I Became the Master of the Empress

222 – 226

The people of the Papacy are dragged away mercilessly.

Among them, those who are not high-ranking are released.

“Your Grace, the task is nearly complete.”

Soldiers bustle inside the Papacy, and the handcuffed are everywhere.

As if nodding to the soldiers dragging a prisoner away.

“Yes. Have all the paladins been captured?”

At my question, Agricola nods.

“Except for about ten who were away on external duties, we’ve captured them all. The high priests as well.”

I watch the dawn slowly break after a long period of operation.

“How about the imperial palace?”

As I inquire about the emperor and the royal family’s confinement, Agricola responds in a weary voice.

“Yes. Everyone has been taken to the Gold Area, and more soldiers from the Grand Duchy have been assigned.”

It seems that with this, both the imperial palace and the papacy have been dealt with.

And the thought of facing the enraged citizens of the empire from morning makes sleep completely elude me.

Not that I was sleepy to begin with.

As I turn and climb into the carriage, I say,

“Finish up and seal off the papacy. No one gets in without my permission.”

“Yes.”

Leaving Agricola’s brief reply behind, I board the carriage. It starts to move slowly.

Now is the crucial time. Keep your wits about you.

I train myself with that thought.

A single wrong decision could lead to tremendous sacrifice.

We must be ruthless, yet we cannot allow a situation where someone dies.

Because the death of anyone would only incite the citizens of the empire even more.

No matter how heavily armed the soldiers are, they can’t just be ordered to suppress if the citizens of the empire attack with determination.

We should aim to end it with just a demonstration if possible.

“Huff… I have to trust the intelligence department.”

With that, I shake off the afternoon’s events and think of something else.

Theodora… how did she find out?

The security was supposed to be perfect. How did the information leak?

Damn it… Is there someone in the intelligence department who has been swayed by her?

Despite our best efforts to maintain security, the thought of the information being exposed deepens my anxiety.

A variable has arisen.

“Damn…”

In a frustrating and irritating situation, a curse I never use slipped out.

A small crack in the perfect plan.

The anxiety deepens at the thought that a variable could arise through that crack, and that small variable could lead to failure.

Stopping or failing here is absolutely not an option.

If I fail, Locust will plunge into darkness.

I need to meet her first.

With that thought, I head towards the imperial palace.

***

“What on earth is this?! Terra, did you know Deviang was plotting such a thing?”

My mother interrogates me, her face red with anger.

“No. I didn’t know either. He only returned today, after all.”

At my words, my mother covers her face with her hands.

“Ah, the world has gone mad. How could they arrest His Holiness the Pope. One would have to be insane.”

“Mom, calm down.”

Joy tries to soothe my mother, but…

“How can I be calm at a time like this? Do you not understand the position of the Pope?”

In the secular world, the emperor might be considered the highest authority, but beyond that, everyone would say the Pope is the highest.

That’s why, although many emperors have complained about the Pope’s nagging, very few have actually arrested him.

And all of them were dragged out like dogs from the emperor’s seat by the nobility and the citizens, to meet their execution under the name of tyrants.

“But… my brother-in-law has already made the arrest, hasn’t he?”

My mother’s eyes dart around as she predicts what will happen next.

“This is serious, very serious. Surely the nobles and the citizens will all rise up… What was Deviang thinking, doing such an outrageous thing…”

Fear fills my mother’s eyes.

“Even if the Pope is arrested, there shouldn’t be a big problem.”

It’s similar to the most comparable incident when he acted like this before, arresting Sir William and the Order of the Golden Knights.

And he must be planning to use the Pope and the Vatican as bait to strike a big blow to someone.

“No, Terra! Are you taking Deviang’s side now?! It’s obvious that the citizens, nobles, and clergy will be up in arms, isn’t it?!”

But my mother seems unable to comprehend Deviang’s actions and is furious.

“You’re in danger too! If things go wrong, you could be deposed.”

I shake my head at my mother’s words.

“Devian is not so naive. If what I’ve heard is correct, then tonight, over ten thousand soldiers must have arrived from the Grand Duchy.”

The Giant Brigade and the forces stationed in Roman already exceed thirty thousand.

Adding another ten thousand would mean over forty thousand soldiers are deployed.

What can the empire’s citizens or priests do in the face of such a massive army of forty thousand?

They’ll only be brutally suppressed by the heavily armed soldiers.

But who are they trying to capture? Unless it’s a demon, there’s no need to arrest the Pope…

Could it be?

It’s been quiet now, but just about a year ago.

A demon called Locust, who controls the locusts, appeared in Egypt.

I heard they were repelled using holy water back then?

And before that, the Roman inn incident.

It was clear that it was connected to the demon worshippers.

When Sabinelli had contact with the Pope, he was scolded, wasn’t he?

As I think up to that point.

“Tera, don’t you see the situation? No matter how many soldiers there are, or triple walls, if all the nobles rise up, Roman will be completely isolated. If Egypt and Epirus fall to the nobles, the food supply will be cut off. This Roman will become a living hell! That will truly be the end.”

Mother bites her nails anxiously.

“We must release the Pope quickly. That’s the only way to survive.”

Mother’s wish is unlikely to come true.

And if it’s to capture a demon…

The demon aiming for the resurrection of the Demon King.

And the pure me.

For the first time, I feel the excitement of predicting his next move.

After quite a long time, I finally get to stand beside you.

-Smirk.

A smile unwittingly forms on my lips at the thought.

Should I pretend not to know? Or should I tell you that I know what’s inside your heart?

So I wait for his return.

***

As soon as I return to the palace, I look at the arrested servants and maids.

They will probably have to live outside the palace for a while.

From now on, the imperial palace will begin its fortification.

The people of the palace, under the strong influence of the Empress Dowager, cannot be trusted.

It’s now the emperor, the royal family, and everyone on the continent versus my forces.

Among them, there’s Yipa who catches my eye.

She looks at me with eyes full of loathing.

Theodora knows, but Yipa is unaware of the situation?

What’s going on?

Given Theodora’s character, she would have informed her confidants.

Though it’s a puzzling thought, it’s not what’s important right now.

First, I must send a letter to the Imperial Assembly and arrest all the ministers, except for Victor, who assisted Theodora, and suspend their duties.

Everything has been prepared in advance. I believe there won’t be any issues.

As I enter my office…

“Your Grace, what is happening?”

Alexander and Victor look confused by the current situation.

I sit in my chair and say,

“The Pope and the Vatican have been urgently arrested for plotting treason using the church. Many government agencies are involved, so we are arresting all ministers except for Victor.”

As I speak in a dry tone…

Victor is sweating profusely with a look of despair, while Alexander looks at me calmly.

Alexander gazes deeply into my eyes, trying to gauge my intentions.

“Your Grace? The peace we’ve just achieved is crumbling. Why are you doing this?”

“It’s necessary. And there’s something I need you to take on, Alexander… no, Mr. Alexander.”

Alexander’s eyebrows furrow at my words.

“What is it?”

I take a moment to catch my breath.

“I would like you to take on the role of Prime Minister.”

“You mean to entrust the position of Prime Minister to the former member, Alexander?”

At Victor’s words, I nod.

“Yes. I have always admired you, Mr. Alexander. Your wisdom and decisiveness are frankly overwhelming, even for me.”

The reason I could engage in a fierce diplomatic battle with Alexander was that.

I had prepared the board for a long time and made sure everything went according to plan.

So, compared to Alexander, I had dozens of times more preparation time. That’s how I was able to make things flow the way I wanted.

I highly regard Alexander, who, unlike me, engaged in an impromptu duel on equal footing.

“A position as the Prime Minister… I was under the impression that the office of Prime Minister had been abolished. Is it being reinstated?”

At Alexander’s words, I nod my head.

“Yes. Please take a look at this.”

I open a drawer and hand him the government’s new organizational reform proposal.

“What’s this?”

-Flutter.

Alexander, with eyes full of curiosity, flips through the bill.

Watching Alexander peruse the bill, I light a cigar.

-Sss… Sigh.

Looking out the window, the rising sun.

Below it, the servants being chased away.

These next few days are the most crucial.

I must stay sharp.