I Became the Master of the Empress

244 – 248

-Tick-tock…

I wake up to the slowly rising sunlight.

What time is it?

Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I open the pocket watch on the tea table.

It’s only 7 in the morning?

I woke up later than usual, but what does it matter?

Today is the day I will annul the marriage with her.

Finally, today, I can be free from the long-lasting responsibility and pressure.

“Yawn.”

As I get up from the sofa and stretch widely before heading to the office to wash up, I sense something odd.

“What’s going on?”

The Grand Duke’s office should have a 24-hour guard. Where have the soldiers gone?

I’ll have to scold them when they return. Such complacency could jeopardize everything.

After a quick wash in the bathroom and seeing the daylight bright as midday, I enter the office deep in thought.

I washed for about 15 minutes… and the guards haven’t come? I feel a stern reprimand is needed for Philip and Martin.

Then, slowly changing clothes and sitting at the desk, I take out the last statement submitted to the parliament and read it once more.

It’s a casual apology to the hard-pressed members of parliament, the imperial citizens, and the nobles during my reign, announcing my complete withdrawal from politics and ceding the Grand Duke title to Merie.

After the surgery, I’ll leave this place, never to return, and set off for the New Continent.

All seems in order.

I pull out a fountain pen from my pocket.

Looking at the fountain pen Theodora once gave me, memories of the past come flooding back.

The nib of the fountain pen is an old one my mother had given me, and the body was custom-made by Theodora to fit me perfectly, making it a meaningful pen to me.

Just as I was about to sign with the fountain pen.

-Knock knock.

“Who is it?”

-Creeeak!

Frowning at the rude sound of the door opening, I turned to look…

Previously, Theodora’s private soldiers, along with Sabinelli, Lucius, Mueller, Karl, and Alexander, entered the office with angry expressions.

What’s with these soldiers? What on earth?

As I failed to grasp the situation, Sabinelli unfolded a parchment with a solemn expression and declared,

“Grand Duke Francesco Devian Lyon, you are hereby summarily arrested on fourteen counts of crimes including treason, violation of the Emperor’s Deception Act, deception of the Imperial Assembly, intimidation of the Chief Justice, and abuse of authority!”

“What?!”

The heavily armed soldiers slowly advanced towards me.

As I hastily reached behind me to draw the sword disguised as a decoration.

-Thud!

A small nail stuck in the handle prevented it from coming loose.

“When… Ahhh!”

-Thump!

As the soldiers roughly twisted my arm to apply the mana restraints,

Sabinelli’s cold voice rang out.

“You have forfeited your right to appoint a defense attorney due to the charge of treason, and we are in a position to carry out an immediate judgment. So, don’t even think about pointless resistance.”

Confused by the cold, piercing eyes of Sabinelli.

“How did the soldiers… What happened?”

How could so many soldiers of the Grand Duchy be subdued by Theodora’s mere thousand or two private soldiers?

And all this in the short time since before I fell asleep?

“That’s none of your concern. Shut up and follow!”

With that, they dragged me off somewhere.

***

Once they had left, I called for Yipa and began to dress in the gown I had prepared.

Wanting to look pretty, I applied a touch of makeup and wore the accessories he had given me.

Worried that Philip and Martin might return in the meantime, I had just heard the news that they had been deceived and were now returning to the palace, so I figured I had about an hour to spare.

“Shall I wear this after such a long time?”

The emperor’s crown, adorned with various jewels.

A symbol of the empire’s long history, yet seldom worn due to its considerable weight.

Today, it seems not a bad day to wear it.

With the crown upon my head, I proceed to the audience chamber.

The empty chamber is graced with beautiful sunlight, illuminating the exquisite murals.

-Thud, thud.

I take my seat slowly on the throne, waiting for him to arrive.

Sigh… I’m nervous. To think that we would do this in broad daylight.

It should have been a night of romantic ambiance for our first night together, but since he tried to flee, there was no other choice.

We cannot divorce once purity is lost.

Half trembling, half anticipating.

A strange emotion mixed with a bit of anxiety makes my heart flutter.

-Knock, knock.

Two knocks on the door.

“Who is it?”

-Your Majesty! We have captured the criminal.

Hearing that he has arrived, I muster my most dignified voice and say,

“Enter.”

-Groan…

The grand doors of the audience chamber open, and my subjects lead the way, followed by the knights and Devian, his arms bound.

You can’t run away now.

There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing him, who always stood above me with such ease, now powerless, his head bowed, staring only at the floor tiles.

Devian slowly lifts his head.

Our eyes meet.

When I see his black eyes, which seem to have given up on everything, or perhaps feel a sense of defeat, my heart warms.

It’s not easy to see him give up everything like that.

I think to myself how amusing the current situation is while looking at him with a serious expression.

At that moment.

-Thump!

As my knight flung him before me, my expression involuntarily soured.

This… I never permitted this?

Despite my repeated warnings against using force on him, I glare at the knight who acted violently.

You… We’ll see about this later. I’ve memorized your face.

“Ugh…”

Deviang groans in pain.

Watching the knight lift him up, a deep anger begins to well up inside me.

Then.

Lucius shouts in a serious tone.

“Kneel, you criminal!”

But Deviang, as if in defiance, looks straight at me instead, prompting the knight to kick his knee, bending it.

-Thump!

“Argh!”

Didn’t I repeatedly say not to use violence?

As I glare at the ministers who do not restrain the knights, they turn their heads away with stern faces.

Worried that Deviang might be hurt, I look at him, but he does not return my gaze and instead glares at my ministers.

Why… Why won’t you look at me?

I feel a sense of hurt at his indifference.

Shouldn’t you be looking at me? I’m the one holding you now.

Deviang and the ministers, unaware of my feelings.

They exchange glances before the ministers subtly look away.

Then Lucius clears his throat slightly and begins to read from a parchment.

“Deviang Ryan, the criminal! The son of a traitor, though he executed the traitor, he insulted His Majesty the Emperor…”

He lists the charges made against him.

To be honest, his only crime was trying to escape from me, but I must take this opportunity to reprimand him firmly.

However, contrary to my expectations, he closes his eyes, giving up on everything, and just listens to Lucius’s words.

“While your execution of the high demon is commendable, the arbitrary dissolution of the council and…”

Seeing his calm and peaceful face with eyes closed, I feel slightly displeased as it’s not what I wanted.

Would it have been worse if he had cried out for his life? But wouldn’t a frightened expression be acceptable?

Tch… How boring.

I had planned to tease him for a lifetime, seeing him startled and flustered.

But perhaps my wish reached him? He lifted his head and our eyes met.

-Snicker.

What? Did you just mock me?

I realized then, Devian is not one to be taken lightly.

To smile faintly in the face of possible death, how bold is that?

Yet, there’s something different about his eyes.

Could they be the wise and life-weathered eyes of an elder?

His indescribable, tranquil, and serene gaze envelops me in deep thought.

Devian truly is an enigma, hard to measure.

Maybe it’s because he’s a saint.

Wait a minute? Legend has it saints are called by God and taken up to heaven.

Could it be… he was planning to annul the marriage and fly away? Surely not?

If he is the saint… it’s possible.

That’s why he seems so at ease.

Thinking of him, trying to leave for somewhere out of reach forever, dark emotions rise within me.

No. You can’t escape. After making me feel… this way. Where do you think you’re going?

I feel the urgency to become one with him quickly.

To prevent him from ascending to the heavens forever.

They say a saintess becomes an ordinary woman once she loses her purity.

Wouldn’t the same apply to a saint?

Probably it’s the same for a saint.

No one can take him from me, not even if that someone is God.

Then Lucius presents his final opinion.

“Therefore, in accordance with imperial law, I petition His Highness for the execution of the traitor.”

“Before the verdict, I have matters to discuss with him alone. Everyone, leave us.”

I had planned to tease Devian a bit more, but his gaze is irritating.

His confident gaze.

But my innermost feelings are of no concern to the ministers, who wear earnest expressions.

Lucius and Mueller, wishing to enjoy the situation a bit longer, step forward.

“Your Majesty! I do not know what this vile traitor might do! Please retract your command!”

“Indeed, Your Majesty! Are you not aware of how much this man has manipulated the empire until now?”

But… it can’t be now. I must become one with him quickly to ease this restless heart.

Therefore, I solemnly proclaimed.

“Enough!”

I declare that I will not accept any more objections or further questions.

“Have I not commanded you all?”

Karl, with a cautious expression, pressed as if questioning a deviation from the plan.

“Ah… However…”

I spoke briefly, imbued with the intent of a warning.

“Are you defying the imperial command?”

“Then… I shall take my leave.”

Thus, the ministers and knights withdrew.

-Thud!

The massive door closed, leaving only Devian and me.