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CHAPTER 71
For a brief moment, the emerald eyes that always brimmed with confidence flickered with unease.
‘What?’
I hesitated, caught by his gaze, but soon gave a small nod.
Just enough for Vincent to notice, but not for anyone else.
His eyes trembled for a second, then steadied.
He lifted the corner of his lips ever so slightly, so faintly that only I could see it.
I didn’t know why, but it felt like my nod had given him certainty—and that was a relief.
Vincent slowly turned his head back and looked once more around the assembly hall.
He seemed to gather his resolve again.
Bang, bang, bang.
The Speaker struck the gavel three times, and the noisy chamber fell quiet again.
The nobles stepped out one by one in order and cast their votes at the center.
Every step carried the weight of decision.
Some were overly tense, others far too casual.
Meanwhile, the attendants quickly collected the ballots and prepared for the count.
During the voting, attendants busily opened and recorded each result, passing it along without delay.
Every gaze focused on the attendants’ hands and the tally sheets.
Occasionally, nobles craned their necks to sneak glances at the results and whispered among themselves.
“There are more votes in favor than I thought…”
“So the Crown Prince still can’t beat the Duke of Wentworth.”
“It’s not over yet. Let’s see how it ends.”
Their words mixed anxiety with hope.
As the votes for Duke Wentworth’s amendment began to take the lead, his supporters looked relieved, while Vincent’s faction grew visibly tense.
I watched the entire process in silence.
The more the counting progressed, the more votes Wentworth gained.
Attendants organized the boxes, opened the ballots, and delivered the results quickly.
Vincent kept his calm, watching the attendants without changing expression.
He lowered his head slightly as if deep in thought, but his face remained steady and resolute.
“If the Crown Prince loses this time, what happens?”
“Well, the imperial authority will fall further. It’ll become the Duke of Wentworth’s empire, plain and simple.”
“Hm. Maybe it’s time to side with him.”
I let out a quiet sigh.
I trusted Vincent’s ability and my own prediction, but the numbers before my eyes were worrying.
As Wentworth’s votes kept rising, unease began to crawl into my chest.
My eyes met Vincent’s once more.
This time, his nod calmed me.
Suddenly, I wondered when we had come to understand each other like this.
As the results came together, Wentworth’s amendment took the lead with twenty-five votes in favor.
Tension filled every noble’s face, and Vincent’s supporters grew darker by the minute.
Murmurs of mixed joy and despair filled the chamber, tilting the mood toward Wentworth’s victory.
“At this rate, the amendment will pass…”
“I’d better buy up goods before the tax goes up.”
Tense whispers spread among the nobles.
I listened and glanced at Vincent.
He still looked composed, but his expression was unreadable.
Then, suddenly, the heavy doors of the assembly opened.
Creak—
With the scrape of iron, a large shadow stepped inside.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
The man who crossed the threshold had a massive frame and an air of authority.
“Why is he here…?”
Duke Wentworth’s face twitched slightly, his surprise obvious.
‘Duke Priem!’
It was my first time seeing him, but judging by the schedule, it was about time for his arrival.
He hadn’t appeared in so long that few recognized him.
“That’s Duke Priem. It’s no wonder you don’t recognize him—he rarely leaves his estate.”
“Oh, that’s him!”
“But how did they convince him? The man swore he’d never return to the capital. Which side is he voting for?”
As nobles whispered in shock, Duke Priem glanced around and began to walk slowly forward.
The entire hall buzzed with his arrival.
He approached Vincent first and bowed his head deeply.
“I greet His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince. I apologize for my lateness.”
“Thank you for coming such a long way.”
Vincent’s calm reply spread a ripple of murmurs through the crowd.
Duke Wentworth froze, his stiff smile betraying his unease.
Vincent remained composed, his faint nod carrying quiet satisfaction, as if he had foreseen everything.
When Duke Priem finally reached the ballot box, an attendant guided him respectfully.
Instead of placing his vote inside, Priem handed it directly to the attendant handling the count.
The attendant placed the vote on the opposition side.
“Duke Priem voted in support of Crown Prince Vincent?”
“Oh—then what does that mean for the count?”
The nobles’ murmurs swelled with confusion and excitement.
Priem’s vote added ten votes to the opposition side.
It sparked a small wave of hope, but fifteen more were still needed.
A strange smile curved across Duke Wentworth’s lips.
He looked up as if the victory was already his.
Then, the assembly doors opened again—slowly, very carefully this time.
‘He’s here.’
I clenched my fist.
“What? Is someone else expected?”
“Shh, quiet.”
At that, the entire hall fell into stillness.
The nobles turned toward the entrance, sensing the heavy air.
Then came the booming voice of the chamberlain.
“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived. Everyone, rise and pay your respects. His Majesty the Emperor has entered!”
The man who crossed the threshold was none other than the Emperor himself.
Even a frail Emperor was still the Emperor.
His presence filled the hall, his golden cloak flowing behind him.
His golden hair shimmered softly, adding to his aura of authority.
“Your Majesty…!”
“His Majesty…!”
The nobles gasped and rose to their feet.
Even Duke Wentworth jumped up, unable to hide his shock.
His eyes burned with both confusion and fury.
“Why is the Emperor here…?”
His voice trembled faintly.
The Emperor strode forward without hesitation.
His steps were slow and heavy, as if time paused with each one.
Everyone held their breath as he moved toward the center.
Attendants rushed to clear a path before him.
When he reached the center, Vincent rose and bowed.
The Emperor gazed at him silently for a while before turning his eyes toward the nobles.
“Your Majesty.”
“The Emperor himself… in the assembly?”
The Emperor smiled at their stunned faces.
“Haha, sit down, all of you. I’m only here to cast my vote today.”
He said it lightly, but the meaning was enormous—because the Emperor’s vote counted as twenty.
Guided by an attendant, he walked toward the ballot box.
Everyone’s eyes locked on his back, tension rippling through the hall.
He handed his ballot to the attendant.
The attendant’s eyes widened.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
