I Became the Master of the Empress

240 – 244

The Emperor knew Karl would come.

He was just a little later than expected.

“You’re a bit later than I thought.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

-Thud.

As soon as he enters the office, Karl prostrates himself on the floor, and the Emperor ponders, watching him.

Indeed, you are an unusual one.

If Devian had been here, he would have smiled slyly and logically explained why he’s necessary to me.

But I have no intention of killing Karl.

If he swears allegiance to me, I plan to trust him and keep him as the head of the intelligence department.

Because… the intelligence department is still a fledgling agency, barely over two years old.

Though it’s only been two years, the achievements have exceeded expectations.

Why would I bother replacing such an intelligence director?

“So, will you swear allegiance to me?”

As soon as I speak, Karl nods his trembling head.

Oh my… Look at that cold sweat.

Seeing the sweat trickle down Karl’s forehead, I wonder if I’ve gone too far, but now is the time to be certain.

“Now, show me your oath.”

As I extend my left hand, the wedding ring on my finger shines brilliantly.

“Yes, please accept my loyalty!”

With that, Karl approaches and grasps my left hand, pressing his lips to the gemstone on the wedding ring.

-Smack!

“Arise, my faithful servant, I shall increase your salary for swearing allegiance to me, and henceforth, you shall attend the State Council as a pillar of our nation.”

The intelligence department does not attend the State Council like the others.

Devian played a trick by claiming there was no law for the intelligence department in the State Council.

Perhaps he did so because he didn’t want the intelligence department’s data exposed at the State Council.

Thanks to him, the intelligence department has no direct political influence.

I filled that gap this time, offering a carrot.

“Th… Thank you!”

Karl kneels on one knee again.

I respond with a smile.

“Rise and take your seat, I trust your loyalty and will inform you about our plans.”

At my words, Karl nods with a servile expression.

“If you command, I will even bring you the Duke’s head.”

“What? The Duke’s head? Are you out of your mind?”

As I glare at Karl, he makes a look of despair.

“Weren’t you contacting me to take revenge on the Duke?”

“Impossible, right? The Grand Duke is excellent in governance, and it’s hard to think of anyone else as the national seal of this country.”

At my words, Karl blinks his eyes rapidly.

“So…?”

“It’s to prevent the annulment of my marriage with him.”

Karl falls into thought at my words.

“That is… the regular army is entirely governed by the Grand Duke’s generals.”

“I know, their names are Philip and Martin, right?”

Karl nods his head.

Both are quite renowned generals.

Generals who followed Agrippa into war and accomplished the impossible.

That’s why this operation will work.

“Among them, General Philip guards the imperial palace. It won’t be easy to sidestep him.”

I calmly organize the strategy in my head as I listen to Karl’s words.

“I think so too. But… you are the head of the intelligence department, and aren’t you among his high-ranking forces?”

“That is… true, but…”

I speak of the operation that Sabinelli, Alexander, and I have painstakingly worked on for a long time.

“We will now spread the rumor that Locust has been resurrected. The intelligence department will probably have to leak false information too.”

At my words, he wears a puzzled expression and retorts.

“What?”

Locust’s corpse was cremated and scattered in the Tiber River on the same day.

But he is a high demon… Even the resurrection would seem quite plausible.

After all, high demons don’t die.

They resurrect even if they die. In other words, it’s about causing confusion by suggesting that the time has come earlier.

“Awaken Philip and Martin at dawn and tell them that Locust has been sighted in the Tiber River and that intelligence agents are seeking cooperation from the Vatican and the Tower of Mages. The situation is urgent, so instruct them to move quickly to stop Locust, and they will act.”

Karl blinks his eyes at my words.

“However, logically, there will still be quite a number of soldiers left in the imperial palace. Perhaps even more soldiers might be deployed.”

The imperial palace is the heart of the empire.

So, there’s reason in that statement.

It doesn’t make sense to leave this place unguarded. Rather, they might think that Locust is targeting me and deploy more soldiers.

Both generals are quite astute. So, isn’t Devian pondering whom to send to war?

Therefore, this operation must succeed without fail.

But…

“The holy knights are coming to the palace, and if I mobilize my private soldiers to defend it, the Grand Duchy’s troops within the palace will be significantly reduced. They might not suspect anything, but both must be sent out of the city. If necessary, lie about having the Grand Duke’s permission to draw as many troops as possible out of Rome.”

Only then does Karl nod his head with a dazed expression.

“Ah! So the plan is to reduce the Grand Duchy’s soldiers inside the palace as much as possible!”

Is it because he was chosen by Devian? He’s quicker on the uptake than I thought.

“That’s right. After that, gather as many of my private soldiers and the Grand Duchy’s troops as you can, form a unit, and issue a deployment order. Say it’s because Philip and Matthew are in danger and need reinforcements.”

Then there won’t be many Grand Duchy soldiers left in the palace.

With that, the palace can be subdued by the ten members of the Golden Knights, the police force, and the intelligence agents.

“Capture them with minimal harm, and once they’re all caught…”

Karl smiles at my words.

“The Grand Duke will be powerless.”

“If I break his purity through him in the meantime… not even the Pope could declare the marriage invalid.”

A couple who has lost their purity cannot divorce.

It’s a command from God to humans.

Not even a saint, not even the Pope, could stop it.

“But… if the Grand Duchy’s soldiers return.”

“Don’t worry, everything will be over by then.”

If Agricola had been here, we couldn’t have moved like this.

Agricola is the Grand Duchy’s supreme commander.

No matter how much the Minister of Intelligence, he cannot give orders to Agricola.

Besides, he’s wise enough to notice this plan.

“But… what if His Majesty decides to move his private soldiers?”

At Karl’s words, I smile as if amused.

“If they order the newly formed private soldiers to capture a high demon… that would be foolish. They would never say such a thing.”

Karl nods slightly with a vacant expression at my words.

“Of course… make sure he doesn’t notice, keep a tight lip, and I hear there’s a regular report to be submitted? Make sure that’s submitted as usual.”

As I say this, Karl nods.

“I will follow the order. And I offer this to you.”

Karl takes out a document from a leather bag and hands it to me.

“These are the documents and the Intelligence Department’s cipher that His Majesty had requested before, along with the list of agents and their missions—essentially, the core materials of the Intelligence Department.”

Why is he giving me this?

“The reason for giving this?”

“To prove my loyalty.”

At Karl’s words, I let out a snicker.

“Didn’t you prove your loyalty just a moment ago? Take it back. And follow me sincerely. If you do, I shall hold you in high esteem.”

“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!”

So? How about it? Not much time left now. Devian.

***

“Ugh!”

I stretch mightily and look out the window.

The view outside has turned dim without me noticing, bringing a fresh sense of nostalgia.

Only a few days left now.

Suddenly, the sight of my office comes into view.

I’ve worked here for a long time.

Almost living here, working for nearly three years.

The pile of documents in this place has significantly decreased.

Since the establishment of the Prime Minister’s office, the reports I used to receive have lessened.

I rise from my chair, scan the bookshelf once, and gaze at the sofa and the tea table.

“I really have worked hard.”

I seem to have spent more time sleeping on that sofa than in the same bed as Theodora.

And there’s the slightly cracked light orb next to it.

An artifact that has been with me throughout my time in the palace.

It got a little damaged when an assassin attacked, but it was still usable without any inconvenience, so I kept it.

“Who will use this place in the future?”

The room is larger than I thought.

Papers piled up on the floor and near the desk.

Feeling like taking a walk after a long time, I head towards the garden.

The gradually chilling autumn breeze reminds me of when I first came to Roman, and I head towards the wall.

I gently grasp the wall and climb over it.

“Ah…”

A lively scene with people bustling about.

“When I first arrived, it was filled with terror.”

The emperor was captured in a surprise attack by Balorang.

When the emperor’s loyal William left Roman with tears in his eyes, as a condition for sparing the emperor’s life.

Despair had filled Roman.

But now, they can fully enjoy their smiles.

When I married Theodora in the past to maintain peace, I couldn’t smile like this.

Because I was gripped by the guilt of causing a war in my heart.

But now, seeing their smiles, I too feel a sense of satisfaction.

May their smiles last long…