I Have A Terminally Ill Duke As My Husband (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 116

Several days had passed since the executions of Antwarte and Lucianne’s brother.

Luan reported to the Emperor that he had married Mercian at their villa and publicly announced that Mercian had officially become Duchess Canoluph.

The imperial newspapers simultaneously reported Mercian’s recovery and featured her ascension to Duchess Canoluph as front-page news.

After the deaths of Caimen and Damon—the Empire’s most powerful figures—and finally Antwarte, the power struggle between the Emperor’s faction and the noble factions escalated in earnest.

Particularly, public attention focused on Riphaide, the Empress Fione’s natal family.

Since it was obvious that Crown Prince Harmon would become the next Emperor, rumors spread that Fiona, his birth mother, would become Empress rather than merely Empress Consort.

However, Viseluke, aware that Dominic—Fione’s brother—harbored ambitions no less than Caimen’s, defied everyone’s expectations by leaving the Empress position vacant and transferring all imperial authority to Patricia.

Consequently, Fione was relegated to the ambiguous role of Empress Consort, offering Patricia only advice; meanwhile, Mercian, though from the prestigious House of Canoluph, held no real social influence, so true power in the Imperial Palace still rested with Head Maid Bianca.

Dominic, who had believed that eliminating Antwarte alone would grant him the greatest authority, grew increasingly frustrated as events unfolded contrary to his expectations.

Meanwhile, Luan, maintaining neutrality, began serving as Harmon’s steadfast supporter while simultaneously balancing power between the Emperor’s and noble factions.

Viseluke’s vision—to strengthen the imperial house without allowing any single family to dominate—was realized more swiftly than anticipated, thanks to Luan’s assistance.

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The long winter had quietly passed, and spring had arrived in the Empire.

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