Chapter 103

1st Consort Isabelle blinked in shock. Then she cried out in a fit.

“Why on earth would Duke Verdin do such a thing?!”

She had heard that there was a riot in the West. Once again, she had thought because it had always been like that. However.

“It is said that all the roads from the central to the west are cut off now, and the portal does not work due to the rejection from that side.”

When Marchioness Bahrain spoke of the news so matter-of-factly that she could no longer deny it, Isabelle lay down on the purple velvet sofa next to her. It was a comfortable image only shown in front of Marchioness Bahrain.

“Are you angry?”

Marchioness Bahrain went to the side of the sofa where Isabelle was lying diagonally and sat down. She then put Isabelle’s small, white hand on her own palm, and gently pressed between her fingers.

Isabelle opened her red-painted lips, leaving herself entirely in her charge.

“You know I’ve often talked to him about choosing an empress, but he’s never responded to it. So what do you think I felt when he told me he’d give that… that… bitch the White Rose Palace?”

Her mind was dizzy as her eyes clouded with anger. Frankly, she was happy. Since one of the two palaces was open, did it not mean the other would also open?

She had thought she would have a chance, too, thanks to that bitch. But the moment she had realized such a self, the pride that she was so proud of was mercilessly torn apart.

Nevertheless, Isabelle had gone to His Majesty to ask for the Red Rose Palace, and sent a correspondence to the Eastern duke.

She had boasted to her father that she would become the empress and raise the 2nd Prince to the throne this time. It was just what she wanted.

His Majesty was also satisfied with the recent move in the East, and the atmosphere was good, so it seemed that she would soon be able to achieve what she wanted.

But rebellion!

“The schedule for the choosing of the empress will be delayed. If things go wrong, we’ll have to start over from the beginning after subjugating the rebels!”

The resources and efforts poured out in the past would come to nothing. But there was something more terrifying than that: the beggar-like 2nd Consort who had regained her power in that short period from nothing and built up her reputation to surpass the empress position.

Even if she, who was the 1st Consort right now, was one step closer to the position of an empress, how long would she be able to do that? Then what if that bitch became the empress?

Isabelle shoved her fingernails into the palm of the Marchioness Bahrain, who was doing acupuncture on her hand.

“I don’t think anything’s going right. Since that bitch started messing around, nothing’s been going right!”

To be precise, it must have been from last year, around the 3rd Prince’s birthday. Abandoned empress in an abandoned palace. The wildflower no one looked after bloomed on her own and exuded her scent. But at least she was alone. She would wither if you bent it. Isabelle had failed once but didn’t think she’d ever fail again.

Isabelle, who was gritting her teeth, frowned when she saw blood oozing out from Marchioness Bahrain’s palm, which she had pressed.

“Why didn’t you speak?”

“This is nothing. It’s alright.”

As Marchioness Bahrain smiled, Isabelle laid her forehead on her shoulder.

Marchioness Bahrain treated Isabelle like a sweet little sister. Isabelle was arrogant and immature lady who grew up beautifully doing everything she wanted to. But she didn’t hate her. What could be said if there were some people like this in the world?

Marchioness Bahrain looked at Isabelle, who turned her cute face away, pretending not to care even though she was concerned.

***

As an important meeting was held in the throne room due to the rebellion, nobles entered the palace one after another and stood in front of the emperor.

The emperor, sitting on the throne at the highest point inside the throne room, looked at the scene unfolding beneath him. Everyone who entered the throne room entrance was surprised to find the emperor and bowed their head first.

They wondered if they were late or if they misunderstood the start time, but they were relieved to see the same situation occur one after another.

And then they had to be surprised again. It was because they found two people standing on the left and right sides of the milky-white marble staircase leading to the platform with the throne as if to guard the emperor.

Unlike the nobles who entered the throne room, the two stood in the glory of looking at the same place (as the emperor) with their backs in front of the emperor, not facing the emperor. Everyone could accept one without disagreement, but it was not so with the other.

“Why is it the 2nd Consort?”

Someone muttered. To put it bluntly, it was a place where the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs must guard, or Sir Rohan and Marquis Blemir must stand to balance the weight. However, it was as if the emperor was pointing out to the nobles that It is not your place.

In the absence of Marquis Blemir, many people in this war wanted to stand under the emperor in a position on equal footing with Sir Rohan.

Of course, Elisha ignored them.

What would you do with people who can’t even ask openly and pretend to be talking to themselves to induce a response from those around you?

Above all else, this was the throne room. Was there anything that could be done without the emperor’s permission in the presence of the emperor?

Anyone could figure it out just by thinking a little bit. That was why they didn’t dare to do anything or make a fool out of themselves with their mouth.

Speaking of which, unlike Elisha herself, they didn’t know that someone was right above their head who counted all these things.

“Have you done talking?”

When the emperor spoke, the whispering war quickly became quiet.

“One of the three pillars supporting the emperor was plotting a rebellion to get me off my head, but you guys are fighting for your place here.”

Kaiden was always annoyed by the ‘pillars’ he had just spoken about. They pretended to support him, but in the end, they seemed to remind him that even the emperor was just a human being tossed to the floor without them.

“Your Majesty, that’s not what Baron Fallon said…”

“Prince Raymond, are you in a position to make excuses for others? You must have forgotten that you’re in a situation where you have to give me an excuse.”

Prince Raymond’s face flushed with shame. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I did when I came in.

Shooting the empress like an enemy before the emperor, is enough medicine.

But even with that thought, when Rohan looked at him, he quickly straightened his body and pulled his chin… as if trying to be determined.

Elisha looked up at the emperor. The emperor must have known the heart of Prince Raymond.

He was peering into it from the other side of the cage indifferently. Elisha said before his eyes passed Prince Raymond and reached Rohan.

“Your Majesty, it seems that everyone is here. It’s time to start the meeting.”

The blue eyes that changed direction because they fell short of Rohan contained Elisha. The eyes that looked as if the owner saw a dead bird immediately changed. Did they contain faint vitality, or should it be called low interest?

“Tell them. You know the situation in the West the best. The fact that we knew of the rebellion in advance, that we stirred up their inner circle and weakened their strength, and that we had a justification for defeating them all had something to do with you, the 2nd Consort. Isn’t it?”

Roughly speaking, it was something everyone knew. If you didn’t have that much ability, you wouldn’t be in a position to be called into this war.

However, Elisha’s, who had experienced everything in person, story was definitely different from the information that they had learned from known rumors and people.

Western tension, the atmosphere, the nobles and knights flocking to Rotinan…

“But, about that. It is said that the first and second madam of the duke of the West had a huge misunderstanding, so they gathered to the mountain range of Pavezzo to solve it. They said you blocked them and killed them all. How about it? Is it true?”

“I did kill the most.”

The Western rebellion group’s power must have been significantly reduced. The throne room, which had been flustered by such a nonchalant answer, became quiet again. Elisha turned to them all and continued.

“Does that mean you killed them all? Do you not have the ability to go all over the Pavezzo Mountains in that short period and kill them all?”

Since they had pursued and fought all the way, how many places could the fight have taken place? There would be traces everywhere.

“Besides, there have been no survivors, right?”

When Elisha had spread the energy of water, there had been quite a few signs. The wounded, the hidden, those who had given up the fight and retreated.

“Regardless of Duke Verdin’s claim, the horrors of that day will be known through those who have returned from the Pavezzo Mountains. Western nobles who claim strong solidarity have sharpened their swords at each other. Their hatred toward each other may be big, but they have to endure it to face something bigger before them right now. But it won’t be long before this hatred explodes.”

And the day it exploded, the rebels of the West would suffer great damage again.

“That’s all I have to say.”

After Elisha finished it neatly, opinions about the West’s power, attack method, and who should be in charge were exchanged.

In particular, there was a strong argument that Marquis Blemir should be summoned immediately. Still, the emperor refused to allow it, arguing about who would protect the people of the empire from monsters if everyone rushed to the west.

The nobles of the crown prince’s faction had no choice but to follow. Other nobles began to be greedy as the strongest man, who would be the first considered by anyone, was missing enough to erase his presence.

This was because there were not too many opportunities for the nobles to expand their territories or raise their titles by making great contributions. Rohan was not someone who fought for the ball with others, and the remaining swordmaster would never have appeared here.

“Even if we are one of only three empires on the Paracion Continent, we can’t afford to prepare for another country’s invasion and spend a lot of money on war at a time when the drought is already going on, so we have to get rid of the rebels as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Everyone answered at the same time.

“Therefore, the person who will be the general in subjugating the rebels must be smart.”

The blue eyes of the emperor captured the count, known for his intelligence among the imperial faction, standing on the left side of the throne room.

When the count’s face was coloured with joy, the following words came out.

“Bold.”

The resounding voice was low and beautiful. And his gaze was so fascinating that it warmed people up.

This time, the gaze that had stopped on Count Morell of the crown prince’s faction flowed again and went to Prince Raymond.

“Brave.”

Prince Raymond revealed his teeth and smiled brightly. He was excited and puffed up his chest as if he had already become the general in charge. He seemed to be determined that the latest remark was to compliment him. But could the emperor do that? As expected, the emperor’s gaze passed by Prince Raymond.

The last thing his blue eyes captured was his best card and the most valuable thing to adorn him.

“The person in charge should have the nobility that suits the cause. With the strength to punish the enemy.”

All of them point to Rohan. Those who felt insulted by the joy in the blue eyes and the misery of being abandoned thought it was fair if their opponent was Rohan. They had no choice but to admit him and eventually obey the emperor’s will. Then Rohan, as always, would carry out the emperor’s orders perfectly.

Everyone waited for the finishing words to follow. But the emperor was silent. In the long silence, his mouth finally opened.

“Everyone has their strengths, but I know someone who has them all. However, I wonder if I should pick the one who is lacking. So Elisha, my second empress, you are my general. Go, subdue the rebellion and bring me the West.”

The throne room rocked with suffocating energy. It was not stillness or silence. It was hostility, resentment, stubbornness to protect the existing… and fear for their beautiful and capable emperor who was not afraid of new things.

Elisha glanced at them, then turned to the side. Rohan greeted her with congratulations, concerns, and faith.

Elisha, who turned her body completely to face the emperor, covered her heart with her right hand.

“Elisha de Rappelcia, obey your orders.”

She would be his loyal subject until he tried to kill herself and her children.

She could do that.