“Grand Duchess.”
She must not be suspected of trying to harm a good family or of trying to start a war. This was not simply a matter of one noble family falling into ruin. Thinking that far, Cecilia decided to put away her expressionless face.
“Why me, what did I do wrong...”
When she asked the question with a trembling voice, the Emperor let out a small sigh as if he had a headache.
“Did you connect Count Casper with the owner of the Driedon mine?”
The question was cold, but the tone was relaxed. Even the Emperor was inevitably a weak man when it came to frailty and weakness.
“I don’t know why he said that. I don’t feel sorry for him, and I wouldn’t want to start a war with Wyatt...”
“Cecilia!”
Cecilia, whose words were trailing off, pretended to lose strength in her legs and sank to the ground. Startled, Eden knelt down on one knee and supported Cecilia.
“I have said that the owner of the Driton mine is looking for investors. But that was only a small talk with Countess Casper. I do not even know who the owner of the mine is, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia, holding Eden's arm, sobbed and explained earnestly. That was actually all Cecilia had done.
“That’s an excessive question.”
Eden watched Cecilia's chest rise and fall steeply, then pulled her close and hugged her. Cecilia, leaning against Eden's chest as if protecting her, sobbed. Aster's face, watching the situation, also showed a look of pity.
“What malice could the Grand Duchess have toward Count Casper that would have caused her to harm him? Or what grudge could she have against this country that would have caused her to do such a thing to provoke war?”
Eden made his opinion clear.
“The owner of the Driton mine also submitted an investment report to me. When I refused, he went to see Count Casper.”
Of course, privately, she also had a little bit of resentment towards my father.
“Count Casper died because of his own poor judgment.”
It might be annoying that things got complicated, but it was too much to argue about whether Cecilia was responsible for it, Eden thought.
“The Grand Duke is right, Your Majesty.”
Aster, who had been watching Eden talking to the Emperor while looking straight into his eyes, intervened as if to mediate.
“Rather, isn’t it possible that this is a malicious accusation by Count Casper?”
Count Casper received a lot of help from Eden. However, at some point, Eden cut off his helping hand. No matter how much he helped, Eden always reached out his hand, and he thought it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
So, it is quite possible that he was blaming Eden for this incident as well.
“I cannot admit anything about this matter, so tell them to bring proof that Cecilia advised them.”
Eden drove the wedge in. Even if it was true that Cecilia had advised him to invest, there was no evidence to back it up. It was just one of those fleeting conversations.
“I also don’t think the Grand Duchess would do such a thing.”
“...”
“I just called you to confirm the facts.”
The Emperor looked down at his second son, who seemed ready to question him at any moment and clicked his tongue briefly. They say there is no point in raising a son, and he was exactly like that.
“Stop crying, Cecilia. I’m not doubting you.”
The Emperor's voice became much softer. Cecilia lifted her wet face from Eden's arms and looked towards where the Emperor was sitting.
“Oh, my. Are you that surprised that you cried?”
"...Your Majesty."
“Just as there is no evidence for Count Casper’s claims, there is no evidence for your claims either. But I called you in, questioned you, and heard your answers.”
The Emperor smiled faintly and had his servant hand over a handkerchief. Eden carefully wiped Cecilia’s wet face with his hands. There was a hint of frustration in his hands as he stroked her reddened eyes.
“Do you know what that means?”
Cecilia shook her head quietly. All she knew was that the Emperor had the power to kill or save someone by his own will.
“The Emperor’s trust is proof of injustice.”
“...”
“What I want to believe is what you say, and I will protect you even if it turns out to be false.”
The Emperor spoke softly, meaning that from the beginning he had no intention of holding Cecilia responsible.
“There was no reason to start an incident with you in the first place, so it’s unreasonable to suspect you.”
There was only one reason why Count Casper and his family were tripping over the royal family. Since it seemed impossible to avoid responsibility for taking out a gun in a dangerous place in the first place, they wanted to avoid it by biting Cecilia and falling over.
Even the Emperor was not so stupid as not to know that. And even if Count Casper's claims were true, it was obvious who he would side with between his son and Count Casper.
“However, from now on, you must be careful with your words. That is the nature of royalty.”
But the reason he called Cecilia here today was to show that something so big could happen with just one word spoken so easily.
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia nodded and answered meekly.
“Your Highness, take your wife back. She seems very surprised.”
“If you could just say something nice, it would work out.”
Eden replied with a sharp tone. He must have been quite upset that his father had touched his wife. The Emperor thought so and laughed softly.
“Yes, I apologize.”
Well, what was more annoying was that he didn't even flinch when he touched his wife. It was when the Emperor watched the two of them with a relaxed expression.
“Cecilia!”
Yes. I avoided suspicion, and even if I did, I wouldn't be questioned.
She must not be suspected of trying to harm a good family or of trying to start a war. This was not simply a matter of one noble family falling into ruin. Thinking that far, Cecilia decided to put away her expressionless face.
“Why me, what did I do wrong...”
When she asked the question with a trembling voice, the Emperor let out a small sigh as if he had a headache.
“Did you connect Count Casper with the owner of the Driedon mine?”
The question was cold, but the tone was relaxed. Even the Emperor was inevitably a weak man when it came to frailty and weakness.
“I don’t know why he said that. I don’t feel sorry for him, and I wouldn’t want to start a war with Wyatt...”
“Cecilia!”
Cecilia, whose words were trailing off, pretended to lose strength in her legs and sank to the ground. Startled, Eden knelt down on one knee and supported Cecilia.
“I have said that the owner of the Driton mine is looking for investors. But that was only a small talk with Countess Casper. I do not even know who the owner of the mine is, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia, holding Eden's arm, sobbed and explained earnestly. That was actually all Cecilia had done.
“That’s an excessive question.”
Eden watched Cecilia's chest rise and fall steeply, then pulled her close and hugged her. Cecilia, leaning against Eden's chest as if protecting her, sobbed. Aster's face, watching the situation, also showed a look of pity.
“What malice could the Grand Duchess have toward Count Casper that would have caused her to harm him? Or what grudge could she have against this country that would have caused her to do such a thing to provoke war?”
Eden made his opinion clear.
“The owner of the Driton mine also submitted an investment report to me. When I refused, he went to see Count Casper.”
Of course, privately, she also had a little bit of resentment towards my father.
“Count Casper died because of his own poor judgment.”
It might be annoying that things got complicated, but it was too much to argue about whether Cecilia was responsible for it, Eden thought.
“The Grand Duke is right, Your Majesty.”
Aster, who had been watching Eden talking to the Emperor while looking straight into his eyes, intervened as if to mediate.
“Rather, isn’t it possible that this is a malicious accusation by Count Casper?”
Count Casper received a lot of help from Eden. However, at some point, Eden cut off his helping hand. No matter how much he helped, Eden always reached out his hand, and he thought it was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.
So, it is quite possible that he was blaming Eden for this incident as well.
“I cannot admit anything about this matter, so tell them to bring proof that Cecilia advised them.”
Eden drove the wedge in. Even if it was true that Cecilia had advised him to invest, there was no evidence to back it up. It was just one of those fleeting conversations.
“I also don’t think the Grand Duchess would do such a thing.”
“...”
“I just called you to confirm the facts.”
The Emperor looked down at his second son, who seemed ready to question him at any moment and clicked his tongue briefly. They say there is no point in raising a son, and he was exactly like that.
“Stop crying, Cecilia. I’m not doubting you.”
The Emperor's voice became much softer. Cecilia lifted her wet face from Eden's arms and looked towards where the Emperor was sitting.
“Oh, my. Are you that surprised that you cried?”
"...Your Majesty."
“Just as there is no evidence for Count Casper’s claims, there is no evidence for your claims either. But I called you in, questioned you, and heard your answers.”
The Emperor smiled faintly and had his servant hand over a handkerchief. Eden carefully wiped Cecilia’s wet face with his hands. There was a hint of frustration in his hands as he stroked her reddened eyes.
“Do you know what that means?”
Cecilia shook her head quietly. All she knew was that the Emperor had the power to kill or save someone by his own will.
“The Emperor’s trust is proof of injustice.”
“...”
“What I want to believe is what you say, and I will protect you even if it turns out to be false.”
The Emperor spoke softly, meaning that from the beginning he had no intention of holding Cecilia responsible.
“There was no reason to start an incident with you in the first place, so it’s unreasonable to suspect you.”
There was only one reason why Count Casper and his family were tripping over the royal family. Since it seemed impossible to avoid responsibility for taking out a gun in a dangerous place in the first place, they wanted to avoid it by biting Cecilia and falling over.
Even the Emperor was not so stupid as not to know that. And even if Count Casper's claims were true, it was obvious who he would side with between his son and Count Casper.
“However, from now on, you must be careful with your words. That is the nature of royalty.”
But the reason he called Cecilia here today was to show that something so big could happen with just one word spoken so easily.
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cecilia nodded and answered meekly.
“Your Highness, take your wife back. She seems very surprised.”
“If you could just say something nice, it would work out.”
Eden replied with a sharp tone. He must have been quite upset that his father had touched his wife. The Emperor thought so and laughed softly.
“Yes, I apologize.”
Well, what was more annoying was that he didn't even flinch when he touched his wife. It was when the Emperor watched the two of them with a relaxed expression.
“Cecilia!”
Yes. I avoided suspicion, and even if I did, I wouldn't be questioned.
Cecilia thought as she leaned against Eden and got up from her seat. She was going to do so if only her vision hadn't turned white.
Even though she pretended to be bold, she had a memory of despair when she was suspected. It was inevitable that she would be sucked into memories of the past.
Even though she pretended to be bold, she had a memory of despair when she was suspected. It was inevitable that she would be sucked into memories of the past.
***
Suddenly, Count Nova appeared. Of course, as a vassal of the Duke of Lane, he did a lot of things, but he did not have enough power to attend the meetings between the high-ranking nobles and the Emperor.
'What is happening here, Count Nova?'
Eden asked Count Nova with a blank expression. His face was somewhat tense, but he soon swallowed with a face that seemed determined to do something.
'Who allowed you to come in here?'
'I have something I absolutely must tell you, Your Majesty, so I have come here despite the rudeness!'
Without even answering the question of who had granted him entry, Count Nova knelt down and buried his forehead on the floor.
'Hey, what are you doing now?'
It was at this point that Curtis was embarrassed and tried to stop him.
'I am here today to tell you about Duke Lane's flight.'
Curtis's eyes widened at the unexpected declaration.
'What are you talking about?'
Curtis asked, clutching Count Nova's shoulder in confusion. Count Nova spoke in a sad voice, his forehead resting on the floor.
'I have thought about it for a long time, but now I cannot turn a blind eye to the Duke of Lane's misdeeds. The Duke of Lane is exploiting his subjects.'
Count Nova accused Curtis of newly added tax items and of embezzling taxes from the imperial court. Curtis, who was unexpectedly hit in the back by a vassal he trusted, simply repeated his denial.
'It is not a lie, Your Majesty.'
'...Is there any evidence?'
At Eden's question, Count Nova raised his head, which had been on the floor the whole time.
'There is.'
And he replied that he had evidence.
'If you have it, show it to me. Anyone can give testimony through words alone.'
Eden gave the order in a cold tone. It was impossible to cast out Curtis, Cecilia's father, with such unbelievable words.
'There is not an ounce of falsehood in what I said.'
Count Nova stood up and took out something he had been hiding in his bosom. It was a ledger he had written while managing the Duke of Lane’s estate, Vester. Eden stared blankly at the cover of the book and handed it over to the chief chamberlain who was standing by.
'Check the authenticity of the ledger.'
The attendant, holding the ledger that Eden had handed him, nodded and went out.
'Also, until the truth of the accusation is revealed, both Count Nova and Duke Lane are to be isolated in solitary confinement.'
Eden gave the order in a cold voice. Even if it was called detention, it would mean staying in the palace, but for Curtis, it was like a bolt from the blue.
'Your Majesty, no. I don't know why Count Nova is acting this way, but what he said is absolutely not true!'
'That will be revealed later. For now, just rest.'
Eden, who had said so, gestured with a tired expression. The imperial guards approached and grabbed Duke Lane and Count Nova, respectively.
'Your Majesty!'
Curtis called out to Eden desperately, but Eden did not look back at him.
'Let's postpone today's meeting until next time.'
However, he simply stood up from his seat, leaving the nobles who were just watching him in the quiet conference room. It was a somewhat rude attitude, but no one stopped Eden.
Because they thought it was natural that he was upset.
That's when it all began.
'What is happening here, Count Nova?'
Eden asked Count Nova with a blank expression. His face was somewhat tense, but he soon swallowed with a face that seemed determined to do something.
'Who allowed you to come in here?'
'I have something I absolutely must tell you, Your Majesty, so I have come here despite the rudeness!'
Without even answering the question of who had granted him entry, Count Nova knelt down and buried his forehead on the floor.
'Hey, what are you doing now?'
It was at this point that Curtis was embarrassed and tried to stop him.
'I am here today to tell you about Duke Lane's flight.'
Curtis's eyes widened at the unexpected declaration.
'What are you talking about?'
Curtis asked, clutching Count Nova's shoulder in confusion. Count Nova spoke in a sad voice, his forehead resting on the floor.
'I have thought about it for a long time, but now I cannot turn a blind eye to the Duke of Lane's misdeeds. The Duke of Lane is exploiting his subjects.'
Count Nova accused Curtis of newly added tax items and of embezzling taxes from the imperial court. Curtis, who was unexpectedly hit in the back by a vassal he trusted, simply repeated his denial.
'It is not a lie, Your Majesty.'
'...Is there any evidence?'
At Eden's question, Count Nova raised his head, which had been on the floor the whole time.
'There is.'
And he replied that he had evidence.
'If you have it, show it to me. Anyone can give testimony through words alone.'
Eden gave the order in a cold tone. It was impossible to cast out Curtis, Cecilia's father, with such unbelievable words.
'There is not an ounce of falsehood in what I said.'
Count Nova stood up and took out something he had been hiding in his bosom. It was a ledger he had written while managing the Duke of Lane’s estate, Vester. Eden stared blankly at the cover of the book and handed it over to the chief chamberlain who was standing by.
'Check the authenticity of the ledger.'
The attendant, holding the ledger that Eden had handed him, nodded and went out.
'Also, until the truth of the accusation is revealed, both Count Nova and Duke Lane are to be isolated in solitary confinement.'
Eden gave the order in a cold voice. Even if it was called detention, it would mean staying in the palace, but for Curtis, it was like a bolt from the blue.
'Your Majesty, no. I don't know why Count Nova is acting this way, but what he said is absolutely not true!'
'That will be revealed later. For now, just rest.'
Eden, who had said so, gestured with a tired expression. The imperial guards approached and grabbed Duke Lane and Count Nova, respectively.
'Your Majesty!'
Curtis called out to Eden desperately, but Eden did not look back at him.
'Let's postpone today's meeting until next time.'
However, he simply stood up from his seat, leaving the nobles who were just watching him in the quiet conference room. It was a somewhat rude attitude, but no one stopped Eden.
Because they thought it was natural that he was upset.
That's when it all began.
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