18 – Episode 18
However, Victor expresses concern as if implying something worrisome.
“Your Highness… The opposition is stronger than expected.”
“It doesn’t matter. They can’t stop the vote. And…”
If the vote isn’t stopped, the bill will unquestionably pass.
The political structure that Agrippa and I have depicted since the past.
But considering the anticipated resistance if we handle it directly, Joannes took the form of submitting the bill.
And just in case Chairman Charles doesn’t bring it up to the assembly using his authority, we even kidnapped him in advance.
So… this is a fight we can’t afford to lose…
—You useless scoundrels! The warmth of the late Emperor’s body hasn’t even cooled down! Where do you think you’re plotting treason now!
When even the shouts of objection are heard, Victor looks at me briefly, then opens his mouth with a long wooden stick in hand.
—It’s not treason, but the enthronement of the new Emperor. Isn’t it only natural to establish a new political system under His Majesty?!
—Do you think I don’t know your intentions?!
—No, what intentions?!
Even Victor steps forward to hide the essence of the situation, but it’s in vain.
Well, they’re not fools. It’s obvious that the anti-Emperor faction and the Emperor faction are collaborating to take everything.
If they don’t know that, they probably don’t deserve to be here.
In the end…
The chaotic council chamber.
The atmosphere inside is getting more heated.
Well… Neutrals and free cities wouldn’t be pleased with the idea of aristocrats ruling the government.
– Bang! Bang! Bang!
Alexander grabs the gavel and speaks as he swings it.
– Silence! Please maintain order!
Representative Alexander looks at me with a troubled expression.
– Vice Chairman, step down immediately, you bastards of the powerful!
Seeing neutral representatives angrily approaching the chairman’s seat, Alexander urgently shouts.
– Silence! Maintain order! I will now exercise the right to maintain order as the acting chairman.
As Alexander speaks, the security forces enter the council chamber.
– Wh-what are you doing?! Mobilizing soldiers into the sacred council chamber?!
– Shut up! I am the acting chairman now! As the acting chairman, I have the right to expel those who disrupt the proceedings! What is the security force doing? Why aren’t they removing the troublemakers immediately?!
I notice the disruptive representatives being dragged away by the security forces.
About 10 of them, roughly?
Once the situation is under control, Alexander speaks again.
– Then, let’s begin the voting.
The representatives start to move to the polling stations one by one.
And the result is… as expected.
– Well, then, I hereby declare that the Imperial Council has passed the bill through a fair vote.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
Assemblyman Alexander declared the passage, striking the gavel.
-And, in accordance with the voting results, I will formally convey to Her Highness Princess Theodora the imperial council’s recommendation for the marriage of Princess Theodora and Duke Devian Ryan of Francesco.
Once again, it easily passed with overwhelming support.
-Bang! Bang! Bang!
-Above all, today, the Imperial Council will adjourn.
Of course, how could the anti-imperial and imperial factions not join forces and vote in favor?
-This is invalid! Invalid!
-Traitors, retreat!
Certainly, the neutral faction, unable to face reality, resisted, but the outcome was already decided.
“More… bland than I thought.”
***
-Hwa… Princess Theodora, a crisis… a big crisis.
I turn my head at the sound coming from outside my room.
“What happened?”
As I speak, urgent voices come from beyond the door.
-The… Duke Devian has been arrested!
Huh? Duke Devian… arrested? Why?
At the abrupt news, I urgently inquire.
“Come in! Come in and tell me!”
A maid opened the door at my words.
A troubled expression.
She looks familiar.
Right… She was a friend of Ifa’s… Her name was Helen, wasn’t it?
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“Helen, what happened? Why was Ifa arrested?”
Helen responds urgently to my question.
“F-for espionage… They’re taking him to the underground prison by the guards…”
“How dare they! Who dares to arrest my maid so boldly?”
At my furious command, Helen trembles and speaks.
“T-they… were soldiers of the Grand Duke…”
The Grand Duke…?
Didn’t he return just yesterday?
And now, as soon as he’s back, he does this?
No matter how much Ifa investigated the Grand Duke, the authority to investigate and arrest belongs to the Emperor, and in the Emperor’s absence, to the Crown Prince or Princess.
Clearly, this is an undeniable abuse of power.
It’s outright treason.
– Budel… Budel…
Uncontrollable rage surges toward Devian.
“Y-your Highness!”
“I’m going to the Grand Duke’s office right now.”
That’s how he rises, taking his place.
Devian! I can’t forgive! There’s a limit to enduring humiliation. If you want to become the emperor like that, then kill me…
Go beyond my lifeless body and become the emperor.
With that determination, he walks away.
Before I know it, the guards protecting the Duke’s office look at me, eyes wide open, and one of them says,
“Prin… Princess Hwang?”
“Sigh… Duke… Is the Duke inside?”
As the guard is about to awkwardly reply to my question,
A blond man from the Duke’s office slightly bows his head to me and says,
“The Duke has gone to the Imperial Council early in the morning.”
“Why would a busy person be there?… No, more importantly, who are you?”
“I am Agripa, but why are you here for a foreign affair…?”
To Agripa, who is trailing off, I say,
“I heard that Ifa was arrested on charges of espionage.”
At my words, Agripa, with a puzzled expression, says,
“Yes, we received a report this morning that Ifa was arrested as a spy, but…”
“Ifa is not a spy. Why did you arrest her without reason?”
At my words, Agripa smiles, tilting his head, and says,
“Not a spy? Is it possible that someone who thoroughly investigates the Duke’s safety, instructs maids to extract information from the guards, is not a spy?”
Is what he’s saying now… because of me, she was arrested?
No… I can’t lose here up to this point.
“This is rebellion! I have the authority to arrest imperial citizens when the throne is vacant. Release Ipha.”
Agrippa smiles at my words.
“That seems difficult. We only follow the orders of the Grand Duke.”
-Clang…
These people won’t obey my words.
But I can’t just stand still.
So… I have to do something here for the sake of the suffering Ipha.
Ipha, trapped in the infamous underground prison, might be undergoing torture even at this moment.
So… time is of the essence.
Anyway, they can’t harm me.
With the imperial faction nearby and the fact that they won’t survive if they lay a hand on me, the future emperor.
That’s why I confidently say,
“I am behind her. Release her, for she is innocent.”
“That would be difficult. Regardless of Her Highness Hwantaenyeo’s order, we can’t do anything without the Grand Duke’s command.”
“What? Hasn’t the Grand Duke violated my authority? According to the imperial constitution…”
But Agrippa, a stubborn man, cuts me off firmly.
I apologize, Ipha… Just wait a little longer.
“Alright then, I’ll wait inside.”
As I spoke, Agrifa let out a sigh.
“Sigh…”
And then, shortly after opening the door to the Grand Duke’s office, Agrifa spoke.
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Passing by him after opening the door, I entered the Grand Duke’s room.
***
How much time has passed?
I shake off the stiffness from my body in this damp and cold underground prison.
How long has it been?
I have no idea how long I’ve been here.
Pitch-dark darkness.
[Screams!]
I block my ears at the sounds of torture coming from around me.
Will I… soon end up like that too?
-Thud… Thud…
Footsteps echo at that moment.
-Swish… Swish…
A faint sound of metal clashing softly resonates.
As if… it’s the sound of a key bundle carried by a prison guard.
Is it… my turn?
-Tremble…
Don’t be afraid… It’s okay… I can do this…
When facing fear like that, trying to overcome it…
-Crack!
[Please… save me! I… I don’t want to!]
[Can’t you come out?! You devil worshipping scum!]
The sound of hitting someone resonates with his voice.
-Smack!
[Ahh!, P-please save me!]
The merciless sounds of violence and screams make my whole body tremble.
[Stop it! Nooo~!]
Unconsciously, I cover my ears upon hearing a man’s desperate voice.
This place… is hell…
I’d rather die without suffering.
I don’t want to die, tortured like that.
It will hurt… It will hurt like crazy.
There was a time when I got a thorn stuck in my hand while working in the garden.
It hurt back then too…
How much more painful could torture be?
Horrible, isn’t it? Undoubtedly, it will be horrible.
Rather… let’s end it beautifully.
This intense terror gnaws at my heart.
Undoubtedly, I followed the words of Hwang Taenyeo to repay the debt to the Hwang family.
And even now, my loyalty to the Hwang family remains unchanged.
But…
Regret is inevitable at this very moment.
I want to live, I don’t want to suffer…
Struggling in despair, time passes.
How long has it been…
How long have I been here, I cannot tell.
Footsteps echo again.
Please… please… let it not be me…
I’m afraid.
Trembling in a corner of the prison.
The incessant screams make me even more fearful.
-Ddukbuk, ddukbuk…
And…
-Druruk.
Someone sends an unidentified soup through a hole under the iron door.
“Is this… food?”
Come to think of it, I seem to have been hungry for quite a while.
But I don’t feel hungry right now.
Could it be… because I know I’ll soon be tortured?
Is that wicked Grand Duke going to torture me and force me to confess, as ordered by the Princess Hwantaenyeo?
-Shiver…
I think I can endure this.
I’m scared and trembling, but… I don’t want to grovel before my enemy.
I am no longer just an insignificant orphan…
I am Theodora, the maid-in-waiting to Princess Theodora Hwantaenyeo.
With great effort, I ignite the fire of courage in my heart.
If I don’t, I might freeze and succumb to fear in this chilling prison…
Prince Anthony… please give me strength.
I try to endure this time, clenching my hands tightly.
And so, quite some time passes.
-Step… step…
The sound of footsteps reverberates again, making my whole body shiver.
And soon… the footsteps stop in front of my cell.
-Shiver…
My body trembles with fear.
And
– Thud…
My teeth collide in fear.
Prince Anthony… Please give me courage.
When I pray so desperately.
-Creak!
The door opens, and two men and one woman enter the prison.
“W-who are you?”
Strangers.
Among them, a woman with brown hair speaks as if annoyed.
“Geez, let’s finish quickly and go home.”
In response to her words, a big man nods as if understanding…
While another man…
“W-what are you… ugh!”
He gags me, covering my face with a white hood.
Like… someone climbing the gallows.
Am I… going to die? O-or will I be tortured?
Perhaps… this might be a blessing.
Rather than resenting Princess Hwantaehye in agony and torment.
Surrendering to excruciating torture, maybe this is better.
Shivering…
But contrary to such thoughts, the trembling of my body does not subside.
“Miss, if you stay quiet, you won’t get hurt.”
And someone wraps around me and heads somewhere.
With my hands and feet tied, I don’t have many means to resist.
Surrounded by darkness.
Being dragged somewhere with my hands tied.
Tears flow in this dismal situation.
As if heading to the gallows…