I Became the Master of the Empress

239 – 243

After the state council meeting, Theodora summons Karl, who is about to leave the palace.

“Did Your Majesty call for me?”

Karl, with a somewhat brusque expression.

“Yes, I wanted to have a talk, so I called you.”

“Do we have something to discuss? The only person I can provide information to is His Grace the Archduke.”

“Is that so? Then what do you plan to do if the Archduke disappears?”

“The safety of His Grace the Archduke is under our ironclad protection, so try if you must…”

Karl glares at me.

I think to myself that he has raised a good hunting dog.

“Haha, what I meant was, what will you do if he tries to annul his marriage with me?”

Karl looks incredulous at my words.

He opens his mouth cautiously.

“Why would that be? Why would His Grace the Archduke ever let go of power?”

As I listen to Karl’s words, I unfold his personal file.

“Name: Karl, age 42. Married with a child, right? Your wife Rebecca? Originating from an assassin…”

“Don’t try to deceive me with such absurd lies.”

Lies… How wonderful it would be if his words were just lies?

“That’s for you to find out. I called you here to give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

I smile faintly as I look at his bewildered face.

“The Minister of Intelligence should easily uncover the Archduke’s plans to annul his marriage, right? Come back to discuss it after you’ve found out. Our business is done, so feel free to leave.”

With my dismissal, Karl frowns.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

I smile inwardly as I watch Karl retreat.

“Well? Are your subordinates as determined as you, or are they worldly?”

***

Upon returning to the Intelligence Department, Karl is immediately lost in thought.

The Archduke’s marriage annulment?

Such a thing is inconceivable.

Yet, it is the Archduke who commits the inconceivable for his own purposes.

Isn’t he the one who has officially earned the title of ‘Saint’?

-Tick-tock.

Anxiety and unease flood over Karl.

“Surely not… Could it be?”

If he abandons his position after restoring order, it means… his successor will carry out a bloody purge.

Karl himself had trusted the Archduke, going against the Emperor.

For someone who has never complied with the Emperor’s blatant demands for information, the thought of the Archduke stepping down and facing the Emperor’s oppression is terrifying.

Moreover, the fact that his own family was mentioned… If the Archduke steps down, both he and his family are in danger.

He’ll have to verify it first.

That’s as far as Karl’s thoughts go.

He begins to write orders to the intelligence agents hidden within the Vatican.

And… once he’s finished, he calls for his secretary outside.

“Darn… Is Lady Hanna outside?”

-Creak.

“Did you call for me?”

“Please send this to the Vatican’s intelligence officer.”

Upon seeing the command Carl handed her, Lady Hanna nodded and promptly left the office.

Darn… Could it be? Devian? I’ve even risked my life for you!

***

-Crack!

A cracking sound came from his back as he stretched.

Sena, tidying up the medical tools, spoke cautiously.

“Your Holiness, you must undergo surgery soon. Your condition hasn’t been good since the last injury.”

At her words, I let out a bitter laugh.

“I’m aware. But it can’t be done until the annulment of the marriage.”

If I go for surgery now, I might truly be done for.

Assassination, poisoning, strangulation… you name it.

“Your… Your Holiness… if… if you do get the marriage annulled, what will you do afterward?”

Sena asked timidly, turning her head slightly, her neck flushed.

Why is she like that?

“Well? Perhaps I’ll rest a bit in the Grand Duchy before heading to the New Continent. I’d like to set up an orange orchard there and live in seclusion.”

-Flinch.

Sena flinched noticeably.

Her behavior was puzzling, but I didn’t ask. Given she’s quite the lascivious nun, it seemed she was startled by the question.

“Do you… perhaps have someone in mind?”

“No?”

I’ve been too busy working here to have leisure in my heart to be smitten, haven’t I?

Sena turned her head slightly and met my eyes.

“In that case… what about me?”

“What?”

What is she saying? This woman?

Objectively, Sena is a beauty with ample assets, but she has a significant barrier.

The man I love is fond of having an affair with another woman… or even anal s*x… he has a weird hobby that’s hard to utter out loud, and I’m a saint.

If I were to be with that kind of woman… I would have to set up a harem, but I don’t feel comfortable with that.

First of all, let’s leave that aside… she doesn’t seem to be rational.

“I… I’m sorry.”

I turned my head to say that, and Sena bowed her head deeply.

Then, with a voice trembling with effort, she opened her mouth.

“…Ah… no. Just… just that I made a sudden confession… because I like him…”

We fell into a long silence from then on.

Sena slowly gathered her belongings.

As she wiped away tears with her hands, she said, “Please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

I watched Sena disappear, my mind in a mess.

But what’s the point… if I met a good man, I won’t meet anyone else?

So I wish her a bright future.

After meeting Sena, I headed to the Vatican.

I met with the Pope to discuss the plan and procedure for invalidating the marriage.

“Your Holiness, how are you doing?”

“I’m doing well, thanks to Your Holiness.”

The conversation was brief.

“Now, next week, Andrea Cardinal will visit the royal palace.”

“So, if we prove our purity, will our marriage be invalid?”

The Pope nodded his head.

“Yes, if we confirm our intentions and sign the papers, the royal family and Andrea Cardinal will announce our divorce in front of everyone.”

I shook my head.

“Okay, then we’ll be enemies from now on.”

The Pope nodded his head.

“But doesn’t it bother you that you’re living with the Emperor? Is it really necessary to invalidate the marriage?”

I forced a smile at the Pope’s words.

“It’s not good for her. If a woman gives birth to her enemy’s children, how can it be a happy life? And even if we live together, she won’t be able to leave this throne…”

“That is something only the person involved would know.”

The person involved…

I saw it.

Her eyes wavering when I declared the renunciation of my child’s inheritance to the Grand Duchy.

Those were undoubtedly the eyes of a ruler.

For such a woman to bear the child of an enemy, it must be a wound too deep to fathom.

After all, a Romeo and Juliet scenario is impossible in reality.

Here, justice means eliminating one’s enemies.

“I have made up my mind. This place is not where I belong. Therefore, I must return it to its rightful owner.”

The Pope nods at my words.

“I respect the Saint’s decision.”

As the discussion concludes, I rise from my seat.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

“Yes, go in peace.”

***

Recently, the atmosphere has been tense, led by the Emperor.

A sudden increase in the Emperor’s private soldiers.

Not just their numbers, but the knights’ ranks have swelled too.

I intended to convey this to the Grand Duke and warn the Emperor, but…

“I summoned you here to offer you an opportunity.”

The Emperor’s complacent words irk me.

As if I have no choice but to side with him.

It would be nonsensical not to be swayed by such confidence.

Then.

-Knock, knock.

“Minister, a letter from the Papal Intelligence Service.”

At those words, Karl turns his head and takes the letter.

-Zzzzip!

Karl hastily tears open the envelope and reads the cipher.

His face is a mix of surprise, shock, and a profound sense of betrayal and anger.

What? The Grand Duke and the Pope are really discussing an annulment?

Oh no… Insane! Was the Emperor’s word true?

“Mrs. Hanna! Please prepare the carriage outside. I must leave soon.”

Karl hurriedly gathers the necessary items.

Collecting the top-secret documents of the Intelligence Department, including the materials the former Emperor had wanted, the codebook, and the list of agents, Karl kicks open the door and runs towards the carriage.

Damn it… Damn it…

If he and his family run away… could they survive?

He doesn’t know about the New Continent, but in the Old Continent, there’s no place untouched by the Intelligence Department.

The thought of being caught and brutally murdered flashes through his mind.

But to flee to the New Continent, as someone without the citizenship of the United Kingdoms, he imagines being secretly dragged back to Roman while waiting to depart.

Or being assassinated.

That’s why Karl is anxious.

He must somehow show loyalty to the Emperor to save at least Rebecca and the child.

Devian… It’s you who betrayed first, so don’t blame me.

-Creak.

Upon arriving at the imperial palace, Karl rushes to the Emperor’s office.

Two robust soldiers see Karl and nod briefly before knocking on the door.

-Knock knock.

-Who is it?

“Your Majesty, Minister Karl of the Intelligence Department has arrived.”

After the guard’s announcement, a few seconds pass before the Emperor’s voice is heard.

-Let him in.