166 – 170
“The coronation ceremony is next week.”
When Imperial Party member Hans spoke, the others looked down.
“So, how is the plan progressing?”
In response to Hans’ question, Enrique smiled.
“We have created an identity of a servant who has been working for a noble family in the city of Vairen for 5 years. And we have prepared an excellent assassin as well.”
Hans seemed pleased with this.
“hahahaha! So all we need now is the poison, right? Even if it’s a banquet hall, it would be difficult for a maid to carry around poison.”
To this, Louis replied.
“Don’t worry about that.”
Taking out a small blue gem, Louis spoke.
“This gem is made from processed poison.”
He pointed to the tiny gem.
“You put this small gem into the cup the lady drinks from.”
The nobles found it fascinating.
“Oh… Alchemy is truly amazing. Will one die if they consume it?”
Louis shook his head.
“Yes. When this gem dissolves in water, it has a lethal effect on a person. It doesn’t cause instant death, but no one has survived after consuming it.”
Everyone nodded in understanding.
“If the assassin leaves the palace, we must be prepared to deal with it. It must never be revealed that we poisoned the lady.”
Enrique responded to this concern.
“How could I not understand your worries? Of course, we have a plan to handle her as well.”
Hans burst into laughter.
“Excellent! Excellent. Finally, we can eliminate the lady and conclude the Grand Duchy. Then, let’s make a prior agreement about the woman who will be the lady next time.”
The room fell silent at those words.
Joy, who would become the next empress.
With the power of Epirus and Ezip alone, along with marrying the man who had gained even Nicaea, depending on who she chose as her husband, it was clear that the political landscape would be in turmoil.
“Wouldn’t it be better to marry into a suitable Hanmi family rather than a high noble family first?”
At Enrique’s words, Louis nodded thoughtfully.
“Representative Enrique, it seems premature to discuss that. I don’t think the Duke will step down willingly.”
“Hah! What are you suggesting? Are you going to marry both the sister and the brother?”
As it was common in the world of nobles, Hans’ words brought a hush over the room.
“Well, that might be an option.”
Considering marrying Theodora, who was on the verge of becoming a stepmother.
To them, he seemed like a deity of power.
“So, what should we do?”
“I think it would be best when the Duke is by your side. It seems necessary to eliminate the threat and make him suspicious.”
At Hans’ puzzled expression, he continued, “Isn’t it necessary to make the Duke the culprit and ensure he doesn’t receive the support of the council? Let’s create a law that prohibits marrying the relatives of a deceased spouse.”
“No! That’s too mild. Let’s declare them as enemies of the state. Send Theodora to hell with Johannes.”
The moment the Duke, who didn’t have the support of the council, couldn’t exercise his veto power.
And thus, they began heated debates on how to govern this empire after Theodora’s death.
Little did they know, all this news was flowing into the information department without their knowledge…
***
After the war, the lords of Nicaea decided to pledge allegiance to the emperor.
Perhaps they had decided to come to Rome for the coronation ceremony this time and pay homage to Theodora in person.
Things were going well.
Moreover, it was said that a bill was under review in the council stating that Nicaea, Epirus, and Ezip belonged to the emperor, using my arbitrary gift of Epirus and Ezip to Johannes as a pretext.
Of course, such a golden opportunity couldn’t be missed.
Politics always have their ups and downs.
“What will I gain this time?”
The plan was to pass the bill I wanted in the council under the condition of not exercising the veto power.
Well, I’ll think about that later…
“Is it the coronation ceremony?”
Perhaps next month, Agrippa and Mary would lead the imperial army back to Rome.
According to the long-standing tradition of the empire, upon returning victorious, the military commander, the most honored person, leads the parade.
And the main figure of the coronation ceremony, the most honored person, would be either Agrippa or William.
Although the exact announcement had not been made yet, if William was chosen, then William and the Golden Knights would return to Rome, so I would like to bestow the coronation on Agrippa.
– Knock, knock.
“Who is it?”
[Come in.]
I replied to Lucius’ voice.
“Come in.”
– Squeak.
“An urgent report has been posted by the Information Department.”
“Ah. Can you bring it here?”
Lucius receives the document envelope handed by me.
I cautiously put mana into the envelope and open it.
– Sizzle!
For data classified as Level 1 Confidential, a magical spell is cast so that if someone other than the authorized reader opens it, it will burn.
It’s a bit of a hassle, but necessary for security.
There are a few people rummaging around in my room with no reservations.
With that in mind, I unfold the report.
“Hmm… a servant from the Virency family.”
Is this another assassination?
It details a plan to deceive me and how they intend to expel me afterward.
Ridiculously, they even plan to contact the rioters.
Oh… the Empire is truly corrupt.
It’s surprising that the riot squad I created for risk management is so popular.
I never anticipated that a trap for demon worshippers would entangle traitors as well.
“Well, so be it…”
From Noble mtl dot com
I issue a discreet search order to find out who the assassins from the Imperial Faction are, along with orders to gather information or evidence of their communication with the homeland.
– Swish… Swish!
It’s essential to prevent them from escaping.
After drafting the orders, I put them in a document envelope and hand them to Lucius.
“Pass this on to the Information Department.”
After a brief nod of acknowledgment to me, Lucius leaves, lost in thought.
After this ceremony, I’ll have to teach Theodora a bit about the mindset of a faction leader.
If my loyal followers found out they were called traitors and plotted to assassinate me, they might just revolt.
They are quite hot-blooded, after all.
Well, we’ll discuss it when the evidence piles up.
“The war has ended, yet why doesn’t the workload decrease. Sigh…”
Sabinele is on his way to Rome as a captive.
“It won’t be easy to recruit him, right?”
Even though Johannes is dead, Sabinele remains loyal to him.
Seeing how he tried to raise Nicaea no matter what makes me envy the deceased Johannes for the first time.
So, I want to recruit him by my side, but it won’t be that easy.
“Let’s first stop the conspiracy at the ceremony and unravel things step by step… Is there any way out?”
With such thoughts, I let out a deep sigh once more.
***
At that moment when Devian was sighing,
In the Empress’s chamber, Synang and Eurydice are engaged in conversation.
“Yes. At the banquet, His Grace the Grand Duke will put a sedative in the glass he will drink from.”
Upon hearing that, Euridice expressed her concern.
“If the son-in-law tries to pick up a different glass…”
She seemed to be saying not to worry.
“On the day of the banquet, the Emperor and His Grace the Grand Duke will request separate management of their tableware for safety.”
As Euridice was in charge of all matters big and small in the palace, if she were to say so on that day, not even the Emperor could object.
Traditionally, the Emperor oversees national affairs, while the Empress oversees the palace.
Since the current Emperor is a woman, the task of overseeing the palace falls to Euridice.
If she were to order it on the day, it would be so.
Even the Empress, who is the de facto ruler of the empire, is not involved in matters concerning the palace beyond security and protection.
“Ah… You understand that no one else should know about this, right?”
‘Living my life… I never thought I’d be doing such a thing.’
A mother-in-law who puts sedatives in her son-in-law’s glass.
How scandalous is this?
Even in lowbrow erotic novels, it’s not common for a mother-in-law to feed sedatives to her son-in-law.
Well, typically, mothers-in-law are older, and sons-in-law are younger, right?
In this lowbrow novel, it’s not common for an older mother-in-law to do such things with a son-in-law.
Of course, if the mother-in-law were as beautiful as Euridice, who knows.
Anyway, Euridice doesn’t have any intention of doing such things with Devian or anything like that… She just earnestly wishes her daughter and son-in-law to do so.
That’s why Euridice didn’t want to plot such a bizarre and grotesque conspiracy, but Devian and Theodora’s actions became so frustrating that she ended up doing so.
Of course, rather than thinking ‘I could lose my place in the royal family if I make a mistake,’ it’s more about wanting to see her grandson and granddaughter, but that’s just talk.
“Don’t worry, Empress Dowager.”
Euridice nods her head at Sinoyang’s words.
“Thank you. You’ve practically revitalized the empire.”
How putting a sedative in the son-in-law’s glass revitalizes the empire is unclear, but at least Euridice believes it as sincerely as she does herself.
“That’s too much praise, Empress Dowager.”
Sinoyang continues with a humble smile.
“All of this is the fortune of the royal family.”
And so, unbeknownst to Devian, a grand conspiracy was growing within the palace.