I Became the Master of the Empress

228 – 232

His Assassination Attempt.

I cannot allow this.

“It won’t do. I need Sir William’s help.”

After the incident where my letter was forged, William and I devised a method.

Ink made from special materials.

Writing with this ink leaves no trace, but when heat is applied, the writing appears.

I write to William with this ink.

[-Dear Uncle William,

Are you keeping well? I am doing fine.

The weather is gradually getting colder, and I am concerned about your health, so I am writing to you.]

I write this on the front page and use the special ink on the back.

[-To Uncle William,

There has been an assassination attempt on him recently.

Fortunately, he is unharmed, but I am afraid. I worry he might be killed.

However, he does not trust me, opposing the idea of calling the Golden Knights here. Could you possibly send a few people to Roman in secret to protect him?

It would be good if those people also have exceptional abilities in exorcism.]

After writing the letter like this, I plan to hand it over to a Grand Duchy soldier I’ve bribed in advance.

He will probably look at the letter once before sending it to William.

But when that soldier sees it, it will appear normal.

The ink, devised with advice from academy professors due to the intelligence department’s active surveillance.

I believe this will surely reach William.

“Ah, I must also write to Grandfather not to interfere with him.”

Since Grandfather might mobilize the Imperial faction to advance to Roman.

I refuse to endure another tiresome civil war within the empire.

Therefore, I have also written a letter to send to Grandfather.

To Grandfather,

Are you doing well?

I am faring quite well myself. Although I am confined within the imperial palace, it’s not as bad as the rumors suggest, and I am living peacefully. I am writing because I am curious about how you are. Please let me know about your well-being.

The front page is written like this… and on the back page, it’s written with special ink.

[Please do not use the Imperial faction to attack Roman, and try your best to prevent discord between the Imperial faction and the anti-Imperial faction.]

After writing the letter in this manner, I handed it over to a soldier I had bribed.

Originally, I did not intend to interfere in his affairs.

He would not want me to step in, after all.

But…

“How dare they attempt to harm my husband?”

I simply cannot stand it, no, I cannot bear it.

Once the mastermind is revealed.

I will make sure not a single one escapes the executioner’s dew.

-Gnash.

Look at what he has done, tirelessly working day and night for the empire and its people, burning himself out to the point of illness to advance our empire.

And look at what he has achieved, filling the bellies of the empire’s citizens and showcasing the empire’s brilliant progress day by day.

If such a man were to meet a cruel death at someone’s hands…

Then it would be a mistake of the gods, a mistake of this world.

Such a devout and diligent man.

The moment my beloved husband is killed by someone.

I will not leave this world and the gods in peace.

“Huff… I must prevent such an event from happening.”

You will forever be by my side.

I will protect you.

***

Starting with the terror against me, bloodshed has erupted throughout the streets of Roman.

I tried to suppress any radical actions, but…

“Yes. As the protesters entered the city hall…”

Several have died, and dozens have been seriously injured. Priests and doctors are treating them, as reported. The pain in my head grows as I read the report.

Before this, the military department was raided, and the finance department was attacked, causing the empire’s citizens to shed blood.

Please, just stay still.

Despite the efforts of agents infiltrated through the Intelligence Service, the Justice Party, and the Pope to somehow reduce the situation, they ended up being attacked, accused of being pro-anti-aircraft faction, according to the reports.

Just two more weeks. If we can hold out for two weeks, the Locust will arrive in Rome.

I tried to prevent bloodshed as much as possible until then, but things don’t go as I wish.

When I stepped out of the palace to go to the Intelligence Service not long ago.

I was attacked by a thug with a Molotov cocktail.

Of course, I quickly caught the related parties and imprisoned them.

But that’s not all. Currently, we’re trying to arrest the protesters if possible, which is pushing the Roman prison beyond its capacity.

My forces are still strong enough to defend against them, but they’ve started to raid magic scroll shops and launch magical attacks. If this drags on, I’ll have no choice but to take strong measures.

*Sigh.*

I light a cigar with mana in the cigar box and put it in my mouth.

Exhaling the smoke, I’m lost in thought.

Should I make a strong move once?

If a lot of blood is spilled at once, wouldn’t they stop resisting out of fear?

“Why does it have to be like this?”

I exhale a puff of cigarette smoke and clutch my head with one hand, entangled in complex thoughts.

I’ve been running around to prevent the sacrifice of the imperial citizens, but the situation has exceeded all expectations.

Life does go beyond what you expect sometimes…

*Hoo… This has gone way beyond.*

Maybe I gave the Intelligence Service an impossible mission from the start.

Without sufficient support, I assigned an impossible task, and now it’s all turned into chaos.

Should I consider additional support through the Intelligence Service so that the injured don’t die?

I look at the imperial finances from the drawer, considering the available funds.

The revenue is certainly lacking.

The empire’s development has been dazzling on the surface, but it can’t be operated like this in the long term.

And the reason is…

The finances of Epirus and Egypt, which should have been included in the central government’s budget, have been excluded.

Currently, the finances of Epirus and Egypt are incredibly solid, but the central finances of the empire are already lacking, to the point where we’re pulling in the finances of the Grand Duchy of Francesco to keep things going.

Let’s support with the finances of the Grand Duchy first.

I’m sorry, Meri, but this can’t be helped.

“I would have been at peace… if I had died back then.”

But there’s too much I’ve already set in motion; even if I wanted to die, I can’t.

In this turmoil, my death would shatter the empire’s diplomacy and internal affairs.

The problems within are significant, but the external issues are just as grave.

Fortunately, I’ve received word that the rival Union Kingdom is not launching an offensive but preparing.

This means we’ve bought about a month’s time.

They’ll declare war once they’re ready.

I suspect my uncle has received my letter and is buying us time.

Other nations are watching the Union Kingdom, so they won’t dare attack our borders rashly.

And the internal problems are quite severe.

“The trap set by a single high demon costs us dearly.”

The expenditure is more gut-wrenching than I imagined.

***

At the Golden Knights’ stronghold near Roman.

A letter arrived there.

The sender was a soldier from the Grand Duchy named Roderick, addressed to William, the commander of the Golden Knights.

William, upon receiving it, senses it’s the long-awaited letter from Theodora.

He hastily breaks the seal.

Looking at the ordinary letter in front of him, William is convinced it’s from Theodora and holds it over a candle.

Slowly, black letters emerge on the back of the letter as if burned into it.

“What’s this?”

After reading the content, William urgently calls his lieutenant, Matteo, to show him the letter.

“What do you make of this, Matteo?”

William, though he has achieved divine feats in war, lacks one thing.

He’s a novice in anything but war, and the complex politics of the empire are beyond him.

But he has a lieutenant who, though not quite fit to be a general in war, has a knack for politics.

“It seems His Majesty values the life of the Grand Duke highly. And… perhaps attaching a distinguished knight to this challenge will unravel the reason behind the Grand Duke’s recent madcap actions.”

After Matteo hands back the letter, William burns it with the water from the candlestick.

-Whoosh.

Watching the letter burn well in the air, William speaks.

“Indeed. When they said they would arrest the Pope, I knew the Grand Duke must have had something in mind.”

He admires his bold strategy.

Bold enough to make the enemy knowingly walk into a trap, unable to resist the bait.

“First, I will recruit some knights renowned for their anti-magic prowess and escort skills to send to Rome.”

William claps his hands in approval at those words.

“Yes, select the knights you will send carefully. Remember, we must not disappoint His Imperial Majesty.”

“Don’t worry.”

Watching Matteo leave the tent to select the knights, William begins to write a letter to the Emperor.

And that night.

Ten knights leave the encampment, heading towards the Tiber River.

***

Sena is treating people at the relief center.

She tries to heal the injured and calm the protesters, but her words fall on deaf ears.

After all, they believe the Pope has been doing good deeds for thousands of years.

Thus, Sena’s sighs grow deeper day by day.

‘Are you doing well? Do your eyes hurt?’

How shocked she was to hear that Devian had been attacked?

That day, Sena abandoned her duties, worried sick about the Grand Duke’s safety.

Had she not heard he was unharmed, she would have been restless, likely heading to the palace in the dead of night.

Sena sends word to the intelligence department about tonight’s attack on the port of Rome and gazes at the moon, longing for Devian.

She worries that his illness might have progressed.

Silently, she looks at the moon, recalling Devian’s face.

Looking at the bright moon and the stars, so numerous they’re overwhelming, she prays for another day of his well-being.