Chapter 101

101. The bombshell

“What… do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said. His Majesty has formally proposed to you.”

Shayla’s breath caught in her throat. She looked at her father, feeling as if she were being strangled. The duke, unusually, avoided her gaze.

It must be a lie.

Shayla picked up the proposal letter with trembling hands. It was indeed a proposal letter from Elkius Isulandt to Shayla Lephisto.

The man who had usurped the throne and ruined her life by marrying another woman, Callion, was once again trying to take control of her life.

Shayla put down the proposal letter and spoke her first words.

“Tell him I refuse.”

It wasn’t even worth considering. Shayla rose without hesitation.

“Sit down.”

But the dry voice stopped her. Unable to help it, Shayla bit her lip and halted.

“Sit down.”

“……”

Shayla couldn’t disobey her father and sat back down on the sofa. The Duke of Lephisto, lighting a new cigarette, spoke heavily.

“How old are you this year?”

“…Twenty-three.”

“That’s quite old.”

Given that most noble ladies married before they turned twenty, it was quite a late age.

Rather than waiting indefinitely for Callion, marrying her to the Emperor might be a wise decision.

The Duke turned away from Shayla, who looked as if she might burst into tears at any moment, and ordered.

“Marry His Majesty.”

“Father!”

“Lower your voice. You should be grateful that a broken, engaged woman of twenty-three is being given the position of Empress.”

“How could I possibly marry His Majesty… you know it’s ridiculous!”

“What’s so ridiculous? His Majesty seems to favor you, so stop complaining and accept it.”

“No, I won’t! I refuse!”

Her tear-choked voice echoed in the study. But the Duke of Lephisto didn’t budge.

“Are you thinking of defying your father’s command?”

“You know why I’ve held on until now.”

Tears dripped onto the table from her large eyes. Anyone could see how pitiful she looked, but the duke clicked his tongue in frustration.

“That’s a past relationship. Forget Duke Tiflis.”

“Don’t speak impossibilities. How can I forget him?”

“Foolish girl, he has no feelings for you at all.”

“No! His Grace….”

“Callion loves that lowly woman, not you! You know that.”

“…That, that can’t be….”

Shayla covered her mouth to stifle a sob.

Even though Callion had coldly rejected her, she still believed she had a chance.

She convinced herself that his feelings would change with the circumstances and that he would have to come back to her even if he resisted.

But reality was cold.

“I visited Duke Tiflis a few days ago. I told him to deal with that woman before reclaiming the throne, do you know what he said?”

“…”

“He asked me to be a witness at his wedding after the Pope’s inauguration ceremony.”

“Wedding…?”

“Yes. He’s determined not to abandon her.”

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks.

Even Shayla, with her lack of political sense, understood what it meant for Callion to marry at this time.

Even if he couldn’t become Emperor, he was committed to protecting Adelaide to the end.

“So you should forget Callion and listen to your father.”

The Duke of Lephisto handed her the proposal letter.

“It’s not difficult. Just think of it as returning to your rightful place.”

“…”

“His Majesty won’t make unreasonable demands of you. Just give him a son. Then no one will be able to disregard you.”

Shayla looked up, feeling absurd.

Could this be the same father who, just days ago, had been insisting on making Callion the Emperor?

“…Are you betraying His Grace?”

“He betrayed us first. He abandoned you and our family.”

“What about my brother?”

“I don’t care what happens to him.”

“What if the throne changes hands after I marry His Majesty? What will you do then?”

“We must make sure that doesn’t happen.”

At the duke’s resolute answer, Shayla let out a bitter laugh.

His attitude was the same as when he sent the engagement termination letter to Callion right after Elkius ascended the throne.

“The wedding announcement is tomorrow.”

“I won’t do it.”

“Shayla!”

“No matter what you say, I absolutely won’t do it.”

Shayla spoke with fierce determination.

“If you force me to marry, Father, I would rather die.”

“Stop that childish nonsense. Do you think rejecting this proposal is even an option? The whole family could be ruined!”

“I don’t care if this family falls apart―ugh!”

A sharp sound echoed, and her ears rang. The pain was quickly overshadowed by the deep sense of injustice.

Just as he had done to his son, the Duke of Lephisto had struck his daughter ruthlessly. Breathing heavily, he pulled the bell cord.

“You called, Your Grace?”

“Lock Shayla in her room. She is not to come out until I say so.”

“What?”

The butler looked bewildered. The duke threw his extinguished cigarette and shouted.

“What are you standing around for? Take her away now!”

“Yes, right away. Come with me, my lady.”

The butler hastily helped Shayla to her feet. Shayla, lowering her head to hide the handprint on her cheek, left the study.

Once she was back in her room, she shrugged off the butler’s assistance. She heard the sound of the lock clicking from outside. The door would not open until her father changed his mind.

Shayla buried her face in her pillow and cried endlessly.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The thin drizzle dampened the ground. Callion brushed the raindrops off his shoulders as he entered the meeting room.

“Your Gace, you’re here.”

Duke Howard greeted Callion warmly.

“What is this about?”

Callion asked quietly.

The Emperor, who had been confined to his chamber for days, had summoned the meeting. When Callion asked the messenger what it was about, he didn’t know either.

It was unusual for Elkius to hold a meeting separate from the Imperial Council, and even more unusual to invite someone who wasn’t a member of the council. It was clearly something significant.

Duke Howard spoke cautiously.

“It seems His Majesty has made a decision.”

Duke Howard, who had advised Elkius to name Callion as his successor, seemed optimistic about the situation.

Callion silently nodded, glancing at the Duke of Lephisto, seated in a corner of the room. Unlike the murmuring crowd, he was deep in thought, keeping his mouth shut.

“His Majesty the Emperor arrives.”

Elkius entered the room.

“Please, everyone, be seated.”

He seemed surprisingly composed for someone who was supposedly in a tight spot. His gaze swept the room, finally resting on Callion after briefly pausing on the Duke of Lephisto.

With a sly smile, the Emperor began to speak.

“While I was recuperating, I read all the petitions you submitted.”

“……”

“It seems many of you were curious about the contents of the royal treasury. So, I personally went to check it.”

At a gesture from Elkius, servants brought in three boxes. Inside were three regalia, excluding the sword.

“These are the only regalia stored in the treasury. It appears the late Emperor privately removed some items.”

Elkius turned to Callion, shifting the blame entirely to the late Emperor.

“Duke Tiflis, you must have known the item you received was a piece of regalia. Why did you return it?”

“That sword was given to me by the late Emperor when I was Crown Prince, as a symbol of entrusting me with military authority.”

Callion responded in a calm tone.

“You might not know, but past Emperors often gave one of the four regalia to their successors as a task to help the empire prosper.”

“……”

“When I received the regalia, the empire was at war. The sword symbolized strengthening our forces.”

“And?”

“How could I arbitrarily give away something the late Emperor entrusted to me? So I returned it to him.”

Understanding the implication that the Emperor’s property could not be handed over to a traitor who was not even his enemy, Elkius glared at Callion with a fierce glare.

“It was my oversight not to pay attention to such details while stabilizing the empire. Regardless, it’s regrettable that the regalia caused such turmoil.”

“……”

“I also regret that Cardinal Orland’s excessive loyalty led to public unrest.”

Though his words were subtly phrased, Elkius effectively admitted to the recent controversies.

“I accept the criticism that the recent events have tarnished the honor of the imperial family.”

“……”

“I also understand the concern about the lack of an heir. Therefore, I have decided to accept your advice.”

‘Is he going to name Callion as his successor? ‘

Duke Howard watched Elkius with a mix of hope and doubt.

Naming Callion as the heir would restore the empire without bloodshed. If that happened, Duke Howard felt he might be able to let go of some of his long-standing resentment toward Elkius.

Finally, the Emperor declared.

“I will marry the Duke of Lephisto’s daughter.”

“……!”