Liranaf Mansion’s conference hall. The gathered nobles and the shadow on the face of Duke Liranaf darkened.

“Have you heard? They say that Eteria Empire and our empire have formed an alliance.”

The first words began with despair.

“Is that all? …Though it doesn’t show on the surface, I hear that the condition of Eteria’s Empress is improving day by day.”

“I heard the Empress took the holy relic. Led by the Emperor and Regent Elihu, even leading to the second coming. The light of God descended fiercely, and I heard that Eteria’s Empress’s complexion has improved.”

“……The Emperor of Eteria proclaimed that the current Emperor Leonharta and the Empress are beyond comrades; they are siblings.”

The nobles of Liranaf turned their gaze to the ground with dying faces.

“……Our plan has failed.”

Duke Liranaf clenched his fist tightly and gritted his teeth.

Things seemed to be subtly twisting since the Empress arrived.

“……The rumors spreading across the continent are astounding. The current Empress is being called God’s savior, beyond the rumor of being the goddess of fortune.”

“Everyone unanimously says that the Empress is one who receives God’s blessing. They say that when the Empress steps forward, she even revives dying lives.”

“Some of the small countries that were allied with us have turned their backs. They say they cannot turn the savior of God and the Empress, who receives God’s blessing, into an enemy.”

“Isn’t she just a saint who can’t use divine power, what’s the difference……”

Bang!

Unable to tolerate the last words of a noble, Duke Liranaf violently slammed the table. The nobles shut their mouths simultaneously, looking for clues.

“……Should have gotten rid of her earlier.”

Duke Liranaf ground his teeth, fuming with anger. The Empress had been at the center of the Regent incident, and this incident was no different.

The people’s sentiment was essential for the rebellion to succeed. The current Emperor would be recorded as the worst tyrant in history, so there was no concern as there was no reason to have good public sentiment in the first place!

But everything changed since the Empress appeared. The Emperor, who recognized the true worth of the Empress and married her, was also absurdly praised along with her.

“……Did you find the Emperor’s mother?”

“No. Nobody has seen her, and she’s nowhere to be found in the palace. ……Perhaps the Emperor killed her when he ascended the throne? Many people were killed by the Emperor after his accession, so she might have been mixed in and cremated.”

“No. There’s nobody who saw the body at that time. The Emperor must have imprisoned her somewhere. Find her. That will be our key.”

“Yes.”

“And the Empress…… If she interferes again, we will eliminate her immediately.”

Duke Liranaf’s eyes gleamed with a sinister light.

Then knock knock. Someone knocked on the door.

‘There’s no one expected.’

Duke Liranaf motioned for the nobles to be silent with a glance, then turned to the door. Opening it, he found his son, Leiben, standing calmly.

“……Leiben.”

Duke Liranaf called his son’s name in a parched voice.

When had he been standing there? What had they been talking about? What had he heard?

His head began to whirl. The lively expression seen at the party was gone, and a dark shadow loomed heavily over Leiben’s face.

“Father. I have prepared someone to replace me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“My cousin is very smart and ambitious. Since my uncle has always been willing to die for you, I think he would be a good fit for the successor.”

Leiben didn’t look into Duke Liranaf’s eyes as he spoke.

“Leiben. What did you just say?”

“I will leave now.”

“Ha.”

I wondered what he was talking about. Duke Liranaf gave a dumbfounded laugh and brushed back his hair.

“You are too arrogant. You don’t even know what path lies ahead of you, and you dare to say you will leave?”

“I never asked for it.”

“You are my son, the one to follow me. Enough with the childish demands.”

“……. ”

“It’s good, I was going to call you anyway. ……You helped with the welcome party this time, right? Ask the Empress for a favor in return.”

“Ha.”
Now there is a shortage of ministers in the imperial palace, so if you say so, they might quickly give you a good position.

Duke Liranaf clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

Due to the absence of his deceased eldest son, the second son, Levan, took the position of heir, but he was a son who did nothing right.

Furthermore, rumors were circulating that he was chasing after alcohol and women every day.

He was a guy who did not fit as an heir at all. But Duke Liranaf did not care.

‘If I don’t like it, I can replace him then. I have to use as much as I can.’

He was satisfied just to fill the position of heir for now.

When Duke Liranaf overturns this empire and takes the throne, he can decide the heir again. Until then, he just needs to fill that position roughly.

“Do it right, Levan. I don’t ask much of you.”

Levan kept his gaze fixed on the floor with a bland expression and nodded his head.