Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Dahlia withered without blooming (4)
Mrs. Hazlet’s face became pale when he said that. She was at a loss what to say.
“No way! Why did Francis… Olivia broke an oath of a marriage vow and ran away many years ago! Do you mean she is here in the capital now? ”
“As for her oath of marriage… Are you talking about her forced marriage with Earl Duoldran?
Are you talking about your attempt to marry the young woman off to an old man who lost his wife? There were scary rumors about the earl’s violent temper. Didn’t you hear that?” He asked bitterly.
“That’s because…” With an embarrassed expression, the countess fumbled because she didn’t expect that he was so aware of her family’s situation. As if her shame came to light, her lips were dry. Little did she think he knew about her family’s situation in detail!
“Are you asking me to arrange a meeting between you and the woman? How funny… Let me tell you clearly once again. Don’t ever think about meeting Olivia Hazlet again.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was told that the woman who was injured was a commoner. Now you suddenly mentioned Olivia! It doesn’t make sense at all!”
Although she folded her hands neatly, she shouted in a fit of anger as if she was about to shake her finger at him.
Looking at her calmly, he looked down at the law book he had been reading all the time and quickly got up.
“That woman is Olivia Hazlet. Now, she lives with a different name. ”
“… ? ”
She looked at him as if she could not yet understand. But he had no intention to explain to her kindly. He repeated his warning, “Let me say it again. Don’t think about meeting her. If you do, you will share your daughter’s fate.”
“Olivia…! What are you talking about? “She shouted as if she thought it was ridiculous, revealing her true colors.
“Let me give you one more piece of advice. Keep in mind the preciousness of silence. Don’t try to know who Olivia is, or talk about her. If you start to talk about her change of status, I can guarantee you that your family will not be safe anymore… If you ask for her punishment because of it, your family will also have to pay for it as a collateral in terms of the honor of your family or the severity of the laws.”
“What the heck…”
He then walked to the countess. As he came closer, she felt a strange pressure. She felt goosebumps despite her intense anger.
“You know that those who buy and sell their status are severely punished under the empire law. But do you know that this clause is included in the Imperial Treason Act?” he said, who stood before her, looking down at her parted hair.
He saw the white hair among her faded red hair. She raised her head arrogantly but didn’t have the nerve to stare at him.
“It’s a clause that applies to those who undermine the dignity of the imperial family or commit treason. Breaking the treason law means that any family member of the convicted can also be punished. I don’t have to say that if you commit the crime, you will have more jail terms.”
Her dry cheeks convulsed. He intensely stared at her like a beast chasing its prey ferociously.
It was a dreadful gaze.
“Not necessarily because of that…”
Having said that, he stepped back. She looked at his movements with intense wariness.
“If the rumors spread to the social circles that Francis Hazlet envied her half sister and conspired murder-for-hire… Just imagine what will happen. Isn’t it the shame of your family?
Can you deal with that?”
“… ”
“So, you had better freak out and shudder. When you stay like that, you’ll be relieved to see the negotiated sentence terms signed by your daughter. ”
She couldn’t open her mouth for a while at his barbed words. A little later she made a few more protests with awkward gestures while pretending to be calm, but he ordered her to get out without expression. Without swaggering anymore, Mrs. Hazlet had to leave hurriedly as if she had been expelled.
After she left, he was lost in various thoughts for a while when he received a call from the emperor belatedly. He headed straight to the emperor’s Kingsbray Palace.
He met the emperor in his study rather than the formal audience room.
There was a heavy atmosphere dominating the emperor’s private space. The emperor greeted Lard with a smile, but he could easily read nervousness and anxiety in the emperor’s face.
“Two days to go,” the emperor said.
He was referring to the day when he was going to proclaim the new legislation proposed by the crown prince.
“Do you think Duke Engre will give up his resistance?”
“You had better prepare for tomorrow’s political meeting. As Marquis Versa, who held to neutrality, turned to our side, he will help us check the opposing members. Although Duke Engre did not come forward to oppose the new law, tomorrow he will have the last chance to express his opposition. So, I don’t think you should assume that his reaction will be the same as before. It is of utmost importance that you are not swayed by their opposition.”
“Got it. Now that we have come this far, I can’t revoke it,” the emperor said, stroking his chin habitually.
The emperor, who defended his empire in the war with Carloen, expressed contrition at the current danger of the empire. He was angry at the explosion of the crown prince’s palace and the attempted assassination of the crown prince, and he worried about the future of the empire. What he regretted bitterly now was that he failed to pass the bill earlier during his reign.
Watching the bureaucrats being extremely corrupt and exploiting their people, the emperor had been looking for ways to weaken their power for a long time.
But taking back power from the nobles was more difficult than winning the war againtCarloen. It took almost his entire reign to rebuild the fallen pro-imperial faction.
It was his last wish to support the crown prince’s efforts to draft a law on the creation of the Yinungkwa system to empower the commoners before he handed down his throne, but it was not easy. As he felt creeping anxiety, the emperor brought in Lard, the supreme knight of the empire. When he saw Lards’ firm and reassuring attitude, the emperor felt somewhat relieved.
“I was briefed by Hoikin, the general manager of the imperial knights about the security of the imperial palace. Are you going to triple the number of security detainees for me and the prince?”
“That’s right. As they don’t hesitate to act extreme, we must be alert for the time being.
You will feel inconvenienced, but please bear with it until we carry out our mission.”
“Sure, especially pay attention to Prince Isaac. ”
Lard nodded to his request. After the palace explosion, Lard redeployed security personnel or added them for the safety of the emperor and the crown prince. After the debate within the knights, he decided to reinforce them. He couldn’t guarantee there wouldn’t be any further attacks.
“… I hear Isaac offended you? I heard it from princess Marian belatedly. I was surprised to know that Isaac disappointed you for the safety of the imperial family. I think I taught him wrong.”
He was talking about the fact that the crown prince took Wendy against her will to the eve party recently. Lard leaned forward and said to the emperor full of anxiety, “I have already talked with the crown prince. So, don’t worry about it.”
“As you know, he is lacking a lot in terms of managing his personal relations. I will be greatly relieved if you can support him.”
“I will.”
“… I hear you are dating a woman. I heard a bit about it. I’d like to meet the woman who won over your heart… Keep her. Otherwise, she will never come back to you. I hope you won’t regret it later.” The emperor said, stroking the back of his wrinkled hand.
“But I don’t think you will regret it later when I see you now. I know you won’t regret it later.”
Lard decided to agree with his remarks quietly, who made a hearty laugh. He vowed that he would never regret it later. He vowed that he would keep her under any circumstances. After making his vow anew, his ashen eyes sparkled even more.
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