108 – Sisters
I regretted giving the Empress free medicine all this time.
Empress Yeonhwa, who takes Siloshivin orally three to four times a week. Since the half-life is about 3-4 hours, it was a considerable amount of time spent in the sensory world. When she was intoxicated with the dru*g, she was mostly engrossed in music. Lately, she seems to be writing sheet music, probably with the intention of becoming even more malicious.
And in the remaining time, it seemed like a strategic plan was being laid out. Just like now.
‘I expected they would try to bring Anais at this point.’
Can an amnesty lottery really happen?
When you opened the pocket in the Imperial Palace, a picture could emerge.
The officials of the Empire harbored illusions about the power of the Imperial Palace.
Vast territory, a population buzzing across the expansive land, and the mysterious superpower of the East pouring out endless wealth. It was said that not just one or two, but many humans who rashly sailed ships thinking they would become rich by trading with the Imperial Palace ended up bankrupt.
‘It’s actually partly true.’
With the influence they had, redeeming the Third Princess wasn’t an impossible feat.
However, it didn’t seem likely that the Emperor of the Imperial Palace, not being a fool, would grant such favors just for amusement. Although it might feel pitiful for the situation of a daughter sent to marry in a foreign land… would he go out of his way to take care of a granddaughter he hasn’t even seen?
The princesses still had blank expressions.
“Good gracious.”
“Mother…?”
Just staring blankly like this.
Only then did the Empress chuckle, sipping her tea.
“My Imperial Mother abdicated the princess title when I turned two.”
“….”
“It was an extremely unusual consideration. Normally, even noble daughters are titled around the age of seven, and if not, they would barely receive the princess or lord title before marriage. Alan Maydolf probably knows about it.”
“Your Majesty.”
“The reason I, who was a princess beloved by the Imperial Palace, was sent to this distant land, what do you think it was for? It was all for my security. The jealousy of my colleagues was extremely intense. They thought if I went through the ordinary selection process and married a man from the Imperial Palace, it would end in an unhappy conclusion.”
The Empress deliberately explained that she was a princess beloved by the Emperor of the Imperial Palace.
It didn’t seem like mere boasting. She added that if she had married ordinary in Jinkuk, she would have eventually lost her husband and children, living in exile and barely surviving, or perhaps failing even in that and dying miserably.
I could understand the secret behind the Empress’s success with the help of my parents.
The Empress must have noticed that I knew.
Now there was no need to hide, so I honestly told the Empress.
“You’ve explained the situation of the empire according to Your Majesty’s convenience.”
“Convenience?”
“My apologies.”
“Well, one could see it that way. But maybe I don’t even know if I conveyed the most honest words. My offspring, who could have become the Empress, is discarded, my Emperor husband is immersed in alcohol, and my position is shrinking more and more.”
Shrinking position? It seemed quite the opposite.
“…So Emperor Jinkuk willingly extended a helping hand.”
“Yes.”
It meant that the old ruler of Jinkuk considered his daughter’s situation troubling.
‘Precisely, the Empress probably induced her to believe that.’
That would be reason enough for Jinkuk to take action.
Anyway, the imperial family there must be looking at the situation in the Britannian Empire (specifically the heroine) with mixed concern. While contemplating how to deal with it, the Empress probably provided a pretext.
I could understand how the Empress managed this situation.
From Noble mtl dot com
However, there was something I couldn’t comprehend. Why go to such lengths?
Of course, the serious conflict between Victoria and Siena was a fact. But involving the home country seemed unnecessary. If the purpose was truly to preserve one’s safety, using a different approach would be more reasonable.
This way, it seemed like they were only living on the hostility between the two princesses.
Unless she had delusions of somehow reviving my daughter Anais and making her the Empress, I couldn’t see a reason for doing this.
The two princesses were already eyeing the empress with hostility.
Victoria was the first to reveal her resentment.
“…Oh my, there was no need to go this far. If I had become the crown princess, I would have found a way to reveal Anais’s true identity. You can’t keep my sister hidden away in the monastery forever.”
“Victoria, that’s what you would have done.”
“Knowing that, did you have to involve foreign forces? You only made the situation more complicated. You can still turn back now.”
Victoria warned the empress with a trembling gaze.
It’s not too late to turn back.
Soon, Sienna stepped forward as well.
“Are you really going to risk it like this?”
Sienna only uttered those words, but she was even smiling.
That alone was enough explanation.
She must mean that she will make the empress pay for involving Anais and making the situation more complicated. Sienna was capable enough to stop her. Before she became the empress’s pawn, she had tried to seduce her with op*ium.
The empress had turned her two daughters into enemies in an instant.
But her expression remained calm.
**
The daughters’ hostility was too fierce.
‘I had a hunch.’
Empress Yeonhwa easily ignored her two daughters’ spirited gazes… but she couldn’t completely dismiss them. She knew that those children weren’t just throwing a tantrum.
From the moment Anais’s lottery ticket was mentioned, the two of them genuinely expressed their resentment.
But she didn’t feel any sudden regret or hesitation.
Rather, she gained confidence.
‘It wasn’t something to just let go.’
Those kids were truly gearing up for a civil war because of Alan.
The dismantling of the Walford family is just the beginning.
Honestly, even the Empress couldn’t predict what kind of incident would occur next.
There were only two things certain. Many people would be swept away and die, and the Emperor’s alcohol tolerance would endlessly increase.
Then, all that remained was collapse and chaos. The Empress could never tolerate the empire collapsing, not in the least.
At first, she thought she might be overestimating the crisis…
Perhaps she didn’t know she was stepping into a chaos that surpassed her imagination. The situation reported to her parents seemed like a joke. The Empress wanted to somehow stop that crisis.
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of reversing my decision.”
“Really, to the end.”
“It’s already done. The envoy who left from Jinkuk is embracing diplomacy. You can’t undo something that happened. It’s absolutely impossible in Jinkuk, even if it might be possible here. …Anais will return one way or another.”
Siena glared at the announcement with disheveled hair.
On her small face, it seemed to say, “I’ll kill her as soon as she comes back.” There were times when she used to pinch Siena’s chubby cheeks affectionately during their close friendship. It seemed impossible to do that now.
And Victoria was even toying with the hilt of a knife. She probably wouldn’t draw it, but not if it doesn’t bother her—no lies.
The Empress raised her hand silently, restraining the two.
And she said, as if soothingly,
“There’s no law that dictates something you worry about will happen.”
Anais will return regardless of your actions. However, I have not decided to attach myself to Alan Maydoff’s script. I could keep an eye on him and prevent any foolishness before sending him elsewhere.
Ah, it seems that there is more attachment to Alan than resentment towards the queen.
Indeed, the queen was not lying.
The queen had no intention of forcing Anais to be paired with Alan. It would be obvious that those two would clash and cause trouble.
If Victoria and Siena meet just one condition, the matter can be resolved peacefully.
There is only one condition.
“Stop right there.”
“Yes?”
I urge you to find a compromise. It doesn’t matter how you do it. Just… as long as you don’t fight Alan Maydoff as if you want to kill him. Don’t corrupt the queen’s mind. That’s all.
Do not argue.
Regard the queen with compassion.
That’s all I ask.
The queen repeated as if pleading.
The reactions of the princesses to this varied. Victoria seemed startled by the queen’s behavior, which could lead to a crisis. Siena had a contemplative expression, as if pondering something. Alan Maydoff also had a bitter expression.
In any case, the queen did not expect an immediate response in this situation.
“You may leave.”
“Just like that?”
“There is no need to discuss this in front of me. Ah, but I do have one request. I apologize for confusing you, but everything I just said was sincere.”
“……”
“Give me a few days to think. I hope to have an answer soon.”
The three of them awkwardly left the meeting room after the Empress’s announcement.
Now, all that remained was how the individuals involved would handle the situation.
“They’re smart kids, so they must know what the wise choice is.”
If the heirs to the throne didn’t fight like dogs, the Empress was willing to support them wholeheartedly.
In truth, the one she was truly counting on was Allen Maydoff. If he didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire between the three princesses and end up dead, he would find a way to calm Victoria and Sienna.
By any means necessary.
The Empress fell into a momentary silence before she called for the hour.
“Where are you, my Lord?”
“He is observing construction work in the outskirts.”
The Emperor said he was encouraging the workers on the embankment construction project in the suburbs. It wasn’t a crime for the Emperor to encourage the workers, but it felt like he was deliberately avoiding the current issue. He would probably use the excuse of encouraging the workers as an opportunity to drink heavily.
“It’s dangerous, really.”
Before her husband became completely disinterested, she had to resolve the issue with the princesses while he still had the will to govern.
The Empress let out a short sigh.
**
On the way out after meeting the Empress –
The two princesses walking silently in front of me suddenly stopped in their tracks.
And they stared at each other intently.
The knights who served them, besides me, all froze at once. The palace guards and maids who worked in the Empress’s residence were the same. They were probably worried about the clash between the first princess, who had set her relatives on fire, and the second princess, who enjoyed tormenting people.
Fortunately, Victoria and Sienna did not engage in an argument.
However, they simply turned to look at me one by one without any expression.
I could tell from their gaze that they had no intention of giving up on me.