I Became the Master of the Empress

221 – 225

After meeting with the Pope.

I return to the Archduke’s residence and meet with Agrippa.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

Agrippa, as usual, shows no difference. I speak to him with a sense of urgency.

“Indeed. Has it been a month?”

He nods slightly at my words.

Whew… Calm down. It won’t be the worst-case scenario.

Not knowing what the future holds, I steady my last bit of trembling, hoping it won’t be the worst.

“That’s right. It’s been incredibly busy in your absence, Your Grace.”

“I’ve been incredibly busy too. Oh, right? Have you met Alexander?”

At my words, Agrippa is taken aback.

“Alexander? Are you referring to the councilor of Nicaea? I thought he was dead, but he’s managed to survive.”

“Yes. I went to the Jarl, and he had settled there, so I brought him back. I’m planning to appoint him as the new Chancellor.”

“The Chancellor? Isn’t that the highest position?”

Of course, it doesn’t have the Emperor’s privileges, but essentially, it holds authority equal to that of the Grand Duke, so yes, it is the highest position.

Perhaps when the Grand Duchy disappears, it will shift to being Chancellor-centric.

Maybe even the Chancellorship will be dissolved, and the Emperor will rule directly.

But that’s a concern for the distant future.

Not my business to know.

“Yes, that’s what will happen.”

With that, we conclude the topic.

There’s an important matter at hand.

“We’re going to destroy the divine statue tonight. Is everything ready?”

Agrippa nods with a stern expression.

“It’s all set.”

“Good. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

A single slip here could cause an uprising among the imperial citizens.

And that’s not the only problem.

The Order of Holy Knights.

The most crucial organization for capturing the Locust.

The reason I’ve been busy today is that there’s a religious event this evening.

Was it said to be the day God created the world?

On this day, all the religious people perform a ritual bath and wear a thin garment called a toga.

In other words, it’s the day even the Holy Knights are unarmed.

I’ve already discussed it with the Pope, so I expect to capture every single member of the Order of Holy Knights without fail.

“Don’t worry, Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

At Agrippa’s words, I nod.

“Right. I’m counting on you.”

***

Thus begins the religious ceremony.

Heading to the Vatican with the imperial family members.

It’s one of the rare opportunities for the Grand Duchy’s soldiers escorting the Emperor to enter the Vatican.

The internal preparations to easily neutralize the Vatican are also in place.

Just capture the Pope and the Knights Templar, throw them into Roman prison, and keep them warm and well-fed.

“You? Why do your eyes look like that?”

After boarding separate carriages with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Theodora and I share one.

Unusually, she wants to be with me today, or so she says?

“Maybe it’s just stress?”

At my words, Theodora coldly retorts with a frosty look in her eyes.

“You might work yourself to death if you keep this up. Take it easy. Do you want to make me a widow?”

“Ha ha… It’s nothing serious, though.”

She leans on my shoulder.

The scent of rosemary from her, which I haven’t smelled in a long time.

When I’m slightly intoxicated by that fragrance, her voice reaches me.

“You really are a terrible workaholic. When you left the imperial palace this time, why didn’t you take it easy?”

I did take it easy during the trip.

It’s just that I couldn’t sleep well because of the stress.

There are more than a couple of things to worry about falling into the worst situation.

When I think about that.

-Poke poke!

Theodora pokes my cheek and opens her drowsy eyes.

“What are you thinking about now?”

“Huh? I’m not thinking about anything.”

“Lies! We’re finally together after so long, and you’re not going to pay attention to me?”

It has been a while… That’s true.

It’s the first time I haven’t seen Theodora for a whole month since becoming the Grand Duke.

As I think this, Theodora rubs her face against my neck.

Every time she speaks, I feel ticklish.

“I missed you. Didn’t you miss me?”

“Haha… Well?”

I reply with an awkward voice.

To say I missed her… Honestly, I hadn’t thought of Theodora at all.

“Hmm… Well, that’s fine.”

As she speaks and I feel her breath on my neck, a ticklish sensation arises in one corner of my heart.

Why am I feeling like this today?

Is she preparing something in the dead of night?

But whatever it is, it will be useless.

Today is the day of the Papal dispensation and the seclusion of the royal family.

She must have already been incredibly angry with me tonight.

And my mother-in-law, too, must have been quite upset?

As I entertain such thoughts, the carriage comes to a halt.

“It seems we’ve arrived.”

Theodora lifts herself off me.

-Knock knock.

[We have arrived, Your Imperial Majesty.]

-Creeeak!

The door opens.

***

-Oh Almighty El, we sing to You!~♬

-Protect us~!♪

A majestic hymn flows forth.

A service conducted by the Pope himself.

As the hymn concludes, the Pope’s sermon begins.

[We all live life through tinted glasses.]

Those robust men to the left of the Pope.

They are the Holy Knights, aren’t they?

[We fail to see our own faults, we slander others, we are blind to the truth, always falling into falsehoods…]

Listening to the Pope’s sermon, it now draws to a close.

[So do not harbor hatred, my brothers and sisters.]

[I shall now pray.]

The movement will begin soon.

The soldiers decided to move as the Pope’s prayer commenced on purpose.

And once the prayer ends, the Papacy will be dissolved.

-This cannot be! We are in the midst of worship.

-Are you not afraid of God?

-What are you doing?! Arrest them for obstructing official duties!

A commotion can be heard from outside.

-Who is it?! Who gave such an absurd order?!

Everyone attending the service turns their gaze towards the chapel door.

-Thud! Thud!

A dull sound of something pounding on the door echoes.

[Amen!]

The Pope concludes his prayer.

-Crash!

And in an instant, hundreds of heavily armed soldiers enter the chapel, and Theodora stands up from her seat and shouts at the soldiers.

“How dare you! Who are you?!”

In response to her words, the paladins clad in togas cry out.

“In the presence of His Imperial Majesty and His Holiness the Pope! Who dares to cause such a disturbance during a service offered to God?”

Agrippa stands before them.

“I am called Agrippa. I have come here under the orders of His Grace the Archduke.”

At Agrippa’s words, all eyes turn to me.

“From this moment, Pope Gregory XV is arrested on charges of national discord, civil unrest, and incitement, and the duties of his Papacy are hereby suspended!”

As Agrippa proclaims…

“It’s preposterous! Protect His Holiness the Pope!”

“You vile creatures! How dare you do this on a sacred day?”

The paladins pick up the candelabras around them and climb onto the platform, surrounding the Pope as if to protect him.

Then.

A man points at me, holding a large candelabra.

“You there! Are you not afraid of God?”

And the man rushes towards me.

Goodness. Did he think I would be hit by such a thing?

I try to swing the long candlestick, but as I rise to dodge…

Oops. If I dodge now… Theodora will be hit.

So, without dodging, I raise my left hand to block the candlestick.

-Whack!

“Ugh!”

“Protect His Grace the Archduke! What are you all doing?! Protect His Grace and the royal guests!”

Agrippa urgently commands, beginning to subdue the Vatican’s people.

As I shake my aching left hand, trying to ease the pain.

“You?! What is this madness?”

“Son-in-law?!”

“Brother-in-law!”

The royal family members all glare at me with accusing eyes.

As if questioning whether this moment is real.

Their gazes are too hard to meet.

Therefore.

“Agrippa. Escort His Majesty the Emperor and the royals.”

“Yes! What are you all doing?! Obey the Archduke’s command.”

The soldiers surround Theodora and the royal family.

“This place is dangerous. Please, evacuate quickly.”

“Let go! Can’t you release this?! Do you realize what you’re doing?!”

“Brother-in-law? No, right? This isn’t it, is it?”

The royal family and the Emperor are dragged away.

Then Theodora looks at me.

“Was this what you were preparing for?”

What?

I expected anger, but there’s only surprise. It doesn’t seem like anger.

Rather, what should I say? She looks… serene?

As I inwardly feel puzzled.

She flashes a subtle smile.

What? Why is she smiling?

And as I’m led away by the soldiers, passing by me without resistance.

“I trust you. And that you’re setting a trap for someone else.”

Her words make my body freeze.

How did she know? Surely, no one else is aware?

Did she notice something? Or did she know and let it happen?

It’s complicated and confusing.

“Argh!”

“Children who would sell their souls to demons!”

“The Papal Sanctity cannot be violated! You fiends!”

-Thump!

-Clang!

The paladins being subdued by the soldiers.

And then the Pope looks at me, his smile faint.

As if to say, all is going well…

Is it really going well? How did Theodora find out?

“Scream!”

“Ugh!”

The paladins and priests mercilessly suppressed by the soldiers.

And then…

“Your Holiness, excuse me for a moment.”

A soldier approaches the Pope and handcuffs him.

-Click!

Thus, the Pope and the paladins are captured, and the dismantling of the Papacy begins.