so many things to play, but because the court has come to an era where the only means to gain power is the court.

    ¡ù Five Prince-Electors¡¯ Houses eligible for Grand Fete

    ¨C East: House of d¡¯Estuaire

    ¨C South: House of Benoist (Suffering from hereditary disease)

    ¨C North: House of Redenise (which was an imperial branch and reverted to it as the line was cut off), leaving traces in the name of the Emperor. Thanks to this, the Crown Prince had traditionally served as the Duke of Rednise.

    ¨C West: House of Carmagnac (Fallen)

    ¨C Center: House of Rochere (Fallen due to treason)

 CH 1

    The boy adjusted his clothes as he stood at the door of the captain¡¯s cabin, which was fed with fine blue bitumen and shone as smoothly as turquoise. Even as his heart trembled, deep regrets arose. Had he expected this to happen, he would have changed into his best clothes this morning when he was getting dressed, but unfortunately, the boy lacked the ability to predict the future.

    What if he thinks I¡¯m dirty?

    Even if he were dressed neatly, he would have been purely excited by the joy of meeting the hero. The boy looked down with a crestfallen expression at his yellow-stained collar and worn-out cuffs.

    He would gladly like to go back to the main ship and change into new clothes right now, but as long as the captain has a letter stating that it is a ¡®Substitute Payment¡¯, it was impossible to fulfill that wish. Reluctantly, the boy gathered up his courage and knocked on the captain¡¯s door with a trembling hand. A gentle answer came back to the sound of a carefully audible knock.

    ¡°Come in.¡±

    Woah. Woah. His voice was so marvelous. The boy opened the door to the captain¡¯s room with his face reddened due to the accelerating blood flow. The door opened smoothly without any noise as if it had been well-maintained.

    The first thing reflected in the boy¡¯s excited eyes was the back of the man as he stood behind him. The 6 Paeta tall man with gray hair cut short enough to show the reddish nape, was carefully examining the chart placed on the mahogany table. Although he was not as muscular as ordinary sailors, his manly body, which narrowed from wide shoulders to an inverted triangle, showcased the unique discipline of a trained soldier.

    ¡°Look at this, Jacques. This is the famous Alwitz nautical chart of the famous Federation of Five Nations. It is a miracle created by triangulation and theodolite. Damn it. Looking at this, our nautical charts look like a child¡¯s play on the sand. All the men of the Imperial Academy who put out such things should be hanged.¡±

    The man spoke in a very blunt manner, considering the suggestion of a mass hanging. The boy opened his mouth in a trembling voice, bewildered by the attitude of the man who seemed to have mistaken the other person.

    ¡°Loyal to the Protector of the Empire! Your Excellency The Admiral, I have brought you a letter from the Ministry of the Navy.¡±

    Damn it. The chant faltered. As soon as the boy spoke out, he violently cursed his own stupidity. To speak like a whining sissy, let alone to the honorable and loyal officer, Lord Amieux, would now be a lifelong shame! What in the world would the admiral think of me?

    ¡°Huh?¡±

    Frustrated by his poor state, the boy saw the man who had turned his back turned away. Only then did the man realize that the person behind his back was not his first mate, then turned around, and faced the boy. The boy unconsciously raised his eyes despite knowing that they shouldn¡¯t make eye contact. The boy¡¯s eyes that looked up to the man were captivated.

    As expected, the man looked strong. As is usual with the men of the sea, his sunburned face was a reddish copper. The nose, which was once broken in the course of experiencing numerous naval battles, was slightly crooked. The lips were neat and the chin was perfect. And the eyes ¨C legendary not only to the empire but also to the Federation of Five Nations, and even to the infamous pirates of Hertha ¨C were perfectly similar to that of a hawk, just as rumored.

    Gray eyes gleamed from deep inside the eyelids. His eyes were slightly curved at the tip, and there was an oblique scar, like a crescent moon, on the left temple at the corner of the eye, giving a glimpse into his cruel past.

    The impressive appearance gave an indication as to how the nickname ¡®Hawk Eye¡¯ was coined. Admiral Eug¨¨ne de Chastan, Captain of the Silver Ferry as well as the Admiral of the 4th Fleet. The boy, facing the revered hero, took a deep breath. He had a legend standing in front of him.

    He didn¡¯t have an idea about the inland people, but there was no one in the Navy that could be on the same level as Admiral Chastan. He was the one who defeated the famous privateer, Captain Nelken, conquered the pirate-infested Baleum Sea to secure a trade route to the northern country of Kayedip, and even defeated the naval forces of the Federation of Five Nations, which are said to be invincible at sea.

    A saying followed Admiral Chastan, a hero of the Imperial Navy; ¡°When pirates hear his name, they¡¯re frightened, and when the navy of the Federation of Five Nations hear it, they make a sign¡±. He was right here, in front of the boy.

    ¡°A letter from the Ministry of Navy?¡±

    He, that is, Admiral Chastan faced the boy and spoke to him. The boy almost nodded, but when he belatedly realized what kind of status the person in front of him had, he suddenly came to his senses.

    You can¡¯t act like an idiot. Pierre!

    The boy thought hard to himself. Do you think you¡¯ll ever get another chance to speak to him in person in your lifetime?

    ¡°Yes. Your Excellency The Admiral!¡±

    Ktf ybs mjgfoeiis abbx bea atf ifaafg tf tjv xfqa lc tlr jgwr jcv qgfrfcafv la ab atf Cvwlgji. Ktf Cvwlgji ibbxfv vbkc ja atf ybs¡¯r ifaafg. Pa kjr j ifaafg rfca ys atf Zlclrags bo Rjns, yea atf rfji kjr cba atf boolmlji rfji bo atf Zlclrags bo Rjns, yea atf qfgrbcji mgfra bo atf Zjgdelr Oj Djliif tlwrfio.

    Through an informal route, an informal letter. Intrigued by the unusual situation, Admiral Chastan received the letter from the boy.

    ¡°Good work, Seaman. You may leave now.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Excellency!¡±

    You can¡¯t make the same mistake twice. The boy saluted with all his might with a modest gesture and left the captain¡¯s cabin. The conversation was only about two or three words, but for the boy, it was an enchanting experience.

    In the Navy, Admiral Chastan was a legendary hero and the boy talked to him alone and even if it was only from a distance, it was still something to boast about for months. Was there any other seaman who could boast like this? The boy¡¯s small heart swelled. If he were to tell his friends and senior soldiers about this experience, everyone would be jealous of him.

    And among them, the person who will suffer would be the marksman, who seemingly took care of him in every case just because he came in two months earlier, and then disembarked by himself while changing his assigned duty today. If he hadn¡¯t forced himself to change his duty, he would have been the one who would take on this errand.

    The boy smiled brightly at the sight that made him happy just by imagining it. That¡¯s why people need to be considerate.

    [Return to the capital as soon as possible.

    There¡¯s a transport waiting at the mouth of the Neutel River.

    ¨C Admiral of The Fleet, Martell Louis de La Baille.]

    Eug¨¨ne frowned after reading the brief letter. The signature was obviously that of the familiar , the Marquis of La Baille, but the content was not. He knew that the man was not a chatty person, but the short-written summons, in which one could not understand the context from any part of the letter, was too simplistic, even considering the nature of such a combination.

    How strange.

    Eug¨¨ne was lost in thought. Even after thinking about it, he couldn¡¯t understand the situation. It¡¯s hard to be in peacetime, let alone wartime. Just two days ago, there was a warning to be vigilant and prepare for enemy provocations. Not only that, but it was none other than you who gave me a special command and entrusted me with the patrol work outside Rosong Port.

    Although his enemies were faltering because of his victory in La Tyllen, the Federation of Five Nations was basically swarming like blood-smelling sharks, and could not be missed at this point when the empire was preoccupied with post-war dealings.

    They also knew that the empire, weakened by the long war against the great country of the east, Sha¡¯ak, could not face them head-on. Even if they bit their backs, the empire would not be able to respond. If there was a shoal of sharks behind your back, it was because there was a tiger in front of you. It was also the ferocious tiger that had already bitten the heart of the empire once.

    ¡°Your Excellency The Admiral, did you call me?¡±

    While he was troubled by the unknown letter, Jacques came in. Jacques Beausson, the first mate, had worked under Eug¨¨ne for a long time and was a superior expert in handling ships. Eug¨¨ne raised his head and looked at his right-hand man, Jacques.

    ¡°Are there any disruptions with supply distribution?¡±

    ¡°No, Your Excellency. Maybe it¡¯s because the supply pipe has changed, it¡¯s faster than ever. The supply is expected to be completed by the end of tonight. The only problem is the repair of the ship, and even if the master craftsmen work on it day and night, it would still take about a week.¡±

    ¡°A week?¡±

    ¡°Yes. The mast I was worried about could be done in two or three days, but it seems that there is a problem with the direction of the naval ram. It seems that the bow needs to be rearranged, but it would take ten days to do that, and even if you shorten the period, it still needs a week.¡±

    Jacques was unexpectedly caught up because it was originally a port of call for simple repairs and supplies, and he did not seem to like the enemy in an unexpected situation.  This was because Jacques did not know how important their patrol mission was at present, which is assuming a quasi-war.

    But unexpectedly, Eug¨¨ne did not reveal an unpleasant light. He rose from his seat, put on his coat over the red uniform, and spoke calmly.

    ¡°Right on time.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, I¡¯ll still have to step out of the ship for a while. The Fleet Admiral is summoning me. I have been ordered to return to the capital.¡±

    Jacques looked quite startled at the sudden report.

    ¡°You mean the Marquis La Baille? Is there a problem?¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know.¡±

    Are you really that indifferent, or are you pretending to be indifferent? Jacques shook his head as he looked at Eug¨¨ne, who had an indecipherable expression on his face. Why is the Fleet Admiral calling the Admiral? Jacques thought of various reasons, but just like Eug¨¨ne, he could not understand what was going on.

    ¡°Then when will you be back?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know either. It¡¯s not going to be too long, especially under these circumstances.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll have the orderly pack the bags.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯ve already ordered for that to be done. Take good care of your subordinates while I¡¯m away. For the time being, the patrol mission will be assigned to Vice Admiral Mathieu, so all you need to do is focus on the repairs. If there is an urgent call, please contact me via the Marquis La Baille. I¡¯ll be staying there while I¡¯m in the capital.¡±

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    Jacques answered confidently. After a moment¡¯s thought, Eug¨¨ne began to roll up the Alwitz nautical chart and wrapped it in oil paper. He could not leave the nautical chart, which could be said to be the greatest loot from the Battle of La Tyllen, in his cabin. To the people of the land, it would be just an unknown code fluttering about that could not be understood even if it was a nautical chart, but to a sailor who risked his life on the sea route, it was an irreplaceable and precious treasure.

    ¡°Your Excellency The Admiral, I¡­¡±

    Jacques watching the scene, suddenly opened his mouth. Eug¨¨ne raised his head at his call.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°With all due respect, why don¡¯t you spend some meaningful time with your wife while you¡¯re on your way to the capital?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne stopped the hand that rolled the chart and looked at Jacques. The giant man was only 1 Eron short of 7 Paeta and did not give in to Eug¨¨ne¡¯s absurd gaze as he continued to speak with resolute.

    ¡°It is a great honor to serve you, a hero, but if there is more glory than that, it is not to merely treat you as an admiral, but to truly serve you as the admiral. So please try, Your Excellency. It is the hope of the entirety of the 4th Fleet.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne smiled vainly. Now he understood what he was talking about. So, what Jacques was trying to say, was to have a child quickly so that he could be promoted from vice admiral to admiral.

    Although Eug¨¨ne was known externally as an admiral and was actually performing his duties as an admiral, on paper, he was not yet an admiral but a vice admiral. It had already been three years since his predecessor, Admiral Etoile, was killed and he became the admiral of the 4th Fleet through a temporary succession.

    In the meantime, he had made such remarkable achievements that no one could match up to and earned a reputation that there was no one who didn¡¯t know his name at sea, but even with such achievements, he could not become an admiral. It was not because of his incompetence, but because of his lack of qualifications.

    According to the ¡®Lex Ardica¡¯, the most supreme set of written laws on the continent, unmarried nobles were not allowed to go to war, and childless nobles were not allowed to ascend to the rank of commander. In Eug¨¨ne¡¯s case, it was the latter,  as he could not yet be formally appointed as an admiral, the position of a fleet commander, because he had no children.

    ¡°How could such a thing work out as I wish? You overestimate me.¡±

    You must first look up at the sky to see a star. It was not as easy as it sounds for a man who had been wandering the sea for years like Eug¨¨ne to see a child from his wife who lives on the land. Besides, his younger wife was a typical aristocratic woman. Unlike the gentlemen from the salon* that she was accustomed to seeing, she was afraid of him, who was tanned and full of scars, so it was not easy to even have a friendly conversation between the couple.

    *From the 16-19th centuries, a salon used to be a gathering of people held by an inspiring host to amuse one another and increase their knowledge through conversation.

    ¡°You can do it if you like. Doesn¡¯t your ¡±naval firing boast such precision that even the enemies recognize it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ A woman is not something you can control like a ship, Jacques. Rather, they¡¯re more like the unpredictable sea. Now that I have listened to your advice, I can see why you¡¯re still single.¡±

    After hearing Eug¨¨ne¡¯s criticism, Jacques flinched. It seemed like the words pierced right through him.

    If my wife had heard this conversation, she would have passed out already.

    Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly and pressed his hat on deeply. The wife was a young and lovely woman, but Eug¨¨ne nevertheless felt uncomfortable with her. Like his wife who feared him because he was too big and rough, Eug¨¨ne was afraid of her because she was too small and weak.

    She was like a little bird or a doll. It felt like she would break if touched incorrectly, and she was so fragile that she would break if touched hastily. To a man who had spent half his life with seamen after boarding a ship at 16, she felt like an overly delicate glass artifact.

    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense and just stick to your mission. I¡¯ll take a report when I come back, so make sure to fill out the paperwork. Do you understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡±

    Jacques politely saluted and opened the door. Eug¨¨ne gave Jacques a pat on the shoulder as a courtesy, left the cabin, and stepped out onto the deck. As soon as he got on the deck, a sour smell pierced his nostrils. It was a smell specific to the port, mixed with the stench of garbage in the salty sea breeze.

    It was not only the nose that was in pain. His ears were distressed as well. The bustling pier, where warships and merchant ships lined up without boundaries, was as noisy as the bottom of hell, and the noise was so loud that even Eug¨¨ne, despite being accustomed to the battlefield where shells exploded and the scream echoed from all directions, could not easily adapt.

    Some people called the port a place that was something like a mother who welcomed her returning son. As the saying goes that while the port is a mother, she was not a benevolent mother who welcomed her returned prodigal son into her arms, but a mother who would curse, scratch, and slap his back with a broom. Eug¨¨ne believed that and did not doubt it in the slightest.

    T/N: The names and terms are mostly French, as hinted by the diacritic over Eug¨¨ne¡¯s name so it¡¯s not pronounced as ¡°Yoo-Jean¡±, but rather ¡°Yoo-gen¡±. Next is that I¡¯ll be using interchangeable nouns a lot, so please don¡¯t mind. Words like noble, nobleman, aristocrat, nobility, etc will be used interchangeably since they mean the same thing anyway, it¡¯s mainly to avoid repetition which contributes to poor readability. Think of it as me exploring my freedom as a fan translator haha Anyways, this is a slowburn so if you really want the romance then I suggest you read this novel once Volume 2 starts. Thank you!

 CH 2

    When Eug¨¨ne arrived in the capital, the first place he visited was not the Ministry of Navy located inside the Imbert Palace, but the residence of Marquis of La Baille. He believed that there must be a reason as to why the personal seal of the Marquis of La Baille was stamped on the summons, not the seal of the Ministry of Navy. Even in broad daylight, such a guess came to confirm itself as the Marquis of La Baille was waiting for him in his study.

    Eug¨¨ne entered the study under the guidance of the butler, who had come to specially greet him and felt that the air in the room was heavy, in turn of which he tried to collect himself. It was rare for someone like Marquis of La Baille, being from a great aristocratic family, to be very faithful to official duties. It was already unusual in itself that the Marquis was waiting for him, putting off all the other tasks.

    ¡°Your Excellency, have you been at peace?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne took off his hat and paid his greetings. If it had been an official meeting, it would¡¯ve been a military rite, but Eug¨¨ne judged that it was not an official duty, considering that he welcomed him in plain clothes, not a military uniform. And even if it wasn¡¯t for official duty, it was still rather reasonable to show an excessive example to the Marquis as he was the elder in the family.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no reason for anything special to happen when you¡¯re sitting in the capital looking at the documents. Have a seat, Baron Amieux. I have something to say.¡±

    The Marquis of La Baille recommended a chair. Eug¨¨ne sat down in a chair as told. The sunken face of the Marquis over the mahogany table, which was old but well-done and beautifully colored, could be seen. What do you plan on saying? Eug¨¨ne thought about it all the way to the capital, but had nothing to point out, and faced the Marquis¡¯ gaze with a calm look.

    ¡°Baron Amieux.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Excellency.¡±

    ¡°I called you because I thought I should hand over this summons myself. I didn¡¯t want an honorable noble like you to be humiliated in front of a local judge.¡±

    The Marquis threw an ominous hint in a dark tone and held out a sealed envelope. Summons? Eug¨¨ne accepted the envelope the Marquis offered with a puzzled expression.

    The envelope the Marquis held out was dazzling even on the outside. The envelope was made of the finest veludo* fabric, which could be seen red or green depending on the angle, and was brilliantly embroidered with golden vines that curled up the edges. The crest printed on the red envelope was in the shape of a three-headed eagle clutching a snake, which Eug¨¨ne easily recognized the identity of.

    *Velvet

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s complexion darkened heavily. It was clear that something bigger than expected had happened. The three-headed eagle was the crest of the Ardi imperial family, and the three-headed eagle clutching the snake could only be used by His Majesty the Emperor. So the meaning of the envelope was clear. However, even though he knew it, Eug¨¨ne could not understand why this had happened to him.

    What exactly is it for it to be the Emperor¡¯s Command? Not anyone else, but only I have specifically received the Emperor¡¯s Command?

    It was certainly unexpected. He had never imagined something like this, let alone expect it. Eug¨¨ne was genuinely perplexed.

    His name was well known at sea and in some port cities in the West, where sea and naval activity were directly linked to livelihoods. To be fair, however, his fame was limited to the western part of the empire, and it was also a minor thing that no one recognized after crossing the central border.

    Traditionally, the army was strong in Estina, the Western Empire, bordering the great enemy of the Eastern Empire, Shaak, to the east of the inland. It is the situation of the Estina Empire that the military usually thinks of the army, and no matter how great the record of the navy was, it was often regarded as incomparable to that of the army.

    On top of everything else, at the time when Eug¨¨ne was at the height of his peak in the Baleum Sea, the Western Empire was fighting a war with the Eastern Empire, with the fate of the country at stake. So the situation became even worse.

    In other words, when the Emperor was fighting a war over the continent¡¯s best granary area called the Landrienne Plains, defeating the scoundrels of the Federation of Five Nations was no more than defeating rogue pirates ¨C is what the perception of most of the imperialists for the coastal regions was like ¨C as it was not as big of a deal at a time of such a war.

    Eug¨¨ne was well aware of that fact, so the current situation was surprising. To be honest, he couldn¡¯t believe the fact that the Emperor knew of his existence.

    Lbkfnfg, ktfatfg tf kjr regqglrfv bg cba, atf gfjilas kjr gfjilas, jcv tf ralii tfiv jc fcnfibqf mbcajlclcu atf Swqfgbg¡¯r Jbwwjcv lc tlr tjcv. Seu¨¨cf ybggbkfv j qjqfg xclof ogbw atf Zjgdelr, gfwbnfv atf rfji, jcv yfujc ab gfjv atf qjqfgr lcrlvf.

    Llr mbcoerfv jcv rajgaifv wlcv ugjvejiis reyrlvfv jr tf gfjv atf kbgvr bc atf qjqfgr. Ycmf wbgf ab ecvfgrajcv atf mbcafca, bcmf wbgf ab bgujclhf tlr atbeutar. Coafg gfjvlcu atf qjqfgr lc j wfalmeiber wjccfg, tf ribkis gjlrfv tlr tfjv jcv ibbxfv ja atf Zjgdelr.

    ¡°It¡¯s a summons.¡±

    He said in a low voice. The Marquis let out a flat sigh and nodded in agreement.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. A summons.¡±

    ¡°Is this a summons for the trial with the Emperor¡¯s presence that His Majesty will personally oversee?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what it says.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I didn¡¯t think it would be anything good, but this is beyond my imagination.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly. As he had guessed, this was not something for official duty. The Marquis had good reason to call him privately. The Marquis called him to the capital because Eug¨¨ne had to appear in a divorce courtroom held by the Emperor himself. In addition, the fact that the Emperor specifically pointed out that Eug¨¨ne should attend was not because the Emperor knew him, but because he knew his wife.

    His wife had asked His Majesty for a divorce trial.

    Well, that¡¯s as surprising as it is.

    Eug¨¨ne muttered in his mind. It¡¯s a divorce trial. It was a surprise in a different sense than before. My wife filed for a divorce? Eug¨¨ne had never thought there would be such a wild side to her.

    He always thought of her as a timid and quiet woman. She was perfectly aristocratic, in both good and bad ways, and was a woman who faithfully complied with common sense and adhered to the discipline of the aristocratic society. Then why did she do such an absurd thing?

    Marriage was sacred. It was sacred as long as God blesses it and is guaranteed by the Great Code of Lex Ardica, although people often defiled its meaning. It was the law of the current empire that you can cheat, but cannot divorce. It wasn¡¯t impossible, but the risk was so great that no one dared to do it.

    According to the Great Code, in the case of ordinary citizens, anyone seeking a divorce must obtain the endorsements of two priests, two judges, and two relatives to support the decision. Not only that, the petitioner must pay the hefty trial costs to hold a divorce court, and there must be solid evidence as to why the marriage can no longer be maintained.

    What was important here was the so-called ¡®reason for blame¡¯, and if there was no reason attributable to the divorce, the request for a divorce trial itself cannot be made, and if the law court does not acknowledge the reason, a hefty fine must be paid to the state for disturbing the country¡¯s law.

    However, the divorce trial did not end with that. Even if a trial is held and luckily a judgment is made and the divorce is established, the problem still remains. In the divorce trial, the losing party would be charged with responsibility for leading to the divorce and be sentenced to a hefty fine. The winning party of the trial also had to pay a hefty fee to go through the paperwork to get out of the marriage.

    If you could find the word closest to the description of ¡®hefty¡¯ that appears four times in the above description, it would be ¡®astronomical¡¯. The total cost of the trial was so horrendous that any refusal would make sense once the divorce trial was over.

    That¡¯s why people didn¡¯t think about divorce. The wealthier the rich, the worse the phenomenon became, to the point that adultery was more common than divorce in aristocratic societies.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I just want to ask you one thing. What on earth was her reason to blame me?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked the Marquis. The reason he dared to ask the Marquis was that the Marquis of La Baille was his uncle-in-law. That was the reason why the Marquis felt a sense of responsibility for this incident and delivered the matter directly.

    Eug¨¨ne and his wife, Louise, met through the Marquis of La Baille, and it was none other than the Marquis of La Baille who was a witness at their wedding.

    ¡°There was no reason for her to blame you, Baron Amieux. Rather, she filed for divorce on her own grounds.¡±

    ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. Did she just say that she accused herself?¡±

    ¡°Yes, she confessed herself that she had committed adultery.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne felt like he was listening to a bad joke. He couldn¡¯t understand it, and it was absurd. What do you mean by adultery? Is that really the only reason?

    That couldn¡¯t be it. Eug¨¨ne knew too well that that could not be the reason, so he was doubtful of the reason. His wife was no fool. For the nobles, adultery was as natural as the dessert that followed a meal, and it was a kind of custom and secret routine. A private routine that everyone committed, but was ostensibly hushed and unexposed.

    From ear to ear, mouth to mouth. Although it circulated as secret gossip, it never came up to the surface. Just as it is polite not to talk about bowel movements at a meal, it was the rule of the nobility to know about other people¡¯s sleeping life but not to make an issue about it.

    Eug¨¨ne knew immediately after marrying her that his wife was having an affair. The reason behind not mentioning it even though he knew was because it was a common practice, and also because he was not particularly innocent.

    He was a sailor who, once out to sea, could not return to the capital for two or three years. Unless he was a saint with a piece of wood below his waist, it was impossible to keep his chastity, and he was not so ferocious enough to unilaterally force his wife to do something that she would not want to do, even if she was unable to have a newlywed life at a beautiful age.

    Since it was a marriage based on necessity, his marital relationship, which had never exceeded a certain level, did not deviate significantly from the general level of other aristocratic couples who were indifferent to each other but kept the minimum courtesy.

    ¡°That¡¯s what she said. I¡¯m ashamed to say this myself, but her love affair has spread throughout the capital. It is said that the rumor spread not only within the Imbert Palace but also among the general public. There is no greater disgrace than that.¡±

    The Marquis confessed in pain. What he was ashamed of was not the fact that his niece had committed adultery, but that her adultery had become widespread. It meant that his niece had not behaved properly, and that she was in direct violation of the unwritten rules of the society, which embarrassed the public by causing a disturbance, and in turn violating the rules of the aristocratic society, which was ¡®to do something but act as if nothing had happened¡¯.

    The Marquis came from a great aristocratic family and valued honor more than anyone else, so he had no choice but to be ashamed.

    However, Eug¨¨ne noticed something different, in the words of the Marquis, instead of the pain. The fact that his wife¡¯s infidelity had gained attention from everyone. It was this fact that drew Eug¨¨ne¡¯s attention.

    To be honest, his wife wasn¡¯t beautiful enough to be talked about. Although she was quite pretty, it was not enough to be considered a beauty. Although one of her aunts became the wife of Marquis of La Baille, the family was of humble status, so the rest were only low-ranking nobles.

    The circumstances were the same for his family. In the case of Eug¨¨ne, the only thing he inherited from his ancestors was a title, and he didn¡¯t even own a territory. In other words, the successor of a nobleman who received the title and enlisted in the military as a general soldier, rather than an officer. It was also the navy instead of the army, where success was traditionally guaranteed.

    The wife would not have been able to enter the Imbert Palace without the patronage of her aunt, Marquise of La Baille. What his wife had done became a matter of public interest. This meant that what the wife did was one of two situations. Either the wife was blinded by passion and had completely lost her mind, or the wife¡¯s lover was a man of great nobility.

    ¡°She must¡¯ve been in trouble. Her Highness The Grand Duchess must not have stayed silent about this. Were there any problems with the location?¡±

    After gathering his thoughts, Eug¨¨ne asked, swallowing a low groan. The Marquis was terribly surprised to hear what Eug¨¨ne had said. This is because he didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be able to guess the true identity of the other adulterer after hearing only that much of the story.

    ¡°How did you know? Have you heard the rumors too?¡±

    ¡°No, I guessed after seeing the summons. Divorce trials are indeed held in special courts, but it is rare for His Majesty to appear as a judge in person. I wondered if the Emperor¡¯s kin had something to do with it.¡±

    When asked by the Marquis, Eug¨¨ne replied. Hearing his answer, the Marquis was greatly in awe, but in hindsight, the reasoning itself was not that complicated. The relatively simple reasoning was largely attributed to the small number of the Emperor¡¯s kins due to the incident that occurred in the third year.

    The special court held in the presence of the Emperor was rarely open unless it was a matter related to the imperial family, and there was only one person who was likely to have anything to do with this incident among the Emperor¡¯s kins and is in a position to actually influence the Emperor¡¯s actions.

    Prince Merrick, Duke of Fernand.

    The son of Grand Duchess Alienor, the only surviving member of the imperial family, was the current Emperor¡¯s cousin, and sixth in line of succession to the throne, as well as the only adult among the heirs. To put it bluntly, there was no other person who could be his wife¡¯s lover.

    Furthermore, Prince Merrick was such a womanizer that even he, who has been impassive about capital¡¯s affairs, heard the rumors. This was usually the case with high-ranking and wealthy nobles, but in the case of Prince Merrick, the behavior was even worse thanks to the strong protection of his mother, Grand Duchess Alienor.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what she was originally supposed to do? He is her only son, and was born late, so she greatly cherishes him.¡±

    The Marquis¡¯ face turned bitter. That¡¯s what he said, but it wouldn¡¯t be a threat at all. Grand Duchess Alienor was inherently arrogant and wielded even greater influence as she became the only surviving imperial adult after three years of catastrophe.

    And Prince Merrick was her only child. She was notorious for exceptional boasting about her extraordinary child, and it was obvious how she would behave in this case.

    ¡°Now that the word is out, let me tell you something.¡±

    The Marquis of La Baille spoke up reluctantly after being silent for a moment. Feeling uncomfortable even when bringing it up seems like a bad tale is about to come out.

    ¡°Yes, please go ahead.¡±

    ¡°Yesterday, Her Highness The Grand Princess personally visited this place. As you may have guessed, she was here to give her opinion on this case. ¡­She said that she didn¡¯t want this to go on too long. It¡¯s uncomfortable to hear Prince Merrick¡¯s name going up and down in the public¡¯s mouth.¡±

    It was said that there was no such thing as a trade for a child, but that is exactly what the princess was like. Upon hearing the words of the Marquis, Eug¨¨ne smiled wryly. There was no way for him to say that the noble princess left with a direct warning as if she was capable of everything and anything. If you want to fix it, you have no other choice but to fix it.

    ¡°I understand. I don¡¯t want this to spread too much either. We will cooperate to ensure that the trial ends as soon as possible.¡±

    He was nothing but a navy admiral leading a fleet at best. Even as a vice admiral, not an official admiral, it was impossible to fight against one of the most powerful people in the empire.

    If he had loved his wife to death, things would have been different, but since it was a marriage that was so lifeless, it was simply amazing that she had caused such a serious accident, and he was neither angry nor resentful. Being a cuckold externally was not a big deal for him as he had little interest in fame in the capital.

 CH 3

    The worry was a more fundamental part. Now that things have become like this, he might not be able to remain in the military, and that was the problem. According to the rule of the Great Code, which does not allow unmarried aristocrats to serve in the military, it meant that he could not remain in the military after divorce. It would be nice if he doesn¡¯t have to face the disgraceful discharge, let alone the promotion he was expecting.

    ¡°I only have a request.¡±

    However, just because he was struck by lightning from the dry sky, that doesn¡¯t mean he could merely sit down and resent the sky. Eug¨¨ne had realized at the young age of five that he had to pioneer his future, so he opened his mouth with a face that showed no signs of discomposure.

    ¡°What is it? Tell me.¡±

    ¡°As you may know, I don¡¯t have any relatives to stand as witnesses for the trial. My family¡¯s fortune was unlucky, and all the blood relatives I could rely on died early, so I¡¯m in a position of an orphan. Since I found out about this matter so suddenly, I don¡¯t even have the time to ask my distant relatives, so what am I supposed to do? With all due respect, I want Your Excellency to be my witness. It may be difficult, but I request you.¡±

    ¡°You think I don¡¯t know about your circumstances? Don¡¯t worry. Being a witness on your side in this trial was originally what I wanted to ask myself.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Your Excellency.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne bowed his head with profundity. Thank goodness. As expected, The Marquis seemed to take more than a certain percentage of responsibility for this. After all, the Marquis was a person who showed great interest in Eug¨¨ne to such an extent that he chose his niece and married her to him by hand. In the meantime, considering his meritorious service, he knew he won¡¯t lose.

    ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Do I deserve to be thanked by you? I¡¯m plainly sorry to have caused you so much trouble with my vexatious niece.¡±

    ¡°I know very well it wasn¡¯t what anyone wanted. It just so happened that way. Please don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne replied with a soft tone to the Marquis¡¯ apology. His calmness was deep and unwavering. His complexion, without even the wrath of a husband, who had his reputation tarnished because of his wife¡¯s promiscuous conduct, seemed composed at first glance.

    ¡°Then I shall be taking my leave.¡±

    He picked up his hat and stood up. After seeing him rise, the Marquis stood up himself and followed him. Eug¨¨ne put on his hat and bowed once more.

    ¡°Where are you going? It¡¯s okay to stay at my house as usual.¡±

    ¡°No, whilst I¡¯m grateful to you for being a witness, I don¡¯t want to add to the nonsense going around. Fortunately, there are many good inns in the capital, so I¡¯m thinking of going there. When a place to stay is decided, I¡¯ll have an errand boy contact you.¡±

    Though he was speaking calmly, there didn¡¯t seem to be any room to change his mind. There was a point in what he said, so the Marquis simply nodded and begrudgingly let him go. Eug¨¨ne turned around and left the study. After he left, the Marquis took his seat again and rubbed his throbbing temple with his thumb as he let out a deep sigh.

    Indeed, he had lost the face to see Baron Amieux. What kind of disgrace was this just because one niece had made a blunder? What an ingrate. She married a young man who had a title and a promising future despite being the third daughter of a local baron, but this is how she paid her gratitude, no matter how unfulfilling the married life was.

    Goodness, my head. Stupid fellow, I had my hands on such a blessing.

    The Marquis, saddened by the foolish choice of his niece, clicked his tongue low in his mind.

    In the Marquis¡¯ eyes, the niece was simply making a fool out of herself. No. It was as if she was digging her own grave, going beyond the foolery.

    Ignorant people did not hesitate to regard the Duke of Fernand as the best bachelor in the empire. Sleek appearance and sophisticated speaking skills. He was a noble prince who seemed to have just been drawn out of the picture with proper manners and no errors. In addition, he had a strong background as the son of Grand Duchess Alienor, the leader of the central nobility, and was even a powerful heir to the throne.

    Lf wjs yf rffc jr atf wbra jaagjmalnf qgfs obg ijvlfr ktb vgfjwa bo glrlcu lc rajaer. Snfc rbwf veii-klaafv jglrabmgjar kfgf lcoijafv klat atf tbqf atja atfs wluta yfmbwf atf Swqfgbg¡¯r ojatfg-lc-ijk lc atf oeaegf, jcv kbeiv yglcu atflg vjeutafgr ab tlw. Pa kjr cba lcmbwqgftfcrlyif atja atf clfmf, ktb kjr ralii sbecu, obguba tfg qiluta jcv kjr wlrifv ys tlw.

    But the Marquis knew. What they see through the Duke of Fernand was all but a vain dream. The Duke of Fernand is a young and charming heir to the throne, but his future was at stake. This is because Ebroin V, the current Emperor, and a soldier, was as smart as an eagle and as cold-blooded as a viper, and would not leave such a threatening heir to the throne as it is.

    Ebroin V already had five children, but even the oldest of them, Prince Sigeber, was currently seven years old. On the other hand, the Duke of Fernand was at the age of twenty-seven.

    Even if the Emperor was still young, as long as he remains a human, he didn¡¯t know the future. The Emperor ascended to the throne at the age of only ten after the sudden death of Emperor Armand IV, so he would not overlook this important fact.

    That day won¡¯t be too far away. I can tell just by looking at this. His Majesty has already begun to check up on the Duke.

    The experienced Marquis was more than capable of guessing the inside story of this incident. Unable to hold back the rising sigh, he let it out. Failure to do so could endanger not only the niece but also him.

    The current situation was as close as walking on thin ice. The scandal broke out as soon as the Emperor returned to the capital after achieving victory in the Landrienne Revolution. The Marquis did not consider this ingenious time difference to be a mere coincidence.

    The Emperor was a man of terrifyingly strong action. It was the Emperor who ascended to the throne as a ten-year-old puppet and became the true owner of the empire in twelve years. The Marquis had no doubts that the Emperor had planned this before the war was even over. His Majesty will surely remain.

    You can¡¯t see even an inch ahead, can you? Fool. I just wanted to make a connection with Baron Amieux for good.

    The Marquis, expecting the gloomy future of his niece, clicked his tongue and shook his head. The child¡¯s narrow view ruined his own life.

    The Marquis had lost one child early and was not only raising his wife¡¯s niece as his own daughter but was also envisioning her husband, Eug¨¨ne, as his successor. To the Marquis, Eug¨¨ne was such an attractive talent, and despite what was happening, he still didn¡¯t want to let go of him.

    Even though Eug¨¨ne was talented, he was not greedy, so the work was fair. He also had a manly charm, and he had a strong reputation among his subordinates and colleagues. But what the Marquis liked more than anything was the fact that Eug¨¨ne had no other background.

    Although he was of noble origin, he was a complete newcomer who did not belong to any faction. This meant that the Marquis could bring him under his full control, making Eug¨¨ne the perfect heir to the childless Marquis.

    The Marquis¡¯ initiating the marriage of his favorite niece to him was just the cornerstone of his grandiose plan. However, the stone that was placed was caught up in the storm and flew away, so the Marquis had no choice but to be dumbstruck.

    ***

    Eug¨¨ne Lothair de Chastan.

    The manager of Argenson Inn, the capital¡¯s number one inn, glanced at the trajectory of the powerful cursive writing that embroidered the lodging book. After the victory of the Landrienne Revolution, the man wearing a rare red uniform, rather than the blue uniform overflowing the capital, caught the eye once more, even his identity.

    Chastan? Where have I heard it? It¡¯s a name that seems to come to mind, but it certainly didn¡¯t come to mind. The manager tilted his head for a moment at the memories that seemed to float and could not be captured, then shook his head and suppressed the useless curiosity.

    What¡¯s the point of remembering? How could a nobleman stay at an inn? Definitely a low-ranking noble, at best.

    Although it was rare, it was not an impossible case, so the manager ignored the fact indifferently. He didn¡¯t intend to treat him as someone special just because he knew that the man was a noble. The other person was in a situation where he had to stay at the inn even after coming up to the capital.

    As far as he knows, there is only one case where he would have to stay at an inn as a nobleman. When there are no townhouses in the capital, no relatives to rely on, and no financial resources to rent another noble¡¯s mansion.

    In other words, what everyone mainly referred to as the fallen nobility.

    In the eyes of the manager, the man in front of him, wearing a Navy uniform rather than an Army under an old overcoat, didn¡¯t look any different. The manager¡¯s speculation was also supported by the faint traces of western dialect in his accent. He was an aristocrat and didn¡¯t know how to use the proper court language. Wasn¡¯t that good enough for a conclusion?

    ¡°Go up to the third floor and it is the third room on the left. There is no set meal time, but dinner is ready from 4:00 to 6:00, so the restaurant would not operate during those hours.¡±

    The manager slid the shiny silver key over the counter as he explained in a business-like manner. The fallen noble put the key in his pocket and asked the manager.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to request for an errand boy, how do I pay?¡±

    ¡°Our guests can order the errand boys for free. What do you need one for?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to send a message.¡±

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you can just tell me here. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll request you. Go to the residence of the Marquis of La Baille, and tell him that Chastan sent you, and tell him the number of the room I¡¯m staying in. If you need to contact me, send me a message here.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood.¡±

    The manager laughed at the man inwardly but answered politely without any display. The person was following the behavior of a typical fallen noble. The sloppy bluff that wants to show off as an influential noble who somehow wants to appeal to the great nobility.

    Even so, if the other party doesn¡¯t contact you, you¡¯ll be caught, so he didn¡¯t know why they did that. Perhaps the sense of entitlement to stay in an inn that is not appropriate for their status made them do that, but in reality, such an act was merely a form of self-inflicted embarrassment.

    A manager of a pragmatic nature who was born and raised as a merchant¡¯s son could not understand why the nobles acted in such pathetic ways.

    ¡°Oh, and also, in case someone comes to visit me, then show them to my room right away.¡±

    The fallen noble who was about to turn around stopped for a moment and spoke again. Yes, of course, I will. The manager nodded earnestly and sneered.

    However, no matter what he thought inside, his service face, which had been cultivated for a long time, was not disturbed in the slightest. He looked as if he believed every word of what the fallen nobleman was saying.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    It was then. The man who was waiting for his turn after the fallen noble suddenly spoke to him.

    ¡°-Excuse me, did you say Chastan?¡±

    The nobleman, who was just about to leave the front desk, turned his head when he heard the call. A man dressed in a lavish purple velvet coat and a yellow silk vest, typical of a wealthy merchant, approached Eug¨¨ne with a delighted face. Eug¨¨ne tilted his head at the familiarity of the man he had seen for the first time in his life. He didn¡¯t know who the man was.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Do you know me?¡±

    ¡°What a pleasure to see you! You really are Admiral Chastan. I wouldn¡¯t have so sure if I had only seen the back. Don¡¯t you know me? I¡¯m Victor Adelphe. Victor of the Adelphe Chamber! Did you not save our upper part from being attacked by pirates in Kelkodas two years ago?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne narrowed his brows and looked at him without a word. Victor was so delighted, as if he had met his deceased father again, and asked with a slight disappointment that Eug¨¨ne did not recognize him quickly.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember me? Your Excellency The Admiral?¡±

    ¡°Did you say Kelkodas two years ago?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Your Excellency.¡±

    ¡°Then, perhaps, the ship that was towed by a warship as it was unable to sail on its own¡­¡±

    ¡°Wahahaha. So you do remember me. Of course, such an impressive event cannot be easily forgotten. Thank you for taking our ship safely to the port. I have always wanted to visit and pay my gratitude to you for saving my life, but I couldn¡¯t make time for it because I was just so busy. Come to think of it, it¡¯s a great fate to meet you like this. I¡¯ll buy you dinner. Let¡¯s go.¡±

    The man laughed loudly and chattered. It was an exaggerated act, but it didn¡¯t feel particularly negative because there wasn¡¯t any sort of pretense under his smile.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s no need for that. I only did my duty as a soldier.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t do. Are you doing this to punish me for being ignorant of my lifesaver thus far? All right, all right. Please don¡¯t hesitate and come with me. I will guide you to the best restaurant in the capital.¡±

    The lively man pressed Eug¨¨ne in a friendly manner. After hesitating for a while, Eug¨¨ne could not resist the man¡¯s sincere invitation again and left the inn with him. Although he seemed unwilling, he could not shake off the man¡¯s request, which showed only pure goodwill.

    The manager watched the series of scenes as it were, and became incredibly embarrassed. Wait, what do you mean by admiral? He¡¯s an admiral? The manager was genuinely surprised to find out that the man who had only seemed like a fallen noble, was unexpectedly an influential figure. Although it was said that the Navy is on a lower level when compared to the Army, it was not to the extent that even high-ranking officers were ignored. An admiral who leads a fleet is at the level of a general, and in order to reach that position, not only abilities but also connections were necessary. Naturally, for a soldier to be of such a high rank, there was no way that his family wasn¡¯t influential.

    Come to think of it, His Excellency The Marquis of La Baille is The Fleet Admiral of the Navy.

    Realizing that Eug¨¨ne was a completely different person from his preconceived notions, the manager quickly rang the bell and called for an errand boy. It would have been a big mess if he had not. He thought it was no big deal, so he tried to run the errand slowly, but now that he sees it, he felt like he was going to be punished if he did something wrong. This was a message from the Admiral of the Navy to the Fleet Admiral of the Navy. It would be very difficult if it¡¯s delivered late and is misunderstood as an act of rebellion.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Manager?¡±

    A quick-footed errand boy who was working in the kitchen quickly ran to the front desk. The manager wrote the name and number of the inn on an office paper, sealed it in an envelope, and held it out to the errand boy.

    ¡°Take this to the residence of the Marquis of La Baille, and tell him that Admiral Chastan told you to deliver it. This is an important letter, so it must be delivered quickly.¡±

    ¡°Yes, understood!¡±

    The youngster answered gallantly and ran out into the street. The manager looked at the back of the boy running out as he took a handkerchief from his inner pocket, and wiped his sweaty forehead.

 CH 4

    The man who introduced himself as Victor Adelphe guided him to a modest black carriage that did not match his splendid entrance. Eug¨¨ne got into the carriage under his guidance.

    As soon as the door of the carriage closed, it started moving without a signal. Perhaps it was something was planned in advance, as the movement and tracks perfectly meshed like clockwork. That wasn¡¯t the only unusual thing Victor did. As the carriage departed, he lowered the window coverings on all four sides and turned the carriage into a secret compartment. Even so, it was around the end of the day, so the inside of the carriage quickly became dark.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Vice Admiral Chastan.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne nodded in response to the man¡¯s greeting.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, too. I¡¯m Eug¨¨ne Lothair de Chastan. If you don¡¯t mind, may I ask for your real name?¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne asked a question as if he were curious, the man smiled and answered meekly.

    ¡°My name really is Victor. Victor Adelphe. It¡¯s also true that I¡¯m the owner of the Adelphe Chamber.¡±

    The superficial familiarity he had just seen was hard to find in him now. There was only refined politeness that did not deviate from the courtesy of dealing with a person you meet for the first time.

    Eug¨¨ne looked at the man¡¯s face silently. He was quite amazing. The same face, the same clothes, but the expression alone made the person look different. It¡¯s not as if the atmosphere changed, as it¡¯s often said, but as if he were another person all this time.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t get in touch with you in advance, but you¡¯re surprisingly unperturbed. Not to mention how you improvised when I spoke to you on the spot, perhaps you knew that there would be a call?¡±

    The man asked a question in a curious manner. Eug¨¨ne nodded.

    ¡°It was merely a presumption.¡±

    ¡°Then can you deduce whose calling it is?¡±

    ¡°Her Highness The Grand Duchess¡¯ intentions have already been relayed to me by His Excellency The Marquis. In that case, there¡¯s only one other person left for me to see.¡±

    His demeanor, as calm as stagnant water, was not made up. From the moment he heard the circumstances of his divorce trial, he had guessed that there would be a call like this. That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t stay at the Marquis¡¯ residence and left.

    ¡°Then there must be a lot that you¡¯re curious about, but it doesn¡¯t seem like you have any questions.¡±

    ¡°If there¡¯s anything I need to know, I will surely ask him first. I don¡¯t mean to tire you both with useless questions.¡±

    The question the man posed seemed simple at first glance, but his intention was not. It¡¯s because rather than answers, what he wants is to observe his reactions. However, Eug¨¨ne did not wish to waste his energy on the already complicated act of reading the other person. After all, the person who has the decision-making power is ¡®him¡¯ whom they will meet later, and if the matter is unable to reach a conclusion with him, there was no point in saying anything here.

    ¡°Sure enough. You¡¯re not wrong.¡±

    The man laughed quietly. It was joined with an impressive and meaningful smile. Eug¨¨ne carefully observed the man and muttered the name he had given.

    ¡®Victor Adelphe¡¯. It was a name he had never heard of before. He introduced himself as a merchant, but if he was just a merchant, the two of them would not have met at that place. At first, he thought the man was just a mere puppet, but maybe he held a position higher than that.

    ¡°I would like to give you two caveats to apologize for the discourtesy I had previously committed. First, you must never disclose what you experienced today. It is not allowed to keep a personal record of it, let alone divulge it to outsiders. Second, please make a decision with prudence. His will is as that of the empire.¡±

    Seu¨¨cf tfjgv tlr kbgvr jcv kjr revvfcis bc atf del nlnf. Pa kjr yfmjerf tf gfjilhfv atja atf wjc kjr vblcu tlw j mbcrlvfgjyif ojnbg. Ca olgra uijcmf, la rffwfv ab yf j rlwqif kjgclcu, yea tlr kbgvr mbcajlcfv tlcar atja Seu¨¨cf mbeiv erf erfoeiis.

    Pa kjr lcvffv j qglmfifrr ojnbg ab ufa lcobgwjalbc atja mbeiv qbrrlyis rjnf tlr ilof lc remt j mbwqifaf rajaf bo lucbgjcmf jr tf kjr lc cbk. Seu¨¨cf rilutais ybkfv ab fzqgfrr tlr ugjalaevf.

    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adelphe. I will keep that in mind.¡±

    He could sense another smile on top of his bowed head. Seems like he was smiling again. Eug¨¨ne then smiled face to face at the person who was immersed in the darkness. But his smile was terribly bitter, unlike that of the one sitting opposite.

    The enemies he had fought so far had a definite form. Whether it was a pirate, a privateer, or a capricious sea, the enemy¡¯s identity was always clear, and so was his reason to fight.

    Nevertheless, his current situation was such that he could not be sure as to who was an ally, let alone an enemy. His enemy was all the circumstances surrounding him, and every person could be either an enemy or an ally, depending on the situation. That uncontrollable ambiguity calmed Eug¨¨ne.

    The carriage, which had been moving for a long time, finally stopped inside of a stable with a stone ceiling. When he came out, all the doors leading to the outside were closed and a servant with an expressionless face was waiting for him.

    The servant came to meet him with a torch and took the lead in silence as soon as he got off the carriage. In response to that unspoken request, Eug¨¨ne followed in his footsteps. The servant led him to a secret passage made under the floor of the stable.

    The length of the secret passage guided by the servant was surprisingly not long. As if it was just another route leading to the main building with a stable, it stretched out in a straight line for a while, then connected to a staircase going up.

    Eug¨¨ne looked at the course of the passageway and noticed that the mansion was not located on the outskirts. If it was a place where one had to be vigilant about the entry and exit of outsiders, it must be also a place where one had to pay attention to the neighbors¡¯ eyes.

    As he reached the end of the stairs, the servant knocked on the wall. There was an empty sound of knocking on the stone wall, and the stone door, which looked like just a wall creaked and turned sideways. After opening the door, the servant took a step back and made room for him to enter. He didn¡¯t say a word until the end.

    Eug¨¨ne followed the servant¡¯s careful guidance and moved toward the door. The secret passageway was connected to a well-decorated nobleman¡¯s study. Just like in the carriage, the elegant study, with all the windows covered with dark curtains, had a dark and cozy feeling.

    A man was sitting with his back on a chair slanted at an angle in front of the fireplace. Seeing him sitting comfortably by the fireplace with his feet stretched out and his back leaning against the backrest, made him feel as if he had trespassed into the study of a gentleman who was resting.

    ¡°Come closer.¡±

    Did he sense my presence? The man reached out over the backrest and called Eug¨¨ne. Eug¨¨ne approached him as called, stopped at a distance one step away from him, knelt down on one knee, and politely expressed his courtesy.

    ¡°Baron Amieux sees His Majesty the Emperor, Lord of Ardi, Kleman and Nervoge, Ruler of the Neutel and Salpine Rivers, and Protector of Lex Ardica. May Your Majesty reign forever.¡±

    ¡°Next time we meet like this, you can skip such a grand greeting. It¡¯s already enough to hear rhetoric as fancy as the coronation crown, with a few modifiers during an audience. Why don¡¯t you sit there?¡±

    A languid voice fell over Eug¨¨ne¡¯s head. It was a low-pitched voice as if he had woken up while dozing, but the Emperor¡¯s words were an imperial command, so Eug¨¨ne had no choice but to follow it. He sat down next to the chair where the Emperor was sitting, as per his order.

    As he sat there, he could see the front of the Emperor reclining comfortably on the backrest. The Emperor had been yawning for a long time as if he was really asleep, seemed to have felt Eug¨¨ne¡¯s gaze, and turned his head to look back at him. The Emperor¡¯s eyes were slightly teary.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I dozed off for a while. As you may know, the most important thing in war is not fighting, but organizing the post-war documents. It¡¯s a war that lasted five years, instead of just a year, so it¡¯s not easy to take charge of it.¡±

    The Emperor muttered, rubbing his eyes with his fingers as if he could not sleep. It was an easygoing attitude that was quite different from the terrifying rumors, but Eug¨¨ne did not simply believe it. What¡¯s frightening about the Emperor was not his attitude, but his actions. The Emperor was a man who could strike a hundred people in the neck with a smile, and Eug¨¨ne was well aware of that. If one were to make a mistake by being deceived by the gentle atmosphere, they could not guarantee their future.

    ¡°I¡¯m much obliged to Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re sincerely obliged, why don¡¯t you recommend someone? Do you know any talented person who¡¯s good at accounting and diligent? It¡¯s truly frustrating that there suitable and competent person to take on the job. Are talented people that scarce in this vast empire?¡±

    The Emperor grumbled as if he were chatting with his friends. Hearing the Emperor¡¯s words, Eug¨¨ne thought for a moment and answered.

    ¡°If it doesn¡¯t matter that he¡¯s not from the nobility, then I know someone who can be of use. Henri Diragra is a tax collector in Trierrehan, well versed in the Great Code, and proficient at accounting.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s eyes widened at the straightforward answer. This was because Eug¨¨ne¡¯s reaction was not what he had expected.

    According to his experience, hearing this kind of an issue rarely compelled a person to immediately recommend someone. Even those of higher authority and status than Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t.

    It was natural to want to put one¡¯s own person in an important position that influenced state affairs, but recommending a person to the Emperor also meant that they were vouching for that person, so the responsibility was heavy. This was because, in the worst-case scenario, it was possible to jeopardize one¡¯s own life solely by putting a good word for the wrong person.

    For that reason, even the great aristocrats who were good at politics could not readily come up with an answer to such an unexpected question. At best, all they would do was bow and request some time to ponder.

    However, Eug¨¨ne was only briefly lost in thought but gave an answer immediately, and there was no hesitation in that answer. For the Emperor, who knew that he was not a rash man, such an attitude of Eug¨¨ne was very surprising.

    ¡°If the person you recommended causes harm to the empire, you wouldn¡¯t be unaware that that sin could be implicated in you as well. With that in mind, do you still recommend him?¡±

    Was the answer that came out too easily suspicious? The Emperor looked at him as if to test. But Eug¨¨ne held on to his answer without a hitch. There was certainty in his answer.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I do.¡±

    ¡°The person you recommend is the one who will be in charge of this country¡¯s finances. Hearing all that you said, it seems that he is a local tax collector, but do you think it¡¯s okay to suddenly summon such a person to the capital and give him such enormous authority and responsibility?¡±

    ¡°If he wasn¡¯t the right person, would I have recommended him? I spoke of him because I thought it was appropriate to take into account the concerns of Your Majesty. He is sincere and diligent in his work. Not only is he good at arithmetics as he studied mathematics in depth, but he is also skilled at accounting and finance, so his task of handling large assets would certainly not be inadequate.

    However, one of his greatest strengths is knowing the right fit. He¡¯s flexible and is well aware of how to finish things off flawlessly. On the other hand, he is a great man who has no greed as he¡¯s fully aware of his place, is timid, and places great importance on his own life. He may not be suitable in the long run, but I believe he¡¯s a person who has the ability to put out an immediate fire.¡±

    The answer was quirky and interesting. But what really struck the Emperor¡¯s fancy was that Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer was not merely bragging about wit. If his words were true, Eug¨¨ne was recommending a talent that could be hired immediately. Unlike other aristocrats who clumsily try to form a sound argument, the reason for the recommendation was extremely reasonable. After all, completely clean management did not exist in reality. Aren¡¯t most of the officials pretending to be honest on the outside, doing bad things behind the scenes? In that case, it was not a bad choice to entrust a seat to a great person who can¡¯t create a big accident even if he were to cause a trifling mishap.

    ¡°You must have guessed the reason I called you, is that right?¡±

    Just having a short conversation was enough to know. He was a conversationalist when it came down to it. Satisfied with Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer, the Emperor stopped insinuating and got down to business. His voice still sounded young and he spoke with a smile, but it contained a dignity that had not been found in its previous form.

    Even though he was three years younger than Eug¨¨ne, he was the Emperor. He was the monarch of an empire who ascended to the throne at the age of ten and held the throne for twenty-two years. Natural dignity, as if inborn, weighed down on Eug¨¨ne like concrete. Eug¨¨ne lowered his head, calmly withstanding the tremendous weight.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I have.¡±

    ¡°If you have any guesses, would you tell me? Why did I call you?¡±

    The Emperor asked, as if genuinely curious. I want you to tell me how far you¡¯ve gotten with merely your intuitions. Behind the gentle smile, he could feel his sharp observational gaze.

    ¡°Were you not trying to find the timber of Your Majesty¡¯s conviction? I believe Your Majesty was wondering if this plan was to be used once and thrown away, or if it would continue to be useful afterward.¡±

    Now that this had happened, Eug¨¨ne decided to go forth frankly.

    He honestly decided to beg for his life.

    ¡°My plan? What do you think my plan is?¡±

    The Emperor asked again with interest. Keep going. Eug¨¨ne was reluctant but continued to speak at will.

    ¡°My wife is not chaste, but she is a cautious person, so she¡¯s not someone who would openly engage in adultery. It¡¯s even harder to believe that Prince Merrick, who should have been modest as an heir to the throne, was exceptionally senseless. So there¡¯s no way the rumors came from those two. I think it would be impossible, unless someone intended it, that rumors of a secret affair between a man and a woman had spread to the point of being known not only to the nobles but also to the general public.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne said no further, but his intentions were clear. But the Emperor didn¡¯t even blink an eye after hearing that he might be behind the divorce trial.

    ¡°Therefore?¡±

    ¡°The problem is my wife and Prince Merrick. Rumors are merely rumors and cannot be evidence. No matter how much it¡¯s talked about, it would have been enough to ignore them according to the customs of the social circle, but the fact that he went to the court and requested a trial was probably because there is some undeniable evidence.¡±

    Unlucky. Following the Emperor¡¯s urging, Eug¨¨ne sympathized with the plight of his wife, who must have been unexpectedly stabbed in the back. In hindsight, her situation was not much different from his.

    ¡°It may be an assumption, but my wife is pregnant right now. That is why he cannot claim to be innocent.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne quietly confessed what he had guessed as he came in the carriage and looked at the Emperor. The Emperor quietly smiled at his straight gaze. It was to confirm Eug¨¨ne¡¯s conjecture.

    As expected.

    Noticing his response, Eug¨¨ne sighed inwardly. Just as I thought, of course. If it wasn¡¯t for pregnancy, his wife wouldn¡¯t have done such a reckless thing. There was no other way, so she had no choice but to take such an escapade.

    If he had always stayed at the imperial court like any other noble, the situation might have been different. It would have been enough to have given birth to the child and insisted that it was her husband¡¯s just like how other aristocratic women did. But, unfortunately, her husband, himself, had been out at sea for several years. The last time Eug¨¨ne met his wife was two years ago, so the number of months of the child cannot be correct.

    If she were to give birth like that, the child would be deemed illegitimate. And according to Lex Ardica, which is strict in protecting the family lineage to such an extent that it is nicknamed the Family Code; if a married woman of a noble family gives birth to a child that turns out to be illegitimate, all three people ¨C the child, the mother, and her lover- should be beheaded.

    Usually, it was overlooked, but when the crime was obvious like this time, there was no way to avoid punishment through any means. However, even in such a dead-end situation, there were always shortcuts.

    Although it was a method that was not commonly used, if you divorce first before being accused of adultery and officially remarry the child¡¯s biological father to make the child legitimate, then there would be no punishment as it would not be counted as ¡®the deceiving of one¡¯s family lineage into another¡¯. Perhaps the wife remembered that and filed for divorce.

    Eug¨¨ne, thinking up to that point, suddenly realized something.

    The sin that the wife directly admitted was ¡®adultery¡¯, not ¡®pregnancy due to adultery¡¯. There was no way that she had already acknowledged that fact. In order to survive, the pregnancy must not be revealed until the divorce was finalized. They must have been more desperate to keep a secret because all of them were directly related to the lives of three people.

 CH 5

    However, the Emperor already knew that she was pregnant. Not just a vague guess, but confident enough to confirm with him. What did that mean?

    ¡°¡­ Now that I see it, you have done away with what made her pregnant.¡±

    Upon learning of the unexpected, Eug¨¨ne muttered in disbelief. The Emperor raised his eyebrows when he heard his words. He calmly denied the charges against him, still with a friendly-looking face.

    ¡°The child¡¯s father is not I, but my cousin.¡±

    ¡°The biological father of the child must, of course, be Prince Merrick. However, it must be Your Majesty who made it so that she could not get away and admit to adultery so that she would have no choice but to have this child under the public¡¯s gaze. In a way, Your Majesty is like another father to the child.¡±

    Come to think of it, even though the timing was coincidental, it was a bit too coincidental here. How did the scandal arise just in time for the Emperor¡¯s visit to the palace, and the order to investigate exactly when she was pregnant?

    If his wife had a little more time, things wouldn¡¯t have gone this far. It would have been enough to come back from a vacation in the countryside without having to be the subject of rumors like other ladies with unexplained children.

    It may have been them who committed adultery, but it was the Emperor who put two and two together like this. At his confident remark, the Emperor smiled. Shamelessly, he no longer denied what he had done.

    ¡°Do you think what I did was unfair?¡±

    The Emperor asked a provocative question in a rather gentle manner. Eug¨¨ne looked at the Emperor with profound eyes. Had it not been for the Emperor to ask the question in that way, he would have had to accept a duel from Eug¨¨ne. But his opponent was the Emperor after all. He could not even express his anger properly, let alone apply for a duel against the Emperor.

    ¡°No, could I dare to have such an opinion? Come to think of it, it¡¯s quite effective. For Prince Merrick to be deprived of his right to the throne without Your Majesty¡¯s hands being defiled on the outside. What could be a more ideal solution than this for the imperial power?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne suppressed his boiling emotions and responded to the Emperor with a level-headed reason. It was only when he came this far that he could truly understand. Why the Emperor planned and proceeded with this.

    One of the greatest duties of the Emperor of Estina was the protection of the Great Code. Prince Merrick, who had committed adultery with a married woman, conceived an illegitimate child, and then used expedient methods to save his life, had already lost his legitimacy as a protector of the law when he petitioned for a divorce trial. The world will find out that the young little prince, who would become the eldest son, was also an out-of-wedlock child at the time of conception, and as such, would not be able to claim the right to succession.

    The matter alone left the right to succession only for the immediate imperial family, and the greatest beneficiary of this trial was none other than the Emperor, as the legitimacy had been established over the authority of the direct line. He relieved his feelings of distress with this one scandal.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    The Emperor smiled calmly and nodded.

    ¡°I knew you would understand me. It¡¯s better than beheading Merrick directly. If we were to behead him, we would also have to kill half of the central nobles stuck to him, but it¡¯s still too early to do that.¡±

    While his smiling face was serene, the words that came out of his lips were cruel and raw. Even though he was just talking about an instance, a faint bloody smell brushed the tip of his nose. Eug¨¨ne¡¯s lips stiffened.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to be humiliated than to risk a civil war?¡± The Emperor¡¯s face when he said that was arrogant, but Eug¨¨ne had nothing to object to him. Eug¨¨ne, a soldier, knew the weight of blood.

    Cr atf Swqfgbg rjlv, ktja mbeiv yf lwqbrrlyif lo la kfgf rbwfatlcu atja mbeiv gfqijmf j mlnli kjg? Ktf Swqfgbg kjr cba j qfgrbc ab wjxf ojirf mijlwr, ilxf atf batfgr. Lf kjr j wjc mjqjyif bo wjxlcu mgefi mtblmfr klatbea tfrlajalbc lo tf tjv ab, jcv tf tjv atf jylilas ab wjxf atfw kliilcuis.

    However, he was so careful that he knew exactly that it was the last card to use. From the perspective of a nobleman and soldier of the Estina Empire, not a woman¡¯s husband, Eug¨¨ne was aware of how precious the Emperor¡¯s prudence was.

    The seething emotions subsided. There was no need to involve emotions, as long as he knew that his wife¡¯s scandal was not just a normal scandal but a thoroughly calculated conspiracy. The Emperor did what he had to do, and the wife was down on her luck. No, maybe she was lucky. If she hadn¡¯t been pregnant at the right time, the Duchess would have been someone other than her.

    ¡°Prince Merrick should know her worth. The dowry is the head of the Emperor¡¯s kin and the blood of half the central aristocrats, so perhaps there has been no bride in the history of the empire whose worth was as much as hers.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne said bitterly and expressed his surrender. As the Emperor himself explained, this divorce trial was no longer his personal matter. The problems involved were too big to keep holding onto his self-respect as her husband and comment on this and that. In court, all he could get would be her head, but Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t love his wife enough to want to decorate his shelf with her severed head, and would rather have her live with her head on, with other people. He had the choice. She and the baby in her womb, Prince Merrick, half of the central aristocrats. And himself. The way many people would survive was surprisingly simple.

    ¡°She should have known your worth. To abandon a capable man like you and depend on someone as foolish as my cousin, the Baroness has no eye for men.¡±

    The Emperor spoke in praise after he heard Eug¨¨ne¡¯s decision. While it came off as a compliment, the true meaning was ambiguous. Eug¨¨ne, unable to determine whether his words were a joke or a mockery, simply bowed his head without saying anything.

    ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. As I said before, I have an ongoing desire for talented people. I¡¯m not going to use a man as competent as you for this matter. I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t lose anything with this. Your allegiance to the empire, publicly and privately, will pay off.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m much obliged to Your Majesty.¡±

    The Emperor was kind, despite him being the source of this chaos, he was also the one providing a solution for it. Responding to the Emperor¡¯s janus-faced kindness with heartless gratitude, Eug¨¨ne looked down at the floor with an expressionless face. Did he notice that he was listening to him half-heartedly? The Emperor¡¯s gaze on Eug¨¨ne subtly waned. He looked down at the top of the head of the man who was bowing to him and said in earnest.

    ¡°Don¡¯t take my words lightly, Vice Admiral Chastan. As the Emperor never goes back on his word. If you want to survive in the imperial court, you¡¯ll have to keep this in mind first.¡±

    What he said contained a hidden meaning. Eug¨¨ne sensed something from the Emperor¡¯s words and raised his head to look at the Emperor¡¯s face. Their eyes met unintentionally. But again, Eug¨¨ne was unable to read anything from the Emperor.

    As his eyes moved to look at the Emperor again, the man still had a friendly-looking face on. Neither the face of the observer who keenly scraped him off nor the absolute authority who suppressed him with his innate dignity and forced him to make a decision, but of a good gentleman.

    Nevertheless, at that moment, Eug¨¨ne knew. That¡¯s what the Emperor looked like when he exuded menace.

    The Emperor gestured to Eug¨¨ne as if all he wanted to say was finished. Eug¨¨ne bowed deeply and stepped back from the Emperor¡¯s penetralia. The Emperor¡¯s last words were ringing in his head, but he wasn¡¯t sure what in the world they meant. Eug¨¨ne rubbed his temples, feeling an incoming headache from arising doubts.

    ¡°Did the audience go well?¡±

    When he came out through the wall he had first entered through the secret passage again, it was not the servant who was waiting for him, but Victor Adelphe. Eug¨¨ne raised his head and looked at Victor.

    ¡°Were you waiting, Mr. Adelphe?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. Since I brought you here, I have to take you back as well. Come this way, Your Excellency The Vice Admiral. It¡¯s quite dark to walk here.¡±

    It was the same as a master or a servant hiding his intentions with an unknown smile. Eug¨¨ne, shaken by the smirk resembling the Emperor, took an unwilling step and followed Victor. As Victor said, the passage was dark. It seemed that the sun had completely set, seeing that it was darker than when he had entered the place earlier.

    Eug¨¨ne thought about his future as he walked down that dark passage. It felt like he was falling into something he didn¡¯t want. Eug¨¨ne struggled to hold his breath at the daunting feeling of floating in the vast sea without a helm or a mast for support.

    ***

    His wife was entering the courtroom.

    Eug¨¨ne stared intently at his wife as she entered the courtroom with a veil covering her face while being wrapped in an old-fashioned gray gown with long sleeves that covered the back of her hands, contrary to the latest fashion, with a collar high enough to cover her neck.

    It felt strange to see his wife, who valued following trends and liked to dress up and show off stylishly, dressed as if she were a nun.

    The voluminous gown that did not reveal any body lines at all was like a sack, and even the material was so rough that it was hardly suitable for a noblewoman to wear. She seemed to be claiming herself to be a prisoner before the law could even pronounce her sentence.

    The man following her was quite handsome. As if to prove that he inherited the blood of the imperial family, he was a rare nobleman with blonde hair resembling the Emperor and clear, beautiful blue eyes. Unlike the modestly decorated wife, he was dressed in a manner where his class was minimally maintained.

    He actually came all the way here. How unexpected.

    Eug¨¨ne thought that he would not appear directly in court because of his position as the Emperor¡¯s kin, but was puzzled by Prince Merrick¡¯s appearance. Although it had spread to a scandal that everyone knew, it was not a wise move to show up together publicly in one place like that.

    Did he notice that Eug¨¨ne was looking at him? Prince Merrick¡¯s gaze turned to Eug¨¨ne. Their eyes met in the air. The two looked at each other carefully, keeping eye contact for a moment.

    It was Eug¨¨ne who ended the short fight first. After looking at Prince Merrick for a moment, Eug¨¨ne quietly lowered his eyes and calmly bowed his head. Prince Merrick noticed his identity and had an uncomfortable expression on his face, and turned a blind eye to Eug¨¨ne¡¯s greeting. Eug¨¨ne, after passing his greeting, turned his gaze forward, but his mind was not at ease.

    Still a young¡¯un. Terribly underdeveloped worldly wisdom along with inadequate competency. Eug¨¨ne was able to recognize the man¡¯s potential in that brief moment their eyes met. Unfortunately, Prince Merrick was not enough to be called an enemy of the Emperor.

    Their aptitudes were so different in quantity itself that he could not be called an enemy even in haste. In Eug¨¨ne¡¯s view, Prince Merrick was nothing but an obstacle. An inconvenient threshold that was placed halfway to the height of the Emperor¡¯s feet. Only that much.

    One problem was that the Emperor had a disposition that would not forgive even a low threshold. The Emperor had already made up his mind to clear the obstacle. As a result of this trial, he may be safe for now, but the future was a problem. It would be unlike the Emperor to simply let him go, who may become a source of trouble, and not completely pluck out his roots.

    ¡­ His Majesty said <it¡¯s still too early>.

    Eug¨¨ne let out a deep sigh in his heart as he recalled the important words of the Emperor.

    After a small number of nobles who were allowed to attend entered, the guards began to control the entrance. The heavy doors of the courtroom closed and everyone stood in place waiting for the trial.

    Eug¨¨ne got up from his seat and went out to the front of the courtroom. His wife, who was waiting in front of the courtroom in advance, looked at Eug¨¨ne through the veil that had been draped over her. He couldn¡¯t see her face but it was possible to guess how she was feeling at the moment when he saw the backs of her hands that were holding each other in front of her chest turning white. Eug¨¨ne spoke to his young wife with a bitter smile.

    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, wife.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s wife, Louise, looked at him with stiff shoulders. As if she had never expected that Eug¨¨ne would come to greet her, she answered in haste, with genuine embarrassment.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been a while, Baron. Have you been at peace?¡±

    The greeting was done with an attitude that felt too distant for her husband, but Eug¨¨ne pretended not to know. It was because he had no intention of intentionally harassing his wife, who was still struggling.

    ¡°His Majesty the Emperor, the Lord of Ardi, Kleman and Nervoge, Ruler of the Neutel and Salpine Rivers, and the Protector of Lex Ardica, enters. Everyone stand up and pay your respects.¡±

    Fortunately, they didn¡¯t have time to talk any further. This is because the name of the judge, His Majesty the Emperor, came forward and his arrival was announced. Everyone in the courtroom got up and knelt. As the door inside the court opened, the guards entered and were arranged in front of the judge¡¯s seat, while the servants lined up with their backs against the wall.

    Then the Emperor stood there.

    ¡°Everyone, raise your heads.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne raised his head as ordered. The Emperor, sitting on the highest seat in the courtroom, the judge¡¯s seat, was wearing a purple robe that flowed down to his toes.

    This splendid attire with wedge-shaped embroidery around the edges, engraved with a book and scale pattern, representing law and justice, in the center of the chest, was one of the many statuses of the Emperor. It symbolized the Protector of Lex Ardica.

    Perhaps that¡¯s why the Emperor today was not the man with a friendly exterior he had met alone in the study a while ago. The Emperor stood there in the form of a ruler with a crushing grandeur, with golden eyes that shone intensely.

    ¡°From now on, I will begin the divorce trial that Baroness Amieux petitioned through Prince Merrick of Fernand. There is no one who does not know the gravity of the trial, which was petitioned by the Emperor¡¯s kin and is being held in the Emperor¡¯s presence. Don¡¯t make fun of the law and the Emperor by recklessly speaking out lies.¡±

    The warning was rather coercive. Frightened by the stern Emperor¡¯s warning, the wife did not dare to raise her head. Eug¨¨ne sighed and bowed deeply.

    ¡°I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.¡±

    When he showed an example, his wife hesitated but followed suit.

    ¡°I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Start the trial.¡±

 CH 6

    The trial began as soon as the Emperor ordered. Judge Alpes, originally the main master of this courtroom, but demoted to a court clerk for today, stood up from his seat to give an overview of the case.

    ¡°Unfortunately, the purpose of this trial, which is being held in His Majesty¡¯s presence, is to determine whether or not the divorce suit filed by Baroness Amieux against Baron Amieux is appropriate or not. Baroness Amieux admitted to her infidelity and seeks a divorce on the grounds of the crime. Her determination will be guaranteed by her witnesses.

    Witnesses of Baroness Amieux, Louise Marie de Chastan, include Jacqueline Selen de Limofan, Abbess of the Convent of St. Regire in Olverran, J¨¦r?me Kleman de Chirac, Abbot of the Abbey of St. Altamia in the capital Mich¨¨le, Pascal Sylvain de Decour, one of the judges of this court, Louis Bastien de Jenoche, district judge in Lemandine, and Baron Dumont, Philip Bertrand de Dumont, her father, and Baron Olvero, Guillaume Maurice de Picato, her maternal uncle.¡±

    Whenever their names were called, the witnesses who appeared in the court stood up and paid their greetings. Except for witnesses composed of relatives, most of them were either from the central aristocracy or based in territories under the influence of the central aristocracy. Eug¨¨ne watched the course of the trial without any expression.

    ¡°Baroness Amieux.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Honor.¡±

    The wife answered quietly.

    ¡°Is it true that you confessed to adultery?¡±

    The clasped hands were now deathly pale. She answered in a low voice, barely hiding her shame and humiliation.

    ¡°It¡¯s true. I committed adultery.¡±

    ¡°Why did the person who committed adultery petition for divorce? Divorce is a great insult and challenge to the sacred marriage guaranteed by the code of law. Moreover, it is uncommon for the spouse at fault to petition for a divorce. Could you specify the reason why?¡±

    The judge was questioning her. Louise, faced with something she had never experienced in her life, responded to the judge, unable to hide her bewilderment.

    ¡°Because my conduct was not honorable to my husband. He deserves a more chaste spouse than me.¡±

    There was no energy in the voice that answered as if it was a tale that even she herself did not believe in.

    ¡°Did you know that if a divorce is concluded through a trial, the spouse at fault will be fined?¡±

    ¡°I know. I am willing to pay any fine that is imposed on me, and I will deeply reflect and repent for having disturbed the court with my personal affairs and for blasphemy against the sacred code.¡±

    ¡°Did you know that if the spouse at fault is a woman, the dowry paid at the time of marriage will not be returned, moreover, you will have to pay the alimony?¡±

    ¡°I know. I will bear it.¡±

    Although it was a voice drenched in shame, she answered steadily. The determination she showed in the decision to divorce was unwaveringly firm. Well, if it had been an event worth canceling now, she wouldn¡¯t have created this situation in the first place. Upon hearing all her answers, the judge turned and looked at Eug¨¨ne. He then reported his personal information recorded in the complaint to the court.

    ¡°The spouse of Baroness Amieux is Baron Amieux, Eug¨¨ne Lothair de Chastan. He has yet to officially state his position, and his witnesses are as follows.

    Ccjabif vf Cgubr, Uglfra bo atf Cyyfs bo Va. Serajmf lc atf mjqlaji Zlmt¨¨if. Llqqbisaf vf Klwobrrf, j qglfra ogbw atf rjwf jyyfs, Afjc Ktlfggs vf Dbeatljez, j vlraglma pevuf lc atf Ubga bo Kglfggf, Vfyjralfc Ktfbvbgf vf Xbwwf, j gfulbcji pevuf lc atf Ubga bo Ebrrbc, Zjgdelr bo Oj Djliif, Zjgafii Obelr vf Oj Djliif, tlr ecmif-lc-ijk, jcv Zjgdelrf bo Oj Djliif, Dfjaglmf Zjguba vf Oj Djliif, tlr jeca-lc-ijk.¡±

    Despite appearing as a witness against her niece, the Marquise of La Baille did not change her expression. Rather, it was Louise who was shaken up. She seemed very surprised to learn that her aunt, who not only helped her debut in court, but also cared for her for years while loving her like a daughter, came to the court as a witness for her husband, and she did not look back even though she was trembling.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s hear from Baron Amieux first. Does Baron Amieux, Eug¨¨ne Lothair de Chastan, agree to the divorce petitioned by the Baroness?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne opened his mouth to the judge¡¯s straightforward question. He knew the trial was a political show, and he didn¡¯t feel quite happy about acting as a puppet. He, like his wife, hoped the trial would end as soon as possible.

    ¡°I agree.¡±

    At the overly concise answer, the judge raised his eyebrows as if puzzled, and then looked back at the Emperor. The Emperor beckoned him to proceed.

    ¡°The Great Code stipulates that if a spouse is found to have committed adultery, the punishment can be requested to the court. In this case, the Baroness confessed to committing adultery directly with her own mouth, so the Baron only has to file a petition. Depending on the crime, the severity of the punishment varies, but it is decided after considering the spouse¡¯s possible requests. Will the Baron use the rights guaranteed by the law?¡±

    ¡°No, I will not use it.¡±

    ¡°Do you not want to demand punishment for the crime?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne answered bluntly. Judge Alpes had seen nothing but lengthy arguments and exaggerated tears complaining of injustice while proceeding with the lawsuit, and so, looked at him strangely, as if he was unfamiliar with Eug¨¨ne¡¯s plain-spoken attitude.

    ¡°As you may be aware, in the event of a divorce, the spouse at fault must pay alimony to the other spouse. A woman can claim her husband¡¯s property separately from the dowry she brought, and a man can claim alimony from the wife¡¯s family along with not having to return the dowry. How much alimony does Baron Amieux want?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want any.¡±

    At the unexpected answer, the judge asked in perplexity.

    ¡°¡­ Pardon?¡±

    ¡°I said I don¡¯t want any. There is no need for alimony. I will also return the dowry.¡±

    ¡°Why are you making such a decision, Baron?¡±

    The judge went beyond the level of comprehension and looked at Eug¨¨ne with the gaze of a madman. But Eug¨¨ne did not give up on his assertion.

    ¡°I¡¯m at fault for this as well. Unlike other husbands, I have never been by her side ever since we got married. It is natural for a young and beautiful woman to long for love. As for adultery, I myself am not innocent, so I have no intention of reproaching her.¡±

    The judge raised his eyebrows as if he was hearing all the nonsense there was. Eug¨¨ne was speaking from the bottom of his heart, but no one took his words seriously. They looked at Eug¨¨ne with such eyes as if he were a strange animal. The courtroom was filled with strange silence for a moment.

    ¡°That is not true.¡±

    Breaking the uncomfortable silence, the Emperor, who had kept his mouth shut after the initial warning, opened his mouth heavily. Eug¨¨ne looked up at the Emperor.

    ¡°You were not separated from your wife for typical reasons, Baron Amieux. You¡¯re a soldier, and the last five years have been wartime. It was to protect your honor as a nobleman that you went to the battlefield and fought for your country. . And, as you had done, the Baroness was obliged to uphold her honor as a noblewoman. However, not only did she break that oath and commit adultery, but she also filed for divorce with a sinful body, tarnishing the noble name that the Baron had risked his life for. What soldier would do his duty if such a sin was covered up under the guise of naivety?¡±

    The Emperor harshly and indirectly rebuked Prince Merrick in the audience with a sharp expression in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s defense before turning his gaze and looking down at him.

    ¡°Baron Amieux.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°I am well aware that you feel sorry for your wife. However, it is dangerous to ignore the virtues of the nobility demanded by the law. Be careful.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s chide ended like that.

    In principle, the Emperor¡¯s words were not wrong. It was impossible to take a different attitude from the standpoint of commanding the entire army and governing the country through the military. However, it was also the Emperor who made him and his wife a spectacle in court. Eug¨¨ne burst into laughter inwardly at the absurd reality. He might as well have burst out laughing out loud if he could.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep that in mind.¡±

    However, just as he did in the study, he did not express his true feelings. Eug¨¨ne respectfully accepted the Emperor¡¯s words.

    ¡°Baroness Amieux.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    Louise trembled as she answered the Emperor, and then lowered her gaze.

    ¡°As I just said, you failed to protect the most precious things that you should have as a noblewoman. Not only that, but you also made a mockery of your husband by defiling his name. Do you admit the crime?¡±

    ¡°I admit it, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Will you continue to ask for a divorce?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­.¡±

    She was unable to open her mouth for quite a while as if frozen.

    ¡°Are you going to make me ask the same question twice? Answer, Baroness. Will you continue to ask for a divorce?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I will ask for it, Your Majesty. I will ask for it.¡±

    The Baroness almost passing out at the Emperor¡¯s interrogation, took a deep breath. The Emperor looked at the Baroness without saying a word. It was an emotionless gaze that revealed nothing, but the gaze terrified the Baroness to death.

    The sight of the slender lady trembling was pathetic, but the Emperor did not bat an eye even after driving the Baroness to such a state.

    ¡°Then I shall punish you.¡±

    A strict gaze was directed forward. Twelve witnesses and a few spectators stood up from their seats.

    ¡°Originally, marriage is a sacred union guaranteed by Lex Ardica and blessed by God. It is a crime to blaspheme not only the code of law but also the burden of protecting the code as a noble by breaking this union. But marriage is the way of life before it is an oath. To force the continuity of an unwanted marriage is also an act of blaspheming the sanctity of marriage.

    The ruling was decided on that account. Baroness Amieux had committed a crime and a sin but admitted it herself. Baron Amieux then agreed to divorce without any conditions. As such, since the will of the husband and wife are the same, the requested divorce will be granted.¡±

    The conclusion that had already been reached even before the trial began was announced. The nervous wife managed to raise her trembling body and let out a breath of relief. Eug¨¨ne silently listened to the verdict with his head low.

    ¡°The spouse at fault, Baroness Amieux, has to pay the full cost of the divorce trial and the divorce fine. According to the provisions of the code, the fine is 15,000 dinars and must be paid in full within two years at the latest. Fortunately, your husband, Baron Amieux, will not claim alimony, so it will not be difficult to pay the fine.¡±

    Contrary to the Emperor¡¯s words, the fine imposed on his wife was terribly grave. 15,000 dinars was an amount that exceeded the annual income of any great aristocrat. For Baron Dumont, who was only a low-ranking aristocrat with a small local estate, it was such an amount that even if he were to sell all of his property, including the estate, it would still not be enough. Baron Dumont let out a long sigh with a heavy expression on his face.

    ¡°Once the divorce has been established, Baron Amieux should be charged for the related paperwork. However, this case is related to the present imperial family, and the entire cost shall indemnify the Baron for the one-sided damage caused by the fault of the Emperor¡¯s kin. In addition, considering that an unmarried person cannot serve as a soldier under the military law, the long-term leave will be paid, so Baron Amieux does not have to return to the military until remarried. It just so happens that the court¡¯s social season has begun, so the timing is appropriate. I¡¯ll see you at the palace, Baron Amieux. There is a lady of an esteemed family whom I would personally like to introduce you to.¡±

    The initial words were that of a strict judge, but the ending was friendly as if he were speaking to a close friend. The sentence itself, which indemnified the cost of the paperwork, was shocking, but what was more surprising were the two special favors that the Emperor added.

    It was surprising not only to the audience but also to Eug¨¨ne. He couldn¡¯t hide his embarrassment and looked at the Emperor. Golden eyes, which were slightly squinting due to the smile, stared at Eug¨¨ne as if they were anticipating something.

    Didn¡¯t I tell you, Baron? The Emperor never goes back on his word.

    The smiling eyes seemed to whisper to Eug¨¨ne.

    It was hard for Eug¨¨ne to guess what the Emperor meant. While it was nice that he kept his word, Eug¨¨ne had never wished for such a public favor. For the Emperor to publicly refer to him in this way was tantamount to bringing him out of the dark and into a very bright place. Just as the Emperor¡¯s promise was not simply a promise, the Emperor¡¯s favor could not merely be a favor.

    An ominous premonition crept upon him that perhaps this wasn¡¯t the end of everything, but that, this was just beginning.

    T/N: okay i feel like i should address this so here goes; i don¡¯t have an editor/proofreader working on this alongside me since this novel¡¯s updated 3x a week and it¡¯s very hard to find someone who matches my time zone so grammar mistakes and typos are inevitable, for which i would like to apologize in advance :[ plus i¡¯m a student running on low sleep whilst working on this so that may be one of the reasons too lol anw thank you so muchh for reading and also for the comments <3 they make my day hehe p.s. this chapter marks the end of the first arc, so that¡¯s 2 more arcs to go until things start taking a turn in that direction ;]

 CH 7

    A hand as white as snow picked up the teacup.

    Beautiful fingers, with flawless, clear skin, were delicate and fluid, making it difficult to distinguish between ceramic and a living being. She tilted her teacup in a graceful manner and enjoyed the scent. Even those who talked about her origins as vulgar or lowly would not be able to find fault in her elegant appearance.

    The person sitting opposite was silently watching her every move. A tenacious and cold gaze, like that of a snake staring at its prey, shone in the curled eyes.

    Why? What else are you being fussy about?

    Thinking coyly, she lowered her eyes and placed her teacup on the table. Then, with a drawn smile, the opposite of what was going on in her mind, she raised her head toward the other person.

    ¡°I¡¯m rather ashamed to be held in such high regards by Your Highness. What exactly did I do? I only did what I thought was right.¡±

    In a sweet voice like that of a nightingale, she said something she didn¡¯t mean. To not reveal one¡¯s true intentions under any circumstances. It was one of the first rules of life she learned when she entered the palace.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Everyone knows who saved my son¡¯s life. Don¡¯t set me up as a shameless old woman, Countess.¡±

    Contrary to her harsh eyes, a gentle tone flowed from the other person. The way she talked made her seem like a benevolent old lady, but Grand Duchess Alienor was more of a veteran politician than just a good old lady.

    She lifted her head upright and slightly moved her chin backward. The servant who was standing behind her received the signal and stepped forward.

    The servant placed the box on the tea table of Countess Patr¨ª. The beautiful rosewood box, engraved with a goddess sleeping in a vine intertwined with elaborate intaglio, was a rare work of art that even the box itself looks very expensive. Countess Patr¨ª looked down at the splendidly decorated box, and her eyes gleamed.

    ¡°What is this? Your Highness The Grand Duchess¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a small token of sincerity. A small reward for the kindness the Countess has shown me, so please don¡¯t hesitate.¡±

    The Countess¡¯ lady-in-waiting handed her the box. The Countess couldn¡¯t overcome her curiosity and opened the box on the spot. Inside the box lined with crimson velvet was a dazzlingly beautiful pearl necklace. This necklace was made with only black pearls, which were said to be the most expensive among pearls, and each one was almost as thick as a grape.

    ¡°Oh my!¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª sighed in admiration as she placed a hand on her cheek. Since ancient times, noblewomen have loved pearls. Among them, Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s love for pearls was immense. She preferred pearls more than diamonds and sapphires, for there was no jewel that enhanced her beauty as much as pearls did.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I can accept this, Your Highness The Grand Duchess. It¡¯s just too precious¡­¡±

    Okay but I¡¯m not sure; Countess Patr¨ª did not forget her words of humility. Grand Duchess Alienor narrowed her eyes and said to the Countess with a faint smile.

    ¡°Even if it¡¯s precious, it¡¯s not as precious as my son¡¯s life¡±

    While it was said with a faint smile, the words of the Grand Duchess were sincere. Nothing was more important to her than Prince Merrick¡¯s life. Countess Patr¨ª couldn¡¯t refuse any longer, and thanked her as she closed the box. The Countess¡¯s lady-in-waiting took the box and stepped back. The Countess lifted the teacup she had set down with a flushed face.

    ¡°Countess.¡±

    Grand Duchess Alienor called the Countess in a subtle manner. The Countess replied amiably to the Grand Duchess, taking on a much more earnest demeanor than before.

    ¡°Please go on, Your Highness.¡±

    ¡°Whilst I came here to pay my greetings, I have a request to make.¡±

    What do you mean by a request? What sort of request? Countess Patr¨ª, hearing the words of the Grand Duchess, tilted her head inwardly. This is because the Grand Duchess Alienor she knew was someone who would¡¯ve straight away given orders as she wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would ask anyone for a favor.

    ¡°Qtja¡¯r atf wjaafg?¡±

    ¡°Pa¡¯r fwyjggjrrlcu ab fnfc rjs la bea ibev, yea¡­ vb sbe tjqqfc ab xcbk Djgbc Gewbca¡¯r vjeutafg?¡±

    ¡°Tfr, P xcbk. P¡¯nf gec lcab tfg j ofk alwfr ja atf mbega.¡±

    Ktfgf lr cb bcf ktb vlv cba xcbk Obelrf vf Gewbca, atf qgbajubclra bo atf wjpbg rmjcvji atja tjr cfnfg yffc rffc yfobgf lc atf lwqfglji mbega. Ktjcxr ab atf vlnbgmf, rtf kjr cbk pera atf fraffwfv vjeutafg bo atf Djgbc, Lbc Obelrf Gewbca, yea fnfgsbcf firf, fzmfqa obg Xgjcv Gemtfrr Cilfcbg, ralii mjiifv tfg Djgbcfrr Cwlfez.

    ¡°I believe you already expected it, but she is going to be a member of our family now. What could I possibly do even if her disposition turns out to be unfavorable? For my son, it must be her and no one else. How can an old mother handle the obstinacy of her young and grown son?¡±

    The whole world knew that as strict as the Grand Duchess was, she was not the same toward her son. And Prince Merrick loved Baroness Amieux, or Hon Louise Dumont, dearly. How much love would one have for the other to endure such a big scandal and even file for divorce?

    Countess Patr¨ª listened attentively to the Grand Duchess, though she wondered what was so attractive about the somewhat small woman. The Grand Duchess let out a low sigh and shook her head.

    Though her face was full of displeasure, her stance seemed to be of one who had been forced to give up. It looked like the impossible existed even for the seemingly invincible Grand Duchess. She was someone who acted as if there was nothing in the world that couldn¡¯t be done at will like child¡¯s play.

    ¡°I see.¡±

    ¡°The problem is that her reputation is an utter mess. She¡¯s not a widow, but a divorcee, so who would regard her as a proper noblewoman when she wants to jump into another alliance right after a divorce? Not to mention, her only proper relative said he didn¡¯t want to take care of the divorced lady. Under these circumstances, no one would respect the Duchess. It¡¯s a treatment she deserves for the sin she committed, but unfortunately, she¡¯s going to be my daughter-in-law. I simply cannot let the Duchess of Fernand suffer like that.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª felt a shiver run down her spine. This is because she guessed what the Grand Duchess was going to ask of her.

    ¡°This is why I¡¯m requesting you. If you accept it, I will never forget your sincerity.¡±

    ¡°Please tell me, Your Highness The Grand Duchess. What can I do to help?¡±

    The Countess whispered as she forced her heart, pounding with anticipation, to calm down. The Grand Duchess lived up to the Countess¡¯ expectations as she let out a sigh.

    ¡°Take Hon Louise Dumont as your lady-in-waiting. If you, His Majesty¡¯s  most favorite concubine, were to be her companion, no one would dare to ignore her presence.¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s lips trembled. There was no way the clever lady didn¡¯t know the actual meaning of the ¡®request¡¯ made by Grand Duchess Alienor.

    Commonly, it was the duty of a noblewoman to serve an imperial lady. Countess Patr¨ª, the concubine of the current Emperor Ebroin V, also had aristocratic ladies-in-waiting. They were both the Countess¡¯ assistants and her closest friends.

    Taking on the role of a lady-in-waiting to a woman of the imperial family meant taking on the role of an ally who supported her in society, forming a solid unbreakable bond. If Louise, who will become the Duchess of Fernand, becomes her lady-in-waiting, she will gain the support of not only Louise but also of the Duke of Fernand as a whole.

    But there was something of more importance than that.

    Even a lady of the imperial family had limitations, according to her title. Just as a concubine with the title of a Marquise could not have a lady-in-waiting with the title of Marquise or higher, a Countess could not have a lady-in-waiting with the title of Countess or higher. Moreover, there was only one person that could have a ¡®Duchess¡¯ as her lady-in-waiting, and that was the Empress.

    However, Grand Duchess Alienor requested for Hon Louise Dumont, the future Duchess, to be her lady-in-waiting. What did that mean?

    Countess Patr¨ª realized that this was the real ¡®reward¡¯ for her.

    ¡°It would be an honor for me to have Hon Louise Dumont as my lady-in-waiting, Your Highness.¡±

    The Countess answered from the bottom of her heart. Her face, unable to hide the overwhelming joy and anticipation, shone brilliantly like the rising sun. Grand Duchess Alienor gave a faint smile and raised the teacup. While she was indeed smiling, her blue narrowed eyes were as cold as ice.

    ***

    Benoux and Carol, the managers of the Argenson Inn, were now facing an unprecedented situation they couldn¡¯t handle.

    ¡°No, so¡­¡±

    The attendant, who had a more arrogant appearance than any other attendant he had ever seen, made an expression and looked down at Benoux. The man in a red-yellow uniform with gold borders, that was, the uniform of a court attendant, which carried power and dignity, yelled at Benoux with his back straight.

    ¡°You mean to say that Baron Amieux isn¡¯t inside?¡±

    The manager was startled and straightened his posture before he shook his head.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid not, Sir. He went out a little while ago and said he had some business to attend to outside¡­ When he usually goes out like this, he doesn¡¯t back until evening.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then it can¡¯t be helped. This is an invitation from the Marquise of Lamotte. The Lady expects a quick reply, so let me know as soon as he gets back.¡±

    The letter placed on the silver tray was unmistakably authentic. Since the titles of concubines were limited to one generation, the concubines would often represent themselves by using temporary crests with a lily-of-the-valley flower pattern on top of the crest of their original family from which they descended.

    The letter on the silver tray had a lily-of-the-valley flower pattern on top of the crest of  Marquis of Despan, so it certainly was a letter from Marquise of Lamotte. The person who brought the letter was none other than the court attendant. Cold sweat broke out on the manager¡¯s back at the clear evidence that had no room for questioning. When the attendant had finished speaking, he turned in an unfriendly manner and walked out of the inn.

    ¡°My goodness, how many of these have arrived already?¡±

    The manager counted the invitations that had arrived for Baron Amieux once again. The manager¡¯s special safe was about to explode due to the invitations sent by the Emperor¡¯s three concubines, as well as influential noble families, regardless of faction.

    He couldn¡¯t even go to the bathroom as he stood guard at the counter because it would be a matter of severe disgrace if he lost even one. However, he did not lament his plight owing to the serious lesson he learned after realizing that the man he had only considered a fallen noble at best, was unexpectedly a magnate.

    Now the manager knew exactly who he was. Come to think of it, it was foolish of him to not recognize his identity from the beginning. It was because of the prejudice against the fallen Eastern Nobles, that he was unable to guess the identity of the other person even after hearing the rarely addressed and old-fashioned eastern-style surname, Chastan.

    There was currently no other noble in the capital more famous than him. Is this what one would call a blessing from a fortunate wife in disguise? The Baron, who had been talked about mainly because of his wife¡¯s adultery, became famous even on his own behalf due to the exceptional kindness His Majesty had bestowed upon him during the divorce trial.

    His Majesty, a man of blood and iron, someone who had never shown favoritism when dealings with subjects, even said that he would personally choose a partner for Baron Amieux¡¯s second marriage and saved his face.

    The war had just ended. It was a time when the authority of the Emperor, who held the military power in one hand, was soaring to the maximum. In a situation where the Emperor¡¯s return to the capital after two years became the focus of attention, this freshly favored subject, who had suddenly appeared, was of utmost interest not only to the politicians but also to ordinary citizens who had nothing to do with politics.

    ¡°Oh, Your Excellency, Baron Amieux. You¡¯ve returned.¡±

    The door opened at just the right time and soon, Baron Amieux came in. Precisely like when he first visited the inn, he was dressed simply in a red navy uniform and an old coat, but the manager¡¯s attitude toward him was clearly different from the first time. He hurriedly stepped out from behind the counter and greeted him. The waist, which was bent with profundity, was almost at a right angle.

    ¡°You always work hard.¡±

    Baron Amieux nodded as he greeted him back, and was making his way to the second floor. The manager hurriedly dissuaded him, beckoning the errand boy from behind. The quick-witted errand boy occasionally ran with a special safe in his arms. The manager carefully took the special safe with both arms and spoke to Baron Amieux.

    ¡°While you were away, another invitation came by. There were many who wanted an answer as soon as possible¡±

    The manager spoke in a polite tone and opened the safe in his arms for him to take a look. Baron Amieux silently looked down at the bundle of invitations. The sight of a tall, well-trained man looking down with his hawk-like eyes was indescribably daunting, but the manager firmly pushed the safe. He broke out into cold sweat yet again, it was something beyond his control. To make it clear once again, it was the manager who had to take responsibility if the invitations were not properly delivered.

    ¡°¡­ Bring me a candle. Pen and ink too.¡±

    Baron Amieux requested the usual preparations in a low voice. The manager nodded enthusiastically with a flushed face.

    ¡°I shall prepare them right away, Your Excellency. May I bring you some beeswax as well?¡±

    ¡°I would appreciate it. Well then, keep up the good work.¡±

    Baron Amieux quietly praised the other person and climbed the stairs again. The manager handed the safe to the errand boy next to him, wrote and sent a letter to another errand boy to prepare the necessary supplies to write a letter, and then returned to the back of the counter as he let out a sigh.

    Good Lord, Just what in the world has struck upon me? The manager felt the sound of pain coming out of his mouth and patted his shoulder. Such work was usually entrusted to the butlers of noble families. Butlers get monthly salaries in return, but I¡¯m not even the butler of that noble, so why do I have to do this?

    The manager let out a sigh as a way to vent the indescribable grievances in his mind that could be said out loud. If the man had been a fallen noble, he wouldn¡¯t have even bothered, though, it was not exhausting per se to look over everything of a master that had appeared out of nowhere.

    ¡°Is this the Argenson Inn where Baron Amieux is currently residing?¡±

    However, the manager couldn¡¯t even afford the time to lament. In a moment, another guest came and asked for the Baron. The manager, who had been relaxed for a while as he was grieving about his situation, straightened his posture and turned around. A man wearing a uniform that he could now recognize, which was of a court attendant, was looking at him.

    Who else sent this time? No, hang on. Didn¡¯t all three of the concubines already send an invitation? The manager greeted the guest with a sociable smile on his face, though he was quite puzzled on the inside.

    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. May I ask what brings you here?¡±

    Huh? However, this time the court attendant¡¯s uniform was slightly different in color. The overall details were the same, but instead, there was an epaulet on the shoulder with three gold stripes embedded in it. I heard that a man dressed like that was a primary court attendant who served His Majesty himself¡­ HUH. Primary court attendant?

    ¡°There¡¯s a message and an invitation to be delivered from His Majesty to the Baron. Where is the Baron right now?¡±

    As he had guessed, the other person was indeed a primary court attendant. The manager, was frozen stiff as he gasped, and was shivering from the cold sweat on his back. For the manager, the authority of a primary court attendant, who always served His Majesty from a close distance, terrified him more than Baron Amieux, who was not a man of many words from the start.

    I have to guide even a primary court attendant now. The manager had turned as pale as a blank sheet and struggled to answer, unsure of how to display the proper etiquettes.

    ¡°Three¡­ You can find him once you go up to the third floor. The third room on the left is the Baron¡¯s room.¡±

    The primary court attendant¡¯s eyebrows rose sharply upon hearing the manager¡¯s answer. Just as the common servants of a noble family and court attendants were different in class, ordinary court attendants and primary court attendants were also different in class. Primary court attendants were noblemen with the title of Baron or higher, who in reality performed the role of an aide rather than a mere attendant, and they were the closest to the Emperor among all his other aides.

    ¡°Why are you standing like that? Aren¡¯t you supposed to guide me?¡±

    The man glared at him with a pathetic gaze and said coldly. No, but I told you where he is, so can¡¯t you find him on your own? Do I have to guide you when you don¡¯t even have to go anywhere far? The manager obviously didn¡¯t have the guts to actually ask all that, so he immediately stepped out of the counter and led him upstairs when the primary court attendant rebuked him.

    ¡°Your Excellency, a primary court attendant has come to visit.¡±

    The manager knocked on Baron Amieux¡¯s room and informed him of the business with the utmost respect. Soon, an answer was heard from inside the door. The one who opened the door was the errand boy recently sent to the Baron, and all he said before leaving the room was ¡®Would you like to come in?¡¯

    The manager led the primary court attendant inside and followed the errand boy out of the uncomfortable place. After turning around, he sighed once again.

    How long are you going to stay at the inn? If the situation has reached this level, even if you are in debt, you should arrange a mansion for yourself!

    Apologies for the delay ?? For those who didn¡¯t know, I was on a week-long break but I¡¯m back! Updates will resume according to the previous schedule. On another note, I would like to point out that because some things may get lost in translation, I make changes wherever I deem fit. Also, about the French culture part, I need to remind you all that the author has only taken a few ideas for their book. The story does not take place in France nor are any of them of French nationality. It¡¯s a fictional empire called ¡®Estina¡¯ and they speak ¡®Eneca¡¯. Not everything will stay true to the ways of French royalty, culture, etc. Please don¡¯t take the historical depictions too seriously since it¡¯s mostly fiction.  Thank you for reading ><

 CH 8

    The manager was suffering for nothing because of Baron Amieux, who did not try to save his dignity as an aristocrat and shook his head contemplating if he should just step forward and offer him a piece of his mind. Maybe the brusque soldier was making a mistake because he was unaware of social customs, given that he was now missing a wife.

    The manager started to devise a scheme with the desire to kick him out even if he was actually unaware of such rules.

    ***

    Eug¨¨ne got up from his seat and greeted the person who entered the room. A man in a familiar uniform of a court attendant took off his hat and greeted him politely. The greeting was extremely elegant, like that of a courtier, overflowing with formality as if he was the human embodiment of a book on decorum.

    ¡°Welcome. What brings you here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Baron Bouilhet, a primary court attendant of the Imbert Palace. I have come here because His Majesty has ordered me to receive a response to the letter sent to you a few days ago.¡±

    The primary court attendant was an advantageous position that could not be compared to the lower-class nobles who did not have a lot of territories like Eug¨¨ne, and in general, it was a custom of the aristocratic society to grant them half a rank higher than local nobles. However, Baron Bouilhet was polite, as if Eug¨¨ne was of a higher rank than himself. Just looking at that, it seemed that the situation between the two had changed.

    Eug¨¨ne, troubled by the Baron¡¯s overly polite attitude, frowned in discomfort. It was quite frustrating, as if a heavy stone had been placed on his chest.

    The court nobles were more sensitive to the direction of power than anyone else. Moreover, if it were a primary court attendant, wouldn¡¯t he be the hands and feet of the Emperor, who was the most important among the nobles of the court? For such a person to come out like that was tantamount to showing where the will of the Emperor was. Eug¨¨ne felt more pressured by this attitude of the court attendant than by the letter he had received from the Emperor a few days earlier.

    Eug¨¨ne, in a rather heavy mood now, was lost in thought. A question had been bothering him for days after the divorce trial, but he had yet to find an answer.

    The Emperor was not one who acted without a reason. But Eug¨¨ne did not know what the Emperor wanted from him. In fact, that¡¯s precisely why he couldn¡¯t easily respond to the Emperor¡¯s invitation to enter the palace. Even though he knew the Emperor¡¯s will, he could only play the role of a scarecrow, much less now because he couldn¡¯t even guess his intentions anymore.

    Who knows what would happen in the end after being dragged helplessly by the Emperor? He had no reason to have faith in the Emperor.

    However, as always, time was an issue. The Emperor even sent a man to urge him to enter the palace, and Eug¨¨ne had no way to escape the Emperor¡¯s Command.

    The Emperor wrapped his will in the name of kindness. There is not enough rationale to reject the Emperor¡¯s favor, even if it¡¯s one-sided, without a proper reason.

    Now, Eug¨¨ne was in a situation where his hands and feet were tied. It was frustrating that he would have to go into the tiger¡¯s den even though he clearly knew what he was getting himself into, and if he didn¡¯t, his future would be at stake. There was no use in thinking about it over and over again. Eug¨¨ne made up his mind and turned around to sit down again. The writing supplies that were prepared to answer the invitations of the nobles came in handy.

    He scribbled a letter with a single stroke of the pen, stating that he would obey the Emperor¡¯s will, excluding the fancy rhetorics and flowery words, and handed it over to Baron Bouilhet, who waited patiently for him. Baron Bouilhet, after receiving the letter in a polite manner, lifted his head to look at Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Is this a positive answer?¡±

    Baron Bouilhet only said the necessary things so far as a messenger sent by the Emperor, and suddenly asked a question. Eug¨¨ne was somewhat puzzled but answered Baron Bouilhet coolly.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Baron Bouilhet.¡±

    ¡°Then there is no need to send a letter. His Majesty¡¯s orders were that if the Baron answered in the affirmative, do not hesitate to bring him immediately. Simply said, it¡¯s becoming tiresome to wait any longer.¡±

    Baron Bouilhet, afraid to finish speaking, signaled downstairs.

    The attendants, as if appointed in advance, came up and began to organize the things in the room. Eug¨¨ne, startled by the unexpected situation, looked at the attendants packing his luggage without even asking him and sighed unconsciously.

    Ktbeut tf tjv tfjgv atja Llr Zjpfras¡¯r vfugff bo ajxlcu atf lclaljalnf kjr beagjufberis wlutas, tf rfglberis vlvc¡¯a fzqfma la ab yf atlr wemt. Pa kjr rb ecfzqfmafv, atja la ofia ilxf tf ofii lcab j agjq, yea atfgf kjr cbatlcu tf mbeiv vb. Ktfgf kjr jyrbieafis cb kjs ab ufa bea bo atlr cbk.

    Eug¨¨ne silently put on the coat he had previously taken off again. It was fortunate that he didn¡¯t change into plain clothes. If he had, then he would have ended up being dragged to the palace in plain clothes.

    ***

    The Emperor¡¯s Banquet.

    The commoners use that word as a synonym for ¡®the dining table on which all the sumptuous dishes imaginable are served¡¯. Mild fricassee made of rabbit¡¯s thighs, fragrant fowl pat¨¦ baked as a mixture of partridge and ptarmigan meat, grilled quail topped with honey-soaked nutmeg, sole meuni¨¨re, barbequed piglet stuffed with cherries and apples,  buttered eel galantine, fragrant truffles scattered over saut¨¦ed goose liver, meat jelly made from chicken crests and kidneys, tender lamb ribs, peafowl on the table in its original form, puffed sweet peach souffl¨¦¡­

    For the commoners, the Emperor¡¯s banquet meant a table full of all the delicacies imaginable, or precious foods they could never have imagined, and a situation in which they could eat to their heart¡¯s content until their stomachs burst.

    But the real Emperor¡¯s banquet was quite different from the scene commoners would imagine. In the Estina Empire, where the class system was strict, only the Emperor could enjoy the Emperor¡¯s banquet. Even a guest invited to the dinner was not entitled to sit at the same table as the Emperor. The privilege they received from being invited was not the privilege of sitting at the same table as the Emperor, but the privilege of watching the Emperor eat his meal.

    Currently, Eug¨¨ne was exercising that very privilege. Likewise, so were the twenty-two other nobles invited to the banquet. It was the Marquis of Carbo of the central nobility, who was allowed to serve dinner to the Emperor today. He moved the plates and cut the meat for the Emperor himself.

    ¡­ I feel uncomfortable.

    Despite being in the midst of overflowing luxury and glamour, Eug¨¨ne did not feel at peace. It was because the people invited to the Emperor¡¯s banquet were not watching the Emperor¡¯s meal, but observing him. The nobles glanced at him with curious eyes. No one approached to talk to or greet him, but whispered among themselves, making him a spectacle.

    Not only the aristocrats present, but even the Grands sitting at the table had the same reaction. They behaved like guests who came for Eug¨¨ne, not for the food on the table. Eug¨¨ne was not pleased with all that attention.

    The Emperor¡¯s relatives ¨C The Grands, were people in a position who could eat with the Emperor but could not exactly sit at the same table as the Emperor. Their table was set long at the apex of the Emperor¡¯s table, and when viewed from a distance, it looked like a T-shape.

    The Emperor¡¯s three concubines, Marquise Merlin, Marquise Lamott, and Countess Patr¨ª, each accompanied by their own children, and the Emperor¡¯s aunt, Grand Duchess Alienor, sat at the same table.

    Originally, Prince Merrick, Duke of Fernand, was also supposed to attend, but he was absent today due to being placed under house arrest. That was the only thing that Eug¨¨ne felt grateful about in this whole scenario. If he had to have a war of nerves with that man in this awkward situation, the matter would not have ended with just a simple level of discomfort.

    ¡°Wine.¡±

    The Emperor was eating while being served by the Marquis of Carbo, and raised a wine glass. Seeing this, the ceremonial attendant politely bowed and repeated the Emperor¡¯s order.

    ¡°His Majesty wants wine.¡±

    The eyes of all the nobles lit up in a moment. The eyes that were pouring on Eug¨¨ne all at once moved to the Emperor. Eug¨¨ne, who was not well versed in court etiquette, couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. While he understood that the Emperor wanted wine, he couldn¡¯t understand why the nobles were so excited by that.

    The attendant in charge of the wine entered the place with a wine bottle along with a colorful glass as well as a fancy wine glass. There was a piece of ivory on the silver tray on which the wine bottle was placed, and was often referred to as the ¡®L''¨¦preuve de la licorne¡¯.

    The Emperor¡¯s eyes turned to the nobles, who were all lined up. Although the nobles tried to hide their desperate expressions, it was clear to anyone that they were looking forward to it. The Emperor¡¯s eyes rested on Eug¨¨ne for a moment. Eug¨¨ne averted his meaningful gaze with an awkward expression.

    It would be more troublesome for him to be chosen by the Emperor when he doesn¡¯t even know what¡¯s going on. Although he taught himself the basic decorum, it was difficult to say that he was well-versed in that aspect with just self-education. Moreover, the court etiquette was a world full of customs and unwritten rules, which was too far from being anywhere close to Eug¨¨ne, who was no different from a bumpkin of the west.

    ¡°Leave the tasting to Viscount Du Pr¨¦.¡±

    Not clear as to what was going on in his mind, the Emperor with a slight smile turned his gaze and called out to Viscount  Du Pr¨¦, who was standing next to Eug¨¨ne. Viscount  Du Pr¨¦¡¯s face lit up with joy. He quickly bowed to the Emperor and spoke in a trembling voice.

    ¡°I¡¯m much obliged to Your Majesty.¡±

    Viscount Du Pr¨¦ proceeded cautiously to the Emperor¡¯s table. The attendant in charge of the drink patiently waited for him. The Viscount opened the cork that was blocking the tin bottle and poured wine into the Emperor¡¯s glass. Then, he put a piece of ivory to observe if the color had changed, and tested the wine for toxicity along with the head attendant.

    The wine was handed to the Emperor only after the elaborate and cumbersome series of steps were completed. The Emperor silently waited for the process to end, even though it would have been quite annoying if he was really thirsty.

    He even praised the Viscount by raising the wine glass he received after the tasting. The Viscount, whose cheeks were red like that of a maiden asked to dance by a young man she longed for, politely bowed, then stood at the left side of the Emperor¡¯s to continue serving him.

    Seems like it¡¯s not at all easy to live as an Emperor.

    Eug¨¨ne, witnessing the scene, clicked his tongue inwardly. To say that drinking a glass of wine had to go through such a long process, it seemed that being the Emperor was not really a job simply anyone could pull off. Eug¨¨ne realized just how precious his freedom was to drink anything he could get his hands on. Living a life in which even eating and drinking becomes a whole ceremony was an inconvenience that he had never imagined.

    After the Emperor¡¯s meal was over, the nobility¡¯s meal began. The Marquis of Carbo and Viscount Du Pr¨¦, who both played a part in the Emperor¡¯s dinner, sat at the beginning of the table at the nobles¡¯ banquet, which was being held in the second room located right next to the Emperor¡¯s dining room. As was customary ¨C well, maybe, Eug¨¨ne guessed ¨C Viscount Du Pr¨¦, after accepting the wine given by the Emperor, sat down solemnly and offered the Marquis the special bounty he had received.

    Since nobles were seated according to rank, Eug¨¨ne, a Baron who owned not even a single territory, had to sit at the very end of the table and eat. But still, no one spoke to him. Rather than ignoring him, it was almost like the act of observing him was not over yet.

    Among them, the one who was particularly monitoring him was the Marquis of Carbo, the other head of the central nobility, equally dividing the authority with Grand Duchess Alienor. Eug¨¨ne could sense that very fact every time the man looked at him. Marquis of Carbo, unlike other nobles, did not merely take a peek every now and then but looked at him quite openly. As if he were undoubtedly selecting a horse for himself from the horse market.

    Marquis of Carbo was a middle-aged man of good appearance with ebony black hair, sharp eyes, and sparse gray hair that was starting to mix. He was also the father of the Emperor¡¯s first concubine, Marquise Merlin.

    A prominent social climber.

    Eug¨¨ne graded him in his mind as he looked at the man who boasted outstanding power among all the maternal relatives of the imperial family. A man as quiet as a dead mouse in front of the Emperor had the ability to take control of the surroundings with his astounding presence as soon as the Emperor was no longer part of the scene.

    He was a person who deserved to be acknowledged for at least his ability to deal with people, given that he was capable of coordinating not only his own faction but also people of other factions, as he was fairly skilled at overpowering his opponents with subtlety.

    ¡°Baron Amieux. Would it be fine if I call you that, Baron? If you prefer your official title, Vice Admiral, I shall call you that instead.¡±

    The Marquis of Carbo suddenly spoke to Eug¨¨ne, who was quietly eating dinner while thinking about various things. Has it started? Eug¨¨ne, noticing that the tedious reconnoitering skirmish was over, calmly answered the Marquis¡¯ question.

    ¡°No, it¡¯s all right, Your Excellency The Marquis.¡±

    ¡°I have often heard about you from the Marquis of La Baille. He said that he had high expectations for you as an admiral of the Navy as you possessed skills that are rare in our empire, where talent is biased toward the Army. The Marquis of La Baille is a person who¡¯s stingy when it comes to complimenting people, so I was quite curious about you, but it must be fate to actually meet you in person like this.¡±

    In a resonant voice, the Marquis of Carbo generously praised Eug¨¨ne. As a seasoned politician, he did not forget to keep his dignity as he lacquered his opponent¡¯s face with gold. Thanks to this, Marquis¡¯ praise sounded more sincere than just a formal way to start a conversation.

    ¡°I am undeserving of such praise.¡±

    ¡°No, not at all. I don¡¯t believe so. If this is undeserved praise, then how would you explain His Majesty¡¯s favor towards you? His Majesty is a fair and thorough man in all matters. I can see how much he cares for you especially when you consider how His Majesty bestowed such a favor, even though it may set a bad precedent. It is quite unprecedented, Baron. You don¡¯t seem to realize it properly, but everyone in the court was surprised by this incident.¡±

    The words of Marquis of Carbo were extremely adroit. At first glance, it sounded like he was praising Eug¨¨ne¡¯s abilities to the fullest, but if one may listen closely, one would be able to decipher it into a question of how Eug¨¨ne caught the Emperor¡¯s eyes. Eug¨¨ne smiled faintly when he heard that. Although he was not well versed in court etiquette, he was not ignorant of politics. He knew exactly what he had to say here.

    ¡°Is it simply me as an individual that His Majesty cares about? I¡¯m only a vice admiral, and I have never made a big contribution to the country yet. The reason why His Majesty gave me special consideration is probably that my position as a soldier was given attention to first, instead of me alone. It is only that His Majesty made the determination to prevent injustice from happening to a soldier who has fulfilled his duty to the country through his work right before His Majesty¡¯s eyes, known. I¡¯m sure His Majesty doesn¡¯t particularly treasure or hold me dear.¡±

    Just because he was favored by the Emperor, he was not swayed by it, nor was he intimidated by the power of the nobles in front of him. Eug¨¨ne¡¯s demeanor was simply calm. This unwavering attitude of his attracted people¡¯s attention.

    This is because it was extremely rare among the numerous nobles of the court to be able to remain so composed in front of a great noble like the Marquis of Carbo. The eyes of the Marquis of Carbo flickered. However, he wasn¡¯t a novice to show where his interest lied in.

    ¡°Hahaha. You¡¯re truly humble. Even if you humble yourself like that, what needs to be revealed will be revealed. If an elephant hid in the bushes, would its ivory be hidden as well?¡±

    The Marquis laughed out loud without hesitation. He looked extremely magnanimous as he had a satisfied smile on his handsomely tall face.

    ¡°You praise me too much, Your Excellency.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see if it¡¯s mere praise or not. I have faith in His Majesty¡¯s discerning eye.¡±

    A neat, face-to-face conversation went back and forth between the two. While the words were pleasant to hear, they held little meaning. But that¡¯s what aristocratic conversations were all about. A small conversation between nobles was nothing but shabby, except for how it came off to others.

    ¡°I heard that both of your parents are from the East, is that true?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately I didn¡¯t have the chance to meet the Baroness, but I once greeted your father, the late Baron Amieux. He was a passionate and serious person, even though he was not able to meet his goals due to his poor years. Now that I¡¯m seeing you all grown-up, I¡¯m reminded of him. There are many places where you resemble your father, Baron. After all, the son must take after his father.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, who had been calm all this time, hardened his lips faintly. It was not a noticeable change, but the sharp Marquis of Carbo wouldn¡¯t have missed it.

    ¡°All I¡¯m doing is trying my best to be a son my father would not be ashamed of.¡±

    What a foxy man. On the outside, Eug¨¨ne bowed his head but on the inside, he clicked his tongue. A person who was capable of stabbing someone¡¯s back while still keeping on his smile would probably be the best way to describe someone like the Marquis.

    Fortunately, the Marquis of Carbo did not provoke Eug¨¨ne any further. After having a conversation only for courtesy¡¯s sake, he naturally turned his attention to other nobles.

    Eug¨¨ne was left alone again, and he wiped his lips with a napkin. There was still half the food left on the plate, but his appetite was gone. Even the precious delicacies and seafood that he would not normally eat seemed tasteless in his dry mouth.

    The court was truly a damned place.

 CH 9

    ¡°Would you like another glass?¡±

    The attendant, who was serving him exclusively, asked as he cleared the plate. Eug¨¨ne nodded and held out his glass. Richly fragrant wine filled the colorful glass, which he could not dare to imagine on board. It may not be alcohol the Emperor himself drinks, but this wine was undeniably the finest Barbera wine, and for Eug¨¨ne, it was his first time drinking such a wine in his entire life.

    The sweet scent lingered at the tip of the tongue, while it flowed down the passage of the throat so smoothly like silk that he drank the wine despite his blue mood. Though he restrained himself from drinking to the point of getting drunk, the current situation made him want to keep drinking, free of any limits.

    This was the only good thing available in the court. Eug¨¨ne suppressed a sigh as he looked down at the enchanting liquid swaying in the opaque glass.

    The banquet was not over yet.

    ***

    The entertainment began after the nobles finished their meal.

    The performance, which started in a lavish room, commonly referred to as the ¡®Agate Room¡¯, was a new opera composed by the most popular composer in the capital these days. This work dealt with the regrettable tragedy that occurred at the court of the Duke of Benoist during the days of the Prince-Electors, armed with poetic beautiful lyrics and captivating music, but the plot was nothing more than an obvious political drama.

    The overall plot of the opera was as follows. In the days of the Prince-Electors, the Duchess and her guard knight met while the Duke of Benoist, the primary lord in the south, had gone off to war. The two fell in love while avoiding the eyes of others, enjoying secret meetings to whisper their love for each other passionately, however, ultimately, they were caught by her husband, who returned from the battlefield and met a tragic end.

    ¡­ Eug¨¨ne, sitting among the nobles and watching the performance, felt bitter. The story itself was a fairly common article, but considering the scandal that had almost swept the capital, this work was by no means a simple coincidence.

    Eug¨¨ne could clearly pinpoint where the composer got the motif for the song. Perhaps even if the composer was asked about it directly, he would not be able to deny Eug¨¨ne¡¯s point.

    The Emperor watched the work of art with great satisfaction. He was so pleased with it that after watching the performance, he praised the composer and actors and gave them money. The excited composer asked for permission to reenact this performance at the grand theater of the capital Mich¨¨le. The Emperor claimed to be the composer¡¯s first patron, and so, gladly allowed him.

    ¡­¡­

    Eug¨¨ne, who witnessed the scene, had nothing to say.

    Simply because¡­ he didn¡¯t want to say anything.

    This time, the ballet began as soon as the composer left. Just like a performance at the court, dancers dressed in dazzlingly flashy dance costumes performed a beautiful and grand group dance depicting an ancient myth. The theme of the dance was the creation myth, and it was a magnificent story that began with the creation of the sky and earth.

    The creation myth of the Ladivenia continent begins with Regire, the Queen of the Sky. In the beginning, she opened the sky and created light, and gave birth to twelve sons alone. In accordance with their mother¡¯s wishes, her sons built remarkable and beautiful cities in the sky and ruled over the people on earth.

    A century of gods that would never return. People called that period ¡®The Century of Seram¡¯, that is, the century of the twelve gods.

    However, except for one, the rest of the eleven sons soon began a war of succession, coveting their mother¡¯s authority. Rain of fire poured down from the sky, and the mother wept with sighs. Mother Earth became a sea of fire and was swamped by water, and the cities of the sky fell into the sea and disappeared.

    Cii atf rbcr ktb rajgafv atf kjg vlfv. Ktfs ofii lcab atf rfj klat atf mlalfr bo atf rxs, mtjcalcu atf uibgs jcv ofjar bo atf akfinf ubvr. Cii atja kjr ifoa lc atf rxs kjr atf ujgvfc atf mglqqifv rbc tjv yffc meialnjalcu. Cgajwlj¡¯r Xjgvfc. Dea atf rbc ktb kjr afcvlcu atf ujgvfc jirb vlfv. Ktbeut tf vlv cbatlcu, tf uba mjeuta eq lc atf oluta yfakffc tlr ygbatfgr jcv vlfv.

    After the Great War, the goddess was left with only one grandson. Eustace was the only son the crippled Artamia saved and hid in the ground. Eustace, raised by the hands of a deity, opened up a new land by taking the soil from his father¡¯s garden. That land was what¡¯s called the Ladivenia continent today.

    It has been said that the lineage of the Emperor begins with that same Saint Eustace. Only God knew whether that was true or not, but since the claim of R¨¦gis, the founder of the empire after ending the era of the Prince-Electors, was so, the genealogy of the current imperial family also contained that claim.

    Therefore, Eug¨¨ne was unable to see the dance in front of him as pure art. Eug¨¨ne found no beauty in their dance, only thinking that the head ballerina of the corps de ballet was delivering an act of brazen flattery.

    Throughout the performance, all the other nobles either sincerely admired or pretended to as they watched the scenes unfold, but Eug¨¨ne found it to be boring. As a soldier caught between a rock and a hard place, he was the type to be impressed by the sound of cannonballs hitting the enemy¡¯s flagship rather than the ensemble of violin and harpsichord, and considered accurately measured nautical charts more beautiful than the gentle dance moves of a dancer.

    Eug¨¨ne did not receive a formal education as he lived a life even worse than that of commoners, owing to the fact that his family collapsed even before he matured, and was an aristocrat only in name. He taught himself all the things that were necessary to survive, and whatever he deemed unnecessary was dismissed without a second thought.

    For that reason, he had not a shred of the so-called aristocratic knowledge. This is because aristocratic knowledge was an expensive virtue that could only be obtained by investing immense money and time.

    That¡¯s exactly what his ex-wife pitied the most about her husband. Eug¨¨ne had no interest in ballet or opera, one of the representative means of amusement of the aristocracy, nor did he have the artistic sense to understand them. That didn¡¯t mean he loved poetry or literature. He was a man who couldn¡¯t even rhyme when writing a letter.

    He couldn¡¯t even be a sweet talker to Louise, who was sensitive and loved art, let alone a good husband. That must also be a reason why his wife fell in love with Duke of Fernand, who was famous for his elegant taste.

    He was a man who filled what Eug¨¨ne could not give her. He had an overflowing artistic aptitude, an excellent eye for seeing works, and even tried making them himself.

    Eug¨¨ne, lost in thought for a moment, came to his senses by the loud applause. When he looked up at the stage, he saw the dancers bowing with grace. Maybe now is the time to wrap it all up? Eug¨¨ne estimated the present time and harbored small expectations.

    It was just a simple dinner banquet, not a ball, so it won¡¯t last all night. The Emperor is human, and so are the Grands, so wouldn¡¯t it be time to go to bed at this point?

    Whether his wish had been fulfilled, or whether the time had really come, the servants began to draw the curtains when the ballet was over. The curtain was lowered on the stage, and the Emperor put down the glass he was holding and ordered the attendant to take it after having enough of it. Before the Emperor left his seat, the nobles who could not leave first waited for the command as they continued to murmur.

    The chamberlain, who stood next to the Emperor and served him throughout the performance, stepped out in front of the Emperor. He knelt and posed a question to the Emperor. That famous line that even Eug¨¨ne, who was ignorant of court etiquette, knew, came out of the attendant¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Your Majesty, who would you like to carry today¡¯s lamp?¡±

    It was one of the greatest honors bestowed upon a nobleman to carry the Emperor¡¯s lamp and enter the Emperor¡¯s bedroom. It was because entering the Emperor¡¯s bedroom was a privilege that only the chosen one could enjoy, and if fulfilled his role of carrying the lamp, he could have a private conversation with the Emperor for a short time before he went to bed.

    A meeting held in complete privacy where the attendants were not present meant the Emperor¡¯s utmost trust. The level of that trust was so deep that one could even find a chance to carry out an assassination.

    It was a privilege that was considered supreme honor even in the days when the imperial power was unstable. Moreover, presently, the Emperor¡¯s power had ascended to heaven like the rising sun, so there was no way to predict how the nobles would react.

    Indeed, all the noblemen were eager to bask in this glory, blinded by the great spectacle, unlike when they had to test the wine. They earnestly took off their hats, knelt on one knee, and looked at the Emperor with eyes like that of an admirer. It wasn¡¯t a verbal demonstration, but rather a silent one where they meant to convey that it would be great if they were the one chosen from the rest.

    The noblewomen were just sitting there, but judging by the look in their eyes, it seemed that, if given the chance, they would kneel as well. It was a golden opportunity to jump into the bed of the young and handsome Emperor, but they were not allowed, so they may be the ones who feel sorry for themselves the most.

    It was a sensible thing to follow the current tide. Eug¨¨ne, like everyone else, knelt and took off his gloves. As it was a rite that was both an honor for the nobles and an acknowledgment of the Emperor¡¯s authority, to remain seated while pretending not to know was a foolish act that could easily lead one to be blamed for irreverence.

    A contemplative gaze passed over the nobles. The Emperor, scanning through the eager eyes pleading to be selected, stopped when Eug¨¨ne, the only one who looked unperturbed, entered his field of vision. The Emperor and Eug¨¨ne made eye contact. The corners of the Emperor¡¯s eyes lowered faintly. The Emperor who found him was smiling again. Not with his lips, but with his eyes while directly looking at Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Today, I shall ask Baron Amieux to do it.¡±

    The Emperor smiled softly and chose. Just as he guessed from the moment their eyes met, it was Eug¨¨ne¡¯s own name. The disappointed nobles lowered their heads and sighed. The noblewomen unfolded their fans and started whispering in unison. Eug¨¨ne forcibly hid his distorted expression and got up from his position. The attendant approached and handed a specially crafted lamp to Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Please come this way, Baron. I will guide you to His Majesty¡¯s settling.¡±

    The chamberlain, who was a Count, respectfully guided Eug¨¨ne. Originally, the person with the lamp took the lead, but he showed special kindness to Eug¨¨ne as he was unfamiliar with the structure of the court.

    There¡¯s nothing he could do about it. He hated standing out, but it would be more foolish to refuse such an honor in this place. Eug¨¨ne silently proceeded to the Emperor¡¯s bedroom with a beautiful hand lamp adorned with gold and ivory. It was not known why such a thing was necessary for the brightly lit court, but the ritual, which was somber enough to be almost religious, was carried out every night without fail.

    This made Baron Amieux¡¯s name even more famous. Even those who were unsure clearly realized where the Emperor¡¯s favor rested because of this particular choice and began to take an interest in Baron Amieux himself, instead of the former Baroness.

    It was something Eug¨¨ne never wanted for himself, but he was left with no other choice. He was already in the court, where every person monitored and eavesdropped on one another¡¯s every move. Furthermore, he was already a celebrity here. His name was already deeply engraved in the minds of the courtiers, not as the defeated rival of the Duke of Fernand, but as the Emperor¡¯s favorite subject.

    ***

    A small dish floated in a wide bowl made of silver. The dishes filled with scented candles, which were only about two fingers long in length, were delicately balanced on the surface of the water and fluttered gently. Thanks to this, the Emperor¡¯s bedroom was filled with the calming scent of gardenia. In some ways, the decor was overly Eastern Empire style. A fact that should be highlighted even more so considering that this place was the settlement of the Emperor, the most powerful man in the Western Empire.

    But it wasn¡¯t just the Eastern Empire-style decor in the Emperor¡¯s room. The gold ceramic that adorned the fireplace and the arabesque-patterned carpet under his feet were all from Shaak.

    The rumor that the Eastern Empire style was starting to become popular in the capital these days seemed to be true. If they had lost the last war, one would have been treated like a traitor if they were to own even a single small piece of decor, but perhaps thanks to their massive victory, this exotic taste was only recognized as part of a luxurious trend.

    The vice-chamberlain closed the doors of Balustre. The Emperor, dressed in a thin robe, sat down on a long chair after washing his face under the care of an attendant. The upright and dignified Emperor he had seen throughout the evening disappeared, leaving only a man exhausted from his daily routine. He looked the same as when he first saw him.

    ¡°Take a seat there, Baron Amieux.¡±

    The Emperor, whose tone of voice became more private, softly ordered. The vice-chamberlain took the lamp from Eug¨¨ne¡¯s hand, bowed politely, and disappeared. When the attendants left, the bedroom door was closed, and only the two of them were left in the room.

    Eug¨¨ne sat down on the chair opposite the Emperor, as the Emperor commanded. Through the dim light, he could see the Emperor sweeping up his golden hair. The Emperor¡¯s unraveled hair was quite long, and although it was casually hung over the messy hem, it had a subtle gloss.

    ¡°Did you like the room you were assigned to? Since I instructed my chamberlain to pay special attention to it.¡±

    The Emperor, reclining on the long chair with his arms on the armrests and his back leaning against the backrest, asked Eug¨¨ne a question. He took on a friendly demeanor as if the two were close friends. However, Eug¨¨ne remained cautious despite the Emperor¡¯s seemingly lax attitude. No matter how dangerous the court was, it was not as dangerous as the Emperor.

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing for me to be choosy about, Your Majesty.¡±

    He said in all honestly. He replied straightforwardly and paid not other greetings, such as expressing his joy of entering the court or how grateful he was for everything. Since the Emperor would¡¯ve figured out his real feelings if he did anyway.

    ¡°Even if there is nothing to be choosy about, there will be things you need. I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s something missing since the room was prepared in a hurry. If you need anything, say it without any hesitation. Since you are a guest invited to my palace, the host must treat you properly.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m someone who has only lived on a ship for years. The fact that the bed doesn¡¯t shake while sleeping is a great luxury, so there¡¯s nothing more to ask for.¡±

    Any other courtier might have given a witty answer. But Eug¨¨ne frankly presented only the facts as they were. It¡¯s not that he wasn¡¯t skilled at speaking. It was because he knew that he could not move the Emperor¡¯s feelings with his light wit.

    ¡°Seemed like it. You stayed at an inn as soon as you entered the capital after all.¡±

    The Emperor smiled bitterly upon hearing Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer.

    ¡°When I heard the report from Adelphe, I snapped. Nevertheless, you hold the title of a vice admiral as well as the Emperor¡¯s favorite subject, so how is it that you¡¯re not residing in a mansion? Don¡¯t you think it would¡¯ve been a chance for some ill bunch to almost seize such a pointless flaw and put your honor at stake?¡±

    Though it came off as a light rebuke, there was a hidden message in those words. Eug¨¨ne slightly frowned and raised his head. He was unable to admit the fact that the Emperor called him his ¡®favorite subject¡¯.

 CH 10

    The Emperor was inducing such a perception in the public, so even the nobles would think the same, but Eug¨¨ne knew better than anyone that this was not true. He was not the favorite subject, but rather a marionette in the hands of the Emperor. A silly marionette who had no idea as to why he was taking part in this performance.

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne called the Emperor in a determined voice. The question that he had been thinking about from the moment he was instructed to carry the lamp came out of his mouth.

    ¡°Am I your Majesty¡¯s favorite subject?¡±

    By the standards of the court that loved metaphors and such figures of speech, it was an overly direct question. The grammar was almost aggressive, but Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t care. This was because he knew that he couldn¡¯t achieve anything with the so-called court-style speech.

    To beat around the bush, ask indirectly, hide his true intentions, and then give an answer that would be completely different from his actual intentions. It would be impossible to elicit an honest answer from the Emperor if they were to have a conversation like that. Far from hearing what he wanted, he would only be cajoled.

    ¡°We think so. Seems like you don¡¯t?¡±

    The Emperor asked back in a serious tone. Eug¨¨ne, without hesitation, immediately nodded.

    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t. I dare not be sure of that.¡±

    ¡°Why can you not be sure? It is what was confirmed with Our own mouth.¡±

    ¡°I cannot guess what Your Majesty wants from me. I don¡¯t have the ability to fathom Your Majesty¡¯s true intentions.¡±

    If not today, there may be no other opportunity to ask such a question. Eug¨¨ne knew that and pushed forward. He was tired of playing in the hands of the Emperor without knowing what was going on. It was all the more unbearable to be used like a dimwit and then thrown away.

    If his wife was the problem, he should have let him go at the end of the divorce trial. The favor given to him was too much to only believe that he was brought to the court to humiliate the Duke of Fernand. Eug¨¨ne realized that he meant more to the Emperor besides the matter regarding his ex-wife. But he didn¡¯t know what in the world were his plans.

    The Emperor looked at Eug¨¨ne with his head resting on the back of the chair. How do I explain this? An expression of momentary contemplation appeared over the beautiful features and then disappeared.

    ¡°You ask me the same thing as Adelaide.¡±

    An unexpected answer. Eug¨¨ne, who was heavily tensed, narrowed his eyes, full of doubts and thought to himself.

    ¡­ Adelaide? Who on earth is Adelaide?

    ¡°Snfc atbeut la¡¯r ecobgaecjaf atja la¡¯r mblcmlvfcaji, Cvfijlvf jrxfv atf rjwf defralbc jr sbe, gluta ogbw ktfgf sbe¡¯gf meggfcais rlaalcu. ¡®Tbeg Zjpfras. Qtja lr la atja Tbeg Zjpfras gfjiis kjcar ogbw wf? Jjc P agera sbe, Tbeg Zjpfras?¡¯

    Pa kjr fjrs ab qgbnf atf ageat ab tfg. Cr rtf kjr mbcafca klat tfg qbrlalbc jr j mbcmeylcf jcv atf alaif bo Jbecafrr. Cii lc jii, la rffwr atja sbe kbc¡¯a yf rjalrolfv klat pera atja. Tbe¡¯gf j qfgrbc ktb tjr wbgf defralbcr jcv atbeutar atjc tfg. Dfrlvfr, sbe vbc¡¯a cffv atf alaif bo Jbecafrr. Tbe kbeiv tjaf la, abb. Qbeiv sbe cba?¡±

    Only after hearing those words did he figure out that Adelaide, whom the Emperor spoke of, was Countess Patr¨ª. But he still couldn¡¯t figure out what she had in common with him. Is this a joke? Or am I being toyed with?

    The Emperor smiled faintly when he saw that Eug¨¨ne¡¯s shoulders were stiff from tension. Don¡¯t be so nervous. The Emperor¡¯s attitude of saying ill-humored things and smiling as if whatever he said was inconsequential was as strange as ever.

    ¡°This time, We will ask you one question. Who do you think I hate more? The nobles who are fond of taking advantage of the difficulties of the imperial family by slipping through the cracks? Or the hyena-like foreign enemies who strike me when I¡¯ve turned my back?¡±

    It was the hyena-like foreign enemies who strike when the back is turned.

    This time, he knew exactly who the Emperor was referring to. But that did not relieve Eug¨¨ne from all the tension. He looked at the Emperor with astonished eyes, unable to even think of loosening his stiff shoulders.

    ¡°Is it difficult to choose? Then I shall ask again. Is a civil war better? Or is a foreign war better?¡±

    The Emperor had just fought a war, yet spoke of another war. Eug¨¨ne clenched his fists as he felt chills run down his spine. He had said it two times already. The fact that the Emperor mentioned a civil war yet again. But Eug¨¨ne remembered. The Emperor said ¡®it¡¯s still too early¡¯. From his point of view, what the Emperor meant now was not a civil war, but a foreign war.

    ¡°Are you thinking of a war against the Federation of Five Nations?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked calmly. The Emperor nodded quietly.

    ¡°Do you not think it¡¯s a sound plan? A foreign war is better than a civil war. Even more so, in that, there would be no sense of guilt after all the blood-shed.¡±

    So that¡¯s what it was. Eug¨¨ne, feeling a headache, habitually raised his hand and touched the wound around his eye. Despite that, the uncomfortable feeling had completely settled deep inside. For him to speak of all this, it seemed that the Emperor had already made up his mind.

    Even if he were to be criticized for being bloodthirsty for wanting to do that, there was no stopping him.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it too fast? It has been less than three months since the end of the Landrienne Revolution. Enemy provocations are expected, but they will not exceed the scale of local warfare. Their Navy is elite, but their Army is nothing more than a comical mob.¡±

    Since the word ¡®war¡¯ arose, he couldn¡¯t continue to be Baron Amieux. Eug¨¨ne returned to his position of Navy Admiral Chastan, not Baron Amieux, and spoke heavily.

    His point was close to the truth from a strategic point of view. The Western Empire and the Federation of Five Nations were as bitter with each other as the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire. However, unlike Shaak, it never had a major confrontation with the Federation of Five Nations, as the forces of the two countries were often in a significant imbalance in terms of military type, which was an unsuitable condition for an all-out war.

    The military power of the Federation of Five Nations had been developed to be centered around the Navy. Just as the Army developed abnormally in the empire, the Federation of Five Nations invested most of its military power in the Navy. Therefore, even if the provocation came, amphibious warfare could not take place, and in the possibility that it does happen and they manage to occupy some areas, they would not be able to maintain those occupied areas.

    On the other hand, in the case of the empire, while there were soldiers to carry out the amphibious assault, the number of naval forces was too small to facilitate invasion. The naval power of the empire was not at a level that could withstand the Federation of Five Nations offensive. Although Eug¨¨ne had been successful in the past, it was a victory in a local battle on account of topographical advantages and ambush, not a victory in an all-out war.

    To be honest, Eug¨¨ne never led the battle to an all-out war. To proceed with an all-out war In a situation where the absolute superiority of the opponent, both numerically and qualitatively, was evident, Eug¨¨ne was not a commander reckless enough to make such a foolish choice.

    ¡°Who said we were going to war right now? Five years at the earliest, ten years at the latest. I plan to expand the size of the Navy three times more than it is now and raise its standards. Of course, until then, we will have to make an accurate nautical chart comparable to the Alwitz. The goal is a naval blockade of the Federation of Five Nations. It should last at least a year.¡±

    Did he say that to make matters worse? The Emperor¡¯s words that followed were even more unrealistic. It was a plan close to a dream, completely out of touch with the current state of the Imperial Navy. But Eug¨¨ne did not refute the Emperor¡¯s words. Far from refusing, he froze on the spot with a face that was so startled that he couldn¡¯t even move.

    ¡°The naval blockade of Federation of Five Nations is necessary for the following three reasons. First, we have to stop the capital encroachment of the Federation of Five Nations. The Federation of Five Nations mainly engages in intermediary trade related to the Eastern Continent or the Eastern Empire, in which case double tariffs are imposed under the imperial law. Of course, the Federation of Five Nations does not want to impose excessive tariffs, and as a result, international smuggling is rampant in ports on the west coast of the empire. The crackdown is almost impossible due to insufficient regulations and a shortage of manpower. Such smuggling creates a black market and makes distribution indecent. Not to mention how it encourages tax evasion. In fact, most of the cities on the west coast are encroached by the Federation of Five Nations. The bigger problem is that the tariff system itself is becoming obsolete as the distribution process is disrupted. When the law becomes incompetent, the influence of the empire is bound to disappear as well. There is a need for appropriate measures here.

    Second, the Federation of Five Nations is actively hindering the empire¡¯s development of trade routes. It¡¯s not only about the trade sea route to Kayediv but also a situation that interferes with the development of routes to the Eastern Continent. This means a naval blockade in a passive sense, which means that the empire could be isolated within the continent due to the Federation of Five Nations. Moreover, not being able to secure a trade route to the Eastern Continent at a time when products from the continent occupy an important position in the market, from a long-term perspective, means economic suicide.

    And third¡­¡±

    ¡°Third, it should be noted that the theory of great unity has recently taken place in the Federation of Five Nations. Rodom, Myra, Randall, Belpasset, and Kamann. There is an opinion that the permanent federation of all these five nations should be further developed and converted to a federal system, and that opinion is said to be overwhelmingly supported by the merchant nobles who make up the majority of the Federation of Five Nations. Considering that the decisions of the nobility council take precedence over the imperial command in their governing system, the feasibility of a federal system cannot be ignored. The problem is that if they consolidate into a federal system and maintain a unified national system, their naval power will overwhelm our Navy not only tactically but also strategically. This means that they will have the ability to enable active naval blockade rather than passive naval blockade as it is now, so the result would be clear and obvious¡­ it¡¯s been a long time since I wrote my proposal, so my memory¡¯s foggy, but Your Majesty remembers them in detail. Your Majesty, may I ask what¡¯s going on?¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s remarks summed up what he had proposed in his proposal for the Navy¡¯s long-term strategic plan, which he had submitted three years ago. How did a proposal that was thought to be rotting in the Navy¡¯s warehouse at best, come into the hands of the Emperor? Eug¨¨ne couldn¡¯t help but be puzzled.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? That I need a man of talent. It¡¯s not a joke, I sincerely mean it. There are many talented people in the empire, but there is no one I can use. When I do manage to find someone, they¡¯re already serving another master. That¡¯s why sometimes I need to cut in line like this. I know it¡¯s not fair play, but what else am I supposed to do? If I don¡¯t do this, I can¡¯t even play the game.¡±

    The Emperor spoke the inconvenient truth without any hesitation. Although the power of the Emperor was strengthened by the victory of the Landrienne Revolution, it was only to the extent that it was superior to the aristocracy, not that it overwhelmed them exceedingly.

    Thirty years ago, during the Second Landrienne Revolution, Armand III, the current Emperor, Ebroin V¡¯s grandfather, was defeated by Shaak, and the Great Plains of Landrienne as well as the Bern River Valley were taken away, which caused the imperial power to rapidly decrease and inversely, the aristocracy¡¯s power began to increase.

    During Armand IV¡¯s reign, the aristocracy¡¯s power, when it reached its peak, was so great that it was sarcastically remarked as the ¡®Tradition of the Prince-Electors¡¯ Era¡¯, which made the Emperor wary of the nobles.

    The faction of the nobility formed as a result was still firmly established even though more than twenty years had passed since then. The nobles, who make up the majority of the bureaucracy, were born into a certain faction and were preferentially loyal to their own faction before anything else, and although the Emperor maintained the balance of power by alienating and manipulating the aristocratic factions, he did not have the power to sweep them all at once.

    As such, it was not easy to find talented people wholly dedicated to the Emperor. In a society where education itself was a privilege, an attempt to find intellectuals other than the privileged class could not be easy.

    Cut in the line. That¡¯s an appropriate figure of speech. Though I never assumed myself to be the target. I thought he was aiming for the entire western nobility, but that wasn¡¯t it.

    Eug¨¨ne sighed lowly. It was disconcerting that what he was expecting was completely wrong. The deduction that His Majesty was aiming to use himself to absorb the power of the relatively weak and neutral western nobility was credible, but he didn¡¯t know that His Majesty¡¯s target was not the Marquis of La Baille but rather him.

    ¡°I¡¯m tired of talking in circles. I¡¯ll be straight with you. We want you. Not the you who¡¯s Baron Amieux, but the you who¡¯s Admiral Chastan. I want ¡®Eye of the Hawk¡¯, the legend of the sea and the hero of sailors. If it were you, you could be the centerpiece of the newly born Navy. Maybe I can hold the Navy in my hands instead of it being in the hands of the western nobles.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s aspirations, which he had first heard of, were by no means easy. He wanted to recover the military power that he had lost due to the circumstances of his grandfather¡¯s days with his own hands. In addition to the Army currently controlled by the Emperor, the naval power was completely flowing out of his hands.

    But for Eug¨¨ne, that wish was too much of a demand. He was well aware of how dangerous an offer the Emperor was making. To see him as a capable candidate against the entirety of the western nobility, rather than an average soldier, was too much of an exaggeration.

    ¡°¡­ Your Majesty thinks too highly of me. I don¡¯t have the ability to do that.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne said, revealing his embarrassment as if he had been hit in the back of his head. However, the Emperor only treated Eug¨¨ne¡¯s denial as mere humility. It wasn¡¯t because he didn¡¯t know his actual feelings. He plainly had no intention of letting go.

    ¡°You¡¯re excessively humble, Vice Admiral. To help your self-esteem, you are the only man We found after scouring the entire Imperial Navy. We have been keeping an eye on the Imperial Navy for ten years. It¡¯s already been 4 years since I first found and started observing you. We¡¯re quite confident. It would be nice if you had the same confidence as well.¡±

    It was something he never imagined. His Majesty has been observing me for four years already? Eug¨¨ne had never felt such a sign in the past four years and was stunned when he realized that the Emperor¡¯s hand had already reached the depths of the navy.

    He was at a loss for words. It¡¯s hard to even think properly because everything felt so complicated. Eug¨¨ne let out a low sigh as he rubbed his throbbing temple.

    Now he understood why the story of Countess Patr¨ª came up earlier. What the Emperor was doing to him now was not mere courtship, but was actually offering a proposal. A terrifying proposal where Eug¨¨ne would have to completely entrust his life, future, and even his last breath to him.

    Perhaps the proposal he received was even heavier than that of Countess Patr¨ª. Even if she refused the proposal she received, it would simply be ignored by the Emperor, however, the proposal offered to him meant death in itself.

    But the method is too poor.

    In a way, this was a great opportunity to run on the road to success. It was an offer that would be of utmost joy if he was in a good mood, but he wasn¡¯t happy at all. The means were too insidious to think that way. Asking him to offer loyalty only after driving him to such a dead end, was this really a legitimate way to gain the trust of a subject?

 CH 11

    The Emperor¡¯s question was premised on the fact that if he answered incorrectly, his future would be shattered. It¡¯s not like he could refuse in the first place. Instead of it being a question, it was more of a threat.

    ¡°-I¡¯m asking just in case, but is this related to the fact that the Duke of Fernand¡¯s partner was my wife?¡±

    What should I do? Eug¨¨ne was deeply troubled and revealed the question that suddenly appeared in his mind to the Emperor. The Emperor¡¯s amber eyes narrowed with a faint smile. As if it was amusing, he raised the corners of his lips and answered Eug¨¨ne¡¯s question.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say that it¡¯s not connected to the matter at all. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to kill two birds with one stone if it¡¯s something you must take an action for? As you know, the Duke of Fernand has many lovers. Thanks to that, there were plenty of choices.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°This is the only contribution he made to the empire. He hasn¡¯t helped in anything all his life, but he made himself useful this once.¡±

    Only after hearing that far did Eug¨¨ne realize. The truth was that no matter how much he thought about it, his answer was meaningless. He was already a divorced man, and the whole world knew that the Emperor had decided to find a new wife for him. Unbeknownst to him, the Emperor¡¯s plan was already underway. The Emperor made the choice first, and Eug¨¨ne had no idea how to escape from his choice.

    ¡°You¡¯re Majesty¡¯s method is quite unusual for someone who desires loyalty. Even my wife was taken away.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne muttered lowly as he belatedly realize that the one who had fallen into a trap was not his wife, but him. Upon hearing this, the Emperor smiled deeply. Since, by spotting the nuances, he understood what he said meant that he was now surrendering himself.

    ¡°We are a person with a strong desire for monopoly. It would¡¯ve been hard to trust you to the fullest if the fleet admiral¡¯s niece were to remain to be your wife. What could be more futile than making you my man and then doubting your loyalty? In that case, one should simply clear away the bone of contention in advance.¡±

    The Emperor replied with a soft smile. In an elegant and carefree tone, as if he were gently advising on the floral ornaments on his collar. He quite figuratively said that it was better for him to change his wife because she didn¡¯t suit him anyway.

    He will never make a good Emperor.

    Eug¨¨ne thought as he looked at such an Emperor. This Emperor was the kind of man who could never be a good monarch, a good father, or a good friend. He would not be a man who makes people happy. Speaking of him as an individual, not a sovereign, he was the kind of person who could not live with mere human happiness.

    However, he had a premonition as strong as what he just conjectured. That Emperor, this ruthless, cold-blooded young Emperor, would become the greatest Emperor in imperial history. He was a genius who would make a strong and great country, but not one where the subjects would be happy.

    An Emperor who will remain a legend in history. A man whose name will be remembered and always be feared by all. That¡¯s exactly what the Emperor looked like in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s eyes.

    Aside from the human feeling of contempt for what he had done, a powerful attraction drew him in. Although he was scared and horrified, there was a strong curiosity regarding the future he would create. Eug¨¨ne bit his lip at the unfamiliar feeling that provoked him. The ambition that he didn¡¯t even know existed within him was making way due to the stimulus given by the Emperor.

    ¡°There will be a ball tomorrow evening, Baron. It¡¯s a banquet held by one of my concubines, Marquise Lamott. You will also receive an invitation, so be prepared.¡±

    The Emperor leaned his head back on the backrest and gave a languid command. Eug¨¨ne raised his head and looked at the young Emperor. Golden hair glistened in the light. A straight, well-shaped nose. An elegant mouth and a sharp jawline. A young and beautiful body of only thirty-two years old.

    Snfc mbwqjgfv ab Gexf Mfgcjcv, ktb kjr rjlv ab yf atf wbra tjcvrbwf wjc lc atf fwqlgf, atfgf kjr j yfjealoei wjc, ktb kjr lc cb kjs lcofglbg ab atf Gexf, gluta lc ogbca bo tlw. Rb, lc ojma, atf Swqfgbg¡¯r jqqfjgjcmf kjr wbgf mbcrqlmeber atjc atf atlc jcv ogjulif Gexf. Llr ybvs kjr tfjiats jcv ragbcu, jcv tlr rtjgq fsfr, atf klcvbk ab tlr ifnfi-tfjvfv lcafiilufcmf, kfgf wbgf yfjealoei atjc jcs pfkfi.

    The Emperor was a man like a living young god. He was a person who could only be said to be standing at the pinnacle of humanity in every way.

    But Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t know that the Emperor was such an attractive man until he saw him in person. While traveling around the west coast, he had never heard of the Emperor¡¯s beauty. Though he heard many rumors about a strong and terrifying Emperor or a rational and extraordinary young Emperor, none of the many rumors mentioned his youthful body and beautiful appearance.

    It was only at this moment that Eug¨¨ne realized the reason. The reason why the Emperor was merely called an Emperor despite his striking appearance. He knew why there were hardly any mentions of beauty in the words to describe the Emperor.

    The Emperor was simply an Emperor.

    He was a being who no one dared to describe in any other manner.

    ***

    It was a beautiful hand.

    If it wasn¡¯t for the size, his hands were so beautiful that one could have mistaken them for the hands of a lady. The fingers without a single joint were delicately thin, and the fingertips, with carefully trimmed nails, were neat like a painting.

    The skin was also fair and lovely. Although the disease made it lose its former shine, the palms, which had never been subjected to rough work in their entire life, were as soft and fragile as baby skin. Maybe that¡¯s why, but when he looked at his hand, he thought of a lily made of silk. They were well-crafted artificial flowers that did not have the unique characteristic of living flowers, but their unnatural aesthetic value attracted people¡¯s attention.

    ¡®You must remember¡­¡¯

    The man, who reached out his elegant hand and grabbed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s hand, whispered as if moaning. Eug¨¨ne looked down at the man who was holding him with desperate force with a calm gaze.

    ¡®Remember Eug¨¨ne. You must remember¡­ You are not a Baron. Our family has held the title of venerable Count from the time of C¨¨sar II. Whatever the lascivious Empress may say, whatever the foolish nobles denigrate, you must not forget your roots. Remember the glory of your ancestors. Never forget the honor of our family that you and I have been robbed of.¡¯

    Words that he had heard countless times. The honor you and I have been robbed of. The glory of our ancestors. The man¡¯s eyes gleamed with familiar madness.

    Madness was the driving force of the man¡¯s life and also, the ultimate cause of his ruin.

    The man¡¯s health and spirit were corrupted and ruined by his own ego. His stubborn obsession with what was lost caused even his few friends to shake their heads and leave, and all he had left were the sick people infected with the same madness.

    The world thought of them as a joke.

    ¡®Eug¨¨ne.¡¯

    The man gasped for breath and called for Eug¨¨ne. For him, who now had no one left to lament, Eug¨¨ne was the only one he could share his feelings with.

    Unfortunately for Eug¨¨ne, a man who left a young child unattended, and didn¡¯t care how he survived but talked as if everything he had done was for him, was still his father. A ruthless and selfish father who didn¡¯t even notice that the hand of his son, which held his pretty hand, was rough and full of wounds.

    ¡®The Chastan family is the family of Count- Cough. It was also a proud family of Margraves. In the past, even the Marquis of the capital could not treat our family rudely. You must make them pay for their sins. We will seek our place again. You must now carry on with all the great work that I was unable to accomplish.¡¯

    The grief-stricken father, with a voice full of boiling blood, tried to get assurance from him. Yes, that¡¯s right. We were a family of Margraves. But we were also the ones who failed to fulfill our role and ran away. They left their estate and vassals, as well as the people of that territory to fend for themselves. Is that the glory you speak of?

    A cynical thought came to mind for a moment. But, as always, that thought lingered in his mind and then faded away.

    No matter if it didn¡¯t, he was still a dying person. Despite being a man who didn¡¯t even hold rational compassion within him, he was still his father. Even though he was a person who cared more about entering the capital than the cost of his dying mother¡¯s medicine, even though he was a person who always blamed others without ever realizing what he has done wrong¡­ He was the only blood relative of Eug¨¨ne left in this world.

    ¡®¡­ Father, please stop and rest.¡¯

    Eug¨¨ne pulled his hand out of the man¡¯s grasp. The father reached out again to grab Eug¨¨ne, but the weak strength of a patient suffering from a lung disease could not hold his young son. Eug¨¨ne pulled up an old blanket, covered his father¡¯s body, and took the bowl of soup.

    From his father¡¯s throat came the wheezy sound of sputum along with the sound of his metal-like breathing. The skin, which had become pale due to the disease, was like a blank sheet of paper, and the blue blood vessels flowing under the thin skin were clearly visible.

    ¡®Don¡¯t forget, Son. Never¡­ You must never¡­¡¯

    The dying voice was slowly losing strength. The light faded from his eyes, and his white, fine hands slid off the old blanket. The man fell asleep again.

    Rattle-Rattle. The cold wind of midwinter shook the window sill. There was no longer any warmth in the hearth where the embers had almost extinguished. The attic of a dirty and shabby boarding house. In the middle of a room that Eug¨¨ne barely managed to obtain by earning his wages, a man, who was one of the most prominent noblemen in the east, laid ill.

    The man, who lost all of his many friends and lovers, had dried up like the dead branches in late autumn and was slowly dying as he recounted the splendid old glory that existed only in his heart.

    What a wretched end of the one who desired the irreversible. Eug¨¨ne knew it wasn¡¯t just the disease that was killing his father. The trap of despair and loneliness set by himself. The father was actually dying from all of it. All his resolutions to Eug¨¨ne were nothing but stubbornness that he endured until the very end.

    It was because of the war thirteen years ago that Count Amieux, who was a Margrave in the Amieux region, was demoted to Baron, two ranks lower than his original rank. The Second Landrienne Revolution, which was later referred to as the ¡®Landrienne¡¯s Disgrace¡¯ by imperial historians, was the biggest defeat they had to face since the founding of the empire in the war of conquest waged by the Eastern Empire, Shaak. In that humiliating war, the Estina Empire lost its Emperor and suffered the loss of the entire eastern plains, as well as the eastern part of the Bern River.

    In that war, Count Amieux, who was located in the northern part of the Landrienne region, was also deprived of his territory. Not only was the fief taken away, but only the lord¡¯s family narrowly escaped, leaving behind his vassals and the people living in that land.

    Surprisingly, Count Amieux was not the only one who made such a choice. Almost all of the eastern nobles who had been deprived of their territory made the same choice. Only one person, Margrave Renault, was imprisoned as he struggled to protect the people of his territory.

    According to the imperial law, nobles who lost their territories to the enemy would have to face rank demotion. Furthermore, if one had failed to fulfill their duty as a Margrave, not only would they have to face the demotion of their peerage title, but the sentence of beheading must also be borne. Originally, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s father, Count Amieux, would not have been able to escape from such a situation. If Empress ¨¦lo?se, who became the Empress after the demise of the late Emperor, had not shown mercy.

    Fortunately, for the eastern nobles who had lost their lands, Empress ¨¦lo?se, or now Empress Mother, was also from the eastern nobility. She was the only daughter of Margrave Renault, who was the only one who died while defending his position in the Second Landrienne Revolution, and she was also a woman so religious that rumors circulated that she would have become a nun if she hadn¡¯t caught the eyes of the Crown Prince.

    She had already been deeply involved in political affairs since the accession of her husband, Armand IV. Being the devout woman she was, she showed mercy by saving the lives of the eastern nobles who were supposed to be beheaded and replaced the punishment by demoting their peerage titles down to two ranks, instead of only one.

    However, some eastern nobles deeply resented the Empress Mother for making such a decision. The main reason they hated the Empress Mother was that she did not pity the situation of the eastern nobles, who were from the same faction and lost everything, but even punished them. They wanted to receive a different form of punishment than the Empress Mother¡¯s, and what they insisted on was the so-called ¡®responsibility theory¡¯.

    Their so-called ¡®responsibility theory¡¯ was based on the idea that the eastern nobles should be given a chance to make up for their mistakes. In other words, their main argument was that they should not demote their titles on the pretext of the previous day¡¯s matter, but on the contrary, give them military status worthy of their titles to offset their responsibility for their crimes by reclaiming their lost lands.

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s father was one of the key advocates of the responsibility theory. In order to make his claim a national policy, he poured out all of his scarce fortunes and devoted his entire life and passion to it. Thanks to that, he became a laughing stock. Once regarded as one of the most respectable nobles in the east, he was now called a pathetic complainer who made excessive demands and couldn¡¯t get out of it of his delusions and was treated as a blockhead who didn¡¯t know how to give up.

    The public treatment of the fallen noble was harsh. However, Eug¨¨ne thought that such a worldly sentiment was rather natural. The arguments of his father and his sympathizers were overly shameless. Even if they were powerful people, it was not unreasonable that the world did not deal with them when they were making such claims in a situation where they had already lost their foundation and collapsed.

    If you don¡¯t give, you get nothing. No, society¡¯s logic was that it was difficult to receive as much as you give. Yet they did nothing but wish. That is why the actions of the eastern nobles, who did not know or acknowledge the reality, were pathetic. Their claims were nothing short of foolishness, and the world was not easy enough for such foolishness to prevail.

    I don¡¯t think I can follow your will, Father.

    Eug¨¨ne quietly stared at the man who was ending his life in such a shabby manner and shook his head. It was something he could never say out loud, but his determination was already firm. Whatever his father¡¯s wishes, Eug¨¨ne had no intention of carrying on his will. Even if his father made it his dying wish, the choice would be the same.

    Eug¨¨ne was extremely realistic, unlike his father, who was blinded by his former glory. He clearly distinguished what he could and could not do, and he had no greed to covet whatever was out of his reach.

    There was only one thing Eug¨¨ne wanted.

    He just wanted to survive.

    He wanted to survive and live like a human being. A life without shame and pain. A life where he wouldn¡¯t have to dig through the trash to learn and work to the point his nails break just to eat. He simply wanted a life that would suffice for being human, nothing more.

    Sixteen. At a young age, Eug¨¨ne had already realized how bitter life was. You must neither believe nor wish for anything more than what you have achieved with your own abilities. To sit in one place doing nothing and waiting for others to adjust to you was as futile as expecting the sun to revolve around you.

    That realization was the only lesson his father left him. It was also the most valuable legacy of his father.

 CH 12

    Eug¨¨ne lifted his face, dripping with water, and looked in the mirror. Inside was the face of a man who was exactly the same age as his father when he died. A familiar yet unfamiliar face. Eug¨¨ne silently looked at the figure reflected in the mirror with a new feeling.

    Facing the mirror reminded him of the dream he had last night. The dream, which was vivid as if it were a part of reality, was not simply a dream, but a fragment of the years he had passed.

    Eug¨¨ne still remembered those difficult times clearly. The damp air in the humid attic and the rough wooden walls, that couldn¡¯t even be whitewashed. The chilly air that came in through the gaps in the unfinished walls and the windows. The exhaustion that he felt to his bones after working the entire day and the misery he felt when he fell asleep as he hugged his hungry stomach.

    Eug¨¨ne remembered it all. He never forgot any of his miserable childhood memories.

    He studied by writing on a book thrown away by a college student who lived downstairs with a piece of charcoal he picked up on the street. He ate anything that could fill his stomach, and he learned and memorized things that were supposed to be useful for future situations by watching or listening to others. After raking up all the money he had left and holding his father¡¯s funeral, he devoted himself to the Navy that would accept him and came here with efforts out of desperation.

    Those hard days of struggle sculpted the face he saw now. All the years he had spent melted into his face, leaving deep traces like annual rings.

    He had gray eyes and gray hair like his father, but his gray was a color with a different saturation from his father. His hair was lighter, while his eyes were darker. Unlike his father, who had fair skin like a lady, his face, roughened by the sea breeze, was dark copper, and even the scars, left by the fully healed wounds, were reddish from the sun.

    Even though they had the same blood, the fact that he had a thicker and more upright face than his father showed that the environment his father lived in was very different from the one he did. The face of the man who was left alone at 16 and lived his life as he decided, had a depth as hard as granite. The stern face of a man who had kept his humility and frugality with only what he could get himself.

    However, what was churning in his heart now was a completely different emotion from his long-held determination. The feeling of ambition that was pressed to death in case a lump or bud would grow. A feeling that he had despised, hated, and tried to stay away from was now slowly revealing itself.

    ¡­ His Majesty is truly a great man. How can one stir someone up so much with only a few words?

    You can¡¯t fool yourself even if you can fool others. Eug¨¨ne realized that he had already accepted the Emperor¡¯s proposal from the depths of his heart. It seems that he was also the son of his perseverant father. Even though he knew it was his greed taking over, he didn¡¯t feel like stepping back.

    Seriously, like father, like son.

    As he kept staring in the mirror without washing his face, the attendant who was serving him, called him out in a state of bewilderment.

    ¡°Your Excellency?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne lost in thought while having a staring contest with himself in the mirror, came to his senses only after a couple more calls from the attendant. Once he realized it, the water running down his face had already messed up his collar. Eug¨¨ne smiled wryly and took the towel.

    ¡°What time is it now?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked the attendant as he tied a cravat over his changed shirt. The attendant, who was helping Eug¨¨ne get dressed, glanced at his watch and answered earnestly.

    ¡°Pa¡¯r jigfjvs alwf obg Llr Zjpfras¡¯r kjxf-eq mfgfwbcs, Ufala ifnfg, ab yfulc.¡±

    Okay, but what time is it? Eug¨¨ne, unaccustomed to courtly idioms, thought in confusion. Fortunately, the quick-witted attendant noticed the situation, and added in a natural manner to explain.

    ¡°Pa¡¯r pera qjra fluta lc atf wbgclcu. Pc j ilaaif ktlif, Llr Zjpfras Ktf Swqfgbg¡¯r ygfjxojra klii yfulc.¡±

    Ycis atfc vlv Seu¨¨cf oluegf la bea, jcv rlwqis cbvvfv tlr tfjv.

    Kb tlr vfiluta, Seu¨¨cf kjr cba lcnlafv ab atf Swqfgbg¡¯r ygfjxojra. Mbgaecjafis, fnfc atf mjgvlcjir bo atf Serajmf rfma kfgf qgfrfca ja atf Swqfgbg¡¯r ygfjxojra abvjs. Seu¨¨cf¡¯r qgbyjyis atf bcis bcf lc atf ktbif mbega ktb gfpblmfv bnfg atlr, yea ktja firf mbeiv tf vb?

    Just because a new ambition begins to burn in your heart doesn¡¯t mean that it will change your nature. For him, who was accustomed to the simple life of a seaman, the complicated court etiquettes were nothing more than excessively heavy woolen clothes in the hot season.

    ¡°Bring me a light breakfast and writing supplies. I have work to do in the morning.¡±

    Let¡¯s settle the invitations piled up like a mountain while I have time. Eug¨¨ne, having decided to do so, gave an order to the attendant who had finished adjusting his clothes.

    ***

    The leisurely morning hours ended without even starting. After having breakfast alone, he laid out the writing supplies on the desk for a while, but he had to get up because of the attendant who came with a message, saying that he was being called. The reply he had planned to write did not even amount to two pages.

    I heard that breakfast is over, so what am I being called for? Eug¨¨ne could not hide his doubts and followed the attendant. The Emperor, who likes to surprise people, did not give an exact reason this time as well.

    The place where the attendant led Eug¨¨ne was the Imbert Palace, specifically the ¡®Room of Eustace¡¯, which was used as the Emperor¡¯s office. Eug¨¨ne, upon an unexpected call, arrived at the heart of the empire, and passed through the ¡®Room of Ash¡¯, the waiting room for nobles who wanted an audience, to enter the Emperor¡¯s office.

    He felt the jealous eyes of the other nobles, waiting for the audience, stabbing his back, but it¡¯s not like he had a say in this. An audience other than a ball did not consist of an Entree. Whoever the Emperor met first was entirely up to him.

    ¡°You still haven¡¯t sorted out the meritorious records? What nonsense is that supposed to mean?¡±

    The first thing that greeted Eug¨¨ne as he entered the office through the door opened by the attendant, was the angry voice of the Emperor, interrogating someone¡¯s duty. As it was, five or six men were gathered together in the Emperor¡¯s office, a room full of colorful objects. The Emperor was leaning diagonally against a wide desk made of rosewood, but since the Emperor was standing, no one could sit down either, and so, they all stood still.

    ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty. However, as it may be known, the last war was extensive. It is not easy to determine the merits fairly because the front lines were long and there have been many sporadic battles in various places.¡±

    The person who bowed his head in embarrassment at the pouring criticism was General Basin, Field Marshal of the Army. He was reputed to be the most powerful commander in the empire due to his audacious tactics and valiant force, but for some reason, he seemed to be receiving a terrible rebuke from His Majesty The Emperor.

    ¡°Are you saying that now? Isn¡¯t the fact that the record of merits has not been compiled yet that the scale of the rewards has not been grasped? What the hell are you up to!! What are all of you doing?¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s wrath was like blazing cold flames. Even though it comes off as freezing cold on the skin, if it gushes past its limit, it might as well cook the flesh severely. In addition, since it flowed out enough, the rage toward General Basin spread to the side and poured down on the person next to him as well.

    Those who were struck by lightning while standing next to the stern man couldn¡¯t even lift their heads. The Emperor posed a question to others in a cold tone.

    ¡°Tell me, Count Pharamond. When was the last time I told you to secure the finances for the reward, and you¡¯re still not done yet? If you can¡¯t even guess the scale of it, let alone secure finances, does that not mean that the Ministry of Finance has been idle all this time? But why is it that you didn¡¯t even report it?¡±

    ¡°Your- Your Majesty, that is-.¡±

    ¡°What is it? What are you trying to say?¡±

    ¡°I deserve to die, Your Majesty. There was barely enough to audit the war expenditures spent in the last war that I didn¡¯t even dare to. Even if it came in anyway, the formalities would be delayed, so I didn¡¯t rush it-¡±

    ¡°Who asked you for an excuse? You should have reported it If you¡¯re not going to do it anyway! Isn¡¯t there only one way to do it whether you give someone the job or share the work?!! Looking at this situation, We can clearly see what the state of affairs was like when We were away from the capital. Can you still call yourselves the ministers of a country? How will state affairs proceed properly when all they do is try to evade responsibility and say they didn¡¯t know this or that?!

    In the harsh atmosphere that was difficult to intervene, Eug¨¨ne could no longer enter and stopped at his place. However, the ministers who noticed that he had entered, turned to look at him one by one, as if such behavior of his was rather more noticeable. The Emperor, who was glaring at the ministers with burning eyes, also found Eug¨¨ne in the midst of it.

    He annoyingly beckoned Eug¨¨ne to come closer. Eug¨¨ne silently hardened his expression and approached the Emperor.

    For now, the brutal atmosphere seemed to have calmed down upon his appearance. Instead, there was now an awkward silence filled with questions. The ministers were puzzled because they did not know the identity of the young man who suddenly appeared during the political meeting, and Eug¨¨ne was frustrated because he did not know why he was called to such an important place.

    ¡°¡­ Your Majesty, who is this man?¡±

    Among the ministers who were curiously rolling their eyes, the oldest-looking person came forward as a representative and asked about Eug¨¨ne¡¯s identity. That person was Jacques Bastien de Chirac, Duke of Chirac, who had served as an imperial minister in various posts for as many as ten years, a tycoon that even Eug¨¨ne, who was ill-informed of the capital situation, could recognize just by looking at his signalment.

    ¡°This is Baron Amieux, who will serve as an advisor in the political affairs meeting from today. Perhaps you¡¯re more familiar with the name, Vice Admiral Chastan. Do pay your greetings. Since you¡¯ll be seeing each other¡¯s faces for a while.¡±

    The Emperor had not yet fully resolved his anger and responded bluntly to the prime minister¡¯s question. He said it as if it were no big deal, but the ministers in the room were all shocked to hear it. Though Eug¨¨ne was the most surprised of all. There was no outward agitation, but beneath his expressionless face, his heart was pounding.

    He was well aware that His Majesty liked to do things out of the blue, but this was one of the most perplexing things he had ever done.

    Commonly, the ones who served as advisors in the meeting of the political affairs were among the experienced noblemen and reputable scholars who had retired from politics. Since it was a form of borrowing the wisdom of a sage in running state affairs, it had been a long-standing practice for an advisor to be a person with a proper status and reputation.

    The ministers found it hard to grasp that such an arduous position was occupied by Eug¨¨ne, who was not only young but also had a low peerage title.

    ¡°Your Majesty, the meaning of such words¡­¡±

    ¡°It means exactly what you think. It remains to be seen whether it will work out properly. There¡¯s nothing to worry about since he¡¯ll plainly be observing on each visit.¡±

    The Emperor responded coldly to the minister who cautiously asked about his intentions. On an ordinary day, he was a minister who would have said something more, but today, the Emperor¡¯s anger was so great that he couldn¡¯t say anything and retreated from there.

    The other ministers were just looking around, and no one came forward to point out the immoderate promotion. Mainly because they were afraid that the severe reproach, which had subsided for a while, would fall upon them again.

    The Emperor¡¯s Command was truly amazing, and with just a few words, it could either make a person suddenly rise in fame and success or feel like a cat in a strange garret. The Prime Minister understood the situation after hearing the answer and bowed his head again whilst hiding his surprise. Eug¨¨ne, too, understood Emperor¡¯s evaluation.

    Eug¨¨ne wouldn¡¯t have been so embarrassed if he had explained the reason in a calm and orderly way, but he presented a conclusion without a preamble, which only caused the others to be suddenly startled.

    In essence, the meeting of the political affairs was held to decide the most important issues in the country, so it was not a place where unqualified people could attend without permission. Even if he¡¯ll only be here for visits, a suitable post position was essential.

    In order to create an excuse, the Emperor gave Eug¨¨ne the role of a pretentious advisor, not the actual power. No matter if you can¡¯t understand it all, since you won¡¯t even have the right to speak, let alone the real power.

    Even so, preferential treatment is preferential treatment. His Majesty, who is particular about choosing people, has formally declared that he will set up his own group of people by training them personally, so it¡¯s nothing to be taken seriously.

    The Duke of Chirac was aware of how terrifying the Emperor was, even if he couldn¡¯t read his mind. The old politician understood what an unusual move this was.

    His Majesty is not one to waste his attention with a one-time performance, which means that he¡¯s truly planning to make this person his hands and feet. Realizing that the rumors were not just rumors, the Duke of Chirac looked at Eug¨¨ne with interest. He was curious about what the Emperor liked so much about Eug¨¨ne, who only seemed to be a curt soldier from his perspective, and whether His Majesty would continue to bestow such privileges over and over again.

    Eug¨¨ne, who seemed to be just a blunt soldier from his side, was interested in where his majesty was, and his curiosity captured his heart as to whether His Majesty would repeat these privileges over and over again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother yourselves with useless things and simply keep the meeting going. If anyone has not yet finished whatever We need to hear, come forward now.¡±

    Did he notice that the ministers¡¯ eyes were focused in the wrong place? The Emperor cut in his words and turned their attention back to himself. ¡°Where exactly are all of your eyes right now?¡±

    ¡°Can none of you notice Our anger?¡± The ministers, at the cold threatening voice, quickly turned their eyes and focused all their attention on the Emperor.

    Eventually, the meeting resumed, as if they were all walking on thin ice. Eug¨¨ne stood stiffly and watched as the angry Emperor nagged his ministers. Even though he wasn¡¯t the one being scolded, the Emperor¡¯s anger was so terrifying that he almost felt his heart quiver at the sight.

 CH 13

    The morning meeting that seemed to go on forever finally came to an end.

    After the ministers left, the Emperor headed to his bedroom to spend his afternoon schedule for a while. Eug¨¨ne, the only one who was not ordered to leave, was forced to follow the Emperor to his bedroom.

    The Emperor¡¯s bedroom, which he visited during the day, had a different atmosphere in the evening. The entire wall on one side of the room had glass windows that overlooked the palace garden, and the other three sides were decorated in red and green, the colors of the imperial family, which made the entire room look gorgeous and magnificent.

    The window frames, walls, and even the footrests attached to the armchair were adorned with carvings emphasizing the Emperor¡¯s dignity. The ceiling painting, which depicted Regire, Goddess of The Sky, and Eustace, the God of Fire and Agriculture, protecting the Emperor, was so overwhelmingly majestic and beautiful to the eye.

    ¡°What did you feel, Baron? You must have noticed something after witnessing the whole scene.¡±

    The Emperor asked Eug¨¨ne as he took off his clothes with the service of the chamberlain. Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t know if it was because he¡¯s been served by other people since he was born, but the Emperor had no shame in showing his naked body in front of others. The day before, he wore a thin gown, but today he was revealing his naked body without covering a single spot as he was changing clothes.

    Seems like it¡¯s not only the ladies who are familiar with the Emperor¡¯s naked body. Rather, the noblemen might be more used to it.

    Eug¨¨ne could not look directly at the Emperor like that. Of course, he had a good enough body to be a spectacle, but during a serious conversation about national affairs, it bothered him that one was naked while the other was fully clothed.

    There was no reason to be ashamed of a man¡¯s naked body now that he had lived almost half his life among naked crewmen. However, at this moment, for some reason, his face turned red. It was probably due to the self-awareness that he was peeking at someone else¡¯s private moment.

    ¡°I understood what Your Majesty said. I could see why Your Majesty desires for a dedicated and loyal man of talent.¡±

    He answered, averting his eyes from the spectacle. The Emperor laughed at the sight. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was because he liked Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer, or if he found Eug¨¨ne¡¯s attitude to be amusing.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, quite urgently so. Not someone who would pretend to die for Us, but someone who would truly lay down his life.¡±

    The Emperor passively accepted his words. However, even the calm smile could not hide the coldness of his golden eyes. Whilst he was not showing the same blatant anger as seen in the office, in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s eyes, the current Emperor looked more menacing than before.

    A predatory beast hiding its claws while hunting. He could sense the bleak presence of the faintly lurking wild animal from the Emperor before him.

    ¡°What method must be used to kick their heavy bums and make them move?¡±

    The Emperor smiled coolly, hiding the previous look in his eyes, that was momentarily revealed. Just as his gleaming body was covered under the many layers of silk clothing, the bloody heartlessness calmly hid under his splendid appearance and mischievous smile. The way he skillfully concealed himself was like that of a leopard hiding in the grass, sending chills down Eug¨¨ne¡¯s spine.

    ¡°If it were me, I would first start with the problem of the eastern territories, Your Majesty.¡±

    Lf jcrkfgfv mjiwis, yea tlr olrar, vjwq klat rkfja, kfgf mifcmtfv ab atf qblca atja la rffwfv ilxf yibbv tjv vlrjqqfjgfv ogbw atfw.

    Let¡¯s be calm.

    Seu¨¨cf, ilxf atf Swqfgbg, gfqfjafv atf rjwf kbgvr lc tlr wlcv jcv rwlifv mbcrmlberis. Ktf Swqfgbg kjr j mbiv-tfjgafv jcv mjimeijalcu wjc. Lf rffwfv ab ilxf tlw cbk, yea lo tf vffwfv tlw ab yf jc eccfmfrrjgs tjrrif, tf klii aegc tlr yjmx klatbea jcs tfrlajalbc.

    To hold the Emperor¡¯s extended hand, he had to prove his worth. The Emperor was not a benevolent monarch to those who let him down.

    ¡°How? Doing what they want will not work. Do voice your suggestions if you have any, Advisor. You must do your duty.¡±

    The Emperor, as if he had forgotten what he had said was a role only in name, brazenly handed over his duties to Eug¨¨ne. But Eug¨¨ne, who knew from the beginning that the public post would be a snare, accepted the word without hesitation.

    ¡°While the method of go-slow is an effective way to show off the power of a subject, it is not an approach that can be used often. Furthermore, in the face of a monarch with a strong character like Your Majesty, the drawbacks may outweigh the benefits. The fact that they pushed ahead with the strike without even knowing that means that they¡¯re coveting the eastern territories.¡±

    In a court that liked to talk in a roundabout way, even political acts were done in the same manner. For example, this is exactly what happened at the political affairs meeting earlier. The Emperor thunderously criticized them to be incompetent, but they were senior officials of the empire after all ¨C Moreover, there was no way that the dignitaries in a powerful monarch¡¯s regime, like Ebroin V, were unable to do their assigned jobs because they were genuinely incompetent.

    No matter how they acted on the surface, they were deliberately sabotaging the affairs, and even the Emperor would not be aware of it. In Eug¨¨ne¡¯s view, the Emperor¡¯s bustling rage was nothing more than a kind of ritual, as were the overreactive apologies of the dignitaries.

    To have a proper understanding of what was going on between them, you had to read between the lines, rather than directly pay heed to their words or actions. Anything of actual importance would only take place between those lines.

    This meant that there was a reasonable benefit for the competent ministers not to work despite the Emperor¡¯s wrath. Moreover, the fact that the most important record of merits in the post-war settlements has not yet been written was a story of aim in itself.

    In the current situation, there was only one target surrounding the record of merits. A fertile territory in the eastern region that had been recovered from the last war. The coveted land was considered the best granary of the empire and nourished the eastern nobles until it was taken away by Shaak.

    Traditionally, in principle, newly expanded territories were bestowed upon nobles who had contributed to the war. However, the soldiers mobilized in this war were not the nobles¡¯ territorial soldiers, but from the Emperor¡¯s central Army, and even the Emperor himself revitalized the war situation that had been pushed back to the early stages.

    By all accounts, it was the Emperor who made the most significant contribution to this war. As such, even the noblemen who participated in the war as officers could not desire the greater credits, even if they claimed the small ones.

    In such a situation, if the record of merits is completed, there will be an objective indicator dividing the merits. It goes without saying that if there is a rule in distribution, there will be less room for intrusion. In addition, the area where discretion can be exercised would be greatly reduced, so the aristocrats cannot look forward to the completion of the record of merits.

    Perhaps they were hoping that the territories would be distributed without the completion of the record of merits. In order to further expand their interests even a little.

    ¡°I have been wandering the open sea for a long time, but I¡¯ve heard the rumors. Lately, the eastern nobility faction, which has led the theory of responsibility for the past, has been openly speaking out. The fact that those who lost their influence more than a decade ago are raising their voices again means that there are other forces impelling them. Fools will believe they have a friend who will listen to them, but supporting those without any moral duties means someone else is benefiting from it. However, Your Majesty can make use of that too. There is nothing better against the enemy than the enemy¡¯s own weapon.¡±

    What the agitators of the eastern nobility want is for them to not achieve their goals. By making noise with their contention, the issue of territorial distribution is bound to become a political issue, which would press the Emperor to speed up the distribution, thus completing their masterwork.

    The Emperor frowned upon hearing Eug¨¨ne¡¯s words. He lightly gestured to the attendant, who was braiding his hair carefully, to step back as if it were bothersome. Then he went to the nearest armchair and slumped down.

    The attendants, who were grooming the Emperor with a sincere attitude scattered like a swarm of startled bees and then gathered again. They tried not to offend the seated Emperor and stepped forward to fix and adjust his clothes.

    ¡°Fighting the enemy with the enemy¡¯s own weapon? Do you mean to put a snare on the cause of the eastern nobles?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Please listen to what they want, Your Majesty. As they wish, you can return the territories to their original owners. However, not only that but for the time being, those who are not the former owners should be ordered not to occupy the eastern territories.¡±

    The vertical lines between the Emperor¡¯s brows deepened. He looked at Eug¨¨ne with a doubtful face and then casually asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s an interesting proposition. Especially considering where you¡¯re from. ¡­Fine. Keep going. Let¡¯s see how ingenious you can be.¡±

    Even though he spoke as if it was really interesting, his eyes were sharp. It was as if he would cut him off if he said anything nonsense. Eug¨¨ne looked at his eyes without shame.

    ¡°Just attach a clue. No matter what they claim, they are the ones who lost their territory and fled, leaving their people behind. Giving the territories back to them without payment would only reveal one¡¯s folly, rather than mercy. So make them pay. As it is, the empire¡¯s finances are in a rough spot due to the war, so Your Majesty can simply ask them to take responsibility for that share.¡±

    ¡°Ha? Are you telling Us to do business with the territories?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a business. It is nothing more than consolidating rewards and punishments. If it were actually going to be a business, then it would¡¯ve been better to auction the entire imperial nobility, not just the eastern faction. There are many who covet the fertile eastern territories, so there would have been no shortage when filling the empty state coffers and appeasing the meritorious men.¡±

    The answer flowed naturally as if he had prepared it beforehand. In fact, it was only possible to come up with an answer because he had been thinking about it since he attended the meeting on political affairs. Eug¨¨ne, despite not having experienced it a few times, knew better than anyone what kind of person the Emperor was.

    There was nothing unexpected about the Emperor¡¯s actions. Even if it looks like that at first, once you have a deeper understanding of them, in most cases, most of them were based on subtle calculations that seemed to be a few steps ahead. If you follow such a person without thinking, you are likely to be in big trouble. In order to deal with the Emperor, it was necessary to have an insight into the future.

    The Emperor looked at Eug¨¨ne without saying a word. He did so quietly for a moment, with knitted brows and a piercing look in his eyes. But that moment didn¡¯t last long. Soon after, a smile slowly appeared on the Emperor¡¯s face. The smile of courtesy, that he had become accustomed to, spread to the Emperor¡¯s lips as if painted with a brush.

    ¡°Not only are you smart, but your adaptability is quite strong too. You have become used to speaking in a courtly manner so quickly, now all you have to do is correct your dialect.¡±

    In that way, the Emperor said he understood Eug¨¨ne¡¯s scheme. Eug¨¨ne lightly bowed his head and accepted the Emperor¡¯s compliment.

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s plan was basically based on the Emperor¡¯s policy toward the nobility. Like the Emperor¡¯s basic policy of dividing the nobles, who were originally similar in power, into small groups and keeping them in check, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s scheme also focused on promoting a struggle for profit among the nobles by putting the eastern nobles on the surface. It gave the eastern nobles, who had already fallen into ruins a justification to recover their territories and provided a niche to dig way into the other nobility factions who have their eyes on the eastern territories.

    At first, the two will hold hands as their interests match, but their honeymoon period will be difficult to continue. Nobility from other regions who paid a huge fee on behalf of the eastern nobility would consider themselves the owners of the territories, but the eastern nobility who regained their old territories would consider themselves the true owners.

    Such differences of opinion will lead to strife, and just like in the past, they will be at odds with one another.

    If the entire eastern part of the empire could be made to be under the direct control of the Emperor, there would be no other choice. As an Emperor who used a policy of dividing power as much as possible to prevent the nobility from uniting, this task will provide him with an opportunity to create another power structure.

    The Emperor, relieved, rose from his seat and approached Eug¨¨ne. Following the Emperor¡¯s movements, the attendants hurriedly moved one after another. Ignoring the attendants who were following him, the Emperor continued to approach Eug¨¨ne, then stopped and stood in front of him, and touched his collar.

    The Emperor swept down his thumb on the collar of the justaucorps, which had been carefully groomed but clearly showed signs of being old, and looked into Eug¨¨ne¡¯s gray eyes as he smiled mischievously.

    ¡°Your clothes are too old. Dressing well will also be important if you want to survive in court from now on. When the payment for the first territory comes in, I shall give you a new set of clothes. Not only the latest fashionable justaucorps but also cravat and vests at once.¡±

    It was an attitude that would be more appropriate for his beloved concubine rather than a cherished subject, but the Emperor¡¯s words were sincere. When Eug¨¨ne learned that he had passed the Emperor¡¯s test, he smiled at him. Unlike before, it was a genuine smile, so the arc drawn by his lips looked much more natural.

    ¡°Will it be only one set? I would need more clothes to survive in the court.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne said quite sincerely. He was in no place to refuse since it was true that he was in need of new clothes. Even though he was not sensitive to fashion, he knew it would be difficult for him to lead a life in the imperial court with the simple clothes he had gotten made several years ago.

    The Emperor burst out laughing when he heard that. Whatever was so funny, the Emperor laughed until tears welled up in his golden eyes, and promised Eug¨¨ne that he would send him a seamstress along with fabrics. The Emperor added that he would send them right away, not when the territory payment would come in. He actually kept that promise.

    Thanks to this, Eug¨¨ne was able to prepare twelve sets of everyday wear and five formal dress suits. Three equestrian uniforms were a bonus.

    The Emperor of the empire was truly generous.

 CH 14

    ¡°Oh, by the way, Marquise. Did you hear that?¡±

    As if she had suddenly remembered the news she had forgotten, her friend made a fuss out of the blue. Marquise Lamott, who was enjoying tea and chatting with her, tilted her head curiously. A gossip? What sort of gossip? The context was unfamiliar and even the subject was missing, so she didn¡¯t even know the intent of the question.

    ¡°What are you talking about? Did something new happen?¡±

    She put down the teacup in her hand and asked curiously. The talkative Viscountess Despan, who was a source of the current waves in a good way but also overly scandalous in a bad way, answered meaningfully while lowering her upper body as if telling a secret story.

    ¡°It¡¯s not particularly interesting, but it¡¯s something you should be concerned about. It¡¯s about Baron Amieux.¡±

    Baron Amieux? Upon hearing that name, the beautiful eyebrows of the Marquise were raised. The Marquise was also familiar with the name of the nobleman, which had become a buzzword in the court these days. She knew him, to say the least. She also had a history of hosting a ball to win his favor.

    ¡°What happened? Did His Majesty grant him something else again?¡±

    It was the same everywhere now that the name was the center of the topic these days. Since the Emperor was giving him unprecedented favor and preferential treatment, his every move was of interest to the court nobles who were sensitive to the Emperor¡¯s intentions.

    The Countess of Shirell, who was listening next to her, fluttered the fan she was holding and interrupted the conversation. She liked to gossip, too, and as she questioned Viscountess Despan, a gleam of curiosity was seen in her eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s not about His Majesty, but about Marquise Merlin. I¡¯m acquainted with someone who is close to Marquise Merlin¡¯s friend. I heard from her a while ago that Marquise Merlin had sent him an invitation this morning.¡±

    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t send an invitation to Baron Amieux these days? Rather, it¡¯s more of a big deal if you don¡¯t send one.¡±

    The Countess of Shirell asked back sarcastically as if her excitement had died down after much anticipation. However, Viscountess Despan had not yet brought up the topic and whispered dramatically without giving up on her exaggerated attitude.

    ¡°If it were an ordinary invitation, I wouldn¡¯t have even said it. It¡¯s no ordinary invitation. It¡¯s an invitation to Toilette Officielle. It will be held tomorrow morning.¡±

    Oh my goodness. Toilette Officielle?!

    Marquise Lamott¡¯s eyes widened. The Countess of Shirell stopped fanning herself, which she was previously doing quite frantically so. The two ladies looked at Viscountess Despan in disbelief. As if true, Viscountess Despan nodded enthusiastically.

    ¡°It is certain that an acquaintance of mine heard it directly from the person who delivered the invitation. She really sent him an invitation to Toilette Officielle.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s unbelievable. Even if you ignore the customs of the court, how could she dare to invite Baron Amieux to the Toilette Officielle? Baron Amieux isn¡¯t a close relative of the Marquise, nor is he an old friend of the family. How could she be brazen enough to invite an outsider who¡¯s nothing more than a stranger?¡±

    The Countess of Shirell said indignantly.

    Toilette. It referred to the grooming time of the noblewomen. The ladies usually dressed up twice a day. The first was a toilette that was done when they got just out of bed, and it was uncommon for even her husband to participate, but the second one, aka ¡®Toilette Officielle¡¯, was an informal social gathering where best friends and relatives were invited.

    Lbkfnfg, lc wbra mjrfr, atf lcnlajalbc ab Kblifaaf Yoolmlfiif ab j ufcaifwjc kjr erejiis rfca ktfc sbe¡¯gf lcafgfrafv lc tlw jcv kjca ab rfmgfais oilga jcv tjnf oec klat tlw. Qtja wbgf yijajca obgw bo afwqajalbc mbeiv atfgf yf lc atf kbgiv atjc wjxlcu j ufcaifwjc wffa sbe lc iluta wjxfeq jcv ecvfgujgwfcar jcv tjnf tlw kjamt atf qgbmfrr bo sbe vgfrrlcu eq?

    Therefore, invitations to the toilette time were generally used in the same sense as invitations to bed. It was no exaggeration to say that most of them were not real blood relatives.

    ¡°How strange. Marquise Merlin is not a frivolous person, so why did she do such a thing?¡±

    The same was true of Marquise Lamott, but her judgment was much more level-headed than that of the Countess of Shirell. This is because, if one were to think about it, there was absolutely no reason for Marquise Merlin to act that way.

    Although the Toilette Officielle was one of the publicly recognized events within the social circle, it was not allowed for all noblewomen. This enchanting play was secretly forbidden to unmarried women, or to married women who had not yet given birth to their firstborn, or to the concubines of the Emperor who had received a title.

    Even if it was a custom that was merely an excuse, if the Emperor¡¯s concubine did not follow it, it would cause a huge stir. Why would Marquise Merlin, who knew about the secret rule, try to do something so reckless? Marquise Lamott, well aware that her rival¡¯s behavior was as smooth as a fox, could not easily shake off her suspicions.

    There must have been some reason.

    ¡°But listen to what¡¯s even more amusing. Do you know what Marquise Merlin said in the invitation to the Baron? She said, ¡®It¡¯s upsetting that we¡¯re not acquainted with one another despite being blood relatives¡¯! She even called herself his ¡®little sister¡¯.¡±

    ¡°No, what sort of nonsense is that again? Is Marquise Merlin related to Baron Amieux?¡±

    The Countess of Shirell asked excitedly after hearing the whispered words. The Countess of Shirell became the third wife of the Count of Shirell, who was over sixty, at a young age, and would easily get excited about gossip, perhaps because that was the only pleasure in her life.

    ¡°You know Viscountess Gagnon, who is the aunt of Marquise Merlin? Turns out that she¡¯s the second cousin of the late Baroness Amieux. So, if one were to argue, there is a blood connection in the family. Like one drop for his younger maternal cousin.¡±

    Viscountess Despan was right. It was quite literally a ¡®if one were to argue¡¯ situation. In that case, how many nobles were not related to each other? The Countess of Shirell clicked her tongue in astonishment and muttered, ¡°That¡¯s a good excuse¡±. Even Marquise Lamott shook her head without saying a word.

    ¡°It seems that Marquise Merlin was really in a hurry. However, no matter how urgent it is, there is no reason to use such an absurd excuse. My face is burning with embarrassment.¡±

    As she gently shook her head, her classy curly hair hanging below her ears shook as well. While her friendly demeanor was the same as usual, in Marquise Lamott¡¯s scorching eyes, a pale flame flared and disappeared.

    ¡°She¡¯s always been like that. She has a lot of greed and tries to get a hold of anything. It¡¯s quite unsightly for someone of high standing to go that far, so I wonder what compels her to do so. It doesn¡¯t seem like she thinks about her reputation at all.¡±

    Viscountess Despan said with a worried look as she raised her teacup. However, to go along with this level of gossip was the norm in aristocratic society. The same was true of the Countess of Shirell. Otherwise, there would have been no reason for them to be companions of Marquise Lamott.

    ¡°But there¡¯s no other way to do this if she wants to save face. What can one possibly do about it if they¡¯re blood-related? At this point, I should take a look at my relatives who have connections with the eastern nobility. Who knows, maybe I might be a closer ¡®sister¡¯ than Marquise Merlin?¡±

    ¡°Will you, now? Then I¡¯ll go through the nobility almanac. I¡¯m curious as to how many more ¡®relatives¡¯ there are of Baron Amieux. I have it at home, but I simply forgot about it, though now I¡¯ll be able to find it out. There are probably not many people like me, right?¡±

    Hohohoho. In the conversation of high-pitched laughter and light jokes, there was a venom that was sharper than a poisoned dagger. For the two of them who lined up with Marquise Lamott, Marquise Merlin was an irritating thorn and a powerful opponent.

    Countess Patr¨ª had a low stature and was not worth mentioning, but Marquise Merlin, who had the same peerage title of ¡®Marquise¡¯ and even had a powerful father behind her, was not an easy target to ignore.

    ¡°The weather¡¯s nice, so let¡¯s stop talking about other people¡¯s blunders. Let¡¯s have our tea. At this rate, the pleasant scent will disappear.¡±

    Marquise Lamott spoke gracefully and asked her lady-in-waiting for newly made black tea. The lady-in-waiting, bowed politely, replaced the pot that had cooled down with the new one, and stepped back while they were chatting.

    The two ladies, reluctant to deny Marquise Lamott¡¯s disapproval, stopped gossiping about Marquise Merlin. Though their mouths were itching to say more, it was impossible to go against Marquise Lamott. Reluctantly, they turned the topic to other gossips. Fortunately, the social season had just started, so there was plenty to talk about.

    The friendly tea time continued after that. What the ladies sitting around really enjoyed was not the exquisite black tea and confectionaries, but rumors of the nobles involved in political affairs and money issues. They lost track of time as they continued on with their gossip.

    As the warm sunlight waned and a cold wind began to blow in the twilight sky, the ladies got up and moved to a warm boudoir. Marquis Lamott, lifted the hem of the flowing shawl as she moved from her place, and looked back at Viscountess Despan as if she had suddenly remembered something.

    ¡°Oh, right, I almost forgot. When you leave the palace, please give my regards to my elder brother. I have been worried since I have not seen him around lately.¡±

    The Marquise¡¯s companion and sister-in-law, Viscountess Despan, smiled with a nod.

    ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to tell him. No, I¡¯ll request him to visit the palace instead. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve seen each other, so he¡¯ll be extremely happy to do so.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that.¡±

    Marquise Lamott answered quietly with a soft smile. Then, as if nothing had ever happened, she turned around and started walking again.

    ***

    Ten O¡¯Clock in the morning. At this hour, when it was never too early to start the day, Eug¨¨ne was standing at the door of Marquise Merlin¡¯s toilette. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ve been invited to Marquise¡¯s toilette. Eug¨¨ne had never been popular with a lady in his entire life and smiled to assure himself as he thought of such a thing.

    Frankly speaking, this was the first time he had been invited to a noblewoman¡¯s Toilette Officielle.

    But Eug¨¨ne was not happy with the invitation at all. Far from feeling pleasant, it was rather troublesome. Not only Eug¨¨ne, but other noblemen would also react the same way to such an invitation. To openly receive the interest of the Emperor¡¯s woman. What could be more frightening than that?

    Thanks to Louise, I¡¯m getting to experience all sorts of things. Would I rather be a love rival with the Emperor¡¯s kin or have the Emperor¡¯s woman be interested in me?

    Eug¨¨ne thought for a moment in a gloomy mood. Though the interest may not carry a sexual implication, it still meant that he had her attention. It was an outright gesture of trying to bring Eug¨¨ne under her power, so how could this not be called a nuanced move toward him?

    ¡°Baron Amieux has arrived.¡±

    Although his complicated feelings had not cleared up, the lady-in-waiting announced Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arrival. A woman¡¯s voice greeted him with a soft simple from inside the door. She had an impressive voice with a perfect almost model-like court accent.

    ¡°Welcome, Baron Amieux. I was waiting.¡±

    With Marquise¡¯s consent, the lady-in-waiting bent and opened the door. A small but beautifully decorated toilette room was revealed. An unparalleled beauty was standing under the golden sunlight. Eug¨¨ne recognized at first sight that she was none other than Marquise Merlin.

    She was a very beautiful woman. Her black hair, as fine as ebony, hung over her white shoulders, and her bright eyes like black pearls reminded him of a bewitching smile. Her mature body, shaped like a peach, was extremely seductive. Indeed, she was a feminine beauty who was praised as the most beautiful woman in the empire until Countess Patr¨ª appeared like a comet.

    ¡°Thank you for inviting me, Marquise Merlin. It is an honor to meet you.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne politely thanked her. She was wearing an extremely personal outfit of semi-transparent chemise made of thin linen, and a colorfully decorated corset on top of it tightened at the waist, which he couldn¡¯t dare be conscious of.

    The Grands loved to be naked anyway. Eug¨¨ne had unintentionally admired the bare body of the Emperor a few days ago and unwittingly harbored prejudice against the Grands.

    Marquise Merlin smiled endearingly and held out her small white hand. Although not as legendary as Countess Patr¨ª, she had pretty arms. Eug¨¨ne lightly kissed the back of her hand and took a step back to maintain a gentlemanly distance.

    ¡°Say hello to my friends. This is Countess Orte, my companion as well as my lady-in-waiting.¡±

    Marquise Merlin first introduced the lady, who was wrapping a lace-layered pannier around her waist. The lady, introduced as Countess Orte, greeted him gracefully after entrusting her work to another lady-in-waiting. Eug¨¨ne also bowed to her.

    ¡°This is my niece, Miele. She is the daughter of Viscount Carbo, my elder brother.¡±

    A young girl who had not yet debuted in the social world bowed with flushed cheeks. Fifteen or sixteen? She looked shy and young like a flower bud that had not bloomed yet and resembled her aunt, showing the potential to become an outstanding beauty in the future.

    ¡°And lastly, Count d¡¯Estuaire. I¡¯m quite delighted to introduce you to this person. He is the most precious guest of the day. He stands at the very intersection of where my blood meets yours.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne turned in the direction she was pointing. A man leaning on a long chair and watching the situation got up and approached this way.

    ¡°I finally get to meet the person who¡¯s been making a lot of noise in the entire court these days. It is an honor to meet you, Baron Amieux. I am Count d¡¯Estuaire. My mother is the second cousin of yours.¡±

    The man said softly and smiled. I guess I have become quite successful. I¡¯m getting to meet all my relatives who were hard to find when I actually needed them. Eug¨¨ne, thinking the same thing for the second time today, politely greeted him.

    ¡°Nice to meet you, Count d¡¯Estuaire.¡±

    Count d¡¯Estuaire was a handsome man with a gentle smile. His very sociable attitude adorned with a friendly smile, gave him the feel of a typical court noble. He was the first person Eug¨¨ne had ever seen who well-matched the justaucorps made of green silk, and his entire outfit was extremely sleek. Just like the ladies, the color of the clothes matched the unique color of his eyes.

 CH 15

    Eug¨¨ne, guided by him, walked towards the long chair he had just been sitting on. As they took their seats, Marquise Merlin turned her back and began to dress up again.

    He was now facing her spotless white back. She still wore only panniers and no robe, revealing her back, shoulders, and white arms. Her face was reflected in the large mirror in front of her. The half-exposed, voluptuous chest line, the waist that became narrower as one looked down, and the slender and beautiful legs attracted Eug¨¨ne¡¯s gaze, who couldn¡¯t help his instincts.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if you know this, but Count d¡¯Estuaire is quite famous for his big reach in the social world. He is especially close to the ladies, so it will be of great help to the Baron.¡±

    The lady-in-waiting, in charge of makeup, applied white powder to her soft cheeks. Marquise Merlin quietly closed her eyes to make it easier to put on the makeup, and spoke to Eug¨¨ne, only moving her lips slightly. The playful voice was mischievous but cheerful. Count d¡¯Estuaire received the words of the Marquise with an air of dismay.

    ¡°Won¡¯t the Baron misunderstand, Marquise? If you say that, don¡¯t you think the Baron would think of me as a womanizer?¡±

    ¡°Oh my, you dare say otherwise? Even if the Baron is unfamiliar with the court, there¡¯s no way he¡¯s unaware of this. The fact that you¡¯re a womanizer is as clear as the fact that the sun rises in the east.¡±

    She continued to talk nonchalantly while the powder flew everywhere. The powder was tapped not only on her face but her long neck and shoulders, down to her plump chest line, making her beautiful skin look even whiter. To be honest, it was such a fascinating sight that he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it.

    ¡°She¡¯s beautiful. Baron?¡±

    Looking at the scene, Eug¨¨ne realized why the invitation of Toilette Officielle was a kind of seduction. A peal of low-pitched laughter and a muffled voice could be heard next to him. Eug¨¨ne shifted his gaze and looked back at the relative looking at him. A relative was a relative, even if he was his third cousin from his maternal lineage. Count d¡¯Estuaire handed Eug¨¨ne a glass of champagne. Eug¨¨ne accepted the glass and leaned back on the long chair.

    ¡°His Majesty has many pieces of luck. One of them, I think, is a woman¡¯s blessing.¡±

    ¡°I understand what you mean. Though I¡¯ve heard that Marquise is a beautiful woman, after meeting her in person, I feel that the rumors I heard were rather insufficient. This is the imperial court after all. There¡¯s not only one beauty like that but three.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne readily acknowledged the Count¡¯s words. Before seeing the Emperor¡¯s three concubines in person, Eug¨¨ne thought that the Emperor had taken them purely out of political necessity. That was the only way to think about it when he saw the power map of the aristocratic faction that was completely reorganized as the concubines entered the palace.

    But now that he saw them in person, his thoughts changed. Clearly, the Emperor selected his concubines by considering not only a political point of view but also an aesthetic point of view. Otherwise, it would not have been possible for all of them to be such incomparable beauties. Countess Patr¨ª, the most beautiful woman in the empire, praised as the noble ¡®Lady of Ivory¡¯, was marvelous, but the other concubines also had appearances that could match her with only a different type of beauty.

    ¡°It¡¯s good that the Baron didn¡¯t lie. All the other nobles say I¡¯m the best. Of course, it¡¯s only in front of me. Because in front of Countess Patr¨ª, she¡¯s the best, and the story changes again in front of Marquise Lamott.¡±

    Ktf Zjgdelrf gfqilfv klat j rwlif. Ktf abcf kjr qlaloei gjatfg atjc tjgrt, yea la rbecvfv fnfc ybivfg yfmjerf bo tfg ygluta nblmf. Jbeca v¡¯Sraejlgf yegra lcab ijeutafg ja tfg kbgvr. Ktf Zjgdelrf uijcmfv ja atf Jbeca.

    ¡°Qts jgf sbe ijeutlcu ilxf atja? Qtfgf jw P kgbcu? P tjnf fjgr, abb. P xcbk tbk sbe jii jgf.¡±

    ¡°Oh, my lady. I¡¯m not laughing because you said something wrong. It¡¯s just that our men¡¯s shallow nature is quite amusing.¡±

    ¡°The shallow nature of men?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. Their superficiality is truly limitless. It is in the nature of men to think that the beauty in front of them at that moment is bound to be the best. Even nobles who inherited noble blood cannot escape the fate of a man as long as he is born a male. I think they¡¯re telling the truth of the moment, instead of saying two things with one mouth. It¡¯s your irresistible charm, not their conscience, that makes them talk.¡±

    Count d¡¯Estuaire slyly defended the noblemen who flattered her. The Marquise¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, perhaps due to being dumbfounded by the absurd remarks.

    ¡°My goodness gracious, these men! Just why in the world are they all like that? Women are to blame for everything, even the men¡¯s own faults. Am I to blame for their poor sincerity and shallow memory? Is it really my fault that they are the least bit ashamed to say two words with one mouth?¡±

    ¡°Yes, indeed. Your fault lies in your dazzling beauty. You can¡¯t blame the poor eyes for being blinded by the sun now, can you?¡±

    The conversation, like a ball bouncing back and forth on a tennis court, took place rather swiftly. The whole scenario seemed pleasant as Count d¡¯Estuaire continued to speak mischievously to pull her leg while the Marquise raised her chin, pretending to be angry.

    While observing the scene, Eug¨¨ne noticed that Count d¡¯Estuaire was a fairly skilled flatterer. In the front, he pretended to defend the nobles who lied to the Marquise, but behind the scenes, he secretly praised the lady by exclaiming how beautiful she is, which was to say, a truly clever scheme.

    As they talked, the Marquise continued to dress up. To make her complexion stand out, a touch of red was dabbed on both cheeks, and the eyebrows were delicately outlined with a soft eyebrow pencil. She was a beautiful woman from the beginning, but as the makeup was applied, her beauty became as bright as a blooming flower.

    One of her ladies-in-waiting rubbed her nails hard with a velvet cloth to polish them. The other lady-in-waiting, in charge of her hairdo, tied her flowing hair into the latest trending style and waited for her choice as she held out a jewelry box full of adornments to put on her hair.

    The Marquise blinked as she looked into the jewelry box and tilted her head. It seemed that it was hard to decide what to choose. After hesitating, she gestured for the jewelry box to be taken to Count d¡¯Estuaire and Eug¨¨ne. Since she can¡¯t choose by herself, she¡¯ll leave it up to them to choose.

    ¡°The jewel that goes well with your beautiful eyes is definitely onyx. I will choose this onyx comb.¡±

    Count d¡¯Estuaire briefly looked at the splendid accessories and quickly picked up a hair comb. What he chose was a beautiful comb adorned with the finest onyx on a black background with exquisite white marbling. The young girl, Viscountess Carbo, placed the selected comb on the velvet towel and handed it to the Marquise. The Marquise nodded contentedly and then put the comb into her hair.

    When the Count¡¯s selection was over, it was Eug¨¨ne¡¯s turn. The lady-in-waiting held out the hair adornments in front of him and waited for his choice. Unfortunately, the first thing that came to mind when he saw the jewels was his Silver Ferry and the new artillery it needed. If he had been the owner of these jewels, he would have sold them all and used the money to rearm the ship with a 50-pound main battery instead of the 35-pound one.

    Eug¨¨ne briefly recalled that thought from an extremely professional point of view but soon shook off the idea as it did not fit into the current situation, and began to look at the accessories. Now that he has come to the court, he had to act courtly. If aristocrats wanted to indulge in a pastime pleasure, Eug¨¨ne would simply have to go along with it. One does not ride against, but rather, ride up the strong waves.

    ¡°Your hair reminds me of a beautiful night sky. Stars are what suit the night sky the best, don¡¯t they? I would like to recommend these hairpins. These hairpins will shine like stars in your black hair.¡±

    What he chose was a set of small hairpins with achromatic diamonds that shone brightly. It wasn¡¯t as large and glamorous as the other jewels, but it would look quite beautiful if several pairs of small diamonds were shining through the gaps in the lady¡¯s black hair.

    The young girl, Viscountess Carbo, handed the Marquise the five pairs of diamond hairpins chosen by Eug¨¨ne. The woman delicately placed the hairpin between her braids, smiled adoringly, and turned to Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°You have a great eye, Baron. I really like it.¡±

    It didn¡¯t seem like the lady said those words merely out of courtesy. She instructed the lady-in-waiting to place the rest of the hairpins in her hair. Then, she looked at the image repeatedly in the mirror, carefully examining how it looked from different angles.

    As mentioned before, Eug¨¨ne had never seen a lady dress up so closely. Owing to the fact that his family collapsed, his mother couldn¡¯t afford to dress up in such a grandiose manner, and Louise was reluctant to invite him to the toilette despite him being her husband.

    So, even though he was a grown-up aristocrat, Eug¨¨ne did not know exactly how this time passed. All Eug¨¨ne knew about the Toilette Officielle was the experiences of other naval officers, and none of them were decent stories but were instead plain obscenities.

    Fortunately, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s first experience was quite different from those dirty stories. He was quite pleased about that. To most, it wouldn¡¯t be what they fancied but to him, it was. Eug¨¨ne was genuinely relieved that his first time at a toilette did not turn out to be like what the stories of his friends entailed.

    This was the Toilette Officielle he was invited to by the Emperor¡¯s concubine of all people. If anything scandalous had happened, he would have had his head cut off this time around.

    The Marquise¡¯s ladies-in-waiting were very quiet, and they would not open their mouths unless the Marquise spoke to them first. Count d¡¯Estuaire and Marquise Merlin seemed close to each other, but they never crossed the line. They, naturally and skillfully, created an atmosphere in which even Eug¨¨ne, who was present at the event in an uncomfortable mood, managed to adapt. Thanks to Count d¡¯Estuaire, who was a good talker, he was able to laugh at times.

    But most of all, what he liked was that the Marquise did not speak of the topic he had expected, something which was on his mind.

    He had no choice but to come after she sent a letter out of the blue, in which she addressed herself as ¡®your little sister¡¯ and pretended to be on close terms, but when they actually met, she acted like someone who completely forgot what she had written on the invitation, which made him feel quite relieved. Thanks to this, Eug¨¨ne was surprisingly able to spend an hour comfortably and even enjoyed it a little.

    The time spent in Toilette Officielle was quite long. The beautification, which started at ten in the morning, finished at noon, so it took a complete two hours. During that time, Count d¡¯Estuaire and Eug¨¨ne acted as companions to the Marquise, observing the entire process of her dressing up.

    At long last, her adornment was done, and she looked back at them, clad in a beautiful pink blossom robe, with a fan of feathers around her wrist. The originally beautiful flowers seemed to have retained their scent even after they were used as decoration. Eug¨¨ne once again thought the Emperor was a very lucky man.

    ¡°Thank you for spending this boring time of the day with us, gentlemen. Thanks to you both, I was able to finish dressing happily. If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to treat you both to lunch in return. My cook is fairly good.¡±

    She spoke joyfully after getting up. Eug¨¨ne and Count d¡¯Estuaire, having no reason to refuse, accepted her request.

    The Marquise retreated to the next room to oversee the luncheon. When she left the room, Count d¡¯Estuaire turned and looked at Eug¨¨ne. He looked like a freshly turned thirty-year-old.

    Seeing that he was good at making jokes and witty, he suspected that he was a real playboy, but he abandoned his sly attitude and looked at Eug¨¨ne with slight shyness. Unexpectedly, there was even a sign of caution in his gaze, so Eug¨¨ne paid attention to him with an unusual look.

    ¡°I¡¯m well aware that you think this is shameless, Baron. I came here at the behest of the Marquise, but I¡¯m also embarrassed. You must have been dumbfounded when I suddenly appeared as a relative after all these years of no contact. Let me introduce you again. My name is Oscar Valenti¨¦e, Count d¡¯Estuaire.¡±

    Oscar swung his second greeting with a shy attitude. Eug¨¨ne smiled warmly at the attitude that showed sincerity and accepted his greeting. This is because he was unexpectedly fascinated by him.

    ¡°I¡¯m Eug¨¨ne Lothair. My mother passed away early, so I don¡¯t know much about the situation of my maternal lineage. It¡¯s nice to meet you, belatedly so.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne greeted his younger third cousin again. Oscar smiled softly and held out his hand. Eug¨¨ne took his hand and held it in silence.

    T/N: FINALLY BACK! once again, i apologize for the long break. rest assured as i won¡¯t be taking another one for quite a while. thank you so so much for your patience, lovely readers. love you all :¡±]  p.s volume one is set to finish in 8 chapters and then we¡¯ll finally be able to enjoy some fruity content ;p

 CH 16

    ¡°Not long ago, Hon Louise Dumont entered the palace with the Grand Duchess. The destination seems to be the Azure Pearl Palace.¡±

    Baron Bouilhet, the primary court attendant, in his usual manner, presented the following documents to the Emperor as he added a new report of events. The Emperor was constantly busy handling the post-war work, looked at the register of the commander of the Landrienne territory confiscated from the defeated Shaak lords, and raised his head at Baron Bouilhet¡¯s report.

    ¡°Is that so?¡±

    ¡°According to the rumors floating around, Countess Patr¨ª seems to have found a new companion. I heard that the best guest room in the Azure Pearl Palace will be vacated.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Viscountess Wemmel who had previously occupied the room?¡±

    ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware of.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great courtesy. You mean to tell me she¡¯s upsetting her own sister who¡¯s been by her side for a long time for a new friend?¡±

    ¡°She must believe that the new companion¡¯s worth such treatment.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so.¡±

    The Emperor answered with a faint sneer. The Emperor shook his head briefly as if he was amazed, and turned his attention back to the general¡¯s register. He was contemplating the tax rate and military service to be added to the reclaimed territories and had been buried in the general¡¯s register of records for several days.

    Dozens of tax collectors under the Ministry of Finance were also working on the same task, so there was no need for the Emperor to step, but the Emperor, a perfectionist close to being mysophobic, could hardly let go of his work. He was quite a tough master to serve as he was of a fussy nature who could not rest unless he put his hands in it from beginning to end.

    ¡°¡­ Shall we make a new list, Your Majesty?¡±

    Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s actions were out of line, but the Emperor¡¯s reaction was not good either. Baron Bouilhet knew that something was wrong when he witnessed the Emperor¡¯s attitude of indifferently listening to and passing it over as if it was no big deal.

    It seems that even Countess Patr¨ª had been eliminated from the list of Empress candidates, although it was noted that she had been anxious since the last Trial in the Emperor¡¯s presence. Baron Bouilhet had witnessed a similar situation twice before and carefully asked a question as he looked at the Emperor.

    ¡°No. There¡¯s no need.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°After this, I have no intention of bringing in any more concubines. There are already five successors to the throne. In this situation, increasing the number of new competitors is something that should not be done for the sake of future generations.¡±

    The Emperor answered calmly. However, the more indifferent the Emperor was, the more perturbed Baron Bouilhet felt. He was the only one who knew what the Emperor wanted from his three concubines. The Baron was the Emperor¡¯s primary court attendant and at the same time, his younger foster brother, so, he simply could not stay still and watch the Emperor give up like this.

    ¡°Ktfc vbfr Tbeg Zjpfras lcafcv ab xffq atf Swqgfrr¡¯r rfja fwqas lc atf oeaegf?¡±

    ¡°Prc¡¯a atja ecjnblvjyif? Ktfgf lr cb bcf kbgats bo atja qbrlalbc.¡±

    ¡°Tbeg Zjpfras, la¡¯r cba atja fjrs ab rjs. Prc¡¯a la j wjaafg bo mtbbrlcu atf Swqgfrr jcv cba jcsatlcu firf? Snfc lo la vbfrc¡¯a wjaafg cbk, atf lrref lr ybecv ab mbwf bea ktfc atf alwf mbwfr ab frajyilrt atf remmfrrbg. Po Tbeg Zjpfras lr mbcmfgcfv jybea atf oeaegf ufcfgjalbcr, la kbeiv yf yfaafg obg sbe ab frajyilrt atf qbrlalbc bo atf Swqgfrr cbk jcv mbcrbilvjaf atf gluta ab remmfrrlbc.¡±

    Baron Bouilhet worriedly advised. No matter how much he thought about it, it was impossible to simply give up the selection of the Empress like this.

    Although the custom of early marriage was prevalent in the imperial family, the Emperor was exceptionally young and did not marry. The Emperor came to the throne when he was only ten years old, and Empress Mother ¨¦lo?se, who served as regent, postponed the appointment of the Empress as far as possible in order to prioritize the discipline of the Emperor as he took on such a heavy responsibility at a young age. The problem was that the now grown-up Emperor was overly intelligent and had clear subjectivity, which led to him setting his own uncompromising standard in choosing an Empress.

    What he wanted from his companion was neither of the ordinary standards, love nor a beautiful face. The condition the Emperor put forward was particularly that she must have the capacity to lead the country on his behalf in case of emergency.

    Growing up under Empress Mother ¨¦lo?se, the Emperor realized how important the Empress¡¯s abilities were, and so, never felt the need to bend his subjectivity, thanks to which he stayed a single father up to this day. It was needless to say how intense such determination was, as it took more than a decade to select and test the qualities of the women who seemed to be promising.

    ¡°You¡¯re speaking rashly now. Are you meaning to imply that because you don¡¯t know how important the position of the Empress is? If the Empress is foolish, the country will be doomed.¡±

    The Baron¡¯s sincere advice was retorted by the Emperor like a joke. The ¡®foolish Empress¡¯ referred to by the Emperor was former Empress B¨¦n¨¦tin. Although she was an adult who turned out to be his paternal grandmother, the Emperor¡¯s cynicism was relentless.

    Empress B¨¦n¨¦tin was killed by rioters while fleeing to save her life despite the Crown Prince and his wife¡¯s dissuasion. Baron Bouilhet, knowing how much the Emperor despised his incompetent grandparents, could no longer say anything and remained silent.

    ¡°If you really want to me have an Empress by my side, bring a woman who is at least as good as Rodom¡¯s Gwyneth. At the very least she¡¯ll be the only one to step away from the Empress¡¯s chair.¡±

    The Emperor, seeing his loyal younger foster brother¡¯s mood sink gloomily, engrossed in the register of the general again, added nonsense he normally would¡¯ve not said. Baron Bouilhet smiled faintly and shook his head. The Emperor dipped the quill pen in his hand into the ink and raised an eyebrow.

    ¡°Why are you smiling? Does it sound like a joke?¡±

    ¡°No. I¡¯m afraid Your Majesty is actually serious.¡±

    Baron Bouilhet smiled a little and confessed frankly. The Emperor looked at the Baron and shook his head in disbelief.

    ¡°Speaking of Rodom, Adelphe visited the palace a while ago.¡±

    ¡°Adelphe?¡±

    Instead of the Emperor, who cannot go out often, Baron Bouilhet, in charge of liaison with the outside forces, nodded. The Emperor thought for a moment, then clicked his tongue low as he tapped the ink flowing through the nib into the ink bottle.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t bode well that he ran away without showing me his face.¡±

    ¡°¡­ He said he found some small gangs but hasn¡¯t been able to track down the root yet. It¡¯s difficult to track them down as spies are mainly infiltrating between the slums and the underworld.¡±

    ¡°What nonsense. Does it make sense that spies from other countries only move around in lower classes? There¡¯s definitely someone whose power extends to the court.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, but it seems difficult to find out about him for the time being.¡±

    Victor Adelphe, known as the owner of the Adelphe Chamber on the outside, was actually the Emperor¡¯s secret right-hand man and the head of a counterintelligence organization hidden beneath the surface. It was during the last Landrienne War that he noticed the presence of spies sent by the Federation of Five Nations.

    Noticing that information about the military¡¯s supply situation and movement route was being leaked out of the country, Victor pursued them thinking the opponents were on Shaak¡¯s side, and found out their real identities.

    Surprisingly, they came from the Federation of the Five Nations and not the enemy, Shaak, at the time, and were disguised as merchants when they entered the empire to steal the Empire¡¯s military information back to their home country. Victor, frustrated, immediately wiped out the cellular forces and informed the Emperor, but was unsuccessful in eradicating the entire espionage network that had spread like potato stalks.

    ¡°Tell him to hurry. If the spies who have infiltrated the court are not removed as soon as possible, the long-prepared naval reform plan will go up in smoke without even trying. If you plan a strategy in a situation where you can¡¯t block the enemy¡¯s attention, it¡¯s like directly putting food in their mouth.¡±

    ¡°I will send someone else to urge him to rush it.¡±

    ¡°You think that would be enough? Tell him that I will visit sometime soon.¡±

    Above all, at the terrifying threat, Baron Bouilhet bowed with a bitter smile. He could already imagine the expression Victor would make once he relayed those words.

    After making all the necessary reports, Baron Bouilhet checked his watch and informed the Emperor that the time for an audience was approaching. Putting the documents he was reading to one side, the Emperor opened the closed door and allowed the attendants to enter.

    The office, which had been quiet for a while, was crowded with countless people again. As the people rushed into the office, Baron Bouilhet took a step back and slipped unnoticed through their gap.

    Only a few were aware of how big a role he played in imperial politics. But Baron Bouilhet was content with his current position.

    ***

    After attending the Marquise Merlin¡¯s Toilette Officielle, Eug¨¨ne tried to attend as many social events as possible. He had to either accept all incoming invitations or avoid them altogether, but as he was unable to decline the personal invitation of Marquise Merlin, this action made it impossible for him to choose the latter.

    In order to avoid the misunderstanding that he had included himself in the faction of Marquise Merlin, Eug¨¨ne attended parties that were not even in his fate and went around showing his face, doing absolutely nothing else before leaving. He had never loafed around so diligently in his entire life.

    Social life in the capital was, in many ways, different from the simple high society of the west coast cities. This was Eug¨¨ne¡¯s first social season in the capital, Mich¨¨le, where he learned about the so-called ¡®aristocratic lifestyle¡¯, leading him to experience a huge culture shock wherever he encountered it.

    He didn¡¯t know that the empire was such a wealthy place until he entered the capital¡¯s social circle. As the social season began, parties were held every night in the capital, Mich¨¨le.

    Even though it was May, the scent of sparkling wine wafted more strongly through the air than the scent of apple blossoms. From every open window of the mansion, a four-beat dance music played by servants with musical instruments flowed out, and the table covered with white tablecloth was overflowing with delicacies that commoners would never have the chance to eat in their lifetime.

    Each woman adorned themselves with jewels and silk, and the men, in turn, adorned themselves with such women. Eug¨¨ne was taken aback when he heard that the price of pearl powder from the East Continent, worn by noblewomen alike, was twice as exorbitant as the yearly wage of first-class seamen.

    What surprised him was not the expensive price of pearl powder, but the poor economic sense of the capital nobles who casually paid more than fifteen times the original price. Central merchants were openly exaggerating the prices, but none of the aristocrats took issue with that. It was because of the ridiculous custom of thinking that it was shameful to haggle over the price of an item.

    Eug¨¨ne had now reached a point where he could distinguish the scent of pearl powder from other scents in the air. If you go to two or three parties a night and dance with many ladies out of curiosity, you will end up with such a useless idea of identification.

    ¡°¡­ Are you listening to me, Baron?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne was lost in thought for a while but came to his senses when he heard a bright voice calling for attention with a smile. The woman he had been talking to a while ago was looking at him with her head tilted slightly. Eug¨¨ne, realizing where his gaze had been fixed, naturally turned his eyes away and coughed low.

    ¡°I apologize. I got distracted by something else for a moment.¡±

    Truthfully, the ¡®something else he got distracted by for a moment¡¯ was the woman¡¯s chest. The woman was wearing a glamorous evening gown in touch with the latest fashion with her breasts half exposed, which Eug¨¨ne took a look at during the conversation.

    Whether it was because of the white pearl powder or whether she was born with it, the woman¡¯s skin was white and clean without any blemishes. Thanks to this, the petal-shaped spots on her pretty chest looked even more conspicuous. The red spots, which could not be completely covered even with heavily tapped pearl powder, were in the shape of somewhat small pansy flowers, and that shape and color were so pretty that it drew attention as if they were petals fallen on white milk.

    ¡°Though I don¡¯t know what it was that you were distracted by, I¡¯m still rather disappointed. You¡¯re thinking of something else while talking to a lady. Am I such that unattractive?¡±

    The woman grumbled cutely with a mischievous smile. Even though she was pretending to be sulky, a smile that seemed to melt gently hung from her thinly folded eyes. Eug¨¨ne smiled awkwardly and turned away from her gaze due to her attitude, which was more coquettish than any other lady he had met so far.

    As he was unaccustomed to dealing with ladies, he used to panic whenever the ladies acted as sweet as sugar cookies. It was twice as difficult to deal with such delicate women as if they would melt in your hand if not treated properly than to engage in hand-to-hand combat with vicious pirates.

    ¡°That¡¯s not true, Madame Schuabel. What kind of man could resist Madame¡¯s charms?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne managed to pick out her name from among the countless names tangled up in his head and spoke politely. She looked askance at him for a second, then unfolded the feather fan she was holding, completely covering the features below her eyes.

    ¡°How poor of you to try to appease a woman who has been hurt by such words. I¡¯m disappointed, Baron Amieux. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to relieve this anger unless I have a glass of cold Salpine champagne.¡±

    Whispering while pretending to be angry, the movement of the fan, which moved lightly and gently, was sensual enough for anyone to notice. Eug¨¨ne realized that she had taken pleasure in teasing him. Every single act of the woman was seductive.

    ¡°Thank you for overlooking my mistake. I will gladly follow Madame¡¯s wish.¡±

    However, this method of ridiculing one another was also a kind of ¡®social conversation¡¯ that nobles aimed for. Eug¨¨ne had no intention of hurting the woman¡¯s pride as a man, so he got up from his seat, and headed for the table after kissing the back of her hand.

 CH 17

    There was some champagne that servants carried around on trays, but it had turned quite lukewarm due to the heat outside. Eug¨¨ne approached the table in charge of serving the liquor and asked the servant to pour champagne. The champagne on the liquor table was lavishly submerged in a pile of ice, which was hard to find during this season.

    The uniformed servant politely handed him two glasses of cold champagne.

    ¡°You¡¯ll have to be careful. She will eat you up to the bone.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne was about to return to his seat with the champagne glasses before he turned his head and looked to his side at the sudden warning.

    ¡°Were you speaking to me just now?¡±

    The man who had just come to the liquor table for champagne shrugged and turned to Eug¨¨ne. He was a man who looked around ten years younger than Eug¨¨ne, and a typical salon aristocrat who used camellia oil to style his hair and dressed according to the latest fashion.

    ¡°I apologize. Despite knowing that I was being too meddlesome, I couldn¡¯t just let it go. Judging by the looks of it, it seems that you¡¯re not well-informed of what goes around in the capital.¡±

    The young man said cheerfully and winked. Though his manner of speaking friendly to people he met for the first time was no different from that of any young nobleman, Eug¨¨ne felt a certain reluctance from him.

    ¡°Do you know her?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne realized that the young man was secretly peeping behind his back while pretending not to, and asked a question. The young man burst into laughter at his straightforward question.

    ¡°Of course. Who doesn¡¯t know ''The Eighth Fleur'' in Mich¨¨le? She is the most famous courtesan in the capital. She is as expensive as a queen.¡±

    Courtesan?

    Eug¨¨ne slightly frowned at the unexpected fact. He knew she wasn¡¯t of nobility, but he didn¡¯t know she was a prostitute. As he knew, this party was held by a cardinal of the Order of St. Eustace.

    But what was even more worrisome was her nickname, ¡®The Eighth Fleur¡¯. As soon as he heard those words, the petal-shaped spots he saw earlier passed by in his mind. It would be no exaggeration to speculate that the spots that had captivated him for a while and made him unable to take his eyes off from had something to do with her nickname, which was unique to the courtesan.

    ¡°The Eighth Fleur?¡±

    ¡°Do you not know? It¡¯s the legendary nickname of Madame Schuabel.¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne repeated the nickname he heard for the first time in his mouth, the man looked somehow elated. He glorified the fame of the legendary courtesan Madame Schaubel by telling stories Eug¨¨ne never asked for.

    ¡°Fleur is the name and nickname of Madame Schuabel. Though I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s her real name or a pseudonym, there¡¯s probably no other name that suits her more than that. I wonder if you¡¯ve seen the little petals on her chest. If she herself is her first fleur, then the petals are her second fleur. It is said that Madame Shuabel has a total of seven fleurs, including the petals. But no one else knows where they are on her body. It is a secret known only to herself and the gentlemen who slept with her.¡±

    In addition to that, the young man told him the story behind the prostitution, unknown whether it was true or false, that one had to pay a jewel every time he wanted to see one more fleur, and that a wealthy count could only see the last fleur after handing her seven mansions.

    Po bcf kfgf ab ilrafc mjgfoeiis, la kjr cbatlcu wbgf atjc j cbyif jvbgcwfca bo glvlmeif bo tbk j wjc ilxf Seu¨¨cf mbeiv tjcvif remt j kbwjc, yea tf kjr vlragjmafv ys batfg atlcur jcv tfcmf, vlv cba cbalmf atf sbecu wjc¡¯r yijajca qgbnbmjalbcr. Seu¨¨cf, atlcxlcu bo rbwfatlcu firf obg j ktlif, obgwjiis ybkfv tlr tfjv jcv fzqgfrrfv tlr ugjalaevf.

    The young man was full of energy because of Eug¨¨ne as he was silently listening to anything he said. Eug¨¨ne then gently cut off his words and gave him an unpleasant look for a moment as he tried to organize his thoughts, and ended the conversation with a hasty smile.

    ¡°Thank you for the good advice. I think it would prove to be of great help.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne replaced the lukewarm champagne with a new glass and turned around in front of the young man. The young man wanted to say something more, but belatedly realized the presence of the lady with an annoyed look from afar and hurried back to his place.

    ¡°The champagne must have been quite the catch. Did you have to duel for a new glass?¡±

    Madame Schuabel gracefully reached out her hand while wittily criticizing Eug¨¨ne for returning a long time after leaving for an errand. Eug¨¨ne smiled and handed her the glass. While he was away for a while, the three noblemen who were standing next to her looked at him as if they were holding him in check. Eug¨¨ne quietly chuckled, ignoring their immature attitude, full of competitive spirit.

    ¡°If necessary, it¡¯s no big deal if I have to resort to a duel. A beauty like Madame deserves it.¡±

    It never sounded like a joke when Eug¨¨ne, the only tanned, tall, and well-built man among the slender and white-skinned capital aristocrats, said so. The noblemen who were staring at him not only received a wound to their pride but also seemed terrified, while Madame Schuabel¡¯s white cheeks flushed red.

    ¡°It is not an honor for a lady to have a soldier draw a gun outside the battlefield. Don¡¯t say such scary things, come and sit down. As you promised earlier, you have to tell me your saga of dealing with real enemies.¡±

    She called Eug¨¨ne to her side with a sweet smile. At the same time, she did not forget to be considerate of the noblemen around her. The men were unable to leave her, like a scapegoat caught in a spider¡¯s web, and lingered about. As expected of the capital¡¯s finest courtesan, she was adept at taking advantage of her victims.

    Eug¨¨ne sat next to her as she wished, and continued the interrupted conversation. He had as many questions as she did. The main question was, would she give him an honest answer?

    ***

    Eug¨¨ne, who led a regular life, usually woke up around eight in the morning.

    Before joining the military, he would usually wake up before dawn to do work, and even after joining the navy, he had no recollection of sleeping early as he would be busy doing odd jobs and chores till it got late. Fortunately, the promotion went smoothly several years ago and he could afford to sleep even into the morning, but because of the constancy his body was accustomed to, he would strictly wake up at the time he was used to.

    But these days, it was getting harder and harder to stick to his normal routine of waking up early. It was because his physical fitness gradually began to decline as he continued to go to bed at two in the morning at the earliest and three or four in the morning at the latest. The nobles naturally took their daily lives for granted as they would frolic all night long, sleep through the entire morning, and wake up late in the afternoon. Even after waking up, they would often laze about in their undergarments for a long while, and there were many cases where activities began in earnest only after sunset.

    Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t understand how they could live their entire lives like that. Wasn¡¯t it all a waste of time? Life in the court was more strict than that, but the overall atmosphere itself was not that different. He sat up in his bed, sick of the social life he had grown tired of within a month.

    He didn¡¯t feel refreshed even after waking up from his sleep. The limbs that had not moved properly for a while also ached. Eug¨¨ne, after doing a neck exercise and stretching, got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom.

    The attendant who brought hot water just in time to wake him up was waiting with a towel on his arm. Eug¨¨ne lightly washed his face and brushed his teeth with salt and mint leaves. The attendant already knew that he had a simple breakfast, and prepared a meal in advance, which Eug¨¨ne ate alone while mumbling all by himself as he checked his schedule for the day.

    Today was just set for a party, a party, and another party. The capital aristocrats continued to party senselessly as if they all had been possessed by phantoms who had never been able to attend parties. Eug¨¨ne was looking through the invitations that had been sent to him, and could not overcome the frustration, got up from his seat and called the attendant.

    ¡°Where is the nearest practice area from here?¡±

    After pondering for a moment, the attendant informed him that there was a small practice area on the first floor of this building that was not often used by the guard knights. It was a place specially prepared for use by the late Emperor, but most knights chose to return to their homes when they were off duty instead of training at the palace.

    Eug¨¨ne thought it was good enough after hearing the report and asked to guide him to the practice area. He felt like he would end up accumulating fat all over his body if he continued to idle away like this.

    The practice area, which he arrived at under the guidance of the attendant, was spacious and clean. The floor was finished with solid oakwood to withstand intense training and practice, and longswords used for practice training were lined up on the weapon rack.

    The weapon he usually used was a cutlass suitable for battle on board, but he had to use a different weapon because he entrusted the sword he had on himself while entering the palace to the Guard. Eug¨¨ne picked a sword that fit his hand from the weapon rack and swung it lightly. Perhaps because it was an item placed in the court, it was well-maintained even though it was just a sword for practice and training.

    After warming up lightly, Eug¨¨ne started practicing the basic postures. The ultimate goal of this practice was to acquire a posture with a low center of gravity using a specially developed method due to the peculiarities of ship battles that were difficult to balance. Since this method had the characteristic of training the lower body, it was an essential posture to learn as soon as you enter the navy, but it was also necessary to learn it steadily even after reaching a certain level.

    ¡°Is that the so-called ¡®orthodox naval style¡¯ training? I¡¯ve heard of it, but it¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it in person.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, so immersed in practicing in a simple outfit as if he were naked in the empty room, was startled by the sudden voice and stood upright. He turned around to see the source of the voice and saw the Emperor standing in the doorway.

    Due to the unexpected encounter with the Emperor, Eug¨¨ne lowered the sword he was holding and politely affirmed. Since it happened in the midst of confusion, he took on his usual militaristic stance without realizing it, but fortunately, the Emperor did not scold him.

    ¡°I see Your Majesty the Emperor, Lord of Ardi, Kleman, and Nervoge, Ruler of the Neutel and Salpine Rivers, and Protector of Lex Ardica.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I surprised you. It was nice seeing you concentrate.¡±

    ¡°Not at all, Your Majesty. But what brings you here?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t come looking for you, so no need to fret. This practice area is where I come often as well. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t have a separate room, but it¡¯s too far from my office.¡±

    When he heard that, he looked up and saw that the Emperor was wearing only pants and a shirt to make it easy for him to practice. His long, cumbersome blonde hair was also braided in a single strand and tucked behind his back, and he was with a simple party of only two lifeguard attendants who were always by his side.

    I see now. This is why no one uses this practice area.

    Eug¨¨ne, ignorant of the situation in the palace, realized the reason why the practice room was always empty and quietly clicked his tongue. Even so, he would have wanted to avoid practicing in a place where the Emperor often came and went. Practicing and training under the Emperor¡¯s gaze would be a burdensome and cumbersome task if one were not quite confident in one¡¯s skills.

    ¡°You¡¯re holding a longsword. Do you usually use that sword?¡±

    The Emperor approached the weapon rack, grabbed the weapons he was familiar with, one by one, and asked. Eug¨¨ne lowered the sword in his hand with the blade now facing the floor and replied to the Emperor politely.

    ¡°No, I mostly use cutlass.¡±

    ¡°Cutlass? Yes, I¡¯ve heard of them. It¡¯s a sword specialized for ship battles, isn¡¯t it? Then you must have mastered Neustrie.¡±

    ¡°It is true that my swordsmanship originated from Neustrie, but to be honest, it is more of a variant.¡±

    ¡°Variant?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not because I learned it by myself rather than formally.  It was difficult to be bound by a definite form of swordsmanship while fighting pirates who mainly attacked in an unconventional manner. It¡¯s a relief since luck has been on my side, otherwise, there were many occasions I could have died due to such impromptu methods.¡±

    The Emperor looked at Eug¨¨ne with interest. The scars of past battles remained intact in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s solid body, unlike the Emperor, whose body was as smooth as ivory.

    ¡°Interesting.¡±

    The Emperor spoke to himself and spun the sword in his hand. The Emperor turned the sword in a skillful motion and held it up vertically as he made a suggestion to Eug¨¨ne with a deep smile.

    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve run into each other like this, why don¡¯t we spar once? We have never had the chance to personally fight someone with Neustrie-style swordsmanship before.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s suggestion, as always, put Eug¨¨ne in trouble. No, what is this person talking about now? Was I just told to use my sword against the Emperor? Eug¨¨ne looked at the Emperor with an absurd gaze, and when he realized that the Emperor was not joking, he distorted his expression.

    ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. But such a thing is impossible.¡±

    He knew quite well that the Emperor was really interested in swords. Seeing his skilled form as he held the sword, it seemed that he had trained quite a bit. However, Eug¨¨ne did not think that the Emperor¡¯s skills were enough to compete with him, who had been through many battles.

    While it was true that the Emperor was a powerful monarch, that did not mean that he was even a good swordsman. Moreover, Eug¨¨ne was a soldier, and he was a person who only fought to kill, not to defend like a knight. Eug¨¨ne, knowing that he could accidentally injure the Emperor¡¯s body, flatly refused the Emperor¡¯s immature demand.

    ¡°This is the first time anyone has ever refused Us like this. Impossible, you say?¡±

    The Emperor burst out laughing, as if he found his stern attitude where there was no room for negotiation, to be amusing.

    ¡°Why do you think it¡¯s impossible, Baron Amieux?¡±

    ¡°My swordsmanship was forged solely for actual battles. As much, how could I dare to cause harm to Your Majesty¡¯s body?¡±

    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re confident. Judging from how you think you¡¯ll hurt Us?¡±

 CH 18

    After all, The Emperor was a man. A man who always strived to win. Eug¨¨ne did not wish to hurt his pride and ruin things beyond repair, so, he gave a conciliatory answer instead of a direct one.

    ¡°A little while ago, Your Majesty asked if I was practicing the ¡®orthodox naval style¡¯ technique, right? Correct. The form was given such a name because it is the only technique the entire Navy learns in common. The Navy¡¯s swordsmanship is so unqualified that it¡¯s common to mock oneself for it. I know no other method than that anomaly.¡±

    ¡°How many years has it been since you ascended to the rank of Admiral and been treated as one?¡±

    The Emperor asked with a smile as he watched Eug¨¨ne try to avoid a showdown with him in one way or another. It was a question that most likely had a trap, but Eug¨¨ne, unable to pretend that he didn¡¯t understand the Emperor¡¯s question, had no choice but to answer.

    ¡°It¡¯s been about three years.¡±

    ¡°Then when was the last time you took part in an actual battle?¡±

    ¡°That too must have been around three years ago.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne answered frankly. It was a natural answer since the other person was a competent commander. When it came to Navy Admirals, they were the backbone of the fleet, and no matter how difficult the naval battle was, the flagship was rarely used for hand-to-hand combat. Admiral Etoile, his predecessor, died in the battle due to artillery firing, not hand-to-hand combat. It was only possible for the flagship to be caught up in the boarding when the fleet was on the verge of annihilation.

    ¡°We were in one three months ago. Don¡¯t you think We will have an advantage over you?¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, the scary Emperor raised the sword he was holding and sharply poked Eug¨¨ne under his chin. Eug¨¨ne, who was holding the sword the other way around to show respect to the Emperor, unintentionally defended himself with the pommel and changed the position of the sword. Before he could dodge, the swordsman approached again. As if an illustration, the form of the stab was perfect.

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean? Does Your Majesty mean to imply that you directly participated in the battle of the Landrienne Revolution?¡±

    What bothered him more than the merciless raging attack was the Emperor¡¯s bomb-like declaration. Of course not, right? There¡¯s simply no way. A monarch who directly participated in the battle and flaunted his dance was something that would be appropriate only for the heroic kings in the days of the Prince-Electors. Now, hundreds of years later, tactics had changed significantly and the main type of military force for warfare had also changed.

    Even the knights who had been practicing swordsmanship for decades under the power of the military forces had their tails curled up, but the thought of the Emperor personally going around the dangerous battlefield, even though it was all in the past, sent chills down his spine.

    ¡°You think too low of your master. That¡¯s not it. Why would We give Our enemies an easy victory?¡±

    ¡°But Your Majesty said it was an actual battle-.¡±

    ¡°Have you ever heard of Shaak¡¯s court culture being in full bloom thanks to assassinations? As rumor has it, they try to solve all problems through assassinations.¡±

    Despite being in the middle of a conversation, the Emperor¡¯s sword attacked Eug¨¨ne. If the sword had a blade, the attack was fierce enough to inflict a life-threatening injury. At first, he simply avoided it, but as time went on, it became harder to keep holding out like that.

    Ktf Swqfgbg¡¯r jaajmxr kfgf rkloa jcv ygeaji jr lo atfs kfgf ilcxfv ab fjmt batfg, jcv atf wbnfwfcar kfgf rb delmx atja la kjr cba fjrs ab fnfc rafq yjmx. Efiemajcais, Seu¨¨cf abbx tbiv bo atf uglq jcv yfujc ab vfofcv tlwrfio jujlcra atf Swqfgbg¡¯r jaajmxr. Ktf rbecv bo atf klcv glqqlcu atgbeut atf jlg ogbw atf rkbgv tf kjr rklculcu tfjnlis mbeiv yf tfjgv.

    Unlike Eug¨¨ne, who specialized in slashing, the Emperor¡¯s swordsmanship incorporated authentic techniques that made use of intense stabbing. It was a method that maximized stabbing to target and attack the joints of knights armed with sheet metal suits of armor, with its distinctive characteristics being quick speed and strong offense on vital points. The Emperor was stronger than he expected. His lower body was properly trained and the angles of his attacks were unpredictable. At the same time, there was power in each offensive, and Eug¨¨ne could no longer harbor any sort of contempt toward him.

    ¡°Is this Austrasie?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, carefully observing the Emperor¡¯s swordsmanship, blocking what could be blocked and avoiding what should be avoided, suddenly asked. The Emperor smiled at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s question. His eyes, narrowed by the smile, gleamed in golden light like waves reflected by the evening sun.

    ¡°You recognized it. I heard that only a few people learn it these days.¡±

    ¡°It felt like the sword should be lighter. Doesn¡¯t that swordsmanship originally make use of rapiers?¡±

    ¡°I use rapier and main gauche.¡±

    Austrasie was a swordsmanship that originated in the Principality of Austrasie during the time of Prince-Electors and was now a generic term for Eastern-style swordsmanship. It had been practiced since the fall of the east 30 years ago, but it was a mystery as to how the Emperor came to learn this swordsmanship.

    ¡°How did Your Majesty learn it?¡±

    ¡°My maternal grandfather was a master of Austrasie. Sir Gromanic, his best pupil who took over his teachings, was appointed as the guard knight of my mother.¡±

    It was only then that Eug¨¨ne recalled the story behind the Emperor¡¯s words. The late Margrave Renault was famous for being a master of Austrasie. The tremendous competence he showed during the fall of House Renault was the last legend that raised the prestige of Eastern swordsmanship.

    When he learned that the Emperor was the last inheritor of Austrasie, his dormant competitiveness woke up. Although he did not formally learn swordsmanship, he was a well-rounded soldier. Since Neustrie, which he was influenced by, advocated free-spirited swordsmanship, even if it was a variant, it was not to the extent that it could not be included in the swordsmanship.

    Above all, the Emperor¡¯s skills were unexpectedly solid, so he did not feel like ignoring him anymore. A knight who had polished his sword to this level was worthy of respect.

    Eug¨¨ne changed his mind to deal with him seriously, turned around to dodge the incoming attack on his shoulder, and lightly clashed his sword with the other in a way to greet the Emperor as well as a signal to start the spar. The Emperor smiled and took a step back into a garde stance. This time, it was Eug¨¨ne, not the Emperor, who went in first.

    The Emperor launched a narrow and quick attack, but Eug¨¨ne countered it in a broad and powerful manner. The scope of attack as well as the defense was much wider because it cuts the face instead of stabbing the line. In particular, he used the sword freely, and it was as smooth as if he were using the blade to block the attacks and push through his own consecutive attacks at once.

    In the spacious practice room, the clashing of their longswords resounded harshly. The two men continued to exchange their swords with fast but smooth movements and were engaged in a serious confrontation as if it were a duel with their lives on stake. It was the Emperor¡¯s sword that had depth, but Eug¨¨ne had a lot of experience. He skillfully fended off the Emperor¡¯s sharp attacks, while occasionally delivering powerful blows, and each time the Emperor tried to back down or defend himself.

    As time passed, the muscles that had been stiffened loosened and the body began to revitalize. Sweat from his forehead ran down his cheeks and fell down his jaw. Even the Emperor¡¯s long eyelashes were drenched with sweat. His white cheeks were flushed red while his face itself had a pretty peach glow like a young girl¡¯s.

    He¡¯s undeniably beautiful

    Eug¨¨ne admired the Emperor, who was moving swiftly as his long golden hair fluttered. Usually, it was hard to notice due to his overwhelming presence, but upon closer look, a man that handsome was a rare sight for him.

    However, that short break ended soon. After some calculation in his head, the fact that he was blindly handsome, or that his status was His Majesty the Emperor no longer remained in his mind. The only thing that was important to him now was that the man he was fighting against was a rival with similar skills to him.

    Since the Emperor was strong, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s competitive spirit was fueled even further. He even used the anomalous technique he had restrained, pushing the Emperor into a corner. For him, fighting was done with the goal to defeat the enemy, and he had never started a battle that he could not win.

    Unfortunately, the Emperor didn¡¯t know what it meant to lose either. They clashed fiercely like a lion and a tiger encountering each other in a narrow cage. The face-off became even more devious as their skills were neck-and-neck, making it harder to distinguish who was more dominant.

    He pushed the sword that was dangerously aiming at his Adam¡¯s apple to his shoulder, drew the blade down with force, and then kicked the Emperor¡¯s jaw with his foot. The Emperor nimbly ducked to dodge, then quickly loosened his sword and stepped back behind him. However, the moment Eug¨¨ne realized that he had retreated, a counterattack came in again.

    Eug¨¨ne, startled by the blade attacking dangerously with his eyes as the target, blocked the sword, but belatedly noticed the incoming knee attack into the abdomen, and raised his forearm to block it. He heard the sound of their bones colliding, and then, a throbbing pain arose in his wrist.

    For a brief moment, the Emperor smiled, and Eug¨¨ne grabbed the Emperor¡¯s shin, twisted it, and threw the Emperor away. The Emperor, roughly thrown to the floor, swept Eug¨¨ne¡¯s ankles as he lay down. When Eug¨¨ne hurriedly tried to move back, the Emperor took advantage of the opportunity to get up and rushed to Eug¨¨ne with the same momentum.

    Eug¨¨ne, immersed in the fight, could foresee victory at that moment. Eug¨¨ne lowered his waist, corrected his stance, and blew away the Emperor¡¯s attack as it was. While the swords engaged with one another, the force flowed at an angle to the side, and the sophisticated and clever technique of inducing the opponent¡¯s loopholes by breaking the balance continued.

    The Emperor, unfamiliar with such a technique, was caught up in the elaborate counterattack of Eug¨¨ne and lost his stance. For a moment, the Emperor¡¯s sword faced the floor. Eug¨¨ne, not missing the moment, slashed the Emperor.

    No, he was trying to slash him.

    If this had been a real battle, the Emperor¡¯s neck would have been blown away. In fact, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s sword was aimed precisely at the Emperor¡¯s neck. Even with a bladeless sword, an attack like this would be extremely dangerous. If you¡¯re lucky, you¡¯ll only get bruises, but if you¡¯re unlucky, your neck would crack.

    As soon as he realized that, fifty thousand thoughts ran through Eug¨¨ne¡¯s head. His instincts as a soldier told him to decapitate him as it is, but from a rational point of view, that act was as reckless as his former wife carrying Prince Merrick¡¯s child.

    Countless worries passed by in a short amount of time, but there was only one path to choose. Eug¨¨ne broke the blade that was aimed at his neck and slammed it on his shoulder. But just then, the Emperor¡¯s sword, which was out of sight, attacked Eug¨¨ne¡¯s vital point. In that brief moment, the sword that pierced through the blind spot touched Eug¨¨ne¡¯s neck like a lightning bolt.

    The attack, aimed precisely at his Adam¡¯s apple, stopped just before stabbing Eug¨¨ne. Eug¨¨ne sensed an instinctive threat and leaned back. Still, he couldn¡¯t completely escape the aftermath.

    ¡°Ugh-Cough. Your Majesty.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne let out a dry cough, rubbing the area around his neck, which had stiffened due to the tension. The affected Adam¡¯s apple tingled from the strong wind pressure. He could feel the impact as if the vocal cords had been punched. There was a faint smile in the Emperor¡¯s eyes as he looked at him.

    ¡­ Could it be that you were aiming for this from the start?

    Eug¨¨ne, realizing that the loophole he had seen was a trap from the beginning, laughed in disappointment.

    ¡°Now that I see it, it¡¯s not me who is good at improvisation, it¡¯s Your Majesty.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne sarcastically but furtively remarked the Emperor, who used his status as a cheap shot to win the showdown. The Emperor shamelessly did not deny Eug¨¨ne¡¯s point.

    ¡°Can it be said that believing in the loyalty of a subject is improvisation?¡±

    The Emperor grinned and held out the towel his attendant had given him to Eug¨¨ne. Eug¨¨ne sighed, wiping the sweat that dripped from his forehead with the towel. He knew now that this person had always been like this, but if he had experienced this without prior knowledge, it would have been a huge shock.

    ¡°Since I won, I get the reward of victory. If you don¡¯t have any previous engagements, how about having lunch together?¡±

    Even if there was already a previous engagement, the person who would say to cancel it asked as if he was being considerate. Eug¨¨ne really didn¡¯t want to, but he couldn¡¯t dare to refuse either, so he just bowed quietly.

    ¡°Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.¡±

    His Majesty probably knew that those words were insincere.

 CH 19

    Today¡¯s meal started off in a rather simple manner, unlike any other time when it felt everything was excessively formal including the exhaustive measures to uphold the beauty of formality.

    After washing up, Eug¨¨ne was escorted to a small living room by the Emperor¡¯s attendant. The private living room, which was supposed to receive only the most private guests, was a well-decorated small room right next to the Emperor¡¯s bedroom that exuded the atmosphere of a personal room in an aristocratic house rather than a part of the enormous court.

    The Emperor was sitting on a long chair by the open window, looking outside. As if he had just washed up, his hair was still wet, and the Emperor¡¯s ivory skin looked translucent under his white shirt, which was still damp. Dressed in tight-fitting navy pants, his legs were surprisingly long, and at first glance, it seemed that he was looking at a portrait with exaggerated but ideal body proportions.

    ¡°Welcome.¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne entered, the Emperor turned his head and noticed him. He looked like a wild beast with his arms drooping over the back of the chair. As suggested, Eug¨¨ne sat down in front of him, and the attendants began to serve food.

    Regardless of the entr¨¦e, random dishes were served at the same table. The Emperor picked a piece of freshly baked and warm white bread and suggested Eug¨¨ne start as well.

    ¡°May I know what¡¯s going on?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, witnessing the unexpected figure, asked cautiously. There was something strange about what happened in the practice area before and now. Eug¨¨ne was not yet accustomed to court life, but he knew that this was not a common occurrence.

    Among the people Eug¨¨ne had seen in the capital, the Emperor had the most disciplined routine. The Emperor¡¯s daily life was thoroughly public, interlocked like an exquisite cogwheel, from the moment he woke up till the moment he went to bed. Today, however, the Emperor appeared to have decided to ignore his official schedule altogether. Eug¨¨ne was worried, knowing that he was not the kind of person to abandon his duties for no reason.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Everything Your Majesty does. It¡¯s not like the usual.¡±

    ¡°The way you talk makes it sounds like you know Us quite well, hm?¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t say I know everything. But I do have a sense of what kind of person Your Majesty is from what I¡¯ve observed so far.¡±

    The Emperor laughed as he spread apple jam on the white bread. ¡°Sure¡±. Eug¨¨ne seemed fairly tactful. However, the problem was that he lacked the social skills to sublimate his wits into politics.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t been in a lot of relationships, have you? Even if you¡¯ve seen a young lady from a tavern, you¡¯ve probably never had a proper relationship involving romantic feelings with a noblewoman. Isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty?

    Eug¨¨ne looked at him puzzled, unable to understand the context in which the sudden topic of relationships came from. The Emperor looked at Eug¨¨ne carefully and continued to speak seriously.

    ¡°You¡¯re quite fortunate. The fact that you have reached this position with your own skills without flattery means that your superiors evaluated your work fairly.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going to criticize you for your lack of worldly wisdom. It is better for a soldier to be simple and honest than to be worn out.¡±

    This gentle reproof was more terrifying than directly being told to shut up. As the Emperor wished, Eug¨¨ne kept his mouth shut and moved the meat pie to his plate. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but there was something wrong with the Emperor on the inside.

    Although he had a fierce personality by nature, he was not a mean-spirited person, so when he showed his twisted inner feelings like that, it indicated that he was really upset

    Seu¨¨cf¡¯r mbcpfmaegf kjr cba kgbcu. Ktf Swqfgbg¡¯r wbbv kjr cba qifjrjca abvjs, jcv tf vlvc¡¯a kjca ab vb jcsatlcu yfmjerf fnfgsatlcu ofia jccbslcu.

    Lf kjr ralii atlcxlcu bo ktja tjqqfcfv ijra cluta ja atf Chegf Ufjgi Ujijmf. Coafg ilrafclcu ab Djgbc Dbelitfa¡¯r gfqbga, tf tjv jigfjvs wjvf eq tlr wlcv, yea tf ralii rffwfv ab tjnf gfugfar. Cr alwf qjrrfv, atf Swqfgbg kjcafv ab jrmfgajlc atf beambwf klat tlr bkc fsfr, jcv kfca ab nlrla tfg ktlif qgfafcvlcu ab xcbk cbatlcu, yea kjr ugffafv klat wemt wbgf fcaterljrw atjc tf tjv fzqfmafv.

    Countess Patr¨ª welcomed the Emperor with more joy than ever before. The way she dressed up with all her heart was more lovely on that day, and the gentle cuteness in the Emperor¡¯s arms seemed to melt even an iron heart.

    She brought him to bed as lovingly as possible. Then she embraced the Emperor¡¯s neck with her dazzling arms, which boasted a legendary reputation, and gave him the greatest pleasure a woman could give.

    The Emperor embraced her without showing any emotion. Countess Patr¨ª, desperately complied with his request and uttered a chant as sweet as melted chocolate. Then, in a lovely voice, she announced that she had a new companion. She opened her mouth in the arms of the sweaty Emperor after several passionate rounds of sex.

    She told the story of how she was unable to refuse because the Grand Duchess had requested her directly. She naively whispered to him how she couldn¡¯t have dared refuse the request of the Grand Duchess, and in addition to that, shyly confessed that she had sympathy for Baron Dumont¡¯s esteemed daughter.

    ¡®It was because of love, everything.¡¯

    Countess Patr¨ª, looking like a dream girl, buried her face in the Emperor¡¯s arms. ¡®I know what that kind of love is like. But not everyone is as lucky as I am.¡¯ The Emperor gently embraced the Countess¡¯ shoulder, which looked like it would break if held tightly.

    ¡®That¡¯s true, Adelaide. Not everyone can be as lucky as we are.¡¯

    ¡­ When they first met, Countess Patr¨ª was a young nineteen-year-old girl with burning ambitions hidden beneath her angelic face.

    <¡®Your Majesty, I will not allow any man a single night of pleasure.¡¯>

    The first time he reached out to her, the young maiden boldly refused the Emperor with her eyes open.

    <¡®If you want me, you must buy my entire life. I will never become a flower that one can enjoy overnight and then be forgotten later.¡¯>

    Even though she used her own body as a means of trade, she was confident. Though her small shoulders trembled with shame and fear, her unbreakable pride and ambition were evident in her straight eyes.

    She claimed she was worth more than that, and the Emperor believed her. Born into a merchant family, she was not only able to write and read, which was rare for a woman, but she was also knowledgeable in mathematics. She was also an excellent trader, helping her father with his business and earning a lot of money.

    The Emperor first met her because her father, who supplied goods to the imperial family, had brought her to the Imbert Palace to teach her work.

    The Emperor discovered the seeds of potential within her and made her his concubine. In addition, support was provided both physically and mentally so that the seeds could sprout. She was endowed with unconventional graces and privileges, plus the freedom to be indiscriminate.

    She was asked to sit in the audience alongside him for the reason of serving tea and understanding the trends in the country, and by accepting unreasonable requests under the pretext of favoritism, he measured her self-control and political capabilities at the same time.

    Without her, the southern aristocracy would not have been able to achieve the level it has today after only seven years. She bloomed as splendidly as a plant growing in the sun but she did not reach the level that the Emperor desired.  She crossed over the limit without hesitation instead of drawing a line on her own, not realizing that even the excessive affection that was poured out without restraint was a kind of test.

    Not just her, but everyone else as well. Alexandrine, Marquise Merlin, was lively and clever. Anne Henriette, Marquise Lamott, was gentle and intelligent. Adelaide, Countess Patr¨ª, was ambitious and challenging.

    All three women had the potential to become Empress, and they were outstanding individuals chosen from among numerous noblewomen. It was only when choosing the Empress that the Emperor, who had a keen eye for people, made such mistakes over and over again.

    He still didn¡¯t think he had chosen lacking candidates, but he didn¡¯t know what was wrong. They were all women who didn¡¯t lack beauty, dignity, skills, and even a family to support them. However, none of them reformed to even being the littlest bit worthy to become the Empress.

    ¡°You and I are the same without the blessing of a wonderful wife.¡±

    The Emperor, engulfed in troubled thoughts, sighed and spoke to himself. Eug¨¨ne, who was quietly eating a meat pie in the uncomfortable silence, raised his head and looked at the Emperor. He suddenly wondered what kind of argument this was, but looking at him, it seemed that the Emperor had uttered those words with sincerity.

    ¡°Without the blessing of a wonderful wife? Doesn¡¯t Your Majesty have three beautiful women who are hard to find even if one were to search through the entire world?¡±

    His former wife was also quite pretty, but she didn¡¯t even compare to the three concubines of the Emperor. Eug¨¨ne, having the experience of meeting all of them unintentionally, knew that they were women who did not fall behind in terms of beauty, speech, and charm, and so, could not understand the Emperor¡¯s anguish.

    ¡°It¡¯s only possible for a courtesan to be valued for her beauty alone. The Emperor¡¯s woman needs more virtues than that.¡±

    To Eug¨¨ne¡¯s naive question, the Emperor responded with a snort. Oh gosh, was it a woman¡¯s problem all this time? Eug¨¨ne was worried alone that something big had happened to the country, and only now did he realize the real reason for the Emperor¡¯s discomfort after hearing that.

    He¡¯s still young and full of vigor, so that might be the case, but¡­ it was not easy to accept the fact that he also had such a human side to him since the feeling of intimidation the Emperor gave off at the time of their first meeting was still too memorable.

    Courtesan¡­

    When the word ¡®courtesan¡¯ came out of the Emperor¡¯s mouth, the bright face of Madame Schuabel that he had seen last night suddenly came to mind. Eug¨¨ne had a question he wanted to ask a question because of her, and put the pie he was eating on the plate and carefully asked the Emperor.

    ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m embarrassed to ask you this question, but there is one thing I wanted to know. Could a courtesan come and go in and out of the court?¡±

    The Emperor, picking up the wine glass, raised an eyebrow and looked at Eug¨¨ne. As if drawn with a brush, his handsome eyebrows, looked like a painting, but Eug¨¨ne avoided the Emperor¡¯s gaze as he felt somewhat embarrassed.

    ¡°This is a question that would have been paid a great deal of attention to if the late Empress heard it. But it¡¯s nothing to make a big deal out of these days. I know that there are noblemen who occasionally come along with a courtesan on nights when a big banquet is being held.¡±

    The Emperor replied casually and drank his wine. Turns out it¡¯s true. It would have been easier if he had heard the answer no.

    When he heard the answer that was exactly what he was doubting, everything in his mind became complicated. It did not make sense to him to think that people of such a status could freely come and go in and out of the court while everyone was tolerant.

    Eug¨¨ne was bothered by her presence, to the point that it was hard to understand how anyone else could be okay. It felt like his instincts as a soldier, which he had been honing for many years, were sensitively sharpening his vigilance.

    ¡°Why did you ask? Seems like you met a prostitute you¡¯d like to bring to the court?¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing of the sort¡­, actually, I was worried I ran into a woman from another country at the party yesterday. If a prostitute appears at even a cardinal¡¯s party, it means that there¡¯s really no place they are not welcome. As Your Majesty may know, there aren¡¯t as many places in the empire where information flows around as much as they do in aristocratic banquets, are there? I guess it bothered me that such a place was free for foreigners to go in and out of.¡±

    The Emperor placed the wine glass he was holding on the table. After pondering over Eug¨¨ne¡¯s report for a moment, he slowly asked Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°What do you mean? Tell me more about it.¡±

    He straightened up his poor posture and started talking in earnest. Eug¨¨ne began to explain yesterday¡¯s events step by step, even though he didn¡¯t quite understand what was going on.

    ¡°Before I talk about yesterday, I want to tell Your Majesty something. Kamann Isle, located in the easternmost part of the Federation of Five Nations, is a country with many strange endemic diseases due to its hot weather and abundant wetlands. Among them, there is a horrific disease, called ¡®Maydis Fever¡¯, which if, a local person catches it will only get slightly sick as if it were a cold, but if an outsider catches it, will inevitably die.¡±

    The Emperor could not make out what this absurd story had to do with the foreign courtesan, but he patiently remained silent. Thanks to his silent consideration, Eug¨¨ne was able to explain in detail what he knew, so that the Emperor could understand.

    ¡°Maydis fever is named so because the symptoms of people suffering from it are similar to the actual maydis plant disease. The disease causes black and red spots all over your body. Even if you somehow manage to get better from the disease, traces of it will remain on your body, which is usually said to be red petal-shaped spots.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne continued the story the Emperor had never heard. In fact, it was a story that Eug¨¨ne would not have known if it had not been for one of his subordinates being infected by a prisoner and contracting maydis fever.

    It was also true that the area where the maydis fever was prevalent was the Molderne Isle, which was a blessed altitude far from the mainland of Kamann. Thanks to this, very few people in Kamann knew about maydis fever.

    ¡°And so?¡±

    ¡°I met a woman with the spots on her body at a party yesterday. It turned out that the courtesan was known as the ¡®Eighth Fleur¡¯. When I asked where she was from, she said he came from the southern part of the empire, but I don¡¯t believe that. This is because, as I said, maydis fever is a disease that kills only when an outsider contracts it. I once lost fifteen of my men to the disease.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, having his subordinates almost wiped out due to an epidemic, could not forget the traces of the disease. After hearing all of Eug¨¨ne¡¯s story, the Emperor tilted his head and thought deeply.

    Of course, it was better to listen than to ignore personal opinions, but the Emperor¡¯s reaction was more than expected. Eug¨¨ne, reading the unfamiliar atmosphere from his attitude, could not relax and waited for the Emperor¡¯s next words.

    ¡°Have you received an invitation from Count d¡¯Estuaire?¡±

    However, the Emperor¡¯s question, which was posed after a long time, was simply irrelevant, disregarding his long tension. Eug¨¨ne suddenly wondered why Count d¡¯Estuaire had come out of here, but only nodded.

    ¡°I have received an invitation, but¡­¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it an invitation to the masquerade? Did you not even sign it as the recipient yet?¡±

    ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the date and time?¡±

    ¡°As far as I know, it¡¯s at 11 tomorrow night.¡±

    Fortunately, Eug¨¨ne knew exactly what the Emperor was asking. This was because his first impression of his third cousin whom he met unexpectedly was very good, so he was thinking positively of his invitation.

    ¡°Good enough. Baron Amieux, how about going to that party with Us?¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Even if you don¡¯t, I have something to do. At the same time, I should try going on an outing once.¡±

    The Emperor may not have meant ill, but for Eug¨¨ne, it was a considerably difficult suggestion. Eug¨¨ne had no idea what his monarch was thinking and was forced to utter the words of approval in embarrassment.

    ¡°¡­ If that¡¯s what Your Majesty surely wants to do, then I¡¯ll take you.¡±

    Upon hearing his reluctant answer, the Emperor felt very satisfied.

 CH 20

    Eug¨¨ne, sitting opposite the Emperor in an ordinary carriage with no distinctive features, looked out the window without hiding his bitter expression.

    The street was named La Lune, but it was unlikely that the moon could be seen from a place like this. Even in the middle of the night, music was playing everywhere in the mansions that were lit up like daylight. The lights were so strong that the stars in the night sky could not be seen. Even the full moon, which had risen to the fullest, had a faint presence as if hidden in the shadows.

    Even though it was close to midnight, the street was crowded with people coming and going, so the carriage repeatedly stopped. From the streetscape alone, the city seemed not to be in the middle of the night, but in the early evening.

    ¡°I feel like you¡¯re becoming more and more audacious. Am I simply overthinking it?¡±

    The Emperor kept changing his hat as if the wig he was wearing was uncomfortable, and spoke casually. Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly and looked back at the carefree Emperor.

    ¡°It is not me who is audacious, but Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°What did I do?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s take the current situation into consideration. Your Majesty refused to bring along the guards and decided to travel in disguise alone. How can you do such a dangerous thing when you know what sort of wicked event could befall on you without notice?¡±

    ¡°What do you think would happen if I didn¡¯t refuse to bring along the guards? Must the guards be on each side when I¡¯m traveling in disguise? Do you want me to show off who I am?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it something you had deduced from the moment I asked you to accompany me? Surely you didn¡¯t expect me to attend an aristocrat¡¯s party with my identity exposed, did you?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne sighed and shut his mouth in response to the calm Emperor¡¯s answer. Of course, he didn¡¯t expect him to do that, but he still thought that a few guards would catch up in the dark. Baron Bouilhet, a primary court attendant who¡¯s part of the royal guards, also shared the same opinion as Eug¨¨ne, but the problem was that the Emperor, who was the main concern of the guards, did not even want to think about it.

    It¡¯s better not to do anything that will catch you by the tail until you uncover their true nature.

    ¡­ What did he mean by true nature? Whose true nature?

    Eug¨¨ne had no idea what other incident he had involved himself in this time either. The Emperor and Baron Bouilhet both seemed to know something but gave no proper hint. As the Emperor insisted, he really did step out in disguise, and thanks to this, Eug¨¨ne had to follow in his footsteps with the enormous burden of fear that the Emperor might be assassinated if he made a mistake.

    ¡°It is your attitude, not the guards who are not here, that puts me in danger. What sort of judgment is it to use honorifics with the Emperor who came out in secret?¡±

    The Emperor gave a light warning and placed a butterfly-shaped velvet mask on the bridge of his beautiful nose. Eug¨¨ne wore a plaster mask he was holding in his hand, followed him, and swallowed the anxiety rising from deep inside his chest as he reconfirmed the presence of the sword he was wearing on his waist. He thought that a cutlass was too conspicuous, so he opted for an ordinary longsword instead, but the current situation made him feel uncomfortable even with a weapon.

    No matter his thoughts, the industriously running carriage soon reached the mansion they were invited to. When the carriage stood in front of the entrance, a uniformed servant ran out and opened the carriage door. Eug¨¨ne came out before the Emperor and looked around.

    Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s mansion was larger than expected. Knowing the plight of the fallen eastern nobility, he did not expect much, so he was inwardly surprised when he saw the splendid three-story mansion. It would have cost a fortune to maintain a mansion of this size in La Lune. How Count d¡¯Estuaire, who had no real territory, was keeping up with this sort of lifestyle was a mystery to him.

    ¡°Ktlr kjs, Zs Obgv.¡±

    Ktf Swqfgbg uba boo atf mjggljuf jcv qgbevis qgfrfcafv atf lcnlajalbc jr lo tf kfgf atf wjrafg. Ktf rfgnjca mtfmxfv atf lcnlajalbc, uelvfv atfw, jcv ifv atfw lcrlvf. Ktf yglutais ila qbgmt kjr yerailcu jr atf uefrar xfqa jgglnlcu bcf joafg jcbatfg.

    Seu¨¨cf fcafgfv atf ogbca vbbg ecvfg atf rxliioei uelvjcmf bo atf rfgnjca jcv kjr bcmf jujlc jwjhfv ys atf rqifcvlv lcafglbg vfmbgjalbc. Jbeca v¡¯Sraejlgf¡¯r wjcrlbc kjr oeii bo fifujcmf jcv rbqtlralmjalbc ecldef ab j kfjiats jglrabmgjalm ojwlis.

    As he walked down the hallway past the ornate porch, he saw precious porcelain bottles and paintings from the East placed throughout. There were vases filled with fresh flowers at each window, and all the candles that lit up the night were fragrant candles.

    The extravagance of the mansion shone, even more, when they entered the salon where the ball was to be held. Heavy dark green velvet drapery decorated the entirety of the spacious salon. Huge drapes that descended from the ceiling intricately adorned the edges of the salon, which from a distance, seemed to divide the space and isolate it like walls.

    It¡¯s no illusion. It¡¯s indeed dividing the space.

    As Eug¨¨ne got closer, he could see the true colors of the divided space. The space divided by the walls with heavy curtains was transformed into a structure like the balcony seats of an opera house. There was a splendid reception set for each compartment, and the place where the servant guided them was one of them.

    Aren¡¯t balls simply social events? Eug¨¨ne frowned and looked around since he did not understand the idea of decorating the salon in such a way that if you were to look at them from the outside, you could see the people sitting inside, but if you were the one sitting inside, you could not see the person next to you.

    The Emperor, unlike Eug¨¨ne, who could not hide his doubts, acted naturally, as if he had already expected this. As they sat down, the servants served simple food and champagne. Although there were many kinds of food, they were all plain amuse-bouche, instead of full-fledged meals.

    ¡°You¡¯re sticking out like a sore thumb. Will you continue to act so countrified?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne continued to look around, with deep creases on his forehead. The Emperor thoughtlessly scolded him by saying that he didn¡¯t like that attitude, picked up a glass of champagne, and forced him to take it. Naturally, Eug¨¨ne had no choice but to take the glass the Emperor gave him, and leaned against the backrest.

    ¡°Your¡­ No, Sir Gersen. May I ask you a question?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, clutching the glass so hard to the point that it stood a risk of shattering, all because of a throbbing migraine, asked quietly. The name ¡®Sir Gersen¡¯ he put in his mouth was a fake identity instructed to him to use by the Emperor himself. The Emperor nonchalantly tilted his drink and looked at Eug¨¨ne, letting out a deep sigh.

    ¡°Ask.¡±

    ¡°Are we in a brothel right now?¡±

    The Emperor smiled at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s serious question.

    ¡°What you just said sounds quite amusing. Do you not doubt that your relative is a souteneur?¡±

    ¡°I noticed from a while ago, but most of the guests are men. Occasionally, there were women who accompanied them, but their behavior seems unfitting for them to be noblewomen.¡±

    It was fair general knowledge, but there was no case where there was such a significant difference in the gender ratio between men and women at a typical ball. As far as Eug¨¨ne knew, there were only two places where strictly men were infested. The military, or a brothel. Moreover, from the moment he first saw the mansion, he doubted how Count d¡¯Estuaire could retain this great wealth.

    When the eastern nobility was still strong, the family of the Duke of d¡¯Estuaire was considered one of the wealthiest in the empire. But their wealth came only from a land of abundance. The Duke of d¡¯Estuaire, a representative of the eastern nobles, had no ties to the capital due to his estrangement from the court, and thanks to this, when Eug¨¨ne left the capital, he was on the brink of decline, just like other eastern nobles.

    No matter how rich you are, if you don¡¯t have a flowing income for thirty years, the tide is bound to turn. Though there was no knowledge of Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s family raising an excellent merchant, besides, that kind of rumor never passed by Eug¨¨ne¡¯s ears in the past month.

    He didn¡¯t want to picture this with his only blood relative. But no matter how much he dwelled on it, there was nothing else to guess. The Emperor sipped the champagne, scoring Eug¨¨ne¡¯s quick judgment. His guess was correct.

    ¡°Count d¡¯Estuaire is a smart and shrewd man. He¡¯s extremely astute and is fairly good at figuring market values. Among them, the most famous is the aesthetic sense of discerning jewels. They say he has an intuition to recognize pearls in the mud.¡±

    ¡°Did you need pearls from the mud too?¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t. But I felt the need to find out where the pearls came from. If it¡¯s about discerning, aren¡¯t you quite remarkable too? After all, you identified the source of the most famous pearl in the capital at once.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne understood the Emperor¡¯s words and took a low breath.

    He knew from the beginning that the Emperor didn¡¯t come out without a proper reason. However, since he didn¡¯t know what kind of place Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s ball was, he could not read the exact thoughts of the Emperor.

    But now he understood exactly why the Emperor wanted to bring him here. When the story he shared yesterday and the current situation intertwined, the outline of the entire matter became clear.

    Eug¨¨ne belatedly realized why and felt like he had been hit in the back with a hammer. A beautiful courtesan whose origin was suspicious. As soon as the story was told to the Emperor, the Emperor brought him here. Just to see if he can recognize the identities of other women.

    What on earth does this mean?

    Oh my God.

    It was only then that Eug¨¨ne realized the scale of the case he was involved in and felt troubled. The Emperor thought that Madame Schuabel was a spy sent by the Federation of Five Nations. Not only that, but he was now also suspicious of the existence of spies other than her.

    He was not one to be driven by mere suspicion, so there must be a good enough reason for that. However, even if the suspicion was correct, it was not a matter for the monarch of an empire to come forward on his own. Eug¨¨ne only now understood why Baron Bouilhet¡¯s face was unusually grim as he saw them off, and swallowed a groan.

    ¡°¡­ You have too much faith in me.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, unable to openly rebuke the Emperor for his recklessness, whispered quietly while resting one hand on his throbbing forehead. The Emperor smiled faintly, pretending to lift a glass of champagne.

    ¡°Sure, I do. Enough to entrust my life to you.¡±

    The door to the salon closed as all the guests arrived. Eug¨¨ne couldn¡¯t say anything more and only shook his head and looked ahead as the murmuring around him subsided.

    The servants obscured their vision by putting bells on the numerous oil lamps placed near the wall and instead, lit the candlesticks on the stage, placed only on one side of the salon. As the musicians hidden behind the curtains played a gentle melody, a man walked out onto the stage and greeted the guests.

    ¡°Thank you to everyone who came to our mansion today. My name is Virginie Bernal, who, thanks to the grace of Count d¡¯Estuaire, has arranged the auction for today¡¯s charity jewelry auction.¡±

    The man who stood on the stage pretending to be an auctioneer looked about forty at first glance. He didn¡¯t wear a mask like everyone else, and although he wasn¡¯t as fancy as a trained employee of an aristocratic family, he was well-dressed and courteous, earning the favor of guests.

    ¡°The first jewelry of the day will be presented by a young lady as pure as a dewdrop fresh from an abbey.¡±

    When the auctioneer called her name, a girl holding a jewelry box came up on stage. Around seventeen or eighteen? The young girl, who had not yet lost the fluff on the nape of her neck, possessed a lovely beauty with round cheeks and large green eyes radiating a youthful look.

    ¡°This beautiful girl¡¯s name is Anais. She¡¯s a young lady who¡¯s of noble blood, as you might know by her name itself.¡±

    She was forced to commit herself to the abbey due to circumstances that could not be told to others, but with the help of an unnamed benefactor, she was able to receive an education commensurate with her status. However, not long ago, the benefactor¡¯s support was suddenly cut off, and she was forced to leave the abbey.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne could easily tell that the auctioneer was lying. The girl¡¯s hands were too rough for a woman who had only been educated in an abbey, and although they were covered with powder, there were small burn marks near her wrist.

    Such burns were caused by iron and were common wounds that maids in a laundry suffered from. She was not an illegitimate child of an aristocratic family, but in reality, a grisette who wanted to become a lorette.

    ¡°The helpless young lady, who had no one to turn to, has come all the way to the capital to find out about the circumstances of her benefactor but is in a difficult situation since she has been unable to reach him. Then she came into contact with us by chance, and the generous Count d¡¯Estuaire, aware of the situation, was willing to be the temporary guardian of this pitiful lady.¡±

    When the auctioneer¡¯s introduction was over, the girl took a soft step toward the center of the stage. She set the jewelry box down on the central table and opened the lid. The contents could not be seen from this direction, but as her large eyes widened even more, it seemed that the box contained quite valuable pieces of jewelry.

    For a moment she looked at the jewelry as if possessed. As if blinded by the brilliance of the jewelry, her green eyes sparkled with ecstasy. The girl was so fascinated by the contents of the box that she stood still for a long time, but came to her senses at the urging of the auctioneer and pick up a piece of jewelry.

    The jewelry she picked up were gorgeous platinum earrings adorned with rubies the size of a fingernail. She hung the ruby earrings on her ears with trembling hands and stepped forward on the stage.

    A bell rang from the dark corner of the tent. Ding, a clear sound of the bell rang once. The auctioneer heard the sound and called the auction price.

    ¡°Coming at fifty dinars.¡±

    Ding, ding. Two bells rang one after another.

    ¡°Coming out at one hundred and fifty dinars.¡±

    As he observed closely, it seemed that each bell was fifty dinars, and the calculation was done by adding the bells ringing at the back to the previous auction price. Even though the bells were ringing in different places, the auctioneer managed to calculate the price and proceeded with the auction. The fact that those words meant that he was auctioning off the girl¡¯s ransom at a jewelry auction was obvious to anyone.

 CH 21

    Eug¨¨ne, watching the auction with a frown, had a question. In his view, the current auction price was far less than the value of the girl¡¯s chosen jewelry. If the auction price was set lower than the price of the jewelry, Count d¡¯Estuaire, who arranged the auction, would only lose money. Eug¨¨ne did not understand how the Count would be compensated for the difference.

    ¡°¡­ What if the auction bid is lower than the original value of the jewelry?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, unable to fully understand the auction method due to the lack of information given, asked the Emperor after a brief hesitation.

    ¡°That¡¯s what makes this auction so popular.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°The pleasure of being able to determine the fate of others just by the tap of your fingers is not something you can easily enjoy anywhere else.¡±

    The Emperor smiled vaguely after throwing out the riddle-like words that Eug¨¨ne could not readily understand.

    ¡°The official name of the auction they¡¯re currently holding is the ¡®Charity Auction¡¯. It¡¯s a charity of precious metals in support of women who are in trouble. When the auction is complete, the jewelry belongs to the woman who chose the item, not the nobles who paid for it. Of course, the auctioneer does not intervene in the ¡®voluntary price¡¯ paid by a woman who is moved by their charity afterward. They only connect women in need with benevolent nobles.¡±

    The Emperor gracefully ridiculed the folly of those who tried to cover up their vulgar acts under the pretext of a respectable cause.

    ¡°The price that is being traded there now is the official ransom that will be placed on that woman in the future. But there is one condition. The ransom is only officially recognized when the price of the jewelry she chooses matches or exceeds her auction price. This is the place where she decides the price of her ransom, but at the same time, this is also a place to test how much she knows her worth.¡±

    A piece of jewelry like that was the price of one night? It was not easy for any prostitute, no matter how beautiful, to be guaranteed a fair amount of money for sex. Besides, what could a prostitute do when she knows her limits? That kind of value judgment was not required for a prostitute who only received lust.

    ¡°¡­ Is this how one becomes a courtesan these days?¡±

    But courtesans were different. They enjoyed a high reputation in the social world as they were treated almost the same as noblewomen. The courtesans had to be able to swat men¡¯s desires, which didn¡¯t only include mere lust, and so, they were required to have not only a beautiful face but also speech skills and culture, along with a sense of humor and wit.

    Contrary to the poor disrespect of the Emperor, courtesans needed more than just beauty. Accurately grasping the value of one¡¯s own product belongs was one of the most basic traits among them.

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite a different process from what I was aware of. I suppose the ways of the world were too dark for me since I had immersed myself in military affairs.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only been a few years since this method became popular in the capital. It¡¯s a new practice established by Count d¡¯Estuaire.¡±

    The first auction ended while they were having a small conversation. As expected, the first girl was sold at an auction price that was less than the price of the jewelry she had chosen. The girl dropped her shoulders in disappointment and went down the stage. However, the auctioneer didn¡¯t care about the outcome and introduced the next piece of jewelry with a carefree smile.

    The second girl on stage was said to be the hidden daughter of a prima donna who dominated the entire capital more than twenty years ago. She had the common backstory of how she had a gifted talent just like her mother but had to give up her dream because she was not in a position to take music lessons.

    She chose a simple pearl bracelet, unlike the first girl who was greedy, and although the final bid was reasonable for the bracelet, she didn¡¯t look very happy. It was because it was dealt at a price that was too low for a courtesan.

    The third woman on the stage was the daughter of a local judge from the south, a virgin who was miserably abandoned after being seduced by a man of low status to elope in the name of love. The fourth woman was the daughter of a noblewoman whose bloodline was questioned because her mother was taken away by pirates and then returned to give birth, and the fifth woman was the wife of a soldier, but she became a widow without recourse as her husband died during the last Landrienne Revolution.

    All the stories of women introduced with jewelry were like that. Dramatic false stories that could only fit the heroine of an opera were sprinkled like gold dust on the heads of women who came out to sell themselves. Everyone was aware of the fabrications, but they didn¡¯t point it out. The women, like sugarcoated pills which were simply bitter medicine coated with sugar, covered themselves with the stories they made up to hide their true origins like outerwear.

    It¡¯s certainly the best place to hide your identity. Since everyone here lies about themselves.

    Lbkfnfg, atja wjvf la fnfc wbgf vloolmeia ab mjggs bea atf Swqfgbg¡¯r bgvfgr. Pa kbeiv¡¯nf yffc j vloofgfca mjrf lo atfs kfgf ogbw Vtjjx bg Bjsfvln, ktb kfgf gjmljiis vlralcma, yea atf qfbqif bo atf Mfvfgjalbc bo Mlnf Rjalbcr kfgf cba jii atja vloofgfca ogbw atf qfbqif bo atf Sralcj Swqlgf lc afgwr bo jqqfjgjcmf. Ciatbeut atf meiaegfr jcv merabwr kfgf nfgs vloofgfca, atfs ibbxfv jilxf, jcv la kjr vloolmeia ab vlralcuelrt atfw ecifrr atfs tjv ecereji qtsrlmji mtjgjmafglralmr ilxf Zjvjwf Vmtejyfi.

    How long has it been? Eug¨¨ne, thanks to his unyielding corner, faithfully carried out the Emperor¡¯s orders in spite of taking on an absurd task. He looked at the stage more seriously than anyone else in the salon, and though it took him a while, he did end up discovering something remarkable.

    ¡°Sir Gersen?¡±

    He leaned towards the Emperor and called him softly, who, pretending to put down the glass, bowed his head toward Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Can you see the right shoulder of the woman on stage?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I can.¡±

    On the stage, a woman in a gorgeous evening gown with arms exposed to the shoulders, which was the current trend, was wearing a necklace with a sapphire locket around her neck. She claimed to be the widow of a soldier who lost his life in the last war, and as she claimed, she seemed more mature than any of the other girls who had been on stage.

    However, even her relatively old age compared to others was not a flaw for her at all. Compared to the maidens who had not yet grown up, the mature body in its mid-20s was only emphasizing the distinctive difference.

    ¡°If you look above her shoulder, you¡¯ll be able to notice a tiny blue hook visible through the delicate lace. That tattoo looks familiar. It¡¯s a tattoo that Rodom¡¯s sailors give to their children in a superstitious sense when they get sick. It¡¯s engraved to hold onto the life of a child who is trying to escape, like catching a fish with a fishing hook.¡±

    After listening to Eug¨¨ne, the Emperor focused his attention and tried to check the woman¡¯s tattoo. But no matter how narrow the field of vision, a glimpse of a bluish blotch was all he could see through the lace. Though his vision wasn¡¯t particularly bad, it was hard to tell whether it was a loop shape or just a dot.

    ¡°You have good eyesight. You can see it from even this distance?¡±

    ¡°Oh! You won¡¯t be able to see it. I have been training to watch the watchtower since I was little, so my eyesight is good.¡±

    The duty of the sentry in charge of the watchtower was of great account. This is because it was necessary to thoroughly understand not only whether the faint shadows visible on the horizon in the distance was an enemy or an ally, but also whether it was a merchant ship or a military ship, the type of ship it was, how many knots the ship can go per hour, and what wind speed it was riding in.

    ¡°Then you surely didn¡¯t see it wrong, did you?¡±

    ¡°If I wasn¡¯t sure, I wouldn¡¯t have told you.¡±

    ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll trust you once.¡±

    As soon as the Emperor was finished speaking, he raised the bell and entered the auction. Eug¨¨ne, embarrassed by the sudden action of the Emperor, realized what the action meant and the nape of his neck reddened.

    ¡°¡­ Are you buying me a prostitute now?¡±

    No matter how much the Emperor liked to step up in person, there was no way he would ever expose himself to the hostile spies. Therefore, it was obvious that the prostitute who was auctioned off would fall into Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Regardless, you can¡¯t openly call them a prostitute. There should be a plausible nickname for such ladies, no?¡±

    The sly Emperor, not knowing what Eug¨¨ne was worried about, rang the bell again and renewed the auction price. Whether or not he knew Eug¨¨ne¡¯s anguish, which was proportional to the increase in price, the Emperor¡¯s hand gesture of ringing the bell was simply rhythmical.

    ***

    In the end, the Emperor achieved what he wanted.

    He actively participated in the auction and won the ¡°Sapphire Necklace¡± successfully, defeating the passionate competitor who kept up with him till the end. He handed a note and address under a strange name to the servant who had come to inquire about the payment and then turned around.

    ¡°Did you really think I would buy you a prostitute?¡±

    He mischievously asked Eug¨¨ne, who was letting out a sigh of relief inside. Eug¨¨ne, who until recently had no doubt that he would really do such a thing, bowed his head with a bitter smile.

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Even if I did, what¡¯s the problem? All you have to do is enjoy yourself without paying anything.¡±

    ¡°That still doesn¡¯t mean there¡¯s no price to pay, does it? If I enter into a sexual relationship with her, I would have to tell you every single thing that happened in bed, from start to finish.¡±

    Upon hearing Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer, the Emperor tilted his head vaguely with a smile on his face. After hearing the reason, he still couldn¡¯t understand why he hated the idea so much.

    ¡°It¡¯s not to the degree you must label it as a price to pay. Opportunities to take on such a beautiful woman don¡¯t come by very often. ¡­Or is there something wrong down there? Is there any discomfort in the male function?¡±

    ¡°No. There¡¯s nothing of that sort. I have no problems with the male function.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear that. Don¡¯t you have an important duty to bear me children?¡±

    It was a strange expression that could be misunderstood by strangers, but as a matter of fact, the Emperor¡¯s words had a sound meaning: ¡®Have a child quickly and receive an official promotion¡¯. Even though it was an extremely hasty request for him, who had not yet remarried, the Emperor confidently demanded it as if he had any right to do so.

    Despite the fact that his master was fully guaranteeing his promotion, Eug¨¨ne was not happy at all. This is because he felt like he was being teased continuously as an extension of their previous conversation.

    ¡°Well then, since I¡¯m done with my business here, let¡¯s go back.¡±

    The Emperor, who had a habit of moving people up and down with only a few words, calmly lowered his legs from the footrest. Eug¨¨ne followed him reflexively as he stood up, and asked curiously as he glanced back at the stage where the auction was still going on.

    ¡°The auction is not over yet, are you leaving already?¡±

    ¡°I checked everything I wanted to check for myself.¡±

    For a brief moment, the Emperor¡¯s eyes glanced back at him. Eug¨¨ne looked into that gaze and realized that one of the things the Emperor wanted to ¡®check for himself¡¯ was him.

    ¡°You can stay longer if you want. I¡¯ll send the carriage once I reach my place.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡±

    ¡°Really? Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s mansion has a reputation for being an enjoyable place for gambling.¡±

    The Emperor recommended it coolly as if he would even provide him gambling funds if he wanted. He¡¯s doing all sorts of things. As if it wasn¡¯t enough that he¡¯s a souteneur, he runs a gambling place too? Eug¨¨ne shook his head, feeling the goodwill he had felt for Count d¡¯Estuaire at the first meeting being irretrievably shattered and turned into ashes.

    ¡°I shall decline the offer. I do not enjoy gambling.¡±

    They made their way out of the salon using a passageway made between the curtains to keep out of the way of the auction. The Emperor gestured to the servant holding the candle to take the lead, strode down the hallway leading to the front door, and asked Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Could it be that you do not know how to gamble?¡±

    ¡°No, that¡¯s not the case.¡±

    There was nothing special to do on a sailing ship. Gambling was one of the representative forms of entertainment enjoyed by sailors in their spare time, and Eug¨¨ne, who had been sailing for a long time, was fairly good at gambling, albeit unintentionally.

    ¡°What are you good at?¡±

    ¡°I know how to play a simple dice game.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t do it. At the very least, learn trictrac.¡±

    The Emperor said, referring to table gambling enjoyed by nobles.

    ¡°Understood.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t take my words lightly. Why do you think Count d¡¯Estuaire is even doing this? Just because he needs money? Contrary to his appearance, he is an ambitious man. He¡¯s also clever enough to know that he has to study his opponents¡¯ weaknesses first before he hunts them.¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    ¡°You must not underestimate such a person. Honest people often downplay the power of expediency.¡±

    The Emperor advised Eug¨¨ne coldly. Eug¨¨ne had never thought about it that way, so he felt dejected and just lowered his head.

    Just then, a woman passed by them. As she walked past them hurriedly, her appearance could be seen. The woman¡¯s face, like everyone else, was half-covered with a cat mask, and she had her whole body wrapped in a purple velvet cloak. Eug¨¨ne reflexively placed his hand on his hat, slightly nodded to greet her, and looked back at the woman passing by one step late. Even in a rich dress, the woman walked so fast, she had already passed the front hall and stepped onto the spiral staircase.

    ¡°That¡¯s the woman.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne went out to the front entrance and approached the Emperor, who was waiting for the carriage, and whispered to him in his ear. The Emperor, standing languidly, glanced backward, and then looked straight ahead as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s Madame Shuabel. The one who¡¯s called the Eighth Fleur.¡±

    ¡°¡­ The woman who just passed by?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Interesting. You mean to say she stepped here herself?¡±

    He reiterated the same remark unpleasantly in a hushed voice, so the servant holding the lamp could not hear it. Shortly thereafter, the awaited carriage arrived. The Emperor naturally got into the carriage, followed by Eug¨¨ne.

    The Emperor pulled the rope attached to the horseman¡¯s seat and ordered the carriage to depart. Inside the fast-moving carriage, the Emperor looked at the mansion outside the window with a profound look in his eyes.

    ¡°The silver fox of Rodom¡¯s body has worn out.¡±

    The Emperor leaned back against the backrest with a spine-chilling smile. Eug¨¨ne kept his mouth shut so as not to disturb him in his thoughts.

    Clack-Clack. Only the sound of horseshoes pulling carriages resounded on the stone pavement. The two men in the carriage quietly headed for their destination without talking to each other anymore, each lost in their different thoughts.

 CH 22

    The carriage that left the mansion ran smoothly.

    The distance between La Lune, where the mansions of the nobles were concentrated, and the Imbert Palace was very close. But the Emperor, concerned that someone might be following them, ordered the carriage to be driven into the narrow and complicated back alleys of the capital instead of as soon as its tracks were clearly revealed. The driver of the carriage was an ordinary coachman who didn¡¯t even know what kind of guests he was serving. They were supposed to change carriages at the midway point, a secret place, just like when they came out of the palace.

    ¡°Neighh-.¡±

    It was shortly after the carriage had just turned the corner of a narrow alley that the accident occurred. It was the middle of the night and no one was passing by, but there was a loud roar of horses as if they were startled by something, causing the carriage to suddenly stop.

    Even the carriage they were riding in shook due to the wild movements of the startled horses. Eug¨¨ne, immersed in other thoughts until then, came to his senses at the sudden rattling and hurriedly grabbed the chair. The Emperor, sitting on the other side, barely managed to balance by placing his hands on both walls of the carriage.

    What happened?

    For a brief moment, Eug¨¨ne, bewildered by the unexpected situation, bumped into the Emperor, who was on the opposite side. Then a horrifying scream was heard outside the window. It was the desperate scream of the unfortunate coachman. When a faint light flashed across the Emperor¡¯s eyes, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s face showed a clear expression of disappointment.

    As soon as Eug¨¨ne realized the situation, he got up from his seat and blocked the Emperor with his own body. The door of the carriage opened as soon as he was able to take out his sword. Just as Eug¨¨ne identified the opponent, he swung his sword to prevent the attacker from entering the carriage.

    It was almost at the same time it happened and Eug¨¨ne reacted. This may have been a possible response because he had been worried about the possibility of this situation happening all evening.

    Just as expected. The insolent attacker, who opened the carriage door without knocking, was holding a pistol with a lit fuse. As soon as Eug¨¨ne found him, he struck the gun with the back of the sword. The attacker tried to target the people in the carriage and did not drop his gun despite the sudden attack, though the pistol¡¯s muzzle turned to the ground.

    Eug¨¨ne fiercely reversed the sword that struck the muzzle and cut off the lit wick. The technique of moving as nimble as a snake climbing upside down a tree was closer to Austrassie than to Neustrie. He calmly removed the pistol¡¯s threat and then kicked his opponent in the chest. The man, who was just about to push himself into the carriage fell out of the door mercilessly.

    The horses, startled by their harsh offensive, stamped their feet again. Even the carriage, which was still attached to the horses, rattled dangerously. Eug¨¨ne managed to keep his balance in the carriage, which swayed haphazardly like a small boat in a storm.

    Eug¨¨ne, barely standing in position, looked back unintentionally. He was worried that the willingness to fight and win of the Emperor was strong as the attackers rushing in front of him. Eug¨¨ne knew he was an exceptional swordsman, but in front of an attacker with a gun, no matter how good a knight he was, it was futile.

    Furthermore, wasn¡¯t the Emperor¡¯s existence valuable not because he was a good swordsman, but because he was an Emperor? He was not a knight to step up and fight, but a symbol of an empire that must not fall until the very end. Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t mind that the Emperor couldn¡¯t help him, he just wanted him to be safe.

    ¡°Stay as you are, Sir Gersen!¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, anxious that the Emperor might step forward, pushed him into one corner of the carriage and said firmly. The Emperor could not even pull out his sword because of the narrow space he was in, and unexpectedly and meekly took refuge in the corner of the carriage. He looked at the attackers rushing toward Eug¨¨ne and ordered in a cool tone.

    ¡°Don¡¯t kill them, Muiel. Aren¡¯t they our much-awaited guests?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne could not understand what the Emperor meant by such a request. Did it mean that he believed in his own abilities that much? Or was it deliberately intended to confuse the enemy? However, whatever the Emperor¡¯s true intentions, Eug¨¨ne could not afford to comply with the order.

    Clash, Clang.

    Seu¨¨cf obeuta vfrqfgjafis jujlcra atf fcfwlfr ktb kfgf jybea ab fcafg atf mjggljuf, tjio-mbnfgfv ys atf mjggljuf vbbg ab vfofcv jujlcra jcs yeiifar atja wluta ois. Frlcu j rlwqif byrajmif atja kjr ilxf j qlfmf bo ybjgv ab atf kjii, tlr qbrlalbc kjr ilxf j ujafxffqfg uejgvlcu j mjraif ujaf wjvf bo ragjk.

    Under the current circumstances, he could not afford to move anywhere else. The space he was defending now had a narrow field of view and it was difficult to seek an opportunity to counterattack, so it was a position that could not be sustained for long. But even so, he would not be able to leave behind the Emperor who would be defenseless if he left.

    Several fierce battles took place between the attackers and Eug¨¨ne. The attackers were also quite skillful, but they could not break through the strong defense of Eug¨¨ne, a war veteran. If the gun had been fired, the situation might have been different. Fortunately, however, the enemies did not seem to want to draw other people¡¯s attention by indiscriminately firing shots in the middle of the capital.

    The Emperor, who had been hiding behind his back, looked at the man¡¯s strong back, guarding the door with an interested gaze. Eug¨¨ne¡¯s back, guarding the door out of volition, was as straight and determined as a knight in a legend.

    ¡°It cannot be this way, Sir Gersen. Quickly escape!¡±

    Eug¨¨ne analyzed the situation cool-headedly while defeating the enemy¡¯s attacks. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t sure how long he would be able to last here. The reason he had withstood so far in such an unfavorable situation was not only because of his excellent skills but also because the enemies were trying to capture them alive.

    However, he didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d be fortunate enough to be able to do that. Eug¨¨ne decided that it would be better for him to get off while he still had the strength to spare, so he took a step forward to get out of the carriage.

    ¡°No. That seems impossible, Muiel.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne did not feel the need to exchange opinions with the Emperor even though he made his own judgment. It was because he believed that the Emperor would immediately understand his intentions just by looking at his actions.

    Eug¨¨ne, about to throw himself away to clear the way, was startled by the calm voice behind his back and stopped. It was an extremely quiet response that did not suit the situation, but there was something sinister about it that stimulated his instincts.

    Eug¨¨ne, with a spine-chilling instinctive premonition, hurriedly looked back. Eug¨¨ne turned his head and saw the Emperor sitting in the corner of the carriage slowly raising his hands, with his lips twisted as he faced him. And behind the Emperor¡¯s back¡­ A pistol that broke in through the opposite window was shining coolly.

    ¡°Whether the gun is faster or the sword, would you like to test it out? Swordsman?¡±

    The man, like the other attackers, had his face covered with a black mask and made a cold sarcastic remark as he pressed the gun firmly against the Emperor¡¯s back. Eug¨¨ne was caught off guard and glared at the masked man with a fiery red gaze. The masked man poked the Emperor¡¯s back with his gun as if he was warning him and ordered in a low voice.

    ¡°If you want to save your master, throw away the sword.¡±

    A cold-hearted order that had not been given even the slightest amount of room for compromise fell from the man¡¯s mouth. When Eug¨¨ne heard his order, he clenched his jaw so hard, to the point his molars hurt.

    Being unarmed in the current situation was the worst choice he could ever make. If he lost his weapon in this situation, it was as good as losing the last bastion that could turn the situation around. However, it was no exaggeration to say that there was no possibility that he would save the Emperor from the face of the masked man. The flaming wick was burning fast, and the masked man¡¯s bullet would pierce the Emperor¡¯s heart faster than any response he could take.

    Eug¨¨ne, contemplating in the face of a difficult problem in which he could not readily make a decision, and met the Emperor¡¯s gaze. The Emperor was looking at him with an indifferent expression. As if it didn¡¯t matter what decision Eug¨¨ne would make, his eyes staring at him were impassive.

    ¡­ Are you judging a subject¡¯s potential even in this situation? You¡¯re truly incredible, Your Majesty.

    When Eug¨¨ne met that kind of gaze in such an explosive situation, he felt as sick as a parrot. The Emperor¡¯s attitude, as if he didn¡¯t even care about the muzzle behind his back, was beyond bold. Eug¨¨ne was overwhelmed by the Emperor¡¯s incomprehensible equanimity. However, no matter how much he thought about it, as long as he was concerned about the safety of the Emperor, he had only one option.

    When he reluctantly set his sword down on the floor of the carriage, the attackers who were fighting him quickly stepped up and removed his sword. They grabbed him roughly by the arm and dragged him out of the carriage, as if to vent the anger of what had just happened.

    ¡°You have a good dog, My Lord. What a great and faithful dog.¡±

    The masked man saw the man who had been raging like an angry lion until just now being passively dragged out of the carriage, said to the Emperor in a sneering tone. The Emperor glanced at the masked man with golden eyes brimming with strange emotions and smiled languidly.

    ¡°He¡¯s not a dog. He¡¯s my hunting hawk.¡±

    The Emperor gently corrected the masked man¡¯s misunderstanding.

    ¡°Hunting hawk?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. The best breed of hunting hawks. It¡¯s by far the best thing I¡¯ve ever had. Though I haven¡¯t tamed them all to this level yet, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s quite magnificent?¡±

    The masked man looked astonished at the tone of the Emperor, who seemed genuinely pleased. Even though half of his face was covered, the absurd look in his eyes was evident. However, the Emperor did not care about the masked man¡¯s strange eyes and looked at the empty space where Eug¨¨ne had left. His eyes, as narrow as a smile, were imbued with deep, sweet satisfaction.

    ***

    When he stopped resisting, the attackers immediately turned into kidnappers and dragged the two away.

    Of course, Eug¨¨ne had foreseen that this would be the case. From the beginning, their intention was not to assassinate but to capture them alive. If they didn¡¯t want them alive, they wouldn¡¯t have tried to achieve the elusive goal.

    The Emperor and Eug¨¨ne, who had been disarmed, were forcibly transferred to another carriage, blindfolded with a black cloth, and the attackers remained vigilant until they reached their destination, with guns pointed at each of their backs.

    Contrary to the orderly first impression, the back alley of the capital, Mich¨¨le, was nothing more than an unintented labyrinth. Complex alleys were intertwined like spiderwebs between buildings illogically without a specific plan. Paths that a carriage could barely pass were tangled up in a mess like skeins scattered by children, trapping unlucky strangers who had set a foot wrong in the labyrinth.

    The carriage, which was running along a rough road with broken pavement, reached the back door of a mansion after a long time. Even Eug¨¨ne, who had a good sense of direction, had a hard time guessing the location of the mansion because they deliberately went around the complicated road.

    The attackers, wary of him, put iron handcuffs on Eug¨¨ne¡¯s wrists and dragged him up the stairs. The Emperor, on the other hand, was treated much better than that. It was partly because of the elegant appearance that looked like a typical salon noble, but it seemed that the response closer to non-resistance he showed at the time of the attack was the bigger cause.

    They did not even handcuff the Emperor because he seemed relatively less threatening than Eug¨¨ne. The attackers tied his hands only with a silk cloth, and rather than them tied behind his back, they were tied forward.

    Eug¨¨ne checked the Emperor¡¯s appearance after the blindfold was removed, and secretly felt at ease as he sighed when he realized that they had not caught on to the true identity of the Emperor. If they had known who the Emperor was, they would not have taken care of his body in such a lax manner.

    ¡°Are you okay, Sir Gersen?¡±

    Nevertheless, when there were only the two of them left, Eug¨¨ne habitually checked up on the Emperor first. The Emperor, trapped with him in the cold cellar without a single window, looked at him through the dim vision barely lit by a torch on the wall.

    ¡°I¡¯m more worried about you than myself. Do you know that your forehead is bleeding?¡±

    The Emperor observed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s appearance for a moment and asked in a low voice. The attackers were not as uncouth as they thought, so they did not take their anger out on Eug¨¨ne, who had given them a hard time. However, the handling itself was very rough, so it was impossible not to have any wounds at all.

    The blood flowing from the forehead was a mark left by the corner of the carriage when he was being transferred to one. Eug¨¨ne answered calmly as he wiped the blood that ran down his cheek with his shoulder.

    ¡°It will stop soon.¡±

    Even with seven attackers bearing pistols, this was his only injury. He felt quite lucky. Although it was an inappropriate expression to describe the incident of being kidnapped by armed men while being on their way at night, it was safe to call it good luck.

    ¡°¡­ Do you know who they are?¡±

    He examined the room in which they were confined and turned to the Emperor. The cellar in which they were confined appeared to be a place originally intended to be a prison. In the corner, there was a toilet, and on one side of the wall was a bed lined with straws and fixed with nails.

    But other than that, there was absolutely nothing. There were no porcelain bowls or mirrors that could be broken into pieces and used as weapons, and there were no chairs or tables to break legs of. There was a torch that lit up the darkness, but even that was hidden in an alcove. The torch, which was fixed to the outside so that it could be changed in the hallway, was safely tucked behind a grid-like solid grate.

    ¡°Why do you think so?¡±

    While Eug¨¨ne looked around and stood still at the door vigilantly, the Emperor moved and sat on the bed in the corner and asked calmly. He rested his back against the wall in a comfortable position as if he were sitting in a court salon, with one leg over the other. Then he placed his tied hands on his knees and looked at Eug¨¨ne with amusement.

    Eug¨¨ne looked into his golden eyes, glistening faintly in the darkness. Those eyes, as thick as freshly melted pure gold, were shining with pure joy that could not be hidden.

    ¡°Though it has not been that long, it¡¯s not like your disposition is out of my understanding. As far as I know, you are more aware of your position than anyone else. If you had judged that their attack was a threat to your life, you would not have stood back as coldly as you are now.¡±

    The Emperor that Eug¨¨ne knew was a man who never gave up. Moreover, he was immensely enthusiastic, so he would always achieve what he wanted, even if he had to dirty his hands. However, the Emperor had not at all shown the active tendency unique to him earlier.

 CH 23

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s biggest suspicion was that he was bizarrely non-resistive. In fact, it was for this reason that he laid down his weapon as the enemy wished. Eug¨¨ne belatedly realized that the Emperor had other intentions in his mind.

    ¡°Did you surrender because you believed so?¡±

    The Emperor looked at Eug¨¨ne, who had no immediate answer, tilted his head, and added another question to his previous one. Eug¨¨ne spoke innocently like a child but had no way of knowing his deepest intentions, and so, could not readily answer and remained silent. The Emperor tapped his lap with his delicate fingers.

    ¡°Let¡¯s assume that is the case, but what if that judgment was wrong on your part? Did you intend to risk my life solely because of your own conclusive opinion?¡±

    Though it was a question that seemed to be a harsh rebuke, Eug¨¨ne read a deep mischievousness in the Emperor¡¯s eyes. The Emperor possessed the disposition of a carnivore in every way and unfortunately resembled a wild beast even in his ways of looking for pleasure.

    Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly and lowered his eyes at the Emperor¡¯s nasty habit of teasing him whenever he had the chance, even though he clearly knew that the other person could not resist. He feared that a hasty answer would further encourage the Emperor¡¯s playfulness, which did not fit the situation.

    ¡°A commander always has a second plan. It is not the way of a soldier to bet everything on one judgment.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne cleverly escaped the Emperor¡¯s intended trap. As soon as he finished answering, he crouched down, lowered his arms tied behind his back, struggling to feel inside his boots. The Emperor had no idea what Eug¨¨ne¡¯s sudden action meant, so he continued to watch him without taking his eyes off.

    He tucked his fingers into his boots and found the little main gauche he had hidden in the gap of his long socks. Although it was called a main gauche, it was more like a knife rather than a dagger in terms of its overall shape.

    The blade of the main gauche, which was only as long as the index finger, was thin and sharp enough to peel off the skin as it was. Eug¨¨ne carefully removed the scabbard and tucked the tip of the main gauche into the groove of the handcuffs. As a result, his wrists painfully twisted and his fingers cramped, but Eug¨¨ne, with an expressionless face, focused only on uncuffing the handcuffs.

    Soon after, the shoddy hasp snapped open. Eug¨¨ne dropped the handcuffs on the floor and relaxed his red-lined wrists a few times to check their condition. The Emperor watched the scene curiously, wearing such an expression as if he was watching some kind of feat. The Emperor, who had been leaning against the wall, leaned forward and closely watched the work he was doing, and looked up at Eug¨¨ne with a merry smile as he approached him.

    ¡°Seems like you know some interesting antics. Picking a lock. Isn¡¯t that one of the tricks of a thief?¡±

    The Emperor asked in a half-joyful, half-doubtful tone. Indeed, hiding a dagger in the boots or picking the lock with the tip of a blade was not something typical nobles would do. Eug¨¨ne responded quietly, cutting off the knot of cloth that bound the Emperor¡¯s wrists with his main gauche.

    ¡°It¡¯s a skill that any trainee officer who has no relatives to pay the ransom in case he is inevitably caught by pirates must learn. If you don¡¯t want to be a slave to a galley for the rest of your life, you have to know at least one way to free your hands and feet.¡±

    To learn this trick, he had to concede a two months¡¯ worth of wine ration to a senior sailor. The water used for drinking during the voyage was kept in the dock for several months, so it always smelled excessively filthy. The water tasted really terrible if one were to drink it without any additives, so it was a great sacrifice to offer two months¡¯ worth of wine that would moisten his throat during mealtimes.

    He mentioned that it was an essential skill to the Emperor, but in fact, he was the only one among his comrades who had mastered it. Most trainee officers valued the sweet wine in front of them more than the freedom of the distant future. But Eug¨¨ne was desperate to survive, and he knew that if he learned such tricks, he would one day put them to good use.

    ¡°It is an admirable virtue to be concerned about the future. I think I can see why you are a good commander.¡±

    The Emperor nodded and removed the piece of cloth from his wrists. Perhaps because they were tied with silk, there was no red mark on the Emperor¡¯s wrists, let alone a wound. Eug¨¨ne slipped the used main gauche inside the waist of his pants and asked the Emperor.

    ¡°Shall we escape now?¡±

    ¡°Pr atja qbrrlyif?¡±

    ¡°Po sbe kjca ab, P rtjii tjnf ab vb la. Valii, beg rlaejalbc tjr lwqgbnfv j iba mbwqjgfv ab j ktlif jub.¡±

    Snfc atbeut tf kjr agjqqfv lc atf mfiijg bo jc ecxcbkc wjcrlbc, atfgf kjr cb qgfafcalbercfrr lc Seu¨¨cf¡¯r jrregjcmf. Pc ojma, tlr pevuwfca kjr cba kgbcu. Ktf bcis kfjqbc tf meggfcais ybgf kjr j wjlc ujemtf tlvvfc lc tlr qjcar, yea kjrc¡¯a la wemt yfaafg atjc rajcvlcu lc ogbca bo ecqgfvlmajyif wehhifr klat atf Swqfgbg tfiv tbrajuf?

    Not only did they not know that Eug¨¨ne still had a weapon, but they also did not know anything about the Emperor¡¯s actual skills. Only if he wants to escape, it was not a bad choice to try now.

    ¡°You¡¯re not a man of mercy to your enemies, are you?¡±

    The Emperor gently rubbed his wrists here and there, which had no marks left on them, and quietly sounded him out. When Eug¨¨ne silently turned his gaze back to the Emperor, he smiled softly and leaned back against the stone wall again.

    ¡°Then forget it. Let¡¯s wait like this. I tend to be quite attached to those who belong to me. It seems that there is still a lot left to teach, but for now, since they¡¯re my people, I do not wish to harm them.¡±

    ¡°¡­ From what you¡¯re saying, it doesn¡¯t sound like you¡¯re worried about me. By ¡®my people¡¯, do you mean to refer to those people over there?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±

    ¡°How could that be?¡±

    No matter how much Eug¨¨ne thought about it, he couldn¡¯t understand, so he asked back as if he was dumbfounded. What kind of subject would dare to kidnap the Emperor? They didn¡¯t even know that the other person was the Emperor. When the Emperor heard him, he rolled up the corners of his mouth and smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s not impossible to put together an impatient boss who is under pressure to bring out results and an underling who doesn¡¯t know exactly who he serves. Could you not tell just by looking at what is happening right now?¡±

    As he had suspected at first, the Emperor seemed to know their real identities. However, Eug¨¨ne did not know the reason behind that firm conviction, and still showed signs of doubt.

    ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±

    ¡°Pistol.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°Did you not think that the pistols they had were a bit strange?¡±

    ¡°Pistols¡­ come to think of it, the barrel seemed to be shorter than the ones I¡¯ve seen before. It seemed as if the speed of the fuse was much faster than other models.¡±

    Since it was an urgent situation at the time, he didn¡¯t pay much attention to it, but when he thought about it again, something did seem odd. After hearing the Emperor¡¯s point, he felt doubtful again because of which he immersed himself in agony and narrowed his eyebrows.

    The pistols they possessed were distinctly different from those seen before. It was an improved product in many ways compared to the ones previously produced, and the barrel itself was short, making it easy to carry, and the fuse was quick to burn, so it was advantageous for shooting.

    Just looking at its shape, it reminded him of the Army¡¯s improved model of the pistol he had heard of. It was a new weapon that was said to have not yet been supplied to the officers of the Army because there had not been many productions yet, so it was something that would never fall into the hands of such ruffians, however¡­

    Eug¨¨ne, having thought that far, suddenly turned his head and looked back at the Emperor. But before he could say anything, he heard urgent footsteps from the end of the hallway.

    ¡°You seem to have figured it out now.¡±

    The Emperor looked towards the door with a faint smile on his face. There was a loud sound of the lock being opened, and the door opened so violently that the hinges became unstable. The light was dim and he could only see the silhouette of the person who entered, but Eug¨¨ne felt some familiarity with him, who could not even see his face. It felt like someone he had met once.

    The man, who looked around the room as if frozen for a moment, trembled when found the Emperor. Then he approached him with large strides and got down on his knees. Eug¨¨ne unconsciously tried to get in the way of the Emperor, but the Emperor raised his hand to stop him.

    The man, who could not hide his embarrassment and surprise, bowed his head in front of the Emperor with a deathly pale complexion. The Emperor scrutinized his blank face and clicked his tongue.

    ¡°Was Our message that We will visit sometime soon that unreliable? It was such an overly direct invitation, We almost misunderstood it, Victor.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s voice as he greeted the man was surprisingly kind and friendly. There was an indescribable smile in his gentle voice. But when he heard those words, Victor¡¯s face hardened even more. He was completely rigid, as if he would crumble if touched, so he did not even dare to look up and bowed his head to apologize for his own fault.

    ¡°I apologize, Your Majesty. I didn¡¯t expect Your Majesty to be riding in that carriage.¡±

    Victor said, with a feeling of wanting to bury his forehead in the ground as it is if he could. It was fortunate that he found out, albeit late. If he hadn¡¯t asked about the identity of the abductees as a confirmation, he might have committed a rare disloyalty of not only abducting the Emperor with his own hands but even torture.

    ¡°Oh no. We weren¡¯t the original guest of honor of this banquet?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Did you use such a wild method all because you wanted to invite someone? This is not the way We wanted you to do it.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s tone of asking in a soothing way was more terrifying than a snapped rebuke. From the Emperor¡¯s appearance, Eug¨¨ne saw the vision of a cat and a wild beast playing with its prey with its claws hidden.

    Victor Adelphe, the Emperor¡¯s hidden minion, whom he had met once before, lowered his head as pitifully as a mouse in front of a cat. Since he couldn¡¯t make any excuses, he just licked his lips and lowered his gaze.

    Victor had no words to justify his actions. The mistake he had made was so great that an excuse was simply out of the question. He felt his mouth dry and shook his head once more.

    He could not understand how he made such a mistake. Victor had ordered the kidnapping of a nobleman who had won the bid for a spy from the Federation of Five Nations at Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s brothel, not the Emperor who came out in secret.

    It was only two weeks ago that Victor Adelphe learned of Irene Spencer¡¯s existence. Victor, who had been retracing their roots to find out the route through which the spies of the Federation of the Five Nations seeped into the capital, finally found a clue at Vauzelle Port and tracked it down.

    The clue he got was a simple rumor that a merchant along with a woman from Kamann had entered the port as a married couple but returned without the wife. He said that she ran away with another man, but Victor didn¡¯t believe it. What made it suspicious was that while the merchant¡¯s wife was called to be a rare beauty, enough to be rumored to have fled, the merchant had returned home in a hurry without even looking for her much.

    He was quick to give up, even if one were to consider that he was ashamed of other people¡¯s attention. Regardless of whether he loved her or not, men didn¡¯t easily give up on beautiful women. Even more so if the merchant was an overweight and ugly fellow who gained a beautiful wife as somewhat of compensation.

    He followed the trail of Irene Spencer, who disappeared from Vauzelle Port. Fortunately, her outstanding beauty always caught the eye of someone. She moved by changing her identity several times, but Victor did not lose track of her and was eventually able to find out that her whereabouts were connected to Count d¡¯Estuaire¡¯s brothel.

    Irene Spencer ¨C no, now Helena Nartier ¨C was Victor¡¯s only harvest in months since he started pursuing the Federation of Five Nations. After being reprimanded by the Emperor, he was uncharacteristically impatient, and even more anxious after failing to win the bid despite offering an amount that was well above a courtesan¡¯s average ransom.

    ¡°I apologize. I have nothing to say to Your Majesty.¡±

    But no matter what the circumstances, there was no excuse. In addition to failing to chase the spies of the Federation of the Five Nations, he even committed such disrespect to His Majesty for a mistake he made in the middle of it. If he hadn¡¯t heard from his subordinates that the abductees called each other ¡®Sir Gersen¡¯ and ¡®Muiel¡¯, it might have reached a point where it would have been difficult to dismiss this incident as a simple mistake. Fortunately, he figured out the pseudonym the Emperor was using before it was too late, otherwise¡­ Victor did not even dare to imagine the aftermath that would follow.

    Gersen was the last name of the Emperor, a nickname the Empress Mother liked to call, and Muiel was the name of the Emperor¡¯s most beloved hunting hawk. As a child, the Emperor loved Muiel so deeply that he put it to sleep in his own bed, and Victor, who had spent his childhood with the Emperor, was well aware of that fact.

    ¡°We are not asking for such an apology, Victor. Just because you¡¯re Our milk brother, it doesn¡¯t excuse you from everything. If you hadn¡¯t been Rachel¡¯s only child, We would have struck your neck today.¡±

    That man is the Emperor¡¯s milk brother? Eug¨¨ne knew that Baron Bouilhet, a primary court attendant part of the royal guards, was the Emperor¡¯s milk brother, and raised his eyebrows at this unexpected remark. However, after careful thought, if the other person was the Emperor, it was likely that there would not only be aristocratic milk siblings but also commoner milk siblings.

    When a child is born in the imperial family, a noble lady is usually taken as a nanny, but that did not mean that the noblewomen were the ones who directly breastfeed. They were primarily responsible for supervising the commoner nannies, who were the ones doing the actual breastfeeding.

    If Victor Adelphe was the Emperor¡¯s milk brother, his mother was most likely the commoner nanny. It was evident just by seeing the Emperor call her name so intimately.

    ¡°Perhaps this is what you wanted. Be grateful to Sir Eug¨¨ne. If all Our achievement tonight was your unexpected incompetence, We wouldn¡¯t have dealt with you as mildly as We¡¯re doing right now.¡±

    The Emperor took out a small folded note from his pocket and threw it over Victor¡¯s lap. Viktor, frozen upright, looked up at the Emperor in astonishment. The Emperor wore the hat he had put down on the seat next to the bed and passed by him indifferently.

    Due to the comradeship situation of serving the same master, sympathizing as they were in the same miserable state, Eug¨¨ne could not turn away from Victor and gently put his hand on his hat to greet him and followed the Emperor.

    Victor, embarrassed, remained sat blankly on the spot, unable to see the Emperor off, and carefully opened the note on his lap only after the two left the room.

    There was written one of his many pseudonyms and the address of the safe house registered under that name. Only then did Victor realize what His Majesty meant by this note, and bit his lip in shame.

    <To be continued in Volume 2>

    T/N: uwaah~ thank you so much for keeping up with this novel so far and for all your lovely comments!! they literally make my day >< hope you all stay till the end ;] have a good day! p.s. if there¡¯s anything that didn¡¯t make sense to you or you couldn¡¯t understand in this volume, then please feel free to ask. the same goes for the rest of the future volumes (ofc once each of them ends¡­ to avoid spoilers).

 CH 24

    Northern Country, Kayediv.

    Kayediv, often referred to as simply the Northern Country or Snow Country, was a long-time ally of Estina, the Western empire, and would send envoys to each other to strengthen their close relationship.

    The Northern Country was the most isolated land of the entire Ladivenia Continent. Above the head, there was an ice-covered frozen sea all year round, and below it was blocked by the Yongustin mountain range, a natural barrier. In a country where the winter was exceptionally long and bitter, most of its ports were frozen, so it was difficult to even travel outside the country until spring began.

    The land route to the east led to the Salt Desert, a place notorious enough to say that if a hundred people entered, it was difficult for even two or three people to come out alive.

    It¡¯s around late May that the frozen ports of Kayediv begin to thaw. When the port was thawed, the Northern Country was the first to send an envoy to the Western empire to inform them that travel between countries was possible again, and to congratulate them. This event was called the ¡®Thawing Congratulatory Ceremony¡¯. The Estina Empire considered it to be highly momentous and held a three-day festival when the envoys for the thawing congratulatory ceremony arrived, in a way to comfort the guests for their hard work.

    ¡°As soon as spring comes, they come running right away.¡±

    The Emperor muttered apathetically after receiving a report that a ferry patrolling the north of the Baleum Sea had encountered an envoy ship.

    ¡°It¡¯s because spring in the Northern Country is the period of farming hardship. If they don¡¯t receive the crops for the summer on time, there will be a series of deaths by starvation.¡±

    On behalf of the Marquis of La Baille, who silently bowed his head, the Premier, Duke of Chirac, received the Emperor¡¯s words. The Emperor put the report down on the desk and leaned his back on the backrest.

    ¡°How many envoy ships are coming down this time?¡±

    ¡°It is said to be a total of seven ships.¡±

    Seven ships. Considering that there were usually three or four ships at most, the number of envoys this year was almost double. The Emperor knew it was because of his victory in the Landrienne Revolution. Instead of doubling the envoys to the empire, the group of envoys to Shaak would have been reduced in number by half.

    ¡°Did you receive the catalog of goods for trade?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Most of them are furs and precious metals. The proportion of iron ore has decreased relatively this year.¡±

    ¡°They managed to get wind of the fact that the war has ended. For those who are isolated all winter, information travels quite fast.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t the war already in a lull since last autumn? They must have guessed it would be over soon¡±

    During the last war, Kayediv sold iron ore and weapons to both Estina and Shaak, leaving an enormous profit margin. Kayediv was a friend of Estina, but their relationship with Shaak was not bad either. In fact, the Northern Country was a country with no enemies. They were not interested in affairs outside the country as they already had a hard time as it is to deal with the barren land they were living on.

    ¡°How did our harvest turn out this year?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fairly a normal crop harvest, but due to the widespread shortage of workers, the number of fallow lands has increased and the yield itself is insufficient. Moreover, since the end of the war, prices have risen and grain prices are skyrocketing.¡±

    ¡°So it turned out well just in time.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°It means We¡¯re happy with the state of affairs on the negotiation table. It doesn¡¯t seem like it would be easy to dive into that place this year either.¡±

    Ktf Swqfgbg rilutais rwlifv jcv rxlwwfv atgbeut atf ilra bo agjvf lafwr tf tjv ajxfc ogbw atf Zjgdelr bo Oj Djliif. Ktf Swqfgbg mbeiv cba tjnf obgubaafc atf mecclcu vffvr bo Bjsfvln veglcu atf ijra kjg. Ktf Gexf bo Jtlgjm, gfjilhlcu atja tf tjv batfg atbeutar lc tlr wlcv, mbeiv cba tlvf tlr mbcmfgc ja atf mjiw rfio-ajix bo atf Swqfgbg.

    ¡°Your Majesty. The thawing celebratory ceremony is an important diplomatic event with a long-time historical tradition. Even if there will be a renegotiation afterward, please do not displease them at this time. They hold their grudges as tenaciously as old wolves.¡±

    The Duke of Chirac, who had long served as the Premier of the empire, gave a piece of advice out of excessive solicitude. The Emperor quietly looked at the worried old man.

    ¡°If there is a wild animal that is damaging a farmer¡¯s fields, there are only two solutions. Hunt or tame. What method do you think is better for Us to take?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It would be better to tame it, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. We think the same.¡±

    The Emperor subtly pressured the Duke of Chirac to take a step back and looked back at the Marquis of La Baille. The Marquis of La Baille, in charge of the Ministry of Navy, stood there quietly, without opening his mouth much, except when making necessary reports.

    ¡°The envoys will arrive in a week?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°Set up a temporary residence in Rosson Port, and make sure that you do not neglect the hospitality of the envoys. Also, Head of the Imperial Household Office.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Please give your orders.¡±

    ¡°We are running out of time, will there be any problems with the preparations for the banquet?¡±

    ¡°It is an annual event that is usually held at this time of year, so we were preparing in advance within the Imperial Household Office. There will be no disruption to the banquet.¡±

    ¡°Good job. Make sure to prepare more thoroughly this year with no mistakes. ¡­ Speaking of which, we should also discuss grain prices. Did you say that grain prices are skyrocketing?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Your Majesty. Last autumn, the price of a sack of flour was 15 dells, but now it is being sold at up to 20 dells-.¡±

    Since there was no particularly sensitive issue on the agenda, today¡¯s political meeting proceeded in a breeze. In a situation where rights and interests were not at stake, the ministers would be as competent as they could be, and the Emperor knew how to coordinate his subjects.

    Eug¨¨ne stood quietly on one side of the Emperor¡¯s office, observing the process of deciding the important affairs of the country. Even though they knew he was there, everyone else in the office pretended as if he wasn¡¯t. They acted as if he was not a person, but rather a vase or a painting adorning the Emperor¡¯s office.

    But Eug¨¨ne, accustomed to being treated as a ghost after being dragged to a political meeting, paid little attention to such trifles. What caught his attention was not the country affairs that the high-ranking ministers were dealing with, but the thawing celebratory ceremony, a topic that had already passed.

    Thawing celebratory ceremony? Is it already that time of the year again?

    He was well-acquainted with the open sea rather than the inland sea, as he had a lot of experience with patrol work. There was a precedent of escorting envoys several times when he was in charge of patrols near the Baleum Sea, so he was quite familiar with the key figures of Kayediv.

    If things work out, it¡¯s possible that he¡¯ll be coming as an envoy too. It is feasible because he¡¯s the type of person who likes to wander around.

    Among them, some of them were close enough to him to be called his friends. Eug¨¨ne recalled the face of his closest friend in his mind and shook his head with a sigh, and smiled.

    If it¡¯s him, he might really be part of the envoys. Eug¨¨ne thought so because that person, who liked to roam around and travel so much was held back the previous year and the year before that, so by now, it was clear that he was itching to move again.

    ***

    After hours of elaborate dressing, Prince Merrick, who was finally fixing his cravat, gave a brief reply to the servant¡¯s knock on the door.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°Your Highness The Duke. Her Highness the Grand Duchess is here.¡±

    Prince Merrick was checking himself in the mirror while the servant fixed his cravat¡¯s wrinkles, and stiffened for a moment when he heard that his mother was waiting outside the door.

    ¡°¡­ Tell her to come in.¡±

    After a brief hesitation, Prince Merrick allowed his mother to come inside. When the door opened, Grand Duchess Alienor, dressed as splendidly as the queen of a country, entered the room.

    ¡°Oh my, Duke of Fernand. You¡¯re still not ready yet. Did I come too soon?¡±

    Grand Duchess Alienor, even though she was close to fifty years old, had smooth skin like a young woman. She admired her tall and handsome son with a kind smile. She sat down on a long chair before her son even suggested it, and, supported by a maid, leaned on the armrest and observed her son¡¯s lavish appearance delightedly.

    ¡°Mother.¡±

    Prince Merrick turned to the Grand Duchess after checking his clothes one last time. The Grand Duchess, as always, proudly looked at her son with a smile.

    ¡°Are you ready? Shall we leave now?¡±

    The Grand Duchess asked the question innocently, with a clueless attitude.

    Today was the day when the thawing celebratory ceremony began. Since the thawing celebratory ceremony was one of the important diplomatic events of the empire, the probation of Prince Merrick, a key member of the imperial family, had been temporarily relieved. An invitation sent directly by the Emperor was received in the evening.

    Even so, there was only one stern sentence that said to not neglect the duties of the imperial family for personal matters, but thanks to this, Prince Merrick, who was almost imprisoned at home, was able to take a breath.

    ¡°¡­ It seems that the butler did not convey my message properly. I cannot escort you today.¡±

    Should I tell the truth or not? Countless thoughts ran through Prince Merrick¡¯s mind in a short moment. Normally, even if there were a prior agreement, he would have held his mother¡¯s hand without a word, but he was in a different position today. It was not easy to act as usual, considering the existence of the woman who would be waiting for him in the court by now.

    ¡°What do you mean, Prince Merrick? If the Duke doesn¡¯t escort his mother, then who will?¡±

    ¡°I have asked the Marquis of Calver in advance. He will arrive at the mansion in a little while.¡±

    The Marquis of Calver was a courteous old gentleman, related to the Duke of Fernand by marriage, and a person who was not lacking in terms of status and character to escort the Grand Duchess. However, the Grand Duchess still looked puzzled after hearing his explanation.

    ¡°No, the Marquis of Calver hasn¡¯t contacted the Duke yet? I had already sent him a refusal yesterday afternoon.¡±

    ¡°Pardon? What do you mean? You sent a refusal to the Marquis of Calver?¡±

    Upon hearing the unexpected words, Prince Merrick looked at his mother in surprise.

    ¡°While I appreciate your request, what can I do when it is against the etiquette? I had no choice but to refuse. Although I am a widow, how could I depend on the goodwill of others when I already have a grown son? This mother, as she has always done, will never do anything that will harm the Duke¡¯s name.¡±

    She reported what she had done in such a tone as if she were explaining to a child. The way she spoke was still sweet and her smiling face was infinitely kind, but when Prince Merrick saw it, he felt a chill running down his spine.

    ¡°¡­ Mother.¡±

    ¡°But there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m curious about. Seeing that you have made all your preparations, it doesn¡¯t seem like you have no intention of not attending the envoy banquet, so who else are you trying to escort?

    At the mother¡¯s attitude of asking with a smile, Prince Merrick bit his lip unconsciously. Since he knew that she was not asking because she really didn¡¯t know.

    Shortly after the divorce trial, his mother made a strange request to distance himself from the Hon Louise Dumont for the time being. The incident caused Prince Merrick to suffer great shame as he could not pretend to be ignorant of the woman who was pregnant with his own child, but Grand Duchess Alienor persuaded him by saying that if he proceeded to marry her, he would only make the entire imperial family his enemy. Then, out of his own guilt of not wanting to treat her too badly, he pushed the back of Hon Louise Dumont, who was isolated with no one to turn to, and sent her to be Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s lady-in-waiting.

    At the time, Prince Merrick was persuaded by his mother¡¯s opinion, but as time passed, he felt somewhat uneasy. It was mainly because of the attitude of his mother, who was not making any preparations for the marriage at all, despite the increasing number of months, which had taken a toll on his heart.

    ¡°I went to the palace and escorted my fianc¨¦e. As mother knows, we haven¡¯t seen each other for a long time since she entered the palace.¡±

    While he dared not to face his mother and looked away, Prince Merrick clearly uttered what he wanted to say. An expression of anger flashed across the kind Grand Duchess Alienor¡¯s face. She bit her lip for a moment, then managed to subdue her anger and tried to soothe her son in a soft tone.

    ¡°Have you forgotten your mother¡¯s advice? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to meet her for a while?¡±

    ¡°I know very well what you¡¯re worried about. But she¡¯s the woman who¡¯s carrying my child. How can I keep pretending otherwise?¡±

    Does he love her? Does he not love her? It was a matter that even Prince Merrick himself did not know exactly. It was certainly true that he was immersed in her warm charm at the time of the affair. She loved to discuss poetry and literature and was especially a lovely woman with her naivety as she would sometimes blush while chatting.

    When Prince Merrick found out that she was pregnant, he panicked. When he heard that rumors about his relationship with her spread throughout the capital and that the Emperor was digging into the rumors, he simply wanted to collapse so he even resented her.

    However, at any rate, both she and the child in her womb were the consequences of Merrick¡¯s actions. He was not harsh enough to turn away from the woman who had lost everything because of him, and as they went through the hardships of the scandal and divorce trial together, he felt a deep sense of responsibility and bond with her, even if it could not be called love.

 CH 25

    Grand Duchess Alienor was genuinely perplexed by Prince Merrick¡¯s unprecedentedly firm response. She thought it was too preposterous that she had to be treated in this manner by her child all because of an insignificant girl like that, looked up blankly at the Duke, and questioned lamentably.

    ¡°Who asked you to pretend otherwise? It is just that the circumstances surrounding you were not good, so I simply asked you to act prudently out of consideration for you. Did you say the woman carrying your child? If it is your child, then it becomes my grandchild as well. Don¡¯t tell me you think I¡¯m such a cruel character who would even ignore her own grandchild?¡±

    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s not what I meant. Don¡¯t get me wrong.¡±

    ¡°It is not that I misunderstood you. Isn¡¯t it you who is getting his mother wrong?¡±

    As she spoke, tears welled up in the corners of the eyes of Grand Duchess Alienor, as if her sorrow was surging up. Prince Merrick was taken aback when his mother of a strong temperament started crying, quickly gave in, and pressed a handkerchief against his mother¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Please calm down, Mother. I apologize. I was not thinking straight.¡±

    ¡°It is not an apology if you don¡¯t mean it. If that¡¯s what you really think, then this mother-.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. It seems that after being locked up in the house for so long, my mind had muddled up to the point I even thought of something so bizarre. Please calm down, Mother. I was wrong.¡±

    Even if she was infinitely strict with others, she was always a loving mother to him. She was born and raised as a noble and was extremely stubborn with her flaw being that she would never stray off her goal once she decided it, but she was still his mother who poured out all her love for her child. Prince Merrick gently wiped the corners of her eyes, unable to lift his head from the guilt of making his mother cry.

    ¡°Prince Merrick. I don¡¯t know about anything else, but please believe this one thing.¡±

    How long will you keep being like this? Grand Duchess Alienor, after weeping for a long time in sorrow alone, gently placed her hand on the child¡¯s hand that was covering her cheek and opened her mouth in a quavering voice. She looked down at the face of her son, who she was facing close enough that they could touch each other¡¯s breath, and whispered sadly but softly.

    ¡°I swear, everything this mother does is for you. You just have to do what your mother says, trust and follow her. Can you trust your mother, Duke? Or are you going to break your poor mother¡¯s heart through this misunderstanding again in the future?¡±

    Prince Merrick nodded silently as he felt his mother¡¯s suffocating affection wrap around him like a spiderweb. However, Grand Duchess Alienor was not satisfied with this as she wanted a definite answer from Prince Merrick¡¯s mouth, and so, urged her son.

    ¡°Yes, I believe you. Mother.¡±

    Reluctantly, Prince Merrick opened his mouth to wash away his mother¡¯s worries. At that moment, Grand Duchess Alienor finally stopped crying and smiled brightly like the clear sky.

    ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s like my son. I believe in you, too. You¡¯re such a sweet son.¡±

    Prince Merrick rose from his seat and reached out to her. Grand Duchess Alienor took his hand with a loving expression, stood up, and supported her weight with the help of her son¡¯s arm.

    ***

    ¡°The envoys for the thawing celebratory ceremony from Kayediv have arrived and are outside the door.¡±

    The announcer, with a voice as deep as a bell, announced the arrival of the envoys. As soon as the call was finished, a huge door of 14 paeta opened, and a group of envoys slowly entered the ballroom.

    The person standing at the very front of the envoys was a young man as tall as a cedar tree. The intricately braided red hair was long enough to reach below his waist, and over the Prince-Electors era bliaud, traditionally recognized as a diplomatic dress, was a long, fancy cloak decorated with the fur of a young seal. Thanks to this, not only the young man, but the entire group of envoys, dressed in the same way, gave off a very vintage impression.

    Ktf sbecu wjc ktb rfgnfv jr atf gfqgfrfcajalnf bo atf fcnbsr tjv tlutis lwqgfrrlnf ibbxr. Ktf jglrabmgjalm ojmf klat j cjggbk mtlc kjr jr ktlaf jcv cfja jr j rajaef wjvf bo qijrafg, jcv atf ylu rlinfg fsfr, ktlmt yfklamtfv jcsbcf ktb ujhfv eqbc atfw, kfgf j ragjcuf mbibg atja ibbxfv flatfg rlinfg-ugffc bg rlinfg-yief vfqfcvlcu bc atf jcuif.

    As if he had never been stained with a single speck of dirt in this world, his ethereal appearance was just like a fairy knight in old chivalry literature, so the noblewomen, who were weak for romance, let out a low sigh and looked at envoys in a daze.

    ¡°From the Kingdom of Ten Princes, I have brought the news of spring to the Emperor of Estina, who rules the South. May the amity between our two countries last forever.¡±

    The envoy walked to the front of the throne, knelt down, handed the fancy box he was holding in his hand to the Emperor¡¯s Grand Chamberlain and said politely. Count Picato, the Grand Chamberlain, took the box and presented it to the Emperor in a formal manner.

    The Emperor, sitting on the throne, opened the presented gift box. Inside the splendidly sculpted box was an expensive necklace adorned with an enormous water drop diamond, as big as two fingers of an adult man. It was a precious gift that was so beautiful and dazzling that it looked like a star had fallen into the box.

    ¡°This is ¡®Tear of Ensha¡¯, created by the best jewelry craftsman in Kayediv. There is a legend in Kayediv that the tears of the Goddess Ensha helped the first thaw of spring that comes every year.¡±

    When the Emperor checked the gift in the box, the redheaded envoy bowed his head and added an explanation. The Goddess Ensha was deeply revered in Kayediv as the Goddess of the Moon, known for her compassion and mercy. The Emperor looked down at the burdensomely extravagant gift and smiled quietly, and gently praised the hard work of the envoys who had come a long way.

    ¡°It¡¯s truly pleasant to hear from our close friend who had been distant throughout the winter. Are all the Ten Princes at peace?¡±

    Overseas, it was known as Kayediv, but in reality, the Northern Country was closer to a united kingdom ruled by ten Grand Duchies. The Ten Princes referred to by the Emperor was the generic term for all ten of the Grand Dukes.

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Fortunately, everyone spent the winter safely.¡±

    ¡°Have you visited the empire as a member of the envoys before?¡±

    ¡°I did. I am Cyrill Xenia Grivan, the firstborn son of the Grand Duke of Livonia.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right, Prince Cyrill. We remember that many years ago when you came by, countless young noble ladies were left heartbroken. As time goes by, your grandeur flourishes more and more.¡±

    As the Emperor spoke in a light-hearted teasing tone, a short laugh spread throughout the large ballroom. The Emperor comforted Prince Cyrill, who bowed his head shyly, with a gentle voice.

    ¡°It must have been a long tiresome journey. Thank you for your efforts.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for the unchanging amity that you warmly welcome us every year.¡±

    The atmosphere, from the beginning till the end, was so amicable that one would mistake them for a nephew who came to pay his greeting and an uncle who warmly welcomed him. After the representative envoy¡¯s greetings were finished, a stout man standing behind came forward, bent one knee, and knelt down. Then, in a loud voice, he began to list the rest of the gifts prepared for the Emperor one by one.

    Fifteen full-grown polar bear hides, fifty dark reindeer hides, a box of silver mined in the Yongustin mountain range, ten barrels of refined sperm oil, around seventy beautiful handicrafts made of colored glass, a tapestry embroidered by the Grand Duchess and Princess themselves¡­ As the list, more splendid than ever, continued longer, exclamations of amazement poured out from the nobles.

    Only the Emperor sat there motionless. He calmly listened to the ostentatious listing of gifts with a smile. The enumeration had barely finished after a long time. After briefly expressing his gratitude, the Emperor announced the start of the postponed banquet.

    ¡°We have prepared a simple feast to appreciate your efforts. We hope all of you eat and drink comfortably and relieve your fatigue.¡±

    Starting with the Emperor¡¯s announcement, a lavish envoy banquet was held. Prince Cyrill bowed his head again and stood up after thanking the Emperor. Their eyes met for a moment in mid-air. Prince Cyrill, who looked up at the Emperor for a second, immediately smiled and turned away, and the Emperor, still with a smile on his face, spoke to the cardinal sitting next to him.

    ¡®What is with this appearance of yours?¡¯

    The Emperor immediately spat out as soon as he came across him in the ballroom.

    ¡®Do you still think that you will be able to succeed in remarriage?¡¯

    He displeasingly clicked his tongue and rebuked Eug¨¨ne, and his rebuke turned into a prophecy that decided Eug¨¨ne¡¯s fate.

    Not surprisingly, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s frugal attire stood out explicitly at the party, where everyone was lavishly dressed up in the latest fashion. He wore a small cravat on a poised silver-gray justaucorps to match the color of his eyes, with the color of the outfit so cool and the borders so neat that it looked like he was wearing any other uniform.

    Eug¨¨ne, tall and dark-skinned, gave off the impression of being stern, even if he was not. It was only natural that such a person stood out more than the robed clergy since he came out dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a uniform.

    Thanks to this, the only people who approached him were the menfolk. While the familiar imperial ministers present at the political meetings, nobles scurrying around with curiosity about rumors of the Emperor¡¯s favorite subject, or influential political figures such as the Marquis of Carbo, Marquise Merlin¡¯s father, or Viscount Despan, Marquise Lamott¡¯s brother greeted him, the noblewomen who were supposed to be introduced to him were busy chatting among themselves, hiding their faces with their fans.

    ¡°The lady over there is Countess D¨¦bonnaire, the widow of Count D¨¦bonnaire. Another lady recommended by Your Majesty.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne stopped accepting champagne from a passing attendant. As promised, ¡®I will arrange a second marriage partner for you¡¯, the Emperor recommended several noblewomen to him. However, it was by no means the classic way of inviting the woman and Eug¨¨ne and introducing them to each other.

    The Emperor, knowing that his actions could be seen as a kind of coercion, tried to perform his role by insinuating and suggesting the names of women he thought were suitable to Eug¨¨ne, instead of taking direct action.

    There were already five names that the attendants slipped and left in that way. At this point, Eug¨¨ne realized that the Emperor was pursuing his remarriage in earnest. The Emperor truly intended to marry him off.

    The Emperor¡¯s remarks such as ¡®We are the Emperor, but it¡¯s not Us who will promote you. It¡¯s your child¡¯ or ¡®Your marriage is a matter of grave concern for the country¡¯ were not mere jokes, but sincere words.

    Of course, Eug¨¨ne knew why the Emperor was hastening his marriage. He reflected on the conversation he had with the Emperor during lunch today.

    ¡®We were contacted by Adelphe who received the sapphire necklace. As you pointed out, the woman with the sapphire necklace was a spy from Rodom.¡¯

    The Emperor suddenly remembered and spoke casually as he ate a cake with dried fruits.

    ¡®It is an unusual sign that the silver fox of Rodom is getting zealous. It is clear that the situation within the Confederation of Five Nations is changing rapidly.¡¯

    The silver fox of Rodom was another nickname for Queen Gwyneth, known to the common people by the beautiful name, ¡®Lady of the Stars¡¯. Eug¨¨ne, enjoying dessert after finishing his meal, hardened his expression at the heavy topic that suddenly appeared.

    ¡®Is the discussion on the federal system genuinely happening?¡¯

    Eug¨¨ne, realizing what the Emperor¡¯s allusion meant, asked back, which sounded like a low groan. The Emperor smiled coldly and nodded.

    ¡®Otherwise, this can¡¯t happen. According to the sources connected, meetings between the families with voting rights in the nobility council have become more frequent these days. Even Marquis Ribon Recaster, the head of the merchant aristocracy, visited Rodom three times recently.¡¯

    Marquis Ribon Recaster was the head of the merchant aristocracy and at the same time the most powerful man in Kamann. He was also the father of Queen Gwyneth.

    ¡®If the vote for the federal system is brought up to the aristocratic council, the internal affairs of the Confederation of Five Nations will be in an uproar for the time being. It is a matter of practical interest, even if it¡¯s ideal, so it will take a considerable amount of time for the difficulties to subside. But for the empire, that is an opportunity. It¡¯s a race against time. Either the Confederation of Five Nations succeeds in grand unification first or the empire achieves naval reorganization first. Whoever outsmarts the other wins the battle, and We need you in order to win this battle.¡¯

    Only then did the Emperor put down his fork and wiped his lips with a napkin, unlike Eug¨¨ne, who had lost his appetite long ago. Immediately after finishing the meal, the Emperor wiped his mouth again and said in his usual tone, ¡®We need you¡¯, and smiled as he looked straight at Eug¨¨ne, who had widened his eyes in surprise.

    ¡®Now that We¡¯ve said this, do you understand? That your remarriage is a matter of grave concern for the country. So, don¡¯t simply brush it off this evening, and give your utmost best. What¡¯s the use of a weapon in your hand if you can¡¯t use it when you really need to?¡¯

    Though the conclusion was somewhat strange, it was not a conversation that could be easily forgotten. What could be more glorious than hearing such praise from a monarch who was born and served as a man? Chivalry literature from the time of Prince-Electors¡¯ was still popular today for all the right reasons.

    Eug¨¨ne, under the bizarre duty of seducing a lady for the sake of his master, looked around in search of the widow of Count D¨¦bonnaire, recommended by his attendant. Fortunately, the widow was not far away. She was enjoying the banquet with a lady who seemed to be her friend and was surrounded by a few other nobles.

    Eug¨¨ne took a sip of the champagne he was holding and took a deep breath and strode across the ballroom to Countess D¨¦bonnaire.

    Then he suddenly stopped. This was because, among Countess D¨¦bonnaire¡¯s group and another group of nobles who stood nearby, he found the figure of a certain lady with a particularly pale complexion. She was breathing heavily with a deathly pale face as if it was difficult to breathe, but the people around her were busy laughing and talking among themselves, so they did not notice her troubled expression.

    Seeing the lady in a situation where she was about to faint and fall, Eug¨¨ne instinctively approached her and supported her waist. The group with the lady was startled by the large man who suddenly came in between them, and when they found the woman drooping in his arms as if she were about to collapse, they were once again greatly astonished.

    ¡°Lou- Hon Louise Dumont, are you okay?¡±

    T/N: ¡®Federation of Five Nations¡¯ has been changed to ¡®Confederation of Five Nations¡¯ (prev chaps have also been edited). apologies for the change being somewhat late into the novel, however, i thought it would be better to change it now than later. there¡¯s a crucial difference between the two in english, with confederation simply being ¡®union or alliance¡¯ and federation being ¡®union or alliance under authority¡¯. unfortunately, my mistake came from the word being synonymous with the other in korean :[[ if you don¡¯t know the difference between the two, think of the usa as a federation while the european union as a confederation. thank you for understanding!

 CH 26

    Eug¨¨ne almost called out his former wife¡¯s name without realizing it but managed to swallow the word and use her formal name instead. But Louise, half unconscious, not knowing what she was talking about, pathetically grabbed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s forearm.

    ¡°Ho- Honey. I- I can¡¯t breathe-.¡±

    She struggled to whisper in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arm and lost consciousness. Eug¨¨ne supported her head with one hand as it fell like that of a broken doll, looked back at the dumbstruck nobles staring at them, and asked.

    ¡°Does anyone here have rock salt?¡±

    ¡°I have it!¡±

    A lady with a gentle puppy-like impression took the bottle of rock salt from the hand of her maid and quickly approached Eug¨¨ne. Excited whispers spread like a wave among the nobles who found out the identities of Eug¨¨ne and the lady, who had lost consciousness in his arms.

    But Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t care. He took his former wife to a nearby bench and let her smell the rock salt. Louise did not open her eyes easily even after sniffing the strong nose-piercing smell. She could hardly come to her senses and moaned in pain.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my lady-in-waiting?¡±

    The news that Louise had fainted in the ballroom seemed to have reached the other side of the room to Countess Patr¨ª. She quickly ran through the way opened by the people and was extremely flustered when she found the scene where the unconscious Louise was clutching onto Eug¨¨ne¡¯s forearm.

    ¡°How did this happen?¡±

    As she arrived late and did not know what had happened, she asked, in a snappy manner, the person who seemed most likely to be the main culprit. Eug¨¨ne calmly explained the situation as he loosened his sleeves from the grasp of Louise¡¯s slender fingers.

    ¡°I found Hon Louise Dumont on the verge of fainting while I was passing by and helped her. Hon Louise Dumont also caught me unconsciously because I was nearby at the right time.¡±

    He stood up and politely addressed his former wife. The puppy-like lady, who was trying to wake Louise by fanning her with her hands, nodded eagerly to convey he was telling the truth when Countess Patr¨ª looked back at her.

    ¡°That¡¯s right. While we were talking, the Baron suddenly intervened and grabbed the Baroness. At that time, the Baroness was already on the verge of fainting.¡±

    The puppy-like lady seemed to be kind at heart, but it didn¡¯t seem that she had the wits. Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly, angry at her calling Louise ¡®Baroness¡¯, then quickly returned to her previous position after realizing that there were many eyes watching around her.

    ¡°You are a true nobleman for exercising chivalry for a lady in need. Thank you so much for helping my friend, Baron Amieux.¡±

    The clever woman soon realized that she had lost her composure, and regained her gentle demeanor. She kindly thanked Eug¨¨ne and ordered the attendants to move her special ¡®friend¡¯, Louise, to the lounge. Eug¨¨ne, not feeling the need to remain any longer, simply bowed and left.

    Louise was moved to the lounge and he left, but people¡¯s gaze persistently remained on him. He didn¡¯t look back, but it felt like the whispers behind his back had gotten worse. Well, it would be too naive to hope that no one would gossip after creating a huge spectacle like that. Eug¨¨ne sighed inwardly and rubbed his tiff nape with one hand.

    ¡­ I need to get some fresh air.

    He didn¡¯t regret helping Louise, but the aftermath of that trivial act was really burdensome. The attention of all the nobles in this room was currently focused on him. Eug¨¨ne, feeling frustrated by the tenacity of the gazes that followed him everywhere, could not bear it any longer and went out of the ballroom. There were so many eyes on his back that Eug¨¨ne was unaware that the young Prince Merrick was staring at him with his fists clenched.

    Ktf sbecu Gexf rabbv cfza ab Xgjcv Gemtfrr Cilfcbg, mtjaalcu klat atf lcoiefcalji oluegfr bo atf mfcagji jglrabmgjms, jcv kjamtfv fnfgsatlcu atja ecobivfv ktlif rajcvlcu atfgf. Lf vlvc¡¯a vb jcsatlcu ktfc Obelrf ofii, jcv tf vlvc¡¯a wbnf ktfc Seu¨¨cf tfiv tfg jcv mjgglfv tfg ab atf yfcmt. Po atfgf kjr jcsatlcu atf sbecu Uglcmf Zfgglmx vlv ecali rtf kjr wbnfv yjmx ab atf ibecuf jcv Seu¨¨cf ifoa atf yjiigbbw, la kjr atja tf rlwqis kjamtfv.

    Likewise, this time, he stared at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s back as he walked out of the ballroom with a gaze so intense that it could even pierce a steel plate. He wanted to chase him right away and question where he was going right now, but he couldn¡¯t do anything because of his mother, who was holding onto his arm. She wasn¡¯t clutching tightly, rather, she had gently held onto him and Prince Merrick didn¡¯t even dare to shake her off.

    His mother¡¯s shadow over him throughout his life was far more deeply rooted than he was conscious of. However, Duke Merrick was unaware of that fact, and only the anger of seeking the wrong target was endlessly dwelled upon.

    ***

    Eug¨¨ne walked to the terrace attached to the hallway opposite the grand ballroom.

    The garden was not a safe place on a day like this. Even if that wasn¡¯t the case, he didn¡¯t want to be disturbed by the noise of noblewomen¡¯s high heels in the bushes. After wandering for a long time, he managed to find rest in the small space between the long hallway and the heavy drapes.

    Eug¨¨ne pulled a chair without a backrest in the hallway to make a seat, leaned his forehead against the cold stone wall, and let out a long sigh.

    No matter how much time passed, he could not get used to court-style social events. The day when he would truly be able to enjoy a banquet like this will never come. In high society, all conversations were overly pretentious, and outward appearances were considered more important than the truth they held within themselves.

    When he was socializing with such people, he was taken over by the same kind of alienation he felt on the day he first met his former wife. All of them were delicate glassware, and it felt like he was the only one who passed as poorly made earthenware.

    It was always uncomfortable to think that if he were to blend with them, who were as delicate and fragile as if they were going to break, he would move clumsily and reveal his unsophisticated nature made of soil. Even though he knew it wasn¡¯t his fault, he couldn¡¯t shake off that feeling.

    ¡°Why did you run away to this place after posing as a great knight? Could it be that you¡¯re imitating a reclusive ascetic?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, quietly cooling off his troubled head, opened his eyes at the sudden familiar voice that seemed to come out of nowhere. When he opened his eyes, a tuft of auburn hair fell dazzlingly over his face.

    ¡°Glad to finally meet you, Friend. Long time no see?¡±

    A tender kiss touched Eug¨¨ne¡¯s lips and fell off. At first, it ended as a light touch, as if it were an accident, but the second kiss linked each other in a more intimate way. The man gripped Eug¨¨ne¡¯s chin firmly and dug into his lips. A soft tongue, without asking permission, licked his mouth, followed by a sweet movement as if licking a sugar cookie.

    ¡°I missed you.¡±

    The Prince whispered so in a restless tone and began to kiss him even more deeply. For a moment, only wet fricative sounds rang the space. The man took off his lips after enjoying the long kiss to his heart¡¯s content. Eug¨¨ne quietly accepted the kiss even though he had a tinge of embarrassment on his forehead, lightly laughed, and pushed his cheek when the man licked up the corner of his mouth mischievously.

    ¡°The Prince still tends to do things out of the blue.¡±

    The person who suddenly appeared and took the kiss from him, as if he had followed him, was Prince Cyrill, Kayediv¡¯s envoy, who had just declared himself the Prince of Livonia in the ballroom.

    ¡°From the time I heard that the thawing celebratory ceremony was going to be held, I had been expecting your arrival. How did a person with wanderlust like you manage to stay quiet for two years?¡±

    ¡°If you want to know the answer, let me have those expensive lips one more time. A total of two years¡¯ worth of greetings are overdue.¡±

    Sharing a kiss when meeting a good friend was the traditional greeting in Kayediv. And whenever Prince Cyrill met Eug¨¨ne, he would use his country¡¯s unique custom sparingly. Of course, his kiss, even from Kayediv¡¯s point of view, was far beyond the category of greeting a close friend. Though Eug¨¨ne knew about it, he pretended otherwise.

    ¡°I heard you got divorced?¡±

    But Prince Cyrill did not notice such covert consideration. He had nowhere to sit, so he sat on the railing of the terrace, starting with sensitive privacy issues. Eug¨¨ne looked at the Prince with a bitter smile. The Prince rolled up his elegant long sleeves, sat on the railing, and dangled his feet, exuding the feeling of a mischievous boy instead of a fairy knight. The braided hair gently swayed in the refreshing night breeze. The Prince looked straight into Eug¨¨ne¡¯s eyes without any sign of hesitation.

    ¡°Could you not be a little more mindful with such a question?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not really a special secret, is it? I¡¯ve been hearing about it from the moment I encountered a patrol boat in the Baleum Sea.¡±

    ¡°That¡­¡±

    ¡°Do you know how wild the rumors of your divorce are on the West Coast? I heard some fucking son of a bitch practically took your wife away, is that true?¡±

    Rumors of his private life spreading throughout the capital were troubling enough, but they had even spread to coastal cities? Eug¨¨ne, speechless, placed the palm of his hand on his forehead. The message sent by Jacques recently was certainly strange. He seemed to be at a loss between compassion and frustration, which was unlike him, as he was always brusque¡­

    Eug¨¨ne wondered in what way were the rumors circulating about him in the west, but he did not ask Prince Cyrill that question. If it¡¯s the Prince, he would undoubtedly babble out nonsense and bring up a lot of exaggerated groundless rumors.

    ¡°It is not true. My wife and I divorced amicably, and she met a new person who promised her a happy future.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne bluntly made an excuse to Prince Cyrill. Prince Cyrill tilted his head slightly and smirked in disbelief.

    ¡°It seems to me that it was never an ¡®amicable¡¯ divorce. You cannot attach such a modifier to any divorce, but yours seems especially so. I have eyes too, and I witnessed everything that happened in the ballroom. I heard that the woman you saved was your former wife?¡±

    ¡°She was a lady in danger. If there was any other lady in her place, even one I had never seen before, I would have helped her as well.¡±

    ¡°All right. That, you would. It is in your nature to save the person in danger instead of idly sitting by. But the court is not the sea. It is a much more sinister and vicious place than that. I don¡¯t know what in the world the Emperor of Estina had in mind when dragging you into this insidious fight. You are not a man fit for a fight like this.¡±

    ¡°Prince.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you should simply defect, Admiral. If you say that you wish to go to the Grand Duchy of Livonia, I will wrap you up in silk and take you.¡±

    Prince Cyrill induced Eug¨¨ne¡¯s defection as naturally as if he were calling him for a visit next door. However, for Eug¨¨ne, this wasn¡¯t a new thing. The Prince, from the time they first met till now, would try to persuade him whenever they encountered each other as if it were a habit.

    ¡°My apologies, Prince. But I don¡¯t have any thick clothes to wear in Kayediv.¡±

    ¡°If it¡¯s clothes, then I can simply get them tailored for you. But if you still feel cold, I¡¯m willing to warm you up myself. It would be a rather lovely experience to chat naked in bed all winter.¡±

    Prince Cyrill said jokingly and sat on Eug¨¨ne¡¯s lap at once. Eug¨¨ne let the slender young man get on his lap. Fingers, cold by the wind, affectionately hovered over the scar on his face. Eug¨¨ne smiled, lovingly feeling the cool but fond touch.

    ¡°What on earth must I do to make you mine?¡±

    Prince Cyrill whispered lamentably and looked into Eug¨¨ne¡¯s face.

    ¡°If I become yours, I will be eaten to the bone. I shall refuse.¡±

    ¡°If you are afraid of being embraced, it¡¯s fine if you embrace me as you did before. If you just come into my arms, even if it¡¯s a foul, I¡¯m willing to generously overlook something of that degree.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Even if you say ¡®as you did before¡¯, what happened only one night six years ago is not a good example.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne politely pointed out his act of naturally talking about something that happened only once in the past as if it happened quite often. The Prince then burst into anger, as if he had been deeply wronged.

    ¡°Fine. It was only one night!¡±

    Then he soon became depressed and sighed.

    ¡°You¡¯re such a bloody villain. You held me so tenderly in such an unforgettable manner only to never touch my body ever again. Who could easily forget that kind of best and worst memory?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly and swept Prince Cyrill¡¯s flowing bangs with his fingers. Prince Cyrill recollected the event with a dreamy expression on his sculpture-like delicate features, and buried his face in Eug¨¨ne¡¯s neck, through his open collar.

    ¡°¡­ Do you still dream of that time?¡±

    ¡°Aah. That¡¯s right. Sometimes.¡±

    ¡°What do you do in that case?¡±

    ¡°¡­ This.¡±

    Prince Cyrill bit the nape of Eug¨¨ne¡¯s neck hard, as if he had a grudge. Eug¨¨ne flinched at the sudden sharp pain, but that didn¡¯t make him push away the Prince who was acting like a spoiled cat.

    The Prince, leaving tooth marks on the soft skin between his shoulder and neck, began to lick the wound carefully, as if he had realized what he had done. Eug¨¨ne gently stroked the top of his head to soothe him.

    ¡°Did I say I missed you?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you already did, Prince.¡±

    ¡°Thank goodness. I didn¡¯t miss what I had to say. Every time I go back after meeting you, I feel like I came back without saying anything that actually holds importance.¡±

    The Prince, pleased, spoke softly and let out a short sigh. Eug¨¨ne once held the only young man who had made him feel close to love. He affectionately wrapped his arms around the other person¡¯s back to share his warm body temperature. The perverse young man, who had no qualms about sex, knew that Eug¨¨ne would not sleep with him even if he were to die, and quietly closed his eyes as if he were finally relieved.

 CH 27

    Eug¨¨ne was often summoned by the Emperor to spar with him after their first meeting in the practice room.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean they had a repeat of the intense spar that took place in the beginning. That sort of confrontation was bound to lead to an irreversible blunder one day, and the negative consequences of that were desired by neither Eug¨¨ne nor the Emperor.

    Instead, they continued training by hiding their skills above a certain level like wild beasts with their claws hidden, and this new training method worked in an unexpected way.

    It was surprisingly nerve-wracking to use the longsword without revealing his skills beyond that level. Since he had to carefully control the movements of the sword, he valued efficiency more than before, and his defensive skills improved a lot as he blocked the sword, which always attacked the vital points agilely.

    Above all, the biggest benefit was that this repeated sparring widened his scope of understanding other swordsmanship. Just as the Emperor learned the use of a heavy sword, Eug¨¨ne learned the sharpness of the rapier.

    ¡°Did Your Majesty call for me?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne entered the training room and paid his respects to the Emperor. The Emperor, who had arrived at the practice room one step earlier, was standing in front of the weapon rack and looked back at him.

    ¡°Did you enjoy the banquet last night?¡±

    The Emperor, wearing a comfortable white shirt and a black culotte for practice, rolled up his sleeves and asked casually. Eug¨¨ne, thinking that the Emperor was talking about the matter concerning Louise, bowed his head with reddened earlobes.

    ¡°I apologize. I failed to carry out Your Majesty¡¯s orders.¡±

    ¡°Do you even have the intention to follow Our will? We heard that you did not return to the banquet hall after leaving like that.¡±

    ¡°I decided that it would not be good to stay in the banquet hall and attract everyone¡¯s attention after what happened.¡±

    The Emperor listened to his excuse with a cool expression. He stared at Eug¨¨ne for a long time silently, then took out a weapon from the weapon rack and threw it into his arms.

    ¡°¡­ This sword is?¡±

    The shape and weight of the sword he had unexpectedly received were really familiar.

    ¡°It¡¯s your beloved weapon. I ordered the Grand Chamberlain to bring it out of the armory.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne looked at the Emperor, unable to hide his confusion. The Emperor ordered him in a cold voice.

    ¡°Draw it.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    ¡°We ordered you to draw your sword.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, this is a real sword.¡±

    Did he mean to say that they should spar with a real sword? Eug¨¨ne, who had almost attempted to kill the Emperor with a bladeless sword, was startled and deterred the Emperor. However, the Emperor did not listen to him. He answered Eug¨¨ne with a harsh smile on his lips.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our sword is real too.¡±

    The Emperor quickly drew the rapier from the scabbard, maintained the momentum of the force he had while drawing it, and attempted to stab Eug¨¨ne in the heart. Eug¨¨ne felt a sense of danger from the swift attack, like a flash of lightning, and instinctively lifted his favored weapon to obstruct the extremely dangerous tip of the sword.

    Vlcmf la tjqqfcfv ecxcbklcuis, tf kjr ecjyif ab gfifjrf tlr ragfcuat qgbqfgis, jcv ater, reoofgfv ogbw rfnfgf qjlc lc tlr kglra atja tf kjrc¡¯a qgfqjgfv obg. Seu¨¨cf bqfcfv tlr fsfr klvf, ugbjclcu atgbeut atf mgfnlmf yfakffc tlr affat.

    ¡°Tbeg Zjpfras?!¡±

    Lbkfnfg, atf Swqfgbg¡¯r jaajmx vlv cba rabq atfgf. Cr lo tf tjv fzqfmafv atja Seu¨¨cf kbeiv yibmx remt jc jaajmx, tf lwwfvljafis rajyyfv tlw lc atf rtbeivfg klat tlr wjlc ujemtf klatbea jcs alwf iju.

    The Emperor wielded two swords, long and short, quite freely. He was primarily a swordsman who displayed the excellent ability to adjust the distance from his opponent. Such a person held two swords with different attack ranges, so he was simply like a lion with wings.

    The fact that a person who had learned Austrasie did not use main gauche did not mean that he simply left one of his hands empty. It was only now that Eug¨¨ne understood the true power of Austrasie.

    The sequenced attacks, gushing out without even a second to spare, were quick and delicate. As if he had three or four opponents instead of one, Eug¨¨ne began taking backward steps while blocking the frantic raging sword. The Emperor indeed moved fiercely and violently, as if he were attempting to rip his heart out. However, Eug¨¨ne was unable to draw his real sword in front of the Emperor, so he only focused on blocking him with the scabbard.

    ¡°Why are you doing this, Your Majesty? Please tell me the reason why.¡±

    In this situation, if you take out your sword even yourself, the result would be catastrophic. Whether it be his blood or the Emperor¡¯s blood, someone¡¯s blood was sure to be seen before this ends, but Eug¨¨ne could still not draw his sword even though he knew the result that he would have to suffer as a liege.

    Having made his decision, he did not draw his sword until the end, despite being in a situation where his life was at stake. A sharp main gauche cut through his forearm and blood flowed from his shoulder through the thinly cut cloth. While dodging and blocking the attacks, his torn sleeves had already tattered and changed to the point of being unrecognizable.

    ¡°Life in the court is like having a sharp sword hanging over your head all the time. Everything in this place is a showdown with real swords as it is right now.¡±

    The Emperor continued to attack Eug¨¨ne as he mocked him in a cold tone. Eug¨¨ne blocked the rapier, which was aiming for his lower abdomen, with the scabbard that was showing signs of breaking. As he tried to push the lightweight rapier with the weight of his heavy sword and attempt to escape by forcing it to slant at a certain angle, the Emperor thrusts the main gauche over his sword.

    The cutlass¡¯ balance was disturbed by a series of up-and-down attacks. The Emperor then untangled the rapier and struck Eug¨¨ne¡¯s chin with his elbow. Eug¨¨ne, being in an unfavorable position due to the distance between the swords, lowered his head to avoid the elbow, and immediately raised the pommel to block the main gauche that was aiming his eyes.

    Even the sharp sword attack of the rapier, which had penetrated his blind spot, was completely inescapable. He hurriedly leaned back to avoid the rapier¡¯s sharp blade piercing his neck, but the Emperor kicked him in the chin, causing him to fall to the floor.

    ¡°If you were thinking of stabbing someone in the back, you should have prepared yourself for the same as well. Is that not correct?¡±

    ¡°Gasp- Ugh- What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°We know that you have secretly been in contact with Kayediv¡¯s envoy. You would not have lied to Us if you had nothing to hide.¡±

    The Emperor looked down at Eug¨¨ne with eyes as cold as the sun on a winter day. He gently placed his feet on the chest of the servant who had fallen to the floor, lowered his upper body, and looked into Eug¨¨ne¡¯s eyes as he asked coldly.

    ¡°What information did you sell to the envoy from the Northern Country through secret communication? What price did they promise you that you dared to do this?¡±

    It was only then that Eug¨¨ne realized what misunderstanding the Emperor had. He never imagined that last night¡¯s meeting would be misunderstood in this way, and looked up at the Emperor without saying anything in both bewilderment and embarrassment.

    ¡°¡­ How did Your Majesty know we met?¡±

    ¡°My court is not a comfortable place to the extent that foreign key figures can wander around as they please.¡±

    Though he thought so too, it turned out to be true after all. The Emperor seemed to have put a tail on Prince Cyrill.

    ¡°Your Majesty has misunderstood. I did not disclose secret information to Kayediv¡¯s envoy.¡±

    ¡°Then you mean to say that you met an envoy from another country without any reason?¡±

    ¡°I have had a personal friendship with Prince Cyrill for a long time now. That is why we met separately, not because we had any other intention.¡±

    ¡°Then tell Us the conversation the two of you had verbatim.¡±

    The tip of his toes gradually weighed on his chest. The Emperor, so full of energy as it would burst out of his chest, glared at Eug¨¨ne with a piercing gaze and urged him to answer.

    ¡°Hurry!¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°We will decide whether there was any other intention or not. So speak. What did you talk about with Kayediv¡¯s envoy last night?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne was speechless at the Emperor¡¯s relentless interrogation. The conversation he and Prince Cyrill had last night was extremely private. Among them, there were some secret stories that could not be revealed to others, so Eug¨¨ne was not in a position to disclose the conversation to others.

    ¡°It was a personal, extremely private conversation, Your Majesty.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne had no choice but could only answer so, even though he knew that the Emperor was giving him one last chance. If the secret had been his own, Eug¨¨ne would have revealed the truth without hesitation. However, the secret he had to keep was that of Prince Cyrill, and he, who was well acquainted with the Emperor¡¯s cold-blooded nature, could not spill the secret that could be the Prince¡¯s weakness.

    ¡°Do you think We will be satisfied with a mere excuse like that?¡±

    Sure enough, the Emperor could not stand it any longer and struck the rim of Eug¨¨ne¡¯s ear with the main gauche he was holding and snarled threateningly.

    ¡°Are We not personally giving you a chance?! That is why don¡¯t disappoint Us anymore and speak the truth. How did you, Admiral of the Imperial Navy, come to know the Prince of Livonia? What was the reason you met Prince Cyrill separately yesterday, and what does it mean to be closely acquainted with him? If you want to live, convince Us of your innocence. If you don¡¯t succeed, you shall die.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s collar had been ripped down by the main gauche so hard that it was fixed to the floor. As the sharp blade brushed against his skin, Eug¨¨ne instinctively flinched and trembled. The Emperor bent down to rebuke him once more closely right in front of his face but stopped on the spot. It was because something strange had entered the Emperor¡¯s field of vision.

    He didn¡¯t know what it was at first glance, but when he looked closely with suspicion, he found out the identity of the trace at once. What the Emperor found was an obvious bite mark on the nape of Eug¨¨ne¡¯s manly neck.

    The Emperor saw the mark left in a place that no human could ever leave on his own, looked up, and into the embarrassed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s eyes as he belatedly covered the wound with one hand.

    ¡°¡­ What is this?¡±

    ¡°¡­¡­¡±

    This time too, Eug¨¨ne could not answer the Emperor¡¯s question.

    ¡°Why can you not answer? The ¡®personal friendship¡¯ you mentioned couldn¡¯t possibly mean ¡®this¡¯, does it?¡±

    He was quite taken aback because he had never thought that yesterday¡¯s incident could have ¡®that sort of¡¯ meaning. The Emperor, unable to hide his expression of immense displeasure, looked down at Eug¨¨ne and even touched the wound on the nape of his neck as if to confirm.

    ¡°It is indeed a bite mark. Bitten quite firmly.¡±

    The Emperor knew yesterday that after Eug¨¨ne had left the banquet hall, he had not met anyone else except Kayediv¡¯s envoy. According to the attendant, who secretly followed the envoy, Eug¨¨ne and Prince Cyrill met in a secluded place that was out of sight of others, stayed together for a while, then parted, after which they each went back to their rooms and fell asleep.

    When the Emperor first heard the report, he guessed that the two must have had a secret conversation. But now it was clear that the meeting had a purpose that was completely different from that of the Emperor¡¯s own conjecture.

    ¡°Are you, by any chance, a sodomite?¡±

    The Emperor directly asked a question to Eug¨¨ne, who had not uttered a single word so far, be it in his favor or not. Eug¨¨ne kept his mouth shut with an embarrassed face, but his earlobes, which were gradually turning red, replaced the answer.

    Damn it. Even if you do not say it, I will know. The Emperor, realizing that he had caught his innocent vassal due to an absurd misunderstanding, removed his foot from Eug¨¨ne¡¯s chest. When the Emperor stepped down, Eug¨¨ne rose from his position in a disheveled manner and began to staunch the bleeding of the wound. The Emperor watched the scene with a frown on his face.

    ¡°Even so, it is beyond comprehension. Did you risk your life only to hide such a secret? We know that the practice is fairly overt in the Navy. Moreover, Kayediv, which lacks a number of women, is a place where male lovers are legally permitted. As such, even if the relationship between the two was revealed, it would not raise a big issue, but why were you so desperately trying to keep your mouth shut?¡±

    Sodomy was a preference that was not uncommon in the capital, as well as in the Navy and Kayediv, which the Emperor gave examples of. Nobles who had nothing to do were happy to enjoy anything and everything, and sodomy was only a common form of amusement among them. Just like adultery, it was only a story that took place below the waist that nobody cared about if not done openly and publicly, so the Emperor could not understand why he kept his mouth shut until the end as if it was a crime worthy of death.

    ¡°I apologize for causing trouble, Your Majesty. However, I could not divulge the private life of the person who would one day become the monarch of a country.¡±

    In fact, there was a fundamentally different reason why Eug¨¨ne could not speak. He didn¡¯t reveal even the smallest details about their relationship because he was well aware of how sharp the Emperor was.

    He was so quick-witted that he could easily get wind of the true nature of the secret even with the slightest clue. If Eug¨¨ne had hastily opened his mouth, the Emperor would have, somehow, perceived the full extent of what he was trying to hide.

    ¡°That¡¯s good nonsense to hear. In Kayediv, his godson system remains intact, so how could sodomy be a flaw for the monarch? ¡­ There¡¯s still something left unsaid, right? You are still trying to uphold your loyalty.¡±

    But the Emperor, as expected, was not easy to deal with. He didn¡¯t want to lie to his lord, but he didn¡¯t want to betray Prince Cyrill either. Eug¨¨ne, unable to make any choices, clenched his molars, thinking that it would have been better for him to keep his mouth shut.

    ¡°I will not ask you any further questions as you wish, so I will ask you one last thing. Do you love the Prince of Livonia?¡±

    The little anger in his voice had gone, but the Emperor still asked in a cold tone. Eug¨¨ne widened his eyes at the unexpected question posed by the Emperor. After thinking about the question for a moment, he shook his head and answered quietly.

    ¡°There used to be a time when that was the case. But not anymore.¡±

    ¡°Then is there still any need to risk your life? Is he not a bygone lover who you do not love anymore?¡±

    ¡°¡­ You said one question, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You are simple and honest to no purpose. Neither brazen nor cunning. We wished for something better than this from you.¡±

    The Emperor turned around and called the primary court-guard attendant. Baron Bouilhet, who was always by the Emperor¡¯s side, even when everyone retreated, rushed out and received the Emperor¡¯s orders.

    ¡°Give that foolish man proper clothes. Only when the Emperor¡¯s favored vassal is of such a disposition can he not stand up to the envoys.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    Baron Bouilhet called the attendant outside the door and ordered him to bring proper clothes. Before leaving the room, the Emperor glanced back at Eug¨¨ne and left a meaningful statement, not known whether a warning or advice.

    ¡°While it is not appropriate for the foolishness of mixing up the order of priority, We will let you keep your loyalty this time. This comes with expectations. What would a man who risked his life for his past lover offer his master to whom he swore allegiance?¡±

    The Emperor asked Eug¨¨ne, without hesitation, to offer something more than his life. Eug¨¨ne knew that the request was the price for forgiving this.

    As he had felt from the time he first decided to serve him, his monarch was supremely greedy. The Emperor wished for what was in his grasp to be entirely his own, and his desire was no exception to his liege, Eug¨¨ne.

    T/N: i¡¯ve had a few people msg and ask me if eug¨¨ne had actually slept with prince cyrill. and yes, he did XD only once, six years ago as said by eug¨¨ne himself. i assume the confusion came from the word ¡°held/embrace¡± which is actually a common allusion to sex in korean¡­ but in a more romantic sense ;] hope that cleared it up for anyone who¡¯s still confused^^ thank you for reading and take care!

 CH 28

    Ebroin V¡¯s mother, Empress Mother ¨¦lo?se, was a prospective scholar studying to become an abbess before being chosen by the imperial family.

    ¨¦lo?se was a rare educated woman at the time. Born as the only daughter of the Margrave of Renault, she showed a keen interest in learning from an early age, and the Margrave of Renault, who loved his only daughter, provided her with the highest level of education in the east.

    Thanks to this, ¨¦lo?se grew up to be a bright woman who knew how to perfectly read and write not only the imperial language, Eneca, but also the Yerib characters of Kayediv and the archaic language of the Prince-Electors¡¯ Era. She was proficient in astronomy and geometry, and also had good knowledge of botany.

    The Margrave of Renault felt deeply sorry that such a special daughter was buried in ordinary life. He finally settled on a convent while seeking various ways to save ¨¦lo?se¡¯s gift. The empire had few opportunities for talented women to express their minds, but at least an abbess was guaranteed an independent exercise of property rights and influence.

    Fortunately, in the County of Renault, there was a venerable convent that had a strong relationship with the Count, and they warmly welcomed the Count¡¯s daughter after he had supported the convent for many years. ¨¦lo?se had prepared to pledge herself to the convent for three years and headed to the capital to become an abbess at the Convent of Olverran.

    According to the plan, she should have completed her pledge there and become an abbess. However, the life that fate had arranged for her was completely unexpected and different from what she had been preparing for.

    You do not have to blame yourself for not accurately predicting the future. Since that is what life is all about. The important thing is to face the reality in front of you and find the right answer. Remember that the roads always start anew at crossroads.

    Empress ¨¦lo?se was also his political teacher and mentor and was the wisest man he had ever known. Numerous advice and pointers received from her during her lifetime greatly helped Ebroin V¡¯s reign afterward, and the Emperor still often missed her.

    But the Emperor did not understand exactly why he was recalling his mother¡¯s old advice at this moment. It was true that he could not accurately predict someone¡¯s true identity, but in the context of what had happened just now, his mother¡¯s advice was not particularly suitable.

    It was certainly unexpected. The fact that Baron Amieux, not anyone else, had that kind of peculiarity. Baron Amieux, who always maintained a neat attitude like a soldier, was a man with a somewhat austere corner.

    Unlike most nobles, he was not greedy for materialistic items or fame, nor was he interested in amusement such as lust or gambling. There were no mistresses that everyone had at least one or two of, let alone a secret lover, so the Emperor sometimes genuinely wondered exactly what kind of enjoyment that man lived with.

    I feel like I have been stabbed in the back of the head after finding out that this oddly fastidious private life was actually for such a reason. He slept with a man? Furthermore, the other person is the Prince of Livonia?¡¯

    The Emperor easily found Eug¨¨ne in a corner of the huge banquet hall. The man who had been the subject of relentless scrutiny last night was mixed among the crowd and was wearing a moderately fancy outfit, rather than the conspicuously plain attire he had the day before.

    He held a wine glass in one hand, and a lady¡¯s hand was somehow placed on his other arm. The Emperor recognized at a glance that the lovely smiling woman who was holding onto Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arm was Countess D¨¦bonnaire, whom he had recommended himself. It seemed like the Emperor was paying him a lot of attention today to see if the heavy scolding during the day had worked.

    If We think about it, it¡¯s just that peculiarity, nothing special. It is none of Our business what he does in bed as long as he does his job properly. ¡­ But the other person is a problem. Of all people, how did it somehow end up being a foreign key figure?

    The Emperor was not in a good mood since a problem that he had not taken note of had suddenly appeared despite years of probing. He wouldn¡¯t have cared if he was an average man but Baron Amieux was a man of talent the Emperor had been saving for his own precious use.

    Not only did he think of entrusting the Navy to him, but he was also designated as a successor to a bigger position in the future, so it was not unreasonable for the Emperor to agonize over such a ridiculous matter.

    ¡°Who are you watching so intently, Your Majesty? Could it be a beauty who has caught your attention?¡±

    As the Emperor had been lost in thought for a long time, staring at only one place, Marquise Merlin walked to him lightly as if to call for attention. She had been escorted by the Emperor for the first time in a while to attend the banquet.

    ¡°Is there any reason for Us to look for a beauty elsewhere? The most beautiful flower in the banquet hall is right next to Us.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty always says words pleasant to the ear. But I am no longer a young maiden who knows nothing. I am past the age where I can be taken over by those sweet whispers straight away.¡±

    Qtlif rtf vlrgfujgvfv atf mbwwfca tfgrfio, atf kjs tfg mtffxr oiertfv ilutais jr rtf reixfv kjr atf rjwf jvbgjyif oluegf rtf tjv ja juf rfnfcaffc.

    ¡°Ktfc ktja lr la? Qtja kjr Tbeg Zjpfras kjamtlcu rb mibrfis?¡±

    Ktf Zjgdelrf, jr lo mbcmfgcfv ys atf ojma atja atf Swqfgbg, ktb gjgfis ibbxfv jkjs, tjv yffc vlragjmafv obg j ktlif, defralbcfv bcmf wbgf. Ktf Swqfgbg tjv yffc rageuuilcu obg j ktlif bnfg atf lrref bo jc lcmlrlnf ilfuf ktb tjv ubcf jragjs lc atf mbwqifaf bqqbrlaf vlgfmalbc, ojg ogbw yflcu ojlatoei ab atf wlrrlbc tf tjv ulnfc tlw, jcv mbcofrrfv atf ageat lc j wlrmtlfnber abcf.

    ¡°We are not watching anyone, We are merely monitoring. There is one disgraceful vassal who is not faithfully carrying out the mission assigned by Us.¡±

    ¡°Is it because I have limited knowledge of state affairs? I cannot imagine a mission one would have to carry out in a place like this.¡±

    The Marquise did not understand the Emperor¡¯s answer and tilted her head.

    ¡°It is not a mission that must be carried out in such a place, but it should be said that it is a mission that could be attempted because of a place like this. As  far as We know, he is blunt at the root, so even if there is a noblewoman he likes, he is not a great man who would risk a romantic relationship. But in order to get married, you have to do something, do you not?

    ¡°Now I understand who this is all about. Your Majesty said you were not looking for a beauty, but was that all a lie?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°Please don¡¯t pretend as if it¡¯s something unknown. Is it not me, instead of Countess Patr¨ª, who has captured Your Majesty¡¯s attention the most these days? When I see how Your Majesty treats that person, I often think of how you treated the concubine you had taken fancy to at first sight.¡±

    The bright Marquise Merlin laughed as she told a joke with a hidden meaning The Emperor only then understood what the Marquise was referring to and laughed out loud. Apparently, the analogy was fairly appropriate. It started with a sudden selection and noticeable favoritism, and he used the same method he had used to choose his concubines, so it may seem so to those who did not know the exact reason behind what was going on.

    ¡°Which beauty has captivated His Majesty¡¯s heart so much? Forgive me for my rudeness, but could you introduce them to me as well?¡±

    Though a mystery as to how much they had listened to the conversation, an unfamiliar voice suddenly intervened between the two. The Emperor raised his head and looked back to where the voice was heard from. Prince Cyrill, seated closest to the Emperor as the guest of honor at the banquet, was looking at them with sparkling eyes.

    ¡°Your ears must have opened up at the mention of a beauty. Is the Prince also looking for a pretty flower?¡±

    Marquise Merlin asked in a playful manner, finding the Prince¡¯s whimsical misconception to be amusing. Prince Cyrill nodded with a bright smile at her naughty question.

    ¡°It is an unavoidable instinct of a man to wander around in search of beautiful flowers. However, all three of the most beautiful flowers in the empire have an owner. The fact that His Majesty¡¯s discernment is exceptionally high can be seen just by looking at the graceful appearance of the Marquise here. If this means I have another chance to see a beauty like you, what kind of man would turn that down?¡±

    ¡°Nevertheless, Prince. That flower already has an owner. What will the Prince do with the beauty His Majesty is interested in?¡±

    ¡°Not everyone looks at flowers with the intention of plucking them, right? I am an aesthete, so I will be greatly satisfied simply by its appearance.¡±

    Prince Cyrill¡¯s red lips drew an upward arc as he lightly took on the jokes thrown at him. The enigmatic silver eyes that glistened as if he was intrigued, and the nape of the neck, which was white and thin like that of a swan, strangely drew in people¡¯s attention. Prince Cyrill was so beautiful that if he just wanted to see a beauty, he could look in the mirror instead of looking for one elsewhere.

    But the Emperor could sniff the body odor of a carnivore hidden under his beautiful appearance. Though he was mimicking a mindless playboy who only chased after beauties, the curiosity that appeared in his silver eyes was darker than intended.

    Perhaps the Prince had heard their conversation from the beginning. The person he wanted to check was not the new beauty who had captivated the Emperor¡¯s heart, but the Emperor¡¯s favorite subject.

    The Great Code of the empire imposed some compulsory conditions on the nobles who were engaged in public service. Among them, the most troublesome condition was the law on marriage. The Prince of Kayediv could not be unaware of the prerequisite that one must be married in some way to ascend to a public post in the empire.

    Even if young, a wolf was still a wolf. The Emperor clicked his tongue, keeping in mind that the Prince had some fairly useful qualities. It would have been easier if he had just been like a doll with a pretty face, but Prince Cyrill was unnecessarily competent, adding to the Emperor¡¯s distress.

    ¡°What shall I do, Your Majesty? Shall I introduce them to the Prince?¡±

    Marquise Merlin, who had no way of knowing what was going on under the surface, looked back at the Emperor, unable to hide her fascination. The Emperor originally had no intention of allowing the meeting of the two people who had muddled his head. But as soon as he saw anticipation on Prince Cyrill¡¯s face, unexpected irritability surged up from the bottom of his heart.

    ¡°It is the request of a guest from far away, there is nothing that cannot be done.¡±

    He passively granted the request, called an attendant, and whispered in his ear to bring Baron Amieux. Shortly thereafter, Baron Amieux followed the attendant. He looked rather haggard up close. Even if it was light, he wouldn¡¯t look well since it was still a wound inflicted by a sword.

    ¡°Did you call for me, Your Majesty?¡±

    ¡°Good to see you. There is someone to introduce you to.¡±

    When the polite Baron raised his head, the Emperor introduced Prince Cyrill in a casual manner. Eug¨¨ne, turning his attention to the Emperor¡¯s introduction, was surprised to see Prince Cyrill standing there. Since he was a person with a brain, he did not show any more signs of agitation, but his face changed slightly as if he was the only one who noticed the Emperor¡¯s grumpiness.

    ¡°This gentleman is¡­¡±

    ¡°Is this the beauty Your Majesty was speaking of? I admit that this friend is a rare and capable soldier, but I disagree with the expression ¡®beauty.¡¯¡±

    Prince Cyrill was the first to respond before Eug¨¨ne could even speak. Marquise Merlin was astonished. She looked at the two of them alternately, not hiding her soaring curiosity.

    ¡°The way you speak, it sounds like the two of you are quite familiar with one another. Do you two already know each other?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It was none other than this friend who saved me when I was accidentally taken hostage by Hertha¡¯s pirates years ago. If it were not for him, I would still be sculling on the pirate ship.¡±

    ¡°Oh my goodness. Pirates?! How did you come across such dangerous people?¡±

    ¡°The fault lies with my inherent wanderlust. It felt suffocating to stare at the frozen soil all the time, which I was unable to put up with any longer. Thanks to this, my story is often used as a lesson to scare the immature youth back home. If you leave the house without listening to your elders, you will end up like that too.¡±

    Prince Cyrill passively explained the background of their meeting with the attitude that he had nothing in particular to hide. The Marquise wondered how the two, who had no apparent contact at all, could meet and build friendship, and then understood the situation after hearing the story of the Prince.

    ¡°Just because you speak with ease does not mean that the atrocities of what you have been through are hidden. That must have been hard. Glad that you persevered, Prince. You were truly lucky.¡±

    ¡°Thank you for your thoughtful words. I, too, think I was lucky.¡±

    ¡°Did your friendship with Baron Amieux start from then on?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. After that incident, we became close and would visit one another from time to time. If we had not met like this again, I would have made time to stop by on the way back. It¡¯s quite pleasant to see this friend again.¡±

    Prince Cyrill, leading the conversation humorously the whole time, was full of sincerity when speaking the last words. He looked at Eug¨¨ne with gentle eyes, then boldly approached and kissed him on the cheek.

    ¡°Come to think of it, I haven¡¯t paid my greetings yet. Nice to meet you, Vice Admiral. Who knew we would meet again in a place like this?¡±

    ¡°¡­ It is an honor to meet you, Prince. How have you been?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, who did not open his mouth at all during the conversation between the Marquise and Prince, quietly greeted him. It looked like nothing had changed except for his slightly subdued eyes, but the Emperor was somehow concerned about his heart.

    ¡°I have been well, but how have you been? Somehow your complexion looks unpleasant?¡±

    ¡°There is not much that has been going on with me.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s attitude, unlike the Prince who was friendly without reserve, was simply calm. There was no expression of welcome, and it was hard to find any sort of kind but empty flattery. Even though the other person¡¯s reaction was like that, the Prince did not seem bothered. He looked back at the Emperor with a smile as clear as the sky after rain.

    ¡°Thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s grace, I met a friend I had missed for the first time in a while. While it is sad that I did not see the beauty I was expecting, it¡¯s a meeting pleasant enough to offset that disappointment. If it is not a problem, then could I share the joy of the unexpected reunion with my friend?¡±

    It was done with a momentary perversity, but it felt like the matter had strangely gotten complicated. He didn¡¯t know exactly what he was hoping for, but at the very least he wasn¡¯t expecting such a result. The Emperor was reluctant, and at the same time, he was chagrined that he was confronted with such a direct request, making it difficult for him to refuse.

    He had no choice but to blurt out words of permission. The extremely excited Prince showed courtesy with a delighted expression and hurriedly retreated with Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°There is no way to really know the connections between people. Who would have known that Baron Amieux was acquainted with the Prince of Livonia?¡±

    Marquise Merlin opened her mouth in amazement as she looked at the backs of the two men while they were leaving.

    ¡°It seems that the Prince is very fond of the Baron, no? Because of the age difference, they seem quite familiar with each other, just like a younger brother following his older brother.¡±

    It was only after the Prince had bravely led Eug¨¨ne out that the Emperor realized he had suffered a humiliating defeat. It was clear that Prince Cyrill knew from the beginning that the ¡®beauty¡¯ was the Emperor¡¯s trusted liege, as well as guessed who he really was.

    That is not all. He even knows everything that happened in the practice area this afternoon. That is why he staged such a scene in front of Us.

    Disregarding the other places, if it was an event that took place in the practice room, it was not something that could easily be spread outside since the surrounding parties had their mouths tightly shut. The fact that such an incident had reached the Prince¡¯s ears so quickly meant that someone in the court was in contact with him.

    The Emperor let out a low laugh at the Prince¡¯s audaciousness. He answered quietly, clenching his molars.

    ¡°Sure. That is what it looks like.¡±

 CH 29

    The first three days of the ¡®Thawing Celebratory Ceremony¡¯ were the best part of the schedule.

    After the customary three-day celebration, Kayediv¡¯s envoys and the imperial administration would begin a long and tedious negotiation process. The thawing celebratory ceremony was a space to resume trade between countries while reconnecting the diplomatic relations that had been cut off throughout the winter.

    Kayedif was a barren land of frozen soil. Though their land had numerous resources, it was difficult to manage the supply and demand of food provisions due to the extremely cold climate. They bought food on an international scale every year. And in return, they provided tremendous amounts of resources to other countries.

    For the past five years, the Estina Empire has been a satisfactory trading partner for Kayediv. War consumed resources sequentially. They demanded more and more resources with each passing year, and prices were determined at the intersection of their desperation and payment limits. Thanks to this, Kayediv¡¯s envoys were able to return with gratifying results every year.

    However, when the night ends, the dream ends. Kayediv were bound to lose the dominance they had as soon as the war was over. It was not them, but the Estina Empire, who had the upper hand in this negotiation.

    They won the last war and occupied the Landrienne Plains, the continent¡¯s largest granary, and Shaak, where most of the land was desert, suffered a huge blow to its food supply. They could no longer be Kayediv¡¯s trading partners, who were also struggling with the food situation in their own country. Of course, the empire was clearly aware of that too.

    While I was expecting it to some extent, it is truly not easy. Seems like we have gotten on his bad side due to what happened in the past.

    The person representing the empire in this negotiation was the Duke of Chirac, who was the premier of the empire. Although he was a typical pro-Kayediv dignitary, negotiations had, nevertheless, been stormy. It seemed that he lacked the discretion to actually lead this negotiation, given that the countless goods and jewels he had been bribed with each year were of no use.

    Behind him was another being coordinating the negotiations. The problem was that Cyrill didn¡¯t have a card to play against him.

    The Premier of the empire had only one opponent to look out for. The Emperor, Ebroin V. But, he was an adversary that neither money nor power could buy. What on earth could appease him, the Emperor of the empire and the most powerful monarch on the continent? He tried to bribe him with Ensha¡¯s tear, which was nothing less than a national treasure, to see if he could soften his heart, but all he received in return was a slight smirk.

    Cyrill was genuinely troubled. Kayediv was a country of ten princes, and the envoys are replaced each year with personages of a different duchy. What that means is that if the men from other duchies have messed up, the next group must clean it up. That is why you should have considered what would happen in the future and given it your all! You caused all this and want me to fix it?!

    He gritted his teeth, thinking about how he would¡¯ve liked to kick the asses of the pig-like guys if they were in front of him. What was even more upsetting was that they probably wouldn¡¯t have done anything unaware of these consequences. Since it¡¯s not their responsibility anyway, they skipped as much as they could on their turn.

    To be fair, the political hold between the ten princes and the duchies of the country was fiercer than one could have imagined from the outside. Cyrill rubbed his throbbing temples with his fingertips, staring at the negotiation proposal which was being rewritten for the third time this week.

    ¡°Why did you provoke the Emperor when you knew this would happen?¡±

    Sir Oleg, who always followed and nagged him, got on Cyrill¡¯s nerves again this time. Cyrill responded petulantly to the man who spoke as if it was all his fault.

    ¡°Though I do not know what I did, that is definitely not why the Emperor stepped forward like this.¡±

    ¡°Of course, not all of them were committed by you. But is it not clearly true that you have done something that could add to the existing problem?¡±

    Sir Oleg said bluntly as he set the teacup down on Cyrill¡¯s desk. The reason Cyrill hated him so much was that he always said the right things. His cousin, who was two years older than him, was nicknamed ¡®Honest Oleg¡¯. But, through Oleg, Cyrill learned the uncomfortable truth that honesty was not always welcomed.

    The smell of freshly heated chocolate rose from the teacup that had been put down and irritated the tip of his nose. Cyrill, on edge, waved the pen he was holding to prevent the smell from coming up near him.

    ¡°Get that out the way. Disgusting.¡±

    ¡°Have you not eaten anything since morning? Have a cup of this.¡±

    ¡°Ktfgf kjr cb alwf ab atlcx jybea atja. Tbe mifjgis xcbk atja P mjccba fja jcsatlcu ktfc P tjnf atlcur bc ws wlcv. Vb, ktja jgf sbe vblcu?¡±

    ¡°Valii, sbe tjnf ab fja rbwfatlcu ab ujlc fcfgus. Tbe klii mbiijqrf lo sbe vb cba.¡±

    Cyrill turned his head and fiercely glared at Oleg, who was more stubborn than a reindeer. His head was already killing him, and he had yet to figure out why this guy who had a knack for upsetting people had followed him as an aide. Oh goodness gracious, Ensha! What sin have I committed against the Goddess? He shook his head, pondering why the merciful goddess had turned away from him.

    Knock, knock.

    Aera atfc, j xcbmx mjwf ogbw bearlvf atflg gbbw. Vlcmf Jsglii tjv rfca jii tlr rfgnjcar bea bo atf gbbw ogbw atf alwf tf yfujc ab jma oerrs, Yifu tlwrfio wbnfv ab ugffa atf uefrar.

    ¡°Prince!¡±

    At the time Oleg disappeared, Cyrill, who had put the chocolate cup away and was about to devote himself to drafting the negotiation proposal, turned around in annoyance at Oleg¡¯s voice calling him again. Cyrill, about to burst into rage and say ¡®What now?¡¯, realized that the guest Oleg had greeted was dressed as a primary court attendant, and barely managed to keep his mouth shut.

    ¡°His Majesty is asking for the Prince right now. Please get ready.¡±

    ***

    Bang! Bang!

    It was in the middle of the deepest forest among the Emperor¡¯s gardens, where the primary court attendant, who came under the Emperor¡¯s order, guided him to.

    The Emperor was aiming at the target with a pistol in one hand. Unknown as to how long he had been shooting, there were pieces of glass all around the stand supporting the target. This proved that his shots never once missed the target. Each time he reloaded and fired, the glass bottles on the stand a hundred steps away, shattered one by one.

    Cyrill knew how hard it was to achieve such a result with a pistol that was difficult to aim accurately. However, what was even more surprising was the existence of the pistol itself, which was fuming without a fuse. The pistol was firing with a mode Cyrill had never seen before. However, no matter how much he looked into it, he couldn¡¯t understand how this miracle came to be.

    ¡°A month ago, the professors of the Imperial Academy improved it and brought it back. We handled it on a trial basis, and the results are quite impressive. The dud ammunition rate was also significantly lowered, and the penetration was improved. Would you like to try shooting too?¡±

    The Emperor was preoccupied with shooting practice for quite a while and suddenly looked back at Cyrill and asked. Opportunities to come across new inventions like this didn¡¯t come very often, so Cyrill gladly accepted his invitation.

    ¡°The professor who succeeded in the improvement said that the percussion was a rotary type. You simply turn the wheel.¡±

    After hearing the Emperor¡¯s explanation, Cyrill turned the axis of rotation and aimed at the target. The recoil was stronger than expected, so it didn¡¯t hit the target, but the bullet pierced the tree right behind it. Cyrill tried a couple more times to get the hang of it, and by the fifth try, he was able to hit the target.

    ¡°Well done. Is hunting a hobby of yours?¡±

    ¡°In my home country, hunting is not a hobby but a daily routine. It is a place where a man who cannot hunt would also be unable to do anything else properly.¡±

    Cyrill politely returned the pistol to the Emperor after a few more test shots and getting a feel for it. Frankly speaking, it was something he coveted enough to want to carry as it is, but since he didn¡¯t have the ability to play out the extremely dangerous trick of stealing a new weapon from under the Emperor¡¯s nose, he bravely abandoned his greed.

    The Emperor took the pistol naturally and reloaded the bullets. After reloading, he waved his gun at an empty target, and the attendants who had been hiding in the bushes quickly jumped out, lined up the new targets, and disappeared again. Cyrill silently watched the Emperor¡¯s back, who had summoned a person for who knows what reason but was only engaged in shooting.

    ¡°Do you know why We called you all the way here?¡±

    The Emperor once again raised his gun, aimed at the target, and asked indifferently. Of course, Cyrill had no way of knowing why.

    ¡°Because no one can listen in to the conversation here. Even if they want to eavesdrop, they cannot.¡±

    Bang!

    As soon as he finished speaking, the thunderous sound of a gunshot ripped through the air. The glass bottle he aimed at shattered into powder.

    ¡°There is something We want to ask. Prince Cyrill.¡±

    ¡°Do ask.¡±

    ¡°What do you think of Baron Amieux?¡±

    Cyrill quietly looked up at the Emperor. The Emperor leisurely loaded the bullet into the gun, as if he had expected in advance that he would not answer immediately. Then, he slowly expressed his thoughts.

    ¡°You are a clever one. You must have known what you were doing. And yet, you made the irrational decision to support Baron Amieux. Ignoring the fact that you are at a disadvantage in this negotiation, you tacitly revealed the secret that there is an informant who is in touch with you in the court. We are curious to know why you did such a thing. Do you think Baron Amieux is truly worth all that?¡±

    ¡°¡­ May I know why you asked such a question?¡±

    ¡°Because there are things We may need to think about differently depending on your answer.¡±

    ¡°Could my answer harm him?¡±

    ¡°That will depend on what you answer.¡±

    Ebroin V shot again with words that held profound significance and could be interpreted either way. Both ears were dazed by deafening gunshots heard in the middle of the conversation. The Emperor didn¡¯t even particularly threaten or intimidate him, but the overwhelming presence of his existence itself was suffocating.

    Cyrill had seen the Emperor several times before but had never had a private audience with him. He could now truly understand why the Grand Dukes of Kayediv called him the ¡®Young Lion of Estina¡¯ and quivered.

    ¡°He is worth it, Your Majesty.¡±

    After contemplating for a long time, Cyrill finally answered the truth. Though he didn¡¯t know what the Emperor¡¯s intentions were, it didn¡¯t seem like there would be any good results for answering falsely. The Emperor was silent for a long time after hearing his answer. He was lost in thought, tapping the tip of the percussion cap with his fingernail, then glanced at Cyrill.

    ¡°Baron Amieux did not give me any excuses in order to keep your secret. He remained silent until the end even though he knew that his life was at stake.¡±

    Sadly, Eug¨¨ne¡¯s noble sacrifice was overshadowed by the work of the Prince of Cyrill himself, but the Emperor did not bother to mention it. To press Cyrill with ¡®that secret¡¯ would be an excessively shameful, dirty, and underhanded act. Moreover, as the Emperor, he was merely guessing by putting together the state of affairs before and after, and there was no evidence to prove his suspicion. In such a situation, even speaking of it would be nothing but an act of defamation.

    ¡°And now you say he is worth risking the national interest over. We want to ask. Do you not know that it is not the right thing as a sovereign to spoil affairs between countries by putting personal feelings first?¡±

    ¡°I know. And unlike me, I also know that Your Majesty would not do such a thing.¡±

    ¡°Quite bold of you.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I do not believe that the negotiations are being put off over that matter. Frankly speaking, I do not know why Your Majesty is so inquisitive about the relationship between Baron Amieux and me. Your Majesty must know that he is not the type of man to sell out the information of the country. And I, too, have not even the slightest intention of dragging him into such a dangerous thing. I believe that the reason why a matter that could be passed off as a short incident is being contemplated in such a manner is that there seems to be a thought for a different purpose. I simply want to know the reason behind Your Majesty¡¯s contemplation, that is all.¡±

    The Emperor was not a person with nothing to do, so he would not have wasted this much time just to hear the story of the extraordinary feelings between two individuals of the same sex. Prince Cyrill wondered what the real intentions of the Emperor were.

    ¡°Did you ask why there is no progress in the negotiations? The reason is that Kayediv¡¯s greed is excessive. There is no compensation for the unilateral benefits they have seen during the past five years of war, and this time too, they are trying to avoid any terms of negotiations that are unfavorable to them. How come you do not know that your people¡¯s actions are a great diplomatic discourtesy?¡±

    Cyrill was speechless. The empire¡¯s proposal would not just lose them money but would also starve them to death. How could they approve of the negotiations when the amount of wheat they were offering was less than half the amount Kayediv needed? Even Kayediv¡¯s most incompetent official would not agree to these terrible terms.

    ¡°In any case, after the trade is over, there are bound to be those who benefit more. How could it be considered a diplomatic discourtesy when we simply supplied what they needed, when they needed it?¡±

    Cyrill did not succumb to the Emperor¡¯s harsh high-handedness and listened to him.

    ¡°But now the position has changed. It is the empire that provides the necessary goods, and it is you who are at the disadvantage. You acted with no regard for the face of the empire. Do you hope to be respected while you continue to disregard your partner¡¯s self-esteem? There is no reason as to why the empire should one-sidedly be considerate to you people.¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°The Northern Country must bend at least once for the sake of the advantage of the next round of negotiations. The empire is a country with many enemies. We need an example, even if it is perfunctory.¡±

    ¡°But if that happens, our people will starve to death. Is the empire trying to set an example, or make another enemy?¡±

    ¡°If We wanted to make you an enemy, We would not have even given you the chance to have this conversation. Agree with the terms, Prince Cyrill. If you bend yourself first, We will solve the next problem.¡±

    The Emperor pointed his gun at the target and calmly suggested. He shot straight away without waiting for an answer from the other person, and Cyrill had to cover his ears before answering. Since he hadn¡¯t eaten anything all day, he felt sick to his stomach, as if it turn inside out, due to the strong smell of gunpowder. He looked at the Emperor, barely holding back the disgusting vomit.

    ¡°What does that mean? Please be specific.¡±

    ¡°Apart from the imperial administration, We will become a party to the contract and commission Kayediv with a personal order. For now, one ship with a main battery of 80 gums and ten ships with a main battery of 50 guns. If you secretly build a total of eleven ships, you will be given the wheat requisitioned for the military during the last war in return.¡±

    One ship with a main battery of 80 guns and ten ships with a main battery of 50 guns. It would cost a tremendous price of 600,000 dinars even in terms of the market price. Converted to wheat, that would be a whopping 1.5 million sacks. If that amount of wheat was provided, Kayediv¡¯s needs could be sufficiently met.

    ¡°¡­ What are so many ships needed for?¡±

    The conditions the Emperor was proposing were not bad at first look.  It meant that the Emperor himself would personally compensate for the rest if he saved the face of the empire on the outside and endured some damage.  However, Cyrill saw signs of turbulence in the contract proposed by the Emperor. He couldn¡¯t figure out what the Emperor was secretly building such warships for.

 CH 30

    Kayediv¡¯s ships, which were intended for deep-sea voyages and occasionally sails to the icy waters, were known for their inherent robustness.

    Since it was made of coniferous trees that had been hardened by the harsh winter, it was not only resistant to any kind of bombardment, but due to the advanced technology of steel manufacture, the artillery production was also quite decent. Although the construction technology may be inferior to that of the Confederation of Five Nations, Kayediv¡¯s warships, which were superior in terms of durability, were worth the fairly expensive price.

    ¡°Seems like you do not know the meaning of the word ¡®secretly¡¯. Do you think it would have been necessary to suggest that in particular if We had not been concerned that rumors would leak out?¡±

    ¡°However, Your Majesty-.¡±

    ¡°But I do not want to hear it. This is Our final negotiation proposal. There will be no compromise or consideration beyond this. You can refuse if you wish. However, it will be entirely your responsibility to recover from that.¡±

    The Emperor put the pistol he was holding down on the table and beckoned the attendant to wash his hands. He washed away the gunpowder smell on his hands with lemon water and then, as if he had suddenly remembered it, added.

    ¡°Oh, by the way. We forgot to tell you this. Vice Admiral Chastan will be the one who will manage the ships. He is the most capable admiral under Our command.¡±

    Prince Cyrill felt as if he had been struck in the back of his head by those last words. The Emperor wiped his hands with a towel and passed him unaffectedly.

    ¡°Of course, We are not asking to make a decision right away, so take your time and think carefully. What do you want to bring to your country? Actual profit without honor? Or shallow honor? To be clear, you can only take one or the other.¡±

    The Emperor leisurely left the place, leaving the deeply troubled Cyrill with one question that pierced his core. Prince Cyrill, who was left alone, stood there in stony silence with disheveled feelings, unable to say anything. He realized that he had been caught in the trap set by the cunning Emperor, but no matter how much he thought about it, he could hardly think of a clever idea to escape.

    ***

    Even though he achieved almost everything he had set out to do, Emperor Ebroin V felt somewhat uneasy.

    ¡­ Why do I feel this way?

    After a day¡¯s work, the Emperor soaked himself in the bathtub and relaxed his tense muscles in the hot water. The ceramic bathtub was as warm as his body temperature. In the bath with plenty of rose water, a subtle rose scent bloomed, and the beauty salt, said to soften the skin, melted under the body with small popping sounds.

    The Emperor, feeling the buoyancy of the water gently embracing his exhausted body, tilted his head back. The attendants, worried that the water might cool down, poured fresh hot water into his bathtub.

    The extravagant bath was a new way of life that the Emperor had learned during his war with Shaak. Although most of Shaak¡¯s land was desert, most of the feudal lords lived in cities that had oases with abundant water.

    As a result, a bath culture was developed to wash away the sand and dust from outside, and the feudal lords of Shaak, who became accustomed to it, brought that habit to the newly occupied Landrienne Plains.

    Thanks to this, whenever the Emperor arrived at the reoccupied fortresses, he had to face beautifully renovated bathhouses by the feudal lords of Shaak. At first, the Emperor did not even realize what the uselessly luxurious place was made for, but after several trials, he fully understood why they could not give up the habit.

    Shaak¡¯s bath culture was completely different from that of Estina¡¯s, where they washed in a wooden bathtub once or twice a week. A Shaak bath required a lot of hot water, humidity, perfumed oil, and an expert massagist.

    However, a proper massagist that met the last condition was unfortunately not experienced because the feudal lords of Shaak took all of them and ran away.

    Ebroin V often enjoyed bathing in the Shaak style after returning to the Imbert Palace and even converted one of the lounges next to the hall of his bedroom into a bathhouse for this new hobby.

    Ca jcs batfg alwf, tf kbeiv tjnf yffc jyif ab fwqas tlr tfjv klatbea atlcxlcu jybea jcsatlcu jcv fcpbs atf offilcu bo gfilfnlcu tlr ybvs¡¯r ojaluef. Dea abvjs, tlr tfjv kjr jr alutais mibrfv jr lo rbwfbcf tjv ibmxfv la klat j qjvibmx, klat atf atbeuta bo cfnfg bqfclcu la jujlc.

    The Emperor looked up at the ceiling with a dripping face and swept back his long hair that was wrapped around him like seaweed. After rubbing his eyes since his long eyelashes were wet with water, which made him unable to open his eyes properly, he saw a person standing far across the other side of the room.

    ¡°Did you call for me, Your Majesty?¡±

    Baron Amieux¡¯s neat appearance was revealed through the foggy steam. As usual, the man, dressed in simple clothes of frugal taste, looked down at the drenched Emperor with emotionless eyes.

    The Emperor placed his arm on the side of the bathtub and lifted a finger to call him to his side. It was a haughty gesture, like calling a dog rather than a person, but Eug¨¨ne followed it without saying a word.

    ¡°Today We made a final proposal to the Prince of Livonia.¡±

    The Emperor got down to business without adding any sort of context. He thought Eug¨¨ne was aware of what was going on to some extent as he had been allowed to attend the political affairs meetings all the time, but as expected, Eug¨¨ne listened to him silently without interfering with his own opinion.

    ¡°We told him to fully accept the current negotiations proposed by the empire. In return, the loss will be covered by Our personal commission for the construction of warships. Do you think the Prince Cyrill you know would agree to these terms?¡±

    After listening to the Emperor, Eug¨¨ne thought for a moment and then slowly opened his mouth.

    ¡°If the construction costs are to be paid in the form of food, it is a matter that is fully agreeable. They might lose face to a certain degree, but this will help them solve a more pressing problem. However, Your Majesty, do you not have any food reserves in the empire that you can afford? ¡­ Does Your Majesty have the military supply storehouse in mind for that?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Then how does Your Majesty intend to control the rising grain prices in the empire? I thought Your Majesty would use the grains from the supply storehouse to stabilize the grain prices in the market.¡±

    ¡°That is not a matter to be bothered about. Grain prices in the empire are expected to fall within half a month.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡±

    The Emperor had turned the political affairs meeting upside down just a few days ago. Eug¨¨ne clearly remembered what happened at that time, and feeling disconcerted, asked back, unable to fully comprehend what the Emperor was saying. The Emperor wiped the dripping face with his wet hands and raised the corners of his mouth.

    ¡°Starting this week, the winter wheat in the Vatellin Territory will begin to be harvested. It is the first harvest we will receive after reclaiming Landrienne. When We got the report from the keeper of the territory, it was said that it was an average harvest. That amount is enough to put out the raging fire.¡±

    The war was over after five years, but there was no way a territory could be reclaimed in the same amount of time.

    it could have taken the same amount of time to restore the country. The Vatellin Territory that was just mentioned was fertile land located east of the Bern River, which was reclaimed three years ago. After allowing the land ravaged by the war to rest for two years, they started farming on a trial basis last year. Fortunately, the results seemed to be good.

    ¡°Then why did Your Majesty-?¡±

    ¡°-Did We not tell you beforehand? Baron Amieux. The only people who were unaware of it on the spot were you and Marshal Basin. Our officials are not so incompetent. They are simply covetous.¡±

    Upon hearing the Emperor¡¯s answer, Eug¨¨ne had nothing to say. It was absurd to do such a thing for personal greed in a political meeting that was in charge of the national affairs of the empire of all things.

    ¡°What is important now is not the corruption among the imperial officials. The problem is the contract. We do not want this deal to get into the ears of the Confederation of Five Nations. That is why your help is needed. If Prince Cyrill accepts Our offer, the contract will not be written in Our name, but in the name of ¡®Fils de la Mer ¨C Son of the Sea¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Son of the Sea¡­ how do you know that name, Your Majesty?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked, taken aback by the unexpected name that came out of the Emperor¡¯s mouth. The Emperor raised his golden eyebrows that were drenched in water at that question and glanced at him.

    Son of the Sea. It was the name of the sailors¡¯ union that Eug¨¨ne had been sponsoring for several years. It was a union created only by experienced men from the military to help the livelihood of ordinary sailors who were retired due to problems such as injuries or chronic diseases. The initial investment was supported by several admirals, including Eug¨¨ne, and was currently operated with the retirement money of the present union members and the joint investment of the primary union members.

    ¡°Hundreds of men with military experience gathered under your name. If the leader had different intentions, it could have become the largest private army organization in the empire. Did you not expect to attract attention while creating such an organization? You are surprisingly naive.¡±

    The Empire¡¯s largest private army organization? The Emperor only pointed it out lightly as if it was no big deal, but Eug¨¨ne¡¯s heart sank when he heard that. He really never even dreamed that something so small that it started out with little good intentions could seem that way. Eug¨¨ne hurriedly defended their innocence with a hardened tensed expression on his face.

    ¡°For it to be called a private army organization is undeserved. While I helped, it was not because I had other intentions.

    ¡°There is no need to be serious. It means that We know the inside story. Do you think We would have insinuated this if We still doubted you?¡±

    ¡®If We still doubted you¡¯? Conversely, what he said meant that he had doubted him in the past. Eug¨¨ne was going crazy at the thought that he could have been accused of treason if he had done something wrong, lost color in his hands and feet, and felt a chill down his spine. On the other hand, the Emperor calmly leaned back in the bathtub and returned to the original topic.

    ¡°We want you to build a bridge between Adelphe and ¡®Son of the Sea¡¯. Would that be possible? It will be Adelphe who will fully represent Us in this contract. On the surface, it is a deal between the sailors¡¯ union with a middleman and Kayediv.:

    So this was the Emperor¡¯s plan. Adelphe, who suddenly purchased stocks from the supply storehouse, writes a contract in the form of requesting Kayediv to build a ship under the condition of wheat and reinvest it back into the sailors¡¯ union.

    Then, the ¡®Son of the Sea¡¯ Union takes over the ship launched by Kayedif according to the contract with Adelphe. Fortunately, due to the nature of its origin, the Son of the Sea Union had branches in each port where the navy head offices were located, so it would not be too difficult to hand over the acquired ships to the Navy¡­

    Eug¨¨ne tried to concentrate on the conversation with the Emperor. But no matter how much he tried, it was hard to get his head straight. Strangely, he felt more disturbed now than when shells fell under his feet or when he was surrounded by dozens of pirates during a melee.

    It was said in the past tense that it didn¡¯t actually happen and that it simply could have happened, and even the Emperor asserted that he no longer cared about it and moved on.

    ¡°Of course, it is not expected that this will completely deceive the attention of the Confederation of Five Nations. But for now, it can buy us some time.¡±

    The Emperor¡¯s plan was terribly specific. Though variables were being collected according to changes in circumstances here and there, the basic framework seemed to have been in shape for a long time. He didn¡¯t know when it was stopped, but once the Emperor started to move, everything started to progress insanely fast. Thanks to this, Eug¨¨ne felt like he was riding on a galloping horse without a saddle.

    Due to the dizzying speed, he suffered from slight vertigo and lowered his eyes, and took a deep breath. He tried to figure out how many years all these had been in the Emperor¡¯s mind with eyes still closed. It was three years ago that he first submitted a proposal for the Navy¡¯s long-term strategic plan. And it was a year before that, that he helped establish the ¡®Son of the Sea¡¯ Union.

    Does he mean that he was planning the next war in the midst of war? Four years ago, it has been less than a year since His Majesty initiated the Third Landrienne Revolution.

    Eug¨¨ne had a terrifying feeling. Perhaps this is what a difference in potential meant. If his thinking was correct, the Emperor had been fighting two wars in his head for the past five years. Just as one master would take turns attacking two chess opponents, the Emperor planned to fight a war against Shaak with his body and against the Confederation of Five Nations in his mind.

    It was as if the Emperor was born only to rule. A mechanical being created to rule over the world, conquer, and prosper the empire. The Emperor had a reason both for meeting people and for sleeping with women. He was a meticulous rationalist who would not take even a single step without a purpose and was a frightening person, not because he was cold-hearted and brutal, but because he was supremely cold.

    ¡°What are you thinking so hard about? Did you find something that could be problematic?¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne, immersed in thought, suddenly stopped speaking, the Emperor, waiting for his answer, asked curiously. Eug¨¨ne belatedly came to his senses, as if he had gone to another world for a while and came back, realized what he had been thinking so far, and lowered his eyes to hide his expression.

    ¡°No. For a moment¡­ I was thinking about the situation on Kayediv¡¯s side.¡±

    ¡°Kayediv?¡±

    ¡°Yes. While I am not certain right now, I think over time they will realize what they are helping with. It is difficult to crack down on the situation domestically, but they do not know how to prevent information from leaking to other countries.¡±

    Even if he truly felt that way, he couldn¡¯t confess that he once again realized just how terrifying it can be with the Emperor in front of him. Eug¨¨ne evaded the Emperor¡¯s search for he was approaching clearly, as if he could see through his mind, with a roughly plausible excuse.

    ¡°There is nothing to worry about that. We had something prepared in advance.¡±

    Although it was an excuse, the problem Eug¨¨ne spoke of was a matter that should not be taken lightly. However, the Emperor brushed off his worries so easily that he was puzzled. Something felt odd so Eug¨¨ne frowned slightly. He couldn¡¯t understand why someone who prepared everything so meticulously that it appeared to be finical was acting out of character.

    ¡°Your Majesty prepared in advance?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What preparation was made?¡±

    ¡°We have no intention to speak of it.¡±

    ¡°¡­ Pardon?¡±

    ¡°It means that sometimes secrets are required to solve matters easily. What is with your shocked expression? Then did you really think We would report to you all the things We had planned elsewhere?¡±

    The Emperor raised his well-shaped lips and raised a shallow sarcastic sarcasm. Eug¨¨ne, who had never had any ambition to receive a report from the Emperor, bowed his head as if in apology and sincerely asked for an apology. As hard and formal as a piece of wood, his attitude is always the same as that of Baron Amieux.

    As always, he was polite and showed no sign of noticing that the Emperor had intentionally shown reacted in annoyance to repel him.

    But it was strange. After saying that, the Emperor felt uncomfortable on such a delicate level that could not be expressed in words, just like he did before Eug¨¨ne came in. A subtle yet persistent grittiness, like sand stuck in the buttocks or porcelain chips the size of sesame seeds stuck on the scalp, continued to nudge his nerves.

    The Emperor suddenly felt like scratching his head and petulantly changed his position in the bathtub. However, no matter how much he changed his position, the persistent prickly feeling did not go away.

 CH 31

    ¡°Welcome, Your Majesty. I had been waiting.¡±

    As the Emperor entered, Marquise Lamott slightly knelt and bowed with a bright smile. The ladies-in-waiting who lined up behind her followed their master and knelt on their knees and bowed politely. The Emperor smiled and held out an arm. Marquise Lamott blushed happily, placed her hand on his arm, and the two entered the Marquise¡¯s boudoir, shoulder-to-shoulder. SO1eIk

    ¡°You seem to have become more beautiful than ever before. Were you always this beautiful?¡±

    ¡°Your Majesty, it was only five days ago when you visited me last. What could have changed in between?¡±

    Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

    The Emperor made a joke while walking into the Marquise¡¯s bedroom, and the Marquise laughed adorably while lightly glaring at him as if what he said made no sense.

    ¡°It was not only five days ago, it has already been five days. Seems like it would not suffice even if We come to see you every day, but for some reason, time passes by so quickly.¡± n19oaN

    ¡°I could not even hope for the dreamlike wish where Your Majesty would come by every day. Please just remember that, no matter how beautiful the other flowers are, sometimes I am here waiting for Your Majesty.¡±

    The Emperor was always kind to his concubines. When in the company of a concubine, even if she was not the one who held his favor, he would treat her as if she were the Emperor¡¯s one and only love. The woman knew well that the Emperor was such by nature and was not deceived by his sweet whispers.

    The sleepless days of heartbreaking pain whenever the Emperor left for another woman¡¯s arms, despite listening to the Emperor¡¯s sweet nothings with sincerity, ended only after she struggled to admit the cold reality. She had no intention of repeating the mistakes of her sweet and foolish youth again.

    She rested her forehead gently against the Emperor¡¯s shoulder, whispering shyly like a young girl. The Emperor could see her thin eyelashes trembling like dragonfly wings under her round white forehead.

    Bj MuD

    ¡°We always remember where you are, Henriette. It is engraved in Our innermost thoughts how grateful We are to have a gentle and virtuous woman like you by Our side.¡±

    He said quietly and kissed the top of the Marquise¡¯s round head. Marquise Lamott looked up happily at the man who loved her only when she was in her arms, smiling as sweetly as an orange blossom soaked in the rain.

    Since a message was sent before the Emperor¡¯s visit, the Marquise¡¯s bedroom was perfectly prepared to welcome the Emperor.

    As they entered the Marquise¡¯s room, small cages hanging everywhere could be seen. These cages were not real birds, but decorations with miniature birds called ¡®Schibur¡¯s Little Birds ¨C Oiseau de Chypre¡¯, and each passing cage contained wooden models that imitated small and pretty birds such as mountain bluebirds, rufous-tailed robins, or yellow canaries. cz jHr

    However, these decorations were not to be enjoyed with the eyes, but with the nose. The stomachs of the model birds were filled with various herbs and spices, so every time they passed by one, they could smell an indescribably fragrant and heavenly scent.

    The aroma created by Marquise Lamott, who had a knack for perfumery, was so delicately controlled that even if several different kinds of scents flowed at the same time, one would not get a headache.

    Candles were hung on each candlestick to create an atmosphere, and the bed¡¯s curtains were replaced with translucent silk material imported from the Eastern Continent. The softly fitted silk seemed to hint at the private event that would take place tonight.

    Zjgdelrf Ojwbaa, gfqeafv ab yf atf wbra ijvsilxf bo atf Swqfgbg¡¯r mbcmeylcfr, kjr bcis nlgaeber alii atf ilwla bo tfg yfvgbbw. Vtf kjr j kbwjc lc tfg ijaf 20r ktb xcfk atf yfjeas bo rfzeji qifjregf, jcv atf Swqfgbg kjr j wjc ktb xcfk tbk ab qifjrf j kbwjc yfaafg atjc jcsbcf firf. xhWq59

    ¡°Please wait for a while. I will be back shortly.¡±

    The exquisitely designed attire of the lady was exceptionally beautiful. However, putting on and taking off several paeta robes and gigantic panniers was hard labor that was impossible to do alone. Marquise Lamott could not make the Emperor do such heavy labor with his own hands, and made the Emperor sit on a long chair before she carefully crossed over to the next room.

    The Emperor stretched out his tired legs and waited for the woman who left the room. When he sniffed the relaxing scent, he secretly felt drowsy, perhaps because he was especially exhausted today. However, the Emperor could not disappoint the concubine whom he was visiting after a long time, so he stretched out for a while and waited for the concubine to return.

    Even compared to the previous emperors, Ebroin V was an Emperor who was generous to his concubines in many ways. Though he was a cold-blooded monarch who was so domineering that he wouldn¡¯t let any matter go below perfection, he was particularly weak to women¡¯s requests and was surprisingly generous even during curtain lectures. Sp32LY

    Furthermore, even if he favored one woman more, there was hardly any disregard or ill feelings toward his other concubines. He would even visit the concubine who had lost his favor once every two or three weeks to comfort her lonely heart and spend the night with her, and occasionally send flowers or gifts to remind her that he had not forgotten her.

    But these days, it didn¡¯t seem like he was looking for Marquise Lamott only in the form of a simple comfort as he used to in the past. The ceremonial visits that were once every two or three weeks had been reduced to once every five days, and unusual meetings, such as inviting her to lunch or asking her to go for a walk together, had become more frequent. Similar consideration was being given to Marquise Merlin, who was also isolated, while the frequency of visits to Countess Patr¨ª, who had enjoyed relatively high favor and affection, had significantly decreased.

    Read more BL at chrysanthemumgarden (dot) com

    The change happened so slowly that the Countess didn¡¯t notice it at first, but recently, she seemed to have finally noticed it. While she was unable to show it due to her haughty pride, she was overly anxious because of which she tried all sorts of things to get the Emperor¡¯s attention back to her. Unfortunately, the results were not very good.

    Marquise Lamott knew what it felt like to lose favor, but nevertheless, she did not feel sorry for Countess Patr¨ª at all. Just thinking about the way she was arrogant in front of her, who was losing his favor, there was no room for sympathy even if she was in a worse situation than now. 1M5irR

    ¡°Hurry up. His Majesty is waiting.¡±

    Opportunities are meant to be seized when they come. The Emperor¡¯s fondness for Countess Patr¨ª had waned, but Marquise Lamott¡¯s feelings grew impatient at the sight of the Emperor, who did not appear to have any particular feelings for any other woman. When she, who is usually calm, hastily nagged, the hands of the otherwise skillful ladies-in-waiting became more nimble.

    In an instant, she took off her yellow silk robe and expensive pannier with layers of lace, untied her corset, and after working her way through all that, she then put on a single gown as light as if it would simply fly away over a soft chemise with a deep cleft for her breasts.

    What followed was the elaborate grooming to reveal a natural yet feminine beauty. She sprayed subtle perfume behind her ears and on both wrists, and her hair, which had been tightly rolled up and tied, was naturally untied and fixed. Then, the pearl powder on the skin was wiped off and a light face lotion was applied. It was only then that all the preparations were completed. VljdaM

    She came out of the toilette room with a lady-in-waiting who followed her with a nightcap on a tray. When she came out, the Emperor was looking at the birdcage decoration beside the bed. Marquise Lamott collected those birds of Schibur as a hobby. She approached the Emperor with a gentle smile.

    ¡°What has gotten you so interested, Your Majesty?¡±

    The Emperor looked back at her as she spoke kindly.

    ¡°I was looking at it because it smells exceptionally fragrant.¡± oRdKI0

    ¡°Does Your Majesty like that scent?¡±

    ¡°It is not particularly bizarre so it smells quite nice. It is fragrant but also somewhere piquant.¡±

    ¡°It is a scent made by mixing dried violet and iris with almond blossoms. It is a combination that I like as well.¡±

    The Emperor nodded at the explanation of Marquise Lamott and looked at the nightingale model, housed in an elaborate silver cage with interest. 1WKYB6

    ¡°Where did you get this bird from, Henriette?¡±

    Marquise Lamott widened her eyes at the Emperor¡¯s sudden question.

    ¡°You mean Schibur¡¯s little bird? I usually order directly from an atelier that specializes in decorations. But why does Your Majesty want to know?¡±

    ¡°There is a friend of Ours whose taste is exceedingly rustic and does not suit the court. If We want to change that friend¡¯s awful taste, he must be taught what is sophisticated first. He is not used to living like a refined person, so he must have never seen such a luxurious hobby in his life, which is why We thought it would not be so bad to gift it to him as an example.¡± 32FU67

    The Emperor showed profound intimacy as if the person he was alluding to was indeed his friend. After hearing that, Marquise Lamott easily recognized the identity of the other person. It was because there was only one person in whom the Emperor showed interest in this way these days.

    ¡°That is quite considerate of Your Majesty. Then please take that cage. If it is something that has attracted Your Majesty¡¯s attention, that person will like it too.¡±

    Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

    While the other women were competing against each other for the Emperor¡¯s favor and affection, the person in question here was the Emperor¡¯s favorite subject. The Marquise, not knowing how far this interest would extend, didn¡¯t think it was a bad idea to take this opportunity to ingratiate herself with the Emperor¡¯s close associate, and coolly offered the cage. However, at the unexpected goodwill of the Marquise, the Emperor shook his head as if it was absurd.

    ¡°There is no need for that, Henriette. We appreciate your consideration, but We refuse. Does it make sense for Us to take away your belonging and give it to someone else simply because We cannot gift that particular item?¡± ngxbeH

    ¡°It is not being taken away, it is being gifted. If it is that bothersome, then Your Majesty can buy me another cage. If not, there is another cage that caught my attention a while ago.¡±

    She said as she offered the Emperor the quality wine she had prepared as a nightcap. The Emperor took the wine filled in a silver cup, placed the cup to his lips, and quietly savored its scent. Marquise Lamott crept up to the Emperor¡¯s side and embraced the Emperor¡¯s arm with both her arms. Since her slim and slender build was on the small side among women, she was only about half as tall when standing next to the strong Emperor.

    ¡°It is rather beneficial to me. I am giving away something old in exchange for a new one. So you do not have to refuse, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°You are too kind.¡± H74hla

    The Emperor eventually lost against her repeated persuasion, wrapped one arm around Marquise Lamott¡¯s thin shoulders, and buried his lips in the nape of her long neck. The nape of her neck, which was as white as a pearl, was soft and fragrant, even without any powder.

    After being defeated by her repeated persuasion, the Emperor wrapped one arm around the slender shoulders of Marquise Lamott and buried his lips in the nape of his long neck. The nape of the neck, which was as white as a pearl, was soft and fragrant, even without asking. Her delicate skin was so translucent as if the slightest touch would leave a mark, and it wasn¡¯t just the way it looked, it was very much the truth.

    Instead of this type of skin, how much force must you exert to leave such a mark on the nape of a burly man¡¯s neck? Do I have to mount him with the intention of biting from the beginning?

    Unexpectedly, at this moment, it was not the elegant body of Marquise Lamott that took over the Emperor¡¯s mind, but the recently confirmed bite mark on Eug¨¨ne¡¯s body. The trace of another man was engraved like a brand on the trained manly body that was not very different from his own. Though he didn¡¯t express it to anyone, the mark aroused some kind of primal curiosity in the Emperor. zwfGb3

    Baron Amieux¡¯s skin was as tough as it gets from the rough sea breeze and rigorous training. The Emperor had no sexual relationship with the Baron, but he knew the texture of his skin better than anyone else. Since he tapped and jabbed him many times with a bladeless sword, he had grasped the toughness of his skin and even the elasticity of his muscles.

    If a mark that deep was left on his skin, the intensity of the caresses between the two would have been even more intense than that of ordinary people. It was probably different than sleeping with a woman. The Emperor had never engaged in sodomy before and guessed vaguely like a blind man fumbling around a doorknob. Both of them were men with strong builds, so when it came to embracing each other, the two would have been quite zealous without being too rough.

    The imagination, which had begun to move forward, spread its branches wildly and recklessly. Suddenly, Baron Amieux became naked in the Emperor¡¯s mind. As he had previously seen, the sleek body was firmly trained.

    After a while, a dark shadow fell over the strong body, and someone with a softer silhouette than the Baron appeared and naturally overlapped with the body. Of course, the true identity of the shadow with an unusually slender and delicate outline was Prince Cyrill. The Emperor even added Prince Cyrill¡¯s long tress of hair in his imagination, but he couldn¡¯t imagine the most decisive part of the man and just glossed over it. 4jvfFs

    It was not as difficult as he thought to imagine the scene in which the two of them were intertwined. Baron Amieux¡¯s body was quite familiar, and Prince Cyrill was a beauty who he didn¡¯t have much trouble imagining without any of his clothes on. But somehow the Emperor felt a sense of alienation. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but it felt like he was making a mistake in some crucial part.

    For a moment, the Emperor pondered over the identity of this strange sense of incongruity. However, he was suddenly brought back to his senses by Marquise Lamott as she groaned lightly in his arms. Marquise Lamott lamented because the Emperor barely took further action other than sliding his lips on the nape of her neck, and so, cutely urged the Emperor with her slender arms to not simply cuddle her neck alone.

    ¡°What are you thinking of right now, Your Majesty? The one in Your Majesty¡¯s arms right now is I, not anyone else. So do not think of anyone else, and only keep me in mind.¡±

    The Emperor had never made this kind of mistake with a woman and was quite flustered inwardly. But on the outside, he just smiled softly without showing any such expression. VLkdF9

    ¡°Seems like you have a lot of concerns. Do not worry. How could We think of anyone else? We have someone so beautiful like you in Our arms.¡±

    He picked her up and headed to bed, blowing the sweet lie that had become a habit into her ears.

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    Shortly thereafter, sounds of a woman¡¯s coquettish voice and moans writhing in the pleasure of sex were heard from the bed. The Emperor hugged her passionately as if to compensate for the mistake he had made before. Marquise Lamott was extremely satisfied with his usual kind attitude and was willing to be tormented to the point of exhausting the man¡¯s zeal, which he repeated all night long as she wished.

    However, in spite of all his actions, the image of another person often came to mind in the Emperor¡¯s mind. Sometimes it was just another person, sometimes it was ¡®other people¡¯. Even if he deliberately pushed it to the corner to avoid thinking about it, the thought crawled out as if it bore some sort of grudge and disturbed the Emperor¡¯s focus. INRdAh

    T/N: hello. i would like to apologize for the delay since i understand where the frustration comes from. while i greatly appreciate the interest in this novel, i would also like to request those of you, unaware of the reason behind the absence, to check the ¡®cg-novel-announcements¡¯ channel in cg¡¯s discord server before commenting for the next update as i always post an announcement in case there happens to be a delay in chapter releases. i enjoy working on this novel just as much as most of you like reading it so the breaks are usually my last option when faced with an unfavorable situation. so please don¡¯t worry, i have no intention of dropping this novel and will work on it till the end. thank you for understanding and please take care ;]

 CH 32

    Eug¨¨ne had no idea how his life would turn out until he came to the capital after receiving a letter from the Marquis of La Baille.

    He used to joke around about the professors of the Imperial Academy but never expected the day to come when he would meet them in person. The erudite scholars of the refined academy only entered salons of their own standard, and Eug¨¨ne knew all too well that a crude soldier like him was unlikely to be invited to such a place. NQhiH1

    But now he was surrounded by the smartest people in the world. As Eug¨¨ne saw more gowns gathered in one place than he had seen in his entire life combined, he realized that the future of a person was truly unpredictable.

    The official name of the Imperial Academy was ¡®La Royale¡¯ University. As the splendid name suggests, it was the Estina Empire¡¯s imperial family who sponsored the Imperial Academy.

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    Since its inception, La Royale University had maintained lasting ties with the imperial family, and over the centuries, with the active support of the Ardi imperial family, it had established itself as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the empire and in the entire continent.

    Most of the judicial aristocrats, as well as the most ambitious bureaucratic aristocrats who wanted to advance, were obliged to obtain a diploma from the university, and often even the Grands would become students and take lessons from the Imperial Academy. For ordinary citizens, the authority of the Imperial Academy was unwaveringly resolute. There was even a saying for the academy that followed, ¡®All the mysteries of the world gather in ¡®La Royale¡¯. wKLphf

    ¡°Would you like to answer how ensuring some professors the right to eat a lamb¡¯s heart and a roasted partridge every weekend has to do with enhancing the academic performance of the university?¡±

    But even that solid reputation and authority was of no use in the face of the undisputed power of the Emperor of the empire. The Emperor raised his eyebrows while reviewing the budget proposal for the new semester submitted by the faculty of the Imperial Academy. Whenever he found items he did not like in the budget and discussed them one by one, the representatives of the professoriate blushed with embarrassment.

    For a long time after the war ended, the representatives, who had been directly dealt with by the Emperor, realized that while they were so excited by such glory, they had forgotten one important fact. The Emperor was a man who did not acknowledge any authority other than himself. He did not fear the name of La Royale, unlike other dignitaries and bureaucrats.

    ¡°As it can be seen from the reference attached below the budget, the perks are proposed to take care of the health of our senior tenured professors. Unlike other conditions, it does not guarantee equal rights for all professors, but general professors of the professoriate also voted in favor of guaranteeing such privileges for tenured professors.¡±

    JBbOv2

    It was Professor Saletier, the president of La Royale University and also the head of the faculty, who received the Emperor¡¯s inquiry and stepped forward. With his grizzled grey hair and fair complexion, he gave off the impression of a talented politician than an aloof scholar of the ivory tower.

    ¡°Most tenured professors¡¯ ages are well up in years. All of them are eligible to vote for other tenured professorships. Tenured professors are effectively the ones with the university¡¯s personnel authority. Can the President be confident that the general professors voted without any pressure? We read the report which said that no new tenured professors were hired three years ago.¡±

    However, no matter how good your eloquence may be, it would be difficult to find words to respond to such direct criticism as it was right now. Professor Saletier did not readily excuse himself and hesitated on the spot. The Emperor looked at him with an expressionless face and closed the documents of the budget proposal he was reading.

    ¡°To get things done today, We looked through the data of the past few years and found it to be unreasonable. In the past few years, when We were unable to directly handle the budget proposal, the privileges of tenured professors increased dramatically. The food cost of the professoriate, which the imperial family must guarantee, has almost doubled compared to before, and arithmetically, it is five times the food cost paid for ordinary students. But even then, the tuition was raised because it was not enough? Are you trying to teach junior scholars or are you doing business with education?¡± cAtzZJ

    ¡°Your Majesty, what do you mean business with education? What kind of abusive language is that to the scholars of the ivory tower?¡±

    Professor Saletier, surprised by the Emperor¡¯s blatant rebuke, protested, raising his voice as if he was wronged. But it was like pouring oil on a burning house. Even if it wasn¡¯t, the Emperor, who was still angry, scolded Professor Saletier with a more ferocious look than before.

    ¡°Are Our words too harsh? No, you do not deserve to say that. Scholars are human too, so they do not say anything about their greed. But the results are too shabby for that. Despite the war, the budget spent on the Imperial Academy has steadily increased over the past few years. Nevertheless, the achievements you made are extremely minimal. The number of dissertations in the almanac has decreased by about a quarter compared to the previous year, and the number of graduates has also decreased due to the excessively increased tuition. At a time when outstanding individuals are needed more than ever, you are not helping the empire, but only sucking its blood. But even then, you dare open hands again? Do you still have any excuses for Us?¡±

    ¡°T-The decline in the number of dissertations in the almanac has decreased is due to the research the university is doing to be of practical help to the empire. Research takes a long time, and tangible results have been coming out for a while now. As Your Majesty may recall, did one of our university¡¯s chemistry professors not develop a new type of percussion that does not require a fuse?¡± WU6HFv

    Ugbofrrbg Vjifalfg aglfv ab qgbafra yea ab cb jnjli. Ktf Swqfgbg tjv jigfjvs wjvf eq tlr wlcv jcv gfoeafv atf qgbofrrbg¡¯r ibulm klat j gfifcaifrr jaalaevf.

    ¡°Sure, We remember. Seems like the pistol was a kind of bribe you offered to appease Our wrath. We want to ask you one thing. Do you think the percussion revolvers can be mass-produced? The percussion revolvers you developed were overly sophisticated, and the labor cost required for delicate mechanical parts was ridiculously expensive. Have you ever wondered what would happen if such a refined plaything rolled around on the battlefield? Do you think the percussion revolver would be useful even if the barrel was mixed with dirt and rainwater?¡±

    Ugbofrrbg Vjifalfg, tjnlcu qgbvemfv j qijerlyif gfreia, tjv bcis fzqfmafv atf Swqfgbg¡¯r qgjlrf, yea tjv cfnfg atbeuta jybea qgjmalmji wjaafgr remt jr erf bc atf yjaaifolfiv, aegcfv qjif jcv ibkfgfv tlr tfjv. Ktf Swqfgbg ibbxfv qlaloeiis ja remt j qgbofrrbg jcv rtbbx tlr tfjv.

    ¡°What We want is a practical outcome, not a fun plaything to play around with. If you want to hear words of praise from Us on a percussion revolver, improve it to the point where it would be fine even if it rolls in the mud. We intend to be considerate if you request a budget for it. We will never waste the treasury on a lavish weekend dinner for tenured professors. If you want to be treated, prove your worth. We only acknowledge those who are worthy.¡± 4ywbMe

    The last sentence the Emperor uttered was shining with absolute authority that only the Emperor could display. Most of the professoriate¡¯s representatives were people who lived twice as long as the Emperor, but they did not dare to confront the Emperor¡¯s overwhelming dignity. They lowered their heads, reciting the words of apology like a prayer, and the Emperor haughtily accepted their apology.

    The Emperor dampened the spirit of the professoriate from the beginning, then allocated the budget proposal with lightning speed. At first glance, it seemed that he was judging the matters arbitrarily, but upon a closer look, it could be seen that he was thorough in never leaving any faults in the professoriate that could cause dissatisfaction.

    Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

    Though he did not approve of the added items compared to the previous year, he comforted the professors by guaranteeing the existing privileges. Instead, the increased tuition was returned to the previous amount, and the cost of scholarships sponsored by the imperial family was increased to consider the students who had been marginalized.

    To be slapped on the cheek and told to grow up meant this. Eug¨¨ne was deeply impressed with his ability to treat the best scholars of the empire as if they were children. sIeDbh

    The review of the budget proposal, which started as soon as the luncheon was over, continued until late in the evening. Even if the Emperor¡¯s unilateral will was followed, the settlement of the budget proposal of a large organization like the Imperial Academy could not be completed within a day or two.

    The representatives of the professoriate, who had been embroiled in the Emperor¡¯s tremendous pressure and tempest-like work all day, staggered out of the office with exhausted faces when the first day¡¯s schedule was over. The Emperor had postponed dinner for the settlement of the budget proposal and stood up for the late dinner, and Eug¨¨ne, who had been watching the Emperor¡¯s administrative work under the pretext of observation, was released and stepped away from Emperor¡¯s presence along with other professors.

    Since Eug¨¨ne had no official say in matters, he stood there like a stone statue throughout the work process, unable to intervene. He moved along, rubbing his stiff shoulders. But just then, he heard someone call him carefully from behind.

    Currently, he was in a state of being relieved of his post, so the courtiers usually called him by his nobility title. However, this time, unusually, the familiar title of Vice Admiral Chastan was being used. Eug¨¨ne involuntarily turned his head and looked back. When he did, he saw a young man with an overly thin professor robe that looked a little too baggy on him, trotting after him. HotJ6x

    He was a man with a unique impression, with big and round eyes like that of a startled child, and unruly red hair that seemed impossible to groom from birth. If he was not wearing the robe of a tenured professor, he looked young enough to be mistaken for a university student, so it was difficult to estimate his age just by his appearance.

    ¡°Vice Admiral Chastan. You are His Excellency, The Vice Admiral, yes?¡±

    The man who had called him with his temporarily deprived former position quickly gasped for breath, as if it was difficult to even come across that short distance, and asked. Eug¨¨ne looked down at him, who staggered like a dry branch, with a puzzled expression on his face.

    ¡°Yes. This is Vice Admiral Chastan. But how do you know me?¡± WdZyKG

    ¡°How could I not know you? Our family has been associated with the Trierrehan Shipowners¡¯ Union for generations. My older brother once served as the legal clerk of the Shipowners¡¯ Union, and my father once served as its head.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Then, could your name be-?¡±

    ¡°Oh my, due to my impetuousness, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name is Rufus de Bouthiaux.¡±

    Rufus de Bouthiaux? Eug¨¨ne uttered a low exclamation when he realized that the man in front of him was Professor Rufus, the second brother of Jean Thierry de Bouthiaux, the regional judge in Trierrehan. Jean Thierry, an old friend of his, was also a witness for him in the divorce trial. gjCdUh

    Eug¨¨ne was acquainted with his family and was often invited to their house when he was called upon the Port of Trierre, but even though he had met the other family members, he had not met their second son, Rufus, who had been studying in the capital since a long time ago.

    ¡°I often heard stories about you from your older brother. Nice to meet you, Professor Bouthiaux.¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne greeted him first, Rufus clasped his hands ardently, with his cheeks dyed red like that of a young boy.

    ¡°I have heard a lot about Your Excellency not only from my brother but also through various channels. You are the one who makes an adventure more of a reality than any heroic story one would have ever read as a child! Every time Your Excellency¡¯s achievements were mentioned in the epistle, there has never been a time when praises were not poured out.¡± fct53Y

    Eug¨¨ne was taken aback by the enthusiastic praise he had never expected to hear at the court. While it was true that his popularity on the west coast was tremendous, it was rare for a mature scholar who wasn¡¯t a young boy to react in such a way.

    Eug¨¨ne noticed that passersby were glancing and listening to their conversation, and gently led Rufus by his elbow to move toward the hallway so that he wouldn¡¯t notice.

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    ¡°I am truly flattered, Professor.¡±

    ¡°It is not mere flattery. My father, who seldom praises others, even praised Your Excellency as ¡®the only treasure of the Imperial Navy¡¯.¡± MEmnC

    ¡°Hahaha.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne was at a loss due to the endless procession of compliments from the other person, but he hid his feelings and just laughed. Rufus had no hesitation in throwing blatant praise that could even be called sycophancy, belatedly became conscious of his shameful conduct, and coughed in vain as his cheeks flushed red.

    ¡°Co-Cough. My apologies. I think I have committed a discourtesy to the Vice Admiral.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. But, Professor, do you have any other business with me? I assume you did not follow me simply to say hello.¡± ZdVS3x

    It was clear to Eug¨¨ne that Rufus had other business besides meeting him. It was conceivable from the fact that such a shy person noticed his actual situation and slouched his shoulders in dismay, and simply uttered an apology without leaving the place or promising another time.

    He repeatedly licked his lips and lowered his head, as if he has something to say, and Eug¨¨ne watched his shy child-like behavior with a smile.

    ¡°Ah. Did you notice?¡±

    Rufus looked up at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s question, startled. Though Eug¨¨ne thought it was something that would be noticeable to anyone other than him as well, he nodded gently. wmjcOH

    ¡°If you have a request, please do not hesitate to say it. The family of a friend is like a family to me too.¡±

    As he gently soothed the overly tensed Rufus, light returned to the embarrassed man¡¯s face. Rufus looked up at Eug¨¨ne with a mixture of shyness and hope, and hesitantly spoke of the request he had in mind.

    ¡°Then I shall gather my courage and speak. Though I am aware that it is really shameless of me to request this of Your Excellency as soon as we meet¡­  to be honest, I have always wanted to meet Your Excellency, Vice Admiral Chastan. I wanted to see the hero who deserves the utmost praise in person, and I was also curious about the treasure Your Excellency had. My brother told me that Your Excellency has the Alwitz Chart? It is a rare nautical chart that even the Imperial Academy does not have yet, but I came to know that Your Excellency does.¡±

    Alwitz Chart? Oh. Come to think of it, did this person say that he specializes in astronomy and geometry? Eug¨¨ne nodded as he remembered the fact that the professors at the Imperial Academy were struggling to uncover the secrets of the Confederation of Five Nations¡¯ state-of-the-art altazimuth theodolite technology and triangulation techniques. 0daxNR

    According to the circulating rumors, the professors at the Imperial Academy, which had been dubbed as the continent¡¯s best ivory tower, had received a great blow to their pride due to the fact that they had fallen behind in geometry, one of the four liberal arts of the quadrivium.

    Since Eug¨¨ne knew how prideful the professors at La Royale were, he thought the rumor was made up by busybodies who liked to gossip around even after hearing it but was now left with no choice but to correct his preconception after being confronted with Rufus¡¯s glowing eyes that started to blaze as soon as the word ¡®Alwitz Chart¡¯ came out.

    ¡°If it is such a request, then I am willing to listen to it. Please visit me at any time that is convenient for you. If you contact me in advance, I will be prepared to welcome you with joy.¡±

    There was nothing particularly difficult, so Eug¨¨ne readily accepted Rufus¡¯ request. Rufus, who got his permission, brightened up but then his face suddenly darkened as if he was going out of his mind. BiSE75

    ¡°¡­ Oh no. That might be difficult. I did not even think about it, but I do not have time to visit the court. I would like to visit Your Excellency tomorrow and analyze the precious treasure, but it seems that it will be difficult to leave my seat as I will have to concentrate on lectures for the new semester after the budget proposal is approved. My students are passionate and they love to study. It is unacceptable for a professor¡¯s personal purpose to disrupt the academic performance of such students.¡±

    Not all La Royale students were great scholars, and Eug¨¨ne knew that most university students preferred to play around rather than study. But Rufus looked sullen, as if he genuinely believed that students liked studying, and lowered his head.

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    Eug¨¨ne smiled wryly as he looked down at the crown of his head, completely dejected. As Jean Thierry said, this man¡¯s worldly wisdom was awful compared to his academic intelligence.

    ¡°Then we could do it in this way. I will transcribe the chart for you. It is not difficult to copy the original. When it is completed, I will have it delivered to you through an attendant, so what do you think of comfortably taking it home? If it is difficult for you to go in and out of the court, this method seems possible.¡± 7jLJCU

    ¡°No, such trouble¡­ c-could Your Excellency really do that?¡±

    ¡°It does not matter to me. I shall go along with it however you want me to.¡±

    When Eug¨¨ne answered with a smile, Rufus, thrilled as he was, grabbed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s hands and shook them hard.

    ¡°As expected of the magnanimous hero, the Vice Admiral is a soldier among soldiers and a knight among knights! The Vice Admiral¡¯s name, with this decision, will remain in La Royale¡¯s history, and if possible, I will find a new measurement formula and name it after Your Excellency!¡± rAmx2d

    Rufus could not hide his joy as he openly went about praising the person he just met in a lengthy manner right in his face yet again. He looked at Eug¨¨ne passionately with eyes that looked like he would hug and kiss him if he could but turned around sadly after a while.

    Eug¨¨ne glanced back at Rufus¡¯ as he walked away and wondered inwardly just how was he elected to a tenured professorship when he was only this astute. It was a better attitude than the worn-out professors, but it would be difficult to live in the world if one were to be that naive.

 CH 33

    That night, in order to keep his promise to Rufus, Eug¨¨ne asked a palace attendant to obtain a well-dried sheet of high-quality parchment.

    The only tools Eug¨¨ne had taken out to copy the nautical chart were an old protractor and compass, that had been used for a long time, a quill pen, and parchment. Though he wasn¡¯t a professional scribe, he had the skills to make at least one copy without any problems. Moreover, he knew that it was much better for him to touch the charts himself, who had knowledge of the nautical charts than to entrust it to illiterate scribes.

    The legend of sailors who struggled to the last hour of their life in the wrong place all because of a nautical chart copied by a sloppy scribe was one of the most common rumors among seamen. However, to them, this story was not simply a ghost story, but a real threat. What Professor Bouthiaux wanted was an elaborate nautical chart that fit the scale accurately, not a work of art with beautiful and delicate handwriting.

    He sat upright in front of his desk and began to transcribe delicately from the upper left corner of the chart. With a chart of this scale, even if one line was drawn incorrectly, it could call for a huge error. Acknowledging that fact deep within his bones, he put the focus of his entire mind into the tip of the pen.

    It was already past midnight, and the attendant who had been by his side had also left for the next day¡¯s work. The eerie silence of the dead night made it easier for him to concentrate. Eug¨¨ne was wholly absorbed and continued to move the pen, not knowing how time passed.

    Maybe, that¡¯s why. He simply ignored the first portent he had heard.

    It wasn¡¯t that he heard no sound at all. He was aware that he could hear an unfamiliar noise from a distance but didn¡¯t think that he should pay attention to it. When he heard the sound coming from behind, he was too absorbed in the transcription and didn¡¯t care to respond.

    Then a similar noise was heard once again from the same place. Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. It sounded like someone was knocking on the door from outside. The problem was that the noise was coming from somewhere inside the room, not outside. There was no one else in the room except him.

    Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t think it was that strange for a while and suddenly raised his head after realizing the freakishness of the situation. He stood up from his seat and looked around the empty room with a stiff expression. In the dark room with only one candle lit, it was so quiet as if something had just happened.

    Was it an auditory hallucination?

    Eug¨¨ne looked around the source of the sound with a hawk¡¯s eye. But again, there was no sign of anything else.

    ¡­ What was that?

    He looked around and furrowed his brows seriously. But just then, a decorative panel by the fireplace suddenly turned sideways, utterly terrifying the tensed man.

    Rattle.

    As the panel turned, making an unpleasant noise like a hinge that lacked proper maintenance, a dark space that he didn¡¯t even know existed revealed itself. As soon as the panel was opened, the first thing he noticed was the smell of musty air and old dust unique to closed spaces.

    A silhouette of a man stood in that dark and secret space. The man held a hand lantern, made for easy carrying, in one hand, a cage-like thing in the other, and casually walked into the room and faced Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°¡­ Your Majesty?¡±

    When he first saw the stranger, he instinctively reached out to the empty waistline of his pants. However, when the stranger stepped under the light, he no longer felt the need to find a weapon. The true identity of the suspicious visitor was Ebroin V himself. Eug¨¨ne looked at the Emperor¡¯s face without hiding his confused expression, but belatedly came to his senses and fell to his knees in a hurry.

    ¡°I see Your Majesty the Emperor, Lord of Ardi, Kleman, and Nervoge-.¡±

    ¡°Skip the cumbersome steps and take this first. Our hands are tired.¡±

    The Emperor, annoyed, interrupted his greeting and held out the cage in one hand. As soon as he came out of the secret hallway, he put the hand lantern down on the nearest table, and now it seemed as if he was trying to hand over even the thing he was holding in his other hand.

    Eug¨¨ne, in a moment of bewilderment, took the cage that had been held out in front of his face. The Emperor, having never carried anything except when he used the object himself, seemed to feel relaxed only after handing it over, rubbed his wrists, and then stepped back comfortably.

    ¡°Lbk vlv Tbeg Zjpfras jii bo j revvfc¡­ Qtja lr atlr?¡±

    Vlcmf tf mbeivc¡¯a mjgfifrris qlmx eq atf lafw atf Swqfgbg tjcvfv bnfg, Seu¨¨cf kjr teuulcu atf mjuf klat tlr ybvs yfca jkxkjgvis jcv klvfcfv tlr fsfr lc regqglrf ja atf gfogfrtlcu rmfca atja abemtfv atf alq bo tlr cbrf. Cc lggfrlralyis mjqalnjalcu jcv lcvfrmglyjyif rmfca fwjcjafv ogbw klatlc atf mjuf. Pa rwfiifv ilxf atf wbra ibnfis rmfcar lc atf kbgiv kfgf alfv eq lc atf jlg jcv ibmxfv lc j mjuf.

    ¡°It is what the courtiers call Schibur¡¯s Little Bird. It helps clear the mind.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne heard the Emperor¡¯s answer and looked into the cage. As explained by the Emperor, a model of a sulphur-crested cockatoo with fancy feathers was contained in a delicate cage with gold bars. It looked so sophisticated that he thought it was a real bird at first, but when he looked closely, it was a beautiful wooden figure, of which even the feathers were made in detail.

    Neither the cage nor the figure was that large, but he could tell at a glance that it was an exceedingly expensive item. Although the craftsmanship was neat, the pair of eyes were made of sapphires, and the beak, which looked exactly like the real deal, was carved from the finest ivory.

    This cage was simply a rare luxury that could only be used in the court. But this extravagant plaything had nothing to do with such an unsophisticated soldier. Eug¨¨ne, still unable to understand what was going on, looked at the Emperor with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Then why would Your Majesty hand over such an item¡­ Could it be that Your Majesty is bestowing this on me?¡±

    ¡°Heavens, you are unbelievable. It is not that We wanted a boisterous form of appreciation, but this is still too much. Why do you have that attitude even after receiving the Emperor¡¯s imperial gift?¡±

    The Emperor was openly dissatisfied with the fact that he was not pleased with the gift, as his attitude was as if he was being given a burdensome nuisance rather than a glorious imperial gift.

    Is this really a gift for me? If so, then why on earth should one accept such a pretty plaything? Maybe His Majesty is trying to convey something metaphorically, but I am the only one who cannot comprehend it?

    Eug¨¨ne¡¯s mind was only getting more and more perplexed because he could not figure out the exact situation and lowered his head in embarrassment only after being pointed out by the Emperor.

    ¡°No, Your Majesty. Of course, I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty¡¯s grace. But I am not sure if I can accept this imperial gift¡­ ?¡±

    The Emperor moved and headed for the desk, pretending not to understand what Eug¨¨ne had just said, who had hesitatingly poured out his words and was still puzzled.

    In fact, even the Emperor himself did not know why he had given it to Eug¨¨ne. Eug¨¨ne was an unfathomable vassal, whose talent he desired, but since he didn¡¯t long for anything, it was difficult to allure him. However, he was still somewhat aware of his tastes, and as far as he knew, Eug¨¨ne was not the kind of person who would be delighted with such a plaything.

    Nevertheless, as soon as the Emperor saw this item, he immediately thought of Eug¨¨ne. Even what he gave was not a gift that had been passed down from Marquise Lamott. It was hard to put his finger on it, but somehow he felt uneasy to bring the item to Eug¨¨ne as it was, so he even called in a workshop engineer to build a new cage for him, even though he was busy.

    ¡°This is an item given to you because it seems that your feet have not yet settled on the ground. Baron Amieux, you seem to be unaware that you are now a courtier. Since you are essentially a sailor, it must be ingrained within you to behave like a person who would leave after a while, but it would be difficult to seize power while adopting such an attitude. Every time you look at this cage, make yourself aware of where you are. If you do it over and over again, you will get used to the courtly life sooner.¡±

    However, the Emperor had a unique talent for making others understand even the things he did not know himself. It was not that difficult for him to find a reason to persuade others, having lived his entire life as a seasoned politician.

    The Emperor deceived Eug¨¨ne with quite plausible words, and Eug¨¨ne, having no particular reason to doubt the Emperor, was easily convinced by his words. He smiled wryly and expressed his gratitude once again, having understood the situation by himself.

    Why is it so hard to give you a present you like? Then, as he felt Eug¨¨ne¡¯s suspicious gaze disappear, the Emperor grumbled inwardly. Though he, too, was quite befuddled, what made him even more upset was Eug¨¨ne¡¯s reaction, as he was hesitant to accept it even though he only handed him an item.

    He knew that they were not close enough to form a trusting relationship with each other yet, but there was a significant difference between knowing that fact in your mind and seeing it with your own eyes. The fact that Eug¨¨ne, who was already ¡®mine¡¯ in the Emperor¡¯s mind, was still wary of him, was undesirable for the Emperor, as he had decided to attract him slowly over time.

    ¡°Is this what that is? The greatest treasure of the Confederation of Five Nations? We heard that Rodom¡¯s Feldiner was pinched on the side when he said he would not trade it over even for the Queen.¡±

    The Emperor bent over the desk, and changed the topic, not wanting to continue it any further. Since he had already sneaked out of bed after the bedtime ceremony, his outfit was really simple. Just like during practice, he was wearing a light shirt and pants, and his chest was completely exposed as he was not wearing a cravat and the placket was not buttoned properly.

    ¡°I assume Your Majesty has already heard what happened this evening.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne was not surprised and calmly answered the Emperor, as he recognized it immediately without any prior explanation. It was now a well-known fact to Eug¨¨ne that the Emperor had planted spies throughout the court.

    ¡°Since it happened right next to Our office.¡±

    The Emperor replied in a way that he should naturally know everything that takes place near his office. He swept his flowing hair over his shoulder and alternately examined the parchment that Eug¨¨ne was transcribing and the original nautical chart behind it. The Emperor¡¯s golden eyes shone with curiosity, as it was not mere empty words to say that he was interested in the Alwitz Chart.

    ¡°Are you doing the transcription yourself?¡±

    The Emperor asked as he looked down at the portion of the chart Eug¨¨ne had worked on. Eug¨¨ne was secretly bothered by the Emperor¡¯s exposed chest that displayed itself whenever he moved, so he deliberately fixed his gaze on the chart and answered calmly.

    ¡°I learned how to draw when I was a trainee officer. It is a necessary skill one must learn to become a high-ranking sailor.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean to say that the transcription of the Alwitz Chart can be done simply by knowing how to draw? We know that it is difficult without accurate knowledge of longitudinal studies?¡±

    The Emperor, having a great deal of attention on the Confederation of Five Nations, also knew about the Alwitz Chart in detail. Longitudinal studies were recently established by the Confederation of Five Nations and were a new culture that has not yet been introduced in the Estina Empire. It is said that altazimuth theodolite, one of the leading new technologies, was based on longitudinal studies.

    Perhaps because it was grafted with the latest military technology, the Confederation of Five Nations considered longitudinal studies to be extremely important. Not only did they strictly control the entry and exit of scholars who studied longitudes, but they also completely prohibited the leakage of related books out of the country.

    ¡°I, too, do not have much knowledge of longitudinal studies. But there are a few things that I discovered while analyzing the Alwitz Chart.¡±

    ¡°Is that so? Glad to hear that. What did you discover?¡±

    ¡°There are notes arranged by me, but¡­ Would Your Majesty like to take a look?¡±

    The Emperor was so pleased by the words he had unintentionally brought out, that Eug¨¨ne felt a bit burdened. However, since it was impossible to take back his words, he reluctantly took out a notebook from the desk drawer and held it out to the Emperor.

    Since Eug¨¨ne had a habit of keeping a voyage log, he also had the habit of recording whatever he liked. The thin and small notebook, which was leather-bound for easy portability, was a kind of short-term record book where people often jot down brief notes before writing in their journals. The Emperor took the notebook from him and began to read from the part Eug¨¨ne had shown him.

    ¡°You think the basics of longitudinal studies are related to planetary motion?¡±

    The Emperor, hurriedly reading the first few paragraphs, asked questions about the parts he did not understand. Eug¨¨ne nodded and meekly answered his question.

    ¡°Yes. I do.¡±

    ¡°How exactly?¡±

    ¡°Though I do not know the details, my deduction is that planetary motion was used as a way to determine the exact time when the prime meridian falls at noon. See these numbers under the map? At first, I did not understand the meaning of these numbers, but as time passed, I came to understand what they mean. In astronomy, these numbers are¡­¡±

    ¡°-The time difference between the satellites of Altamia from the ground. We understand now. What you meant, that is.¡±

    The Emperor, as knowledgeable in astronomy as Eug¨¨ne, understood at once what he was referring to. He immersed himself in the notebook as if he were sucked into it, having learned the basic concept of longitudinal studies, and Eug¨¨ne simply watched the Emperor, in a thin shirt, sitting on his desk and losing his soul to a book.

    The light on the desk made the Emperor¡¯s skin look rosy. The smooth body, as if cut from ivory, was reflected through the translucent collar that covered his body. The Emperor, full of the ideal virtues of the human body that the ancients admired, was young, gorgeous, and even charming.

    The light that fell over the beautiful nose bridge, which was as beautiful as a sculpture, glided down the contour. If you observe its trajectory quietly, the light passed through the nose bridge, which was as sharp as a blade, and fell onto perfectly shaped peach-colored lips. The lips were so captivating, that they belonged to a woman, they would possibly be praised by prospective suitors for their shape alone.

    Anyhow, the Emperor did not seem to know how beautiful he was. Eug¨¨ne sighed inwardly as she looked at the Emperor who came to the man¡¯s room in the middle of the night in a sloppy outfit that was perfect for being suspected for the wrong reasons if caught by others.

    He knew that it was an ill-sorted feeling, but he felt like the father of an imprudent daughter. It was precarious to show such a beautiful body without any awareness.

    Of course, there was no lunatic in the court who would dare to commit unacceptable acts against the Emperor but¡­ if Ebroin V had not been the Emperor, he wouldn¡¯t have lived safely until now with that attitude.

    ¡°¡­ Marvelous, Baron Amieux. These are not just a ¡®few things¡¯, are they? Why did you not show this notebook to Us this morning? If you had done so, We could have flattened the noses of the needlessly proud professors of the Imperial Academy.¡±

    The Emperor had no idea what Eug¨¨ne was thinking as he let out a deep exclamation after reading his notebook at once. The smart Emperor¡¯s eyes were shining with transparent joy. Eug¨¨ne was burdened by his overly excited eyes, so he quietly lowered his eyes and quickly erased the inappropriate thoughts that had been cluttering his head.

    ¡°There are still many shortcomings. I have only figured out a few basic concepts.¡±

    ¡°You are being overly humble. What could be more important than discovering the concepts that form the foundations of the study? The professors at the Imperial Academy have not the slightest clue for years, let alone be able to figure out the basic concepts.¡±

    The Emperor repeatedly praised Eug¨¨ne in contentment and then stared at him with a perfectly tender gaze. The gaze, which combined the brilliance that was rarely seen with the gentleness of a spring day, was as full of affection as when he looked at his favorite concubine.

    ¡°Baron Amieux.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡±

    ¡°King Feldiner said that the Alwitz chart was an irreplaceable treasure, even with Queen Gwyneth. But to Us, you are such a treasure.¡±

    The Emperor, who rarely praised others, made Eug¨¨ne uncomfortable with such praise he believed he was not fit for. Eug¨¨ne carefully avoided his gaze, as he felt burdened by the tone of the ardent Emperor as if it were a confession of love.

    ¡°How unfortunate. If you were a woman, We would have proposed to you right now and made you the Empress.¡±

    Interestingly, when the Emperor spoke those words, he was as serious as if he was speaking the truth from the depths of his heart. Since Eug¨¨ne had no idea what standards the Emperor had for choosing the Empress, he laughed quietly, thinking that the Emperor¡¯s words were too exaggerated.

    ¡°Then it is quite fortunate that I am a man. Your Majesty almost gained the most unsightly Empress in the world.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne thought the Emperor¡¯s words were a joke, so he, too, responded with a joke. However, the Emperor did not smile at his answer. Far from being funny, he carefully looked at Eug¨¨ne, still maintaining a serious attitude.

    ¡°¡­ Truly disappointing.¡±

    The Emperor quietly spoke to himself and smacked his lips as if he were displeased. Eug¨¨ne somehow felt a chill go down his spine, but he did not dare to raise his head to look at the Emperor, and so, stared at the floor instead.

    Though Eug¨¨ne knew why he said such meaningless words, he didn¡¯t know why his earlobes were turning red. Even if the Emperor was sincere, as long as he was a man, there was absolutely no possibility that such a mishap would happen.

 CH 34

    A woman¡¯s laughter, scattered like beads, was heard from somewhere

    Geometric shadows hung like stairs over their heads. Trees of all kinds, trimmed in ways that would never exist in nature, casted shadows as bizarre as they appeared over the visitors¡¯ heads.

    The flower beds, which bloomed with different flowers from season to season, were covered with honeysuckle and roses, and colorful bees and butterflies took delight in the splendid meal offered by the beautiful spring. The dazzling light that shone upon them was the late afternoon sun scattered over the glass garden.

    Eug¨¨ne slowly moved through the groups of people walking. He welcomed the serene afternoon after a long time. A languid breeze gently caressed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s cheek as if the thought had suddenly come to mind as he walked through the garden.

    ¡°The climate of the Estina Empire is blessed. That is undoubtedly a fact.¡±

    Prince Cyrill, walking by Eug¨¨ne¡¯s side, opened his hand and spoke in a sincere voice. The transparent sunlight embraced the pale skin that had not been exposed to light for a long time. The Prince opened and closed his hand several times as if he would grab and keep the sunlight if he could.

    Eug¨¨ne looked back at Prince Cyrill with a smile. He was now strolling through the imperial family¡¯s garden with Prince Cyrill. The beautiful spring scenery of the Saint Tefylae Garden was one of the many points of pride of the Imbert Palace.

    The beauty of this place was so well-known that the Prince exclaimed, ¡®What a shame!¡¯, in response to Eug¨¨ne¡¯s confession that he hadn¡¯t enjoyed taking walks for a while now.

    ¡°If I could, I would like to take some of this garden¡¯s spring. Roll it up in something like a piece of cloth and move it, lay it out like a tapestry whenever you need it, and simply walk into it. Would that not be so great if possible? If I could do that, this ghastly wanderlust of mine might also disappear.¡±

    The Prince unusually said that his wanderlust was not because he wants to see the scenery of other countries, but because ¡®he hated the cold¡¯, grumbled as if he was really disappointed and looked up at the sunny sky.

    The skin of the Prince up close was really white. Though the pigment of his skin was already light, it would become transparent enough to reflect the blue veins under his skin since he rarely came under the sunlight during winter. Eug¨¨ne noticed that his sharp jawline had become thinner, and looked at Prince Cyrill¡¯s side profile with a worried look.

    ¡°¡­ Prince, do you have any concerns of late? You seem to have become even thinner.¡±

    Cyrill had a sensitive physical constitution in which his stomach would not digest food properly if there was something bothering him. To begin with, he didn¡¯t like to eat, so he was on the thinner side for a Kayedivian, but he also fasted whenever one thing or another bothered him, so in the end, he wouldn¡¯t gain weight at all.

    ¡°Either way, my head is in a muddle because of the official duties, so where would I have the mind to have any other concerns? As always, it is because of the same thing. You do not have to worry about it.¡±

    Prince Cyrill said nonchalantly and waved his hand. Those who didn¡¯t know anything would have easily believed those words, but it was just upsetting to Eug¨¨ne as he knew the inside story. He had an idea of what the Prince was worried about. However, he was in a position where he was unable to give any advice in regard to Cyrill¡¯s troubles, despite being clearly aware of them.

    The day before yesterday, the Prince was offered a final negotiation proposal by the Emperor. It was the best from the empire¡¯s point of view, but from Kayediv¡¯s point of view, it was the worst proposal that could only be considered conditional surrender.

    The problem was that no matter what choice he would make, there were still challenges that could not be solved. If the negotiation proposal is not accepted, the urgent fire cannot be extinguished immediately, and if it is accepted, he must carry out a task that carried significant risks in the long run. If one had the wits, one couldn¡¯t help but realize what the secret warships were going to be used for in a foreign country. So it would be even more difficult to make a decision.

    I can see why His Majesty warned me in advance. It is truly hard to bear it even though I only have to keep my mouth shut.

    Even though he knew the inside facts, he pretended not to, so the position of the person watching from the sidelines was not so comfortable. Though he had considered himself to be fairly impartial thus far, now that he looked at it, it didn¡¯t seem to be quite like that.

    As was always the case with the scale of compassion, he kept trying to incline his emotions in the direction of his heart. After enduring such complicated feelings due to the current situation, he felt as if he understood why the Emperor specifically ordered him to show ¡®more loyalty than he did to his past lover.¡¯

    ¡°Does the Emperor treasure you?¡±

    Prince Cyrill, as if lost in thought while walking for a while with a confused expression on his face, suddenly asked a question out of context. Eug¨¨ne was struggling to contain his feelings in his own way, so when he was asked a question by Prince Cyrill, he looked back at him with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Qts kbeiv sbe jrx remt j atlcu jii bo j revvfc?¡±

    ¡°P tjnf yffc kbcvfglcu jii atlr alwf, cba jii bo j revvfc, yea P vlv cba tjnf atf alwf ab jrx. Cgf sbe gfjiis Sygblc N¡¯r wbra ojnbglaf reypfma, jr atf mbega rjsr? P ralii mjccba wjxf tfjvr bg ajlir bo atja ojma. Ktf rabgs P tfjg jcv atf ageat P rff klat ws bkc fsfr rffw ab yf mbwqifafis vloofgfca.¡±

    After hearing that, he was curious about Eug¨¨ne now. What in the world was he doing here that rumors about him were circulating on the West Coast all the time?

    ¡°I do not know what you have heard, but it is true that His Majesty treats me well.¡±

    The stories between him and the Emperor were intertwined with numerous secrets and state secrets, so they could never be passed on to anyone else. Eug¨¨ne had no choice but to respond in a plausible way by only wrapping the exterior properly. Prince Cyrill frowned at his vague answer. He asked again, looking at Eug¨¨ne, who seldom approached the point.

    ¡°Do you think the treatment is sincere? Does it not seem like there is something else happening on the inside?¡±

    ¡°I am well aware that His Majesty¡¯s favor does not come from wholly pure intentions. There is no such thing as kindness without a price.¡±

    ¡°Is it not too favorable to interpret the other person¡¯s intentions in that way? I do not know why the Emperor is so ostentatiously showcasing your existence. A sudden rise in fame and success will only antagonize the public. If he truly wanted to use you with care, would he not have chosen a more sequential procedure and method rather than going along with such a boisterous revelation?¡±

    Prince Cyrill¡¯s question was rather sharp, displaying that he had not been sloppily educated as a successor to the duchy. Eug¨¨ne, too, once had a problem for the same reason the Prince asked. After much consideration, it was initially concluded that the Emperor¡¯s sudden selection was due to a lack of time.

    The situation within the Confederation of Five Nations was suddenly changing, so he hastily summoned Eug¨¨ne to keep up with him.

    However, as time passed and knowledge about the Emperor increased, he had to admit that his original view was too mediocre and fragmentary. While the reason for his sudden selection was because of the tight time, the more fundamental reason was something else.

    According to the conclusions drawn by the Emperor carefully observing the process of testing him¡­ It was just the Emperor¡¯s style. It was one of the ways he could test people in his own way.

    ¡°I do not know. Since each person has a different method of selecting talent. Our Majesty attaches great importance to seeing how his vassals deal with unexpected situations.¡±

    It was not intended to be advocacy. However, Eug¨¨ne had a firm belief in the Emperor¡¯s intention to select him, if not anything else. Prince Cyrill was astonished and looked at Eug¨¨ne as he spoke irrefutably with conviction. He was well aware of how cautious Eug¨¨ne was under normal conditions.

    ¡°I have never seen you speak like this before. Have you decided to swear allegiance to him?¡±

    ¡°That is right.¡±

    ¡°What a surprise. I did not expect you to choose such a person. Since, in all sincerity, Ebroin V is not a good person.¡±

    Prince Cyrill spoke his true feelings about Ebroin V. He frankly criticized him, and blatantly revealed that he didn¡¯t like him. Eug¨¨ne involuntarily burst into laughter at the reaction of the Prince who acted like an enraged child.

    ¡°As you said, he is not an honorable man of noble character. But following him gives me the belief that someday I will be able to achieve even greater things.¡±

    Prince Cyrill had known Eug¨¨ne for a long time, and could easily see that he was being sincere. Eug¨¨ne did not make promises to others easily, but once he does, he keeps them no matter what. If he stepped in with such confidence in the Emperor¡¯s character, he would follow him to the end, no matter what happens in the middle.

    ¡°¡­ I envy His Majesty the Emperor. It is not easy to gain the trust of a subject like you.¡±

    The Prince of Cyrill said bitterly as he personally liked the character of Eug¨¨ne de Chastan, but also highly valued his abilities. Eug¨¨ne had always considered it a joke, but Prince Cyrill¡¯s invitation to defect to Livonia was, in fact, not entirely a joke.

    He didn¡¯t actively suggest it because he knew that he, by no means, was qualified to have him, but still, there was always such a wish in his heart.

    ¡°I apologize, Prince.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne knew how Prince Cyrill felt to some extent, so he quietly smiled and apologized.

    ¡°Do not apologize. It makes me feel pointlessly pathetic!¡±

    Prince Cyrill somehow felt intensely emotional, but only grumbled since he thought he would feel more pathetic if he got angry in this situation.

    ¡°Oh, ladies. Good afternoon.¡±

    Prince Cyrill and Eug¨¨ne had not seen the people approaching from across them as they were talking to each other and noticed their presence only after the other party got quite close and turned their eyes away. The group they faced on the same path as them were three ladies who are out on a walk with their parasols.

    Eug¨¨ne tried to greet them with his hand on his hat as per court custom and hesitated the moment he recognized the other person, but soon greeted her again as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°Good afternoon.¡±

    The woman who seemed the oldest among the three women answered calmly. She was Viscountess Wemmel, Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s older sister, and had the same eyes as the Countess. Beside her were the esteemed daughters of Count Freyr and Baron Dumont, who were also companions of Countess Patr¨ª.

    The young daughter of Count Freyr, who Eug¨¨ne remembered as the ¡®lady with a puppy-like impression¡¯, stared at Eug¨¨ne with her big brown eyes wide open. Even today, the young daughter of Baron Dumont didn¡¯t look very good and couldn¡¯t return back the greeting, and quietly avoided his gaze with an expression imbued with melancholy.

    There is no need to be cautious to that extent.

    Eug¨¨ne thought bitterly as he looked at his former wife, as she still seemed guilty of their divorce. He didn¡¯t know what was going on in her mind, but he really didn¡¯t have any particular grudge against her.

    It was he who had left the young lady lonely for a long time, and even though he knew she had fallen into a trap, he could not save her. They were a couple who failed to fulfill their obligations to each other, and neither had done anything wrong to blame the other.

    However, to act like he was still acquainted with her in a place like this would only put her in a more difficult situation. After finishing off his usual nod, Eug¨¨ne stepped back and resumed his walk.

    Prince Cyrill didn¡¯t exactly seem to remember Louise, but just sensed that something strange had happened, and followed Eug¨¨ne with a brisk pace. The Prince was quite curious about what was going on but did not open his mouth thoughtlessly, perhaps because they were not so far away from the ladies.

    How many more steps do we have to take?

    ¡°¡­ Um- Baron Amieux.¡±

    Someone suddenly called his name from behind.

    Pause. Eug¨¨ne¡¯s feet stopped on the spot. He quickly recognized the identity of the thin voice calling him. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he politely turned back to show decorum.

    Louise approached him cautiously, leaving Viscountess Wemmel in her place, who turned around in bewilderment at her sudden action. The young daughter of Count Freyr, who seemed to be a little slow-witted, was at a loss halfway between, but when Viscountess Wemmel took hold of her elbow, she was relieved and remained with the Viscountess.

    ¡°Did you call, Hon Louise Dumont?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne responded to her call with a calm and gentle demeanor. Louise tilted the large parasol over her shoulder and looked at Eug¨¨ne. The small face was a perfect heart shape, but somehow it felt like only her eyes were sunken in. Was she this skinny the last time he saw her?

    Eug¨¨ne sensed something odd after seeing her under natural light after a long time. If she was pregnant, it wouldn¡¯t be inadmissible if she gained weight, but she seemed thinner than before. Besides, her thin stature wasn¡¯t on the healthy side either, rather she was brutally skinny to the point she looked sickly.

    Eug¨¨ne carefully concealed his surprise and thoroughly scrutinized her appearance. The skin of the young woman, which had always been lovely, had lost its vitality and had become dull. Not only was her skin rough and dry, but there were also dead skin cells that could not be easily hidden even when powdered.

    Are you that emotionally distressed?

    Eug¨¨ne felt sorry for her after seeing her visibly emaciated.

    After all, she had not been able to get married even though it had been months since the Duke of Fernand was busy preparing for a formal engagement. She probably could not sleep at night as she would always be terrified of being caught that she was pregnant, but she must also feel completely surrounded since she was in a situation where she had to live in the court where there was no place without people¡¯s eyes. Eug¨¨ne could only imagine how troubled she was inside.

    ¡°It has been a while, Baron Amieux. Have you been well?¡±

    She barely greeted me in a small voice as if muttering. Eug¨¨ne calmly nodded and greeted her back.

    ¡°I am doing well. Have you been well, Hon Louise Dumont?¡±

    ¡°I am always safe and sound since the adults around me take good care of me. Thank you for your concern.¡±

    Louise whispered in a thin, trembling voice, as if frightened, even though she had spoken to him first. Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t know how she gathered the courage to speak to him, but as he saw the eyes around them gathering one by one, this meeting was not of the nature to be dragged on for a long time.

    ¡°I-I heard the Baron helped the last time I fainted at the party.¡±

    She brought up the matter with difficulty. Eug¨¨ne accepted the conversation naturally so that it was easy for her to continue.

    ¡°I remember. Come to think of it, I was unable to check up with you after moving you to the long chair. Were you okay?¡±

    ¡°Yes. It was mild anemia. I am not feeling well these days, so I often collapse like that. It bothered me the whole time that I could not even pay my gratitude for your help in such a difficult time. Thank you so much for always being kind to me even though there are far too many things I have done wrong.¡±

    ¡°Please do not mention it. I simply did what I was supposed to do as a gentleman.¡±

    ¡°No, it is not. I am¡­ I apologize. I only wanted to say that I will always be grateful.¡±

    No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like Louise had more to say. Nevertheless, she couldn¡¯t speak till the end and shut her mouth in the middle of it. She hesitated for a moment and took off the long glove that reached her wrist for protection against the sun and placed her hand on Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Thank you, Baron.¡±

 CH 35

    It must have been a very difficult decision to approach first in this way as a woman who was afraid of the gaze of others. Eug¨¨ne felt sad when he noticed that her hand on his arm was trembling lightly. He tried to comfort her on the back of her hand, but when he found traces of something on the back of her bare hand, he stopped moving.

    She looked at Eug¨¨ne with trembling eyes. When he looked straight into her eyes, just in case, tears welled up in her big eyes like that of a young child. Eug¨¨ne looked into those eyes and realized that she knew the truth.

    She was utterly terrified now.

    It was so unexpected that he was befuddled. What in the world is going on here? He thought about it for a while, but there was no answer on the spot. First of all, there were too few clues. He didn¡¯t know any details about her current situation, so how could he deduce the whole case from a single spot on the back of her hand?

    However, when he saw the woman in front of him trembling with fear, he couldn¡¯t act like he didn¡¯t know. It was partly because of sentimental reasons, as he had once lived with her, and also because of the pity that she had no one else to turn to since she asked him to help of all people.

    Eug¨¨ne placed his hand on the back of her hand and gently patted it a couple of times. Louise¡¯s eyes widened a little, perhaps because she had properly understood the signal he was sending.

    It was then. Suddenly, aggressive footsteps were heard behind his back, and someone ran after him and pushed him violently. However, there was no way Eug¨¨ne would be affected by the attack of someone who did not even know how to hide their presence.

    He hid Louise behind his back and grabbed his opponent¡¯s wrist. The man, whose wrist was caught in the instant he was trying to hit him, tried to shake off his hand in anger, but Eug¨¨ne¡¯s strong grip did not let go and held it as tightly as if it were handcuffed.

    ¡°What do you think you are doing right now?!¡±

    The man who came up with a bright red face that didn¡¯t suit him was none other than the Duke of Fernand. The Duke repeatedly tried to shake off Eugen¡¯s hand, but when he failed, he shouted as if he had blundered.

    A look of frustration crossed Eug¨¨ne¡¯s face when he realized who his opponent was. Louise, hiding behind his back, was frightened out of her wits and shrank away in shock.

    ¡°Calm down, Your Highness, Duke of Fernand. I will let go.¡±

    It was quite difficult to calm down a young man who was agitated about his lover. Eug¨¨ne pacified the other person in a poised persuasive manner and slowly released his wrist. The Duke of Fernand¡¯s face flushed red and he pulled away his hand as soon as he felt the fingers relax. Eug¨¨ne¡¯s grip was not so strong, but the Duke¡¯s wrist was already swollen.

    ¡°You dare to sexually harass a lady despite knowing where you are right now? Who do you think you are to dare show your filthy habits here? Does this garden look like the tavern you used to frequent to kill time?!¡±

    He wondered under what illusion he came dashing here, and how the words the Duke was throwing out were of an abusive language in every case as he continued to pick a fight. But Eug¨¨ne had no intention of foolishly quarreling with the young fledgling who was heated to the top of his head. He did not disturb his composure and calmly responded to the man who was going at him without understanding the prior situation.

    ¡°Since you saw it from afar, you must have misunderstood the situation. However, fortunately, nothing as disgraceful as Your Highness had suspected happened. In broad daylight, with each other¡¯s companions nearby, how could I be so discourteous to Baron Dumont¡¯s esteemed daughter? I hope to clear up any misunderstandings as we only happened to meet by chance and exchanged greetings for a while.¡±

    ¡°Hmph. Misunderstanding? Did you just call it a misunderstanding? If it is not sexual harassment to force a lady to take off the gloves she is wearing and caress her hands, then what else could be considered sexual harassment?¡±

    He looked up at Eug¨¨ne, who had a higher view than himself but refused to back down till the end. Eug¨¨ne was dumbstruck. No matter what distance he looked from, he couldn¡¯t be unaware that Louise has taken off her gloves on her own, but seeing the way he was quarreling, it was clear that he had decided to pick a fight from the beginning.

    ¡°Pa-Pa lr cba ilxf atja.¡±

    Ufgtjqr yfmjerf rtf atbeuta atf wjaafg kjr ajxlcu j aegc obg atf kbgrf yfmjerf bo tfg, Obelrf, fwyjggjrrfv, mjwf bea ogbw yftlcv Seu¨¨cf klat j oglutafcfv ojmf. Ktf cbyifr, ktb tjv bcis yffc uijcmlcu ja atfw ecali j ktlif jub, rajgafv ab yijajcais ubrrlq ktfc atf Gexf bo Mfgcjcv¡¯r lcagerlbc mjerfv j ugfja mbwwbalbc. Qtfatfg la kjr atf wjgxfaqijmf bg atf mbega ujgvfc, la rffwfv ab yf tewjc qrsmtbibus kjamt, olgra jcv obgfwbra, ktfc atfgf kjr j oluta.

    ¡°The Duke is mistaken. That is not what happened.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean, Louise? I surely saw you get harassed!!¡±

    ¡°I said that is not what happened. It truly was not. Baron Amieux did not do anything to me. For the help I received at the last party, I caught hold of him first to pay my gratitude. The Baron only stopped because of me.¡±

    The Duke of Fernand¡¯s eyes became fierce after she defend Eug¨¨ne twice in a row. There were people all around watching the scene, and even Baron Amieux was watching them next to her.

    What the hell was this situation where a woman who was his fianc¨¦e was not on his side, but on the other person¡¯s side? He couldn¡¯t accept Louise¡¯s misbehavior at all, so he turned to look at her with a bewildered expression.

    ¡°¡­ What are you doing right now? Are you siding with him, instead of me?¡±

    ¡°I am not taking sides, I am simply stating the truth. Baron Amieux was truly kind to me.¡±

    Louise said earnestly and grabbed the Duke of Fernand¡¯s arm. She intended to calm the overly worked-up man, but the Duke of Fernand¡¯s anger exploded decisively at the gesture that looked as if she were soothing a child. The Duke momentarily shook off the hand and stepped back. It was as aggressive as when he was trying to shake off Eug¨¨ne, but unfortunately, Louise was not Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Aah!!¡±

    No matter how agitated one may be, it was outrageously impertinent to shake off a lady¡¯s arm. The higher the status, the greater the restrictions on etiquette. Even so, Louise, who was not in a good condition, was pushed by the Duke of Fernand and almost fell backward.

    It was none other than Eug¨¨ne who managed to support Louise. He was stunned, not knowing why he had to go through such a fuss but said nothing because of Louise¡¯s pale, tired complexion.

    The Duke of Fernand shook off Louise¡¯s hand because of a momentary divergence, but the moment he shook it off, he regretted it. While it was true that he was currently all over the place, he had been living as an educated aristocrat his entire life.

    Startled, he hurriedly looked back. But by that time, Eug¨¨ne had already caught hold of Louise, who almost fell down. The fragile lady seemed as if she would be blown away any moment, and was hanging from Eug¨¨ne¡¯s arm with a deathly pale face. Eug¨¨ne, having a manly and reliable physique, held her lightly in one arm, and looked at the Duke of Fernand with furrowed eyebrows as if he were rebuking him.

    As soon as he saw the scene, the Duke of Fernand¡¯s face turned red as if he were doused in charcoal fire. He was mortified. He was insanely embarrassed and so unbearably mad. When had he ever gone through such a humiliating experience ever since he was born as a precious member of the imperial family and had always been held in high esteem?

    He was not unaware that he himself had done something wrong, but that made him feel even more ashamed. The Duke, whose anger was flaring up despite being the guilty one, raised his head stiffly. As he had no immunity to this situation, he could not stand the rising heat and opened his mouth, eventually uttering profane words that should not have been blurted out without hesitation.

    ¡°Huh, is that so? Preposterous. If you were dallying around with each other with mutual consent, it certainly was not your fault. Sorry, Baron Amieux. I was wrong. I must have expected too much regarding my fianc¨¦e¡¯s virtuousness. I have caused you an outrageous amount of trouble.¡±

    When he spat out the ridiculous vituperation in the presence of the lady, the surroundings instantly turned cold.

    Eug¨¨ne was truly dumbfounded. Generally speaking, as a member of the imperial family, his words and deeds required dignity and character commensurate with his position. However, looking at what the Duke of Fernand was doing right now, he was not even as good as a wastrel. Nowhere else, but in the imperial family¡¯s garden, furthermore, no one else but the Duke of Fernand had insulted a noblewoman who was even his fianc¨¦e to such an extent.

    Eug¨¨ne briefly looked down at Louise, who was so startled and horrified that she was gasping for breath, and then looked back at the Duke of Fernand. The Duke of Fernand was still angry and obstinately kept his chin up with a flushed face.

    Apparently, even though he realized he had done something wrong, he seemed unable to apologize because of his pride.

    Bloody aristocratic scums.

    Eug¨¨ne spat out profanity that would have been uttered by his work peers in his mind and gritted his teeth. In any case, these ill-mannered people did not know how to take accountability and apologize on their own, even if they were in the wrong.

    ¡°Apologize.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne demanded it in a strict tone as if he were rebuking a subordinate for making a serious mistake. He had a good physique from the beginning, but when he was enraged, standing with his back straight, chest out, and shoulders back, he looked even more daunting.

    ¡°Your Highness does not have to say anything to me. I could not care enough. But apologize to your fianc¨¦e, the esteemed daughter of Baron Dumont.¡±

    He said in a cold tone that had absolutely no room for respect for the other person. When a nobleman with a lower rank than himself pressured him with a clear command line, the Duke of Fernand, who had not yet given up his pride, said with a burst of anger.

    ¡°Wh-What did you say? Who do you think you are to dare order me to do this and that?!¡±

    ¡°I am a nobleman who has witnessed an innocent lady being insulted right before my eyes. Even if she and I have nothing to do with her, it is my duty to protect her honor because I have witnessed this level of disrespect. Apologize to your fianc¨¦e, right now. If not, do accept my gloves.¡±

    The Duke of Fernand, a beautiful young man with a fair complexion, was about two fingers shorter than Eug¨¨ne, and was overall, of a slender figure. On the other hand, Eug¨¨ne was a well-trained man with sharp angles on his shoulders and was a highly experienced soldier who showed his life¡¯s struggles on his face.

    As Eug¨¨ne received the Emperor¡¯s blatant favor, rumors about him also spread throughout the court. This is because there was no aristocrat who was ignorant of the fact that the Emperor would not have even remembered Eug¨¨ne¡¯s name if he was not fairly competent.

    The story of defeating the pirates of Hertha, who were rumored to be wild enough to even eat human flesh, the story of decapitating the infamous privateer with a single stroke of the sword after besieging and exterminating the privateer ship that terrorized the west coast, or the story of how even the Confederation of Five Nations¡¯ navy, who were famous for being elite, would run away if they found the flag of Vice Admiral Chastan¡¯s 4th Fleet from a distance had already reached the court.

    There is no one who did not know that he was an outstanding swordsman who sparred daily with the Emperor and was also an expert at using the pistol.

    Even if he was a member of the imperial family, he could not protest against his death in a legitimate duel. Moreover, the Duke of Fernand was clearly aware of the wrongdoing he had committed, so he was not in a position to be hastily hopeful.

    The insult he inflicted on the Baron was not something that could be easily forgotten. If Eug¨¨ne had waged a duel with what had just happened in mind, it was impossible to ask for his mercy.

    The Duke of Fernand could not dare to say that he would Eug¨¨ne¡¯s gloves head-on because of all those possibilities. For the first time in his life, he found himself in a terribly helpless position.

    The Duke of Fernand shook his chin with a face darkened by humiliation. He was aware that he had to apologize, but he couldn¡¯t bear to open his mouth in front of so many people. Louise, barely standing and still being supported by Eug¨¨ne, sighed as if she was about to die. There was even a sign of resignation on her tired and sad face.

    ¡°I apologize for my fianc¨¦¡¯s discourtesy.¡±

    ¡°¡­ It is not a matter for you to apologize.¡±

    Louise tried to shake off the support despite struggling to keep herself steady and apologized to Eug¨¨ne. Eug¨¨ne avoided her apology with a troubled look as she bowed her head deeply.

    ¡°No, I am to blame for speaking to the Baron in the first place. Even when it is not what I intended, I always make you suffer such troubles that I am apologetic about. Please forgive my fianc¨¦e and I for the disrespect.¡±

    When she stepped forward like that, even Eug¨¨ne had nothing to say. Louise staggeringly took her steps forward as her legs had barely any energy. She struggled to get close to the Duke of Fernand and placed her hand on his arm.

    ¡°The matter with my fianc¨¦ will be resolved by the two of us privately. So, Baron, please do not worry too much and go back.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne wanted to chastise the Duke of Fernand, who acted as lawlessly as he pleased like a foal. But when Louise pleaded with him like that, he could not ignore her request.

    He had no choice but to respect the lady¡¯s will. Eug¨¨ne quietly showed his respect to Louise by slightly lowering his head, then took a step back and turned around. Then, he walked to the other side, making sure to turn a blind eye to the people watching the scene around him.

    The only person who followed him was Prince Cyril, who had been full of curiosity since earlier. He barely opened his mouth until they reached a distance where no one could hear their conversation.

    ¡°Who was that earlier?¡±

    Prince Cyrill asked, thoroughly refining his expression of ¡®What was with that moron?¡¯. Eug¨¨ne hesitated, not knowing exactly how to describe the Duke of Fernand, then he sighed and answered.

    ¡°The fianc¨¦ of my former wife.¡±

    Prince Cyril¡¯s eyes widened at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s answer. He looked at Eug¨¨ne and the Duke of Fernand alternately, as if he was flabbergasted, shook his head from side to side, and shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn¡¯t understand what Eug¨¨ne had said no matter how much he thought about it.

 CH 36

    Eug¨¨ne was deep in thought, with the mineralogy and medical books he had borrowed from the imperial palace¡¯s library spread out on his desk.

    People on land didn¡¯t know how many different kinds of incidents and accidents occurred onboard ships. In a world where most people lived in the same house and bed their entire lives, sailors were those who saw and met people more than anyone else in the world.

    Eug¨¨ne spent most of his life sailing, seeing, and hearing countless things. There were times when he encountered huge sea monsters and could not help but be in awe of the god¡¯s beasts, and there were painful experiences where he had to throw a still-living colleague into the sea because of the epidemic that swept the ship in an instant. In the meantime, he saw and learned the symptoms of countless diseases and injuries, and learned how to deal with them.

    The skin becomes rough, dead skin cells arise, and appetite decreases. When the symptoms worsen, convulsions, coarse fingers, dull nails, and discolored spots appear on the skin. ¡­ Yes, precisely. Just as I remember.

    Still, just in case, he even borrowed a medical book intentionally and checked it again. However, his suspicions were not wrong. Eug¨¨ne was able to confirm that the shape of the discolored spots, which were elaborately drawn in the medical book, was exactly the same as that on the back of Louise¡¯s hand. He placed one hand on his forehead, which was getting terribly heavy, and clenched his jaw.

    Louise was being poisoned with arsenic.

    Someone was trying to poison Louise. But the problem was, he didn¡¯t know who the hell was trying to kill her. He didn¡¯t know much about Louise. Although she was his wife, he had spent less than five months with her over the course of several years of marriage.

    Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t know who her friends were. Sometimes it would even slip his mind what month she was born in, so he would forget to make a reservation in advance and go on a voyage to the open sea, then come back and send her a birthday present about three or four months later.

    He was never a good husband to her, and he was well aware of that fact. But if he had remained married to her, she might not have been exposed to the same dangers as now.

    Who is the culprit?

    Eug¨¨ne decided to think slowly from the extent of his knowledge. At this moment, the important thing was not detoxification but finding the person who had poisoned her. If he couldn¡¯t figure out who was poisoning her, she would be threatened with poisoning again even after detoxification.

    He could not let a pregnant woman go through the same thing twice. It would be one thing if he didn¡¯t know about all this, but now that he did, he couldn¡¯t leave her alone to shudder in fear.

    The first suspect Eug¨¨ne could think of at this moment was her current fianc¨¦, the Duke of Fernand, who, if not for her, wouldn¡¯t have had to be embroiled in the rare scandal of a divorce trial.

    Eug¨¨ne recalled in his mind the figure of the Duke of Fernand that he had seen that day. He was the epitome of a spoiled aristocratic young man who grew up unaware of his shortcomings.

    In most cases, they followed strict etiquette, but if they get hurt in areas related to their pride, they would immediately become irrationally aggressive and fierce. Even though he didn¡¯t seem to be aware of it himself, he was of a fairly authoritarian character and hated being looked down on by people whom he considered inferior to himself.

    ¡­ However, he is not the kind of person to plan a murder as elaborate as poisoning. If he truly wanted to commit murder, he would rather commit a crime of passion for the sake of momentary emotions.

    The second suspect was His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty¡­ Eug¨¨ne had been writing up to that point on the blank parchment, pondered for a moment, then put ink on the pen and erased the name.

    Rb vbeya Llr Zjpfras kjr atf asqf bo qfgrbc ktb kbeiv rmtfwf j qblrbclcu jr mbwobgajyis jr fjalcu vfrrfga joafg ygfjxojra. Dea lo tf tjv qijccfv ab qblrbc, tf kbeivc¡¯a tjnf mtbrfc j qblrbc jr fjrs ab vfafma jr jgrfclm.

    Cgrfclm kjr j qblrbc rb cbabglber atja la kjr clmxcjwfv atf ¡®obbi¡¯r qblrbc¡¯ yfmjerf la kjr rb fjrs ab lvfcalos jcv vfafma lar rswqabwr. Pa kjr j qblrbc atja Llr Zjpfras kbeiv cfnfg erf ecifrr tf lcafcvfv ab xlii atf bqqbcfca ys ifaalcu atfw xcbk atfs kfgf yflcu ajgufafv, jcv mbcmierlnfis, Llr Zjpfras tjv cb wbalnf ab jrrjrrlcjaf Obelrf.

    It was His Majesty who had gone to great lengths for her to conceive, and if she died before she even gave birth, all the troubles he had to endure would be in vain.

    If so¡­ Eug¨¨ne was able to quickly think of a third suspect on the list. It was none other than Grand Duchess Alienor.

    She had great pride and attachment to her imperial lineage. Originally, her marriage was morganatic, but after the tragedy of Lan, the late Emperor, Armand IV, broke the tradition of the imperial family and acknowledged the imperial status of Grand Duchess Alienor¡¯s child.

    After that, she never called herself the Duchess of Fernand, but rather Grand Duchess Alienor.

    No one knows when she began to have ambitions for the throne. Perhaps it was from the moment when the imperial status of the child she gave birth to was recognized, or when her younger brother closed his eyes, only leaving behind a ten-year-old nephew.

    While the Empress Regent was engrossed in the discipline and affairs of the young Emperor, Grand Duchess Alienor secretly cultivated her power under the surface and became the leader of the central nobility faction within a few years.

    Upon learning of her sister-in-law¡¯s ambitions, the Empress Regent made a strenuous effort to retaliate, but due to her overly late response, both the Empress Mother and Grand Duchess Alienor¡¯s influence were nearly equal in her latter years. However, when the Empress Mother unexpectedly closed her eyes (on the outside, pneumonia was said to be the cause, but rumors spread that it was actually from overwork. Empress ¨¦lo?se was as much a workaholic as the current Emperor.) and the new Emperor ascended to the throne, a new tectonic shift began.

    A beautiful young lady unexpectedly initiated the Emperor¡¯s first counterattack. The Emperor naturally took over political power after the death of the Empress Mother shortly after becoming an adult and did not stand out much until the age of twenty. It is hard to believe, but it was said that until then, the Emperor had a reputation for being a gentleman with a beautiful appearance and gentle words and actions.

    He met and fell in love with the young seventeen-year-old daughter of the Marquis of Carbo, who had just debuted that year at the ¡®Soir¨¦e of the Sky¡¯, a debutante ball hosted by the imperial family, and sparked a great deal of talk at the time.

    Seventeen-year-old Alexandrine, who later became Marquise Merlin, was a dazzling beauty with ebony black hair and sparkling dark eyes, and her father was the Marquis of Carbo, the second most powerful person in the central nobility faction.

    The Emperor was instantly bewitched by this beautiful maiden, and they began a fiery romantic relationship. Since there was no Empress back then, as was presently the case, the Emperor¡¯s first love, the esteemed daughter of the Marquis of Carbo, became known as a candidate for the Empress. As a matter of fact, she came from a high-status family, was of an appropriate age, and her character and culture were impeccable, which made her the perfect candidate for the Empress.

    However, her appointment as the Empress was thwarted by the opposition of Grand Duchess Alienor. Grand Duchess Alienor, ambitious for the throne, would never allow the Empress to emerge from the central nobility that she had founded. Up until then, she held an enormous amount of power and influence, and she had taken it for granted that she would soon make Merrick ascend the throne.

    However, the Marquis of Carbo, having the chance to become a maternal relative of the imperial family, was greatly angered by the decision of the Grand Duchess, which then caused the division between Grand Duchess Alienor and the Marquis of Carbo. Since then, the central nobility has changed from the empire¡¯s largest aristocratic faction to an oligarchy with two leaders.

    In between that gap, the Emperor expanded his power. The Emperor welcomed Alexandrine, who had failed to become the Empress, as his concubine, and began to involve himself in political affairs step by step for the next two years with the help of the Marquis of Carbo, who was no different than his father-in-law.

    As expected, blood is thicker than water. The son of Empress Mother ¨¦lo?se, who had been a pillar of the empire for nearly a decade with the body of a slender woman, soon displayed his competence in his work.

    Meanwhile, the esteemed daughter of the Marquis of Despan appeared like a comet. Her father was the territorial lord of Despan, which became the empire¡¯s largest grain producer after the eastern Landrienne Plains fell into Shaak¡¯s hands. She was a gentle, intelligent, typical southern beauty, and of a virtuous and quiet nature compared to the lively and bubbly Alexandrine.

    At that time, the Emperor and Alexandrine were both young and were famous for loving each other with sparks and fighting each other as if it were war, and so, the gentle daughter of the Marquis of Despan, later Marquise Lamott, succeeded in winning the Emperor¡¯s heart as he grew tired of Alexandrine¡¯s zealous personality.

    The Emperor accepted her as a concubine and secured the position of the Marquis of Despan, a regional nobleman, within the court. Thanks to this, the aristocrats in the southern provinces, who had little influence in the court, broke away from the central nobility faction and established the southern nobility faction centered on the Marquis of Despan.

    The Marquis of Despan became the head of the southern nobility faction with that power and formed another axis of the empire, at a time when the political alliance between the Emperor and the Marquis of Despan was the strongest. They replaced the premier of the empire with only their influence alone.

    Following Empress Mother ¨¦lo?se¡¯s death, the late Duke of Fernand, who ascended to the premiership by the power of Grand Duchess Alienor, lost his own power and influence due to this event, retired as it was, and disappeared from the stage of court politics.

    If one were to think of it now, all of that happened under the Emperor¡¯s meticulous plan from the beginning. At the time, however, no one knew about it. Until then, the Emperor had hidden his claws, and all events seemed to have happened by chance or as a result of unexpected occurrences.

    However, when the Emperor gradually began to stretch, his true nature was revealed to the whole world. Perhaps the one who was most shocked by his astounding true self was Grand Duchess Alienor. In the years that the Emperor lived without revealing himself, she lost her best right-hand man and husband, as well as suffered the humiliation of the foundation of power she had dedicated her life to being torn apart.

    It was the Emperor¡¯s character to be quiet when holding his breath but to rage like a storm when he moves. When Grand Duchess Alienor realized the severity of the situation, her and the Emperor¡¯s situation had been reversed.

    For a long time after that, Grand Duchess Alienor lived as if dead, without revealing her ambitions. Thanks to the power still in hand, a certain amount of authority was still there, but it was not enough to shake the empire as it used to, and yet the Emperor always watched the Grand Duchess like a predator seeking prey.

    That does not mean the Grand Duchess has completely given up on her ambitions. That persistent obsession with power must be the nature that flows through the blood of the imperial family. It was all because of His Majesty¡¯s tireless efforts to deprive Prince Merrick of his right to succeed to the throne¡­ Clearly, Grand Duchess Alienor has a strong motive. For now, she is the prime suspect.

    Motive, personality, and way of doing things seemed to be the perfect match. By all means, this reasoning was based entirely on the political dynamics as understood by Eug¨¨ne, and the real motives of the perpetrators could have been quite different.

    However, considering that the method of poisoning itself was too insidious and that Louise was of humble origin or character, it was difficult to imagine the possibility that it was caused by personal resentment. Though she unintentionally got involved in a court battle after meeting the wrong man, to begin with, Louise was of simple and quiet nature and was not the type to make enemies on her own.

    However, this is all just a matter of doubt or speculation. Making such an accusation without any evidence would only be called slander. The most necessary thing in this situation is physical evidence. Direct and indisputable evidence of the one who is trying to kill Louise.

    If Eug¨¨ne¡¯s conjecture was correct, there was even more of a desperate need for evidence. This is because the opponent was not just a single powerful person, but Grand Duchess Alienor, who was a member of the imperial family and its only remaining grown-up senior. She was an opponent that even the Emperor could not directly touch because of such existential value and symbolism. In order to prosecute a crime committed by such a being, clear evidence was needed.

    If possible, Eug¨¨ne wanted to solve the problem by jumping in directly without the help of others. However, there was a limit to what he could do on his own. He was like a countryside noble who had just arrived in the city and had no special connections in the court. Not only that, he didn¡¯t know the route to get proper information, and he had no subordinates who could be useful.

    The only places to search were the mansion of the Duke of Fernand and Grand Duchess Alienor, and the Azure Pearl Palace, the residence of Countess Patr¨ª, where it was difficult for Eug¨¨ne to be invited, let alone enter personally.

    Eug¨¨ne confirmed all these conditions and had no choice but to admit that it would be difficult to get to the bottom of the affair on his own. He was not the type to ask for help easily, but he definitely needed someone¡¯s help for this case.

    ***

    That night, Eug¨¨ne sneaked into the Azure Pearl Palace where the Emperor¡¯s concubine resided.

    He knew how reckless this act of his was. It was a matter that could be misunderstood, and if caught, he could be punished for his irreverence toward the Emperor.

    But no matter how much he thought about it, there was no way anyone could secretly meet Louise except this way. He and Louise both lived in the court, and life at the court was like living in a wall made of people.

    The Azure Pearl Palace, located to the east of the Imbert Palace, where Countess Patr¨ª resided, was a historic detached palace that the Emperor used to bestow on his beloved concubine from generation to generation. A total of twenty-one concubines passed through this palace for 150 years, starting with Marquise Saint-Enon, who later became Empress, five of them became Empresses, and two of them were said to have been loved by the Emperor until their death.

    According to Eug¨¨ne¡¯s inquiry, Louise¡¯s room was on the western end of the second floor. Unbeknownst to him, the fact that Louise was living in that room was unexpectedly quite well-known. This was because there was some sort of trouble with Countess Patr¨ª¡¯s existing companions over a problem with the use of the room.

    Unlike Eug¨¨ne, who did not care where he slept as long as he did not have to lay his back on the floor, the location of the room was an extremely sensitive issue for courtiers. This was because, in the court, the symbolic status depends on the location of the room one uses, and that was the reason for Louise¡¯s room-related troubles.

    According to the attendant who told him the rumor, the previous occupant of the room was Viscountess Wemmel. She was the Countess¡¯ oldest companion and also her older biological sister.

    However, with the arrival of Louise as her new companion, she was moved from the best guest room to the second-best room, and Viscountess Wemmel was said to be awfully angry about it. In court terms, it was a terribly insulting treatment. It doesn¡¯t seem real but at the time, it seemed to be a fairly problematic issue, as even the attendant who spread the rumors sneakily added that it was a frivolous act.

    Could this be the addition of a fourth suspect? Viscountess Wemmel¡­

    If one were to think about it with common sense, it was impossible to try to kill a person for just a room. However, considering the fact that the other party was a courtier notorious for her sensitive temperament and bizarrely high pride, the assumption didn¡¯t seem impossible at all. Eug¨¨ne added Viscountess Wemmel¡¯s name to the list of suspects in his mind and leapt over the balcony.

 CH 37

    Even though it was late at night, light could be seen through the window. When Eug¨¨ne hid against the dark wall and looked inside, he saw Louise in a dressing gown writing a letter. Round glasses, which were only taken out to write, were hung on the tip of her nose. She had a habit of biting the quill pen in her mouth while writing like a child, so there was a small ink stain around her lips.

    Eug¨¨ne felt strange when he saw it. It was because he realized that he still remembered one little habit of hers. They weren¡¯t close, but it seems like they were once a married couple after all. Eug¨¨ne glanced over to see if there was anyone else in the room and then lightly knocked on the window.

    She couldn¡¯t make out the first signal and just looked around, but only after Eug¨¨ne knocked on the window a second time did she realize that someone was sending a signal from outside. When she saw the black silhouette of the man wavering outside the window on the second floor, she jumped up from her seat out of shock.

    ¡°Baron¡­? Is it Baron Amieux?¡±

    She, who would have almost troubled Eug¨¨ne by screaming, luckily found out his identity before it was too late. Louise recognized who he was, and rushed to the window as if she were rolling over and opened it. Eug¨¨ne, after watching the scene as it was, somehow felt like a hooligan who broke into a lady¡¯s residence. ¡­ Truthfully, in a way, it wasn¡¯t quite the wrong expression either.

    ¡°I apologize for dropping by so suddenly in the middle of the night without any prior contact.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne said politely, asking for her understanding regarding the disrespect already caused. Then Louise shook her head violently. She clasped both of her hands in front of him as if she didn¡¯t know what else to do, then turned them to the side, and frantically expressed her gratitude.

    ¡°Please do not be like that. Thank you so much for coming here. I was not expecting it.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne crossed the window and entered the room. Louise took a long look outside and quickly closed the curtain.

    ¡°It is late at night, what were you doing?¡±

    He picked a time when the security was weak, and he intentionally came near midnight. It was too late when he arrived, so he was worried about what would happen if she had already fallen asleep, but he was glad that she was still awake.

    Louise smiled faintly at Eug¨¨ne¡¯s awkward question and turned to the desk, which was littered with envelopes. There was an ink stain on her index finger, which had just been holding the pen.

    ¡°I was writing a reply to an invitation to the Countess. Managing the invitations is a job left to the newest of the ladies-in-waiting.¡±

    ¡°Do you mean every invitation to the Countess?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Probably because there are many invitations from honorable people.¡±

    Louise said so in a naive tone, though it seemed like bullying to Eug¨¨ne.

    Louise¡¯s slender silhouette stood out even more in the dim light. Even the shadow cast under her feet was faint, making her look as light as a phantom that would blow away with a breath.

    It is like the specter of someone I have not seen in a long time.

    Eug¨¨ne looked at her and thought to himself. The reason that she was reflected in that way was largely due to the influence of her weakened body, but it was more because of the air that somehow seemed empty.

    ¡°I was worried about what I saw during the day, so I stopped by like this. I hope I was not mistaken.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne looked at Louise and informed her of his business. Louise sighed with a strange expression, unknown whether she was relieved or sad, and then nodded her head briefly.

    ¡°You were not mistaken. You actually caught on.¡±

    After answering quietly, she found a nearby chair and sat down helplessly.

    ¡°P jw jkjgf tbk rtjwfifrr la lr bo wf ab jrx sbe obg tfiq. Dea gfjiis, cb wjaafg tbk wemt P ibbx jgbecv, atfgf lr cb bcf P mbeiv aegc ab obg tfiq. P jqbibulhf, Djgbc.¡±

    ¡°Rb, la lr jii gluta. Jbeiv sbe qifjrf fijybgjaf bc ktja lr mjerlcu atlr?¡±

    Upon hearing Eug¨¨ne¡¯s question, Louise sighed deeply once more. She rubbed her other forearm briefly with one hand as if she were feeling a chill, then opened her mouth softly.

    ¡°It seems that things beyond my knowledge are happening around me these days. Not only around me but also on my body¡­ There is a serious abnormality. I have a hunch, but if it is true, then I am truly afraid of my surroundings. There is nobody to talk to when even though this is happening. I have no friends here. I desperately needed someone I could trust.¡±

    She quietly dropped her dry face and confessed in a melancholy manner. Her small, drooping shoulders looked unbearably lonely. She said that she had no one to talk to even though her life was in danger, and looked utterly forlorn.

    She was shy, but liked people and enjoyed inviting her friends, so how did she end up like this? Seeing her like that, even Eug¨¨ne felt sad.

    ¡°Then I met you in the garden. The moment I met you, I had this really odd thought. Maybe this person could help me. No matter what I do, you would not just turn away from me¡­ It also reminded me of the past. From a long time ago, you used to be particularly aware of these kinds of things. I suddenly remembered that.¡±

    She took a deep breath and looked at Eug¨¨ne. She was diligently trying to act brave, but the situation she was currently going through was too heavy for her to bear alone.

    ¡°If this does not trouble you, could you tell me what situation I am in right now? I trust you. If you could confirm, I think I can be sure.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne nodded his head softly. He was on his way to help anyway. Everyone may different opinions about her wrongdoings, but at least Eug¨¨ne didn¡¯t think she was wrong enough to deserve like this.

    ¡°Could you show me your hand?¡±

    She nodded weakly and extended her long, dry hand to Eug¨¨ne. As she stretched out her arm forward under the light, he saw spots sprouting up all over the place similar to those on the back of her hand. Each spot had a different degree of color loss, and the entire skin was blotchy and messy, like wrongly washed silk.

    ¡°When did these spots begin to appear?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked, taking her hand, approaching the candlestick, and looking closely at it. Louise, as if embarrassed to show such skin to others, had a gloomy complexion and whispered softly.

    ¡°About two weeks ago. At first, I thought it was okay because there were only one or two. I thought I had been sunburned because of poor self-maintenance. But as time went on, similarly shaped spots increased exponentially.¡±

    The more she talked, the more frightened her expression became.

    ¡°It was then that I came to a realization. I had seen people die from arsenic poisoning when I was a kid. Well, the spots I saw as a child were exactly the same as the ones on my arms.¡±

    One of the most typical symptoms of arsenic poisoning was these discolored spots. Eug¨¨ne knew that it was only when arsenic poisoning had reached a critical level that these spots appeared on the outside.

    ¡°Is it really arsenic?¡±

    Louise asked with her big frightened eyes. Eug¨¨ne turned her hand and looked into her palm. He could see that keratinization was progressing on her hands, which were always milky-white. White lines on the nails, rough skin¡­ It was undeniably arsenic poisoning.

    Eug¨¨ne hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to respond, and then quietly nodded. Upon hearing his confirmation, Louise contorted her lips as if crying.

    ¡°My¡­¡±

    The first thing she did when she found out she was being poisoned with arsenic was to wrap her hands around her belly. Even in such a situation, she could not tell him that she was with a child but instinctively checked that first.

    But there was no sort of sign on her flat stomach. The flat stomach, which was probably several months old, and had not even swelled, was as poor as her emaciated figure.

    ¡°The child will be fine.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne opened his mouth with difficulty after being silent for a while. Louise, who was desperately cuddling her body, opened her eyes wide as if she was shocked to hear those words.

    ¡°Ho-How do you know about the child?¡±

    There was an indescribably pitiful expression on her face as she stuttered and asked the question with difficulty. Tears welled up in her eyes, which had already turned red, and her lips trembled miserably. The body, which was smaller than before, was hunched over as if trying to protect something inside from an external attack.

    ¡°I had been guessing since the time the divorce trial was held. If there was no evidence, it could have been denied, but you could not do that.¡±

    ¡°Then did you know it all? Everything?¡±

    ¡°¡­ Are you okay?¡±

    Eug¨¨ne asked worriedly when he saw her deathly pale face. But despite Eug¨¨ne¡¯s caring attitude, she shook her head with a violent movement that was unlike her.

    ¡°No, I am not okay. I am not a single bit okay! This is all my fault. This happened because of me. It is my, a grown woman¡¯s fault as I could not conduct myself properly, and it is because of that that the matter has reached this point.¡±

    As if she couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore, she blamed herself and began to sob with a badly distorted face. The deviation, which started as a small one, gradually inflated and grew to a size that one person could not deal with.

    When she first fell in love with the handsome young gentleman, Louise would not have thought that such an outcome awaited her in the future. Eug¨¨ne was fortunate enough to have the chance to escape this complicated situation after the divorce trial, but Louise was not spared such mercy as she had no choice but to become someone else¡¯s long-term partner from the beginning. Until now, she could not get out of the vortex she started and had been stuck in the same place all this time.

    ¡°If anything, the mother is such a woman, she even caused an innocent baby to suffer. Do you know? Even though I am over 6 months pregnant, I still wear a corset. I tug and tighten the strings every time I wear it, trembling in fear that someone would find out I was pregnant. How frustrating it must have been, my baby. I could not even eat what I wanted to eat¡­ There was not even much space to frolic comfortably¡­ Now I am being poisoned with arsenic.¡±

    She was unable to continue talking and burst into tears. She couldn¡¯t even cry out loud and called the child in her belly again and again with stifled cries.

    Eug¨¨ne took a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it in Louise¡¯s hand. But Louise was too distressed to even think about wiping the tears away and continued to let them flow down her face.

    ¡°The child will be fine.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne spoke to her again. In a tone full of conviction, as if he truly believed so.

    ¡°Arsenic is a poison that naturally penetrates the body from the outside. Look. Were your hands and feet not the first to show symptoms? Arsenic first affects the skin, causing it to decay, then reaches the internal organs and then the bones. If your skin has only been showing symptoms for about two weeks, your internal organs have not been damaged yet. That is why you need to compose yourself and be calm. Do you not wish to save the baby? If we do not catch the one who poisoned you, the baby will really die.¡±

    He had a more detailed conversation with her. She, who was lamenting over the lost life in her belly, gradually stopped crying and looked at Eug¨¨ne with wet eyes as he continued to speak.

    ¡°A-Are you sure?¡±

    She thought that she had lost her child without fail, and asked back in disbelief. As if she were holding onto the last straw, her terribly trembling eyes eagerly turned to Eug¨¨ne.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°Th-Then is my baby still safe?¡±

    ¡°I think so. It is just that it might a problem next time.¡±

    Truth be told, he didn¡¯t actually know if the baby was really okay or not. He had quite a bit of experience with physical trauma but had no knowledge of internal trauma. Moreover, when it came to pregnancy and childbirth, he was as ignorant as whales unaware of the existence of camels.

    But he was left with no choice but to lie. He was afraid that she¡¯d be devastated if he let her be, so he couldn¡¯t just leave her alone. Even so, she was an unwell woman. A woman who had paid too much for her mistakes and was exhausted. He didn¡¯t want Louise to lose more than what she had already lost so far.

    The misfortune she had been through was enough.

    ¡°So, once again from the beginning, say it slowly. Since you have believed in me, I will repay you for your trust.¡±

    Otherwise, his mind would not be at ease. He was also responsible for her current state.

    He was guilty of ignoring the Emperor¡¯s conspiracy against her, despite being aware of it. By the time he found out, it was already after things had happened, and everything was coming to an end. But the very thing he had then passed on carelessly produced the pain that Louise was now suffering. And the pain was not only in the present, but would also continue to move onto the future.

    Eug¨¨ne gently patted her thin shoulder and quietly pacified her. Louise was relieved by the sound of his reliable voice, and slowly loosened her stiff shoulders. She struggled to wipe her eyes and rested her forehead on Eug¨¨ne¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Thank you so much for coming to help, Baron. You never turn away when I need help. I do not know how to repay this favor.¡±

    Eug¨¨ne, who could not help her in a situation where he really should have helped once, smiled bitterly at the gratitude he did not deserve.

    ***

    After returning from meeting Louise, Eug¨¨ne properly made up his mind to ask the Emperor for help.

    The problem was the timing. Amazingly, encounters would always take place when one least wants it to, putting one in a burdensome position, but the moment one decides to meet properly, that connection is instantly cut off.

    Negotiations with Kayediv, which had been difficult for a long time, had recently begun to take off. Despite the conditions unfavorable to them, Kayediv accepted all of the empire¡¯s proposals. The two countries, which reached to an agreement after much difficulty, were extremely busy completing detailed follow-up measures, such as writing contracts or adjusting the ascending schedules of merchant ships that traded goods.

    The settlement of the negotiations meant a new beginning, not the end. The Emperor and the imperial officials were busy carrying out the practical tasks that followed the conclusion of the trade agreement, so Eug¨¨ne was forcibly liberated not only from the Emperor¡¯s summons but also from political meetings for the time being.

    In the background of this smooth negotiation, there was Prince Cyrill, the representative of the Kayediv envoys, who abruptly accepted the Emperor¡¯s offer of a contract. Cyrill, who had successfully concluded the contract, which would have been controversial even within the envoys, left all external follow-up to Sir Oleg and returned to his home country one step ahead to fulfill the terms of the contract.

    The Emperor could meet anyone he wanted to see, but for others, the Emperor was not easy enough to meet whenever they wanted to. Ordinary nobles couldn¡¯t even speak to the Emperor unless the Emperor spoke to them first, and if they had a request, they had to ask for an audience first and wait for their turn until permission was granted.

    If there was no special command from the Emperor, Eug¨¨ne was in the same position. He put in a request for an audience to comply with the steps, but strangely, permission was seldom granted.

    He didn¡¯t know why but the Emperor didn¡¯t meet him to the point that Eug¨¨ne felt like he was avoiding him. At first, he thought it was a coincidence, but as time passed, he began to suspect that it was intentional. If it was not intentional, why could the person who put in a request later be granted permission first? It wasn¡¯t even once or twice.

    Is this how a concubine felt after losing her favor? When he couldn¡¯t even see the Emperor for a few days, when he had otherwise seen him face to face at most two or three times a day, Eug¨¨ne smiled bitterly, thinking that his situation was like a concubine sitting in the back of the room.

    For a while, he felt that he was one of the Emperor¡¯s close associates, but he was completely disconnected these days. Eug¨¨ne could not understand how the court nobles could spend their whole lives hoping for such an unstable favor.