Chapter 142

Despite being dissuaded, Lord Angenas stormed out of the closed gate and headed for the logging grounds.

Unfortunately, the collapsing earth and stone hit the mountain path, and the carriage of Lord Angenas was also buried there.

When Ivan found out that Lord Angenas was missing, he hurriedly released his soldiers and found the carriage, but sadly, both Lord Angenas and the coachman had already died.

Details of the letter filled his head, but Ronchent remained silent.

It was a courtesy to the Empress.

Instead, Empress Rabini asked again.

"...Father, what did he say?"

No matter how famous the Empress is for having no blood or tears, there is nothing she can do about her father's sad news.1

Ronchent said with more somber heart.

"Lord Angenas has passed away. This is a letter from Lord Ivan this morning."

The small letter that flew across the continent by the courier pigeon was crumpled and dirty.

It contrasted so much with the white, well-kept, smooth hands of the Empress who accepted it.

The Empress's head gradually bowed.

He couldn't see her face anymore because of her hair.

At that appearance, Ronchent Ivan comforted the Empress because he felt sorry for her.

"I know you must be heartbroken, Empress, and the late Lord Angenas was indeed a model for many nobles."

Despite his low voice, the Empress did not budge.

How much heartbreak would it be?

Perhaps there are hot tears on the Empress's face.

Deputy Lord Ivan continued to speak of comfort.

"In our Ivan, we will do our best to ensure that the belongings of the Lord Angenas return safely to the Capital..."

"What happened to the Triva tree?"

"...Yes?"

Ronchent Ivan doubted his ears.

And he asked again.

"What do you mean..."

"He should have collected the Triva wood."

The Empress slowly raised her head.

Empress Rabini's face was perfect with light again.

There was no part of the makeup that was ruined by tears, and it was not distorted by sadness.

It was the same face she was greeting Deputy Lord Ivan a moment ago.

"My father was collecting Triva woods by participating in a woods auction in the North. Can Deputy Lord Ivan help me move it to Angenas?"

"Uh, uh, it's..."

Ronchent Ivan was speechless for a moment.

He got goosebumps on the beautiful face like a sculpture of the Empress staring at him.

Her father died in an accident, and the first word he heard was about the tree.

The development work of the West comes before the death of her father.

"Uh, can you tell me which warehouse it is stored in..."

Of course, he had to refuse if Ivan's restoration work was too urgent, but Ronchent has to give a quick answer.

It was because his head was full of one thought.

'The Empress is dangerous. I have to keep my distance from Angenas.'

His instincts were shouting like that.

The Empress was a person who could bear any loss for her ambition.

And the target could be Ivan next time.

Even when he visited the Empress Palace, Ronchent Ivan's heart was heavy.

It was because he had one more bad news to pass along with her father's obituary.

It was an order delivered by Lord Ivan in a letter, but now it's an excellent choice.

After thinking that far, Deputy Lord Ivan nodded heavily and opened his mouth.

"We will carry the words that the Lord Angenas has already purchased to Angenas. But..."

"What is it?"

"I think it will be difficult to put Triva woods in the Angenas anymore. It is necessary for Ivan's reconstruction. I ask for your understanding, Empress."

The Empress's blue eyes shone coldly.

Unable to catch the gaze, Deputy Lord Ivan averted his eyes and gulped down his dry saliva.

"...I suppose so. I understand Ivan's position."

That's a relief.

Ronchent Ivan quickly rose from his seat, swallowing a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Empress. Then I have a schedule to go..."

Empress Rabini bowed and glanced coldly at the back of Deputy Lord Ivan, who was scurrying away.

And when his carriage was heard leaving, the Empress called the maid-in-honor.

"Get Duigi."

After a while.

Duigi Angenas arrived in the drawing-room at the call of the Empress.

"Our father passed away."

It was the first remark of the Empress, even before her brother sat down.

"What did you just say, sister? Uhh, what do you mean our father died?"

Duigi Angenas felt as if the sky was falling, and his legs were loosened and he slumped into a chair.

But he was not given time to grieve.

The Empress spoke in a dry voice.

"So as soon as you leave the Empress's Palace, move quickly according to my orders. There's a lot of work to do."

"That's too much, sister!"

Duigi Angenas has rarely been furious.

"Our father is dead! But you don't seem to be sad, how can you...!"

"Don't be so easy-going, Duigi."

The Empress cut off Duigi's speech with a sharp voice.

"If we don't get our act together, we'll hold Angenas responsible for all the landslides in the North. But the death of our father could prevent it. It's a good thing in a way."4

"Huuuu, sister!" cried Duigi Angenas in dismay.

However, Empress Rabini was not bothered by such a younger brother's reaction.

"They would argue that the landslide was caused by the carelessly logging at the request of our Angenas. Yeah, our father's accident could be a great shield."