I Will Surrender My Position as the Empress - Chapter 73
The emptiness in the Emperor’s eyes, once filled with certainty, now sharpened at the Duke of Despone’s assertion.
“No!”
“If you don’t get rid of the Empress, Your Majesty will be the scarecrow.”
“I warned you, didn’t I? Not to lay a hand on that woman!”
Even in the face of the Emperor’s rebuke, the Duke of Despone closed his eyes tightly before opening them again, unwavering in his opinion.
“They’ve gathered around the Empress’s mystical knowledge and Elizabeth’s status. Once we cut off the Empress, they’ll crumble like a sandcastle. You need to act before their power grows.”
“…”
“Your Majesty!”
As the Duke of Despone called out to the Emperor in frustration, Karl managed to reply with a suppressed voice.
“I’ll consider it.”
“We don’t have time!”
Karl turned to glare at the Duke of Despone.
“I said I’ll consider it! If you dare touch that woman without my permission, no matter how noble you are, I won’t stand idle.”
The Duke of Despone sighed deeply and sank into his chair.
“You can’t take too long. Isn’t the border day coming soon? Look around the Empress that day. Nobles will flock to her like a pack of wolves.”
“…”
“And if I may ask, Your Majesty, do you intend to accompany the Empress today despite what has happened? The people of the Baldr House will swarm around her. Partner up with Diane Poitiers.”
Karl furrowed his brow and sighed heavily.
“Mistreating Diane, who is even the mother of Your Majesty’s child, will tarnish Your Majesty’s reputation. Moreover, didn’t the Empress embarrass Your Majesty in the council chamber today? Yet if you’re seen going with her first, it will appear as if Your Majesty is yielding.”
“I understand what you’re saying, enough.”
“And don’t worry too much about Gottrov.”
“…”
“If it doesn’t work out, just throw Gottrov under the bus as an accomplice to the Empress’s crimes. Think wisely.”
After the central meeting adjourned, Lady Giggs noticing the dark expression on the Empress’s face as she returned, paused from organizing the documents she was about to sign and asked, “Are you alright?”
“…I’m fine.”
Lady Giggs quickly brewed some tea. Adele, sitting on the sofa, absentmindedly stared out the window, then let out a long sigh and murmured, “They say Lord Calvin has relinquished his territory.”
“Thank you.”
“As I mentioned that day, Your Majesty has done your best within the limits of what you can do.”
“Was there any tension between Lord Calvin and His Majesty the Emperor?”
“No. Lord Calvin’s family is renowned for their loyalty to the imperial line for generations. They may not wield much power, but they have managed to maintain their lineage without significant disruption.”
“Then what could be the criteria…?”
Adele furrowed her brow, trying to recall. Suddenly, she remembered the words Duke Despone had uttered.
“‘…The tower calls the tower, and the tower consumes.’ What could that mean?”
While Adele was absorbed in pondering how to destroy the tower in Gottrov, Duke Despone had been absorbed in how to utilize the tower in Echmont. For a staggering 14 years. Surely, the Duke knew something she didn’t. The problem was how to find out… As Adele wrestled with her thoughts, Lady Giggs placed some documents in front of her. After briefly checking the papers, Adele thanked Lady Giggs.
“You’ve worked hard preparing for the border day in my stead.”
“It’s something I’ve been doing since the days of the former Empress, so it’s no trouble. If anything, I’m glad to do it. Oh, and there’s a dress catalog on the back of the documents. Take a look and choose a design you like.”
With a cheerful smile, Lady Giggs politely offered the documents and disappeared like the wind. Adele watched her go, then muttered as she picked up the papers and headed to her desk.
“With the country on the brink of collapse because of the tower, what’s the use of these border celebrations?”
*****
Meanwhile, since the Emperor’s visit to the Ivory Palace, Diane confined to her bedroom, began to stir as the border day approached. On this occasion, celebrating the nation’s founding, all the nobles of the capital were invited to the palace for a grand banquet. Over the past three years, as she had personally organized the border day celebrations, Diane had roamed the banquet hall like a hostess, mingling with the guests once the festivities began. At this time, the capital’s renowned dress salons were bustling with noblewomen, and to influential ladies, the head designers would often send dress catalogs for them to select their preferences. Running her hand through her hair, Diane lazily inquired, “The catalog must have arrived. Bring it here. It’s time to choose.”
At her words, Lorraine hesitated, her fingers fidgeting nervously before she sighed and brought the catalog to Diane. Diane accepted the catalog from Lorraine and flipped through it slowly. Lorraine held her breath, anticipating Diane’s outburst, for she knew it was coming. And indeed, Diane, who had been half-lounging on the sofa, suddenly sat upright and flipped through the pages with rough hands. Her hands trembled slightly as she stared intently at one particular design, turning pale. In a sharp, trembling voice, she demanded, “Did you dare send this to me?”
“…Yes,” Lorraine replied.
Diane clenched the catalog tightly and hurled it forcefully. As it flew, a heavy piece of paper fluttered down to the ground. Written on it was a request to indicate priority preferences for each design. For the past three years, Diane hadn’t needed to consider priority preferences; she could simply choose any dress she liked. So receiving this paper meant that there was a customer in the dress salon who was considered more important than Diane. Who could that be?! Diane’s eyes flashed with anger as she hugged her stomach tightly.
“My child. You must be a son. You must be born as a son, to make me the Empress Mother. From now on, you’re the only one I trust.”
As if understanding her, the baby in her womb seemed to gently kick against her stomach. Diane’s eyes widened as she whispered, “The baby moved!”
The physician had said it was too early to feel the baby’s movements, but Diane was certain.
“Yes, baby. I only need you. As long as I have you.”
Diane’s eyes, caressing her stomach, shimmered with a deep blue light.
Meanwhile, amidst Adele’s busy preparations for the border day celebration, an unexpected figure came to see her. And discreetly at that. Brunhill Alexa was a striking woman with fiery red hair, a feature that made it easy for Adele to remember her.
“It seems like I met you before when I visited the Sorcerer’s Guild.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You’re ranked second in the Strikers’ rankings. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“The honor is truly mine.”
Rather than exchanging pleasantries, Adele waited for Brunhill to speak, sure that she had come for a reason, likely avoiding the eyes of others. Brunhill cautiously met Adele’s golden eyes.
“Do you truly believe you can destroy all the towers across the empire within this year?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Adele crossed her arms slowly.
“And if I do?”
“I heard you established the Tower Counteraction Headquarters in Gottrov. And I heard you ensured that no towers remain in Gottrov. Are you intending to do the same, perhaps destroying all the towers in Echmont?”
Unable to discern Brunhill’s intentions, Adele didn’t reply hastily. Brunhill broke into a cold sweat at the Empress’s silence, but from the moment she approached the Empress, she had already crossed a river of no return. The same was true for her colleagues within the Sorcerer’s Guild who shared her intentions.
“Your Majesty. Is there a possibility of a spread of Echmont’s doctrine?”
“Why the sudden talk of doctrine?”
“I have something to show you.”
Eventually, when Adele brought out a map and spread it on the table, Brunhill started marking something on it without hesitation. Adele, watching from across, soon realized that Brunhill was marking towers and magical radii. As she continued marking without hesitation, Adele couldn’t help but be impressed. Finally stepping back after putting down the pen, Brunhill, Adele scrutinized the map as a whole. When she saw the map marked up to the magical radii, she noticed a pattern. Adele looked up at Brunhill with narrowed eyes.
“Do you see it?”
“Are the higher towers placed where the magical radii overlap?”
“Yes, that’s correct. And when a higher tower is placed, the lower towers around it naturally disappear.”
“What do you believe is the ultimate goal of this operation?”
At the Empress’s question, Brunhill resumed marking a few spots at a rapid pace. Some places already had towers erected, while others did not.
“Duke Despone is likely aiming to have a Tier 1 tower erected at the locations I’m marking now. If that happens…”
Brunhill lifted the pen again and began drawing circular magical radii.
“The entire empire will fall under the influence of the magical radii.”
Adele recalled Duke Despone’s words from the past.
“When all my plans come to fruition, magicians will finally be able to wield their power freely. It will be the dawn of the era of magicians. On that day, those who are not magicians will become second-rate beings.”
When Adele looked back at Brunhill, the latter nodded.
“Are there other magicians opposing this plan besides you?”
“Yes, there are. It’s information we’ve gathered over a long period.”
Adele took a moment to catch her breath, pondering what benefit Brunhill would gain from this. She couldn’t help but wonder if this was a scheme orchestrated by Duke Despone. However, the data Brunhill presented was too clear, describing the current reality too vividly. Adele tapped the map with her index finger and asked pointedly,
“Could you summarize this information in a way that anyone can understand?”
Brunhill’s heart swelled with anticipation at Adele’s implication. She had been waiting for this moment for so long. Bowing respectfully, Brunhill replied firmly,
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
As Brunhill left, Adele returned to her study to deal with another pressing matter. Gixs, the lady-in-waiting, was organizing the documents Adele had signed. When Adele sat down at her desk, Gixs brought the dress catalog and confirmed,
“Is this the design you’ve chosen?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then I’ll make sure to send this design to Emperor as well. Usually, both of your outfits look coordinated like a set.”
“…”
As the Empress remained silent with a furrowed brow, Giggs tilted her head in confusion.
“Why is that?”
“…It seems unlikely that the Emperor will accompany me.”
The Emperor had openly offended Adele during the council meeting, and it was doubtful that Duke Despone, who was cornered politically, would appreciate seeing Adele and the Emperor entering together in harmony. Eventually, the Emperor would likely enter with Diane Poitiers. After a moment of contemplation, Giggs swiftly offered an alternative.
“In that case, I’ll also send this design to Viscount Herbert. If the Emperor accompanies Lady Poitiers. Your Majesty cannot enter alone, can you? By having an attendant accompany you, Your Majesty can maintain your dignity.”
It had only been a few days since Adele had discussed with him about resigning as an attendant, but now she found herself entangled in such matters once again. The face of Viscount Baldr, who had asked her to protect his brother’s honor, seemed to hover before her, expressing concern. Adele sighed deeply, her emotions tangled, and spoke.
“Please do so. I’ll write the letter myself.”
