Proofreader: somnium

Gasp!

The chief attendant took a breath.

In fact, despite being maternal uncle and nephew, Cedric had never called the Emperor his uncle since childhood. It was the same when he was growing up in the capital before the age of ten.

It meant that Cedric did not deviate from his position as a subject, but it also meant that he did not regard the Emperor as blood.

The Emperor looked at Cedric with thoughtful eyes.

This is the first time you have called me like that.

I am honored.

Has there been any change of heart?

Cedric lowered his eyes and lowered his head deeper. It was to hide his expression.

I tried to forget that half the blood that runs through my body is Krates. As you may have known.

.

It is true that I resented uncle, and it is also true that I was afraid. More than that, I wanted to protect my family and my estate.

Yes, you were.

It is not going to happen anymore.

Cedric, whose expression completely calmed down, raised his gaze.

The Emperor could not read his mind. Cedric said before the thought crossed the Emperors mind.

Today my wife collapsed due to the persecution at the temple.

I was told that she voluntarily went there to cooperate with the investigation of the Rosan mansion. It may sound like an excuse, but I also said that there is no need for her to do that.

Yes, I know that.

Then?

She told her lady-in-waiting that she was forced to stay in the rough rooms used by the monks and to repent in the cold prayer room.

If Tia endured it, there must have been a good reason.

The Emperor said calmly. He didnt think too much about it, he truly believed it.

Cedric didnt waver.

Even if she put up with it for a reason, theres no difference that my wife was unfairly treated as a sinner?

Do you believe that Tia couldnt get out on her own?

I actually saw it with my own eyes. My wife collapsed on the cold stone floor of the prayer room, passed out and left there for nearly an hour. So the lady-in-waiting fired her flare and summoned the knights to ask for help.

Cedric said strongly.

Even then, the temple refused to let the guard visit and tried to block them.

.

At best one lady-in-waiting followed. But her body is weak. If shes blocked with force, theres no way shell be able to break through, right?

Cedric.

If I hadnt happened to arrive in the capital early, it wouldnt be strange if anything happened. The temple secretly tried to move my collapsed wife to another place while blocking my knights.

Cedric spoke slowly. It was so difficult to calm down during these words, he had to roll them in his mouth several times.

In addition, my wife is pregnant.

The Emperor paused. He couldnt help but express his surprise and bewilderment.

If Artizea is pregnant, the child she has in her womb is the heir to the Grand Duchy.

If the temple persecuted the Grand Duchess who was pregnant with such a child, it was no small matter.

I should say congratulations first, but thats not the case. Is she all right? If she collapsed.

Fortunately, she and the baby are safe.

Cedric chose the word.

And hearing it, the Emperor fully understood his will. Thats why he called him uncle instead of Your Majesty.

Do you want to punish Akim for treason?

Yes.

Cedric answered without hesitation.

The Emperor did not miss the moment when Cedric clenched his fist.

I am uncles nephew. Although only half of the blood flowing through this body belongs to the imperial family, I am a member of the imperial family.

Cedric bowed his head again.

Then my wife and child are also part of the imperial family.

The Emperor felt a shiver run from the tip of his head to his toes. His body trembled with excitement.

Because he realized that Cedric had decided to roll into the same world as him.

The Emperor wanted to laugh out loud. He wanted to say something to Cedrics father who had died.

To the knight of the princess who was noble until her death. Your child, who looks exactly like you, who was born with half of the same blood as mine, is now living in the same world as me.

Persecution after persecution, and until the moment his throat was cut, the Emperor failed to bring Leopric Evron to his knees.

Even when the Emperor seduced him with all kinds of wealth and power, provided him with pleasure, or threatened him by withholding on to the lifeline of the land called food, there was no way the Emperor could change his straight eyes.

He did kneel to the Crown Prince and to the new Emperor with all courtesy, but that was all.

He acted in the way he thought was right, and in his heart he had the princess as his wife who served the Emperor as her Lord.

But what about Cedric now? Cedric chose to kneel before the Emperor in order to get his revenge.

For the safety and future of his wife and child, he would forget about his parents resentment and the unfair treatment Evron suffered.

It is undoubtedly selfish. He eventually gave in to the world.

The Emperor leaned his body forward and said,

I understand what you mean.

.

Of course. You are my nephew, and your descendants are my grandnephews. What would have happened if she had miscarried?

Cedric did not respond to the Emperors words.

That was exactly what he intended. But it was unbearable for the Emperor to say that.

Still, Cedric persevered.

It is foolish to fail to protect a person who should be protected for ones own sake. Artizea taught him that.

And she and the child in her womb were the things that Cedric had to protect the most.

The Emperor asked.

What can I do for you?

There are those who kidnapped my wife, destroyed evidence and prevented me from intervening in this situation. I believed that they were ordered by Bishop Akim.

Hmm.

Please have two reliable guards present as witnesses in the interrogation. We want to ensure that the temple does not question the fairness of the interrogation.

Alright.

The Emperor nodded his head.

However, there will be backlash from the protesters. Do you have any thoughts about that? If you plan to forcefully suppress it, I will lend you the military.

The heresy interrogation is intended to be led by an otherwise trusted clergyman. That should calm them down to some extent.

Come to think of it, Brother Colton was helping your wife. But will he listen? He doesnt listen to me. Besides, temples are not easy to sway about.

I have to convince them. At least the Archbishop will be compelled to cooperate with me.

Well, the temple has operated with its greed for worldly power, so no priest can pretend that they dont know that. Besides, the Archbishop has been quite friendly with you so far, and hes ignored these things, so it wont be in vain.

Cedric said with his head down.

Leave me the work of the Dowager Marchioness of Rosan.

.

The Emperor did not respond to this request.

I understand that Your Majesty feels uneasy. Its also true that I dont like her.

.

However, she is the mother of my wife and the maternal grandmother of the child to be born. Ill make sure the thing that you worry about doesnt happen. Leave the disposal to me entirely.

The Emperor thought for a long time.

He wouldnt interfere, he couldnt heartlessly say it didnt matter.

Maybe it was a good thing. A father, who had nearly lost his child for treason, had to deal with treason. It could have been easier for the citizens to understand too.

And above all, the Emperor would not be blamed.

The Emperor nodded his head.

Yes. You have a reputation, so youll do well. I will leave it to you.

Thank you.

Cedric bowed his head deeply and greeted in gratitude.

I have a lot of work to do, so Ill leave.

Well. Even if you are not, the officers of the Guards and the Central Army are gathered here, so it would be good to say that you have received all authorities from me as you go out now.

The Emperor said so and called the chief attendant, who had been standing politely beside him until then.

Deliver my orders to the waiting room first, and have the scribe write down the Imperial Decree and give it to Cedric.

I will.

The chief attendant bowed.

And he stepped back first, and opened the door for Cedric. Cedric bowed again to the Emperor and went out.

The Emperor then opened his mouth wide and laughed the laughter he had been holding back. And he called the attendant and gave orders.

Although Akim is greedy, he wouldnt have the guts to do this alone. Dig out whos in the background.

The attendant bowed without a word and left. Of course Cedric would also investigate the background, but the Emperor had to figure it out for himself first.

This was an opportunity to firmly seize Grand Duke Roygar.

***

Cedric first went to the audience waiting room under the guidance of the chief attendant, and met with members of the military, including Gayan and Amalie.

You could have had a really big trouble.

Gayan offered a word of consolation.

In Evron Grand Duchy, there was only one blood descendant until now, Your Grace. This should be congratulated, but I am sorry that I am not in a situation where I can easily say such a thing.

I was very surprised that the Knights of Evron took action. There were also some who suspected rebellion.

said Amalie.

Few people can guess how much thought she has been through in the hours from when she heard of the news until now.

She was determined to stand by Cedrics side. But that meant supporting Cedric as the next power, not betraying the Emperor right now.

Its not rebellion, Dame Harper. Didnt the Knights of Evron rather go out of the capital? If it was a coup, they would have targeted the Imperial Palace.

Sir Gayan, no matter how deaf you are, I didnt say anything dangerous. Im saying this in a sense that there shouldnt be such a trivial excuse.

Amalie replied back with a slight frown.

Anyway, since His Majestys permission has been granted, the Guards and the Central Army will cooperate at any time, as long as you speak up.

said Gayan.

Sir Keshore intervened.

More than that, the health of Her Grace. Is she alright? Shes a weak person, so I dont know if she can hold on.

The doctor says it is absolutely stable for the time being, and it is not dangerous. All I can do is hope that she is safe.

It was when Cedric answered.

A man approached from the other side of the hallway. The sound of footsteps echoed through the long corridors of the Imperial Palace.

Cedric paused.

The other side also stopped. The light of the lamp was weak, but the neat and beautiful face was recognizable even in the shadows.

It was Lawrence.

Lawrence seemed to recognize Cedric as well. He looked surprised. He hadnt heard of Cedrics return yet.

Lawrences face contorted. His soft lips were clenched.

And he tried to go past Cedric, as if he had decided to ignore Cedric.

Lawrence.

Cedric called him.