139 – 143
Mother’s room.
A familiar room that I’ve visited every day since I was young.
A place with memories of playing with my brothers when I was young and often coming here crying due to my mischievous second brother’s pranks.
Every time, Mom would comfort me and scold Anthony.
Well… whether it’s back then or now, coming to this room to scold someone is the same.
“Mother, I want to derail that person.”
Mother stiffens slightly as she holds a teacup at my words.
“Is it because of that matter?”
“Yes. I can no longer entrust him with the affairs of the state.”
My brief words made my mother’s expression grimace.
“Terra. I know your mind well. But we are in the midst of war now. If we bring down Devian at this moment, there will be no one to take his place in conducting the war.”
My mother’s words made sense, too.
Having been born a woman, I have never led in a war… or even understood much about wars.
I never received the typical military education.
“Not immediately, but someday, we must bring him down.”
He and I are nothing but symbiotic.
If he loses in the war now, I will lose my position, and he won’t survive either.
This war now… is a matter of life and death for both of us.
So, it’s not about bringing him down during the war, but after the war.
I secure the safety of the imperial family in exchange for bestowing power upon him, and he controls the empire in exchange for ensuring the imperial family’s safety.
However, if he gains many achievements and maintains his power in the future, my standing will diminish accordingly.
If this symbiotic relationship breaks, ultimately, I will be the one at a loss.
Hence, Devian must be brought down before that happens.
“You think you will rule as the Empress directly. Quite ambitious. But there is no power in Roman to drive him out.”
Devian, who holds control over Roman.
After the war, everyone will probably be too busy flattering him to care about someone like me.
Devian will become more and more reckless.
But I cannot just sit back and watch.
I am the Empress of this empire, the true master of the empire.
“Yes. It won’t be easy to drive him out. But we must.”
My mother speaks with a worried expression as she looks at my resolute face.
“If… we drive Devian out, will you kill that child?”
I shake my head at her question.
“No. I only plan to bring him down; I have no desire to kill him.”
That’s the truth.
Whether power or anything else, the fact remains that he was on the brink of death in my place.
And… as much as I despise him.
I also love him.
No matter what anyone says, he is my one and only husband, so I do not wish to take his life.
The next Emperor will be the son born between him and me, so we must share a bed as well.
If he refuses after being brought down, I am prepared to force him, if necessary.
That way, the child born between us will also be the heir to the Grand Empire.
He will become a powerful Emperor in the future.
Different from me.
That is a long way off. It’s just a far-fetched imagination in a situation where success in bringing him down is far from guaranteed.
“Well… in that case, it’s a relief.”
My mother, relieved, continues after letting out a sigh.
“If you plan to bring down Devian, how about seeking help from your grandfather?”
“Grandfather?”
My grandfather is Jans Tribian, the Duke of Lombardy in the Mondic Mountains.
He was solemn with my brothers, but infinitely gentle with me and Joy.
“Your grandfather is respected by nobles and wealthy, so he will be a great support for you, who currently lacks any backing.”
Moreover, he often visits the palace to see Mother.
In the past, Mother used to go see Grandfather herself, but since Devian’s restrictions on outings, he is one of the few who can enter the palace.
“Through him, gather support from the council and nobles. Then, those nobles who flatter you with the title of Emperor will lend you their strength.”
Watching Mother smile softly, I also smile gently and say, “Like nobles who flatter you to dance at a ball?”
Refusing to dance at a ball here would be a dishonorable act.
That’s why memories of nobles wanting to dance with me flood back, and a smile forms on my lips.
Back then, I found it so tiresome. Now, it seems like those were the most comfortable times.
“Yes, my daughter. To use them, you must find balance among them, build your own power, and then drive Devian out with that strength.”
I nod at his words.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Mother responds to my words with a slightly serious expression.
“But be cautious. Their coming to support you is for their own gain. If you bring down Devian, you’ll have to share the authority he held.”
I am aware of that as well.
I’ve seen Devian negotiate with Alexander multiple times to pass the bills he needs.
“Don’t worry. I’ve seen how he manipulates the empire’s legislators.”
“Yes. You’ll do well. No matter what others say… you are the Holy Emperor’s daughter. Our ancestors will protect you.”
Watching Mother’s bright smile, I also nod brightly.
***
– Knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
“General Agrifa has arrived.”
Ah? Already here?
Thinking this, I realize it’s already evening as I look at the clock.
“Tell him to come in.”
As I speak, the door opens, revealing the face of a familiar friend.
I greet Agrifa, my maid and closest friend, warmly.
“Hey, Agrifa! How have you been?”
A handsome blond man.
“Thanks to you, I’ve been well.”
I nod at his strikingly good looks that could make any man jealous.
“You just arrived? Have you eaten dinner?”
Agrifa shakes his head in response to my question.
“Well, then let’s go out and eat together after so long.”
Agrifa nods at my suggestion.
And with that, we head out of the palace.
“Your Grace, looking at the current situation, I am quite satisfied with the front lines.”
With Eren and Bohemi holding up better than expected, Agrippa seemed content as he spoke with a smile…
But my thoughts were quite the opposite.
“Well, they’re holding up so well that it’s actually worrying.”
Agrippa can be considered a soldier.
Therefore, while victory is the most crucial aspect in war, I am no different from a politician.
If the Imperial faction remains too strong after the war, they might resort to any means to undermine me.
For them, Johannes, who started this civil war, is their top enemy, followed by me, who secretly provided Epirus and Ezbet to Johannes against the Imperial faction.
So, I must maintain an overwhelming power difference over them.
“Isn’t it good if they hold up well?”
I shake my head at that.
“No. They need to be hit so hard that they can never raise their heads to me again.”
I hope Bohemi and Eren turn into a wasteland at least for the next few decades.
“Your Grace… you’ve become all-powerful in my absence.”
I chuckle, realizing the implication behind Agrippa’s words.
All-powerful…
“Yes… that does sound right.”
From Noble mtl dot com
Establishing my power on the blood spilled by people is not what an ordinary ruler does.
Usually, people would call such a ruler a tyrant.
The moment I entertain such thoughts…
My eyes feel like they’re going to burst…
“Ugh…”
I press my left eye tightly with one hand.
“Your Grace?”
Agrippa stands up from the carriage seat and grabs my shoulder.
“Haah… Haah…”
Tears flow only from my left eye.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“hahahaha… Maybe I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately?”
Not going to our bridal chamber, I’ve increased my workload recently.
Probably attributing it to fatigue, I wipe my left eye.
“Take a break for a bit.”
I shake my head at that.
“No… I can’t afford to rest. Especially with the amphibious operation ahead. I think I need to delay it a bit.”
Later, I’ll have the Golden Knights and William board the ship.
However, separately, the Adriatic Sea landing will be postponed for a while.
“That…”
I say, shaking my head.
“Yeah. Johannes hired additional mercenaries from Babylon. Seems like Babylon has surplus population. Nearly 80,000 of them, I heard.”
An army of nearly 80,000 passing through the valley could secure victory by turning the plain into a sea of tents.
Agrippa replied in a weary voice to my words, “Many will die.”
“It may be so… It’s all my fault.”
If only I had more power… Maybe I could end this without demanding such sacrifices.
But sadly, my abilities fall short, and the Imperial faction will not reconsider expelling me after the war.
I must weaken their power in advance.
Yet, pushing them back with the Empire’s army like Johannes did is impossible.
*Squeak.*
Suddenly, a carriage stops.
“Let’s discuss the rest inside.”
And so, we enter a restaurant called Roman’s Night.
The waiter sees us and greets, “Your Excellency, it’s an honor to have you here.”
I revisited the restaurant where I first met Lucius, this time with Agrippa.
“Long time no see.”
“hahahaha, please follow me to the VIP room.”
While waiting for the food in the VIP room following his guidance,
“Oh! I almost forgot.”
I pull out a small pouch from my pocket.
“Here, this is a wedding gift.”
Handing over the pouch, Agrippa asks with a puzzled look, “What’s this?”
Seeing Agrippa’s innocent face, I clear my throat and say, “Well… Since Mary is still young, I thought this unicorn horn might come in handy somewhere.”
His usual calm and composed demeanor disappears as his eyes widen in surprise.
“Wow! Thank you very much. Is this… the famous… uni… unicorn horn?”
He says, opening the pouch.
“They say grinding it and mixing with alcohol works wonders.”
I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard staying up all night after consuming it…
I’m sure the effects are excellent.
“I’ll make good use of it. Your Excellency…”
Seeing Agrippa almost in tears of joy, I continue, “Make good use of it… What…?”
He’ll feel squeezed by Mary tonight. I gave it to him in advance…
Agrippa, still unaware of the truth, seems clueless, so I speak up.
“You know Mary is boarding tonight, right?”
“Yes…?”