Chapter 32

Chapter 32

“Illis?”

Berthas’ eyebrows twitched when he heard Faylos calling Isillis by her nickname.

“Oh, that’s her childhood nickname. Didn’t Iris tell you?”

He wanted to punch Faylos in the face with a single blow. As he watched him press down on his clenched fist, Faylos sat down on the chair by the side table.

“Berthas. Illis is the Empress.”

“I know…!”

Berthas cried out in anger.

He knew it, but still, it did not mean he wanted to keep hearing that fact. He knew… He felt it clearly. He knew that he had no choice but to look from afar because she was the Empress. Feeling desperate as he thought so, why did he keep telling him that?

​“What do you want me to do? Talk to her? To come with me? Leave all this behind? Will she even step down? I can’t do that either… Let go of the woman who gave birth to my child? How do you dare say that? I am also from the imperial family of Hillenton. I’m a relinquished heir, but my child can become the Empress! It doesn’t have to be Larchen. She can become the Empress in my country…!”

​Faylos looked at him in surprise as he shouted, shaking his body in anger.

​”You…”

Berthas caught his breath and ruffled his hair.

​“It is inevitable that the woman I love is the Empress, but not the child. If Larchen won’t take my daughter as heir, I’ll take her with me.”

“But, what are you going to do?”

“Isilis. She said she would put the child in the successor seat, so I’ll wait. However, as soon as the nobles’ opposition says no, I will take the child with me.”

“Illis won’t leave you like that. She’s never failed to do what she wanted.”

“So, that was why she must have risen to the supreme position. Still, that’s why it’s dangerous. Don’t you know that there are more things that don’t go as planned in that place?”

“That’s right.”

“Larchen is weird. The Emperors of other empires could do as they will.”

​‘…Like my father did.’

In the Larchen Empire, where the Empress’s magical powers represent absolute power, the Empress’s will was the law.

Nevertheless, the succession issue was different. It was clear that there would be riots at the moment when a country that relied heavily on the Imperial Family’s magical powers announced that she would pass the throne to an Imperial Family member without magical power.

Berthas was well aware of that fact.

​“Iris won’t let it go. If you take the child.”

“If my daughter is unhappy by being here, I will take her and leave.”

As he spoke resolutely, Faylos was at a loss for words. What did he say to Berthas, who had already made a decision? He couldn’t say anything.

Berthas sighed as Faylos kept his mouth firmly shut.

After he saved the child, he thought a lot… What would happen to the child? Did she have to go through this suffering over and over again? The maids’ words were only the starting point. He had no intention of letting go of Isilis or the child.

​“I hope it can be like that.”

“If it doesn’t work, I’ll make it work.”

​Faylos, who was staring at Berthas, smiled.

“Now, it looks like you have some motivation in life.”

“Well… That’s right.”

“Good luck.”

“Are you relieved?”

“As a friend of yours.”

“Right.”

“And it is better for Isilis, too.”

“Is it?”

“Isilis was originally not interested in anything other than the throne. But, she started looking around, so it’s better.”

“Looking around?”

“Yes. The Imperial Family of Larchen was originally concerned only with maintaining peace in the empire. So, the boredom of the Imperial Family was the problem of the Empire. They won’t be interested in anything since they would end up falling in physical attraction every time. The only people who didn’t walk that path were the previous Empress and Iris. However, Iris is different… Boredom is not in her.”

“She is different.”

“I see a little bit of humanity in seeing her take care of you and the child instead of in the Empress’s seat.”

“…Humanity?”

Berthas made a rather strange look while looking at Faylos, who nodded. The Isilis that he knew and the Isilis that Faylos knew seemed to be different people. The Isilis he knew was a woman who was frank in expressing her emotions and sometimes fragile.

‘Is she only showing emotions to me?’

​He was relieved deep inside his heart. It meant that it was not that he meant nothing to Isilis. Berthas was glad to know that she still gave her heart to him a little bit.

“Now that you have become a distinguished guest, stay here proudly.”

“I came here to negotiate a trade, and since this is what happened, I’m trying to drag on the time.”

Faylos nodded his head at Berthas’ words.

​“I wish you could stay as long as possible.”

“So is my wish.”

​Leaving a smile at those words, Faylos disappeared behind the wall again.

​“Grand Duke…”

​He felt that he had a too great person as a friend.

“Well, Isilis…”

The woman he loves. The woman who gave birth to his child was the Empress… Berthas couldn’t sleep with those deep thoughts.

​”Your Excellency!”

Early in the morning he heard the news of what had happened yesterday, Hector slammed the door open. When the sun came up, Berthas, who had barely fallen asleep, got up from his bed and was annoyed.

​”What’s going on, Sir Hector?”

He painstakingly opened his narrowed brow. He was already awake, and it seemed far from going back to sleep.

​“What happened yesterday… Is it true that the Duke saved the princess of this country?”

“I did.”

“So, they freed us without any charges.”

“Set us free?”

“That’s right.”

Berthas’ disappearance coincided with the Princess’s disappearance, so the wizards of Larchen imprisoned his party. Nevertheless, after it became known that Berthas was the Princess’s savior, the wizards released them from custody.

“Then, do you think the trade negotiations will go well?”

“I think so.”

This and that seemed to be a different matter, but it would have a good effect anyway. Hector looked bright.

​”What a relief! If the Duke achieves this achievement and returns to Hillenton…”

“Ah, Sir Hector.”

Cutting off Hector’s joyful words, Berthas spoke.

​”Yes.”

“What do you think of the Imperial Family who are leading Hillenton now?”

“…What?”

“I asked what you think of the current Emperor and Crown Prince.”

“Are you asking about those who are greedy and have no ability?”

“Is there no room for reconsideration?”

“There is absolutely no room for reconsideration in my opinion.”

​Hearing Hector’s resolute words, Berthas smiled skeptically.

​“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

“Hector.”

“Yes.”

“Are you on my side? Or, are you on Hillenton’s side?”

​Hector was lost in thought when he asked that.

On Berthas’ side or on Hillenton’s side…? He couldn’t give an easy answer because Berthas had asked earlier about his uncle, the Emperor.

“I… I will stand by Your Excellency rather than the Emperor of Hillenton.”

“Then, are you going to follow me no matter what I do?”

“There is no way you will do anything wrong.”

​Hector talked like he misunderstood something, but Berthas nodded his head.

​“Then, what if I do something wrong?”

“But well… You’re the one who saved my life, so I’ll say something harsh to you.”

“What if I still do something wrong?”

“…I will follow.”

Hector, who felt an unusual aura to Berthas’ repeated questions, answered coldly.

​’I think this is…’

​“Hector.”

“Yes.”

“I made up my mind.”

“….”

​As Berthas glanced up with determined eyes, Hector swallowed a gulp in a sense of tension.

​“When I return to Hillenton after this trade deal is over, I will have to find my place.”

“Your Excellency…!”

​Hector rejoiced when Berthas said that he would seek his Imperial Family’s rights. Then, suddenly, he was curious.

​”By the way… Is that possible?”

“The promise I made was that I would not ascend to the throne. Does that mean… Then, that I can do everything other than ascending the throne?”

“Ah…”

Hector, noticing the loophole in the oath, lit up his eyes.

​”Then…”

“Then, I can raise someone with my own hands.”

“Then…”

“Then, I can become a regent ….. Isn’t it?”

“Your Excellency…!”

​Hector called out to Berthas as his complexion brightened.

It was what he had been hoping for. If Berthas had just made up his mind, Hillenton would have fallen into his grasp sooner. Not towards that Crown Prince and Emperor. Even among the nobles, opinions were divided.

The opinion was that it would be better for Berthas to become Emperor. Hector was deeply disappointed because Berthas did not respond even after hearing the news.

He was willing to fight and help him if Berthas was determined.

This was the idea not only of Hector himself but also of the army led by Berthas. It was also good news for many nobles of the Hillenton Empire who had been in secret contact. Tired of the current Emperor’s stupidity, tired of their unnoble appearance, how many nobles have complained to Berthas?

He had a face that resembled the appearance of an Emperor and a kindness that knew how to take care of the weak. Nobles were not the only ones who fell in love with him, who possessed the charisma that an Emperor should possess.

​But, that spring…

​How many people were disappointed when the spring water prevented him from aiming for the throne?

Hector’s words were like a ray of light to Hector, who had seen the men come to Berthas and ask what he could do. Although his territory has expanded, the imperial people of the Hillenton Empire are always in poverty.

A new path could be opened for those struggling with too high a tax rate. And Hector himself was one of Hillenton’s nobles waiting for Berthas.

“Well, now…”

“Now, I won’t stay still anymore. I, Berthas Hillenton, should be regent.”

“Then, who do you plan to put on the throne?”

“My child.”

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