The Empress Tames the Tyrant - Chapter 61

Cayenne’s lips twisted fiercely.

“The Great Sage of Lucan is said to be the wisest man in the world,” he said, his chilled voice betraying his rising anger. “Yet, it is strange, for he does not appear so to me at all right now.”

The Great Sage’s attitude, speaking of Alicia as if she were his property, was unbearably irritating. Cayenne could no longer tolerate the man’s attempt to define their relationship.

“The Empress is my one and only wife,” Cayenne stated firmly.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, we have received a letter from the Holy See stating that they cannot recognize your relationship as a valid marriage,” Duke Nigel countered, holding out a letter stamped with the seal of the Holy See.

Cayenne was well aware that their marriage lacked public recognition, but he had not realized how nauseating it would feel to hear it pointed out by others.

“Which customary law are you claiming? Has Duke Nigel already forgotten the scene of me exchanging wedding vows a year ago? Is the Great Sage not the only one who has grown old and senile?”

Cayenne’s low, growling voice showed he had lost his composure. This was exactly the sight Duke Nigel had hoped for. Regrettably for the Duke, Cayenne’s temperament, forged through years on the battlefield, was not something that could vanish after a few months of palace life.

“Your Majesty, I am merely trying to correct a mistaken decision. Since the Great Sage and I brokered this national wedding together, it is only right that we are the ones to untie this tangled knot.”

Cayenne slammed his fist onto the armrest of the throne.

“I will say it once more. The Empress is my wife.”

Yes, this was the true Cayenne: a fierce beast sweeping across the battlefield, a barbarian who knew nothing of refinement or etiquette.

“Please calm your anger,” the Great Sage spoke. “The Truth of Lucan has already made its decision. Whether it be His Holiness the Pope or Duke Nigel, anyone who knows the laws of this continent would agree with this decision.”

Cayenne thought of how much easier this would be if they were on a battlefield.

“Great Sage, this is not Lucan. This is my audience chamber.”

Cayenne wanted to cut down these men and their disgusting intentions right then and there, but at the same time, he had to restrain himself for Alicia’s sake. Duke Nigel was inwardly surprised to see Cayenne suppressing his emotions, however clumsily. The Emperor had grown much more than he remembered.

“Yes, even this old man can discern that much. I also know that I have the right to take back a daughter who has failed to consummate her marriage,” the Great Sage said calmly.

Cayenne scowled deeply.

“The Empress is already a member of the Darius Imperial Family, so watch your words.”

“It would have been well if that were the case, but since your wedding vows have already passed their expiration and become void, our lacking daughter of Lucan holds no status or rights here.”

Duke Nigel nodded as if to assist, still holding the letter with the Holy See’s seal prominently for all to see.

“The faith of this continent comes from the Holy See, and the truth comes from Lucan. As Your Majesty knows, those two places are inviolable and absolutely neutral.”

Looking at Duke Nigel’s boasting mouth, Cayenne saw exactly what his scheme was. Just as he had tormented Cayenne by participating in the innocent massacres of Rubeo, he was now trying to take Alicia away. It was likely retaliation for Cayenne’s attempt to reclaim imperial power.

“Your Majesty, I am old, and descendants of the Great Sage’s bloodline are rare in Lucan. Above all, how could I not take back a daughter who has lost her wisdom to a high fever?”

“No,” Cayenne raised a hand, quickly cutting him off.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty, the Great Sage is correct. The Holy See has proven the marriage vows are void, and since no consummation occurred, all rights regarding her belong to Lucan.”

Duke Nigel no longer even referred to Alicia as the Empress. At that, Cayenne let out a breath of fury, barely managing to keep himself from drawing the sword at his waist.

“Your Majesty, simply look at the truth of the present,” the Great Sage chirped with a benevolent face. “The marriage between the Emperor and the daughter of Lucan, Alicia, is void. Furthermore, she is said to have lost her wisdom during that fever.”

On this continent, a daughter was the property of her parents, and later became the property of her husband upon a valid marriage. If that was not the case, she was often treated as a barbarian who knew no duty.

“I will say this for the last time. Alicia is my wife, and no one can take her away.”

Both sides continued to repeat the same claims. However, even Cayenne found it difficult to ignore the fact that, legally, they were right. If the marriage had become void, common sense dictated that Alicia should return to Lucan.

“There is nothing wrong with our marriage. Furthermore, the Empress will be my only wife for the rest of my life.”

What sustained Cayenne now was the promise he had made to Alicia. He did not wish to have a first night that Alicia did not want. He instinctively knew that if he did, he would never truly win her heart.

“You are being too emotional. After all, was it not Your Majesty who brought about the problems of the wedding in the first place? Above all, I worry that the dignity of the Imperial Family will suffer if we take this matter to a trial at the Holy See.”

“Your Majesty, I also believe the Great Sage’s proposal is the only way. It was a flawed wedding from the start, so we must untie the knot now.”

Two, no, three forces if the Pope’s letter was included, were shaking Cayenne’s marriage.

“You dare suggest putting me, the Emperor, on trial?”

“If we cannot rightfully receive the daughter of Lucan back, we will have no choice. Under the word of God, Your Majesty is the same as us.”

Finally, Cayenne could no longer contain the surging heat of his anger and stood up abruptly.

“No one, not even the Great Sage of Lucan who raised her, can interfere in this marriage.”

He had made a promise on the final night before the marriage vows were set to expire. No matter what the world said about their marriage, he would protect Alicia, his one and only wife.

“I am well aware of your cunning intentions, but I will never abandon my wife.”

Cayenne strode down the steps of the throne and stood tall before Duke Nigel and the Great Sage. A sense of intimidation, far different from when he was seated, seemed to pierce the skin of everyone present.

“That is the only truth.”

He still did not regret his promise. He regretted even less that he had not forced Alicia into a first night.

“If you wish to challenge my truth, then come at me with all you have. Whether you call the Pope to hold a trial, criticize me with the Truth of Lucan, or bring a crowd of nobles to protest.”

No matter how many opponents there were, even if the entire world condemned the marriage, Cayenne would keep his promise. The vow engraved on his heart was that Alicia was his only wife and eternal partner.

“But when you come at me, be prepared.”

His freezing voice echoed lowly.

“For I will risk my life at any moment to protect that truth.”

Cayenne’s black eyes glared at the Great Sage and Duke Nigel in turn. He let out a breath of displeasure and left the audience chamber without a word of farewell. Chancellor Blake followed immediately after him.

“My, my,” the Great Sage murmured once the Emperor had completely vanished. “He is nothing short of a beast.”

The Great Sage had felt an indescribable killing intent from Cayenne as he stood before him. In the Emperor’s mind, the heads of the Great Sage and Duke Nigel had likely rolled several times already.

“Goodness, with such bloodthirst, there is no reasoning with him.”

“I thank you for recognizing my struggles,” Duke Nigel sighed.

It was entirely unexpected that Cayenne would risk his very life to defend this marriage, but in a way, it was a significant gain.

“Those who share my views have already sent countless petitions to the Holy See. Tomorrow, they will continue to press this issue even in front of the Emperor.”

“I care not for the affairs of the Empire. We in Lucan only need to get Alicia back.”

The Great Sage’s eyes sparkled with a mysterious light.

“That child is a very special existence to Lucan.”

Duke Nigel looked at the Great Sage with a look of incomprehension.

“I may not know all the truths of Lucan, but if that is the case, why did you send her as the Empress in the first place?”

The Great Sage offered a silent smile instead of an answer. In truth, Alicia’s presence in Lucan had been quite insignificant. She was the daughter of his most cherished youngest son, but she only possessed half the blood of Lucan, and perhaps because of that, she had been reluctant to follow Lucan’s will.

“There are some things that are better left unknown.”

News had reached Lucan that Alicia had suffered from a high fever for several days and had barely survived. They also heard that she had forgotten all wisdom and could no longer receive or report back via Lucan’s letters.

“I see.”

However, the Great Sage had then heard new information. It was a cautious report that since the fever, the Empress’s words and actions had become much bolder and wiser, and thanks to that, her relationship with the Emperor had grown closer.

“Your Grace, the Great Sage is very tired from his long journey. I shall take him to his quarters now, so let us speak again later.”

The Great Sage’s grandson cut the conversation short at an appropriate point. Duke Nigel, seemingly in agreement, offered a slight bow to the Great Sage and left the audience chamber.

“Ray, we must hurry.”

The handsome boy nodded. His appearance was youthful, but his expression was as gentle as the Great Sage’s, giving off a very mysterious aura.

“Do you feel anything?”

“Not yet. I cannot tell from here.”

The Great Sage nodded and stood up with the boy’s help.

“Then let us go closer.”

The old man’s eyes sparkled with life.

“To see if that half-blood truly suffered from the Fever of Wisdom and has touched the principles of another world.”

The moment he had waited for so desperately throughout his long life was now right in front of him.