Chapter 3 – The Crisis of the Imperial Family (Part 5)

“Adapting to life in the palace must be busy enough, yet you grant us an audience.”

Seia smiled warmly at Baron Cavondish’s words.

“And to have our family be the first guests of the Crown Princess, it is an honor that will go down in our family’s history.”

Natalie Cavondish’s father, Baron Cavondish, was indeed a perceptive man.

“I am grateful that Lady Cavondish was the first to enter the palace and assist me.”

“It is nothing, Your Highness.”

This time, Natalie bowed her head politely.

“Though I am lacking, if I can be of any help to the Crown Princess, it will be my pleasure, Your Highness.”

Seia turned to look at Natalie, whose eyes sparkled with loyalty and anticipation.

Since Seia had chosen to meet Natalie’s father as her first official duty after being appointed Crown Princess, Natalie’s heart was filled with loyalty and hope towards Seia.

“I requested this urgent meeting because the Crown Prince has decided to give the management rights of the Cavondish Mine as a wedding gift.”

Seia had organized the documents regarding the mine’s management rights and sent them to Tristan, who had signed them ostentatiously.

‘Moreover, he doesn’t know its value.’

Seia thought.

“So the Crown Princess will become the owner of our mine.”

Despite the sudden and bewildering news, Baron Cavondish and his daughter managed their expressions well.

“But I know nothing about managing a mine.”

Seia brought the teacup to her lips.

“Do you plan to pass on the family’s title and wealth to Lady Natalie?”

Seia asked.

The clinking of the teacup sounded particularly tense.

“She is my only daughter. That is my intention, Your Highness.”

“I heard it is uncommon to pass on a family’s legacy to a daughter in the Empire.”

“That is correct, Your Highness.”

The Baron explained politely.

“But legally, there is no issue with the inheritance, and Natalie has been trained as the heir for a long time, so I intend to proceed as planned, Your Highness.”

“But if she marries, won’t the inheritance rights pass to her husband?”

Seia asked subtly.

“The status of the Cavondish heir is more important, so we have agreed to bring in a son-in-law of baronial rank, Your Highness.”

This time, Natalie answered.

Baron Cavondish was not a revolutionary but a man driven by the logic of capital.

In other words, if Natalie seemed the most reasonable heir in his eyes, social prestige didn’t matter.

“I would like to entrust the management of the mine back to the Cavondish family until I become Empress.”

The nationalized mine was on the Cavondish family’s private land, but it was currently managed by Imperial officials.

“…Your Highness?”

Natalie’s eyes widened.

“And after I become Empress, I am willing to transfer full ownership to Natalie.”

This time, even the Baron couldn’t maintain his composure.

“Your Highness, I am honored, but the mine….”

“Belongs to the Imperial Family.”

Seia replied.

“And if it comes into my hands as a member of the Imperial Family, how it will be managed in the future depends on me, doesn’t it?”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

The Baron quickly agreed.

“We must revive the gold mine, open exports, enrich the Empire, and restore the glory of the Cavondish family.”

Reopening the gold mine and earning foreign currency from other continents.

There was nothing the Cavondish family wanted more.

Natalie suddenly stood up and knelt before Seia.

“I will do anything for the Crown Princess.”

As Natalie said this, the Baron also knelt beside his daughter.

“There is no need to be so grateful for a wish that has not yet come true.”

Seia replied calmly.

‘It was originally theirs, yet they beg as if it had never been theirs.’

“Rather, I am the one who needs to ask you for a favor from now on.”

“Please command us, Your Highness.”

The Baron replied without hesitation.

“Then I will speak without delay. First, you must spread the rumor that the mine near your estate will be reopening….”

At that moment, Elena appeared at the door with a pale face.

Seia immediately sensed that something was wrong.

When Seia gestured, Elena staggered across the room.

“What is….”

Before Natalie and the Baron, who had risen to their feet, could ask any questions, Elena blurted out.

“His Majesty the Emperor has passed away!”

***

“Ruby, my love.”

Tristan’s eyes, as if in love, shone like waves containing emeralds.

But it was not a sincere gaze; it was part of the act he had practiced since childhood.

Not satisfied with the position of Crown Prince, where he could control life and death with a gesture, he was also deeply fascinated by the process of manipulating emotions to plunge others into despair.

Moreover, with his status and appearance, there was no one his seduction wouldn’t work on.

Except for someone like Seia.

“If I can be with you, I fear nothing, Your Highness.”

Ruby said in a quiet tone.

Tristan’s face softened immediately at her words.

“Even if it ends in death?”

“Even if it ends in death.”

It was always the same scripted exchange between lovers.

Tristan kissed Ruby’s moist lips.

Her crimson hair and lips always smelled fragrant, and her voice was always as soft as a song.

On the white bed, Ruby’s red hair and the Crown Prince’s golden hair blended like a painting.

“You will move as I say, won’t you? You will do exactly as I command.”

“Of course, Your Highness.”

Ruby’s answer was without hesitation.

“You are my….”

“Doll.”

Ruby said, smiling bashfully.

A well-made porcelain doll. With flawless white skin and delicate flesh.

A being that would shatter into pieces if you let go.

“Is there anything you resent?”

Tristan asked teasingly.

“I regret that I have to marry someone other than the Crown Prince.”

Tristan laughed joyfully at those words.

“But if it is for Your Highness, I will gladly do anything.”

Ruby was a pretty parrot that only said what he wanted to hear.

“A beauty like you should have no trouble winning over that Kyle. And with his personality, he won’t take you to the North, so don’t worry about being separated from me.”

Tristan comforted her, gently stroking her hair.

Ruby had truly fallen in love with Tristan.

Whether he deserved such love no longer mattered to her.

“So take the wine and meet my father.”

Tristan whispered sweetly as if sharing a secret while hugging Ruby.

“You must witness his death with your own eyes.”

Ruby bit her lip gently in Tristan’s embrace.

His touch was so soft and sweet that it created the illusion that he could protect her at any moment.

“And you must reveal that the wine was given by Kyle.”

Tristan laughed, pulling Ruby’s hair.

“Then the world will be in my hands.”

He laughed and laughed as he took Ruby roughly.

His green eyes were tinged with madness.

***

Kyle couldn’t believe his father’s death.

How thin is the line between life and death.

How could someone who was just coughing and holding his throat a moment ago suddenly be lifeless in his arms?

Kyle couldn’t believe it.

He felt all sounds fading away and his senses dulling.

Servants and physicians rushed in, rudely taking the Emperor from Kyle’s arms.

“He has passed away!”

At the physician’s words, all the palace servants fell to the ground and began to weep.

The wailing filled the Emperor’s palace.

Ruby also threw herself beside him and cried out loud.

In that scene of hell, Kyle could only stand there blankly.

‘Is this what I wanted?’

The thought sharply pierced Kyle’s mind.

A man who took a dancer with no connection to the palace and had a son, yet neglected both the woman and the son.

A tyrant who whistled while playing on the blood-soaked battlefield.

Such a man was to him.

Just because he was his father.

He had imagined and reimagined making him step down with his own hands. He thought he would accept even death coldly.

But faced with reality, that imagination seemed like a distant nightmare.

Kyle slowly knelt.

“Father.”

For the first and last time, he called Catheon.

As shock swept through his body, only cold reason remained.

Kyle slowly opened and closed his eyes.

It was obvious who had done this.

“It is my fault, please kill me, Your Majesty!”

Ruby cried, beating her chest.

“Commander, you must detain Prince Kyle!”

If Tristan had orchestrated this, the subsequent events were all too predictable.

Kyle sneered.

“After drinking the wine given by Prince Kyle, His Majesty suffered and passed away. Please believe me.”

The face of the commander of the Imperial Guard, the Imperial Family’s standing army, turned from pale to ashen.

“Lady, do you know that falsely accusing a royal means losing your hands and feet and repaying with the deaths of your family?”

“I will prove it with my life.”

Ruby knelt at the commander’s feet.

The wailing people murmured.

No matter how direct a knight of the Imperial Family was, a duke’s daughter kneeling to a knight was unheard of.

“Detain me, Commander.”

Kyle said resignedly, and the commander could no longer delay his duty.

As Kyle was bound and handcuffed, Ruby glanced at him.

With the clinking of handcuffs, Kyle leaned towards Ruby.

“Not poison, but a sword.”

The bewildered knights pulled Kyle up.

“If I had killed him, I would have used a sword. When Tristan’s turn comes, you will understand.”

With those words, Kyle exited the scene of chaos.