The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 57

After dinner, Alicia quickly organized the list of relief supplies. However, her work was not yet finished.

“I need to ask His Majesty.”

“Is it about melting the Lucan gold coins after all?”

“No.”

She had no hesitation regarding melting the Lucan gold.

“Looking at the map, Rubeo is close to the capital, but there is a mountain range in between, so one has to take a long detour.”

Only people like Cayenne and Glenn could cross those rugged mountains on horseback. It would be even more difficult for carriages loaded with relief supplies.

“So, it is better to send the gold, which is light, and procure supplies from a city near Rubeo.”

“But Rubeo is at the very edge of the Imperial border.”

“When it comes to buying goods with money, borders do not matter.”

Agnes did not know when Alicia, who had grown up in the stiflingly closed-off Lucan, had acquired such a practical sense, but every word she said was correct.

“And it just so happens there is a very good place at a reasonable distance.”

Alicia’s fair finger pointed to the Kingdom of Tristan. Indeed, it was not far from Rubeo, the roads were relatively flat, and it was a prosperous land where many supplies could be obtained.

“Agnes, didn’t you say? The King and Queen of Tristan are benevolent rulers who love their people.”

“Yes, that is certainly true.”

“Then they will surely sell us relief goods for the sake of the Empire’s people. Won’t they?”

Buying temporary relief supplies rather than engaging in formal trade was not something another country would usually welcome.

“If they are the people I remember, yes, I suppose they would.”

Since the Kingdom of Tristan was conveniently located, Alicia decided to pin her hopes there.

“I must send a letter to His Majesty. He might still be with Duke Tiers.”

Agnes nodded and prepared to write the letter, entirely unaware of what form the reply to that letter would take.

In Lucan, a belated commotion broke out following the Emperor’s decree. While even those usually reticent and calm raised their voices, the Great Sage alone maintained his composure in silence.

“The Emperor is crossing the line!”

“If this continues, the cooperative relationship between the Empire and us is in jeopardy.”

“Great Sage, please grant us your wisdom.”

Stroking his white beard, the Great Sage wore a benevolent smile, the wrinkles around his eyes reflecting the passage of time.

“Everyone, calm down.”

When he struck his staff, woven from thick wood, against the floor, everyone fell silent.

“It is nothing to make a fuss about.”

“But”

As the Great Sage’s eyes, deep beyond measure, glared at the speaker, silence returned once more.

“All things in this world move according to the Wheel of Truth.”

That was the spirit of Lucan and the root of its teachings.

“However, humans are immature beings who sometimes make foolish decisions. It is our role to point them toward the proper direction of truth.”

At the Great Sage’s words, the faces of several people brightened. For him to state his intent so clearly meant he intended to move immediately.

“The journey is already prepared, so do not be flustered.”

“As expected, the Great Sage foresaw even this and made preparations.”

“We are ashamed of ourselves.”

In truth, these preparations were made to seek out Alicia, who had forgotten her duties. If Alicia had no intention of following the teachings of Lucan, a different Empress would be needed. Furthermore, Alicia was a very special existence to the Great Sage; if a problem had arisen, she had to be retrieved.

“Ray, come here.”

As the Great Sage extended his wrinkled hand, his fifteen-year-old grandson, Ray, approached and respectfully took it.

“Join me on my journey.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Ray was the promising successor of Lucan, where offspring were rare. Although his father, the Great Sage’s first son, had recently passed away, Lucan’s hope remained unextinguished because of Ray, who possessed a deep soul and a mysterious aura despite his young age.

“If only everyone could realize the truth as easily as you do.”

The Great Sage stroked his young grandson’s head affectionately.

“You are different from that foolish girl. Indeed, I should not have expected much from an outsider’s offspring.”

The child he had cherished and valued most was his youngest, Jace. However, Jace had betrayed the will of his father and Lucan, leaving behind a daughter born to a woman he met outside. It was a fact that saddened the Great Sage as much as the untimely death of his favorite son.

“Great Sage, what will you do if she has truly forgotten the truth after suffering from that high fever, and cannot realize it again?”

Some believed the rumors that Alicia had become dim-witted after the fever, while others were skeptical. What was certain, however, was that the current Empress was failing to fulfill her role.

“Or what if she has completely gone over to that savage Emperor?”

The Emperor had even officially sent a letter to Lucan, commanding them to refrain from contacting the Empress for the time being, as her health was not yet fully restored.

“Do not worry, everyone.”

The crystal ball embedded in the Great Sage’s staff emitted an eerie light.

“The Truth shall always be with me. That foolish child will either realize it or return to our side.”

Once he saw Alicia in person, he would know whether the fever was an excuse or not.

“If she has already lost the Truth, returning will only bring harm to Lucan.”

“That is not so.”

The Great Sage stared into the void as if looking at something far away.

“That child is special.”

In Lucan, the Great Sage’s word was absolute. As if to prove it, everyone bowed their heads in respect of his judgment.

Entirely unaware of what was happening in Lucan, Alicia was about to go to bed when she heard an unexpected commotion.

“What is it?”

Agnes, who was attending to Alicia, hurriedly looked out through the curtains. A few of the Emperor’s attendants were standing at the entrance holding lamps.

“It seems His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!”

“What? Now?”

Alicia, dressed only in her white nightgown, widened her eyes in fluster. Usually, he would at least send someone ahead to announce his arrival, but today he had come directly to the Empress’s palace without notice, leaving her no time to prepare.

“What should I do?”

“Shall I tell him you have already retired for the night?”

Alicia pondered for a moment. If the Cayenne she knew had come all this way in the middle of the night without notice, such a reason would not stop him.

“I do not think that will work.”

“To be honest, I thought so too.”

Agnes quickly pulled out a thick robe to cover the nightgown and helped Alicia into it. Just then, Howard, the Chief Seneschal of the Empress’s palace, entered and gave a discreet look.

“His Majesty is in the drawing room attached to the bedchamber.”

Cayenne remained swift and bold in his actions.

“I will serve light refreshments and then withdraw.”

Howard nodded in agreement with Agnes. Alicia tied the sash of her robe a bit tighter, stepped out of the bedroom, and headed to the drawing room where he was waiting.

“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”

Though she was not properly dressed, her etiquette was flawless. Cayenne realized he had committed a great discourtesy when he saw Alicia’s attire, but it was already too late.

“I was hasty.”

Alicia said nothing and, after finishing her greeting, sat opposite the sofa where he was seated. Thinking back to a similar situation that had occurred before, her heart fluttered, but she tried her best not to let it show.

“Did I wake you?”

“No. I was just about to go to bed.”

Cayenne nodded awkwardly. Meanwhile, Agnes quietly and politely served the refreshments and withdrew. When the sound of the door closing, tighter than usual, echoed, Alicia became even more conscious of Cayenne’s presence.

“I was so delighted to see your letter that I came as soon as Duke Tiers left.”

Honest joy was clearly visible on Cayenne’s face.

“I thought about writing a reply since it was late, but I could not possibly express it in words.”

After a momentary bashful expression, he suddenly stood up and moved to the seat beside Alicia. Not only that, his large hand naturally took Alicia’s fair hand.

“This very situation feels like our relationship.”

“Pardon?”

“Looking in the same direction, side by side. At the same time, being closer to each other than anyone else.”

How could this man make such a confession so casually? Alicia’s heart pounded, but the oblivious Cayenne just kept smiling.

“In everything, you are my first.”

Listening closely through the silence, she could tell that Cayenne’s heart was beating as fast as hers. That fact gave Alicia a sense of warm relief.

“Being this close to a woman, holding hands, kissing.”

This time, Alicia’s cheeks could not help but turn red.

“And I have realized for the first time what a joyful and grateful thing it is to have someone look in the same direction as I do.”

As Alicia slowly turned her head to look at him, Cayenne met her gaze.

“I just wanted to help the people of Rubeo.”

“You are the first.”

There had been many people who cared for Rubeo and Cayenne, but most of it came from a sense of duty and responsibility. Above all, it was necessarily based on obedience to him as the Emperor.

“Alicia. Without obeying me, and without following my orders, you looked upon them with warm eyes of your own accord, just as I do.”

It was not about the Lucan gold coins. Cayenne felt as though he had gained a true ally for the first time in his life, and he could not possibly convey this feeling through a mere letter.

“I felt as if, for the only time in this world, I had someone on my side without any conditions.”

Cayenne waited carefully for Alicia’s answer. Even though he already knew her heart, he felt a desire to hear it in her lovely voice.

“I am on Your Majesty’s, no.”

Alicia looked into Cayenne’s warm black eyes.

“Cayenne, I am on your side.”

Instead of answering with words, he conveyed his heart through the warmth of his lips. Fervently, and sweetly.