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~Chapter 23~
The Real Purpose Was This All Along
The duke pretended not to notice Conrad’s expression and continued talking.
“However, Your Majesty, the Madeline baron family is new and of low status, so I am worried.”
“Worried?”
“What if the baron family asks for too much?”
He meant, what if the Madeline baron family, now backed by Regina, starts seeking power just like Chloe did? Conrad let out a dry laugh.
“You’re really not the one to talk, Duke.”
The duke had gained the most power during the previous emperor’s rule, and now he was worried about losing it.
Even though everyone knew the Madeline family had no other members left—only Regina—he kept complaining.
‘Old hyena,’ Conrad thought.
When that was mentioned, the nobles’ eyes changed. Nobles never liked sharing power, so of course, Regina’s sudden rise bothered them.
‘If Regina hadn’t come from the Permang Empire, it would have been even more troublesome.’
Conrad never planned to give any key palace positions to the Madeline family. So he could easily defend himself from the duke’s attack.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
“But, Your Majesty…”
The duke waited in silence for Conrad’s answer. Conrad answered sharply.
“The empress has no relatives or parents, so there’s no one for her to give special favors to. You don’t have to worry.”
“So you’re saying you won’t give the Madeline family any important posts?”
“I’ll handle it as I see fit, but for now, I can say there’s no chance of that.”
Conrad planned to call Regina’s servants soon and check them himself, but he had no plans to let them stay in the palace. They were probably spies from the Permang Empire anyway.
‘It’ll be lucky if I don’t take back what I’ve already given them.’
He might need their help to break the magic barrier, but that was all.
After dealing with the barrier, he would send only Regina back to Permang and deal with the rest however he wanted.
Conrad kept his gentle smile.
“So, is everything settled now?”
As Conrad wrapped up the objections, Duke Messer only bowed deeply. Conrad enjoyed seeing the duke’s clenched fist—he knew he’d finally won this round.
Before, Conrad had let Chloe get away with too much, even though he knew what she was doing.
He’d always tried to avoid trouble because he was away from the palace so much, but now things were different.
‘Now I have someone I can trust, too.’
He remembered Regina’s beautiful red hair. They were bound by a contract, but she was a pretty good partner. Someone with the same goal would never betray him—at least until the goal was reached.
Conrad had seen too many allies betray him in the past.
Even the so-called “Emperor’s Faction” nobles were always up to something illegal when he was away from the capital.
‘Time to cut them all out.’
It was time to use the sword he’d kept hidden.
As Conrad was about to end the meeting, the head palace attendant hurried in and came close to Conrad.
“Your Majesty, the Empress has moved to her own palace. But servants from the Grand Empress’s palace have been sent there.”
Conrad raised his head at the quick report. Seeing the duke watching his face, Conrad was certain. All the opposition during the council meeting was just a distraction.
‘The real goal was this all along.’
The empress’s palace was big, but not fully staffed yet. Chloe’s greedy move was obvious—she wanted to fill it with her own people.
But Regina was not someone who would just sit by and do nothing. Conrad was sure something would happen.
He decided he should go watch and smiled brightly as he waved everyone away.
“You may all leave now.”
Regina Was Not an Easy Target
Regina was not someone ordinary people could handle. If she was, she would have died long ago in the Permang Empire.
She had survived years of palace power struggles, so this situation only made her laugh inside.
“Welcome, Your Majesty the Empress,”
The maids acted like they owned the place even as Regina, the real empress, entered the palace. Still, Regina stayed calm.
“Were you sent by the Grand Empress?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Except for one maid who greeted Regina, the others kept busy—changing curtains and furniture.
But if you looked closely, it was clear their actions were ridiculous.
‘The curtains are cheap fabric, and the furniture is low-quality.’
The old curtains and furniture in the empress’s palace, even if aged, had been the best quality. They were clearly changing them on purpose.
If Regina didn’t notice, they’d think she was clueless. If she tried to replace them, they’d call her a wasteful empress.
“It’s all the same,” Regina muttered.
“Pardon?” asked a palace maid, but Regina gave no answer.
‘How can things be so similar everywhere?’
Palace tricks were the same, over and over. She was tired of it. Facing these schemes again, just like in Permang, made Regina want to laugh.
“We’re preparing your palace, so may I show you to your bedroom?”
Regina didn’t answer, but the Grand Empress’s maid walked ahead anyway.
The palace maids who served the emperor nervously watched Regina’s face.
Even with a bright smile, the maids remembered from this morning that this was her most dangerous expression.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll go see it.”
Her cold voice filled the hallway. The palace maids shivered from the chill, but the Grand Empress’s maid didn’t notice.
Regina’s smile never faded as she walked down the corridor.
‘Ugly curtain patterns, window frames not cleaned, glass streaked and corners dusty.’
The maids moved busily, but that was it. The brooms had no strength, and the rags were soaked.
If they finished cleaning like this, the place would be even dirtier.
‘It’s just laughable.’
It wasn’t even clever. How could they be so shameless?
“This way, please.”
They led her to a bedroom in the farthest corner of the palace. The Grand Empress’s maid’s eyes were full of mockery.
She thought Regina only became empress by luck, because she was a baron’s daughter.
If a pretty face was enough to become empress, maybe she’d get a chance, too.
‘Maybe the empress’s crown will be mine someday,’ she thought.
After all, love that started fast could burn out just as quickly.
Lost in her daydream, the maid, Viola, didn’t notice Regina watching her.
The room they called a bedroom was shabby, probably once used by servants or as a storeroom.
Regina made a small sound, and the palace maids froze. They remembered how she had handled the Grand Empress’s head maid before.
“Is this the best you can do?”
“With the given budget, yes, Your Majesty.”
If they planned to fix it up, they expected Regina to pay herself. It was clear they wanted her to suffer a bit.
“Doesn’t the empress’s palace have its own budget?”
“Since His Majesty often goes on campaigns, the palace has no money.”
That was a lie.
