157 – 161
Late at night.
I walk to the honeymoon suite as promised with my mother-in-law.
But it’s been almost a year. Can it still be called a honeymoon suite?
Anyway, the Gold Area now feels unfamiliar.
The guard standing in front of the honeymoon suite greets me.
“Your Highness? Long time no see. Has the separation with Her Majesty ended?”
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I chuckle at the playful guard’s words.
“Separation…”
“You did well. They say marital disputes are originally settled with swords, don’t they?”
Legally, we may be married, but I’ve never considered us a real couple.
“You… say such absurd things.”
With that, I knock on the door.
-Knock, knock.
[Who is it?]
A sweet voice.
I know who that voice belongs to.
Come to think of it… I grabbed her by the hair in this room before.
Ah… I should have held back a little then.
Shouldn’t have resorted to violence against a woman like a brute.
Reflecting on that, I calmly say, “It’s me.”
With that, I open the door and enter the room.
“What brings you here?”
Theodora, with her eyes widening in surprise as she looked at me.
“Well… hahahaha…”
Come to think of it, something similar had happened before.
I recalled the time when I ended up sharing a room with her because my mother-in-law asked me to and I couldn’t refuse.
Theodora, eyes flickering as she looked at me.
“Did you have the courage to come to this room after saying that to me back then? I didn’t see that coming. You’re quite shameless.”
Well… what did my mother-in-law let slip?
Still looking frosty, I let out a sigh.
“I didn’t come here willingly either.”
Confused, Theodora asked, “Really?”
I shrugged my shoulders and nodded towards the room where my mother-in-law was.
Blushing slightly, she said, “Oh… I see… Your mother…”
Embarrassed, she must have figured out why I was here.
“So, I’ll just sleep on the sofa for now.”
Saying that, she headed towards the sofa.
***
The next morning.
The report from the intelligence department contained alarming statements.
A guy named Amon is urging for nationwide expansion of protests by providing funds.
So, we decided to take the funds first and investigate Amon’s activities.
Openly anti-government actions.
Causing chaos, are they dreaming of the demon king’s resurrection in the darkness?
I won’t let them off that easily.
I guess I’ll have to prepare some bait.
So when they take it… we’ll have to deal with them all at once.
Even if the demon worshipers try to resist, with the knights and a few infantrymen, they are destined to be annihilated.
That’s why they’re putting up a fight.
Certainly, among the demon worshipers, there are high-ranking nobles, a few knights or wizards, even priests exist.
But they are a tiny minority.
Compared to the power of a strong nation, they are like a drop in the bucket.
“First, we need to play along with what they want, start building rapport with the Holy See…”
The current Pope Gregory XV doesn’t like me.
Well, it’s more like he hates me.
I provided evidence of my previous alliance with the demon worshipers, but he despises me to the extent of ignoring it.
So, he must have said something like that during the coronation and wedding.
Although I cannot directly interfere in the empire’s politics, the power held by the Pope is immense.
With strong support from the masses and nobles, along with numerous bishops and churches under papal rule.
And that’s not all.
Most nobles have up to three knight orders, which are hard to come by. Through offerings, tithes, and through the establishment of immense wealth since the founding of the empire with eleven provinces.
Taxes collected for thousands of years.
In addition, there is an official doctrine that prohibits extravagance.
Of course, they know that there is a lot of extravagance going on behind the scenes.
Putting that aside, even if participating in politics was not prohibited, they might have still formed powerful factions.
“The Pope hates me so much that… there’s really no way.”
I’ve been trying to build a close relationship with the papacy, whether knowingly or unknowingly, but each time I’ve failed due to the Pope’s opposition.
Should I just give up for now?
If it weren’t for the appearance of the demons, priests wouldn’t really be necessary.
Thinking like that, I examine the tax reform bill and the declaration for the dissolution of the Imperial faction.
I add content that I boldly removed before out of fear of civil war and exclude content that was meant to appease the high nobles.
“This should be enough.”
This was made possible due to the significant losses suffered by the Bohemia Kingdom and the Eren Kingdom.
And now, I proceed with the procedures related to Nicaea.
Andronicus Angelos, the eldest son of Johannes.
He was supposed to be the next king of Nicaea, but that opportunity disappeared when Johannes rebelled.
“First, I should request a vote for the dethronement of the Nicaea kingdom from the council.”
According to imperial law, to strip a high noble of their title, the matter must first be voted on by the Imperial Council.
Most likely, this part will be approved without much difficulty.
Since I won’t be ruling Nicaea, but rather in a formal capacity with Emperor Theodora in charge.
There shouldn’t be any opposition.
And so, I continue to work busily today.
***
Theodora sighs as she watches Devian leave early in the morning.
“Ah…, my mother.”
We may be a married couple, but our relationship can be described as the worst since our marriage.
It’s not that I dislike her, but it’s not like I really want to see her often either, should I say?
It’s difficult for me to express my feelings about Devian.
How surprised I was when Devian suddenly came to our honeymoon suite.
Of course, I know that such a thing would never happen, but I couldn’t sleep worrying that it might.
“What time is it now?”
Watching the sun rise slowly, I look at the clock on the table…
It’s just past 6 o’clock now.
But thinking about Devian already leaving, I shake my head in disbelief.
“You’re very diligent.”
I decide to get a bit more sleep, then wash up and have breakfast with the family.
“Tera, did the son-in-law come to the room last night?”
Today, my mother’s smile feels oddly sinister.
She wasn’t like this before.
Sometimes she gets carried away thinking about her grandchildren.
Father and brothers are all dead, leaving only three family members now.
I understand, but there’s a slight sense of resentment as well.
To prioritize grandchildren over me, their daughter, if that doesn’t sting, it must be a lie.
But I still don’t have the desire to have children.
How should I put it… Should I say I’m uncertain about Devian?
I realized he doesn’t love me.
How much did I cry in bed when I first found out?
It feels desolate to have a trash man playing with people’s hearts as my husband.
“I’m back.”
As I coldly speak, Mother’s expression stiffens.
“Ah… I see.”
With silence lingering on the dining table, Joy awkwardly smiles.
“Oh? What’s wrong with you and Mom?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
I reply like that and get up from my seat.
“I have an appointment this morning, so I’ll leave first.”
Saying that, I put on my going-out clothes and head outside.
Today’s appointment is a meeting with the members of the Emperor’s faction at the Imperial Council.
I need to know what they think, what their intentions are.
So, I visited the mansion owned by the Bohemi Royal Family today.
There are Imperial faction members already gathered there.
Enrique, a member of the Bohemi Kingdom, and Louis, a member of the Ern Kingdom.
About 8 Imperial faction members, including these two, greet me.
“Long time no see, Your Majesty.”
“It has been a while.”
“You are still as beautiful as ever.”
“You flatter me, but my heart belongs to another.”
I don’t feel any excitement from the compliments on my appearance, as I’ve heard them too many times before.
“Now, the reason I gathered you all here today is to save your lives.”
As I speak, everyone’s faces stiffen.
Some astute individuals probably already understand. The Grand Duke is planning to dismantle the Emperor’s faction.
Upon my words, Louis steps forward and speaks.
“Your Majesty, our Imperial faction has been loyal to the Empire since the time of the late Emperor. How can you speak of dismantling us?”
Taking his words, Enrique steps up and says,
“That’s right, Your Majesty! This tyranny cannot be allowed. Please stop the Grand Duke.”
In response to their words, I smile coldly.
“Didn’t you all hand over your loyalty and power to him? Now you want me to stop him? Wasn’t it you who caused this situation?”
If Devian and I hadn’t gotten married, this wouldn’t have happened.
It’s amusing how they fear paying the price for underestimating Devian’s abilities and ambitions.
“But… Your Majesty! We are for the Empire…”
As members of a different imperial faction try to speak up, I decisively interrupt them.
“Selling the emperor for the empire, is your loyalty about selling your lord?”
Seeing the imperial faction members unable to meet my eyes after my words, I feel a sense of satisfaction.
“Selling the baggage and then asking for help? Don’t I already have power?”
In response to my words, Luis speaks in a pitiful manner.
“Your Majesty… Shouldn’t you exercise your veto power? We haven’t been loyal to Your Majesty’s wishes. If you give us a chance, we will sincerely honor Your Majesty, unlike before.”
If the imperial faction collapses, they will lose the privileges they once enjoyed.
But that’s not all.
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The lesser nobles who have been oppressed beneath the powerful nobles might rise up.
If the lesser nobles, who have been suppressed by their tyranny, stand up, they will find it hard to hold their ground.
They may even have to grant independence to many territories.
“Well? How can I trust your words?”
In response to my words, Enrique kneels down.
“Your Majesty! Please show mercy. As you know, we made that choice back then because it was almost impossible to resist the Romans.”
“You still haven’t come to your senses, trying to mock me even here.”
I glare at them and say, “You were the ones who led the way in marrying me and then conspired with her to deceive me and seize my territory. How do you explain that?! Do you think I’m a fool?!”
As I raise my voice, everyone kneels down and bows their heads.
“Your Majesty… We are at fault.”
“We have committed a crime.”
They are all representatives of their respective countries.
They are merely servants of kings and nobles who have betrayed me.
In reality, they have little power.
“I will give you a chance.”
Will my words become a faint hope for them? The council members subtly nod their heads.
“If you call it a chance?”
“I will send you a document in a few days. If all your lords sign it, I will exercise my veto power.”
“T-That…”
I glare at Luis, who seems to want to say something.
“Why? Can’t do it?”
Luis avoids my gaze.
“Go to your lords and tell them, if they don’t all sign, the imperial faction will be disbanded.”
With those words, I leave the mansion.