The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 50

When the windows were flung wide open, a cold wind rushed in, freezing the air in the study. This allowed Cayenne to cool the heat in his chest and narrowly suppress his rising fury.

“I can no longer sit idly by.”

The conclusion remained unchanged. He would have been willing to face any political battle head-on, but Duke Nigel had abandoned the basic tenets of humanity.

“You cannot move hastily, Sire.”

“I know.”

Cayenne clenched his fist tightly.

“I am disgusted with myself for having to hesitate.”

It was a rational choice for Duke Nigel to try to prevent the completion of Rubeo. Although his methods were wretched, if Rubeo were to be finished, Cayenne would possess immense wealth, trade rights, imperial legitimacy, and absolute governing power throughout his reign.

Or rather, he should have.

“You have made only one mistake, Your Majesty,” Glenn said calmly. “It was viewing those creatures as fellow human beings.”

Cayenne was a man of upright nature who, despite an unfortunate childhood, had always striven to become a better man. Having spent his life by Cayenne’s side, Glenn could assert this with certainty.

“Regrettably, our enemies are something less than human.”

“I see that clearly now.”

Cayenne knew well how much power Duke Nigel had enjoyed while acting as regent. He also knew how the capital’s nobility mocked his troubled upbringing, sneering at him as an Emperor who was little more than a barbarian.

“An Emperor must keep the nobility close while simultaneously remaining wary of them. Our history has always been thus.”

In every era, there were those harbored by ambition. Throughout an endless history, the House of Darius had sometimes been dragged along, and at other times, the capital nobility had nearly been wiped out in sudden, massive purges.

“But the capital nobility has never directly committed treason. Especially not the Ten Great Houses of the Empire.”

When the House of Darius established the Empire, ten loyal houses that contributed their will and strength were specially distinguished as the Ten Great Houses. Over time, only about half of them remained.

“I always considered Duke Nigel a political rival, but never an enemy of the Empire. That was because he is the head of the remaining Great Houses.”

Just as an Emperor does not harm his own empire, the Great Houses shared the same duty and responsibility. Therefore, Duke Nigel plotting treason was no different from a member of the Imperial family plotting treason.

“Who strangles their own neck? Who cuts off their own limbs?”

“Only a madman would do such a thing… just as they are doing now.”

Glenn was right. Cayenne had believed that once Rubeo was stabilized and he held full power, they would eventually submit to the rightful master of the Empire. Their ambitions wouldn’t vanish instantly, but he was confident he could bring them to their knees in the noble name of the Emperor.

“Duke Nigel seems to have completely forgotten who the master of this Empire is.”

The Duke had acted as regent until now only because Cayenne had not yet attained his full power as Emperor. But looking back, it was clear the Duke never had any intention of letting go of that power since the moment he first grasped it.

“I want to take my sword and strike his head from his shoulders this instant.”

“…You must not do that.”

Cayenne nodded with a look of extreme irritation.

“I know. He is an enemy who cannot be finished simply by taking his head. It is troublesome.”

Killing the Duke now would not provide a simple solution. Instead, it would be the perfect excuse for people to brand him a barbaric tyrant who murdered a wise Great Noble. Since Cayenne had not yet seized full control over the Empire, he lacked the means to navigate the aftermath.

“Glenn, step away from this matter.”

“Sire?”

“If you dig any deeper, the Duke might notice.”

“But… what they have done is treason! It is something that can never be overlooked!”

Cayenne placed his index finger against his lips, signaling Glenn to lower his voice.

“I swear, I am more enraged than you. This hatred will not be quenched even if I cut their filthy necks a hundred times over.”

Glenn fell silent at the chill in Cayenne’s voice.

“This is not a task for you to handle alone.”

“Then…”

Cayenne gazed at the Imperial crest hanging on the wall.

“Am I not the Emperor, regardless of everything else?”

“That is undeniable, Sire.”

He had never lived like a proper Emperor before, but he could not afford to be stubborn after learning of such atrocities.

“I must make use of it.”

Cayenne opened a drawer and tossed the Imperial Seal onto the desk before Glenn.

“In truth, I never wanted to rely on such a thing.”

The Imperial Seal possessed several unique and absolute powers. It was by that very power that Cayenne had been cast out and thoroughly abandoned by his father.

“My father stamped this seal on the documents to exile me when I was a child. Your father, Count Hyer, tried many times to return me to the palace, but it was this seal that rejected him.”

Cayenne’s life had been a struggle, and although the man responsible for it was dead, he had not forgotten.

“I vowed over and over that one day, I would break this hateful seal with my own strength.”

He had always lived proving himself. Having had his life threatened by his father at the age of seven, he knew no other way.

“I understand your heart, Your Majesty.”

“But my stubbornness and pride are not the priority right now.”

The words escaped Cayenne’s lips like a painful grinding of teeth. This was not his fight alone. Furthermore, if the Duke’s atrocities were not stopped, the lives in Rubeo would continue to be snuffed out in vain. He could not allow that not as a ruler, and not as a human being.

“To stop Duke Nigel from killing my people, I do not care if I must use this disgusting seal or wade through filth.”

Fortunately, Count Hyer, who had protected the young Cayenne, had taught him well exactly what kind of power only an Emperor possesses.

“I will follow you anywhere, Your Majesty.”

“Then, though it is somewhat nauseating, I shall borrow the power of this cursed seal.”

Throughout the Empire’s long history, countless nobles had sought to fulfill their ambitions, but this unique and absolute authority of the Emperor had always stood as a high wall, preserving the lineage of the Imperial House.

“Chief Attendant!” Cayenne called out loudly.

The Chief Attendant rushed in and bowed deeply.

“What I am about to direct is an Imperial Decree. Announce it exactly as I say.”

“Yes, Sire.”

Cayenne had never issued an Imperial Decree at the palace before, so the Chief Attendant clutched his notebook and pen with extreme tension.

“Summon the Parliament for tomorrow. Command that every single noble in the capital must attend.”

An Emperor had the right to summon the Parliament at any time.

“Furthermore, dispatch a special envoy to the Papacy immediately. Inform them that they are to comply with the authority of the Darius Imperial House.”

“Forgive me, Sire, but exactly which authority…”

“Tell them that the Holy Knights of the Papacy are originally the descendants of the Darius House’s direct knighthood. They will understand.”

Glenn, who understood the meaning behind those words, could not hide his shock. Historically, the Darius Imperial House had founded and supported the Holy Knights of the Papacy. It was custom to station them at the Papacy under the pretext of neutrally protecting the Pope who delivers God’s word.

“State clearly that this is not a suggestion or a request, but a command and the execution of an obligation. Tell them to send all of them.”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Cayenne was not the only Emperor to have faced threats to his power. Wary of this, his ancestors had codified a clever law: stationing a military force in a neutral zone during peace, which could be mobilized exclusively for the Emperor’s personal use when needed.

“Yes, every single one.”

The nominal purpose of the Holy Knights was the Emperor’s favor to protect peace and the word of God, but they were always trained for slaughter, and their ranks included information agents who operated in secret.

“Also, by my authority, dispatch a portion of the Imperial Guard to the County of Hyer.”

He was referring to the personnel not required for the absolute defense of the palace.

“Glenn, you must send the knights and troops of the County of Hyer to Rubeo.”

“I shall do as you command, Sire.” Glenn bowed in immediate obedience. The County of Hyer was fertile and close to the capital; it was not a region currently in need of a standing army, so there was no cause for concern.

“And summon the Knight Commander of Rubeo and several of his confidants to the Imperial Palace.”

Finally, Glenn understood the picture Cayenne was painting.

“The enemy is not one or two. I cannot face them alone.”

By sending the Hyer troops to Rubeo and bringing the loyal Knight Commander to the capital, Cayenne would be increasing the number of subordinates he could trust within the Imperial Palace. Once the support Duke Nigel was sending to the enemies was cut off, the possibility of Rubeo being endangered by battle would also vanish.

“Specifically, command the Knight Commander of Rubeo to hurry. Prepare for an appointment ceremony to be held as soon as he arrives.”

“To what position will you appoint him?”

“If you do not find it resentful, I shall make him the Commander of the Darius Direct Knights.”

That meant he would be the one responsible for leading the Holy Knights of the Papacy and serving the Emperor.

“I wish only to remain as Your Majesty’s personal knight.”

They had grown up together; how could Cayenne not know his heart? Cayenne’s bold commands had cleared the stifling weight from Glenn’s chest. Simultaneously, the entire tide of the war would shift, and the power of the Empire would begin to move.

“This is practically a declaration of war.”

Traditionally, the Darius Direct Knights were a group that could not exist in times of peace. Bringing the Commander of Rubeo to take that seat and drawing in the Holy Knights of the Papacy meant only one thing.

“No. This war began a long time ago,” Cayenne said with cold, dark eyes. “This is a declaration to end that war.”

His large hand firmly gripped the Imperial Seal resting on the desk.

“A beast needs to be taught who its master is.”

If he could be reborn as a true Emperor and correct every wrong, he could set aside his past hatred for a moment.