I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 72
The ship that had departed from Gottrov finally reached the port of Echmont after about a month.
“Have we arrived?…Huh? We’re… here.” A burly man, his face drained of color, gripped the ship’s railing and bowed his head. Beside him, Cain lightly tapped Bellin’s broad back, his tongue clicking softly.
“Hey, I’m dying. I feel like I’m going to die.”
“We’re here.”
As the ship docked with a jolt, Bellin stormed off like an enraged bull, shoving past people left and right, leaving behind whatever luggage he had. Cain, with a cool gaze, looked down at Bellin’s abandoned belongings before picking up both his own and Bellin’s, skillfully maneuvering through the crowd. Thanks to his beautiful face, blurred gender lines, and mysterious aura, Cain Nox was a well-known figure aboard the ship. People whispered as they watched his silvery hair flutter in the sea breeze.
“He’s a man? I saw him just a few days ago wearing only a shirt, and I didn’t even realize.”
“Yeah, you can’t tell if he’s a man or a woman just by looking at his face, but look at those shoulders. Those are not ordinary shoulders.”
“Wow, there are people who look like that.”
Even as Cain descended from the ship, Bellin remained sprawled on the ground, murmuring about the swaying ground, still suffering from seasickness after a month of torment. Pale and covered in cold sweat, he looked unrecognizable. Cain sighed briefly, scanning the surroundings. He wanted to depart for the capital of Echmont right away, but considering Bellin’s condition, it seemed impractical.
“Get up. Otherwise, I’ll leave you behind.”
“Bu-bu-but… please, carry me…”
It was a precarious start to their journey, but little did they know, it was just the beginning of an adventure that would bind them even closer together.
“Are you insane? How am I supposed to carry you? Just follow me.”
“You ungrateful brat…”
“You should have thought about that during the past month.”
After Cain threw his words coldly, he briskly walked ahead. Bellin, lying on the ground like a corpse, reluctantly got up and followed him. Although Cain spoke harshly, he kept an eye out for Bellin, even carrying his luggage as they walked.
“Come on…”
The two of them soon disappeared into the bustling crowd.
****
As the Empress entered the conference room, all the ministers gathered for discussion froze as if someone had poured cold water over them. The chief steward, visibly tense, escorted her to her seat. Following behind were the Grand Duke, Duke Baldr, and Viscount Herbert, each taking their places in line behind the Empress. The pressure was palpable as they entered, even causing other nobles to feel uneasy. Before Adel took her seat, she scanned the ministers, who had been staring at her blankly until then, and they all rose from their seats to greet her. The nobles aligned with the Despone Duke also stood up hesitantly, stealing glances at him. With a gentle smile, Adel spoke softly.
“Welcome, everyone. Please be seated.”
Just as she was about to sit down, the door opened again, and the Emperor entered. Karl looked around the conference room as he stepped in. Among the rising ministers, the graceful figure of the Empress caught his eye. His gaze slid to her left. After the Grand Duke and Duke Baldr, there was… Lionel Herbert. His heart felt like a raging river, unable to avoid the inevitable. With measured steps, the Emperor walked towards the dais, his gaze coolly meeting the Empress’s. He spent sleepless nights because of her, yet she seemed unperturbed, which only fueled his resentment.
“During my visit to Vuetta, I observed that the two of you seemed quite intimate. Perhaps, more than just intimate? As I mentioned before, Lionel Baldr never left the Empress’s side throughout his stay at the Duchy. Furthermore, it is said that upon waking, the Empress sought him out.”
Once again, Karl heard the whispers of the Despone Duke, and he furrowed his brow. The Despone Duke personally conveyed the news that Lionel Baldr had been appointed as Lionel Herbert. He added, “Baldr undoubtedly asked Lionel Baldr to resign as his aide. Why? Because he achieved his goal! But now, at this juncture, Lionel Baldr has succeeded Lionel Herbert? It must mean that he no longer needs to be bound by the Baldr family and will solely protect the Empress by his own will!” Karl exhaled sharply, glaring at Lionel.
“Viscount Herbert. You’ve been delaying, but suddenly received succession.”
Despite the Emperor’s growling accusation, Lionel’s expression remained unchanged. He simply nodded politely. As the Emperor took his seat and turned his head, his eyes met with the gaze of the Despone Duke. The Duke gestured with his eyes as if to say something. Karl struggled to calm his racing heart. Eventually, the meeting began. While Adel sharply observed the ministers in silence, Elizabeth, who had been reading the flow of the meeting, subtly introduced a topic.
“I wonder if the Calvin Viscounty is holding up. I’ve heard that the Barutolt and Orlean Viscounts are blocking the middle ground, but how long can they hold out?”
Upon hearing this, the Despone Duke furrowed his brow reflexively, as if about to say something, but Lionel spoke first.
“With the confirmed appearance of the Gargoyles, it is estimated that the tower in the Calvin Territory is currently a major structure of level 3 magnitude.”
As Lennox rose to his feet to offer the same old excuses as before, Lionel, with a cold expression as if disgusted by Lennox’s repeated forced reasoning, countered by presenting a document.
“Barutolt Viscount personally confirmed the Gargoyles’ carcass. He confirmed the distinctive hook-shaped beak and horn between the eyes characteristic of the Gargoyles.”
Yet, Lennox remained adamant, refusing to relent on his argument that Calvin’s Territory’s tower was nothing significant. Watching this, Elizabeth couldn’t contain herself and exclaimed.
“Stop forcing your point!”
Stunned by her sharp gaze, Lennox hesitated before looking to the Despone Duke as if for help. Then, Elizabeth turned directly to the Despone Duke, raising her voice.
“Duke Des! What do you think of such forced claims from the Poitiers Viscount?!”
“Forced claims? What falsehoods are there in his words?”
As they raised their voices, the meeting once again reached a stalemate. As the futile argument dragged on, Adel suddenly spoke up.
“Do you know what has surprised me the most since I came to Echmont?”
After scanning the ministers slowly and finally looking at the Emperor, she continued.
“The slums.”
Then she turned her head again towards the Despone Duke.
“The vast slums in the capital, spreading throughout the empire, were simply unbelievable to me.”
“The Imperial Family hasn’t been idle either! We provide provisions to each slum every year!”
“Is throwing food at them enough?! Isn’t it about addressing the root problem?”
As Lionel raised his voice, the Despone Duke’s face turned red with anger. Lionel turned to the Emperor and spoke.
“The way to uproot the slums in the Empire is to destroy the towers erected in the Empire, Your Majesty.”
Several ministers also gathered around the Emperor’s words.
“That’s right. Just as it was done in Bueta, the towers erected in the Empire must be destroyed.”
“The people flooding into the slums cannot even afford taxes, causing a huge blow to the empire’s economy. Moreover, it becomes a breeding ground for all kinds of crime. Your Majesty, why do you leave the towers as they are?!”
As ministers poured out their opinions from all directions, Karl clenched his teeth tightly.
“Enough!! The towers are being systematically destroyed.”
“Is that really the truth?”
Theseus, who had been silent, immediately retorted the Emperor’s words.
“If it’s systematic, then why was the tower in the Calvin Territory left untouched while the tower in the Vuetta Duchy was destroyed?”
“The tower in Vuetta was larger!”
“It’s not just about the size of the tower. The attitude towards the two territories was completely different. Isn’t there perhaps a secret criterion unknown to us for destroying the towers?”
Theseus’s sharp observation made the Despone Duke bristle with rage, veins bulging in his neck.
“A criterion!! How dare you insinuate such nonsense to His Majesty?”
“It’s just a rational suspicion.”
Karl clenched his fists tightly and breathed heavily as he growled at Theseus.
“As the Emperor of the Echmont Empire, I treat all territories of the Empire fairly. Duke Baldr, maintain order.”
As Elizabeth watched the scene unfold, she stood up from her seat. The sharp gazes of the Emperor and the Grand Duke met sharply.
“The refugees pouring into the Grand Territory are like the sea. It’s an endless sea with no end or depth. They steal to survive, light fires in the forests to stay warm, and I have no choice but to punish them. But one day, a boy said to me, ‘If I go to jail, will you give me food?'”
“….”
“The most important thing at this point is to remove the towers clearly and swiftly. If the way of removing the towers is not effective, that’s the issue to address.”
“Are you saying I’m wrong right now?”
At Karl’s deeply probing question, Elizabeth answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
Before her words could settle, the Despone Duke threw his cane and shouted loudly.
“Elizabeth Ulrich!!!”
“Duke Des! Cease your scheming behind His Majesty’s back!!”
Elizabeth’s rebuke made the Despone Duke tremble, and nobles raised their voices, turning the conference into chaos in moments. Watching the scene unfold, the Emperor addressed Adele.
“Is this what you wanted?”
Adele turned her gaze towards him. The Emperor stared at her as if to kill her with his bloodshot eyes.
“Did you wish for me to be driven into a corner?”
“You misunderstand. I’m simply raising valid concerns and requesting that you do what needs to be done.”
“You dare to disrespect me, the Emperor?!”
“….”
Adele was at a loss for words.
“In front of all these ministers, what does it mean to point out my mistakes if they are not disrespecting me?”
Adele felt contempt for the Emperor, who was acting like a petulant child. She clenched her fists tightly, her face contorted.
“It’s not disrespecting Your Majesty; it’s begging you to please take care of the country properly!”
As the Empress couldn’t hold back and stood up, a sudden silence fell over the once noisy conference room.
The Empress spoke with heavy breaths.
“All the towers across the empire can be destroyed within this year if we set our minds to it.”
“….!!”
Sounds of inhaling could be heard from all around. Some with joy, some with despair.
“Can you take responsibility for that statement?”
Karl asked sharply, and Adele straightened her shoulders and declared with determination.
“I am the founder and overall commander of the Gottrov Tower Countermeasure Headquarters.”
“!!”
Everyone in the conference room stared at Adele, forgetting even to breathe.
“We managed all the wizards of Gottrov and strategically placed them in each region considering the terrain and population. Until I left, there wasn’t a single tower standing in Gottrov, and I’m sure it’s still the case. The people of Gottrov are no longer afraid even if the towers were to come down. If you doubt it, you can send someone to Gohtrop to confirm.”
As Adel spoke, Lennox trembled and looked at the Despone Duke. But the Duke, too, stared at the Empress with a face drained of color. Stepping back, Adele looked at the Emperor and spoke in a resolute voice.
“There is no reason not to destroy the towers of the Calvin Baron. Leave it to me, Your Majesty.”
Observing this, Lionel also gave his solid approval.
“Count Herbert will actively agree with and support Her Majesty’s opinion.”
Following him, several ministers, including Elizabeth and Theseus, voiced their support for the Empress. A heavy silence rolled towards the Emperor and the Despone Duke. Can they withstand it, blocking the surging river? Adel felt unbearable hatred towards the Emperor, who looked down on her with such arrogance.
“Even if it makes me miserable like this, do I have to grasp power with both hands?”
Facing Karl, Adel felt that the gap between them had widened even further today. But then, urgent news arrived, and all attention turned to the Emperor.
“What’s going on?”
Unable to bear it, the Despone Duke asked, and after a moment of silence, the Emperor spoke up.
“Count Calvin has expressed his intention to completely abandon his territory.”
“Huh….”
Adele sighed and looked at the empty space. As the image of the aging Count with his white hair flashed in her mind, anger surged beyond pity. Eventually, the Empress glared at the letter held by the Emperor and left the conference room, followed by Elizaveta rising from her seat. The conference room fell into desolate silence.
After the meeting, the Despone Duke requested an audience with the Emperor. During the silent moments, the Duke struggled to contain his emotions and gulped down cold water. As Karl slowly reiterated Adele’s words, he was the first to speak up.
“How about actively destroying the towers instead?”
“No, it’s not possible!”
“The Empress has declared that it’s possible to remove all the towers within this year. Is there a way to stop this momentum? Soon, the ministers will rise up like a swarm, rallying around the Empress!”
The Despone Duke, sensing the wavering intention of the Emperor, deliberately wore a mournful expression and prodded at the Emperor’s resolve.
“Why do I leave the towers as they are? Isn’t it all for Your Majesty’s authority?”
“…”
“Your Majesty, just look at today. When the foundation of the towers is shaken, how will the ministers treat Your Majesty?”
Karl reflexively turned his head and said, “Enough.”
“Nobles born with noble blood and strong pride need the towers to bow their heads before Your Majesty. You’ve done well until now. The problem lies with the Empress alone.”
Since Karl’s childhood, the Despone Duke has manipulated those around him to constantly undermine his self-esteem.
“Just look. Now he’s disrespecting Your Majesty just because of her background.”
“Did you see the look in his eyes? He disrespected Your Majesty.”
The Despone Duke, as he always did, spoke low and firmly, brainwashing the Emperor.
“The Empress must be killed.”
