Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 124

“…I misjudged, Your Majesty.”

“What?”

The Emperor’s brow furrowed at the Crown Prince’s flat tone.

“Misjudged? In this situation—where even if we took all of Tristan’s grain, it would amount to barely half the mineral tax revenue from Bicander territory—is that really what you, as Crown Prince, have to say?”

His voice, thick with anger, grew louder. Simultaneously, hot fury surged within him.

Due to Maria Etel’s mudslinging revelations, the Imperial Princess had lost all the dignity she had painstakingly built and was now secluded in her palace.

The territories that had once honored her as their liege lord fell into chaos, and the Imperial family’s reputation plummeted.

Foreign nations had already published sensational articles—“The Saintess’s Back,” “The Saintess’s Two Faces.” This was nothing short of a national disgrace.

“That underling of the Duke dares to propose a mere 5% tax rate! How can we possibly demonstrate the Palace’s strength with that?”

Veins stood out on the Emperor’s reddened temples.

To erase the Empire’s faltering image, they had no choice but to continually project the Palace’s enduring strength—through a stalwart knights’ order, lavish banquets, and a demeanor that forgave baseless rumors yet took resolute action.

But unlike the Emperor, who vented his rage crudely, the Crown Prince merely curled the corners of his lips faintly upward.

“Your Majesty, however much we exploit the nobles’ outrage, to the common people the Duke remains a war hero—especially one standing beside the Saintess, who until now received no recognition.”

For a moment, the Emperor froze. In the nobles’ murmurs, he’d momentarily forgotten the people.

“Even now, low-quality rumors circulate among the populace—about the Imperial Princess as well…”

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