The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 34

The nobles in the capital finally began to grow suspicious of the fact that the Emperor was not returning to Rubeo. Every year, Cayenne came to the Imperial Palace only when absolutely necessary and hurried to return to Rubeo as quickly as possible. This time, however, his stay was becoming far too long.

“A strange thing indeed,” Duke Nigel said as he set down his wine glass. His wrinkled face maintained its usual composure, but his eyes betrayed a clear sense of displeasure. “What does an Emperor who knows nothing but fighting barbarians plan to do by lingering here?”

Ever since the previous Emperor had completely lost his mind, Duke Nigel had been pulling the strings of state affairs. Even though he was not the official regent, there was no one who did not know that the Duke was the backbone of this empire.

“He surely isn’t coveting my position this late in the game.”

“Your Grace, no matter his imperial blood, he was raised in that wasteland without a shred of culture. What could he possibly know?”

Marquis Sail, the Duke’s loyal subordinate, replied with a biting tone. While Cayenne’s lineage and legitimacy were more noble than anyone else’s on the continent, this was the extent of the evaluation given by most capital nobles.

“Furthermore, even if his stay has lengthened, it has only been about fifteen days. Perhaps his seat has grown heavy now that he has had a taste of civilization for once.”

“Suddenly? This year, of all times?”

Duke Nigel was suspicious by nature. It was that trait that allowed him to maintain his position.

“The Emperor was abandoned by his father at the age of seven. He knows nothing of the Imperial Palace, and he must know nothing. Indeed, that was the case until very recently.”

“What is it that you are worried about, Your Grace?”

“Hmm.” The Duke let out an ambiguous sigh and filled his empty glass. “When you rule this great empire for a long time, your intuition becomes sharp.”

Although the Duke viewed the throne—which belonged to the very much alive Cayenne—as if it were his own, he was relatively wise in other aspects and far from a typical greedy, treacherous official. Thanks to that, he enjoyed the support of the nobles and led the empire without major incident.

“This return was strange from the start.”

“It has always happened that the Emperor comes to the palace once or twice a year.”

“This is different.” The Duke’s wrinkles deepened. “The man who left for Rubeo immediately on his wedding night suddenly returned to the capital because he was worried about the Empress’s fever?”

“I also believe that was a mere excuse,” Marquis Sail agreed.

The Duke nodded. “How old is the Emperor this year?”

“I believe he is twenty-five.”

“It is that time of life, then.”

Marquis Sail was not exactly young, but the Duke had a son of a similar age. Thanks to that, he knew exactly how much of a headache it was when a twenty-five-year-old man harbored passion.

“Pardon? What do you mean by ‘that time’?”

“It is the perfect age to fall into the delusion that one can change the world for the better with a useless sense of justice and youth.” The Duke clicked his tongue. “Sometimes, breaking the stupid stubbornness of my own son is harder than leading the Imperial Parliament.”

Cayenne was a brilliant warrior, born with a sturdy physique and the natural charisma to lead people, befitting the bloodline of the Darius Imperial House.

“And the stubbornness of the Darius bloodline will be even harder to manage.”

If the late Emperor had not gone mad and tried to kill his own son, Cayenne would undoubtedly be making a name for himself as the greatest monarch on the continent.

“He inherited the bloodline, but who would recognize the current Emperor as true royalty?”

“Still, there is no harm in being cautious. It is wisdom taught by age.” The Duke leaned back in his plush chair. “We lack legitimacy, and he lacks qualification.”

Contrary to the Duke’s momentum, Cayenne’s legitimacy was a factor that would not disappear until he died. Furthermore, no matter how great the Duke’s power grew, it was impossible to install a monarch who was not a Darius for the people who took pride in the empire’s long history.

“Forgive me, but I believe your anxiety is a needless worry.”

“I hope so as well.”

“Did you not see him at the Grand Council recently? He merely catches onto trifles and loses his temper because he is the Emperor. He knows nothing of governance.”

As long as Cayenne was the legitimate heir of Darius, the nobles had no choice but to obey him to his face, regardless of their true intentions.

“Anyone can perform a play like that. But I cannot shake the feeling that something is different this time. It is as if he came here knowing that news from the capital was not being properly relayed to Rubeo.”

The Duke’s deduction was accurate. It was a coincidence, but Cayenne had realized there was a problem with the capital’s information network when the news of the Empress’s fever was not delivered properly, prompting his return.

“We do not know if the Emperor truly came here knowing that. Given his barbaric temperament, the fact that he shows no sign of it might just mean it was a coincidence.”

The Duke shook his head. He agreed that Cayenne had a barbaric temperament, but he was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

“That level of information manipulation is easy. Besides, Rubeo is a battlefield. There are plenty of people besides us who want to intercept information, so it is easy to make excuses.”

The Duke fell silent for a moment to think before speaking again.

“Until now, the Emperor had not a shred of interest in the Imperial Palace. He hated staying for even a few days and left at night countless times. Yet, as soon as the Emperor returned, he personally cut down the spies I had planted.”

The spies planted in the palace were merely insurance. Of course, it was natural for Cayenne to be enraged once he discovered their existence. But that was not what was bothering the Duke.

“However, the servants slaughtered by the Emperor’s sword were disguised as sudden deaths from illness. They were cremated to prevent infection and returned to their families with full honors.”

Marquis Sail finally took the hint. “That is a method that barbarian could not have thought of.”

“At the time, I thought it was a one-off occurrence and let it pass, but as the Emperor’s stay grows longer, I cannot let anything slide so easily.”

Information was desperately needed now to find out exactly what was happening in the Imperial Palace, but the Duke’s spies were already dead.

“Since such a thing happened recently, it will take time to cultivate new spies. He threw a tantrum at the Grand Council, but something felt different from before.”

Cayenne’s existence was always a hurdle that the Duke kept in mind. But this time, many of the moves felt as if the opponent were not the Cayenne he knew.

“The Great Sage of Lucan sent another letter today.” The Duke glanced at the table, and Marquis Sail picked up the letter to read it.

“Lucan is quite unfortunate. To think the daughter they sent as the Empress suffered a high fever and became unable to distinguish right from wrong.”

“Do you truly think so?”

Marquis Sail blinked and waited for the Duke’s next words.

“Even if the Empress has become a fool who cannot distinguish right from wrong, why would the Emperor, who left without even properly finishing the wedding, suddenly take her side and command Lucan not to send any more letters?”

Cayenne rejected and despised the Great Sage of Lucan, their teachings, and their very way of life. Yet, it was very irritating that he bothered to deliver an Imperial command to Lucan just for the sake of an Empress who had become a fool.

“Since the Emperor lacked the proper qualities, marrying the daughter of Lucan as his Empress to keep her wisdom by his side was one of the conditions for his coronation.”

For such a condition to be attached to the Emperor’s coronation must have been shameful and humiliating for Cayenne. Why then did he issue a command to Lucan on behalf of the Empress, who was the evidence of that humiliation?

“Perhaps the one we should be watching right now is not just the Emperor.”

“Who else is there? The former Count Hyer is already dead, and there is no one on his side in the Parliament.”

“Who knows? Perhaps that Empress, who is said to have become a fool, is the hidden wildcard.”

Marquis Sail laughed, thinking it was just a joke, but quickly shut his mouth when he saw the Duke’s serious expression.

“Though I lost the spies in the palace, I was able to find out one fact. Since the Empress suffered the high fever, no sage or renowned physician has entered the Imperial Palace.”

“That is because a fool of an Empress has no value.”

“Or perhaps treatment is not necessary.”

Looking back, there were a few more suspicious points. Even though it was a simplified banquet, the way Cayenne observed etiquette with such grace was also incredibly suspicious.

“Lineage and legitimacy are the only things that can never be taken away, no matter what happens. Therefore, we must not let him gain anything more here.”

Marquis Sail nodded significantly. “I understand your intent, Your Grace. First, we must ensure our Emperor has a reason to display his valor in Rubeo.”

The Duke merely nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

“Do not worry. They are mere beast-like barbarians, but if we give them new weapons and attach mercenaries to them, they will become an opponent for the Emperor once again.”

Rubeo would be stained with blood once more, and the Emperor would have to hurry his return. The Empress belonged to the Imperial Palace anyway, so she could be investigated gradually.

“It is a pity that the Empress sent from Lucan cannot fulfill her role. Perhaps a new Empress will be needed.”

At those words, Marquis Sail’s complexion brightened noticeably. “Your Grace, what you just said.”

“I have no daughter, and as it happens, you have raised your daughter well. Is that not something worth watching?”

“Yes! For your noble cause, everyone in the House of Marquis Sail will remain loyal.”

The Duke wore a leisurely smile at the excited words of Marquis Sail. Indeed, having dominated the Parliament for a long time, he was a master at handling people.

“A-choo!”

As Alicia let out a sneeze, Agnes, who was beside her, quickly handed her a handkerchief.

“Are you alright? Have you truly caught a cold?”

“No. Is someone talking about me? My ears are itchy, too.”

“Your ears are itchy as well? I must call the physician.”

Agnes blinked at Alicia’s incomprehensible words.

“No, no. Agnes, it’s that thing.”

Ever since the high fever, Alicia often used interesting metaphors or phrases, all of which were things Agnes had never heard before.

“Ah… another of your new jokes, Your Majesty.”

Alicia gave a bright smile. It was much easier to be an Empress with a slightly strange sense of humor than to explain every single phrase that slipped out.