I Became the Master of the Empress

237 – 241

What’s this? Another fight?

Feeling puzzled for not seeing the son-in-law since the first breakfast.

And though she thought Terra and Deviang must have been passionate, the daughter’s expression looks utterly cold, sensing something went wrong.

“Terra?”

“What is it, Mother?”

Her eyes are redder than usual.

Joy looks worried, seeing them swollen as if she had cried all night.

“Sister? Did you cry all night?”

At Joy’s words, Terra frowns and shouts.

“I didn’t cry!”

“If you didn’t cry… just say you didn’t. Why get angry?”

Terra’s loud voice instantly turns the youngest daughter to tears.

“What’s all this commotion so early in the morning?”

“I just… noticed Sister’s eyes are red…”

Another marital spat? Deviang, really…

It hasn’t been long since they woke up, and they’re already fighting.

But well. They’re not children; they can be left to their own devices.

They love each other, after all.

That’s what she had thought, but…

A week has passed.

“Sister. Isn’t brother-in-law coming?”

Terra looks much better compared to the first day.

She tears into the bread.

“I don’t care, go die somewhere for all I care.”

To wish death upon one’s husband, such words should not be spoken by a woman, nor as a wife.

Especially not in front of me, whose husband has passed.

“Tera, that’s going too far.”

“Ugh…”

I knew there was some issue between them, but I didn’t expect it to last a whole week.

Should I intervene?

It may seem ridiculous for me to step in between grown children, but if the well-mannered son-in-law is nowhere to be seen, they must have had a serious fight, right?

I rest my chin on the table, lost in thought.

Should I trust the kids and leave them be? Or should I step in?

“Mom? Say something, will you?”

“Sigh… Call me mother.”

Joy has been an adult for over a year now, but still calls me mom.

Perhaps there’s something wrong with the way I raised them.

Did I spoil them too much?

But right now, Joy’s habits aren’t the issue.

It’s Tera and Devian’s relationship.

After all the misunderstandings were cleared up, instead of getting along, they’re fighting again?

I can’t understand why there’s never a peaceful day in this palace.

Well, that’s what being in a palace entails, I suppose.

With that thought, I let out a sigh.

“Tera, let’s have tea together today.”

At my words, Tera’s shoulders tremble.

“Yes…”

And so the morning passes, and it’s afternoon.

It’s about time for Tera to come, but she’s nowhere to be seen.

Just as I start to wonder if something’s wrong and consider going to Tera,

-Knock knock.

Ah, she must have arrived.

“Who is it?”

“His Imperial Majesty has arrived.”

“Bring him in.”

The door opens and Tera enters with a hesitant expression.

“I apologize for intruding during your busy time.”

Tera gently shakes her head at my words.

“Not at all.”

I find it odd that my daughter cannot meet my eyes.

What could have happened between them? What could make my daughter so lacking in confidence?

She is a daughter I would proudly present anywhere.

Seeing her so disheartened pains my heart.

“Let’s take this time to talk, just the two of us, it’s been a while.”

With that, I pour hot water over the tea leaves…

-Drip.

I pour the tea into a cup and place it in front of Tera.

As the servant sets light biscuits on the tea table, we’re ready to begin our conversation.

I savor a sip of the hot tea, enjoying its aroma.

As the deep fragrance of the black tea starts to calm my mood, I look intently at Tera.

It’s a silent pressure for her to speak first, giving her time to gather her thoughts.

Her hands tremble as she lifts the teacup, savoring the tea.

“The aroma of the tea is delightful.”

“It’s black tea imported from the Babylon Empire. If you like it, shall I give you some to take home?”

Tera lightly shakes her head.

In the brief silence that follows,

Tera finally speaks.

“I think… he and I will have to annul our marriage.”

At Tera’s shocking revelation, strength leaves my hands.

-Crash.

“What? What did you two do?”

The teacup shatters, but that’s not what’s important right now.

“Be careful, Mother. Is there no one outside?”

-Click.

At Terra’s command, the maids enter.

“The teacup is shattered, clean it up quickly.”

No… that’s not it. Devian and Terra are annulling their marriage? Why?

What’s wrong with my daughter? Didn’t he like her enough to hand over the imperial faction, save her from a poisoning crisis, and even give her the position of Minister of Justice?

And the Prime Minister’s office too?

Devian’s actions are incomprehensible, raising more than a few questions.

But now, as the maids are cleaning up the fragments of the teacup, it doesn’t seem like the place to talk.

“Terra, let’s take a short walk.”

With that, I call Terra and head towards the palace garden, organizing my thoughts.

Was it to annul the marriage that he didn’t share a bed tonight?

Has he gone mad?

And I know very well how much my daughter loves Devian.

Ever since they got married, Terra may not realize it, but her eyes are exactly like mine were 20 years ago.

With such clear evidence, it’s impossible as a mother not to recognize her daughter’s feelings.

But it’s hard to believe that he resisted touching my beautiful daughter for three years for such a bizarre reason.

To not touch his beautiful, loving wife for the sake of annulment?

What are men? Aren’t they beings who would do anything to get a pretty woman into bed, offering their heart and everything else?

There must be some reason for this.

To find out what it is, I ponder over everything Devian has done for Terra while we walk to the garden.

The work to transfer the imperial faction to Terra.

He asked me to keep it a secret, to inform Terra about her right to veto.

The time he saved her from the risk of poisoning.

He gave her the documents through me.

And appointing Sabinele, a person of Terra, as the Minister of Justice, among other things.

Ah… could this have been groundwork for a stable transfer of power?

For Terra, who would have no governing base if he disappeared?

Ah… did my son-in-law intend to leave from the very beginning?

As I reach that thought, anger wells up inside me.

Because my precious daughter has been slapped in the face.

If that’s the case, why did you save me from the brink of death?

And during the locust crisis, it was Devian who protected Terra with his whole body, facing death himself.

The above three incidents could be said to be for the sake of stable power…

But the act of sacrificing himself to save Terra makes no sense.

Could it be… the reason he’s letting go of power is…

In a fleeting moment, I had an epiphany that explained it all.

I realized that my son-in-law is, in fact, a tremendous romantic.

Devian… you are truly foolish.

As we emerged into the garden, we walked towards a secluded bench, organizing our thoughts.

This guy…

“Sniff… How can it be so moving?”

“Huh? Mother, what do you mean?”

Seeing Terra’s expression turn grim, I feel I must share Devian’s thoughts with her.

“Terra, how much do you know about Devian?”

“Well… I’m not sure. I feel like I understand his thoughts, but I’ve always been wrong.”

I nod at her words.

It’s largely Devian’s fault that their relationship has become so parallel.

“Devian doesn’t easily trust people, probably because of a betrayal in his childhood.”

He lost his mother due to the betrayal of a close childhood friend.

It must be difficult for him to trust people easily now.

“Does it matter now? We’re going to annul the marriage anyway, aren’t we?”

“It does matter, because Devian loves you.”

Theodora turns her head at my words.

“If that were true, he would maintain the marriage.”

I smile faintly at my daughter’s powerless words.

“No, he loves you. You may not know it, but he’s done a lot for you behind the scenes, hasn’t he?”

Terra slowly turns her head.

“What has he done for me?”

“He leaked information about the veto to give you the Imperial Faction, and he saved you when the Imperial Faction tried to poison you. He also gave you the Minister of Justice position you wanted and the Prime Minister’s seat. What do you think his reasons were?”

Terra is surprised by my words.

“The right of refusal and poisoning were by mother’s hand…”

I gently shake my head.

“No, it was Devian who conveyed it to you through me.”

Only then does Tera’s eyes widen.

But soon…

“That means… he empowered me only to leave, right? If he’s not a fool, he would understand. If our marriage is annulled… the Duke’s influence vanishes, and he can’t wield power in politics, right? So… it must be a move for transferring power. He is a wise ruler, after all.”

I nod at her words.

“Exactly. But then, why did Devian risk his life to protect you? I heard the Saint’s duty is only to kill the Locust. There’s no reason to risk his life to save you.”

“That is…”

“Even those obsessed with power value their own lives the most. What could be the reason he sacrificed his life to protect you?”

Tera shakes her head in disbelief at my words.

“But… what’s the reason he wants to leave me? That’s just… speculation, isn’t it?”

It is. It’s my speculation. But I have a rough guess why he wants to leave her.

“It must be because of the Augustus and Ryan families’ affair.”

“Huh?”

Only then does the astute Theodora catch on to what I’m implying.

“That fool… does he not know I love him?”

“Perhaps not? That boy doesn’t trust easily. He’s more likely to exploit others’ trust.”

If that boy, who lost someone precious due to a childhood wound…

I think he wouldn’t trust Tera’s actions.

“Maybe he’s trying to give up power for you. Maybe there’s been a rumor that he liked you from the start… that he’s been holding back all this time.”

Tera, upon hearing this, bows her head deep in thought and mutters.

“I won’t let it go. This foolish b*stard.”

Her words are accompanied by a menacing glare.