“You must be punished for daring to kill my sons……”

He had known early on that Cassandra was a woman full of ambition. But he had momentarily let his guard down due to her bewitching beauty and sweet tricks.

“I can forgive you for killing the previous Empress and my concubines many times, but you must pay the price for killing my children.”

There was still a strong will shining in the former Emperor’s vivid amethyst eyes.

* * *

The next day, the Emperor announced the cause of the Empress’s death in the council. He also issued an order to banish the Duke and Duchess of Theon from the capital for the crime of raising their daughter poorly, leading her to commit the grave sin of suicide.

“This is truly an outrageous matter.”

“Your Majesty’s generous disposition and sincerity are worthy of respect.”

“With such a calamity in the imperial family, it is a great concern.”

The powerful nobles each offered their comments. They all wore extremely concerned expressions, but it was clear that they were all internally calculating their advantages.

“If Duke Theon is banished from the capital, he will also lose his qualification to participate in the council…… We must hurry to fill the vacancy.”

The Prime Minister quickly seized the opportunity, but Rockfort twisted his lips.

“The fact that House Theon is a meritorious family recognized by the former Emperor remains unchanged. Therefore, I command that Daniel Theon, the current duke’s younger brother, be granted the ducal residence in the capital and succeed the title.”

At the Emperor’s swift preemptive move, the faces of several nobles darkened. Considering the power of House Theon, it was natural for them to be salivating.

“It is an honor, but the Duke and Duchess of Theon have already betrayed Your Majesty’s sincerity and brought shame to the imperial family. While it is natural for Your Majesty to show leniency out of consideration for old ties, I fear it might be seen as excessive generosity.”

Though the Prime Minister spoke at length, the point was to urge the Emperor to drive out House Theon. At this predictable development, Rockfort merely let out a slight laugh.

“My grace will be bestowed equally throughout the empire, but it seems not so in the Prime Minister’s eyes?”

“How could that be, Your Majesty? I merely fear that foolish people might think……”

“I am not unaware of your concerns. However, this is the strong will and intention of the former Emperor, which even I cannot go against.”

When the words ‘the former Emperor’s will’ were mentioned, the council fell silent. That former Emperor was the iron-blooded ruler who had established the current imperial borders.

He was also the Emperor who, while governing during times of war, designated several families as meritorious and meticulously drew the current picture of them keeping each other in check.

“Our empire expanded its territory and concluded non-aggression treaties with foreign lords, all possible because of the former Emperor’s reign and name.”

“How could we forget that fact?”

“Then how can you not follow the will of the former Emperor who established the foundation of this empire?”

Faced with Rockfort’s momentum, the nobles, led by the Prime Minister, closed their mouths.

“Moreover, the former Emperor was greatly distressed by this incident and has officially conveyed his will.”

Jayden respectfully presented the former Emperor’s letter on a golden tray to the Emperor. Rockfort unfolded the letter without much interest, skimmed through it, and placed it back on the golden tray.

“In the last battle the former Emperor led, the previous Duke of Theon sacrificed himself to save the former Emperor’s life, and in recognition of that merit, he was made a meritorious subject.”

This was such a famous decree that all the nobles in the council knew about it.

“Also, because his merit was so brilliant and high, the former Emperor promised that if a lady was born in House Theon, she would be taken as the next Emperor’s Empress.”

What on earth was he trying to say? House Theon had already provided an Empress, and she had died. Why was he repeating that order?

The nobles focused on Rockfort, whose expression was completely unreadable.

“There is still one unmarried lady left in House Theon.”

At Rockfort’s bombshell statement, the council began to stir.

“The former Emperor has conveyed that as a monarch, he cannot break his previous promise, and that the order regarding that engagement remains valid.”

Even the Prime Minister couldn’t hide his bewildered expression, while only Duke Belest, with his graying hair, nodded alone.

“Why is everyone so surprised? What the former Emperor has conveyed is correct.”

Duke Belest’s intervention was also within Rockfort’s calculations.

The current Duchess of Theon was a daughter of House Belest, and his mother was also a daughter of House Belest. It was a solid alliance forged through blood ties.

“The former Emperor clearly said ‘a lady from House Theon.'”

That was the only condition. In other words, Elia, who was currently alive, met the former Emperor’s command.

“Although the previous Empress regrettably passed away…… both the former Emperor’s command and the engagement between the families remain valid. That is precisely the intention behind the former Emperor’s renewed statement.”

Duke Belest had always been a thorn in Rockfort’s side, but today alone, Rockfort didn’t object to his words.

“The position of Empress is now vacant, and there is an unmarried lady in House Theon, so shouldn’t the engagement continue as it is?”

Whether good dogs or bad dogs, as long as they bite at each other—Rockfort now felt the reality of those words.

“This is none other than the strong will of the former Emperor. As long as there is a lady in House Theon, nothing will change about the engagement.”

Duke Belest, feeling he had fulfilled his role, took a step back. Then Rockfort spoke.

“The Duke’s words are correct. Though I am Emperor, how could I not follow the will of the great former Emperor?”

Everyone knew those words were insincere, but no one dared to challenge the Emperor.

“However, as the lady has fallen ill from the shock…… combining it with mourning for the deceased Empress, I will hold the wedding ceremony and make her Empress one year from now.”

The faces of several nobles turned bitter, but Rockfort’s preemptive move was too meticulous for them to refute.

“Is there anyone else who wishes to object?”

A natural silence fell.

“Today’s council is adjourned.”

Rockfort rose from the throne and left the audience hall without looking back.

The nobles then gathered according to their factions and began to murmur. Only Duke Belest left the audience hall as if he had no lingering attachments.

* * *

A little later, Jayden, summoned by the Emperor, knocked on the door of the office.

“Enter.”

When permission was granted, Jayden respectfully bowed before the Emperor.

“As Your Majesty predicted, Duke Belest left quietly, and the rest of the nobles discussed something but…… they couldn’t reach a conclusion.”

“From the beginning, there was no conclusion that would please them.”

Even if there was, they wouldn’t carelessly discuss it in the audience hall. But they were too greedy to have the wisdom to unite their forces.

“Anyway, the day their opinions align will never come. That’s fortunate for me.”

Jayden nodded, recalling the nobles who were quarreling because they didn’t want to suffer even the slightest loss.

“Your Majesty, I’m informed that the lady of the Theon mansion has sent a letter outside. As you instructed in advance, we reviewed the content, found no issues, and permitted its dispatch.”

“To whom did she send the letter?”

Jayden discreetly took out a paper from his br*ast pocket and placed it on the office desk.

“A knight guarding the ducal mansion transcribed the letter’s contents.”

Rockfort stared at the paper for a moment. The content wasn’t very long, so he read it quickly.

“Hmm……”

However, it took quite a long time for his mind to fully process the content.

“This is perplexing.”

“What is the matter?”

“Have you seen this letter?”

“How could I dare to read it before Your Majesty?”

“Read it now.”

Jayden respectfully received the letter, read it, and his expression became peculiar.

“What do you think?”

“I…… I was certain she would ask her uncle, Duke Daniel, for help……”

“I thought the same.”

Elia hadn’t asked for any help. She had only asked her aunt, who had left the secular world to live in a monastery, to pray for atonement for the deceased Cecilia and the imperial family.

“Somehow, I feel ashamed as a knight.”

“I feel the same.”

Jayden looked at Rockfort with wide eyes. The lord he knew was not someone who would say such things.

“Somewhere in a corner of my heart…… I was suspicious of that lady. Having spent my life doubting others, even when seeing her noble words and actions, I foolishly and shamefully thought she might be attempting to soften my heart.”

Rockfort pressed his lips firmly and then released them.

“The Empress Dowager would weep so pitifully that even onlookers would lament. Even if there wasn’t a grain of sincerity, even if she was laughing inside.”

Empress Dowager Cassandra was a beautiful actress and a brilliant performer on the grand stage of the empire.

“She wept as if her heart was breaking even at the funeral of someone she had killed. That’s how I lost three older brothers and one sister.”