Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Isilis heard the report from the minister of the military.

“So, they’re still at the gates?”

“That’s right.”

“Did they know that the attack was from our side?”

“Seeing Duke Hillenton still there, I don’t think they ever heard of it.”

“Duke Hillenton?”

“The royal family in question.”

“Ah, that one.”

“I knew he was the defender of the border, but I didn’t know he would have come this far.”

“Does he have a lack of information?”

“I heard that he had been hiding his presence at the border recently, but I did not know that he was escorting the Crown Prince here.”

“It’s a mistake.”

“Forgive me.”

Isilis waved her hand as she watched the minister of the military bow his head.

“It’s okay. There is nothing a single knight can do here alone.”

With the magic barrier that protects the capital, even the knights could not move freely. When knights who reach the level of a Sword Master try to use their auras, they would be caught in the capital’s barrier, and their inside would be shaken.

The Capital of the Larchen Empire—a place where non-magical people couldn’t come and make a disturbance. Even if a wizard came, their magic was destroyed immediately after causing a disturbance.

It was the capital of the Larchen Empire.

“Is the minister of finance ready?”

“Yes. He promises to throw a claim for restitution to their face.”

“The bigger the amount, the better.”

“He said that he would claim all the money he spent and send it to them.”

“If they don’t give the money, they can’t get out of this capital.”

“Understood.”

Isilis beckoned, thinking that she would show the Empire properly to those who looked down on it. She shook her head at the sight of the minister of the military retreating after saying his greetings.

She hadn’t been feeling well since yesterday as her fever went up and down, and she felt anxious. Her body trembled, and she ordered the brazier to be prepared. At her words, the chief attendant called the imperial doctor.

“The imperial doctor has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Isilis, who had been sitting with a tired look, straightened her body. Seeing her appearance, the imperial doctor immediately opened his mouth.

“Your complexion is bad, Your Majesty.”

“There are a lot of things to be concerned about lately.”

“Would it be because of your trip?”

“Are you blaming me for not being here?”

“I’m saying this because I don’t know where and how the impure elements will target your Majesty.”

“Stop nagging.”

It was the imperial doctor, looking intently at her as she reached out her hand with a tired look.

“Still, Your Majesty…”

“What?”

“Did you go on a trip to work?”

“Work?”

“What…is it?”

“What are you implying?”

“No, I can’t see it exactly, although I’ll have to wait a bit more to find out… It almost seems right.”

“What?”

“A child.”

“…Child?”

“It seems like it will come out for sure in a week or so, still…”

Isilis laughed at the imperial doctor’s gaze at her.

“Ahahahahaha!”

At the same time, the imperial doctor, the attendants, and the handmaids, hurriedly knelt down on their knees.

“Congratulations.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“It’s enough. Everyone get up.”

Opened her mouth again, she watched those who raised their body at her words.

“Imperial doctor”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“When will you know for sure?”

She asked the imperial doctor, who was much older than her.

The imperial doctor was a member of a loyal family who had served the Imperial Family from the predecessor Empress and the predecessor above it. After the disappearance of the predecessor Empress, he was one of the people who comforted Isilis.

He was also one of those who knew how much she wanted to have a child.

“I think it will be certain in two weeks.”

“I’m glad to follow your advice.”

“I didn’t know you would really put it into practice.”

Before leaving, Isilis secretly summoned him and asked him when she would become pregnant. As soon as she reached the date, the imperial doctor said, she crossed over to the port and met the man.

“Well, how I did it…”

“It’s not something you should say in front of an old man.”

“Why would you say that?”

The Emperor had no shame. It was in the very first sentence of imperial history.

“By the way, who is it? Who dares to our Majesty…!”

Isilis’s mouth drew a line while watching the imperial doctor’s fluttering trembling body filled with anger.

“Is he a good person?”

“In my opinion.”

“What does he do?”

“I don’t know.”

“Is he a noble?”

“At least, he was a Sword Master.”

“Then, that’s a relief.”

From the moment the Empress conceived, the child in her womb was a descendant of the Imperial Family. Whomever the child’s father or mother was, it didn’t matter. It was important that the child was born of imperial blood.

The child was even the first descendant of the Empress. If that child had red hair and was born with red magic, it would have been perfect. Among the children of the imperial family, the children who were not born with red magic could be counted with a hand.

“Then, Your Majesty’s succession will be established.”

“Right.”

“You have to be more careful.”

“Of course.”

“What will we do about the people of the Hillenton Empire?”

“Something important happened to the Imperial Palace, so we have to send them back. We can’t let outsiders into the palace, right?”

If she had not been pregnant, she could have taken care of things though things were different now. Outsiders could not be brought into the presence of the Empress, who was having her successor. It was to protect the Imperial Family of the Larchen Empire.

“Close the Imperial Palace.”

“I will obey your orders.”

“Call Faylos before you close it down.”

“Your Majesty. He…”

“Call him.”

“Understood.”

As the chief attendant took her orders and went outside, the imperial doctor gave a warning, “You should never overdo it. I will prepare meals to supplement nutrients in the future. In addition…”

“Stop it.”

“Your Majesty… Whatever it is, the first is the most important.”

“I know, so stop it. Just prepare the meal.”

“Then, you should eat whatever was put on it.”

The imperial doctor, who had always been dissatisfied with the amount of food she ate, spoke as if he had made up his mind. He greeted her as Isilis nodded her head and waved her hand to let him go.

“A child…”

She really didn’t know that she would be able to have a child in that one month.

“…Is it true?”

Although the imperial doctor said that he had to wait a little longer, Isilis was filled with excitement and fear.

“If there was the predecessor Empress…”

It would have been better. She jumped up, thinking she would have said many things if her mother had been there.

“I’m tired, so I’m going to bed early.”

At her words, the attendants and handmaids moved in unison. Her steps were light as she moved slowly.

The thought of delivering a blow to the nobles who were shouting for succession made her feel better. Isilis, who opened the drawer while unwinding the sealing spell in her bedroom, took out the necklace.

Two necklaces were shining brightly in the same shape… The necklace with only the jewel in the middle that was different was probably an important item for the man.

“He’s that… crybaby?”

* * *

It was when Isilis followed the predecessor Empress to her first battlefield. She met the crybaby as she was upset when she committed her first murder.

As she looked at the crying child, she lost her desire to cry. She thought he was injured, so it was nice to treat him and even talk. The child was rather a burden to her as she was chased away by men in black robes.

After running for a while, the child gained strength and pulled her with all his might.

“You must run away!”

‘That’s your case.’

She couldn’t run because she was tired of running away. Isilis laughed as she cast a protective spell on the child.

“If you don’t get out of here, you’ll be safe.”

“What about you? Hurry up and open this!”

“Wait here.”

Isilis, who made the barrier, walked towards those in black. As she slowly moved away from the child, she gave a cold smile as she cast the sleep spell.

“You dare to kill the Larchen’s Imperial Family?”

She threw magic at the people in black from both hands.

The first was difficult, the second was easy. Rather, as her life was threatened in the immediate vicinity, she felt a strong desire to live. So, she killed them all without leaving a trace. Only then did the words of her mother, the predecessor Empress, make sense.

Keeping her enemies alive would cause trouble someday, so they must be killed—those who seek the throne… even those who sought her own life.

‘…I will kill them all.’

It was the day she, as an imperial family, firmly decided the attitude she should have.

* * *

“But, It was also thanks to that.”

Looking at the necklace in the light, she tucked it and threw the necklace into the drawer.

“If I see you again…”

She would think about it then, whether to stay with him or not.

* * *

The situation was changing rapidly. The envoys, who visited for trade negotiations in the Hillenton Empire, eventually returned to Hillenton after paying part of the compensation without getting anything.

Immediately, the palace was closed. By the time the surprised officials entered the palace, it was already too late.

“From today, I am acting as the Emperor.”

The nobles below the Duke were flustered when they found Faylos smiling while they were taking out the documents.

“No, where is Her Majesty?”

“Her Majesty is not in good health.”

“What nonsense!”

“Is the Grand Duke detaining Her Majesty?”

At that, Faylos opened his mouth with sharp eyes toward Duke Verus, who expressed his doubts, “Then? What will the Duke do?”

“Let me see Her Majesty!”

“That is not possible.”

Behind Faylos, the Imperial Guard and Imperial Wizards appeared.

“The imperial decree has been issued to give Faylos the authority as acting Emperor from today on. Please, kneel.”

“I can’t do that!”

“Then, take him.”

Duke Verus, who was resisting, was taken away by the imperial wizard. Meanwhile, all the nobles who watched it froze.

“Now, who’s next?”

Faylos’ words brought the nobles to their knees all at once.