“I didn’t know both Your Majesties would be together.”

“It just happened that way.”

After Admund collapsed, no one could easily fall asleep.

Clea, who spent the night in pain and anger, went to see Odin and Elaina after having breakfast.

Coincidentally, the two of them being together looked as if they had been waiting for her to come.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

She bowed her head to Odin, who spoke first, and then opened her mouth.

“I would like to hear your opinion regarding this matter.”

This happened inside the imperial palace.

Especially since it was a murder case, it was not something to be taken lightly.

The most important thing here was the emperor’s will, so Clea sought out Odin.

She wanted to know how he intended to handle this matter.

Meanwhile, Odin smiled at Clea’s words about wanting to hear his opinion.

“How do you want to handle it?”

Instead of an answer, another question came back.

Expecting Odin to ask, she expressed her own intention.

“I will thoroughly investigate to ensure this never happens again.”

An answer filled with determination.

Even without explaining the process, Odin liked her answer.

Perhaps he liked the aspect of Clea that seemed similar to himself.

“Do you remember when I gave you a sword before?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“While others would have received the sword but never used it, you cut down that arrogant one that day.”

It was the content he had heard through the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke was worried while telling the story that Clea’s image might worsen, but it was quite the opposite.

Odin was very pleased when he heard that story. He liked that she used it according to the situation more than those who were busy preciously keeping what was given.

“Then I’ll give you this now.”

“This is…”

Clea looked at what Odin had placed on the desk.

If someone else had given it, it would have been just a simple seal, but the golden seal handed directly by the emperor had a different meaning.

This meant entrusting Clea with the authority to act on his behalf.

It was an object with tremendous significance in that she could exercise the absolute power that the emperor could wield on his behalf.

Usually, it was customary to give it to the commander-in-chief departing to wage war on behalf of the emperor, or to the crown prince when the emperor’s physical condition was not good enough to attend to state affairs.

Giving such an object to her, the crown princess, implied only one meaning.

“I won’t always be sound, so shouldn’t you two also experience it directly? And you came to find me because you wanted this too.”

As Odin said, it was true that she came with the intention of asking permission to handle this matter directly.

But this was too much. Clea asked with the intention of refusing.

“Your Majesty, am I worthy of receiving this?”

“You are more than sufficient, so don’t think about refusing.”

Of course, Odin seemed to have anticipated that she would hesitate, as he did not accept her refusal.

“To begin with, you’ll need this much to clean up a family as big as a duke’s.”

At his words, Clea no longer showed any intention of refusing.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Since repeated refusal would be disregarding the other person’s goodwill, she smiled and expressed her gratitude.

On the other hand, Clea became curious.

‘How unreasonable a wish does he intend to make to keep treating me so well?’

Recalling what happened last night, she guessed at the wish he had not yet made.

Of course, how many wishes could someone who is the master of an empire have for her?

Although she didn’t know what wish he would make, she felt grateful to him for helping her now.

“You’ll be busy now, so you should go. And I support you two as well.”

Elaina, who had been watching from the side, smiled and suggested that Clea should leave now.

Every minute and second would be precious time for her, who would be spending busy days ahead.

Clea bowed her head to Elaina, who was supporting her, and retreated.

As only the two of them remained in the reception room, Elaina withdrew her kind smile and glared at Odin.

“Is that something to say in front of your daughter-in-law?”

“Why, did I say something frivolous?”

Odin laughed while knowing why she said such words.

Feeling exasperated at his attitude, Elaina spoke again.

“What do you mean you won’t always be sound? You should stay healthy for a long, long time.”

The part that made her displeased was the mention of the future.

It hurt her heart unnecessarily for a still healthy person to already talk about the distant future.

“You should do so even more if you want to see your grandchildren.”

“Grandchildren.”

Certainly, if he considered that part, he would have to put effort into managing his health from now on.

Of course it was the right thing to say, but Odin knew that wasn’t Elaina’s real intention.

He found her cute as she made excuses about grandchildren with a sulky face.

Odin quietly stood up from his seat and went to Elaina’s side.

Elaina tried not to look at him by turning her head away.

“Where would I go alone, leaving you behind?”

But as he showed a sly smile and placed his hand on the back of her hand, Elaina gradually softened.

“Don’t ever say such things again.”

“Alright, I promise.”

Since Odin was someone who always kept his promises once made, Elaina smiled faintly.

However, soon after, she asked Odin with a worried expression.

“Are you really going to leave everything to the children?”

Although Elaina didn’t particularly intend to oppose when Clea first came here, she was still worried.

No matter how much they supported from behind, she was concerned whether the children who had never handled such matters before could handle them well.

On the other hand, Odin showed no signs of worry, unlike her.

“Those children are adults now, so we should let them handle their own affairs.”

They couldn’t keep them in their arms forever.

Odin thought it was also a parent’s role to help grown children leave the nest and do their own work.

Of course, that’s not to say he wasn’t anxious.

Right now, Admund was unconscious after collapsing, and the cause was said to be someone’s curse.

But when he thought of Clea’s eyes just now, that anxiety subsided.

‘Those children will probably be more than capable of handling it.’

Seeing Odin’s confident appearance, Elaina’s anxiety also gradually disappeared.

* * *

Clea returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace and called in Lupia and Oberon.

Then she showed them the seal she had received from Odin.

The two looked at Clea without showing any signs of surprise even after seeing it.

They looked ready to carry out any order immediately, no matter when or what kind of command was given.

Seeing the two of them, Clea smiled with satisfaction.

“How many nobles are staying in the capital now?”

“A considerable number are still staying in the capital to pay their respects to the two of Your Highnesses.”

The number of nobles leaving immediately after the wedding would be small.

There were quite a few nobles who hadn’t properly greeted at the reception.

Those who had barely visited here from distant provinces were unlikely to leave right away, not knowing when they would visit the capital again.

As she imagined the nobles anticipating the emperor holding another banquet, she gave instructions.

“We can’t meet all the attendees this time, so Oberon, please send invitations primarily to the families I’ve predetermined for now.”

Clea handed Oberon the list of family names she had prepared in advance.

Oberon examined the names of the families written on the list.

The names of families currently serving as officials or those with some historical significance were written down.

In addition, families closely related to the Hersher family were also seen.

“We should clearly establish our stance on this occasion.”

They probably won’t be able to refuse the invitation I send and will attend.

After that, it was time for choice.

Whether they would stay with us to the end even after seeing the fall of the Hersher family, or whether they would side with me like the families that have already turned their backs.

Oberon, who grasped her intention, moved immediately without raising any objections.

Clea then gave an order to Lupia.

“Lupia, please send this letter to the Odoi Duke’s family.”

“To the Odoi Duke’s family, you say?”

Lupia looked at her with a puzzled expression upon hearing Clea’s words.

She added, asking if she just needed to deliver the letter and come back.

Clea nodded and answered.

“Yes, just deliver the letter and come back.”

Then Lupia asked no more and moved her steps as they were.

Watching Lupia walk away, Clea imagined the events that would unfold in the future.

The most important figure in this matter was Grit.

They would make him the starting point of the Hersher family’s downfall.

Some people might think that he wouldn’t cooperate with Clea, who has already left the family, but Clea was certain that he would definitely cooperate with her.

‘He’ll have no choice but to cooperate if he doesn’t want Steve’s secret to be revealed.’

With Steve currently imprisoned in the underground dungeon of the Crown Prince’s Palace, there was nothing Grit could do.

Even if he tried to erase the evidence of being an illegitimate child again like before, she had prepared countermeasures for that as much as needed.

Grit would have no choice but to help her.

He would have to help, whether he liked it or not, if he didn’t want to lose the child he loves the most.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what expression Duke Hersher will make in that moment.”

When Aria’s actions are revealed to the world in real-time, that is.

Considering how he fearlessly sent the family’s knights to the imperial palace to silence the maid before, Duke Hersher was likely to know the details of the incident as well.

Many people, including her, were moving busily for the events to come.