159 – 163
As the grandfather rode out of the estate in a carriage.
“Step back, Duke! Return the power to the benevolent Empress!”
“Huh?”
I was puzzled by the sudden voices of the crowd.
The bustling noise seeped in from outside the carriage, and I slightly opened the window to listen.
“What… what’s going on?”
Holding a large banner and the Emperor’s flag, hundreds… no, perhaps thousands of people marched, shouting.
“Step down, the tyrannical Duke! Return the throne to the Empress!”
“Only the Augustus family can ascend to the throne! Punish the Duke who disregards the law!”
Seeing that, my expression involuntarily furrowed.
Although she and I had become political enemies, and I might resent her, separate from that, she had done nothing wrong to them.
Watching what she did, I realized how inadequate I was.
If I had been running the state affairs from the beginning, the number of mistakes I would have made is unimaginable; the politics of the empire are cold and ruthless.
“Your Highness, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
I replied to Ifa’s words, “Ifa, what’s happening out there?”
Since I hadn’t been able to go out for long, I couldn’t easily understand their actions.
Moreover, seeing the guards protecting them made it even more incomprehensible.
To have guards escorting such shameless individuals instead of arresting them was beyond me.
“I… Roman imperial citizens have been protesting since William was arrested.”
My frown deepened at those words.
“Then you should have told me earlier. Why keep it from me until now?”
At my words, Ifa hesitated and said, “I thought… it might trouble Your Highness.”
As Ifa spoke, I tightly shut my lips.
Honestly, it is troubling.
Seeing someone insult her and not appreciate her efforts makes my heart ache.
Because I still hold a grudge against her.
“Sigh… Seriously. What on earth is he thinking?”
There’s no way Devian doesn’t know why they’re protesting like that.
He might not know much else, but he’s sharp when it comes to politics.
But I just can’t wrap my head around leaving them be like this.
Sometimes he seems like a genius, and other times, I can’t fathom Devian’s actions as I let out a sigh.
***
Late at night.
Finishing up the day’s work, I head towards the honeymoon suite.
*Creak.*
“I’m back.”
Opening the door and entering, I see Theodora gently turning her head on the bed.
“You’re back early today?”
“Yeah, since the war is almost over.”
Once we take care of the Sabanelli forces hiding somewhere, Nicaea will be completely under our control.
As I loosen my tie, saying this, Theodora gets up from the bed and speaks softly.
“Did you know what I saw outside today?”
I reply nonchalantly to her words.
“What did you see?”
Theodora stares at me intently.
She furrows her brows and speaks up.
“People out there are protesting against you, the emperor.”
“Oh… that?”
As I try to elaborate on what’s going on, Theodora, with her eyes slightly narrowed, speaks as if not trying to hide her annoyance.
“Do you realize how dangerous that is? Why do you just leave them be like that? Instead of letting those instigators provoke such misguided thoughts through protests, shouldn’t you be arresting them and putting them in prison?”
Perhaps such thoughts are natural in this place.
I know firsthand how troublesome it can be when dissent spreads nationwide.
That’s why we control it using the Information Bureau to prevent it from spreading nationwide.
“Those instigators are Information Bureau agents.”
Was she taken aback by my unexpected words?
Theodora’s face seems a bit puzzled.
Should I say she looks somewhat foolish?
Seeing her, who usually appears intellectual, looking dumbfounded alongside a fool, is quite rare.
“What… What did you say?! Why would the Information Bureau do such a thing?! What are they up to now?!”
In response to her alarmed voice, I speak as if trying to calm her down.
“Calm down. What are they up to? Just trying to control the discontent among the empire’s citizens.”
“Control?”
She questions, seemingly not understanding.
“Do you remember the William arrest incident from before?”
At my words, she nods in recognition.
“Yes, there was chaos when he was arrested, right?”
I nod at her words.
“That’s right. The Empire didn’t take kindly to mistreating a war hero. So, anticipating potential unrest, we initiated the protest to control it and manage it peacefully.”
She furrows her brow at my words.
“So… you incited the protests to control the Empire’s anger?”
“Yes. Don’t worry, it’s not what you think…”
But she cuts me off, clearly angry.
“You heartless person! Stop playing with people’s emotions!”
And in no time, she rushes to the bed, grabs a pillow, and rushes back.
-Smack! Smack!
She hits me wildly with the pillow.
“Aargh! Why… why are you doing this?!”
“Die! Just die! Always toying with people’s feelings! You trash!”
I grab her wrist as she continues to strike me, calming her down.
Why is she acting like this today?
But she, still not in a good mood, grumbles as she hits me with the pillow.
“Always saying you love me, care for me, while playing with people’s emotions! You’re truly the worst.”
She glares at me with red eyes as if she could kill me.
Her distorted delicate face, the beautiful eyes moist with tears that seem ready to fall when touched, it pains me to see her like this.
Perhaps she once loved me?
No… even if she did love me in the past, she hates me now.
What I do is undoubtedly right. But that doesn’t make me righteous in Theodora’s eyes.
So, to her… I apologize sincerely.
“I’m sorry.”
She scoffs at my words, roughly pushing my hand away, taking the pillow, and heading towards the bed.
“Hmph! Just go die somewhere.”
Seeing her like that, all I can manage is a bitter smile.
***
The next morning in the study.
Her tear-stained face from yesterday lingers in my mind.
“Sigh… Nevertheless, I have things to do.”
I skim through the neatly arranged reports on the desk.
An information report stating that Theodora met with an Imperialist congressman and encountered Duke Jans.
To monitor Theodora and the Imperialists, agents were instructed to cast eavesdropping spells at various locations where Imperialists gather.
Throughout the Imperial Palace and the carriages Theodora uses, eavesdropping spells are placed along her route.
From Theodora’s movements to the Imperialists’ mansions, including Duke Jans’ residence, and less than a hundred other locations where eavesdropping spells are installed for monitoring by the intelligence department.
Hence, important conversations are summarized into daily reports from within these setups and relayed.
Inside, there is an unusual content that captures my attention.
“Wow, are they really planning to assassinate the emperor now?”
Certainly, assassination seems to be a common conspiracy in this world.
Especially, there have been numerous cases of imperial assassinations.
Among the emperors in history, quite a few have died from assassination.
Some were killed by attackers outside the palace, some by poison in their favorite food, some by magical attacks while riding a carriage, some by sudden attacks from maids, some by suffocation with a pillow after engaging in extramarital affairs, and various other unique assassination methods.
There was even an incident where the emperor, leaning against the palace railing, fell to his death after the railing was subtly sawed.
This level of assassination is official, and if we include poisonings disguised as natural deaths unofficially, the number would increase.
If we consider this limited to the emperor and high-ranking nobles, the number of cases would be significantly high.
Didn’t I also assassinate Valoran and take his place?
“Sigh…”
As long as they succeed in their handling, it’s not a bad outcome.
My political foundation comes from being the emperor’s husband.
If she dies here, it will be difficult for me to rule as I do now unless I marry Joy.
Easily marrying someone at the Imperial Council, like when Theodora and I got married, is a dreamlike story.
Especially since the imperial faction will strongly oppose it, and most of the neutral faction will likely oppose it too.
With the anti-imperial faction’s votes, they can never surpass the council.
But ultimately, their plans will fail and be caught.
“I should continue to watch closely.”
With that, I write down orders and contemplate the future events.
Hm… an assassination plot… seems to have been caught.
Perhaps this can be used to create a favorable situation for Theodora.
The problem lies in securing evidence and subtly leaking it to Theodora.
I must submit the evidence of the assassination attempt on the emperor without getting too involved.
“Should I ask Mother-in-law for help as expected?”
***
A few days later.
After slaughtering the Babylonian mercenaries and sending some as examples to the Byzantine Square, there was news that a few leaders would be sent here for the coronation ceremony.
But where did Sabinele go?
There is no news about the existence that was supposed to free me from the life of a slave.
There is also no news about Alexander.
Having seen his exceptional qualities as a diplomat, I also have ambitions concerning Alexander.
But when Johannes died, did he die with him…?
Seeing that there is no word on what happened, he probably died.
The thought of him being dead is bitter.
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Sigh… his talent was precious.
But there is nothing to be done. How can one lament over someone who is already dead?
With that, I rise from my seat and prepare to go out.
“Oh? Your Grace, where are you off to?”
It’s Mueller, whom I haven’t seen in a long time.
“Ah, I have an important appointment today.”
Today is a truly significant day.
It’s the day when the anti-government protesters, Amon, and his comrades are supposed to meet at a nearby restaurant.
Amon and his group, who strongly advocate for using Molotov cocktails and saboteurs.
It’s the first time meeting them.
Shall we take a look at the faces of those who want to destroy humanity?