Chapter 9 – A Shaken Heart (Part 3)

Inferno suddenly recalled Reubellina’s devoted actions towards him. Rejecting her and accepting Bellaruse was the biggest mistake of his life.

He didn’t need the emperor to point it out; he could see it now. How prosperous the North had become since they accepted Reubellina as their Grand Duchess.

‘That money should have been mine.’

Inferno bit his lip. Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t move forward, prompting the emperor to shout again.

“What are you waiting for? Get in here immediately!”

Though the loud voice was intimidating, Inferno wasn’t as scared. He knew his father’s anger stemmed from his failure to achieve any significant results in the North. If he declared he would set things right, he knew his father would reconsider him.

“I’ve heard about the North.”

The emperor tried to speak calmly, but his voice wavered. Inferno looked at him steadily.

“There were results.”

“Results, you say?”

“I met Lady Viverna in the North.”

The emperor’s fierce eyes turned to Inferno. Though scared, Inferno tried not to show it. The emperor, finding his effort commendable, softened his expression slightly.

“Is there any place for Lady Viverna now that Tartenon is the Grand Duke?”

“What does that matter? The previous Grand Duke also died in an accident. Who’s to say the current one won’t meet a similar fate?”

“We’ve tried that method several times.”

The emperor declared. He too had tried to kill Tartenon, but had failed each time. However, as Inferno spoke calmly, the emperor began to feel a sense of trust.

“Speraum is busy hosting guests right now.”

“Yes. You went there as a guest and ruined things, though.”

“They won’t notice if one or two assassins slip among the guests.”

“We’ve used that method too!”

“Have you tried it on Reubellina, not Tartenon?”

The emperor’s eyes widened. Seeing his reaction, Inferno believed he had hit the mark.

Inferno’s plan was this: send assassins to Reubellina, and if she got hurt, Duke Asillious would question the Northern management. A wounded but alive Reubellina would grow disillusioned with life in the North and want to return to the capital.

Since there was no news of Tartenon and Reubellina spending their first night together, the marriage could naturally be annulled. Then, he could comfort the injured Reubellina and make her his own.

Inferno’s mind raced. The emperor’s thoughts mirrored his.

‘If Reubellina dies, what happens to the Asillious Duchy?’

The chancellor, Duke Asillious, wouldn’t stay quiet. If the rumor spread that Reubellina, a royal, was killed by Viverna, the North would naturally fall apart. Despite everything, Viverna was Tartenon’s aunt. If Tartenon lost his temper and harmed Viverna, everything would be perfect.

No northern noble would sincerely follow Tartenon if he killed his own blood.

Nobles were such people. They couldn’t discard their polished and noble facades. That’s why they still didn’t fully accept Tartenon, who was hostile to Viverna, as the Grand Duke of the North.

‘For once, Inferno has said something smart.’

“So, what’s your plan?”

“Lady Viverna plans to cause trouble at the final banquet. We just need to send our people there.”

“There’s not much time left, so make sure it’s certain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

With the emperor’s approval, Inferno sighed in relief.

The emperor gestured for Inferno to come closer. Inferno bowed deeply in front of him. The emperor placed his hand on Inferno’s shoulder.

“Well done.”

Hearing praise for the first time, Inferno’s face showed deep emotion. Seeing the flicker in his eyes, the emperor spoke again.

“Keep doing things this way.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Inferno responded emotionally.

While Inferno was basking in the emperor’s praise, Monterno received an unsatisfactory report.

“The guestbook is fake?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Phailus, who was reporting, did not dodge the book thrown at him. It hit his shoulder and fell, leaving a dull pain, but Phailus remained still.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“The report came in today. It’s different from the usual temple forms.”

“Then pay the priests more to get the real guestbook!”

“Your Highness, the priest refused….”

A decorative object flew with a thud, grazing Phailus’s face and leaving a long scar, but he still didn’t move.

“Bring the priest to me. I’ll handle it myself.”

“It’s too late.”

“Too late?”

“The temple noticed and seems to have dealt with the priest. He was found dead in an alley in the capital.”

“Then we’ll raid the temple!”

“You know that’s not possible, Your Highness. The imperial knights cannot enter the temple.”

Phailus’s calm response made Monterno clench his fists. His trembling hands revealed his fury.

“We were so close!”

Proving the collusion between the North and the temple could frame the temple as power-hungry. Moreover, accusing Tartenon of colluding with the temple to kidnap a royal fiancée would justify stripping the Grand Duke of his military power. The greatest strength of Tartenon was the Northern military.

Learning that the Northern nobles were not firmly united, Monterno saw this as the only chance to weaken Tartenon’s power. Problems had to arise for Tartenon during the time when non-Northerners were present for the wedding.

‘I need something to tarnish the Grand Duke’s authority.’

That’s why he had investigated the temple and approached the priests, but they had cut ties so quickly.

“What about my father?”

“The Emperor is currently in a private meeting with His Highness, Prince Inferno.”

“Still?”

“Yes. There has been no word from the chamberlain yet.”

The chamberlain of the imperial palace continuously reported the palace’s situation to Monterno. He kept records of who met with the emperor and which nobles frequented the audience chamber, then passed them to Monterno.

Of course, Monterno had promised the chamberlain a reward. When he ascended the throne, he would retain the current chamberlain as his chief attendant. While the emperor’s power was waning, the crown prince’s power was rising.

“Continue monitoring the temple.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“If another person worthy of contact appears, make sure to recruit them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Monterno waved dismissively. As soon as Phailus left, the sound of objects breaking came from inside.

The noise, which continued for a while, only stopped when Monterno emerged. After adjusting his jacket and catching his breath, Monterno spoke.

“To the imperial palace.”

***

Reubellina took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror. Today was the day of the final banquet. It was hard to believe a week had passed since the wedding.

She asked Sandy, who was brushing her hair.

“How many came today?”

“Everyone listed in the northern nobility registry is attending.”

“Really?”

“Yes, the butler informed me.”

Sandy smiled brightly, and Reubellina couldn’t help but smile back.

How could she not smile? The attendance of all the northern nobles meant they acknowledged her and Tartenon.

Those who had been indifferent to the Grand Duke of the North had bowed down after hearing about the events at the banquet following the wedding.

“They all contacted to attend after hearing the rumors, but His Grace blocked them.”

“Tartenon did?”

“Yes.”

Most of them had judged that if even the prince couldn’t exert his power, they couldn’t oppose Tartenon. They tried to attend the banquet late and align themselves, but Tartenon wasn’t lenient.

“He told them to come if they wanted to die.”

“Oh my.”

Reubellina blinked her eyes wide in surprise. Her face looked innocent, but Sandy, who saw her every day, wasn’t fooled.

“Your Grace, you thought it was satisfying, didn’t you?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Reubellina answered while twirling her hair.

“If they wanted to congratulate us, they should have come earlier. Who’s grateful for late congratulations?”

“I think so too.”

Sandy replied primly. Not only Sandy but also the other servants of Speraum shared the same thought. Nobles who attended the banquet from the start were one thing, but those who came late were not given good rooms. Although there were still spaces in the main castle, they deliberately placed them in accommodations farther away. Out of spite.

“Tell the staff to be moderate.”

“Oh my! Just moderate?”

“Yes, moderate. As long as it’s something I can cover for.”

“Our lady is truly generous!”

Sandy replied promptly while massaging Reubellina’s shoulders. She had deliberately brought it up because the other servants had asked her to gauge Reubellina’s opinion, but Reubellina didn’t view the servants’ actions negatively.

“It’s fine to do things moderately, but if it’s too bad, there’s nothing we can do, right?”

“Your will is the will of the servants.”

“Then, you may go.”

With a light gesture from Reubellina, Sandy exited the room, her steps light and cheerful.