Chapter 97

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After Kathleen went missing due to an earthquake that caused an avalanche in the North, her body was never found and so she was considered dead. But when she came back, she had to go through administrative procedures to sort things out.

However, if Kathleen returned as a Winston to the Grand Duchy, her identity as the daughter of Count Winston would have to be re-examined. Everton Winston had already lost the Margrave title and Isabella Winston had joined hands with the Empress Dowager and Hopewell to commit treason, making the Winstons a family of traitors. Peter was trying to give Kathleen a new identity to solve the problem.

“Give it back to me.”

Alexis looked at the imperial decree with a better expression on his face.

At the bottom of the imperial decree, various additional regulations were written as suggested by this political marriage. He read it thoroughly with contentment.

‘Irreversible and eternal marriage.’

The phrases that intertwined him and Kathleen were satisfying.

“Oh, Your Highness. This is the second imperial decree. This one is the first.”

Viscount Rylent, who belatedly checked the numbers engraved on the outside of the scroll, looked at him with a puzzled face, and took out another scroll and held it out. Fortunately, his superior did not get angry. Alexis calmly took the other document and read it.

“What is it?”

When Kathleen asked, Alexis said with a smile.

“The Margrave title is being given to House Usmund.”

“What? Margrave?”

To her surprise, Alexis handed her the imperial order to see for herself. Kathleen took it and looked at it hurriedly.

It was written in detail that the border territories ruled by Count Winston as well as his authority will be handed over to Cassiel, the head of House Usmund, and support the people of the North to self-govern together with the people of the Winter Fairies. The recipient was Cassiel Usmund, accompanied by a document sealed with the emperor’s seal.

‘That’s right. Peter had written to uncle and said that she wanted to talk.’

Her heart warmed. In order to create a peaceful empire as an emperor, Peter did not forget her family and was willing to embrace them as new citizens of the empire as well. The first hand that Peter extended would be a loss for the empire.

Still, she was willing to entrust the security of the empire to the immigrants at the borders.

“Then you will become a lady from the house of Count Usmund, and His Majesty will go through the process of bringing the lady of the Count of Usmund to Meyer as the new Grand Duchess.”

Viscount Rylent cleared up the situation with a delighted expression. Kathleen said, holding Alexis’ hand quietly.

“I hope that my uncle will also understand Peter’s intentions. I’ll go and tell him.”

“Yes.”

Alexis said, seemingly thinking about something.

“I need to go to the Imperial Palace for a while. I’ll prepare to leave, Kathleen.”

Then he left the dining hall rather quickly.

‘Will Peter be okay?’

Alexis denied the fact that the emperor was a woman, so it was settled, but there was a high probability that the nobles would not believe it yet. If titles were conferred to foreign nationals under such circumstances, there would be great opposition. With a worried mind, Kathleen looked down at Alexis through the window as he headed for the Imperial Palace.

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“This is out of question, Your Majesty!”

The voices of the nobles shouting “Absolutely impossible!” gathered together and resounded throughout the conference room.

“The decision to adjust the tax rate in the South will completely put all the burden to the lords, but to include the North too? You can’t do that.”

“That’s right. Moreover, if you give the title of Count to the northern immigrants, the authority of the lord who previously ruled the North will be greatly reduced. What do you believe in the immigrants that the empire has to sacrifice so much?”

“This would be a deplorable thing for the previous emperors!”

Those who rushed in and spoke out of opposition showed no signs of backing down. Peter glared at them and pointed out one by one.

“Those who are now being called immigrants by the lords were indigenous people who had lived in the North for a long time as their homeland. However, since it was the former Count Winston who drove them out of their homes arbitrarily without reporting to the imperial palace, how is it undermining the authority of the other lords to punish him and restore everything to its original state?”

“Even if it was arbitrary, it expanded the territory of the empire, so it should be regarded as merit. Moreover, it is impossible to give the people of a colony, once subjugated, the power to rule on their own!”

Cleverly avoiding the emperor’s point of view, they kept their position and raised their voices, making her head throb. Growing weary of the fact that she had to carry on a never-ending, exhausting quarrel, Peter struggled to pull herself together.

‘This is a problem I have to solve in my generation. Otherwise, issues about their origins will remain.’

Even if they weren’t Kathleen’s family, it was necessary and had to be done for the sake of the unity in the empire someday. Fortunately, thanks to Kathleen, Cassiel Usmund showed signs of willingness to talk, so this opportunity should not be missed.

“The Usmund family is a prestigious family whose name remains in legends, and their knowledge of the topography of the northern borders will be of great help in preventing foreign powers. Besides, they have a deep knowledge of medicinal plants growing in the forests of Carmine, so there are many things that can coexist with the Empire. Which is why…….”

“Your Majesty is wrong.”

Peter doubted her ears at the words she heard.

Since her days of being the Crown Prince, no noble has ever treated her so impudently. Peter became the crown prince when she was young and took over after the fall of the Emperor, and Peter was a member of the imperial family with superior legitimacy than anyone else.

He dared to crush the emperor’s will with insolent words and attitude.

Marquis Ostaver continued to say with a sarcastic smile.

“Your Majesty is still young, so you might think so. But the Empire is not so fragile. Shouldn’t we be planning to drive out the natives, whether north or south, and let the people of the Empire live there? It is only right for every man to think so.”

It felt like someone had hit the back of her head with a sledgehammer. Now she understood why they were gritting their teeth and opposing her.

‘You’re wondering if I’m acting weakly because I’m a woman.’

A laugh leaked out.

Nothing has changed from before but the Emperor’s abilities were being questioned just from the allegations raised by Count Hopewell.

Peter tried to stay calm and slowly persuaded them.

“With the case of the South, it is a waste of time and resources to suppress sporadic rebellions from time to time. We’d be better off appeasing the people so they don’t get swept away by calls for rebellion.”

“If that’s the case, then it’s better to have an army stationed there and wipe out all the immigrants.”

She was dumbfounded. Talking about catching and killing all those who are living a good life?

“Why do you hesitate, Your Majesty? Are you afraid?”

“That’s enough.”

Intercepting Marquis Ostaver’s sarcastic remarks, someone walked into the conference room. All eyes turned towards the door.

“Grand Duke?”

“Your Highness! Are you well?”

In an instant, all the nobles flocked to him. Peter also came to her senses with her eyes wide open at the unexpected appearance. Although she was informed that Alexis had regained consciousness, she was in a hurry to attend the meeting, so she did not know the exact condition and only sent the imperial orders.

“Brother.”

Peter immediately regretted it when she realized that she had happily called out the name she used to address him privately, in this public place. How could she have made such a basic mistake in a situation where her authority was being challenged?

“Your Majesty.”

By the time she was in a state of embarrassment, Alexis shunned all the other nobles and came closer to Peter and knelt down on one of his knees.

“I am now reporting my return. Forgive me for being late.”

The nobles, with their dignified expression on their faces, murmured.

“What happened? Why are you…….”

“You haven’t heard the rumors, have you?”

The nobles thought that Grand Duke Walten would be at odds with the emperor and tried to stand by his side, but when the plan went awry, they looked embarrassed.

Alexis looked up at Peter calmly. What his actions meant was clear. As a Grand Duke, he showed allegiance to the emperor and gave full support to her.

Peter’s eyes widened when she realized her brother’s intention.

“I’m glad you’re back. I’ve been waiting.”

Peter lifted Alexis up by hand. If you were an emperor, you should only lightly tap on his shoulder, but right now she was his younger sibling.

Alexis gladly took the hand and stood up. Then he looked back at her carefully and said.

“But Your Majesty. A group of rats are still alive in the Imperial Palace. No matter how much blood was shed in the war, there’s no need to show mercy. We must clean them up.”

His cold gaze lingered on Marquis Ostaver for a long time. At the blatant warning, Marquis Ostaver frowned and lowered his head. His back seemed to shiver and tremble.

“I didn’t know because I wasn’t interested in the Imperial Palace, but it seems pretty serious. If you give me an order, I will send my knights to the Imperial Palace to help clean things up.”

This time, his gaze rested on the nobles other than Marquis Ostaver. They also flinched and did not make eye contact with Marquis Ostaver.

“Then let’s proceed with the meeting.”

Alexis sat down naturally. After that, it was a quick decision. The meeting was over after all of the nobles who had been opposing the agenda voted in favor of it.

“Thanks to you, it was a success.”

Peter said in the conference room after everyone had left and there was only the two of them.

“Thank you for your help.”

She was sincere. Peter felt neither inferior nor jealousy towards Alexis. Because she knew he really wanted to help her.

“I didn’t help you. It was simply a reasonable proposition.”

Alexis said calmly.

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