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~Chapter 42~
We must overturn the imperial palace!
“This can’t be, does that mean this happened more than once?”
“Quiet! Let’s listen to the rest.”
The nobles started murmuring too.
“But the duty of the knights is to be the shield that protects the empire and the sword that destroys its enemies. We cannot abandon that duty over something like this.”
“There’s no need to keep doing our duty for those who leave their own responsibilities to others. That’s why there’s no need to go hunt the monsters at the barrier.”
Even at Conrad’s firm words, Herzen did not give up.
“But, Your Majesty. Knights live to protect their families and, beyond that, the empire itself. Please don’t take their pride away.”
When Herzen finished, the meeting room became silent.
He was a noble knight.
Brave, self-sacrificing, and honorable.
As nobles living in the empire of the sword, no one could fail to be moved by his sincere words.
Herzen’s words showed the roots of Fredericks chivalry. No one could deny the values and dignity of the knights he represented.
If anyone told a knight like him to just ignore an insult from a servant, that person would be too shameful to expect the knights’ protection.
‘It was perfect.’
He said every word exactly as he had memorized. To hide the smile trying to appear, Herzen had to bow his head.
He had carried out Regina’s order perfectly. Now he only needed to wait.
“My goodness, he’s a true knight!”
“How could disloyal people who can’t even do their own jobs dare look down on the best of all knights!”
“Your Majesty! Punish that servant severely!”
“No, not just the servant! We must overturn the imperial palace!”
The angry nobles shouted. They too were knights at their core.
Most noble families in the Fredericks Empire started with a knight’s title, so there was no one who didn’t learn swordsmanship, even among the lowest nobles.
The first thing anyone learned when they picked up a sword was the code of a knight: protect the weak, be loyal to the empire, and serve the emperor.
Returning to these basics, the nobles all shouted together.
“Your Majesty! Don’t let this pass lightly. Get rid of the root so this never happens again!”
“That’s right. The palace servants and maids must be retrained, and the ignorant ones removed!”
The emperor’s supporters shouted, seeing this as their chance. The other nobles followed the mood and agreed.
Conrad glanced at Marquis Ludvika, whose face was full of distress.
‘He can’t even wipe the sweat off his forehead—he must be very nervous.’
He barely held back a laugh.
Had he ever felt this satisfied in a meeting before?
“But the right to manage the palace staff is part of the palace finances.”
The nobles who understood Conrad’s hidden intent—that Chloe needed to lose control of the finances—agreed.
“Since the Empress has now entered the palace, the Grand Empress must give up the control of the finances!”
“That’s right! With all these problems, what has the Grand Empress been doing all this time?”
“Exactly!”
Chloe did not attend today’s council meeting, hoping to show her discontent with Regina.
She had said she wouldn’t come unless the Empress came to beg for forgiveness herself.
Of course, Conrad just ignored such nonsense.
Watching the noisy nobles, he smirked.
‘It’s over.’
Everything was going just as Regina planned.
Just then, the head servant shouted again.
“The Grand Empress is entering!”
At Chloe’s sudden arrival, Conrad clenched his fist.
The nobles only dared to talk about taking the finances away when Chloe wasn’t there, but now that she appeared, things could change.
‘That’s why I wanted to finish this quickly…’
But it was too late.
“Let her in.”
No matter what, he couldn’t refuse Chloe’s right to attend the meeting. Since she controlled the finances, she could always observe the council.
‘So it was him.’
Conrad noticed Marquis Ludvika’s obvious sigh of relief among the nobles. He must have sensed the change in atmosphere and sent word to Chloe.
As Chloe entered, the head servant shouted again.
“Duke Messer is also entering!”
Duke Messer came in next and bowed to Conrad.
“I greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
Duke Messer was much more polite than Chloe, who just nodded and sat down without a real greeting. He was harder to deal with.
“Arriving so late when the meeting is almost over. You’re too late, Duke.”
“It’s still early, so the meeting can go on a bit longer, right? I was delayed checking some things, Your Majesty.”
“You’re a smooth talker.”
Conrad intentionally stopped talking about the finances, and the Duke fell silent.
“So, what are you discussing?” Chloe’s clear voice rang out.
No one dared answer. Though she asked Conrad, it was really meant to pressure the other nobles.
“We were discussing the control of the palace finances.”
“Palace finances?”
“Yes. Since the Empress is now the mistress of the palace, the Grand Empress must give the finances back to their rightful owner.”
Count Ulysses, Conrad’s loyal supporter, spoke up. Chloe shot him a sharp glare, but he ignored it.
“Also, it’s been revealed that all the palace servants and maids except those in the Emperor’s palace have mistreated the knights.”
“So?”
“Since the Grand Empress is so busy with state affairs, perhaps it’s time to give up the finances and relieve some of your burden.”
“That cannot be.”
Chloe replied instantly, gripping her chair’s armrest tightly for all to see.
“Managing the servants is an easy matter. The Empress only married His Majesty in a hurry and has not had proper training.”
“Grand Empress, that’s too harsh!”
“Am I wrong?”
Chloe’s sharp voice rang through the meeting.
“Normally, an Empress must go through at least a month of preparation and training before taking her place. She must know how to handle paperwork and understand the palace rules to have control of the finances.”
Chloe declared she could not hand over control to someone who hadn’t had proper education.
“I also went through the same process to sit by the late Emperor’s side. Even if her background doesn’t matter, I cannot give the finances to someone who hasn’t been proven.”
Her logic made the nobles nod. There were many rumors about Regina’s abilities, but the nobles had not seen them for themselves.
They had only heard she was a great mage and surprisingly well-mannered for someone of humble birth.
“That’s true.”
“She can learn those things in time, can’t she?”
Count Ulysses spoke up again.
“What’s more important is keeping the law and order of the palace. Since the Empress is here, the Grand Empress cannot keep managing the palace finances.”
Many in the meeting were shocked by his bold words. He was clearly standing against Chloe.
