Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Melance's expression practically screamed, If I knew, do you think I'd be sitting here like this?

"Are you sure you aren't actually ill?"

"Didn't you hear the palace physician say there was nothing wrong with me?"

"So your face keeps getting hot, and your heart feels like it's about to burst?"

Melance gave a short nod, then added as though remembering something else.

"And there's also... something around here that feels itchy, I suppose."

"...Hmm."

The two stared at each other, brows furrowed as they tried to think.

What kind of illness was that?

Neither had any idea.

Eventually, Melance waved a hand and changed the subject.

"Forget it. If even the palace physicians don't know, how would you?"

"That is true. By the way, I think it would be better not to get involved with Lady Trinia unnecessarily."

"Who?"

He asked with complete indifference.

Truly, utterly indifferent.

"The woman we ran into earlier when leaving Her Highness's room...."

"Ah."

Only then did Melance seem to remember.

His expression didn't improve.

If anything, the air around him filled with irritation.

"Not interested."

"You may not be interested, Young Lord, but she's quite famous throughout the Empire."

The aide leaned closer and lowered his voice near Melance's ear.

"She's His Majesty's first love. Ever since he was Crown Prince. So I think it would be best not to oppose her unnecessarily."

"Then is it proper etiquette for the Emperor's mistress to block the heir to a Grand Duchy's path and ramble at him?"

"I-I'm sorry! That's not what I meant...."

Melance's violet eyes silently fixed on his aide.

"Esslin. You know I'm not saying this because I don't understand what you mean."

The aide slowly nodded, visibly tense.

"I know you're worried that unnecessary trouble could cause problems for me. However...."

A sharp light entered Melance's usually indifferent eyes.

"My father never taught me to bow my head to just anyone for that reason. Even if that person happens to be the Emperor's mistress."

Esslin couldn't respond.

He couldn't even manage a simple acknowledgment.

For a brief moment, he had seen the dignity and commanding presence of Grand Duke Jeremier reflected in the young heir before him.

Knock, knock.

Count Shilton, with his sharp-looking features, entered Trinia's room wearing a bright smile.

"Have you been well?"

"Of course. Now that my prince is with me again, how could I not be?"

An awkward silence briefly settled between them.

Trinia was the first to speak.

"Count Shilton. Do you remember that promise?"

A promise.

The Count gave a faint smile and nodded.

"Of course I do."

"His Majesty still treats the Empress only out of obligation. That's probably why he hasn't had any children after the Imperial Princess."

Shilton merely nodded, holding back his thoughts.

"His Majesty stayed in my room last night."

So the rumors that Trinia had regained the Emperor's favor weren't mere gossip.

Shilton's eyes widened pleasantly.

"And he made me a promise. He said if I give birth to another son, he'll raise our baby from a prince to an Imperial Prince."

"...Truly?"

But soon, Shilton's expression turned complicated.

The Emperor may have desperately wanted a son, but only a few weeks earlier, he had been praising the Imperial Princess endlessly.

"Why would I lie? I have nothing to gain from doing so."

"Then what do you intend to do about the Imperial Princess and the Empress? I don't understand."

"We can simply drive the Empress out."

"...Do you think it's that easy? The Empress established her position entirely through her own strength. She is not a woman who will step aside quietly."

"Exactly. That makes it easier! Imagine a woman that proud being pushed aside by a mere mistress. She'll be the one demanding a divorce first."

There was some logic to it.

But the Empress had the Imperial Princess.

She wasn't the sort to leave quietly while abandoning her daughter.

"What do you intend to do about Her Highness the Imperial Princess?"

"Find her a marriage prospect. She's still too young to marry, but surely we can at least arrange an engagement."

"Ha.... That won't be easy either."

Trinia let out a deep sigh and looked at Shilton as though he were useless.

"Since when was anything we promised each other supposed to be easy? Every single part of it is difficult."

"Then let's simply do this. His Majesty wants a Crown Prince anyway, so if you give birth to another son...."

"I can't wait that long! Every time I look at that insolent princess, I feel like my insides are burning!"

"Has Her Highness been pressuring you?"

"You think that's all? Yesterday she humiliated me openly in front of the servants! Imagine what she'll be like after she gets even one year older. Do you think I'll just sit there and take it?"

Shilton nodded, though he clearly didn't fully believe her.

That gentle and kind Imperial Princess?

Still, there was no benefit in arguing with Trinia.

Her arrogance seemed to grow higher by the day.

Poking at it would only create more noise.

"In any case, I'll bring up the matter of succession at today's meeting. Wait a little longer."

"Make sure you use the fact that the Empress has failed to give birth to a son! That's the only way His Majesty won't take the Imperial Princess's side."

Shilton gave a light nod and immediately left the room.

As he stared at the closed door and let out a sigh...

"Count Shilton?"

A deep, cold voice.

Shilton nearly jumped out of his skin before turning toward Melance.

"Y-Young Lord, I greet you."

"It's been a while."

"Ahaha.... Indeed. Is His Highness Grand Duke Jeremier doing well?"

Melance gave a slight nod and continued on his way.

H-he didn't hear anything, did he? In any case, neither the Grand Duke nor his heir care about politics.

Shilton pressed a hand to his chest and headed toward the meeting room.

The solemn conference chamber was filled with nobles.

"His Highness the Grand Duke is expected to return to the Imperial Palace soon."

"That's a relief...."

As the meeting gradually neared its end, everyone began checking the Emperor's expression.

"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"

"Of course not."

"Then we will raise the final agenda item."

The Emperor gave only a half-hearted nod.

After a brief hesitation, Shilton's voice cut through the silence.

"Your Majesty, out of concern for the stability of the Empire...."

"Is this about the succession again? It seems to come up at every meeting lately."

"However, for the sake of the Empire's stability, you should designate an heir...."

Several nobles around Shilton quickly joined in.

"Count Shilton is correct. Because Your Majesty stands so firmly at the center of the Empire, the succession should be made even more secure!"

"Indeed, Your Majesty. An heir must be chosen."

"Then should I name the young Imperial Princess as heir? Or should I name an even younger prince? Think before you speak!"

The Emperor's voice rang through the chamber.

Count Heyrun spoke up.

"His Majesty is correct. It seems too early, so perhaps later...."

"Count Heyrun, are you planning to retire soon or something? Later? This concerns the security of the entire Empire!"

"But as all of you just said, His Majesty is still in excellent health. Why are you so obsessed with naming a successor right now? I don't understand."

Heyrun clicked his tongue.

The Emperor spoke calmly.

"Then tell me what you think."

As expected, the nobles who had been loudly demanding that an heir be chosen suddenly fell silent.

"I said, tell me what you think. Why has everyone gone quiet?"

"There is nothing to decide. Only Her Highness the Imperial Princess can become the heir."

"There have been Emperors in the past who began as princes."

"That was because both the Imperial Princess and Imperial Prince at the time died! Don't twist history to suit your argument!"

Once the fuse was lit, the conference chamber quickly descended into chaos.

The Emperor watched the uproar while sinking into thought.

He was thinking about the children's storybook Riena had supposedly given Trinia.

What would a young Imperial Princess know about giving Trinia a children's book? The Empress must have told her to do it.

He closed his eyes tiredly and shook his head.

Politically or as husband and wife, he and the Empress had never matched.

They never would.

And now she was already trying to wield influence by putting the young princess in front of her?

I won't allow that.

His thick fist clenched until the knuckles turned white.

I'll confirm it myself.

He suddenly stood.

The nobles immediately fell silent and looked toward him.

"It appears we're not prepared enough to discuss succession properly. We'll revisit the matter another time."

With that brief declaration, the Emperor left the chamber.

The nobles stared silently at the closed door.

Did Trinia lie to me?

Count Shilton's eyebrow twitched sharply.

"Romi! Don't tell me you ate all the cookies?"

"What? N-no?"

Romi denied it immediately, clearly hoping that would work.

Riena narrowed her golden eyes and shook her head.

"Even if they're cookies Romi made, how could you eat all of them by yourself?"

"W-well... Your Highness looked like you were enjoying them so much, so I tried one, and then I thought they were really good too...."

Riena puffed out her lips and went back to reading.

It was a habit she'd had since childhood whenever she sulked.

"Your Highness, I'm sorry. Tomorrow I'll make a lot more. All right?"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

After being gently coaxed, Riena immediately brightened and nodded.

Through the slightly open door, a shadow appeared.

Knock, knock.

Both of them turned toward it.

The door opened wide.

Emperor Francio entered, looking strangely exhausted.