74 – Return
Conquering and improving half of Dae Sulin.
“Is this really the right thing to do, Empress?”
Emperor Edmund III looked at the sky with a puzzled expression on his face.
The weather was unusually clear today, to the point where his eyes felt sore. Normally, he would have felt quite proud. Being confined to the palace and taking care of state affairs didn’t leave him with many opportunities to look at the sky.
While the citizens might think that the Emperor lives a luxurious life, enjoying all the precious things in the world, the reality was quite different.
“Even now, it feels dizzying to think about it.”
Siena’s behavior had been tormenting the Emperor all this time.
Being embraced by that Alan guy, rubbing her face against his chest, pulling his hand with an eager expression, and repeatedly apologizing with teary eyes.
Siena, who had never even hugged her father since she was four years old, was showing such active affection towards a mere knight.
Compared to the misdeeds Siena had committed so far, it was shocking. It would have been better if she had organized a match between criminals and sent them to fight.
“Siena went all the way there? …She’s a bit more proactive than I expected, but she hasn’t strayed too far from what I anticipated. Please look at Siena’s actions favorably, even if she forces herself. Please bear with it, Your Majesty. She will come back to the system soon, and when she does, I will make sure to calm her down appropriately.”
Recalling the Empress’s advice, he was an Emperor who forcibly endured.
“Still, this doesn’t sit right.”
To the citizens, he might be subject to criticism, but to him, she was an endlessly precious and beloved daughter.
Witnessing scenes where such a daughter sought affection from Alan was more painful than he had anticipated. Even though the Empress would say, “It’s better than aligning with Victoria, isn’t it?” his father’s heart wasn’t leaning that way.
Whether it was the youngest in the monastery engrossed in lace-making, the eldest in the imperial court insisting on military attire, or the second, always causing anguish to his father regardless of political alliances.
“I am troubled for them, yet they may not understand a bit of their father’s heart. They might even hold resentment.”
The Emperor’s countenance darkened increasingly. The officials attending to him kept a tense expression, only glancing nervously at him.
“Your Majesty, forgive us, but it’s time.”
“I know.”
The Emperor forced a relaxed expression only after hearing the Prime Minister’s words.
It was all due to the celebration.
The Emperor was undeniably the sovereign who conquered half of the Great Forest and returned.
Achievements solely through political power without shedding the blood of the empire’s precious sons and daughters. Even though everyone might feel uneasy, it was the courtesy expected of a ruler to respond to the gathering crowd. Opportunities to boast of such public achievements wouldn’t come again.
In reality, the citizens enthusiastically welcomed him.
“Blessings to His Imperial Majesty!”
“Wow!”
“May you reign for a long, long time!”
Ladies awkwardly throwing roses, elderly people opening windows wide to pay respects to the Emperor, modest merchants applauding.
Faces might look a bit forced, but overall, everyone was genuinely pleased.
The massive resources pouring out of the mining site seemed to not only strengthen the empire but also provide some prosperity to the citizens, as believed without a doubt.
“Do they even know about heroin?”
They probably don’t even in their dreams.
If they have any acquaintances who are high-ranking officers or bureaucrats, they might have heard the name. But it was safe to say that there was no one who knew specifically about heroin.
To be honest, even the Emperor himself didn’t know exactly what it was.
“It should never be revealed in the future. Absolutely not.”
More terrifying than demons, wars, or the losses from trade with the East was heroin.
Because he knew that terror, he followed the advice of the Empress and even used his beloved daughters. No matter how precious his children were, as the Emperor, he had to prioritize the empire.
“But if I were to give Anais to that guy… No, no. What am I thinking?”
The Emperor smiled and waved at the citizens, making an effort.
As a ruler seeking improvement, he didn’t forget to show kindness.
“…Announce a 50% reduction in property taxes for the next three months. Also, examine if there are any temporary tax benefits that can be extended to citizens near the capital and other provinces. We may not be able to hold festivals, but we should at least do this much.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Tax reduction. There was nothing better than this.
The Emperor turned his head, expecting to see Sienna riding in a carriage behind him by now.
However… Sienna’s carriage was nowhere to be seen. It meant that she discreetly avoided the improvement ceremony and went her own way.
He felt bitterness welling up again.
**
The moment I finally returned to the main base.
Sienna was naturally by my side.
After the performance in front of the Emperor, Siena’s attitude towards me remained unchanged. If there was one difference, it was that she often looked at me with narrowed eyes and stared at my hand. Sometimes, she would even playfully touch her cheek while tilting her head. I didn’t bother asking what she was thinking.
It was only after we arrived at the Thames Palace that Siena finally spoke.
“…Alan, I actually thought about what I could ask for in return for your help.”
“Naturally, Your Highness.”
“I thought it would be interesting to make a somewhat unreasonable request and see how you would avoid it. Besides… this time, it was a situation where it would be difficult for you to refuse. There’s no one else but you or my sister, Victoria, and she doesn’t get along with you.”
If Siena hadn’t responded to the summons, who knows what would have happened, but it’s not the right time to bring up that story. She simply nodded her head.
Then Siena smirked.
“Originally, I was thinking of asking you to teach me the recipe for morphine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I found out what happens when you heat op*ium and finely crushed substances together with water, not just raw op*ium. But after that, I couldn’t figure it out. So, I was going to ask you about it.”
So, she figured that out.
It must have been something she tried out of boredom while I was staying at the Daelim Residence. Considering her talents she has shown so far, it’s a relief that she hasn’t already made morphine.
As a price for stopping the engagement, asking for the recipe for morphine is something only Siena would do. Bringing it up now means…
From Noble mtl dot com
“But now, you don’t have to teach me, Alan.”
“Your Highness?”
“You probably didn’t think you could hide it from me forever. Eventually, you would have to establish security measures and entrust the production to your employees. …Anyway, whether I learn it now or in six months, what difference does it make?”
As she said that, Siena slowly approached me and looked up at me.
She didn’t suddenly embrace me or anything, she just lightly tapped my chest with the back of her hand and smiled. And as she finished speaking…
“Because we’ll be working together for a long time in the future, right?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
It was amusing to witness her hesitation at this point.
Whether involving Sienna was ultimately my choice.
Unless there was a significant change, the engagement with Anais would be as good as ruined. No longer would there be the risk of being poisoned by her (considering Anais’s proficiency in toxicology) or facing a blade instead of a peaceful night’s sleep.
However, the price for this was far from cheap.
The course of events was set as long as Sienna didn’t lose interest in me.
Once Sienna met the Empress, there would undoubtedly be a psychological battle. If the Empress moved as I anticipated, there was a high possibility that the confrontation would end with a deal.
Should I give Sienna some light guidance in preparation for that deal?
While contemplating, a guest arrived.
“General Hayden Wolf requests an audience.”
Hayden Wolf.
A general in the army and one of Princess Victoria’s uncles.
Moreover, he held a prominent position in the Victoria Faction, handling all the political affairs on behalf of the busy Victoria. He had likely come to see me, not for Sienna’s business, but eventually, it would turn into a visit to see me. Probably in quite a hurry.
“He asked you to come to the meeting room.”
Sienna, intrigued, willingly nodded.
As we headed to the meeting room, a middle-aged man in a red coat was waiting.
He was Sienna’s step-cousin, someone who had an awkward relationship with her. He politely greeted Sienna, giving me a meaningful look.
Perhaps he wanted to negotiate separately, but I didn’t respond. Sienna wouldn’t leave her seat anyway.
“General Hayden, feel free to speak your mind.”
“Even so.”
“If there’s something you can’t say in front of Lady Sienna, I won’t listen.”
At these words, Hayden Wolfall regained his composure and recalled a hesitant smile.
“…You’ve truly achieved a great feat this time, Sir Alan. Regardless of what others say, it’s commendable.”
“Thank you.”
“But some individuals misunderstood without any basis. There’s a misconception that Queen Victoria collaborated on and drove this operation together with you. …As you know, Queen Victoria is not the type to take credit for someone else’s achievements. Isn’t that right?”
Even at this point, it was clear what kind of maneuvering was at play.
‘Are they trying to separate Victoria from me?’
The Emperor and Empress openly constrained me, and even foreign ambassadors were collecting information about the heroine as if possessed.
It was likely that Sienna had also informed the Emperor about what happened in front of him this time.
It wasn’t strange for Victoria’s uncles to try to separate their niece and me. After all, I was convinced that I had become someone important to Sienna. Most likely, it wasn’t Victoria’s own will, but her close associates ensuring loyalty.
This was a blatant act of deception.
However, I conveyed what Victoria’s uncles would want to hear.
“It’s a strange matter. I don’t know why such rumors are spreading. I led this operation from beginning to end. While seeking advice from Lady Sienna, Queen Victoria doesn’t even know the specific details.”
By handling it this way, Sienna would likely feel a sense of guilt towards me. If I cleared the debt in her heart, I might be able to ask for help not immediately, but later.
“Thanks for understanding. We’ll help clarify to ensure there are no misunderstandings.”
Hayden Wolfall said this and left.
Looking back, Sienna was gazing at me with a satisfied expression.
…
One hour later.
Sheena, dressed beautifully, set off for Thames Palace.
Naturally, it was to meet Empress Yeonhwa.