2. I Will Appoint Her as Empress (1)

“Is it because of a mere woman? Women are fleeting—here today, gone tomorrow. Get up immediately.”  

“But she is the woman I love.”  

“I’m sorry, Mother. I have nothing to say. Herwen, I apologize to you as well.”  

Edward bit his lip as he spoke. He couldn’t remember much, but one thing was clear: he had to resolve this situation.  

“No matter the circumstances, Your Majesty, your greed has gone too far. How could you take your brother’s fiancée? Once she is sent back, I will take Herwen and comfort him before returning later this afternoon.”  

The Empress Dowager helped Herwen to his feet and left with him. As they exited, Herwen turned his head and shouted Larael’s name, his voice breaking into sobs.  

Once Herwen left, the escort knights followed, leaving only Edward and Trix, who had been standing nearby. Trix approached Edward.  

“Trix. What happened?”  

“You said you would have another drink with Grand Duke Vellaus in the bedroom. You told us not to let anyone in.”  

“I said that?”  

“Don’t you remember?”  

“Not at all. Summon all the aides immediately.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

“And bring a few maids to attend to the lady.”  

Edward closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with a determined expression. He turned toward Larael, walking around the bed to approach her.  

“I have wronged you greatly. There is no way to atone for what I’ve done. Even asking for forgiveness might be unbearable for you, but if I can apologize and beg for your forgiveness until you grant it, I want to do so. Will you give me that chance?”  

“There is no need for Your Majesty to apologize.”  

Larael lowered her head, feeling her chest tighten. She could no longer bear to look at Edward’s face.  

Edward gazed at Larael, who avoided his eyes. Her silvery hair, famous throughout the empire, shimmered, and her beautiful red eyes complemented it perfectly.  

The story of Larael, the daughter of a count’s family, becoming engaged to Grand Duke Vellaus, Edward’s younger brother, was a tale known across the empire. Hers was a family with no remarkable assets—neither immense wealth nor vast lands. Yet the news of Larael falling in love with the Grand Duke had become a sensational topic.  

Despite the Empress Dowager’s vehement opposition, the engagement had been pushed through, thanks to Edward’s strong support. But now, he had done something so disgraceful.  

“Return to your family’s estate. I will send someone for you. I will take responsibility for you, so you need not worry… Or, if you wish, you may remain in the palace.”  

When Larael gave no response, Edward hastily added, flustered. He believed that every action he took now would only hurt her further.  

“No, I will return to my family’s estate,” Larael said, blinking her red eyes slowly as she looked at Edward.  

Edward thought that his continued presence here would only cause her more pain. As soon as Trix returned, Edward glanced at Larael one last time, took a deep breath, and left the bedroom.  

As soon as the emperor exited, maids who had seemingly been waiting outside entered swiftly. They worked as if they already knew what had happened, skillfully tidying the bed and preparing a bath in the adjoining bathroom.  

While the maids organized the bed, Larael rose from it and sat on a nearby sofa, watching them. A faint trace of blood was visible on the bed sheet.  

“They were thorough in their preparations.”  

The maids carefully removed the sheet with the bloodstains, folding it into a separate basket.  

“The bathwater is ready.”  

The maids attended to Larael with great care and respect. They were well aware of Larael’s reputation as the subject of many imperial rumors. Though they occasionally glanced at her, they mostly avoided making eye contact, sensing her somber demeanor.  

Larael, intentionally wearing a gloomy expression, likely led them to assume she was thinking about Herwen.  

The dress Larael had worn earlier had disappeared, so she donned a new one brought by the maids.  

As soon as she finished dressing, there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for her reply, the door opened, and Marquis Argen, the emperor’s closest aide, entered with an angry expression.  

‘Marquis Argen, the emperor’s right-hand man.’  

A prodigy who had reached the level of Swordmaster at a young age, Argen had succeeded his late father as marquis and served as Edward’s aide and friend since childhood.  

“I am Jayden Argen. There’s no need to introduce yourself, as there isn’t a single person in the empire who doesn’t know your name. However, I never expected to meet you in such a place… A carriage has been prepared. I know this is all very sudden, but please return home for now.”  

“Understood.”  

Larael stood up. She wanted nothing more than to leave this place as quickly as possible. She followed Marquis Argen, who stopped and turned to face her.  

“You seem unusually calm, my lady.”  

Larael let out a small, bitter laugh.  

“I’m not sure what reaction you were expecting, but I didn’t realize I was such a composed person either.”  

Marquis Argen stared at her for a few seconds before turning back and leading her to the carriage. After ensuring she departed, he shook his head and hurried back into the palace.  

***  

“What have you done, Your Majesty? What have you done?!”  

Marquis Argen clutched his head in frustration. Edward sat silently at his desk, resting his chin on his hand as he stared into space.  

“Do not cross the line.”  

Duke Nox tapped his cane on the floor as he spoke. Acting as a voice of reason, he often scolded the younger Marquis Argen. He merely glanced at his liege occasionally.  

“What if Grand Duke Vellaus and the lady conspired to manipulate Your Majesty…?”  

“Jayden!!”  

Edward’s voice carried a sharp edge of anger. He did not want to doubt his brother in such a way. To shift the blame for his own actions onto his brother or to paint Herwen and Larael as the culprits was unthinkable.  

“Your Majesty, please don’t take offense. It’s a plausible suggestion. We must consider every possibility.”  

This time, Duke Nox supported Marquis Argen’s argument. Both men were uncomfortable with Edward’s tendency to unilaterally favor Grand Duke Vellaus. They were convinced that the Grand Duke harbored ulterior motives.  

“Whatever the rumors may be, we should resolve this with material compensation,” Marquis Argen quickly concluded. He needed to persuade the emperor before things escalated further. The longer this dragged on, the more likely Edward would devise an emotionally driven, disastrous solution.  

Edward, who appeared cold and detached on the surface, was anything but. His decisions were often painfully predictable.  

“That won’t do.”  

At Edward’s murmured words, both Marquis Argen and Duke Nox turned pale. They exchanged glances, with Marquis Argen silently pleading with his eyes.  

“Your Majesty, isn’t it time for you to take an empress? Before that, it would be best to resolve this issue…”  

“You brought it up at the right time. Prepare to discuss the possibility of appointing Lady Hedway as empress in the next council meeting.”  

“Your Majesty!!!”  

Marquis Argen, stunned, stood frozen with his mouth agape, unable to respond.  

“Your Majesty… The seat of the empress…”  

Duke Nox, abandoning his cane, rushed to the desk, leaning on it with both hands as he protested.  

“So the cane was just for show, wasn’t it?” Edward remarked, glancing at the discarded cane.