Count Elbern headed to the conference room in the Count's castle.
The conversation inside could be heard faintly through the closed conference room door.
“No, is Count Abene here too?”
“I heard that Count Elbern invited him to dinner... By the way, it’s nice to see Countess Blanche here.”
Those gathered in the conference room were those who had gathered at the urgent call of Count Elbern.
They were confused as to why they had gathered together, but after checking the number of people and each other's faces, they realized something belatedly.
“It seems that Count Elbern has summoned the lords of the North.”
Those gathered here were eight lords who were the major powers among those who owned the northern territories.
Some called them dinner parties, some called them hunting parties, and some even called them marriage proposals, all under the pretext of Count Elbern gathering them together.
The lords were displeased to learn that Count Elbern had lied to summon them, but they did not leave hastily.
The fact that he had gathered the northern lords secretly as if it were a private meeting meant that Count Elbern was plotting something big.
“Let’s hear what you’re planning and why you called us.”
Everyone waited for Count Elbern with serious faces.
Count Elbern, who had been listening to the entire conversation from outside, entered the conference room.
“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for coming such a long way.”
Someone asked in an irritated voice at the Count's brief welcome speech with an awkward smile.
“What are you doing, Count Elbern!”
“I apologize. Because the matter is so serious, I had to gather the lords secretly, so I did this.”
"What on earth is going on? If the royal family finds out we're gathered here, they'll probably mistake us for plotting treason."
“Oh, let’s go in and see.”
Count Elbern looked around at the lords.
“There is someone who hasn’t arrived yet...”
The moment those words fell, someone appeared in the conference room.
“Ah, you’re finally here.”
The door finally closed as if they were the last ones to leave.
The northern lords who saw the people who appeared all kept their mouths shut.
Silence fell on the once noisy conference room.
The silence was filled with the bewilderment of the lords who had not expected them to come to this place.
“Aren’t you Marquis Rodrian?”
Callius sat Chloe down in the only seat of honor as if it were a given, and looked around at each of the lords.
The lords swallowed dryly and looked at him, as if overwhelmed by Callius's stern gaze.
The lords gathered here were all those who had faced Callius as an enemy at least once.
Before Ronheim was conquered, the armies of the northern lords were mobilized whenever the Emperor of Arrental started a war with Ronheim.
The lords, who had personally experienced the might of Ronheim and the fear of Callius, having lost many soldiers at that time, felt it difficult to face Callius so closely.
They knew full well that Callius could take the lives of everyone here with his bare hands.
Of course, considering that he brought his wife here, they didn't think he would do something like that.
“That person is the Princess.”
“Rumor has it...”
The lords whispered to Chloe.
Callius knocked on the table, drawing the lords' attention to him.
"I hope Count Elbern won't be offended. I was the one who asked you to come here."
“Yes...?”
The lords glanced at Count Elbern.
Count Elbern, who had taken the top spot as if it were natural, nodded in agreement with Callius' words as he sat down in another seat.
A few days ago, he received a call from Callius asking to meet him.
[I know that you stationed the Prince's army in the county and planned to attack Ronheim.]
Count Elbern was shocked when he saw what was written in the letter sent by Callius.
It was obvious that if the other northern lords learned that he had helped the Empress with her schemes, given up his territory and troops, and was planning to attack Ronheim, they would all turn their backs on him.
Because there might be suspicions that Count Elbern, who has joined hands with the imperial family, might attack other northern territories.
In his letter, Callius offered Count Elbern a choice to make amends.
If you help me, I will make sure you don't get into trouble. I will also provide the people of Elbern with the resources they need to survive the winter.
It was clear that Count Elbern was deeply in debt and suffering from poverty while entertaining Andrea and the army.
Count Elbern could not refuse Callius's offer.
Because if he believed in Kavala and Andrea and kept his loyalty, he would not be able to survive the winter and would starve to death.
Moreover, Count Elbern was so angry that he could not sleep whenever he thought of Andrea.
Count Elbern, whose eyes were bloodshot from insomnia, joined hands with Callius for revenge against Andrea and for various practical reasons.
So today, as Callius had requested, the lords of the North have gathered together here.
Count Elbern's role ended here, and now it was up to Callius to take care of the rest.
Callius spoke to the lords.
“Kavala secretly moved her troops to attack Ronheim some time ago.”
“Is that true?”
Count Elbern volunteered his testimony.
"It's true. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I helped with that. The Prince's army was stationed in the Elbern territory just a short time ago."
The lords glared at Count Elbern with faces filled with shock and betrayal, then whispered among themselves.
“Is the Empress aiming for the North?”
“I knew the Imperial Family looked down on the North, but they had no fear in doing something like this!”
“This fact must be made known to the southern lords so that they can restrain the Empress!”
Among the gossiping lords, the eldest, Count of Lewa, saw through Callius' intentions and spoke.
“You’ve called us together for that reason, so are you saying you’re going to use it as an excuse to unite and start a rebellion?”
His deep voice drowned out the murmur of the lords.
Everyone looked at Callius with tense eyes.
Callius still had a blank expression on his face.
“That wouldn’t be enough of a justification to start a rebellion.”
"You know very well. Then why have you gathered us here?"
Then Chloe opened her mouth.
“To make it known that Kavala is a threat to us all, and to give us another justification to rebel.”
Chloe's voice was thin and quiet, and her calm voice calmed the lords' excitement and allowed them to focus on Chloe's words.
The lords who saw and heard her sharp eyes and her bold yet firm voice immediately realized that it was far-fetched to think of Chloe as a madwoman.
The mood of the lords, who had belatedly sensed the Princess's dignity, secretly became polite.
Count Blanche, who was one of the younger generation, asked Chloe cautiously.
“Another excuse?”
Chloe spoke with emphasis, every word.
"The treachery of Empress Kavala, who deceived the entire nation, allowing a man without royal blood to pretend to be a Prince and thus seize the throne, and the incompetence of the Emperor, who, bewitched by her, lost the ability to distinguish between heaven and earth. Is this enough justification?"
Everyone in the room was momentarily speechless and just stared blankly at Chloe.
Chloe gave an order to the knight standing in front of the conference room door as if there was nothing more to say.
“Let the handmaiden of Kavala come in.”
Soon, a young woman came into the conference room, crouching down.
She had one hand wrapped around the other, a habit she had of covering the wounds on her hands.
Her hands were covered with scars from cuts and tears.
These were wounds that were caused when Kavala threw and broke glass and was cleared away, or when Kavala took out her anger on them.
“I am Liene, the maid of the Empress Kavala.”
Several lords recognized her.
It was certain that she was the maid who accompanied her to the imperial parties and Kavala's personal schedule.
Liene testified, trembling, but with eyes filled with anger and vengeance.
“I was by Empress Kavala's side, observing everything she did. I saw her constantly hanging out with her adopted brother, the Marquis of Dnieper Blanco, and how they treated each other more like lovers than siblings.”
Liene wasn't sure what effect this testimony would have on her.
Even though she didn't know, she was sure that her father was going to kill her.
Nevertheless, she stood there determined to reveal everything about Kavala and took Chloe's hand.
Because she could no longer bear the hellish life next to the devil, like Kavala.
She wanted someone to get her out of that hell, and Chloe, who had recently been frequenting the palace to tease Andrea, found her.
Liene closed her eyes tightly.
“I knew that the Empress Kavala, who often bit all her attendants, would secretly take the Marquis Blanco into her bedroom.”
The conversation inside could be heard faintly through the closed conference room door.
“No, is Count Abene here too?”
“I heard that Count Elbern invited him to dinner... By the way, it’s nice to see Countess Blanche here.”
Those gathered in the conference room were those who had gathered at the urgent call of Count Elbern.
They were confused as to why they had gathered together, but after checking the number of people and each other's faces, they realized something belatedly.
“It seems that Count Elbern has summoned the lords of the North.”
Those gathered here were eight lords who were the major powers among those who owned the northern territories.
Some called them dinner parties, some called them hunting parties, and some even called them marriage proposals, all under the pretext of Count Elbern gathering them together.
The lords were displeased to learn that Count Elbern had lied to summon them, but they did not leave hastily.
The fact that he had gathered the northern lords secretly as if it were a private meeting meant that Count Elbern was plotting something big.
“Let’s hear what you’re planning and why you called us.”
Everyone waited for Count Elbern with serious faces.
Count Elbern, who had been listening to the entire conversation from outside, entered the conference room.
“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for coming such a long way.”
Someone asked in an irritated voice at the Count's brief welcome speech with an awkward smile.
“What are you doing, Count Elbern!”
“I apologize. Because the matter is so serious, I had to gather the lords secretly, so I did this.”
"What on earth is going on? If the royal family finds out we're gathered here, they'll probably mistake us for plotting treason."
“Oh, let’s go in and see.”
Count Elbern looked around at the lords.
“There is someone who hasn’t arrived yet...”
The moment those words fell, someone appeared in the conference room.
“Ah, you’re finally here.”
The door finally closed as if they were the last ones to leave.
The northern lords who saw the people who appeared all kept their mouths shut.
Silence fell on the once noisy conference room.
The silence was filled with the bewilderment of the lords who had not expected them to come to this place.
“Aren’t you Marquis Rodrian?”
Callius sat Chloe down in the only seat of honor as if it were a given, and looked around at each of the lords.
The lords swallowed dryly and looked at him, as if overwhelmed by Callius's stern gaze.
The lords gathered here were all those who had faced Callius as an enemy at least once.
Before Ronheim was conquered, the armies of the northern lords were mobilized whenever the Emperor of Arrental started a war with Ronheim.
The lords, who had personally experienced the might of Ronheim and the fear of Callius, having lost many soldiers at that time, felt it difficult to face Callius so closely.
They knew full well that Callius could take the lives of everyone here with his bare hands.
Of course, considering that he brought his wife here, they didn't think he would do something like that.
“That person is the Princess.”
“Rumor has it...”
The lords whispered to Chloe.
Callius knocked on the table, drawing the lords' attention to him.
"I hope Count Elbern won't be offended. I was the one who asked you to come here."
“Yes...?”
The lords glanced at Count Elbern.
Count Elbern, who had taken the top spot as if it were natural, nodded in agreement with Callius' words as he sat down in another seat.
A few days ago, he received a call from Callius asking to meet him.
[I know that you stationed the Prince's army in the county and planned to attack Ronheim.]
Count Elbern was shocked when he saw what was written in the letter sent by Callius.
It was obvious that if the other northern lords learned that he had helped the Empress with her schemes, given up his territory and troops, and was planning to attack Ronheim, they would all turn their backs on him.
Because there might be suspicions that Count Elbern, who has joined hands with the imperial family, might attack other northern territories.
In his letter, Callius offered Count Elbern a choice to make amends.
If you help me, I will make sure you don't get into trouble. I will also provide the people of Elbern with the resources they need to survive the winter.
It was clear that Count Elbern was deeply in debt and suffering from poverty while entertaining Andrea and the army.
Count Elbern could not refuse Callius's offer.
Because if he believed in Kavala and Andrea and kept his loyalty, he would not be able to survive the winter and would starve to death.
Moreover, Count Elbern was so angry that he could not sleep whenever he thought of Andrea.
Count Elbern, whose eyes were bloodshot from insomnia, joined hands with Callius for revenge against Andrea and for various practical reasons.
So today, as Callius had requested, the lords of the North have gathered together here.
Count Elbern's role ended here, and now it was up to Callius to take care of the rest.
Callius spoke to the lords.
“Kavala secretly moved her troops to attack Ronheim some time ago.”
“Is that true?”
Count Elbern volunteered his testimony.
"It's true. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I helped with that. The Prince's army was stationed in the Elbern territory just a short time ago."
The lords glared at Count Elbern with faces filled with shock and betrayal, then whispered among themselves.
“Isn't Ronheim already a subjugated territory?”
“I knew the Imperial Family looked down on the North, but they had no fear in doing something like this!”
“This fact must be made known to the southern lords so that they can restrain the Empress!”
Among the gossiping lords, the eldest, Count of Lewa, saw through Callius' intentions and spoke.
“You’ve called us together for that reason, so are you saying you’re going to use it as an excuse to unite and start a rebellion?”
His deep voice drowned out the murmur of the lords.
Everyone looked at Callius with tense eyes.
Callius still had a blank expression on his face.
“That wouldn’t be enough of a justification to start a rebellion.”
"You know very well. Then why have you gathered us here?"
Then Chloe opened her mouth.
“To make it known that Kavala is a threat to us all, and to give us another justification to rebel.”
Chloe's voice was thin and quiet, and her calm voice calmed the lords' excitement and allowed them to focus on Chloe's words.
The lords who saw and heard her sharp eyes and her bold yet firm voice immediately realized that it was far-fetched to think of Chloe as a madwoman.
The mood of the lords, who had belatedly sensed the Princess's dignity, secretly became polite.
Count Blanche, who was one of the younger generation, asked Chloe cautiously.
“Another excuse?”
Chloe spoke with emphasis, every word.
"The treachery of Empress Kavala, who deceived the entire nation, allowing a man without royal blood to pretend to be a Prince and thus seize the throne, and the incompetence of the Emperor, who, bewitched by her, lost the ability to distinguish between heaven and earth. Is this enough justification?"
Everyone in the room was momentarily speechless and just stared blankly at Chloe.
Chloe gave an order to the knight standing in front of the conference room door as if there was nothing more to say.
“Let the handmaiden of Kavala come in.”
Soon, a young woman came into the conference room, crouching down.
She had one hand wrapped around the other, a habit she had of covering the wounds on her hands.
Her hands were covered with scars from cuts and tears.
These were wounds that were caused when Kavala threw and broke glass and was cleared away, or when Kavala took out her anger on them.
“I am Liene, the maid of the Empress Kavala.”
Several lords recognized her.
It was certain that she was the maid who accompanied her to the imperial parties and Kavala's personal schedule.
Liene testified, trembling, but with eyes filled with anger and vengeance.
“I was by Empress Kavala's side, observing everything she did. I saw her constantly hanging out with her adopted brother, the Marquis of Dnieper Blanco, and how they treated each other more like lovers than siblings.”
Liene wasn't sure what effect this testimony would have on her.
Even though she didn't know, she was sure that her father was going to kill her.
Nevertheless, she stood there determined to reveal everything about Kavala and took Chloe's hand.
Because she could no longer bear the hellish life next to the devil, like Kavala.
She wanted someone to get her out of that hell, and Chloe, who had recently been frequenting the palace to tease Andrea, found her.
Liene closed her eyes tightly.
“I knew that the Empress Kavala, who often bit all her attendants, would secretly take the Marquis Blanco into her bedroom.”
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