His sister was ridiculously innocent and kind, but that could be helpful.

“Here, I’ve brought tea. You must be tired from your long journey?”

“You brought the tea yourself……”

“It’s fine. Before you arrived, we were short-handed, and I’m used to doing things myself from my time at the convent.”

Even the brilliant Daniel couldn’t understand why this beautiful sister had abandoned her noble status as a duke’s daughter to voluntarily live an impoverished life at a convent.

“Now that I’m here, there won’t be any inconveniences. The servants who arrived today are just some of them; more people will come from my mansion tomorrow.”

“Will the children come too?”

“With no mother, they have to. Kelvin and Kayla should arrive the day after tomorrow.”

“Yes……”

Briana, holding a teacup in her hand, nodded.

Though they were both her nieces and nephews, unlike Elia, she had never seen those children’s faces, and since Elia’s problem was more urgent, she couldn’t help but be less interested in them.

“Actually, I have something important I want to discuss with you, brother.”

“By all means. That’s why I hurried here, so tell me anything.”

“My younger brother is still as kind as ever.”

When Briana was born, her father had already passed away, and her mother frequently took to her sickbed.

Briana lived in the ducal residence inherited by the eldest son Beriat, taking care of her mother.

Since she had a big age gap with Beriat, she relied on him like a father even after her mother passed away, and stayed at the ducal residence for a while even after Elia was born, but 7 years ago, Briana left for the convent to follow God’s will.

Briana had been close to Daniel, who was kind in their childhood, but they naturally grew apart after he left home following his marriage.

Nevertheless, perhaps family was all one could trust. Briana carefully shared her concerns.

“Actually, Elia…… doesn’t want to become empress.”

Daniel nodded with a serious expression while hiding his true thoughts.

“After all she’s been through, that’s understandable.”

“Yes…… she must have suffered greatly.”

“Is she very discouraged?”

Briana nodded with a pitiful expression.

If so, it seemed there wouldn’t be major issues with his plan. It wouldn’t be particularly unnatural for a young lady who had been shocked by her parents becoming criminals and her sister trying to commit suicide with her to choose to take her own life.

“She even says she wants to become a nun like me. But…… since there’s already an imperial decree……”

“Yes, His Majesty declared he would take Elia as empress in a year, didn’t he?”

“Yes. That’s the biggest problem. Moreover, Elia has injured her leg and can’t move right now.”

Daniel caught Briana’s subtle nuance.

“Even if she could move…… wouldn’t the situation be the same?”

Briana looked around and lowered her voice.

“Have you forgotten the convent’s rules?”

Daniel blinked.

“Ah, come to think of it…… you too……!”

Briana wore a faint smile. It was unlikely that she, a promising duke’s daughter, had entered the convent without any opposition.

She had firmly promised Beriat, who was already leading the ducal family, that she would find a marriage partner after going on just one outing, but she entered the convent instead.

“No matter what status a woman holds, once she crosses the third gate of the convent…… she can erase her worldly name and live as a nun.”

Briana herself had used this system.

“If, by any chance, Elia could do that…… even if His Majesty were to be furious, she couldn’t return to the secular world for at least 3 years.”

“3 years……?”

“The Amas Convent for women has protected those tired of men’s abuse or harsh lives since ancient times. Due to that old custom, any woman who crosses the three gates cannot return to the secular world for 3 years, regardless of her status. It’s to protect women who have fled from the world.”

“Indeed. Three years would be enough to make even the most wicked husband give up.”

Briana nodded. It would be no different for the Emperor.

He had said he would take Elia as empress in a year, but if she had to stay in the convent for 3 years, the empress’s seat would remain empty for too long.

“Elia and I have made up our minds, but it’s beyond my power. Above all, Elia can’t walk right now. How…… could there be a way?”

Daniel fell into genuine contemplation. If two ladies of the Theon ducal family committed suicide in succession, it might be labeled as ominous. Then the path for Kayla to become empress would become distant.

Rather, if Elia escaped to the convent on her own, and Kayla took her place…… wouldn’t that picture be better?

“Of course, it will incur His Majesty’s wrath. That’s why I’m hesitant to ask you……”

“No, what are you saying?”

Daniel gently wrapped his hands around Briana’s rough ones.

“Elia is my niece, and you are my sister. And how could I ignore such an earnest wish? We are family.”

“Brother…… really? Is it possible?”

“We must try to make it happen. If you’ve made up your minds, let’s hurry. Given His Majesty’s temperament, we don’t have much time.”

“Yes.”

Briana’s cheeks showed an expression of relief as she nodded several times.

The same was true for Daniel.

* * *

Elia was startled by the filthy appearance of her servant and maid entering through the balcony.

“You two…… why are you there……”

She knew the mansion was in turmoil, but Dain and Hannah looked like they had been through a complete disaster.

Why they looked so disheveled when they weren’t even servants, and why they were entering through the balcony when there was a perfectly good door—it was enough to make Elia’s eyes widen.

“Master Daniel received His Majesty’s decree and has become the new duke.”

“So that’s why it was noisy. And I don’t see Aunt either.”

Hannah wiped her dirty hands with a towel by the bed and tucked in Elia’s blanket as she spoke.

“She must be talking with the new duke right now. Perhaps……”

Dain, who usually spoke clearly, uncharacteristically trailed off, making Elia look even more puzzled.

“What’s wrong with you two? You’re not acting like yourselves, you seem strange. Dain, what’s that on your cheek? Your cheek is swollen, as if you’ve been hit……”

Elia muttered to herself before suddenly opening her eyes wide.

“Could it be?”

When Dain and Hannah cautiously exchanged glances, Elia immediately lowered her voice.

“Master Daniel seems to have changed somehow. Dain did make a mistake, but I never expected him to slap his cheek right away…… And yet he still maintained that kind demeanor of his……”

Hannah muttered with a fearful expression.

“Uncle? That Uncle Daniel?”

Elia still couldn’t believe it and asked again in a lowered voice.

“What’s certain is that after the new duke gave some instruction to his servant and went up the stairs, they immediately placed bulky luggage in front of the staircase, blocking our way.”

“Yes, even when I said I needed to take care of Miss Elia and asked them to clear the way, they didn’t even pretend to listen. They blocked the way even more.”

For Elia, who was essentially bound to her bed, the two were like her limbs. Even without that, blocking a noble lady’s servant and maid was equivalent to blocking the lady’s movement itself.

“We don’t know the reason either. And we have no proof. Even if we foolish ones were mistaken…… that would be better. But I’m afraid.”

“I also thought something was suspicious. Now that the Duke and Duchess are gone, you must protect yourself, my lady.”

Elia’s fine eyebrows furrowed.

“Are you saying Uncle wants to…… harm me?”

Her memories of Daniel were vague. Just that he was a kind and gentle uncle.

“You may not believe it. But……”

“I believe you.”

Elia answered without any hesitation. Her blue eyes stared at the two who were completely covered in dust.

“You two came to me even in that state. If I don’t believe you, who would I believe?”

Elia hadn’t forgotten the lessons that came with harsh experiences. Blood ties alone were not enough.

Trust should be judged by the time spent together and the actions they had shown.

* * *

Being Emperor was a position where one could hardly leave their post even if their mind was elsewhere.

Though said to reign above all people, Rockfort too was not completely free.

Especially from the heavy shackles of an Emperor’s duties.

“Today is full of annoying matters.”

As if knowing his heart’s desire to visit Elia, the whole world seemed to conspire to hinder him.

First, Duke Belest suddenly came to request an audience, and just when he thought he had a bit of free time, he was summoned because the former Emperor’s condition had worsened.

“Being dragged here and there, and now it’s midnight again. I wonder if I’m really the Emperor.”

What angered him more was that neither matter had any substance.

“Duke Belest just spouted obvious nonsense, and the former Emperor is feigning illness again…… Isn’t tomorrow the Grand Council?”