CH 35

The Imperial Conference was not simply a place where leaders would present their agenda and the audience would speak their opinions on it.

The Reynon Empire was a place where prominent forces competed for power behind the scenes, and those who failed to take up the helm of power would instead choose a political partner who had the same objectives.

Now that the emperor’s health was in a critical condition, the representative of the Pilsburg Imperial Family in this conference, Roiqan Pilsburg, had one extra purpose in this event.

‘Isabelle Pilsburg.’

She was essential for the purpose of making Pilsburg stand strong once more.

The fact that she had a hurried wedding in Cardiago and became the duchess was not important to Roiqan.

‘The moment you learn of the terrible slaughter that the duke committed, you will realize my grace and mercy for setting you free from Cardiago.’

Roiqan intended to extend compassion towards the woman who would bear his child.

He even brought a small present for the young lady who might be curious about the blood in her veins.

Roiqan took out a small key from his coat pocket.

With a detailed vine and butterfly pattern etched on its handle, the gold key was something that could be hung on one’s neck like a necklace.

As he touched the blue jewel embedded on the butterfly’s wing, a voice came out from Roiqan’s own reddish brown pendant.

「 Is this the empress’ key? 」

“That’s right. It’s what Isabelle Pilsburg should have, as she will be siring the child who will become the next emperor.”

「 Do you think it’s something that could help you coax Duchess Cardiago? 」

“I can get her out of that disgusting Cardiago Duchy, and she’ll become the mother of the next legitimate emperor. What kind of woman would refuse?”

「 …… 」

“How does it feel coming back to your hometown, Vis Cardiago? I remember you mentioning the Cardiago Castle several times.”

Again, only silence could be heard from the pendant.

As he was talking to Vis, Roiqan looked over to the Cardiago Castle, which began to appear closer.

In that strategic place, the fortress stood like a painting that did not harmonize with the clear blue sky.

The reddish-brown flag of the watchtower fluttered and seemed to match the bloody hue of the sunset more.

‘It’s not a place where a Pilsburg blessed by the goddess Isis should be.’

One corner of Roiqan’s lips rose as he returned the empress’ key inside his pocket.

He had no clue what kind of relationship Duke Cardiago and Isabelle had, but he was confident that he would be able to slash off the flimsy thread of a shallow relationship.

* * *

The Cardiago Castle had been making preparations to welcome their guests since daybreak.

Under the butler’s direction, who had a bit of a case of mysophobia, each chandelier on those high ceilings were neatly polished and even each stone in the gardens were wiped.

For those who would arrive through the teleportation gates or by carriages, it was also necessary to touch up the surrounding roads.

The cumbersome tasks were given to Kiel under the orders of Riggs.

“Guests will start arriving today. An hour is enough for you to fix the roads, right?” Kiel said towards the reapers.

“You should have told us about this at least half a day ago, oh great and powerful King of the Underworld…”

“That’s why one syllable is enough for you all. When I was still a senior, I made a new road in less than five minutes and even planted trees on the sides. It’s not a big deal to pave the roads.”

The reapers couldn’t even make a sound of complaint towards Kiel, who looked like a seven-year-old boy right now.

It was at that moment that the greatly prized and boasted scythes of the reapers had turned into pickaxes.

The roads to the Cardiago Castle consisted of five paths that would merge into one bigger boulevard. This was because there were five gates.

After announcing in advance which families would come from which gates, Kiel crossed his arms and rolled his neck.

‘Hmm… That Roiqan Pilsburg punk is attending the conference as a representative, but he was the one who sent the terrene forces last time.’

He was going to be using the second road to the right, then he would enter the boulevard through the forest road. If so…

“Al, Ve, Del, go get the stones that the other reapers dug up and embed them on that road over there.”

“Pardon? But that would make the carriages shake a lot.”

“If something goes wrong, the wheels might even break or the carriages might even get completely destroyed.”

With an evil smile on his face, Kiel looked as though that was exactly his plan.

“That Roiqan punk was the one who sent the terrene forces to the three-syllable woman, right? He’s going to use this path. The moment Hyung finds out we’ve done this, we’ll be rewarded with a vacation for sure.”

“……!”

“Hurry up. Bury the stones there and make sure they don’t look obvious. You guys are good at things like that.”

Indeed, reapers were extraordinarily wise beings who had watched humans for a very long time.

In the meantime, the reapers in the castle had finished the critical process of dressing up Isabelle with the final touch—a spritz of perfume on her wrist.

It had been a difficult journey until now because there was someone who constantly interrupted.

“My Isabelle, Cardiago’s aesthetic sensibilities are at a regrettably dismal level. I can’t believe they’re putting you in a dress made out of reddish-brown velvet…”

Isis continued to contest that a dress made from ivory fur and overlapping layers of white silk would look a whole lot better on Isabelle.

It went without saying that the reapers easily ignored the goddess’ words.

At this rate, a fight might break out between Isis and the reapers, who were so strung up as though they were choosing the first clothes their child would wear. Isabelle gently took Isis’ hand.

“Goddess Isis. Doesn’t this dress look good on me?”

When Isabelle made a coy face, Isis’ countenance suddenly became soft.

“My Isabelle. That need not be asked. If there’s a dress that doesn’t suit you, then it deserves to be made as the sails of a boat that’s headed towards the underworld.”

“Thank you, Goddess Isis.”

Receiving Isabelle’s gratitude, Isis grew quiet as though she never kicked up a fuss.

As Isis said, the reddish-brown dress also looked good on Isabelle.

The red diamond tiara atop her head clearly indicated who the only lady of this house was.

After saying thank you for helping her prepare, Isabelle stood up. Bill bowed his head politely as he was standing right outside her room.

Isabelle called him here so that they could go over the imperial conference’s agenda and to confirm where the guests would be coming from.

“Bill, I’ll repeat the information. If there’s anything wrong, please correct me.”

“Yes, of course.”

“The conference will be taking place in about two weeks. Guests will start coming today and the others will arrive no later than three days later.”

“It is as you said, Madam. Unless something unusual comes up for them, they will mostly arrive today or tomorrow.”

“Then, the guests will be staying in separate residences or lateral palaces, and the most luxurious rooms in the Central Palace were prepared for the representatives of the three major families.”

“That’s correct.”

Isabelle swept the side of the dining hall’s table once.

While lilies and roses were placed there as centerpieces, making the place look even brighter.

“The formal dinner at the Central Palace will not be held until three days after the conference begins, but to my knowledge, there will be a casual dinner tomorrow.”

“It is as you said.”

“The schedule of the conference will be flexible depending on who presents their agenda.”

Isabelle walked towards the lobby and recalled the schedule of the conference, which had been prepared in advance.

At this imperial conference, the most urgent agenda involved the discussion on who the next emperor would be.

‘Sure enough, how could that Roiqan Pilsburg just show up like this.’

While thinking that she didn’t even know his face, Isabelle’s expression crumpled slightly. He must be aiming for the position of the next emperor.

It was evident that Roiqan knew that Isabelle was a direct descendant of the Pilsburg family.

Since that’s the case, she had no idea how this would turn out.

According to Isis, she was the only living direct descendant apart from the ailing emperor.

It was somewhat ironic that Isabelle, who had never stepped foot into the imperial palace in her entire life, was a key variable in the palace’s future.

Isabelle also found out that women had no right to inherit the throne even if they were from the direct line of descent. Otherwise, she could have taken the position of the next emperor.

‘Does Roiqan think of me as an enemy? Or…’

As his guards against her might already be up, he might also want to take Isabelle for himself just for the legitimacy of succession. However, she was already the Duchess of Cardiago.

No matter how much Roiqan would want to take Isabelle, it was only right that he’d give up.

‘But that same person was the one who sent the terrene forces, so he wouldn’t easily back down. He’d do anything to become the head of the House of Pilsburg and continue the family’s prestige.’

If she had just continued living in the temple without knowing anything, she would have been trembling by now.

The issue with the next emperor was something that she wouldn’t possibly be able to deal with if she had just stayed in the temple.

However, now that she had a strong supporter behind her, she did not need to tremble.

“Isabelle.”

As she was now ready to welcome the guests, Isabelle looked up at Riggs as he was descending the stairs.

On the body that used to wear a neat postman’s uniform or a gardener’s overalls, he now donned a well-ironed ceremonial coat with not one wrinkle on the fabric.

With a gentle smile, there was a look in Riggs’ eyes that made him like a predator on the hunt.

His shoulders, which always appeared to be drooping in front of her, were now decorated with epaulets that showed off his dignity and refinement.

As she realized that the person before her was not just Riggs, her childhood friend, but also the prominent Duke Ephelix Cardiago, one sentence came to mind.

“You’re not just a friend to me. You’re a woman.”

Isabelle clenched her hands over the skirt of her dress. As though time had become distorted, Riggs descended the steps in slow motion as the glow of the light behind him grew brighter.

There was a sense of pressure around him that made it impossible to even joke about him being nicknamed ‘baby deer’.

Now, as he had completely descended the stairs, he was still one head taller than her.

“It’s the first day that the Cardiago Duchy is welcoming our guests, so we’ll have to make an effort to make sure that everything’s perfect.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Like soldiers, they all obeyed his order.

Watching this scene, Isabelle’s mouth somehow became dry.

This time, it was her who, for no reason, looked away towards somewhere far.

“Your Highness. The reapers who are guarding the watchtower have just sent in the news. Roiqan Pilsburg’s procession of carriages has passed through the main gates.”

Isabelle looked reflexively towards the main gates.

A large carriage with the crest of the Imperial Pilsburg Family was approaching under the escort of several other smaller carriages.

Without a word, Isabelle continued staring at them.

The rattling of the horses’ shoes, as they got closer, felt like the sound of an inevitable fate approaching.