I Became the Master of the Empress

212 – 216

After Maximilian’s wedding, it had been a while since Mueller, Lucius, Maximilian, and Aea had met.

“Wow, I still can’t believe the two of you got married.”

Maximilian, of no particular status, and Aea, the princess of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Their marriage sent shockwaves through the aristocratic society.

Initially, Princess Aea and her children were stripped of their inheritance rights under the laws of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

However, the King and Queen of Sardinia sincerely congratulated their daughter on her marriage.

Although Maximilian was not of noble birth, he held a high position as a technical bureaucrat within the Empire and was capable of assisting the enterprise run by Princess Aea.

Thus, his exceptional talent and status as a high-ranking imperial official made the marriage beneficial to the national interests of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which must have been why it was permitted…

“Hehe, this is truly a triumph in life.”

As Mueller looked at Maximilian, whose eyes seemed to drip with honey while he gazed at Aea, he guzzled down his beer…

The room quieted down a bit.

So, to change the atmosphere, Aea addressed Lucius, who had recently been in a not-quite-something relationship.

“How are things going with Princess Joy, Lucius?”

“Huh? I’m just… you know.”

Lucius had recently made significant progress with Joy.

They had even started holding hands.

Joy, playfully teasing him about his large hands and comparing them to hers, had ensnared him with her charms.

“Why not try confessing?”

At Aea’s suggestion, Lucius imagined confessing to Joy…

And envisioned being tortured and executed by the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

Understandable, given how much they cherished Joy.

“I might be executed, right?”

Mueller nodded at that.

“Execution, indeed.”

“Come on, really?”

Maximilian and Aea encouraged Lucius as if such a thing were unlikely.

“When I got married, my family didn’t oppose it that much either.”

That’s because marrying a high-ranking official from the powerful Empire wasn’t a significant loss for the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Especially since Aea’s business ventures brought considerable benefits to the small kingdom.

Lucius and Mueller were aware of these political considerations.

“Wouldn’t they oppose it that much?”

Lucius and Mueller think.

Both are from the science track.

After the after-party ends,

Lucius heads home.

“A confession…”

It’s clear that Princess Joy has a fondness for Lucius.

For starters, Lucius is quite handsome and can be considered an elite.

His gentle nature and the amusing reactions he gives every time Joy teases him, it’s only natural for affection to grow.

In the swaying carriage, Lucius ponders.

Whether he should confess his feelings.

Princess Joy of the Empire.

And Lucius, a commoner.

While marriages between common men and high-born ladies are quite common, it’s almost unheard of for a princess.

Especially a princess beloved by the royal family and the citizens of the Empire…

Lucius shakes his head to clear the complex thoughts.

“Ah, whatever. It’ll work out somehow.”

Right now, Lucius is content with each day.

Grateful for the moments of playful affection with Princess Joy, a stark contrast to his life of relentless work at the Grand Duke’s estate.

“Come to think of it. Isn’t it her birthday soon?”

Next week is Princess Joy’s birthday.

Lucius, having heard that a grand festival is to be held to celebrate her coming of age, thinks he should give her a gift.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a big issue if he didn’t…

‘But the thought of dealing with a sulky princess all day if I don’t…’

The thought of Joy being upset makes it impossible not to prepare something.

***

“Hmm…”

A letter to Amon.

Currently, negotiations to stall time with the Locusts are underway.

The demon worshippers want four major things.

One is the dissolution of the Papacy and the disbandment of the Holy Knights.

Provide a pure Emperor to summon the Demon King.

Provide sacrifices to summon the Demon King.

When the Hero appears in the future, lend strength to eliminate the Hero.

Honestly, I see no grounds to refuse the first three demands.

I am currently acting as someone obsessed with eternal life.

That is, I must resurrect the Demon King and obtain eternal life through his power, so if I refuse even one of the first three, I would inevitably arouse Locust’s suspicion.

“However, I have a bit to say about the Hero.”

When the Hero appears, do I have any reason to be actively involved in eliminating him?

The conclusion is no.

Thus, this part can be seen as an excuse for me to refuse and buy time.

“First, I need to buy some more time on this part.”

-Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Sena, your aide.”

Ah? Is it the day for my medical consultation?

Thinking that my workload has decreased since I received a letter from the demon worshippers to share with the Pope, I answer.

“Let them in.”

-Creak.

Sena opens the door and enters.

“Have you been well?”

Sena, with a bright smile.

I nod to her and say,

“Yes, I’ve been well. How is His Holiness the Pope?”

“His Holiness the Pope is in good health. Rather, he is concerned about Your Excellency the Archduke.”

And so the medical examination begins.

“Fortunately, it seems the illness hasn’t progressed further, which is a relief.”

She says while organizing her medical tools.

“I’ll try to reduce the painkillers a bit this time.”

“Ah, about that medicine. It has a drowsy side effect.”

The medicine Sena prescribed for me to take after every meal.

I didn’t take it because it made me too sleepy.

“I’m so sleepy I can’t take the medicine. Is there another one I could try?”

Sena’s eyebrows furrow into a glare at my words.

She says coldly,

“Did you not take your medicine?”

I reply in an awkward voice, sensing her slight anger,

“Well… it’s just that it makes me too drowsy to work.”

Even though I answer, she just looks at me, saying nothing.

For quite a long time.

This is it. In the original work, this is how Sena often behaves when she’s very angry.

She just looks at me silently for a long while.

Is it really such a big deal that I didn’t take the medicine?

Of course, it would be a problem if I collapsed now, but it’s sad to think she’s angry at someone who’s already overworked.

I want to speak my mind, but I need to stay on Sena’s good side because she has the Pope’s ear, so I try to change the subject by pulling out a letter.

“Ahem… Sister Sena, I have this letter for Amon…”

“…Is that really what’s important right now?”

Her voice is calm but I’m taken aback.

Wasn’t she worried about my health because of the state affairs and the demon worshippers?

“It… it is important, isn’t it? Besides, this is about the demon worshippers…”

“Shut up! The demon worshippers aren’t the issue right now, are they?!”

I’m frightened as Sena cuts me off mid-sentence and yells.

Aren’t the demon worshippers the most important issue? If not them, what is?

But I think saying this will only make her angrier.

What exactly is making Sena so mad?

Seeing her trembling shoulders, I realize she’s incredibly angry.

It’s best to leave Sena alone when she’s angry.

I remember how things got complicated whenever I tried to intervene between her and Seo Jun.

So I just leave her be.

And as quite a bit of time passes, and it’s almost time to sleep or do something else.

“Sigh… Alright. What about the demon worshippers?”

Finally, as she calms down, I hand her the letter I’m holding.

Only then does she take my letter and read it.

With a look of surprise, she says,

“Is this the reaction His Grace the Archduke anticipated?”

“It’s nothing. I just predicted what the other party desperately wanted.”

With an expression of wonder, she remarks,

“Even so, to predict so accurately is truly remarkable.”

“Ha ha… Anyway, please deliver this letter to His Holiness the Pope.”

At my words, Sena nods her head.

“Yes, I will deliver this. And just a moment.”

Sena takes out the medicine bottles and starts filling them.

She soon organizes the pills and hands them to me.

“These will make you less drowsy than before. Please take them. If you don’t, it will hurt a lot…”

Sena says with a sad expression at the end, to which I respond with a smile,

“Don’t worry. I’m not a child, and I’ll manage just fine, won’t I?”

In fact, the painkillers here are effective but have the side effect of causing drowsiness.

That’s why I exclude painkillers when taking medicine.

Other than that, I’m taking care of myself well.

“Painkillers are important too. If you don’t want to suffer during surgery later, make sure to take them.”

I nod at her words.

***

“Really? That green girl came?”

The woman with the ample bosom who often has tea time with my husband.

“Yes! Your Majesty, shall I go and call her?”

At Ipa’s words, I nod my head.

“Yes, would you call her? It’s time to see what kind of person she is.”

I’m very, very curious about how bold that woman is to keep having tea time with the Emperor’s man.