🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 26
News—both good and bad—reached Cecilia, who was hoping the supply system would take shape as soon as possible.
The good news was that the bureaucrats were working enthusiastically, and the people of the Empire were responding positively.
The bad news was…
“The provincial lords are showing considerable resistance. If we push too hard, there may be severe repercussions, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“As I thought…”
Cecilia let out a sigh.
How could things unfold exactly as she had worried?
If she followed her temper, she would have loved to simply intimidate them into submission. But Cecilia knew better.
They might listen to her as long as she held them down with force.
But a year later?
Once I’m gone, the backlash will be even worse.
Of course, Edward wasn’t her equal, but he still wielded significant power. And if he kept his strength hidden, there had to be a reason.
Even to her, he never spoke of it, and so she didn’t bring it up either.
It would be nice if the day came when he chose to tell me on his own. If not… well, nothing I can do.
Right now Edward was away from the capital, tending to military matters.
Unlike her—who only needed to focus on areas of personal interest—Edward, as Emperor, had to oversee every front.
It was a good idea to put that spell on him.
After all, the more active someone was, the hotter they’d get.
Cecilia smiled faintly.
One more benefit was that she could instantly sense Edward’s location.
She hadn’t set a tracking spell, but since a small part of her mind was always maintaining his enchantment, she could naturally sense where he was.
Currently, Edward was at a military training camp about three hours’ ride from the capital.
It was one of Linek’s main soldier-training facilities.
But under Gerard’s reign, it had been severely weakened.
The reason was simple: plagued by paranoia, Gerard didn’t trust even the soldiers who served him.
So apart from his personal guard, the army had been drastically reduced.
As a result, the Empire’s military power had become fragile—allowing Edward to raise a rebellion and cut down Gerard with ease. Gerard had dug his own grave.
He’ll manage fine.
Cecilia had no intention of meddling in matters she didn’t understand.
Edward, after all, had raised a private army as a duke and succeeded in toppling a tyrant—surely he was more of an expert than she.
She turned her attention back to the report. Something else was bothering her.
Something feels off…
Conflicts of interest naturally lead to discontent.
But what struck Cecilia as strange was this:
They all gave the exact same reason.
The provincial lords were unanimous in their complaints.
Now is not the time to build a supply system. After the long tyranny and exploitation of the previous emperor, our storehouses are empty—please help us replenish them first.
That’s precisely why we need the supply system, Cecilia thought with a sigh.
A prickling unease crept in.
That several neighboring lords might use the same excuse—sure, that could happen.
But lords from opposite ends of the Empire? Giving the very same, flimsy reason?
Do they take me for a fool?
There was someone pulling strings behind them.
And perhaps it was the same person who had sent assassins.
Cecilia’s gaze hardened.
So this is how you want to fight? Fine. I’ll take you on.
The Duke of Deimos’s residence was bustling since morning.
The young lady herself was overseeing preparations to receive an esteemed guest, while the servants scrambled nervously, desperate to satisfy her exacting standards.
And all for one reason:
They were to receive the Marchioness of Amia, the only woman in society considered the Deimos lady’s true rival.
At precisely four in the afternoon, the appointed time, the marchioness’s carriage arrived.
The young lady of Deimos went down personally to greet her.
“Welcome, Marchioness.”
“You must have been eagerly awaiting me, Lady Deimos.”
The marchioness smiled as she replied.
“To come down so quickly to meet me.”
The implication of who currently held the upper hand was clear.
“How could I keep such a distinguished guest waiting?”
And to everyone’s surprise, Lady Deimos accepted the remark without her usual prideful retort.
For someone known to be pride incarnate, such compliance would have shocked anyone familiar with her.
But the Marchioness of Amia wasn’t surprised—she only gave a lofty smile and said nothing.
Soon, the two women entered the drawing room.
It was decorated lavishly with seasonal summer flowers, tailored to the marchioness’s tastes.
At the center was a table with two chairs. Lady Deimos sat first, and naturally, the marchioness took the opposite seat.
“This is…”
The marchioness tilted her head at the small box placed before her, but Lady Deimos urged her with a smile to open it.
“…!”
The marchioness covered her mouth.
Inside was a sapphire necklace, mined from the Deimos family’s own mines.
Deimos Sapphire.
The Deimos family had monopolized mining rights for over a century, to the point the gem itself had become synonymous with their name—renowned as the finest quality sapphire on the continent.
In truth, the Deimos dukedom was wealthier even than the newly established imperial family.
Edward Keres likely had not unearthed all the hidden treasures of the imperial palace yet.
“I didn’t expect such a grand welcome…”
“It’s your first time visiting, after all. It’s only right to honor you properly.”
“You needn’t have gone to such trouble. Our friendship isn’t so shallow as to require gifts.”
Friendship?
At most, they exchanged three words at balls. That was a lie, plain and simple.
Yet Lady Deimos showed no offense—only the faintest lift of her lips.
“If you consider me a friend, that’s enough to make me glad.”
“Of course. Since we are friends, you’ll tell me straightaway what troubles prompted you to invite me, won’t you?”
Lady Deimos began pouring tea with her own hands.
It was a tactic to delay her answer, but the marchioness didn’t press her.
If she’d been invited, she would hear it soon enough.
“Do you remember the Duchess of Keres?”
The marchioness’s deer-like eyes widened.
For indeed, Cecilia Keres was now the Empress.
To call her merely a duchess could easily be construed as treason.
“Of course. I recall her as a very beautiful young woman, unusually innocent as well… But why ask about Her Majesty’s past?”
The marchioness tried to smooth over the young lady’s blasphemous words, treating them as nothing more than idle curiosity about the Empress’s history.
But Lady Deimos made no move to retract them.
“The duchess was away from the Empire for five years. I wondered if you might know the reason.”
The marchioness gave a small sigh inside.
At this point, it was impossible to pretend ignorance.
Lady Deimos was twenty-three.
Five years ago, she had already been in society. There was no way she didn’t know.
So the question was not about ignorance, but intention.
“I don’t see why someone who already knows the answer would ask me.”
“Do you truly not know?”
Though her tone remained soft, the chill in Lady Deimos’s eyes was venomous—like a viper hiding its fangs.
“…It would be a lie to say I don’t.”
The marchioness shifted slightly forward in her seat.
Closer toward the young lady.
And at that, a satisfied smile curved Lady Deimos’s lips.
“Kristin Cipher has made her move. I cannot sit idly by either.”
