“It’s been a long time, Young Lady Leopold.”
The man who stood in our way was none other than the Emperor's adviser, Viscount Colin Bradley.
It seems the Emperor has heard of what happened in Aletheia and has sent someone.
But what can I do? I have already inherited the title of Duke.
Although it was the Emperor's prerogative to award titles, succession was exclusively the prerogative of the nobles.
Even if he was an Emperor, he could not change their decisions at will.
But wait a minute. 'Lady' Leopold?
“Please correct your title, Viscount Bradley. This is His Excellency the Duke Leopold.”
Sir Aldor spoke to Viscount Bradley on my behalf.
Then the Count looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, then bowed deeply and apologized.
“I apologize, Your Excellency. I am late in getting back to you.”
Whop.
If I had no idea, it wouldn't have ended with that level of surprise.
Like the manager earlier, he would have opened his eyes wide and muttered that this was nonsense or asked in doubt whether it was true.
But the fact that he readily accepted it without being too surprised meant that he already knew.
“I sincerely congratulate you on your succession to the title of Duke.”
“Thank you.”
When I spoke informally, the corners of the Count's mouth twitched slightly.
He doesn't like the fact that I, who is young enough to be his daughter, speak informally to him.
It won't change anything if you don't like it.
More important than age were titles and status.
Well, since he's older than me, I can use formal language and show him some respect... but that also varies from person to person.
I had no intention of respecting anyone who was on the Emperor's side.
“What’s going on here?”
“His Majesty the Emperor is looking for Your Excellency the Duke.”
“Me? What happened?”
“I don’t know much about that. I just received the imperial order to bring Young Lady here so that we can have a long talk.”
Surely he wouldn't be trying to take away the title I'd already inherited.
It was impossible though.
If he wasn't going to hold a ceremony to hand over the Duke's title, there was only one thing left.
Venting his frustration over things not going his way.
Maybe he had already contacted Perdes and taken out his anger on him.
I feel again, that it was an excellent choice not to bring him to the capital.
“His Majesty the Emperor awaits you, Your Excellency the Duke.”
It was extremely annoying and bothersome to have to follow the Emperor's orders even after becoming a Duke.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
I got into the carriage heading to the palace, determined to quickly bring down the Emperor.
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a duke.”
These were the first words the Emperor spoke when he met me in the palace.
I never thought I would hear congratulations from the Emperor.
It was so absurd and funny that I couldn't help but laugh.
“What’s so funny that you’re laughing?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
I answered with the same expression on my face that made me laugh.
“I never dreamed that I would hear congratulations from Your Majesty... I found myself laughing without realizing it.”
“How could that be!”
The Emperor stretched out both arms and spoke somewhat exaggeratedly.
“It’s something that should be celebrated. Of course, it’s a little disappointing that you did that to me without saying anything.”
“I had no choice but to hide it because His Majesty didn’t seem to be very pleased with me becoming a Duke, but now that you’ve said so, I feel at ease.”
I expressed without regret that I did it even though I knew the Emperor would not like it.
Anyway, the Duke title is in my hands.
The Emperor could not strip me of my title unless I committed a crime bordering on treason.
Of course, I'll commit such a crime... but at that time, they'll be so busy trying to clean up the mess that they won't even think about stealing it.
“Heh heh, that’s right. It seems there was a minor misunderstanding.”
The Emperor said with his characteristically benevolent smile.
“It’s not that I didn’t welcome you becoming a Duke, I was worried. As you know, the Leopold dukedom is a family that has been called the sword of the empire for generations. It’s a rather difficult position for a woman to handle.”
“Your Majesty, it seems that you think that although it would be difficult for a woman to handle this position, Your Highness the Fourth Prince, who has a mental disorder, can handle it.”
“...”
As I hung on until the end, a small tear appeared on my smiling face.
Yeah, you look better frowning than smiling.
“I was joking, Your Majesty.”
I added, smiling brightly as I felt good.
“And now that His Highness the 4th Prince’s dementia has been completely cured, if Your Majesty grants him a separate title, I am sure he will carry out that role admirably.”
In short, if you want to give a title to Perdes, don't covet this position and give it to him yourself.
“Yeah. I was thinking about that too.”
There was no way an Emperor could have failed to notice the hidden meaning, but he pretended not to know anything and just laughed and picked up his teacup.
“Still, I’m worried. I’m worried whether you can properly serve as the sword of the empire in a woman’s body.”
“I will do my best not to tarnish the reputation of the Duke Leopold family, so please do not worry too much, Your Majesty.”
“This is really reassuring. It’s a relief to hear you say that.”
He kept talking as if he acknowledged me on the outside, but he didn't.
The proof of this was that during our long conversation, he never once called me a Duke.
“The other nobles do not yet know that you have inherited the title of Duke, so we should hold a title succession ceremony so that all the nobles can know.”
I was dumbfounded when he said he would hold a title succession ceremony on such a topic.
“I think it would be a good idea to hold the succession ceremony next Friday. What do you think?”
“That quickly?”
“Yes. The succession ceremony is not that grand, so there is no need to delay it.”
However, I was suspicious because the opponent was the Emperor.
Even if he had to hold a title succession ceremony because of the gaze of the nobles, I thought it would be after she married Perdes, so what is the purpose of holding it so soon?
There must be another purpose, but I couldn't guess what it was.
Of course, there is no way to know this, since I do not know why the Emperor is trying so hard to swallow up the Duke Leopold family.
I still don't know why Chernosser was pushed into the basement of the Duke's residence.
“Why is that?”
When I did not answer, the Emperor asked cautiously.
“Do you have any special plans next week?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about it for a moment because I thought I’d be busy handing out invitations to the nobles from now on.”
“Haha, don’t worry. The Imperial Household Department will take care of it.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s good.”
I think I can already hear the palace officials screaming.
Well, it's not my job.
“Then let’s hold the succession ceremony next Friday.”
“I am deeply honored that Your Majesty thinks of me in this way.”
I kept lying without even licking my lips, and my mouth felt like it was going to dry up.
I wanted to drink tea, but the tea in front of me was no different from poison, so I just swallowed my saliva and endured.
After Perdes took the strange medicine and collapsed, I didn't even want to drink a single sip of water outside the palace.
“There’s a lot to prepare for the succession ceremony, so I’ll be going now.”
“Be careful on your way back.”
I thought he would naturally capture me, but unexpectedly, the Emperor let me go without a fight.
I feel this once again, but he really was a man whose inner thoughts were unfathomable.
After Adele left.
“Hmm.”
The Emperor, Daimon, groaned and sunk deep into the back of the sofa.
Until now, he had thought of Adele as a simple, obedient, and foolish young lady.
She was indeed that kind of person, having seen her a few times before the death of Duke Leopold.
So he thought that if he teased her a little, he could manipulate her to his liking, but it was all a mistake.
She was more cunning than he thought.
The same was true for Perdes.
Daimon, remembering his exchange with Perdes a little while ago, frowned and slammed the sofa handle hard.
Kwajik-
Then the solid wooden sofa handle broke limply.
It was an impossible task for an ordinary human being.
Surprisingly, Daimon brushed away the splinter from his hand as if it were something he was used to.
The splinter was deeply embedded and covered in blood, but there was no visible wound on his hand.
Daimon muttered, stroking his chin with his hand.
“Seriously, it’s annoying.”
Adele and Perdes were annoying, but what was more annoying was that Jack and May, the spies he had planted, betrayed him.
Jack, he was originally on Perdes' side, so Daimon didn't trust him from the beginning.
So, he only had Jack watch over Perdes and run simple errands under the ridiculous excuse of taking care of him.
But it wasn't May. Since she was a court lady, he thought she would naturally know her fear and follow his orders well, but this was also a mistake.
Another spy, Rine, also lost contact at some point, and then one day, she suddenly disappeared without a trace.
'Probably Adele Leopold took care of it.'
If that's the case, then it means she knows about his dark inner self, so things are a hassle.
It was also annoying.
He didn't think it would be difficult. No matter how hard Adele struggled, it was only like a loach stirring up muddy water.
“You are no match for me.”
Even though she became Duke Leopold, she was still a rookie who did not realize his true power.
Just press and hold the chick before it grows up.
Yeah, that would work.
Daimon smiled bitterly and ordered the servant who came to clear the teacups.
“Call the Crown Prince immediately.”
The man who stood in our way was none other than the Emperor's adviser, Viscount Colin Bradley.
It seems the Emperor has heard of what happened in Aletheia and has sent someone.
But what can I do? I have already inherited the title of Duke.
Although it was the Emperor's prerogative to award titles, succession was exclusively the prerogative of the nobles.
Even if he was an Emperor, he could not change their decisions at will.
But wait a minute. 'Lady' Leopold?
“Please correct your title, Viscount Bradley. This is His Excellency the Duke Leopold.”
Sir Aldor spoke to Viscount Bradley on my behalf.
Then the Count looked at me with slightly surprised eyes, then bowed deeply and apologized.
“I apologize, Your Excellency. I am late in getting back to you.”
Whop.
If I had no idea, it wouldn't have ended with that level of surprise.
Like the manager earlier, he would have opened his eyes wide and muttered that this was nonsense or asked in doubt whether it was true.
But the fact that he readily accepted it without being too surprised meant that he already knew.
“I sincerely congratulate you on your succession to the title of Duke.”
“Thank you.”
When I spoke informally, the corners of the Count's mouth twitched slightly.
He doesn't like the fact that I, who is young enough to be his daughter, speak informally to him.
It won't change anything if you don't like it.
More important than age were titles and status.
Well, since he's older than me, I can use formal language and show him some respect... but that also varies from person to person.
I had no intention of respecting anyone who was on the Emperor's side.
“What’s going on here?”
“His Majesty the Emperor is looking for Your Excellency the Duke.”
“Me? What happened?”
“I don’t know much about that. I just received the imperial order to bring Young Lady here so that we can have a long talk.”
Surely he wouldn't be trying to take away the title I'd already inherited.
It was impossible though.
If he wasn't going to hold a ceremony to hand over the Duke's title, there was only one thing left.
Venting his frustration over things not going his way.
Maybe he had already contacted Perdes and taken out his anger on him.
I feel again, that it was an excellent choice not to bring him to the capital.
“His Majesty the Emperor awaits you, Your Excellency the Duke.”
It was extremely annoying and bothersome to have to follow the Emperor's orders even after becoming a Duke.
“Yes. Let’s go.”
I got into the carriage heading to the palace, determined to quickly bring down the Emperor.
***
“I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a duke.”
These were the first words the Emperor spoke when he met me in the palace.
I never thought I would hear congratulations from the Emperor.
It was so absurd and funny that I couldn't help but laugh.
“What’s so funny that you’re laughing?”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
I answered with the same expression on my face that made me laugh.
“I never dreamed that I would hear congratulations from Your Majesty... I found myself laughing without realizing it.”
“How could that be!”
The Emperor stretched out both arms and spoke somewhat exaggeratedly.
“It’s something that should be celebrated. Of course, it’s a little disappointing that you did that to me without saying anything.”
“I had no choice but to hide it because His Majesty didn’t seem to be very pleased with me becoming a Duke, but now that you’ve said so, I feel at ease.”
I expressed without regret that I did it even though I knew the Emperor would not like it.
Anyway, the Duke title is in my hands.
The Emperor could not strip me of my title unless I committed a crime bordering on treason.
Of course, I'll commit such a crime... but at that time, they'll be so busy trying to clean up the mess that they won't even think about stealing it.
“Heh heh, that’s right. It seems there was a minor misunderstanding.”
The Emperor said with his characteristically benevolent smile.
“It’s not that I didn’t welcome you becoming a Duke, I was worried. As you know, the Leopold dukedom is a family that has been called the sword of the empire for generations. It’s a rather difficult position for a woman to handle.”
“Your Majesty, it seems that you think that although it would be difficult for a woman to handle this position, Your Highness the Fourth Prince, who has a mental disorder, can handle it.”
“...”
As I hung on until the end, a small tear appeared on my smiling face.
Yeah, you look better frowning than smiling.
“I was joking, Your Majesty.”
I added, smiling brightly as I felt good.
“And now that His Highness the 4th Prince’s dementia has been completely cured, if Your Majesty grants him a separate title, I am sure he will carry out that role admirably.”
In short, if you want to give a title to Perdes, don't covet this position and give it to him yourself.
“Yeah. I was thinking about that too.”
There was no way an Emperor could have failed to notice the hidden meaning, but he pretended not to know anything and just laughed and picked up his teacup.
“Still, I’m worried. I’m worried whether you can properly serve as the sword of the empire in a woman’s body.”
“I will do my best not to tarnish the reputation of the Duke Leopold family, so please do not worry too much, Your Majesty.”
“This is really reassuring. It’s a relief to hear you say that.”
He kept talking as if he acknowledged me on the outside, but he didn't.
The proof of this was that during our long conversation, he never once called me a Duke.
“The other nobles do not yet know that you have inherited the title of Duke, so we should hold a title succession ceremony so that all the nobles can know.”
I was dumbfounded when he said he would hold a title succession ceremony on such a topic.
“I think it would be a good idea to hold the succession ceremony next Friday. What do you think?”
“That quickly?”
“Yes. The succession ceremony is not that grand, so there is no need to delay it.”
However, I was suspicious because the opponent was the Emperor.
Even if he had to hold a title succession ceremony because of the gaze of the nobles, I thought it would be after she married Perdes, so what is the purpose of holding it so soon?
There must be another purpose, but I couldn't guess what it was.
Of course, there is no way to know this, since I do not know why the Emperor is trying so hard to swallow up the Duke Leopold family.
I still don't know why Chernosser was pushed into the basement of the Duke's residence.
“Why is that?”
When I did not answer, the Emperor asked cautiously.
“Do you have any special plans next week?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about it for a moment because I thought I’d be busy handing out invitations to the nobles from now on.”
“Haha, don’t worry. The Imperial Household Department will take care of it.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s good.”
I think I can already hear the palace officials screaming.
Well, it's not my job.
“Then let’s hold the succession ceremony next Friday.”
“I am deeply honored that Your Majesty thinks of me in this way.”
I kept lying without even licking my lips, and my mouth felt like it was going to dry up.
I wanted to drink tea, but the tea in front of me was no different from poison, so I just swallowed my saliva and endured.
After Perdes took the strange medicine and collapsed, I didn't even want to drink a single sip of water outside the palace.
“There’s a lot to prepare for the succession ceremony, so I’ll be going now.”
“Be careful on your way back.”
I thought he would naturally capture me, but unexpectedly, the Emperor let me go without a fight.
I feel this once again, but he really was a man whose inner thoughts were unfathomable.
***
After Adele left.
“Hmm.”
The Emperor, Daimon, groaned and sunk deep into the back of the sofa.
Until now, he had thought of Adele as a simple, obedient, and foolish young lady.
She was indeed that kind of person, having seen her a few times before the death of Duke Leopold.
So he thought that if he teased her a little, he could manipulate her to his liking, but it was all a mistake.
She was more cunning than he thought.
The same was true for Perdes.
Daimon, remembering his exchange with Perdes a little while ago, frowned and slammed the sofa handle hard.
Kwajik-
Then the solid wooden sofa handle broke limply.
It was an impossible task for an ordinary human being.
Surprisingly, Daimon brushed away the splinter from his hand as if it were something he was used to.
The splinter was deeply embedded and covered in blood, but there was no visible wound on his hand.
Daimon muttered, stroking his chin with his hand.
“Seriously, it’s annoying.”
Adele and Perdes were annoying, but what was more annoying was that Jack and May, the spies he had planted, betrayed him.
Jack, he was originally on Perdes' side, so Daimon didn't trust him from the beginning.
So, he only had Jack watch over Perdes and run simple errands under the ridiculous excuse of taking care of him.
But it wasn't May. Since she was a court lady, he thought she would naturally know her fear and follow his orders well, but this was also a mistake.
Another spy, Rine, also lost contact at some point, and then one day, she suddenly disappeared without a trace.
'Probably Adele Leopold took care of it.'
If that's the case, then it means she knows about his dark inner self, so things are a hassle.
It was also annoying.
He didn't think it would be difficult. No matter how hard Adele struggled, it was only like a loach stirring up muddy water.
“You are no match for me.”
Even though she became Duke Leopold, she was still a rookie who did not realize his true power.
Just press and hold the chick before it grows up.
Yeah, that would work.
Daimon smiled bitterly and ordered the servant who came to clear the teacups.
“Call the Crown Prince immediately.”
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