As soon as I recovered, I went to the imperial palace with Julian. Although the abdication hadn't yet been formally carried out, Prince Aslan was essentially the master of the palace. His subjects shared all important matters with him first, and the Emperor often only learned of the events much later.
And Julian and I had come to the palace not to meet the Emperor, but to meet Prince Aslan. I sat in the magnificent reception room and smiled.
“I’ll see you in the audience room soon.”
It was an irreverent remark, but Prince Aslan did not deny it. In fact, he went even further, saying:
“That too would be possible only with the help of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.”
I didn't meet Prince Aslan often. I didn't know his taste in tea or his favorite color. But I always felt a sense of camaraderie with him. Since we shared a common enemy, it was as if we shared a common goal.
And now, we were at the point where we were concluding that relationship.
Prince Aslan rang the bell, and a servant came carrying a small box. Inside was a stiff piece of paper with a gold border. There were two sheets of paper, each with the same exact writing.
This was a pledge that the Imperial Family would never again invade or harass the Duchzan and that they would be their loyal subjects for life. In return, the Duchzan was obligated to discuss the Empire's prosperity with the Imperial Family, unless the Imperial Family violated this pledge.
We could have separated from the Empire and lived as a duchy. But that would have required too much bloodshed from the lords, and we lacked the lust for power to justify it. We simply desired a peaceful night, undisturbed by the peace.
Prince Aslan tried to sign the oath first, but I held out my hand to stop him.
“I want to put a spell on the oath. Is that okay?”
Prince Aslan hesitated for a moment. But not for long. He didn't consider the Duke of Duchzan his enemy.
“Where is the wizard?”
Instead of answering, I stood up elegantly. Then, I placed my hands on the two pledges. A brilliant white light flowed from my fingertips, soaking them. This time, the pledges seemed to glow, but then gradually faded. Nothing much changed, but upon closer inspection, a faint light was seen emanating.
Aslan asked in admiration.
“Were you a wizard?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
“I didn’t know because it was completely unknown.”
"I'll let you know from now on. I'm very interested in protecting the human rights of wizards and preventing corruption."
“I think it’s a good thing too.”
I'm also interested in saving the witch, but I don't think I need to go that far. Prince Aslan signed the two pledges first, followed by Julian.
The pledge was divided into two boxes. One was held by Prince Aslan's attendant, the other by our own. We stood up. After all, we weren't close enough to chat over tea.
Before Prince Aslan could leave, I opened my mouth as if a thought had just occurred to me.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I have a small favor to ask.”
Prince Aslan answered with a smile.
“Anything.”
Imperial knights stood guard in front of the palace. They saw us and formally blocked us, but showed no signs of extreme caution. The palace maid who was guiding us stepped forward and spoke.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has granted me permission to see His Majesty.”
Then, the imperial knight willingly opened the door. Julian and I were able to enter the imperial palace without the slightest obstruction. I could see just how low the Emperor's authority had fallen.
As I was entering the Imperial Palace, Julian stopped me, grabbing my hand. I turned around and tilted my head.
"Why?"
“You don’t have to meet him.”
It seemed like Julian already knew why I was here.
“There is no need to dirty your eyes and ears.”
It wasn't something you'd say in the middle of the imperial palace, but neither he nor I were afraid. He was already a toothless tiger, or rather, a raccoon. Julian seemed perfectly fine. But I was anything but.
“You stay still. I’ll take care of it.”
I patted the back of Julian's hand. Then, I gave him a gentle tug, and he pulled me in as if he had no choice. Even if I said I wouldn't go, I knew I'd be alone, and he seemed even more reluctant to let me in alone. I found Julian cute like that, and I secretly smiled.
When I came face to face with the imperial maid, she was startled and bowed down.
“Please tell His Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Highness...”
The maid hurried inside. We waited for a moment, as a formality. Naturally, a shout came from inside, and the maid bolted out like a startled chicken. She couldn't do anything, and then, perhaps feeling more vulnerable because of my smiling face, she shamelessly tried to lie.
“I’m sorry, but Your Majesty, your body is…….”
“Okay.”
I gave a vague answer, grabbed Julian's hand, and headed straight into the palace. The maid cried, but I pretended not to hear.
The palace was still clean and smelled good. Seeing Prince Aslan's affectionate nature, it seemed he was destined to become a virtuous ruler.
“How dare you come and go so carelessly here!”
The emperor shouted, but I pretended not to hear and remained polite.
“His Majesty the Emperor.”
Etiquette ends here. I stood up straight and faced the Emperor. He was sitting at the tea table, apparently enjoying his tea time, but his face was stern at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest.
“I came to see you because I had a question.”
“Why did you come here when I have no intention of giving you an answer that suits your surname?”
“Because I have to ask anyway.”
The Emperor continued to shout, but I, on the other hand, consistently responded calmly. Perhaps that was why the Emperor, too, was gradually regaining his senses. He still tapped his fingernails on the tea table like a nervous person, but his voice was calm.
“What do you want to ask?”
“What could it be?... Why did you do that?”
The Emperor's eyebrows twitched at my question, and Julian, standing nearby, twitched his hand. My question left much to be desired, but both the Emperor and Julian knew what I was asking.
The Emperor's hand, which had been tapping on the tea table, stopped. And when the unpleasant noise had completely ceased, the Emperor's mouth opened.
"Well."
The Emperor looked into space.
“There was no need to kill Helena. She was always kind.”
“But why did you end up killing her?”
This question wasn't mine. It was Julian.
"Why didn't you just kill my father? If that were too difficult, why didn't you just kill me? Then you could have definitely ended the line."
He said he wouldn't come forward, but he must have been agonizingly curious about it all along. Why did his maternal uncle, whom he loved and was loved by in his own way, kill his mother?
The Emperor looked at his nephew and spoke leisurely.
“Julian, that’s politics.”
It was a static voice, as if a teacher were teaching a student.
"The Imperial Family didn't need to swallow the Duchzan immediately. But they could always take it if they wanted. By weakening the bloodline or by establishing a younger Grand Duke. When the Imperial Family finally decides to completely devour the Duchzan, wouldn't it be too late to prepare quickly?"
“...Didn’t you spare me and my mother?”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
The Emperor frowned, as if somewhat bored, but spoke again, kindly, as if speaking to a child.
“That’s politics.”
The Emperor began to tap the tea table again.
"Aslan is being foolish. One day, the Duchzan will become the Duchzan Duchy. It will be too late to regret it then... It will be too late then."
Just right, just right, just right, just right.
The sound of knocking on the tea table was loud.
Julian turned around and tried to leave, as if trying to escape this disgusting place. But I stopped him.
“You will die slowly.”
The Emperor's head trembled at my words. I continued speaking in a very direct tone.
“Your food, your tea, your medicine will be laced with tiny bits of poison, and you will slowly weaken and die, just like Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
The Emperor slowly raised his head and glared at me.
“How could someone like you do something like that?”
“It wasn’t me. I received a gift.”
“To whom!”
The Emperor abruptly rose from his seat. The chair he was sitting on fell backwards with a loud crash. But I ignored it and chuckled.
“Well, I guess I got it from someone who is in politics.”
Now there was only one person left who could do it. The Emperor's son, and someone who was no longer within his reach...
Prince Aslan.
“How dare you, how dare you!”
The Emperor threw a teacup at me. But Julian lifted his cloak and embraced me. The hot tea splashed onto hia cloak, but neither of us was hurt. I peeked my head out of his cloak and offered a leisurely greeting.
“Then goodbye.”
“How dare you, you little bastards! Me, the Emperor of the Empire!”
The Emperor continued to shout, but there was no reason for us to listen to him. I leisurely left the palace with Julian.
Julian asked me as we got out of the carriage.
“What I told the Emperor earlier.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I see.”
Julian took it quite calmly. I found it so funny that I laughed.
“Did you know that?”
“I thought it might be possible for my wife to do that.”
I nodded, my lips pursed. It was getting to the point where Julian knew me, and I knew him. I sat down next to him and exhaled deeply.
It may seem trivial, but from now on, the Emperor will be constantly tense, even when eating, drinking tea, or taking medicine. This will undoubtedly weaken his body and mind.
“Thank you.”
Julian whispered softly.
"You're welcome."
I laughed like a little kid, leaned on Julian's shoulder, and laughed heartily.
And Julian and I had come to the palace not to meet the Emperor, but to meet Prince Aslan. I sat in the magnificent reception room and smiled.
“I’ll see you in the audience room soon.”
It was an irreverent remark, but Prince Aslan did not deny it. In fact, he went even further, saying:
“That too would be possible only with the help of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.”
I didn't meet Prince Aslan often. I didn't know his taste in tea or his favorite color. But I always felt a sense of camaraderie with him. Since we shared a common enemy, it was as if we shared a common goal.
And now, we were at the point where we were concluding that relationship.
Prince Aslan rang the bell, and a servant came carrying a small box. Inside was a stiff piece of paper with a gold border. There were two sheets of paper, each with the same exact writing.
This was a pledge that the Imperial Family would never again invade or harass the Duchzan and that they would be their loyal subjects for life. In return, the Duchzan was obligated to discuss the Empire's prosperity with the Imperial Family, unless the Imperial Family violated this pledge.
We could have separated from the Empire and lived as a duchy. But that would have required too much bloodshed from the lords, and we lacked the lust for power to justify it. We simply desired a peaceful night, undisturbed by the peace.
Prince Aslan tried to sign the oath first, but I held out my hand to stop him.
“I want to put a spell on the oath. Is that okay?”
Prince Aslan hesitated for a moment. But not for long. He didn't consider the Duke of Duchzan his enemy.
“Where is the wizard?”
Instead of answering, I stood up elegantly. Then, I placed my hands on the two pledges. A brilliant white light flowed from my fingertips, soaking them. This time, the pledges seemed to glow, but then gradually faded. Nothing much changed, but upon closer inspection, a faint light was seen emanating.
Aslan asked in admiration.
“Were you a wizard?”
“Yes, as you can see.”
“I didn’t know because it was completely unknown.”
"I'll let you know from now on. I'm very interested in protecting the human rights of wizards and preventing corruption."
“I think it’s a good thing too.”
I'm also interested in saving the witch, but I don't think I need to go that far. Prince Aslan signed the two pledges first, followed by Julian.
The pledge was divided into two boxes. One was held by Prince Aslan's attendant, the other by our own. We stood up. After all, we weren't close enough to chat over tea.
Before Prince Aslan could leave, I opened my mouth as if a thought had just occurred to me.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince, I have a small favor to ask.”
Prince Aslan answered with a smile.
“Anything.”
***
Imperial knights stood guard in front of the palace. They saw us and formally blocked us, but showed no signs of extreme caution. The palace maid who was guiding us stepped forward and spoke.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has granted me permission to see His Majesty.”
Then, the imperial knight willingly opened the door. Julian and I were able to enter the imperial palace without the slightest obstruction. I could see just how low the Emperor's authority had fallen.
As I was entering the Imperial Palace, Julian stopped me, grabbing my hand. I turned around and tilted my head.
"Why?"
“You don’t have to meet him.”
It seemed like Julian already knew why I was here.
“There is no need to dirty your eyes and ears.”
It wasn't something you'd say in the middle of the imperial palace, but neither he nor I were afraid. He was already a toothless tiger, or rather, a raccoon. Julian seemed perfectly fine. But I was anything but.
“You stay still. I’ll take care of it.”
I patted the back of Julian's hand. Then, I gave him a gentle tug, and he pulled me in as if he had no choice. Even if I said I wouldn't go, I knew I'd be alone, and he seemed even more reluctant to let me in alone. I found Julian cute like that, and I secretly smiled.
When I came face to face with the imperial maid, she was startled and bowed down.
“Please tell His Majesty.”
“Yes, Your Highness...”
The maid hurried inside. We waited for a moment, as a formality. Naturally, a shout came from inside, and the maid bolted out like a startled chicken. She couldn't do anything, and then, perhaps feeling more vulnerable because of my smiling face, she shamelessly tried to lie.
“I’m sorry, but Your Majesty, your body is…….”
“Okay.”
I gave a vague answer, grabbed Julian's hand, and headed straight into the palace. The maid cried, but I pretended not to hear.
The palace was still clean and smelled good. Seeing Prince Aslan's affectionate nature, it seemed he was destined to become a virtuous ruler.
“How dare you come and go so carelessly here!”
The emperor shouted, but I pretended not to hear and remained polite.
“His Majesty the Emperor.”
Etiquette ends here. I stood up straight and faced the Emperor. He was sitting at the tea table, apparently enjoying his tea time, but his face was stern at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guest.
“I came to see you because I had a question.”
“Why did you come here when I have no intention of giving you an answer that suits your surname?”
“Because I have to ask anyway.”
The Emperor continued to shout, but I, on the other hand, consistently responded calmly. Perhaps that was why the Emperor, too, was gradually regaining his senses. He still tapped his fingernails on the tea table like a nervous person, but his voice was calm.
“What do you want to ask?”
“What could it be?... Why did you do that?”
The Emperor's eyebrows twitched at my question, and Julian, standing nearby, twitched his hand. My question left much to be desired, but both the Emperor and Julian knew what I was asking.
The Emperor's hand, which had been tapping on the tea table, stopped. And when the unpleasant noise had completely ceased, the Emperor's mouth opened.
"Well."
The Emperor looked into space.
“There was no need to kill Helena. She was always kind.”
“But why did you end up killing her?”
This question wasn't mine. It was Julian.
"Why didn't you just kill my father? If that were too difficult, why didn't you just kill me? Then you could have definitely ended the line."
He said he wouldn't come forward, but he must have been agonizingly curious about it all along. Why did his maternal uncle, whom he loved and was loved by in his own way, kill his mother?
The Emperor looked at his nephew and spoke leisurely.
“Julian, that’s politics.”
It was a static voice, as if a teacher were teaching a student.
"The Imperial Family didn't need to swallow the Duchzan immediately. But they could always take it if they wanted. By weakening the bloodline or by establishing a younger Grand Duke. When the Imperial Family finally decides to completely devour the Duchzan, wouldn't it be too late to prepare quickly?"
“...Didn’t you spare me and my mother?”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
The Emperor frowned, as if somewhat bored, but spoke again, kindly, as if speaking to a child.
“That’s politics.”
The Emperor began to tap the tea table again.
"Aslan is being foolish. One day, the Duchzan will become the Duchzan Duchy. It will be too late to regret it then... It will be too late then."
Just right, just right, just right, just right.
The sound of knocking on the tea table was loud.
Julian turned around and tried to leave, as if trying to escape this disgusting place. But I stopped him.
“You will die slowly.”
The Emperor's head trembled at my words. I continued speaking in a very direct tone.
“Your food, your tea, your medicine will be laced with tiny bits of poison, and you will slowly weaken and die, just like Her Highness the Grand Duchess.”
The Emperor slowly raised his head and glared at me.
“How could someone like you do something like that?”
“It wasn’t me. I received a gift.”
“To whom!”
The Emperor abruptly rose from his seat. The chair he was sitting on fell backwards with a loud crash. But I ignored it and chuckled.
“Well, I guess I got it from someone who is in politics.”
Now there was only one person left who could do it. The Emperor's son, and someone who was no longer within his reach...
Prince Aslan.
“How dare you, how dare you!”
The Emperor threw a teacup at me. But Julian lifted his cloak and embraced me. The hot tea splashed onto hia cloak, but neither of us was hurt. I peeked my head out of his cloak and offered a leisurely greeting.
“Then goodbye.”
“How dare you, you little bastards! Me, the Emperor of the Empire!”
The Emperor continued to shout, but there was no reason for us to listen to him. I leisurely left the palace with Julian.
Julian asked me as we got out of the carriage.
“What I told the Emperor earlier.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I see.”
Julian took it quite calmly. I found it so funny that I laughed.
“Did you know that?”
“I thought it might be possible for my wife to do that.”
I nodded, my lips pursed. It was getting to the point where Julian knew me, and I knew him. I sat down next to him and exhaled deeply.
It may seem trivial, but from now on, the Emperor will be constantly tense, even when eating, drinking tea, or taking medicine. This will undoubtedly weaken his body and mind.
“Thank you.”
Julian whispered softly.
"You're welcome."
I laughed like a little kid, leaned on Julian's shoulder, and laughed heartily.
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