Chapter 51

Chapter 51

“…What did you say just now?”

“I said ‘then.’ What are you asking me to do?”

“Your Majesty! The Imperial Family has a duty to protect Larchen!”

“To force my duty without protecting my rights. Why should I use my strength for those of you who don’t appreciate what I do?”

“Your Majesty…!”

“Isn’t that true? Why? Are you going to lock me up and use my magic power?”

The nobles froze at the atmosphere that had changed in an instant as it seemed certain that Marquis Cyrka had said something stupid. All the nobles who came running fell to their knees.

“…Your Majesty! Please rethink your decision.”

“I have always respected your opinions.”

“Please rethink your decision!”

Seeing the nobles shouting in unison, Isilis clicked her tongue. It was difficult to properly deal with the monsters that appeared on the border, so they asked for help. Seeing the nobles shouting in unison, blinded by their own interests, made her sigh.

“Your Majesty.”

“My vacation is not over yet.”

She liked the overflowing magic power. It was the first time since she inherited the position of Empress that she was in such good condition.

The feeling that something was always leaving her body… she lived with that sense of loss, but now her magical energy no longer felt drained. If anything, her body was in the best shape of her life.

“Your Majesty. To the young nobles’ slip of the tongue…”

“Slip of the tongue? Did you say it was a mistake…?”

“We were wrong!”

The Marquis, who had spoken to her, lowered his head without even finishing his words properly. With Isilis’s eyes growing colder, Duke Verus stepped out.

“Your Majesty.”

“Tell me, Duke. What should I do with those who carelessly mentioned the Imperial Family and their magical powers?”

“Your Majesty can do as she pleases.”

“Hoo. Is that okay?”

“To have a dangerous idea that shakes the foundations of the empire… it seems that they are not alone.”

“Do you think so, too?”

As she glanced at each of the nobles who were bowing their heads, there were several nobles who avoided her.

“These are the ones who deny the title succession law. May it be done according to Your Majesty’s will.”

“Duke…!”

“Be quiet!”

Duke Verus shouted resolutely. He bent down again and spoke to Isilis.

“Please punish them, feel sorry for the people of the empire and forgive them just this once.”

Other nobles agreed with Duke Verus’ words that they would entrust Isilis with how she would deal with nobles like Marquis Cyrka.

The monster problem at the moment was time sensitive. If Marquis Cyrka couldn’t withstand the monsters’ invasion, the next territory would be the County. While other empires were poking at their borders, they couldn’t turn their troops around.

Their failure was caused by how they depended only on Isilis’ magical power and failed to prepare for the changed situation.

“Then, put a seal on it.”

“What?”

She had no intention of letting the nobles climb on her. The reason she showed her own power while retrieving the magical power was not only for the Princess’ sale but also to further strengthen her imperial authority. She had to obtain a memorandum from nobles for a powerful imperial power.

“Bring it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At her call, the escort knight standing behind handed out a document. It was a memorandum stating that when nobles plotted rebellion, the disposition would be entrusted to the Empress. A murmur could be heard among the nobles who had read the paper, but Isilis did not care.

“Looks like you’re going to commit treason.”

The nobles scrambled to stamp their seals at her words. By the time most of the assembled nobles had put their seals on, Isilis, who had been lying at an angle, got up.

“Did you say you needed a barrier?”

“It is. Your Majesty.”

“Since you have shown me your loyalty, I must also repay it.”

With that, she blew her magic into barriers throughout the empire. As her full energy drained away in an instant, she felt empty as the barriers of the imperial castle were being built tightly again.

It was then.

“Your Majesty..!”

“Be quiet!”

“Your Majesty! It’s not possible!”

When Allure interfered while she was trying to establish a barrier, the nobles around him held on to him. Isilis saw him, too, but if she stopped in the middle of setting up the barrier, she could be hurt by the magic.

As time passed and the barrier was completed, she glanced at Allure.

“What is it?”

“The Princess has disappeared!”

“What did you say?”

“The… nobles!”

The nobles standing in front of Isilis knelt at Allure’s words, who shouted with anger. Even the nobles were taken aback by what happened within minutes of signing the oath.

“The video stone… Video stone!”

As the enraged Isilis’ magic exploded, the escort knights and wizards hurriedly moved as she shouted. They listened to Allure while they brought the video stone.

“While I was taking the Princess, I was attacked by young nobles. Taking advantage of the gap in the palace barriers, they came into the palace and while fighting against them, the Princess’ body glowed and disappeared in an instant.”

“…Does her body glow?”

“Yes.”

Isilis staggered at Allure’s words, biting her lips.

“Your Majesty!”

Duke Verus cried out in concern, and she waved her hand.

“Who is it? Who dared to do this?”

“These were the ones who sympathized with Marquis Cyrka’s thoughts.”

“Where are they?”

“I caught them with restraint magic. Even though I missed one, the barrier is activated, so they won’t be able to get out easily.”

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As soon as she finished her words, Allure hurried out of the garden. No one faced her as she looked around the aristocrats with burning eyes. They were all bowing their heads.

“What do you think?”

A nobleman trembled at her lowered voice and barely opened his mouth.

“We have nothing to do with it. Your Majesty. Please…”

“That is not what I asked.”

“Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

“I asked what you think, Duke.”

No one answered her words.

“It is the third time the princess was targeted. In the end, they finally succeeded.”

Her vision was obscured. All she did became meaningless… it was meant for the child, but the child disappeared.

“We… we’ll find her. Your Majesty!”

“That’s right! We’ll find her!”

“Give us a chance!”

As she closed her eyes and caught her breath, Isilis tried to be calm. There was nothing good about being agitated. Continuing to think, she tried to stay calm.

‘Her body was shining…’

There might be two causes… either the princess manifested her magical power, or the protective magic from Berthas’ necklace was manifested. Still, either way, it was good because they both meant that the princess was safe.

According to Allure, the Princess shone and disappeared without a chance for the nobles to harm her. Isilis decided to believe more in the fact that the Princess was alive. That was a reasonable conclusion.

With her eyes submerged at the nobles clamoring in front of her, she opened her mouth.

“You will find the Princess?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“We will.”

As she listened to the nobles, Isilis raised her cold, sunken eyes. The nobles who met her gaze flinched and turned their heads. She tried to keep her cool. The Princess would be alive since a magical weapon enchanted with protection magic would have protected the child.

Isilis kept repeating so.

‘…I just needed to find her.’

“Should I trust you?”

“Please trust us.”

“Those who have blasphemous thoughts?”

“We will find them, too.”

“I will.”

With Duke Verus at the head, other nobles scrambled to speak out as they feared that Isilis would break the barrier.

“Duke Verus. Get the Marquess.”

“I will follow your orders.”

“Marquis Miller.”

“Yes. Your Majesty.”

“I will entrust you with finding her princess. Be sure to find her and bring it before me.”

“I take orders.”

“The rest of the nobles will, of course, cooperate with those two, right?”

“We will follow your orders.”

As she listened to the nobles speaking in unison, Isilis gestured. She sighed as she watched the nobles retreat at her beckoning, as she couldn’t control the emotions running through her. It seemed that she would only be able to feel relieved if she could see the Princess’s safety with her own eyes.

It was the knights and wizards who looked at her restlessly and turned her attention.

The Emperor’s anxiety was something they couldn’t see in their eyes. She murmured as she left the spot and headed for her office after going back and forth for a while.

“They’ll find her soon.”

However, the reality was not so easy.

Berthas looked up in confusion at the sudden feeling of magic. A light was shining from his necklace.

“What is this…”

“Uwaangggg!”

The voice of a child crying mightily echoed through his barracks. All the subordinates in the meeting looked at him in amazement.

“Your Excellency, what’s going on?”

“What is this child?”

“Who is it?”

He was dazed at the words that sounded at the same time. The child nestled in his arms was crying loudly. Clumsily handling the child, Berthas looked into the child’s face.

It was his child… the daughter of him and Isilis.

‘Why is the child who should be protected in the Imperial Palace here?’

Surprised by the sudden incident, they stopped the meeting and approached Berthas.

Surrounded by the large men, his daughter stopped crying and gazed at them curiously. She was a curious child. Berthas laughed at the sight of his daughter smiling casually, even though she could have been overwhelmed by the men.

“Captain, don’t just laugh and explain. Who is this?”

“My daughter.”

“Oh, I see. What?”

“I said it was my daughter.”

“Did you say… daughter?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, this is the captain’s…”

“That’s how it happened.”

“So, you are the royal family of Hillenton with legitimacy.”

“That’s right.”

“The regent you talked about…”

“It will be me.”

His words made everyone forget what to say. They were planning a strategy to attack Hillenton’s capital, but it didn’t feel real.

Berthas declared that he would depose Hillenton’s Emperor and Crown Prince, but they were Hillenton’s knights. Everyone couldn’t open their mouths because of the feeling that reality was suddenly approaching.

“If you change your mind even now, tell me.”

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“It can’t be.”

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