85. The Heart of Kazel

“There has never been a Heart of Kazel without an owner. If you, Mother, were to declare that the Heart of Kazel has no owner and decide to give it to me, even if it is now merely symbolic, wouldn’t everyone fiercely oppose and rise up? As you said, treason? Fine. They would clamor to hasten the appointment of an Empress. All they need is an excuse. You just have to give them one.”

“An excuse?”

“Honestly, do you think they actually care about that necklace? Are you just going to sit back and watch the Empress Consort occupy Abella Palace and play the role of Empress?”

The Empress Dowager frowned at the words “that necklace,” but Ariella paid her no mind, her gaze sharp with venom. She recalled Larael’s arrogant face as she had humiliated her. And then there was Herwen, whose eyes turned mad with obsession every time Larael was mentioned—just thinking about Larael now made Ariella shudder with disgust. If not for her, Larael would have married into a family of similar standing and never even set foot in society. She could not bear to see such a woman living happily above her.

‘By now, you should finally understand.’

“It was just a thoughtless remark from a young duke’s daughter. Won’t this incident simply pass as a trivial matter that angered you, Mother?”

With both the House of Anderman and the House of Nox backing them, who would dare attack them?

The Empress Dowager’s expression gradually brightened. Ariella’s gaze quietly met hers.

“The Duke of Nox has raised his daughter very well.”

The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction as she looked at Ariella. Yet Ariella’s expression did not change at the praise. She found the Empress Dowager’s compliments anything but pleasant.

“Then, I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Yes. Next time we meet, it will be your engagement day.”

***

“This is outrageous. Frankly, if that rumor is true, there’d be nothing strange about deposing the Empress Dowager.”

The Marquis of Argen’s hands trembled as he pressed them against his desk.

There had already been an uproar at the noble council. The Marquis’s angry words set off a storm of criticism against the Empress Dowager among the aides gathered in the office.

The Empress Dowager had never officially declared that she would give the Heart of Kazel—the very symbol of the Empress, which she herself kept—to Ariella Nox, who was to marry Herwen. The rumor was that Ariella had begged for it, and the Empress Dowager had laughed and agreed to give it to her. This rumor, with no clear source, had become the topic of today’s noble council.

Just as Ariella had predicted. Ultimately, everyone agreed that the reason such talk had arisen was because the Empress’s seat was vacant and the necklace had no owner, so they insisted that an Empress must be appointed soon. This made Edward extremely uncomfortable. Showing his rare anger, he abruptly left the council and returned to his office.

Edward listened in silence, frowning, as the Marquis of Argen and his aides continued their heated discussion.

After fuming for a while, the Marquis of Argen sighed deeply and cautiously glanced at Edward before speaking.

“Your Majesty, you may not want to hear this, but with the Duke of Nox possibly returning soon, perhaps you should consider appointing a noble lady from an allied house as Empress…”

“Jayden!!!”

Edward’s eyes blazed with fury. He slammed his desk and stood up. He had never imagined the Marquis would bring up such a suggestion. After glaring at the Marquis for a long moment, Edward swept his gaze over the aides.

“Let’s return to the council.”

Edward left his office and headed back to the council chamber.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I do not enjoy having to say such things, but…”

“Enough!!”

Edward scowled and shouted at the Marquis, who was following him and trying to explain.

As soon as Edward re-entered the council chamber, the previously noisy room fell silent as if a mouse had been dropped. Only the sound of Edward tapping his pen on the desk echoed through the hush.

“N-Next agenda item…”

“Let’s set aside the next agenda for now.”

The doors opened, and the Empress Dowager entered. Edward, who was always courteous to her, sat slouched in his seat, tapping his pen on the desk, watching her approach without greeting her.

The Empress Dowager seemed quite taken aback by his attitude but tried to appear unruffled. As she drew near, the Marquis of Argen, who had been seated next to Edward, stood and offered his seat. The Empress Dowager sat down and leaned in to whisper to Edward.

“Emperor, the nobles are watching. What sort of manners are these? Your mother is here, and you don’t even greet her?”

Edward’s deep blue eyes turned icy. He turned only his head to look down at the Empress Dowager.

“What brings the Empress Dowager here?”

Instead of calling her “Mother,” Edward addressed her formally.

“I heard the Heart of Kazel was discussed during the council. As the subject of that rumor, how could I remain silent? Isn’t it better to hear the truth from me than listen to idle gossip?”

Edward scoffed quietly. The Empress Dowager, perhaps not hearing it, smiled slightly and looked around at the nobles.

“The rumor is true. I said I would give the Heart of Kazel to Lady Nox. After all, didn’t you say there is no Empress except the Empress Consort? Since Your Majesty has no intention of appointing an Empress, isn’t the necklace mine? I’m simply giving my own possession to my daughter-in-law—why is there so much fuss?”

At those words, Edward straightened his posture. Now, a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes. The only one oblivious to this was the Empress Dowager herself, sitting right beside him. The Marquis of Argen, sensing Edward’s hostility, approached and gripped his shoulder tightly. Edward took several slow breaths, calming himself.

“Do you understand what you’re saying right now, Your Majesty?”

The Duke of Anderman spoke up.

“Is it wrong to give my beloved daughter-in-law an engagement gift, brother?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, my sister is as thoughtless as ever. Please forgive her with your generous heart. All this is because the Empress’s seat is vacant. Shouldn’t you appoint a proper Empress to put an end to all this talk?”

The Duke of Anderman, who resembled the Empress Dowager, spoke to Edward, the corner of his mouth twitching. He was clearly enjoying the situation. As soon as he finished, the chamber erupted again with talk about appointing an Empress. No one seemed willing to criticize the Empress Dowager or Ariella.

The Empress Dowager looked at the Duke of Anderman and smiled in satisfaction.

“I, too, agree that Her Majesty the Empress should be appointed.”

At the familiar voice, Edward’s gaze snapped over.

It was Count Winters. Edward hadn’t known him for long, but he considered him an ally. Count Winters was the main contributor to discovering the magic stone mine in the Kayaneuman Mountains, which would bring immense wealth to the empire. It was also thanks to Count Winters’s advice that the Kazel Empire had imported vast quantities of grain in preparation for drought. Edward trusted him a great deal. But now, a sickening sense of betrayal crept up within him at those words.

“However, this time, why not appoint a true Empress with the Third Eye? Who knows, perhaps the true owner of the Heart of Kazel is out there, waiting?”

At his words, someone began to laugh. As the laughter spread, the entire chamber was soon filled with laughter.

Edward, alone amid the laughter, leaned his chin on his hand and stared at Dean with a calm expression.

That bitter sense of betrayal vanished as if it had never been. It was a plausible idea. The moment he heard those words, Edward felt as if he’d found a faint lantern in a dark labyrinth, showing him the way forward.