Chapter . 26
It suddenly became quiet. In the frozen silence, I continued speaking without hesitation.
"My breath ceased amidst the agony of my whole body burning, but I saw Mother in the darkness, and came back to life. How pitiful Mother must have felt seeing her child face a sudden death of unknown cause at a young age. That is why the God Traneha must have bestowed his protection as well."
A mother's love eternal even in death. Unless one acknowledges this theme, one becomes nothing but a person without blood or tears. Try doubting if you can.
"It is such a beautiful story......."
Court romance is ultimately a competition of who can show off more overflowing passion to cover the stain of adultery.
"Ah, it is hard to hold back tears!"
"My heart aches as if tearing apart!"
Courtiers' explicit expressions were rampant. After exuding such river-like romance, they indulged in conspiracy theories.
"Come to think of it, the late Empress also died young."
"That is right. At the time, they said she passed away after childbirth, but who knows the truth?"
"Perhaps that too was a death of unknown cause......."
"To think such a person is watching over her exceedingly beloved son, I am truly moved. But then, surely she......."
"I had that thought too. Since there are saints who showed miracles after passing away."
"The Traneha religion might proceed with the canonization of the late Empress Ermengarde."
"It is truly a tremendous honor. My heart is trembling."
Rhiannon, even while wearing an iron mask, now revealed irrepressible anger. However, the Empress, who would rather drink poison herself than look like she was jealous of the dead Empress, glared at her innocent faction members.
Those who had followed Rhiannon's order only to receive ridicule and become intimidated, starting with the Lauderdale family, hurriedly wagged their tongues.
"It has been over ten years since she passed away, would it be possible?"
"But such a clear miracle has happened. Do you deny it?"
"It is not that―"
"Indeed. Since Prince Leontes himself claimed it was Mother's protection rather than attributing it to his own merit, how could there be a lack of evidence for canonization? Do you perhaps think so?"
"I did not say that......."
"But it is for His Holiness the Holy Emperor to decide."
"Well, that is true. However, just because it might not happen, the sanctity of the late Empress Ermengarde should not be disparaged."
"That is right. We only pray that she does not become a victim of conspiracy even in death."
Those who had slandered my Mother mentioning adultery as per Rhiannon's conspiracy during Mother's lifetime were now driving Rhiannon as Mother's assassin and the mastermind of a conspiracy to prevent canonization. Mother would also be pleased.
"Everyone be quiet."
Rhiannon, wearing several layers of iron masks, finally spoke.
Even if she openly silenced the courtiers now, the ridicule afterward would only grow, but she had reached her limit.
"Prince Leontes, it is unfortunate that you suffered such pain. I hope you never suffer such pain again. I will gladly help."
Rhiannon said softly.
It meant she would cut off the supply of Lasilex. Concluding that my success was driven by hallucinating and hearing things while briefly possessed by madness after drinking Lasilex.
A smile fabricated even while wearing an iron mask, but those eyes burned instead of being cold as usual. Hoping I would become addicted to Lasilex and depend on her.
But I no longer needed Lasilex.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress."
The Empress's eyes wavered.
"...However, in the end, that pain did not only have a bad influence on you. Since you saw your late Mother after all."
"Your words are truly reasonable."
I nodded politely. To the extent that people looked in surprise.
"So I hope Your Majesty the Empress will also taste that pain."
What happens if someone not a direct descendant of Balaska drinks Lasilex?
Ah, of course, it won't taste like anything, so I hope she drinks a lot. If the person drinking Rhiannon's gold instead of me from now on is Rhiannon herself, she would be less angry too.
"Even if it is the pain of death, if you just overcome it, would you not be able to meet the grandfather Your Majesty misses?"
It was a famous fact that Rhiannon was ashamed of her grandfather, a common knight who married a noble lady as a merchant's son, and treated him poorly after her grandmother's death. Other family members living off the granddaughter who became Empress also treated him poorly, and he died shortly after shaving his head and becoming a monk. Abandoned by the grandchildren he raised with his wife as his son and daughter-in-law died early.
"Since I heard Your Majesty the Empress's grandfather converted to religion, Your Majesty will surely see a miraculous revelation like this."
People covered their mouths and rolled their eyes, holding back laughter.
"Thus, if he rises to the rank of a saint as a monk of common knight origin, what a great honor it would be for Your Majesty, Desmond, and the Lauderdale family?"
"Kuhaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Puhahaha!"
"Ahahahaha!"
Laughter burst out in an instant. Nobles clutched their bellies and laughed. Noble ladies shedding tears dropped their fans while trying to cover their faces. Maximilian and his knights laughed the loudest.
Desmond trembled. As if to stop the guy trying to charge at me like a wild boar, Duke Lauderdale put both hands on his shoulders, his knuckles turning white from applying so much force.
Rhiannon turned around. Not leaving, but turning her body to hide her face in front of people while sitting with the Emperor, it was the first time for the Empress.
Whispering into the Father Emperor's ear like that, her lowered face was not visible.
"Your Majesty, I have something urgent to tell you, so let us rise now......."
Listening with magic, it was roughly like this. If it's something urgent, it must be slander and anger towards me. It's questionable if the Father Emperor, indifferent as he is, would listen again after hearing enough of my story today.
However, the Father Emperor was a man who kept etiquette towards his wife even when he had the most favorite concubines among all emperors, truly overflowing with them.
Although he didn't answer the Empress, he stood up immediately. Everyone became quiet in an instant.
"This matter shall be handled as such. Also, Prince Leontes, the person in charge, shall handle petitions regarding this matter."
People gasped. Especially the Emperor's faction.
Naturally, problems arising from a certain issue are resolved by the person in charge.
However, since there is a high possibility that he is the one who caused the problem, he does not receive petitions for that issue. Instead, appeals are made to the Emperor claiming injustice.
But now the Emperor entrusted me not only with this issue but also with subsequent petitions. Then the detour to move the Imperial couple or other royals with complaints about my disposition is also cut off.
-The measure of favor is the petition.
An old maxim of the court.
Because even shady petitions that wouldn't work by law can be resolved through a favorite concubine.
'That's why courtiers dislike a monarch who loves his wife and doesn't keep a favorite concubine.'
If there is no favorite concubine, there must be a favorite subject to be a benevolent monarch. A generous monarch who squeezes the people to fill the bellies of subjects. But the Father Emperor's favorite concubines had long left the Imperial Palace due to Rhiannon's expulsion and the Father Emperor's indifference since Ilaves's death.
"For Prince Leontes to oversee even petitions for this matter, he has received tremendous favor."
"Let us petition that person for other matters too and see what the success rate will be."
Courtiers were excited about the appearance of a new broker to connect with power.
The Father Emperor had already left alone as soon as he finished speaking. Although he responded to the withdrawal as per the Empress's request, he didn't wait for her.
'There's no way the Father Emperor granted such authority because he favors me; what on earth have you been watching until now.'
It meant that the Emperor coming all the way to this remote garden to watch the excavation was enough, and he would pay no more attention.
However, the courtiers jumped with joy saying another channel to reach the Emperor was created. Since existing channels including the Empress were blocked unless one joined their faction. Moreover, the Father Emperor currently kept neither favorite concubine nor favorite subject, so there was no detour either.
"Prince Leontes, congratulations."
"What a joyous occasion. Your Highness's fame will rise even higher in the future."
"I apologize for not visiting often until now. I will greet Your Highness frequently from now on."
There's no reason to bother enlightening those flocking to flatter immediately with the truth, though.
Like that, I cleared my name and washed away the stigma. I overcame enemies and came to enjoy the price of the bet. My fame rose high, and I emerged as a central figure of the court as a being blessed by God. All accomplished by myself.
'If Duke Grimiati hadn't given me inspiration, it would have taken much longer.'
As I thought this while watching Grimiati leave holding the arm of Maximilian who was glaring at me, the Duke looked back as if feeling my gaze.
'My loyal enemy, continue to inspire me in the future.'
Giving an order inwardly, I smiled, and Grimiati's eyes flashed.
Even if I smiled without caring, he only became sharper like a raptor, unable to smile back nonchalantly as he did with other political opponents.
As I smiled brighter, now even Maximilian, who was about to leave, looked back.
After smiling one last time at the uncle and nephew who got along well, I turned around without lingering attachment.
***
The audience was over.
Sending back the flattering people, I remained behind. Although I couldn't examine the Throne Magic Circle right now, just being close made me feel good. Tess seemed to like it too. Of course, there's no basis.......
'Sometimes a feeling is enough.'
Wouldn't having more such objects in life be happiness?
I have a long way to go, yet I'm having strange thoughts. Happiness. Nanny died, I haven't saved Michelon yet, and I don't know where Master is. Indulging in fleeting feelings for a moment is enough with the sense of victory.
"It is the first time we talk formally, Prince Leontes."
A guy spouting old-fashioned stuff still remains; it wasn't time for vain thoughts.
"Greetings. I am Marquis Alexander Julius Steiner."
The Father Emperor's illegitimate son and Desmond's biological brother.
He was a Sword Master, the tallest among the brothers. His face wasn't as handsome as the Princes', but that made him more likable.
Tall and dignified physique, refreshingly handsome face, unhesitating attitude, an exceedingly cheerful bastard son of the Emperor; rumors circulated among noble ladies that he was a playboy with irresistible charm.
-Rumors circulate that His Majesty has fallen under a dragon's curse since Ilaves's death. Since he was a man of such vigorous vitality, it is not surprising such words circulate.
Meaning the Father Emperor is practicing abstinence that doesn't suit him, implying that although he didn't become a madman upon losing the dragon, he became impotent.
-The Princes only glare at each other under the surveillance of Her Majesty the Empress and the Duke, not knowing how to pursue deep relationships yet. Although everyone is young, shouldn't romance start early to show off reproductive ability to continue the Imperial line?
-So Marquis Steiner is truly the only one responsible for court romance in the currently gloomy Armatia Imperial Family. Although the burden must be heavy on your two shoulders, since your shoulders are so broad.
-That is right, in that respect, you resemble His Majesty the Emperor in his youth the most.
"Come to think of it, isn't the fact that I am older brother to all three Princes fascinating?"
Alexander Steiner is the Father Emperor's first son, born of Rhiannon. When Rhiannon was pregnant with him, rumors were rampant that she would soon marry the Father Emperor. If so, he would have been born legitimate.
But the Father Emperor married Ermengarde of Roncer, and Rhiannon became her lady-in-waiting.
'Thus, the son whom the Empress named after two great emperors famous in imperial history became a bastard.'
After Mother's death, Rhiannon, who became Empress, gave birth to Desmond. The Empress's faction made Desmond the focal point in preparation for the future succession struggle.
But Alexander, a sword genius who revealed his talent from a young age and a filial son unlike people of our family, refused to submit to his biological brother wrapped in swaddling clothes.