Chapter 60

The Emperor soon placed his goblet down.

“As expected, your eloquence is impressive. Even the most renowned orators of the Empire would bow to your fluency.”

“……”

I was a bit curious to see how the Emperor would react to the changed Alec. It seemed even he was quite surprised.

Though his words were laced with sarcasm, his admiration was evident.

“I was fortunate. I received a special blessing, after all.”

Alec didn’t seem perturbed even in front of the Emperor. I knew he had changed a lot, but to remain so composed in the Emperor’s presence was impressive.

There was a newfound tension between the Emperor and Alec that hadn’t existed before. Even Olivia seemed to sense this, her shoulders slightly stiffening as she struggled to maintain a composed expression.

“Indeed, Alec. It seems my shock therapy had its desired effect.”

The Emperor’s tone was sharp yet intrigued.

Neither Alec nor I spoke. Alec seemed to have a lot to say but held back, just as I did. There was no way we were going to express gratitude. That would mean swallowing our pride too deeply.

At the Emperor’s gesture, the servants began to serve the meal.

Just as the atmosphere seemed to relax a bit, the Emperor leaned slightly on the armrest, resting his chin on his long fingers.

“Truly remarkable. I didn’t expect you to remain unscathed after losing your title and fortune. Isn’t that so, Empress?”

The Emperor’s eyes glimmered with a peculiar interest.

I felt a sense of incredulity. So, they did expect us to perish?

The Empress gave a faint smile, agreeing with the Emperor.

“Yes. It’s remarkable, considering you had no one to help you. Many predicted that the Brent family would return to the palace soon, perhaps even begging His Majesty to undo what had been done.”

“I, too, expected that and waited.”

“…”

Are they making fun of us?

I clenched my fists under the table, trying to keep my expression neutral as I chewed my food.

Alec had attempted suicide out of despair after losing everything, and now they claimed to have waited for us to come and beg?

The Emperor’s words made our existence feel so trivial and ridiculous.

The Emperor soon changed the subject.

“But to choose the barren and rugged Grand Carli… of all places.”

“I heard that hungry wild beasts often appear there. I’ve been there a few times myself; it’s cool in the summer but unbearably cold in the winter. Is it livable?”

Would it be livable for you?

Today, the Emperor and Empress were particularly irritating.

At the Empress’s gaze, I dabbed my lips with a table napkin before speaking.

Showing my displeasure would only work against me.

“I consider it a new experience, having the opportunity to live in a place I’d never been to before, even though the weather is harsh. After all, it’s still part of our Rilt Empire.”

“As expected of the former Duchess Brent. Every time you speak, your wisdom never ceases to amaze me.”

At that moment, I heard a short, mocking laugh. It was the Emperor.

“That is fortunate indeed. Grand Carli has been lawless for too long without a lord.”

“…”

It wasn’t a lawless area; it was a region that hadn’t been taxed for a long time.

“Alec?”

The Emperor called Alec’s name with a sharp tone. Alec lifted his head and met the Emperor’s eyes.

Every time their gazes met, my heart skipped a beat.

Alec did nothing that could be deemed disrespectful, but there was a palpable tension between them.

“It’s a miracle that your illness has been cured, so as Emperor, I must offer my congratulations.”

“…”

Is he really going to do something for us? Yet, I had no hope that his congratulations would be genuine.

I didn’t expect him to return our once-prosperous mansion and fertile lands.

“There is a castle in Grand Carli. I will gift it to you. As my old friend has been freed from a lifelong illness, it’s the least I can do.”

“Wiltsbrook Castle, Your Majesty?”

“You know it well.”

The Emperor looked satisfied.

…Wiltsbrook Castle?

Suddenly giving us a castle?

It was the only castle in the north, known as the pinnacle of Grand Carli.

Though I had never been there, it was once famous as the largest castle in the Empire.

However, it had been abandoned for nearly a century, with rumors that Dracula had lived there.

It had been uninhabited for so long that who knew what terrifying wild animals or swarms of snakes and bats might have taken residence.

…And now he was gifting us such a place?

Something inside me crumbled.

The Emperor’s gifts were not something one could refuse, and it was clear why he was bestowing such a castle.

He was telling us to go live there.

The Empress, too, seemed internally shocked, her complexion not looking good.

“While residing in the castle, I expect you to develop and prosper the surrounding area. It used to be the Empire’s prime fortress, and I’ve been displeased seeing it left to ruin.”

“……”

Why are my worst premonitions always right?

Suddenly, I felt dizzy, as if the ground beneath me was giving way. The Emperor was throwing us into another pit of despair.

I barely managed to suppress a bitter laugh.

Developing Wiltsbrook Castle and its surroundings was akin to transforming a barren highland filled with boulders and weeds into a fertile wheat field.

Thinking about how vast the northern part of the Rilt Empire was gave me a headache.

In short, the Emperor’s demand was impossible.

It felt like we had come to remove a mole only to be swept up in a hurricane.

“Understood. We will relocate to Wiltsbrook Castle.”

Huh?

Alec, who had been silently contemplating, answered nonchalantly.

Move to Wiltsbrook Castle?

I felt faint again, but the Emperor looked pleased.

Alec’s voice followed.

“But ruling over the lands without a title would be problematic.”

“…In that case, I can’t help but restore your title.”

…What?

The title would be restored too?

The Emperor raised one corner of his mouth leisurely.

“So, from now on, we should address you as Baron Wiltsbrook and Baroness Wiltsbrook?”

Ah.

Of course, he wouldn’t restore our highest title.

Our family originally held many titles: Duke of Brent, Marquess of Castlelay, and Earl of Winterbourne, among others, but we were primarily known as the Duke of Brent.

However, Grand Carli being a border region meant we would become a baronial family of the frontier, different from a regular baron.

A baron of the frontier held more importance and recognition compared to a regular baron because they guarded the borders.

Though in the northern frontier, it was just a series of snow-capped mountains with no invading enemies.

The Emperor chuckled and raised his goblet.

“If you restore the castle within a week, I might even elevate you to a viscount.”

“……”

“If you completely govern Grand Carli within a month, I might even return the Duchy of Brent and its territories.”

“……”

How satisfying would it be to punch this guy hard?

Could he do it if he tried?

The Emperor’s taunting promises were ludicrous.

Even if we managed to fully tame Grand Carli, it would still belong to the Emperor, not us.

I raised my eyes and looked directly at the Emperor. He met my gaze, returning the stare.

It felt like the first time our eyes met since the banquet began.

The sharp lines of the Emperor’s jaw tensed slightly.

I felt like my eyes were rotting, but I didn’t show it as I softly asked.

“What if we can’t do it?”

I already knew the Emperor’s answer. He always commanded his answers, never giving choices.

“…Don’t you know by now? You have no right to refuse.”

“……”

“Defy me, and death awaits.”

Of course.

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it again.

The Emperor likely intended to send a noble to completely tame Grand Carly anyway.

In this vast Rilt Empire, only the northern region remained untouched by the Emperor’s influence, unlike the east, west, and south.

‘Still, regaining a noble title is a good thing.’

I focused on this positive fact and saw this royal decree as an opportunity.

Though we were forced into an impossible mission of developing the territory, we could now acquire a townhouse in the capital and freely enter high society.

Even without the highest title, regaining some status was enough.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories