149. The Emperor Returns (2)

Marquis Argen bit his lips tightly at Edward’s voice filled with anger. Indeed, he should have spoken more carefully about Larael’s situation. Edward rarely showed his emotions, but when it came to matters concerning Larael, he always displayed his feelings intensely.

“Two assassins took Her Highness the Empress Consort hostage and escaped from the palace. Sir Joy was waiting at the main gate, followed the carriage, and rescued Her Highness. In the process, one assassin died, and one was captured.”

Marquis Argen spoke, straining his voice. He anticipated Edward’s fury that would follow. Regret washed over him, wondering if it would have been better to let Larael tell him about this incident.

Edward narrowed his eyes at the mention of Joy, trying to recall who he was. Fortunately, he remembered easily.

“What was the Imperial Knights Order doing while the Empress Consort’s personal guard rescued her?”

“The Commander of the Knights made a momentary error of judgment…”

“Trix!! Send someone to summon the Commander of the Knights immediately.”

Edward spoke in a low voice, barely suppressing his anger. Trix’s face turned pale from the pressure in that voice.

“Actually, the Commander has already been dismissed…”

“Dismissed??”

Edward looked at Marquis Argen with furious eyes as he added this information. Marquis Argen lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.

“Your Majesty, I am fine now.”

Larael took Edward’s arm and began to calm him. Edward’s face was red with anger, and his breathing was rough.

“Larael, the issue isn’t whether you’re fine now. Of course you should be. If you hadn’t been fine… if I’m not here in the future…”

Edward’s voice choked with emotion. He bit his teeth hard, swallowing his outrage. Looking into Larael’s eyes, he couldn’t continue. Suppressing his indignation, he turned to Marquis Argen and said:

“…I will interrogate him again myself.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will schedule it.”

Marquis Argen answered with some relief at Edward’s words spoken through gritted teeth. It was fortunate that his reaction was only this much. For him, this issue seemed like nothing compared to other problems, though he wasn’t sure how Edward felt. He cautiously opened his mouth again, watching Edward’s reaction.

“…Then I will continue. We discovered from the captured assassin that the place where they stayed was a building owned by Count Kowell’s family, who is a vassal of Grand Duke Vellaus. And the visual stone recording this fact is in Her Highness’s possession.”

“The Tower Master created a magical tool called a visual stone. It stores a brief scene and can replay it later.”

Larael provided additional explanation about the visual stone, and Edward nodded.

“Is that the only evidence? Isn’t it over if he simply denies it as usual?”

Edward looked at Marquis Argen with narrowed eyes. Neither Larael nor Marquis Argen could refute his words.

“Was Grand Duke Vellaus’s name mentioned? From his mouth?”

“If he denies it, would Your Majesty simply accept his opinion?”

Larael said. She thought that to make it an undeniable fact, they would need to subdue him with some force. That’s why Larael couldn’t reveal this matter while Edward was absent. The emperor’s authority was necessary. If Edward hadn’t regained consciousness, she would have done it as regent.

“I will conquer the Kingdom of Hashiya.”

Edward spoke in a casual, dry tone as if he were just going for a stroll in front of his house. Surprised by his unexpected words, Larael and Marquis Argen stared at Edward with wide eyes.

“If I squeeze the king’s neck, he will confess.”

Edward added coldly.

Edward bent down and picked up the document on top of the pile of papers. Then he began to examine it, turning the pages slowly one by one. After a short while, he put it down.

“I’d like to look at the Duke of Anderman’s case first. Is there a document summarizing it?”

At his words, Marquis Argen quickly found the document about that matter and handed it to Edward. Edward began to read the file seriously.

“Your Majesty, please don’t overexert yourself.”

Larael said with a worried expression. She was concerned that Edward wouldn’t rest easily until he had read all the documents piled high on the table.

“I’m well aware that I’m not fully recovered yet. I’ll only read the documents about Duke Anderman’s case and the attempted poisoning of the Empress Dowager, so don’t worry. Jayden, I’ll examine the rest of the documents slowly starting tomorrow, so please arrange for aides to be sent in rotation to provide explanations and answer questions.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Marquis Argen got a headache. He could already envision the aides eyeing each other, trying to pass their turns because of Edward’s persistent questioning. He shook his head from side to side.

***

“What a spectacle.”

Edward said after examining the documents prepared by the aides for several days without comment. Several policies, including the tax reform Edward had been promoting, had been suspended or poorly implemented. Edward’s mind became complicated. He hadn’t expected things to become such a mess in such a short time. It also pained him that Larael, who had become regent belatedly, had been struggling to normalize the situation.

He was conditioning his body to return to work as soon as possible. Fortunately, he was recovering at a rapid pace. He gradually increased his exercise time and was recovering several times faster than an ordinary person.

The nobles’ assembly to announce Edward’s return was scheduled for tomorrow. Despite the aides’ suggestions that he should attend after recovering more, Edward remained firm.

Larael had not returned to Abella Palace and was serving in the role of an aide by Edward’s side. The aides who entered in pairs according to schedule were inwardly relieved and pleased to see Larael answering before they could speak. When she began explaining, Edward’s sharp tone softened as if it had never been harsh.

Since Larael had already reviewed these matters when she took over the regency duties from the Empress Dowager, she could easily explain them by Edward’s side. When she chattered away with explanations, a faint smile would appear and disappear on Edward’s lips.

“Your Majesty, Grand Duke Vellaus is requesting an audience.”

Edward’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Grand Duke Vellaus. He had already come three times.

“Then I will inform him that you have declined the audience.”

Trix said when Edward merely frowned without speaking. When Edward made no comment on his words, Trix bowed and was about to leave the bedroom to deliver the message. As he turned, Edward called him back.

“Trix.”

Trix stopped and turned around.

“I will meet the Grand Duke in my private reception room. Convey that.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Larael’s expression hardened as she watched Edward, wondering what resolution had led him to decide to meet Herwen. She thought there was no reason to meet him in advance when he would have to face him at tomorrow’s assembly anyway, however unpleasant it might be.

“Your Majesty, do you really need to meet Grand Duke Vellaus?”

“I’ll have to meet him eventually.”

Larael disliked Herwen as a person and didn’t want Edward to meet alone with such a person, regardless of the reason.

“In my limited understanding, the only person Grand Duke Vellaus would seek help from is Duke Nox.”

Larael had not mentioned Grand Duke Vellaus until now, but today she brought him up for the first time. Edward nodded silently. If Herwen, having lost Duke Anderman and the Empress Dowager, were to seek an ally of similar rank, it would be Duke Nox’s family, his fiancée’s house.

“I suppose so…”

Edward felt displeased in a corner of his heart as he thought of Duke Nox, who hadn’t shown his face despite Edward’s recovery of consciousness. Edward stood facing Larael. He held her shoulders and looked at her with deep eyes. He understood that she was speaking out of concern for him, but he didn’t want her to worry about Herwen.

“I’ll go meet Herwen and come back, so rest. Understood?”

Larael nodded and forced a smile.