He had already been given the title of Count. It was natural to expect a certain level of reward for him, who had played a major role in the punitive war. The nobles were muttering.
'As the commander of the rifle division, you did a great job of commanding the front lines' tactical commands, right?'
'They say he cut off the dragon's tail alone, but honestly, I think Agnito fought the battle alone.'
'I'm cautiously anticipating the aftermath.'
'What, what? Nonsense! No matter what, a marquisate is given to a homunculus! It's damaging the foundation of the empire...!'
'Oh, let's be quiet.'
But that was then.
'Father?'
An ominous atmosphere flowed through the grand hall. The silence that had made Eve nervous earlier was repeated again.
The Emperor sitting on a high throne, and the knights bowed respectfully below the pedestal.
Their appearance was frozen as if they were stuffed into a painting.
It was the same when Michael came forward as Sylvestian's representative.
Desmond II just looked down at Michael with cold eyes.
The Emperor's silence spread a plague-like sense of discomfort and tension throughout the banquet hall.
'What is it? Why is the atmosphere like this?'
'Why is His Majesty acting like that?'
The nobles were embarrassed and started muttering among themselves.
Michael, who had a keen sense, seemed to have sensed something earlier. He maintained his posture without wavering. However, his eyes, which were looking at the floor, had a dull, dark light.
'Father.'
Eve also realized that the situation was serious.
The face of her father looking down at Michael was not that of one praising the ball. Rather, it was closer to that of a merciless judge.
Eve could guess why Desmond II was acting so subtly.
Then a voice pierced through her head.
"Michaelis Agnito has proclaimed himself King!"
"Order the homunculus to kill Michaelis Agnito!"
Those were the very words Brigitte had been shouting out in the courtroom.
'Ah, yes. There are still remnants of Brigitte.'
When Brigitte died, she left behind nothing but something truly her own: suspicion and caution, in the heart of none other than the Emperor, Desmond II.
Eve exhaled as if letting out a sigh. Honestly, she had secretly thought that this might happen.
By refusing to submit to Desmond II, Michael undermined the Emperor's authority and created a latent fear that the homunculus rule he had so firmly established might collapse.
From Desmond II's perspective, Michael was a deadly scourge, someone he would kill if given the chance.
Moreover, Brigitte's accusation of treason stimulated the entire sense of anxiety that Desmond II had been harboring toward Michael and the homunculus.
'I'm talking about the anxiety that the homunculus will break away from the Emperor's rule.'
It would be difficult for a human being to remain unshaken.
'Because it's even true.'
Objectively speaking, Desmond II is a saintly Emperor. However, when it comes to homunculus, he often makes wrong choices.
And he was on the verge of making the worst decision ever.
‘Father would not order you to kill Michael. Instead, she would send you to a remote land under the guise of an honorable mission. For example, to guard the northern ice wall where Ambroxa’s lair remains.’
This is a clear rejection and exile.
It would take a long time for Eve to summon Michael back to the palace.
It is not easy to create a political trend that can go against the Emperor's will.
The bigger problem was that it was becoming difficult to get along with the homunculus. Now, the homunculus were not obedient slaves of the royal family, but a close-knit army centered around the King. It was clear that any unfair treatment of Michael would provoke a strong backlash from the homunculus.
In the worst-case scenario, it could even become the trigger for the homunculus to start an all-out war.
They will not be defeated, but the use of force is a poor option. In the process of achieving their goal, blood will be shed on both sides.
Just like in her past life.
'It would be a shame to let Father corner Michael in such a public setting.'
Desmond II must be stopped before he makes an irreversible decision because Eve doesn't want to give up on her father yet.
'There's no choice. We have no choice but to use that method here.'
A solemn light flashed in her amber eyes. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, steeling her resolve. No, it was the moment she was about to step forward.
"Phew!"
“Seventh Princess, Evienrose.”
"...Yes?"
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
Eve was allowed to speak on her own.
Eve looked up at Desmond II in confusion. Suddenly, she felt unfamiliar.
It wasn't just his fault that the question was thrown at her out of the blue and out of context.
At this moment, Desmond II's face, waiting for Eve's answer, looked as if he was sincerely asking for her opinion.
'Ah.'
She had a gut feeling that this was an opportunity.
Eve clenched her fists and decided to completely revise her response strategy.
The attendant said quietly with a troubled expression on his face.
“Your Majesty, we are still in the process of awarding the title to Sir Agneto..."
“No?”
Desmond II asked again, his voice thickening the air in the Great Hall.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Eve stepped forward.
'Eve!'
It was when Michael broke out in a cold sweat as he looked at Eve's back, blocking him as if protecting him.
Dump!
Eve knelt down, looking up at Desmond II.
'Rather than trying to deceive with shallow tricks now, it is better to confront the enemy head-on.'
Even if it meant confirming Desmond II.'s suspicions, Eve's intuition told her that this was for the best.
Her thoughts were finally sorted out. Eve began to unravel the things she had wanted to say to her father for a long time.
“I dare say something, Your Majesty. We must stop building our prosperity at someone else’s expense.”
“Anything that can only be maintained in that way will eventually face the question, ‘Is it worth continuing?’ And then it will collapse.”
Groan, groan.
The nobles did not understand what Eve meant, but it did not matter.
Because Eve was concentrating all her energy on one person.
Desmond II. was not an unfamiliar face. He was judging Eve's remarks with a cold, indifferent expression.
Eve took a deep breath.
“Father's empire is..."
“The empire can be maintained in a more worthy and honorable way.”
“Trust me. The altar will definitely help Father's reign.”
She felt her heart pounding against her rib cage. It was the most exciting moment of Eve's life.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was a breathtaking moment.
'Eve, what if he finds you distasteful too?'
Michael gritted his teeth. In this tense situation, he too felt his blood drying up.
Desmond II opened his mouth.
“That thing could swallow up the royal family. We cannot help but reject the threat that could be the beginning of a catastrophe.”
Michael was where Desmond II's chin was pointing. Eve answered hurriedly.
“I can handle it.”
“Distribution is great, but it is not enough to gain trust. How can you have an unleashed beast under your hand?”
The women's methods were very different. Eve bit her lip slightly.
Then someone came forward with a different argument that could convince Desmond II.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
It was Michael who opened his mouth.
“I am ashamed to say this, but Her Highness the Seventh Princess is more than capable of handling me.”
“Huh, I saw what you were talking about with your cheeky interjection, and it’s similar.”
“No, Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. Your Majesty has already put a leash on me.”
“What does that mean?”
A series of groundbreaking declarations followed.
“I love Her Highness the 7th Princess.”
Desmond II's eyes widened. The nobles were also in an uproar.
'Huh?!'
'Oh my, what kind of atmosphere is this?'
'Why are you suddenly making a public proposal instead of awarding a title?!'
'Hey, someone, can someone explain the situation to me?'
Honestly, Eve was a little embarrassed too.
'Hey, Michael...!'
But the embarrassing point was a little different.
'What if Michael tells that? I have to tell him!'
In fact, this was the first method Eve thought of to break the current situation.
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