At the Empress's words, Prince Cain's face paled. If the Empress gave her consent, the Emperor would find it difficult to refuse. More importantly, the Emperor seemed unwilling to refuse.
Prince Cain immediately knelt before the Emperor. Even the proud Prince Cain was nothing more than a worthless son before the Emperor.
“Father! Please, please reconsider.”
The Emperor sighed and looked straight at Prince Cain.
“It was the Empress who gave permission, so why are you doing this to me?”
At those words, Prince Cain dropped his head and ground his teeth. But soon, he was about to kneel before the Empress again. Just as he was about to say a plea.
"My thoughts remain unchanged. I wish to grant Grand Duchess Duchzan's request."
“Then that’s what we should do.”
The Emperor's approval was readily granted to the Empress's answer. The rumors that the Empress, though frail, was extremely wise and that the Emperor cherished her seemed to be true. The Emperor seemed completely unfazed by her words.
The Emperor immediately nodded to the chief chamberlain.
"Lead your attendants immediately and thoroughly search the Second Prince's palace! The Second Prince must remain here. Don't come out unnecessarily."
“Father!”
It was a desperate call. But the Emperor instead threw his teacup at Prince Cain's feet and roared.
“Shut up. If that girl’s maid really comes out of your palace, I’ll cut out your tongue!”
For someone who wasn't even an Emperor, especially a Prince, to lead a government was a crime against the Emperor. It wasn't long ago that numerous Princes, with their mistresses and descendants, had swooped for the throne. How could a Prince ever again take on a government?
And looking at Prince Cain's bewildered attitude, it seemed like the answer was there without even searching the palace.
The Emperor knew his second son was into women and knew all sorts of rumors were circulating, but he trusted that he wouldn't cross the line. Apparently, he had too much faith in that fool.
The Emperor glared at Prince Cain with angry eyes. Prince Cain quietly knelt beside the broken teacup.
“Grand Duchess, please rise and take your seat.”
“I am so humbled by Your Majesty’s kindness that I cannot bear to do so.”
"Get up. Let's talk about Julian and that kid. Uh... you have a gift for me, right?"
The Emperor's face instantly broke into a smile. His expression shifted rapidly, as if he had two faces. It was chilling, but the face I was facing was a smile. As long as I held this magic stone, he would support me.
I pretended to be defeated and politely rose from my seat. At the Empress's gesture, the Emperor's maid approached me and personally supported me.
“Yes, yes. Come closer.”
Are you really telling me to stand here?
It was incredibly, incredibly burdensome. The Second Prince was kneeling beside me, the maids were busy cleaning up broken teacups and spilled tea, and I had to stand so close to them, between the two most precious people in the world. The Empress nodded with a benevolent smile, and I felt like biting my tongue and dying.
But this, too, was an opportunity. I walked calmly. The Emperor, like a grandfather, pulled my hand and gently patted it.
Because of that, I had to, with great disrespect, hold out the box with one hand. I thought I might die like this, but the Emperor didn't seem to have any intention of letting go. He looked at me and acted as if he were looking at his grandson's wife, not his nephew's.
“Oh, right. This is it.”
The Emperor didn't seem to care whether I had one or two hands. He was only interested in the contents of the box.
When the Emperor opened the box, he saw a rare magic stone shimmering with a transparent light. It was uncut and rough, yet possessed a natural blend of roughness and beauty.
“This one is said to have a magical power that is nearly a thousand times greater than that of a normal magic stone?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It is a very rare magic stone.”
“So... how much of this was discovered in the mines of Duchzan?”
I answered with a grin.
“If I act a little funny, won’t it be a problem for Your Majesty?”
The Emperor smiled broadly and nodded. Following his words, I spread my hands wide, like a mountain, and drew a circle from my toes. After completing the gesture, I stood up straight and cleared my throat loudly. After bowing once more, I continued speaking.
"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. But I truly did find a magic stone of this caliber. I simply took a portion to show it to Your Majesty."
The Emperor's eyes widened at that action, then he burst into hearty laughter. It was a hearty laugh. What was even more unexpected was that even the Empress, who was watching me from the sidelines, let out a small chuckle.
When I looked at the Empress in surprise, she smiled with her mouth covered.
“Your Majesty, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you laugh out loud.”
“The Grand Duchess Duchzan’s actions are childlike and innocent, making her truly adorable.”
The Empress looked at me with a pleased expression. I was surprised that her gaze was on me, not the rare magic stone.
"The Prince has been a dignified man since childhood, and there's no trace of cuteness. It's a joy to see the Grand Duchess's cuteness like this."
“If my shortcomings bring you joy, then that is my joy.”
The three of us were laughing and chatting.
Except for Prince Cain.
When I first discovered the rare magic stone, I was told it was pitch black. The Emperor's chamberlain rushed inside. With a stern expression, he bowed politely and hurried to the Emperor, where he delivered a polite report.
“Your Majesty, I have inspected His Highness the Second Prince’s palace. However..m”
“Keep talking.”
“...I found a woman strolling through the hall, but it wasn’t Marian. It was the young lady Ari Eriant, of the missing lady of Marquis Eriant.”
The Emperor's hand, which had been caressing mine, became bloodshot. His face, as if changing his mask, was filled with rage. Heat rose to his wrinkled forehead.
“I’m sorry, Grand Duchess.”
The Emperor whispered to me, then picked up my teacup and hurled it at Prince Cain. This time, it wasn't aimed at his feet. It flew straight at his forehead.
I gasped in shock at the Emperor's violent actions. Prince Cain groaned in pain and bowed his head. Red blood flowed through his silver hair.
“Ah, Father... What I said...”
“What are you listening to? So, have you found the Grand Duchess’s maid?”
"Yes. I found it with the help of Young Lady Eriant. However, she was locked in the warehouse, so she's in poor condition."
“Marian...”
A pitiful cry burst from my lips. I trembled slightly, as if shocked, and the Empress, who was beside me, held my hand tightly.
When we met, the Empress nodded with a benevolent smile. Then she spoke to the Emperor on my behalf.
“Your Majesty, I understand your desire to discipline the Second Prince, but it seems that the maid named Marian is a very precious child to the Grand Duchess of Duchan, so it seems that it is urgent to provide her with medical treatment.”
The Emperor grumbled, unable to contain his anger, and then squeezed his eyes shut. His anger seemed to be subsiding quickly. He was a fearsome being in many ways.
“Yes, treat the maid Marian and the young lady Eriant, and then send them back to their homes.”
The Emperor then spoke with a cold face. His cold gaze landed on Prince Cain, then mercilessly departed.
“Father! Father...”
Prince Cain screamed, his fists clenched as if clutching the floor. Losing the woman he shouldn't have coveted was a small loss. He had lost the Emperor's trust. The Emperor spoke coldly, as if he hadn't heard Prince Cain's cries.
"The Second Prince will be confined to the palace, and all his attendants will be replaced. They will all be assigned the role of guarding the Second Prince. If any contact is reported between the Second Prince and anyone, anyone involved will be executed."
But that was all. In the end, I couldn't kill him, so I thought, Is this all there is to it?
I secretly bit my lip. Was this the price I had to pay for insulting the Emperor?
At that moment, I wanted to rush over and decapitate Prince Cain. No, I wanted to scrape out every inch of his fingernails with a knife, then finally pull them out, then burn them one by one, causing him a slow and agonizing agony.
But now was not the time. Unlike in the past, our family had not fallen, and we had not been falsely accused of treason. Therefore, this was the only punishment that could be meted out to him.
Everything was already different from the past. I also had to find a new direction for myself.
I knelt before the Emperor, my tear-stained face transformed into one of emotion.
"Your Majesty, I am humbled. I am truly in awe of your heavenly grace. Not only I, but my maidservant will remain loyal to you forever."
As I bowed deeply, the Emperor nodded to his maid. This time, the Emperor's maid personally helped me up. I bowed again.
Meanwhile, Prince Cain remained curled up on the floor, shivering. The Emperor, ignoring him, gestured to his attendants.
The attendants quickly disappeared, supporting Prince Cain, leaving only the Emperor, the Empress, and me, along with a handful of attendants.
The moment the door to the audience room closed, the Emperor's expression suddenly changed from gentle to sharp.
“Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I, too, quickly decided to follow the rhythm. I stepped back, returning to where I had been standing.
The Emperor looked down at me and slowly opened his mouth.
“Thanks to the Grand Duchess, the rules of the palace have been restored to their proper place.”
The voice sounded eerie, unlike anything Prince Cain had ever heard before. I realized it. Prince Cain hadn't been executed for treason. He had simply been punished.
That fact made me shudder. Wasn't it his intention to keep Julian, innocent as he was, under surveillance to the point of preventing him from even marrying, while somehow sparing his own son, even if he had committed treason?
Then.
I immediately knelt down. My knees were aching from the hard kneeling I'd done earlier, but I raised my voice without changing my expression.
“Your Majesty, there is a misunderstanding!”
The Emperor asked me as if he was very interested in what I said.
"Misunderstanding. What misunderstanding did I have?"
"I didn't mean to expose His Highness the Second Prince's treason. I simply sought to protect my own safety and remain loyal to Your Majesty. I understand this overlap may seem disloyal. However, this is all a coincidence."
“Grand Duchess, I praised you, but you look as if you were scolded.”
"Even if Your Majesty doesn't hold me accountable, I should step forward and explain myself. If my explanation falls short, accept the punishment without complaint. That's what I learned from my father, Margrave Winsley."
The Emperor was silent for a moment. He simply looked at me with bleary eyes. His gaze, like that of an old raccoon, seemed to reveal everything about me. I knelt, tense.
"Count Winsley is a loyal man. I don't doubt that either."
“I am so embarrassed.”
"But isn't it true that you brought up the Prince's crimes? Has there perhaps been a change of heart in the Winsley Margrave?"
It was a very secret question. The Count of Winsley had always maintained neutrality. The question was whether the Count of Winsley had chosen to support the Crown Prince, who would become the next Emperor, rather than the Emperor himself.
I shook my head.
“I swear, absolutely not.”
“Prove it.”
"If I had other intentions, I wouldn't have come to present the rare magic stone to Your Majesty, the Emperor. Even if I had, I would have lied about the number. However, we, the Duchzan Grand Duchy, are always willing to present the rare magic stone to Your Majesty the Emperor, and so we are prepared to reveal everything."
The uses of rare magic stones were quite diverse. Unlike other magic stones, they possessed a strong magical power, allowing them to imbue even small objects with numerous functions, contributing significantly to technological advancement. It was only natural that they were so valuable.
The Emperor was silent for a moment. He must be thinking back on what I said. Perhaps he thought my words made sense, and his mouth opened heavily.
“Why did you reveal the Prince’s crime at such a time?”
“This is my fault. I ask for the punishment I deserve.”
Prince Cain immediately knelt before the Emperor. Even the proud Prince Cain was nothing more than a worthless son before the Emperor.
“Father! Please, please reconsider.”
The Emperor sighed and looked straight at Prince Cain.
“It was the Empress who gave permission, so why are you doing this to me?”
At those words, Prince Cain dropped his head and ground his teeth. But soon, he was about to kneel before the Empress again. Just as he was about to say a plea.
"My thoughts remain unchanged. I wish to grant Grand Duchess Duchzan's request."
“Then that’s what we should do.”
The Emperor's approval was readily granted to the Empress's answer. The rumors that the Empress, though frail, was extremely wise and that the Emperor cherished her seemed to be true. The Emperor seemed completely unfazed by her words.
The Emperor immediately nodded to the chief chamberlain.
"Lead your attendants immediately and thoroughly search the Second Prince's palace! The Second Prince must remain here. Don't come out unnecessarily."
“Father!”
It was a desperate call. But the Emperor instead threw his teacup at Prince Cain's feet and roared.
“Shut up. If that girl’s maid really comes out of your palace, I’ll cut out your tongue!”
For someone who wasn't even an Emperor, especially a Prince, to lead a government was a crime against the Emperor. It wasn't long ago that numerous Princes, with their mistresses and descendants, had swooped for the throne. How could a Prince ever again take on a government?
And looking at Prince Cain's bewildered attitude, it seemed like the answer was there without even searching the palace.
The Emperor knew his second son was into women and knew all sorts of rumors were circulating, but he trusted that he wouldn't cross the line. Apparently, he had too much faith in that fool.
The Emperor glared at Prince Cain with angry eyes. Prince Cain quietly knelt beside the broken teacup.
“Grand Duchess, please rise and take your seat.”
“I am so humbled by Your Majesty’s kindness that I cannot bear to do so.”
"Get up. Let's talk about Julian and that kid. Uh... you have a gift for me, right?"
The Emperor's face instantly broke into a smile. His expression shifted rapidly, as if he had two faces. It was chilling, but the face I was facing was a smile. As long as I held this magic stone, he would support me.
I pretended to be defeated and politely rose from my seat. At the Empress's gesture, the Emperor's maid approached me and personally supported me.
“Yes, yes. Come closer.”
Are you really telling me to stand here?
It was incredibly, incredibly burdensome. The Second Prince was kneeling beside me, the maids were busy cleaning up broken teacups and spilled tea, and I had to stand so close to them, between the two most precious people in the world. The Empress nodded with a benevolent smile, and I felt like biting my tongue and dying.
But this, too, was an opportunity. I walked calmly. The Emperor, like a grandfather, pulled my hand and gently patted it.
Because of that, I had to, with great disrespect, hold out the box with one hand. I thought I might die like this, but the Emperor didn't seem to have any intention of letting go. He looked at me and acted as if he were looking at his grandson's wife, not his nephew's.
“Oh, right. This is it.”
The Emperor didn't seem to care whether I had one or two hands. He was only interested in the contents of the box.
When the Emperor opened the box, he saw a rare magic stone shimmering with a transparent light. It was uncut and rough, yet possessed a natural blend of roughness and beauty.
“This one is said to have a magical power that is nearly a thousand times greater than that of a normal magic stone?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It is a very rare magic stone.”
“So... how much of this was discovered in the mines of Duchzan?”
I answered with a grin.
“If I act a little funny, won’t it be a problem for Your Majesty?”
The Emperor smiled broadly and nodded. Following his words, I spread my hands wide, like a mountain, and drew a circle from my toes. After completing the gesture, I stood up straight and cleared my throat loudly. After bowing once more, I continued speaking.
"Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty. But I truly did find a magic stone of this caliber. I simply took a portion to show it to Your Majesty."
The Emperor's eyes widened at that action, then he burst into hearty laughter. It was a hearty laugh. What was even more unexpected was that even the Empress, who was watching me from the sidelines, let out a small chuckle.
When I looked at the Empress in surprise, she smiled with her mouth covered.
“Your Majesty, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you laugh out loud.”
“The Grand Duchess Duchzan’s actions are childlike and innocent, making her truly adorable.”
The Empress looked at me with a pleased expression. I was surprised that her gaze was on me, not the rare magic stone.
"The Prince has been a dignified man since childhood, and there's no trace of cuteness. It's a joy to see the Grand Duchess's cuteness like this."
“If my shortcomings bring you joy, then that is my joy.”
The three of us were laughing and chatting.
Except for Prince Cain.
When I first discovered the rare magic stone, I was told it was pitch black. The Emperor's chamberlain rushed inside. With a stern expression, he bowed politely and hurried to the Emperor, where he delivered a polite report.
“Your Majesty, I have inspected His Highness the Second Prince’s palace. However..m”
“Keep talking.”
“...I found a woman strolling through the hall, but it wasn’t Marian. It was the young lady Ari Eriant, of the missing lady of Marquis Eriant.”
The Emperor's hand, which had been caressing mine, became bloodshot. His face, as if changing his mask, was filled with rage. Heat rose to his wrinkled forehead.
“I’m sorry, Grand Duchess.”
The Emperor whispered to me, then picked up my teacup and hurled it at Prince Cain. This time, it wasn't aimed at his feet. It flew straight at his forehead.
I gasped in shock at the Emperor's violent actions. Prince Cain groaned in pain and bowed his head. Red blood flowed through his silver hair.
“Ah, Father... What I said...”
“What are you listening to? So, have you found the Grand Duchess’s maid?”
"Yes. I found it with the help of Young Lady Eriant. However, she was locked in the warehouse, so she's in poor condition."
“Marian...”
A pitiful cry burst from my lips. I trembled slightly, as if shocked, and the Empress, who was beside me, held my hand tightly.
When we met, the Empress nodded with a benevolent smile. Then she spoke to the Emperor on my behalf.
“Your Majesty, I understand your desire to discipline the Second Prince, but it seems that the maid named Marian is a very precious child to the Grand Duchess of Duchan, so it seems that it is urgent to provide her with medical treatment.”
The Emperor grumbled, unable to contain his anger, and then squeezed his eyes shut. His anger seemed to be subsiding quickly. He was a fearsome being in many ways.
“Yes, treat the maid Marian and the young lady Eriant, and then send them back to their homes.”
The Emperor then spoke with a cold face. His cold gaze landed on Prince Cain, then mercilessly departed.
“Father! Father...”
Prince Cain screamed, his fists clenched as if clutching the floor. Losing the woman he shouldn't have coveted was a small loss. He had lost the Emperor's trust. The Emperor spoke coldly, as if he hadn't heard Prince Cain's cries.
"The Second Prince will be confined to the palace, and all his attendants will be replaced. They will all be assigned the role of guarding the Second Prince. If any contact is reported between the Second Prince and anyone, anyone involved will be executed."
But that was all. In the end, I couldn't kill him, so I thought, Is this all there is to it?
I secretly bit my lip. Was this the price I had to pay for insulting the Emperor?
At that moment, I wanted to rush over and decapitate Prince Cain. No, I wanted to scrape out every inch of his fingernails with a knife, then finally pull them out, then burn them one by one, causing him a slow and agonizing agony.
But now was not the time. Unlike in the past, our family had not fallen, and we had not been falsely accused of treason. Therefore, this was the only punishment that could be meted out to him.
Everything was already different from the past. I also had to find a new direction for myself.
I knelt before the Emperor, my tear-stained face transformed into one of emotion.
"Your Majesty, I am humbled. I am truly in awe of your heavenly grace. Not only I, but my maidservant will remain loyal to you forever."
As I bowed deeply, the Emperor nodded to his maid. This time, the Emperor's maid personally helped me up. I bowed again.
Meanwhile, Prince Cain remained curled up on the floor, shivering. The Emperor, ignoring him, gestured to his attendants.
The attendants quickly disappeared, supporting Prince Cain, leaving only the Emperor, the Empress, and me, along with a handful of attendants.
The moment the door to the audience room closed, the Emperor's expression suddenly changed from gentle to sharp.
“Grand Duchess.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I, too, quickly decided to follow the rhythm. I stepped back, returning to where I had been standing.
The Emperor looked down at me and slowly opened his mouth.
“Thanks to the Grand Duchess, the rules of the palace have been restored to their proper place.”
The voice sounded eerie, unlike anything Prince Cain had ever heard before. I realized it. Prince Cain hadn't been executed for treason. He had simply been punished.
That fact made me shudder. Wasn't it his intention to keep Julian, innocent as he was, under surveillance to the point of preventing him from even marrying, while somehow sparing his own son, even if he had committed treason?
Then.
I immediately knelt down. My knees were aching from the hard kneeling I'd done earlier, but I raised my voice without changing my expression.
“Your Majesty, there is a misunderstanding!”
The Emperor asked me as if he was very interested in what I said.
"Misunderstanding. What misunderstanding did I have?"
"I didn't mean to expose His Highness the Second Prince's treason. I simply sought to protect my own safety and remain loyal to Your Majesty. I understand this overlap may seem disloyal. However, this is all a coincidence."
“Grand Duchess, I praised you, but you look as if you were scolded.”
"Even if Your Majesty doesn't hold me accountable, I should step forward and explain myself. If my explanation falls short, accept the punishment without complaint. That's what I learned from my father, Margrave Winsley."
The Emperor was silent for a moment. He simply looked at me with bleary eyes. His gaze, like that of an old raccoon, seemed to reveal everything about me. I knelt, tense.
"Count Winsley is a loyal man. I don't doubt that either."
“I am so embarrassed.”
"But isn't it true that you brought up the Prince's crimes? Has there perhaps been a change of heart in the Winsley Margrave?"
It was a very secret question. The Count of Winsley had always maintained neutrality. The question was whether the Count of Winsley had chosen to support the Crown Prince, who would become the next Emperor, rather than the Emperor himself.
I shook my head.
“I swear, absolutely not.”
“Prove it.”
"If I had other intentions, I wouldn't have come to present the rare magic stone to Your Majesty, the Emperor. Even if I had, I would have lied about the number. However, we, the Duchzan Grand Duchy, are always willing to present the rare magic stone to Your Majesty the Emperor, and so we are prepared to reveal everything."
The uses of rare magic stones were quite diverse. Unlike other magic stones, they possessed a strong magical power, allowing them to imbue even small objects with numerous functions, contributing significantly to technological advancement. It was only natural that they were so valuable.
The Emperor was silent for a moment. He must be thinking back on what I said. Perhaps he thought my words made sense, and his mouth opened heavily.
“Why did you reveal the Prince’s crime at such a time?”
“This is my fault. I ask for the punishment I deserve.”
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