Chapter 129: Chapter 129 Don’t come to the capital of the empire(1)
“I don’t think you have come here to have tea with me. Tell me what business has brought you here.”
The emperor clearly wanted to avoid any political rhetoric. It was not clear whether the emperor’s straightforward talking was because of his deteriorated relationship with the duke or his way of talking with the duke. However, there was embarrassment in the duke’s face when the emperor spoke bluntly to him.
“I would like you to do me a favor… Would you please let others out of this audience chamber for a minute? ” The duke said with a smile on his face.
Looking at him with a smile on his mouth, the emperor ordered the servants and the knights at the door to get out.
“Go out and don’t let anyone in until I approve.”
At his order, the servants bowed, but the knights did not leave the chamber easily. They were wary of the duke.
When the emperor reassured them with a nod, the knights reluctantly left. When the knights disappeared, the emperor looked at the duke seriously. Like a tired traveler who had just unpacked his stuff, there was fatigue on his face.
“Are you going to talk about the crown prince’s new legislation?”
The emperor guessed the real reason for his request to see him one day before the proclamation of the new law.
The emperor knew that all the petitions by the cabinet members at the daily political meetings chaired by the new emperor were initiated by the duke. Although the duke didn’t spearhead the efforts to oppose the new law, he secretly instigated the opposing nobles in a more sophisticated and cunning way.
As if he didn’t want to get involved in the complicated political affairs, he sat on his hands at the political meeting this morning as the participants had a heated debate on the new law, but nobody took his disguised aloofness as serious.
“I don’t think it’s right for me to turn a blind eye to the crown prince’s silly actions.’
He revealed his real intention before the emperor.
“Silly actions… Do you really think so?” The emperor said, expressing displeasure with the duke’s attitude.
His wrinkles, which were deep like the bark of an old tree that survived the strong winds, wiggled quickly. It seemed that the emperor could not stand the duke’s arrogant attitude anymore.
“Are you going to support and proclaim the new bill, too? It would crumble the foundation of the country. Isn’t it obvious that we will lose the basis to keep the existing status system? I think even the royal family will lose its status at the end of the day. ”
“Are you concerned about the royal family’s existence?”
The duke bowed at his anger, but his bowing didn’t mean he was complying with the emperor’s mood. It was his disguised resistance. His lowered eyes looked self-possessed.
“Why don’t you know both sides of the story? Public sentiment is boiling now. It’s not the time for the nobles to be calculating your own gains and losses. Didn’t I mention this numerous times at the political meeting? You didn’t say anything at the meeting. I can’t understand why you are complaining to me now. I’m done talking with you. Can you leave?”
“Your Majesty.” Raising his head again, the duke spoke with a loud voice. His unusual tone enraged the emperor all the more.
“As you asked me why I didn’t mention it, let me answer. Well, I’ve kept silent about the issue because I thought you would not support Prince Issac’s stupid decision at all. But… you betrayed my trust in you, so I can’t sit on my hands anymore.”
“Are you trifling with me now?” The emperor was angry at his blatant contempt through feigned loyalty. Although the duke tried to persuade the emperor through flattery, the emperor knew he was not serious, but the emperor hesitated to show more anger.
A day later, the bill would be announced to the general public. The emperor thought nothing good would come out of his hostility towards the duke. The emperor exercised patience as best he could. Barely holding back the urge to shout at him to get out, the emperor said with a much calmer voice, “Don’t you really know why there are disturbances breaking out everyday? Can you just forget and feel easy about the disturbances because they are caused by the disease and insects of Montraphi? Don’t know that the nominal Jesolin hiring system is increasing their frustrations? ”
“… Your Majesty I don’t want to discuss the hiring system. I know that we can’t be on the same page on that issue.”
“If you think so, get out of here right now. Are you toying with me now?”
“… So, I would like to offer you a solution through which we can iron out our differences a bit. Oh, maybe a lot.”
The emperor sharply stared at him as if to figure out his real intention. Taking the emperor’s response comfortably, the duke opened his mouth with a smile, “Last night, I suddenly recalled Lady Bel Lomar, the late empress’s maid. She was a woman with mysterious elegance even though she was not a noble woman.”
“…! ”
“It really came to my mind accidentally. When I was distracted by various thoughts, I recalled her face. Ah! I’m sorry. I should not call her with contempt because she is the mother of the princess and the crown prince.”
“What did you say?” The emperor suddenly rose up from his seat.
“Your Majesty, please lower your voice. If people outside hear your loud voice, it won’t be good for you.”
“How arrogant of you…! ”
“Don’t ignore it as a rumor. I know that the queen couldn’t get pregnant after she had a stillbirth when she was a crown princess. At that time, I secured several testimonies by royal doctors. Oh, of course, I mean the testimonies of those who helped Miss Lomar give birth to the baby… I knew you were very generous, but it was a great mistake that you saved their lives.”
“Do you really want to be killed? How can you tell such a lie to disgrace me and the royal family!”
“Baschumont, Julain, Sevis, Muriel… I can name the witnesses on and on. They were doctors and maids at that time. One of them told me that it was the summer palace in Charpanti where Miss Bel Lomar stayed when she got pregnant with the crown prince. I heard everything including the shocking idea that the queen was trying to feign a full belly during that period, and that when Miss Lomar was on the way back to the palace, she gave birth to the crown prince in Jopiern. I also heard that Miss Bel Loma’s tomb was near Charpanti. ”
“Stop! Stop!”
The emperor sharply stared at him with a murderous expression. He was full of burning desire to kill him if he had his way, but he felt so regretful that he couldn’t. The duke was the big shot among the nobles. Killing him would incite civil war.
Duke Engre drank a cup of tea casually.
“I began to understand only now why the princess and the crown prince went to the summer palace every year and why they were so kind-hearted! When I thought that they were interested in the lives of the commoners because of their vulnerabilities because of their birth, I felt sad. No matter how vulnerable they were, how could they not know their place?”
Having heard his blatant bluffing, the emperor walked to the desk with faltering steps. Opening the wooden box on one side of the desk and taking out a cigar, he tilted it over the candlestick. The quality cigar was quickly lit without a strong smell. He took a deep draw It seemed very impatient and rough as if to reflect the emperor’s mood.
Watching the emperor doing it, the duke said with a satisfied smile, “Your Majesty, I’m determined to reveal all of these facts to stop the law from being proclaimed. Please remember that I’m telling you out of my heartfelt loyalty.”
The emperor’s expression was contorted when he puffed out the cigar smoke. He grabbed his chest and shouted, breaking into anger, “You son of a bitch! Do you think you will be safe? I’m going to reveal your true colors and tear apart your whole body at the end of the day! Aren’t you afraid of death? ”
“… Do everything as you wish, but you have to think about what you can lose. Otherwise, you will have lots of regrets.”
“Damn you! Sure, I will certainly do it until my last moment. I will make sure you pay the price for mocking the royal family with a ridiculous threat… Do you think I don’t know the fact that you instigated the nobles and worked as their leader against me? Auguste, if you intend to stand in the way of the crown prince, I swear you and your children will suffer the same. I will make them pay the price even if I die!”
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