I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 93

Zepplin, upon completing the trial, immediately headed to Eogaeinos with the Emperor. However, he didn’t get the chance to hear why the Emperor had summoned him, as they were met with a group of participants from the Troy Council.

“I don’t understand why you continue to pursue this trial,” Pritchard Bormia said with a vehement tone. “The trial’s momentum is already unfavorable. Duke Roan is openly siding with the other party, so why should we play along with their tune?”

It was true that Duke Roan was on the other side, but he hadn’t exactly broken neutrality. In fact, granting the special investigation team, including their schedule, to be appointed by the imperial family was a clear favor to the princess’s side. However, the Troy Council members surrounding the Emperor raised their voices fiercely in agreement.

“We have gathered here in response to your supreme will to punish those who insult the imperial family. We can no longer bear to see the high honor of the imperial family being tarnished.”

“That’s right. The next trial is when the nefarious Adrian will testify in person, and his witnesses will attack the imperial family. It’s better to strike before that.”

The Troy Council members seemed to have already decided on a civil war. Marquis Ricardo and Count Bormia were probably manipulating the factions behind the scenes to unify public opinion.

‘Are they really planning to spill blood on this peaceful imperial land?’

Zepplin listened to the somber conversation with a furrowed brow. They began to mention concrete plans.

“It seems right to launch a surprise attack before the trial begins.”

The next trial was just three days away. It was impossible to prepare everything perfectly and launch a surprise attack on such a short notice, especially against a formidable opponent. Unable to stand idly by, Zepplin spoke up.

“How can you infiltrate a large number of troops into Felicity of all places? The surprise attack will be exposed before you even get close to the mansion.”

“Then what about striking them all at once while they’re gathered and focused in one place during the trial?”

“If we do that, countless civilians who have gathered to watch the trial will be caught up in it. Even if Count Calabria lets his guard down, it won’t be easy to neatly capture all those he is protecting at once.”

“Some casualties are unavoidable. Aren’t we also taking risks?”

Zepplin felt his blood boil at the words of one young nobleman.

‘You are taking risks for your own advancement, but for what reason should innocent people be caught and killed?’

However, years of political experience made Zepplin hold back from aggressive words. Instead, he countered their opinion with a more indirect tone.

“Count Calabria defeated Hakmersia by himself without any injuries. That’s something countless imperial subjugation teams have failed to do in the history of the empire. With the current number of people, it’s impossible to capture him with a surprise attack in the city.”

“As for manpower, why don’t we just requisition from the Calabria Ducal Family?” Poranze Ricardo’s voice echoed loudly in the office. “We should hold the father accountable for the son’s crime. In a situation like this, where has the Duke of Calabria gone?”

Zepplin’s words were cut short, and Ricardo’s eyes lit up even more as he pressed on.

“It is stipulated in the law that the command of the Calabria Ducal Family’s knighthood is transferred to the imperial family in the absence of the head of the family. Since this is an emergency, they will not be able to complain if the imperial family reclaims the military command for its own use.”

Marquis Ricardo, who was aiming for the central hegemony, was probably aiming to oust the Duke of Calabria at this opportunity. Zepplin was about to respond again when Marquis Ricardo spoke first.

“Besides, isn’t there another reason to hurry up the war?”

“What do you mean?”

“The imperial family probably doesn’t have the capacity to maintain the countless troops gathered in the capital for a long period of time.”

Zepplin was stunned, and the eyes of the nobles around him widened.

“What do you mean, no capacity?”

“I heard that the Floyd Ducal Family is no longer approving loans to the imperial family. Now, requests for debt collection and invoices will pour in from all directions.”

‘Did they figure that out?’

A look of defeat appeared on Zepplin’s face. The nobles were visibly agitated and stirred up by the news that their financial lifeline was cut off.

“Therefore, we must hurry up the war. If we end it quickly and confiscate the assets from the traitor’s family to make up for the losses, all the problems will be solved.”

Zepplin couldn’t think of an immediate response. Now, all the arrows were turned towards the Emperor. The Emperor, with a heavy expression, was staring straight ahead with his hands clasped in front of his face.

“Have your troops gather around Felicity and prepare to enter at any time.”

Zepplin sighed, and the faces of the war advocates, led by Marquis Ricardo, brightened.

“Then we attack right away?”

“Not yet.”

At the Emperor’s firm voice, Zepplin, who had lowered his eyes in despair, opened them again.

“Before I make a decision, there is one thing I need to investigate. Until then, prepare thoroughly and stand by.”

‘Didn’t Marquis Ricardo and Count Bormia do that?’

There hadn’t been a person’s footprint for decades, but it was so clean. No matter how much you tried to deny it, you couldn’t say that there was nothing suspicious. As Zepplin was giving a bitter smile, the Emperor suddenly spoke.

“Even if the Princess cut Adrian’s wrist after catching him, I don’t want to blame her too much.”

“What? What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

“I couldn’t believe that my angelic child would do such a thing, so I even held a trial… but it’s probably true that she did it.”

It seemed that even the Emperor, who had been blindly devoted to the Princess, found it hard to deny the facts. ‘Has his belief that the Princess is an innocent angel finally been shattered?’ It was shocking yet welcome, but the words that he wouldn’t blame her bothered him.

“Considering what she has gone through, such retaliation is only natural.”

Zepplin had heard from the underground knights that a suspicious witch was sealed deep underground, constantly talking to passersby. Zepplin’s face turned pale.

“It’s possible that Beatrice is just being whimsical and keeping her mouth shut. But… what if the seal has been broken?”

The numerous seals in the imperial palace’s basement could only be released by those with imperial blood. Zepplin, who understood the end of the Emperor’s muddled words, asked with a trembling voice, “What are you going to do?”

There would be no way to confirm if Beatrice was inside without breaking the seal. The Emperor commanded in a grave voice, “Bring two or three prisoners awaiting execution. And tell them to secretly go down to the basement, open the prison, and report what they saw, without Aileen knowing.”

‘Why would he need prisoners awaiting execution?’ It was an incomprehensible order, but Zepplin bowed his head.

“Understood.”

After answering, Zepplin left the room.

Late in the evening.

Eleanor was sitting in her room, checking various documents she needed to handle. Although she was temporarily off her main job, it didn’t mean that ledgers, invoices, and settlement statements didn’t fly in. Her printing press was a major source of income for the Mariche region, so she couldn’t just stop it. In fact, the books were selling like hotcakes more than ever before. She was moving her quill with a scratching sound, leaning on the alchemist’s back when a faint knock was heard.

It was so small that she wondered if she had misheard, but Eleanor responded anyway.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Calabria.”

At the low reply, Eleanor’s heart pounded. She got up from her seat somewhat bewildered and headed for the door. When she opened it, Lyan’s handsome face, as if he had just returned from an outing, was smiling.

“What’s the matter at this hour?”

She tried to answer calmly, but her voice cracked as she had been quiet for a long time.

“I came to tell you that the favor you asked for has been completed.”

Eleanor had asked Lian to protect the victims of Baron Mariche who testified at the trial. Although she hadn’t incited them, there was a high possibility that the distressed princess would harm them. Lyan, who had been asked, took them directly to the relatively safer Line of Abrot, left them there, and returned.

“Thank you so much. You must have had a hard time.”

“No, it was nothing.” Lian said, waving his hand. “I saw the light on, so I came to see if you were awake.”

Lian’s face rather showed that he was happy to be asked for the favor. It seemed that he came to see her face again on the pretext of delivering a simple message. The message was simple, so the conversation should have been over, but Lian hesitated and didn’t leave.

“Um…” Lian asked cautiously. “If you don’t mind, would you like to have some tea?”

It was already past midnight. It was too late to have tea. Lyan seemed to have realized how strange his own words were and made an awkward face. His flustered look was cute, so Eleanor decided to relieve his distress.

“Alright. Come in and tell me how the victims are and if you met Duke Aivrot.”

“Ah, yes. That’s great. Thank you.”

‘What is he thankful for?’

Eleanor chuckled to herself as she watched Lyan enter, awkwardly bowing his head.

“Did the victims seem alright?”

“They looked disheartened in the carriage. They couldn’t look me straight in the eye and seemed uncomfortable.”

‘That’s not being disheartened, they were probably blushing and shy because of your charm.’ Lyan added with effort to prevent her from misunderstanding. “But thankfully, when they left the Line of Aivrot, they waved their hands at me.”

“Didn’t they scream and shout for you to come back?”

“How did you know?”

‘Courage comes when you are far away.’

Eleanor chuckled and asked again. “Did you also meet Duke Aivrot?”

“…I didn’t talk much with the Duke and came back.”

Judging by his stiff tone, it seemed that Minaz had played a trick on Lyan again. ‘She thought he was a cold-blooded prince who was expressionless and hard to read, but it turns out he’s so easy to read.’ As she talked about this and that, time flew by.

And around one in the morning.

“Eleanor? Are you still up?”

The voice, along with the knock, startled both of them. It was the Duchess. She must have seen the light leaking from under the door.

“I’ll come in for a moment.”

‘I can’t be found like this.’

In an instant, a panicked Eleanor made a decision she wouldn’t normally make.

“Count, hide here!”

“Huh?”

Lian seemed bewildered, but he obediently followed as Eleanor pulled him. She hid him behind the spacious desk and sat in front of it. In her haste, the hem of her dress was pulled up almost to her knees. A warm breath was felt at her ankle, and at the same time, the door to the room opened.

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