Chapter 7 – Perhaps Peaceful  

Who could stop him?  

Talking further would only make her headache worse.  

Leo, seemingly unaware of the turmoil he caused, gazed out the window with an air of ease that overflowed from his very being.  

A breeze blew through the open window, causing the curtains to flutter slightly and bringing a refreshing coolness to the room.  

The wind tousled Leo’s slightly unkempt golden hair.  

With that face of his, if Leo were an ordinary noble rather than the Emperor, he could dominate the social scene without uttering a single word—just by standing there.  

Shaking off such useless thoughts, Seilia turned her head and basked in the same sunlight that shone down strongly.  

It was a day when the afternoon sun poured warmly through the windows.  

A calm before the storm.  

After spending more than half the day at the Imperial Palace, Seilia returned home just as the sun was setting, only to be summoned to her father’s study once again.  

The House of Ernian was the only Ducal family in the Empire, with a trace of Imperial blood running through its veins.  

As a family that had distinguished itself in war, served as envoys to other kingdoms, and wielded considerable power both within and outside the Empire, they naturally had a mountain of responsibilities.  

Despite handling countless affairs, the Duke could not suppress his curiosity and had summoned his daughter.  

Leaning against the back of his chair while writing documents, the Duke glanced up at the sound of Seilia’s knock and gestured for her to sit in the chair before him.  

“You called for me, Father?”  

Seilia, the cherished only daughter raised like a precious jewel.  

Though she was a doll-like figure often hailed as the perfect bride candidate, her fiery temper often led to broken marriage arrangements, much to the Duke’s constant headache.  

“Seilia, the palace seems to have been calling for you quite often lately. Is there some deeper intention behind it?”  

The Duke’s subtle probing did not escape Seilia’s sharp gaze.  

Calling her every other day under the pretext of sharing tea out of curiosity—was it possible the Emperor had taken an interest in my daughter?  

Knowing all too well how her father would latch onto a topic and drag it out for an entire day, Seilia decided to admit the truth.  

With a deep sigh, she answered bluntly.  

“Yes, Father. That’s correct.”  

At her words, the Duke’s face lit up.  

“Could it be that His Majesty has taken a liking to you?”  

Though many marriage proposals had come her way, none were of a rank to compare with the Emperor.  

If the House of Ernian were to produce another Empress, what greater honor could there be?  

As the Duke continued to press her with questions, Seilia nodded. There was no reason to hide it any longer.  

“Yes, a marriage is being arranged.”  

“What?!”  

When his suspicions were confirmed, the Duke’s disbelief turned into astonishment at the thought of his precious daughter becoming the Emperor’s consort and forming a familial bond with the Imperial Family.  

The Duke’s mind was already painting a picture of Seilia raising children as the Empress. To snap him out of it, Seilia spoke up.  

“Father, are you listening to me?”  

Regaining his composure, the Duke was practically bursting with excitement, eager to share this news with someone.  

“Ah, yes! Someone, quickly, deliver this news to Madame at once!”  

Thankful that her mother had yet to return from her social gathering, Seilia hurriedly dashed to her room, leaving the Duke to gaze after her with a satisfied smile.  

***

Two days later, an official decree was issued announcing the selection of the new Empress.  

Reports came in that many families were offering bribes to have their daughters included as candidates.  

In the Belton Empire, it was not uncommon for the Empress or Crown Princess to be chosen through corrupt means.  

The High Temple, already rotten to the core, was complicit in this.  

To gain the approval of the High Priests, families often provided secret bribes or secured influential backing, openly engaging in corruption to ensure their daughters were favored.  

This practice, which had been in place since the first Emperor’s reign, had never been addressed by any Emperor due to the vast scope of the corruption.  

While prominent families refrained from such acts, lesser nobles within the capital often resorted to bribery.  

However, the House of Ernian neither needed nor had any reason to engage in such corruption.  

Seilia was the first to be listed as a candidate, followed by Princess Blair.  

Though other young ladies were also named, with the two most talked-about figures in the Empire as candidates, the rest were mere placeholders.  

Under the moonlit night, shadows moved stealthily toward the High Temple.  

The calm before the storm had ended.  

***

In the High Temple’s meeting room, the High Priests were locked in heated debate late into the night over the candidate list.  

One priest argued vehemently for Seilia, another for Princess Blair, while the third priest was caught in the middle, trying to mediate.  

“Of course, the Empress should be from the Empire’s own House of Ernian. How could we accept a foreign Princess as Empress?”  

“If that’s the case, wasn’t the 24th Empress also a foreign Princess? The Kingdom of Faelin has long-standing ties with our Empire. And while Lady Seilia’s family and other qualities make her a suitable Empress, her fiery temper does not.”  

At this, the elderly priest advocating for Seilia slammed the table in frustration.  

“The House of Ernian is a loyal family beyond reproach. While I acknowledge Lady Seilia’s fiery temperament, she is otherwise composed and highly intelligent. You should watch your words!”  

As their loud argument continued, a knock at the door drew their attention.  

The High Priests turned to see who had entered, their wary expressions softening into smiles.  

“Ah, if it isn’t Earl Bilgeor.”  

Earl Bilgeor, a noble with close ties to the Kingdom of Faelin and Princess Blair, stepped forward.  

“I apologize for interrupting your valuable time. I merely came to deliver something and will leave shortly.”  

At the mention of a delivery, the High Priests’ greedy eyes lit up.  

When servants entered carrying valuable items, the priests exchanged knowing glances.  

“Of course, we all know that the House of Ernian is the top candidate, but surely Princess Blair possesses the virtues of an Empress as well.”  

The High Priests’ expressions suggested they already knew this, and Earl Bilgeor smiled slyly.  

“So, will you accept this?”  

“…It is against policy to accept such things. However, turning a blind eye to someone’s earnest plea would also go against our virtues.”  

Though their words suggested refusal, their actions said otherwise.  

In the corner of the meeting room, a pile of items left by previous visitors had already formed.  

The servants, casting disdainful glances at the High Priests, carried the items into the room.  

How could those who called themselves High Priests be so consumed by greed?  

The atmosphere, which had been flowing smoothly, froze when Earl Bilgeor said, 

“Your Majesty, please come out now.”  

At that moment, a small door behind the High Priests’ seats opened, and Leo stepped out, his eyes shining with a piercing light.  

“W-What… Your Majesty?”  

Though the corruption was blatant, being caught by the Emperor was another matter entirely.  

Especially an Emperor known for ruthlessly eliminating threats to his authority.  

“This is a misunderstanding…”  

“A misunderstanding, you say? If you’re going to make excuses, at least come up with something better.”  

With a snap of his fingers, towering knights surrounded the room, their imposing presence suffocating the High Priests.  

Though the knights had yet to lay hands on them, their sheer size made the priests feel as though they might collapse from fear.  

Leo’s predatory gaze sent chills down the spines of all present.  

Without anyone prompting them, the High Priests began to kneel one by one, their survival instincts taking over.  

Even Earl Bilgeor, who had been watching silently, felt a shiver run down his spine.  

Though he had close ties with the Kingdom of Faelin, he was ultimately a subject of the Belton Empire.  

Realizing that the Emperor had used him to expose Faelin’s corruption, the High Priests grew even more fearful.  

“P-Please spare us, Your Majesty…”  

Their trembling voices begged for mercy, but Leo, his expression devoid of emotion, merely glanced at Earl Bilgeor.  

“Earl Bilgeor, you’ve done well. You may leave now.”  

“Yes, Your Majesty.”  

As Earl Bilgeor exited with proper decorum, accompanied by the knights who had surrounded the room, the High Priests, now believing they had a chance to survive, began to speak in unison.  

“Please, Your Majesty, command us. We will follow your wishes.”  

With a scraping sound, Leo dragged a chair forward, crossed his legs, and looked down at them with a gaze full of arrogance before speaking.  

“I will give you a way to save yourselves. Approve Lady Seilia of the House of Ernian as the Empress. Do this, and I will overlook your corruption.”  

Leo’s sudden declaration left the High Priests oscillating between confusion and astonishment. Without giving them time to process, he continued speaking.