Surprisingly, Sucrel knew some dining etiquette.

This was something that had to be learned separately, so I raised an eyebrow.

“You eat so prettily.”

“Ah! Thank you for the compliment. I want to look pretty in everything before Your Majesty.”

As Sucrel smiled broadly, Sir Shofen showed signs of discomfort again.

It seemed he was quite awkward, as there was no such type in the knighthood.

But halfway through the meal.

Suddenly, a light sparkled in the air and a letter fluttered down.

“Your Majesty, it’s dangerous!”

Sir Shofen, witnessing the unfamiliar scene, widened his eyes and grasped his sword. It was as if an assassin had arrived rather than a letter.

But I already knew who the sender of this letter was.

“It’s alright. It’s a letter from Duke Silverrose.”

“…Duke Silverrose, you mean the magician?”

“Yes. Ah, come to think of it, you remained in the palace this time. I met the Duke on the cruise.”

After briefly explaining, I elegantly extended my hand. It meant I wanted a letter opener.

“I’ll open it for you, Your Majesty.”

But before Sir Shofen could go to fetch a letter opener, Sucrel stepped forward.

“There’s no letter opener?”

“There’s an unused knife, so…”

“That’s a fresh idea. Alright, open it for me.”

This is precisely the kind of innovative thinking that comes from class differences.

Nobles think only letter openers should be used for letters. But Sucrel thought any blade would do, regardless of what it was meant to cut.

She doesn’t pretend to be refined and go the roundabout way.

I quite liked that aspect of her.

‘Now, what’s the reason Shailo suddenly sent a letter through this unofficial route?’

Since returning to the capital, I hadn’t heard any news from Shailo.

He had said he would go to the north for a while.

As I slowly read through the elegant handwriting, I soon folded the letter. A smile lingered on my lips.

“I should call Faibel and have him clear my schedule.”

Hearing this, Sir Shofen showed curiosity.

“What did it say?”

“He says he’ll visit with autumn in about a week. It’s quite romantic.”

This is good. If I show this letter, it will add more credibility to my words.

Tapping my lips with the corner of the letter, I checked the time.

It was almost time for Duke Ahilo, whom I had summoned yesterday through Charlotte, to arrive.

The stout Duke Ahilo arrived at the Empress’s Palace today, not a minute late, at the appointed time.

Before noon, at 11 AM.

This was usually when nobles woke up, so I had called the Duke quite early.

‘This way, even if Derek says something strange, or has already done so, I can overlook it.’

I, who had been working on paperwork as I couldn’t skip it from today, greeted the Duke with a smile.

“Father.”

“Your Majesty. Are you in good health?”

“Of course. Welcome.”

The Duke’s eyes were filled with pride and satisfaction as he looked at me. Along with a very slight hint of anxiety.

The Duke now thought I was a true saint who had received divine revelation.

And in the unlikely event… if the Emperor were to become tyrannical or abandon state affairs, he thought I might become the Emperor.

The Ahilo line becoming Emperor!

For the Duke, it was too sweet a dream.

One he absolutely didn’t want to shake off.

“I called you here to show you this.”

“What is it?”

In response to Duke Ahilo’s question, I silently handed over the letter.

The Duke knew better than I how important the contents of this single sheet of paper were.

“This is… Shailo Silverrose! Why is this person so enamored with your daughter?”

The Duke opened his mouth wide, seemingly greatly surprised.

I took back the letter and neatly folded it.

“The Duke has something he wants. To reopen the era of magicians.”

“Hmm.”

“Whether it will happen or not, magic is an extremely convenient power. An increase in magicians is good for national interest. It’s far more useful than holy power.”

“That’s true, but… can we trust him?”

I nodded at the Duke’s question.

“If I promise to give him what he wants, he’ll surely become my ally.”

“Well, supporting the opening of an era of magicians… it’s something the current Emperor wouldn’t do even if he died.”

“That’s right. But I can do it.”

Becoming a ruler is familiar and natural to me.

The most incomprehensible thing in the long history of humans was that no Empress had ever tried to become Emperor.

Isn’t it instinct to want to pull down someone above you?

Being revered as noble by all sorts of people, yet lowering and bowing before the Emperor.

It’s unfathomable why they endured such humiliation when they could become the highest if only the Emperor were gone.

‘Perhaps it’s the harm of stereotypes.’

Surely among past Empresses, there must have been those superior to the Emperor in ability or character. Some must have envisioned their own country.

But wasn’t it precisely that notion that the Emperor must inherit the Emperor’s blood that prevented them from taking a step further?

I didn’t like the perception that the Emperor was the sun and the Empress was the moon either.

I am both the sun and the moon.

The sky and the sea, the growth of all things and death.

“You said the inner circle couldn’t be swayed?”

“That’s right. There was nothing to dig up either.”

“If they’re incorruptible, I can absorb the Foreign Minister and the aide later.”

The commander of the Crusade and the captain of the Imperial Guard.

The Foreign Minister and the Emperor’s first aide.

These four are currently Enrique’s inner circle.

The former are military officers, the latter are civil officials, and of course, the ones I needed to remove were the former.

‘Bellifor will try to kill me. I wonder if there’s a good opportunity to tie that in.’

It was then.

“My daughter.”

Duke Ahilo called out to me, lost in thought.

His very solemn gaze was layered with worry for his daughter.

“I believe in you.”

“I believe in you too, Father.”

As soon as the words fell, Duke Ahilo laughed heartily. Then he reached across the table and grasped my hand.

“It’s good to dream big because of a prophecy from a high being. It’s not strange to desire great things, being born an Ahilo.”

“But?”

“However… there are no screws to tighten the ladder. One misstep and you could fall and get badly hurt. This father doesn’t mind getting hurt, but if you could get hurt… I’d rather destroy the ladder.”

It was a very ambiguous statement. The subject was missing, and key words were gone from the sentence.

But I understood immediately.

‘He’s saying we can’t commit treason when the Emperor isn’t a tyrant and is perfectly fine. Not because it’s morally or conceptually wrong, but because there’s no justification. It’s a warning that I could die at the hands of Enrique’s followers if we’re not careful.’

Indeed, there’s nothing more foolish than raising an army and charging in claiming to commit treason.

I knew too that justification was important since an Emperor not accepted by the people is bound to decline.

‘That’s why I took time, isn’t it? I’ve seized control of not only the palace but also the nobles’ perceptions and public opinion.’

There’s no need to be afraid.

It was time to move on to the next stage.

I need to cut off the Emperor’s arms and legs one by one.

Without being caught, so that no one notices the Empress’s involvement.

And when the Emperor has nowhere else to turn for help, it would be good to spread rumors that he has gone mad.

‘Madness’ is a magical word that can neither be proven nor denied.

Even if the person is actually sane and claims so, if everyone around points fingers and says they’re mad, they become mad.

“Don’t worry. I heard the Emperor accompanied us on this cruise.”

“What? Is that true?”

“Yes. That’s why we couldn’t respond quickly when monsters appeared in the capital.”

“If that’s true…… No, why on earth did the Emperor go there?”

Duke Ahilo asked back as if perplexed.

It’s understandable that he doesn’t comprehend, as it’s not common sense.

Even I thought Enrique had really lost his mind when I first heard it.

“The Emperor’s faction will be up in arms, but unfortunately, it’s the truth. Please spread rumors in that direction and add that the Emperor’s mind has become strange.”

“……Hmm. I understand.”

If I’ve said this much, he should know what to do.

‘Right now is the calm before the storm. The quiet moment just before fierce winds and rain sweep in. That’s exactly when.’

There were so many things I needed to pay attention to at this point.

Bellifor who came to kill me.

Enrique showing strange lingering feelings towards me.

Shailo, a worthy love interest and a great strength for the Empress’s faction.

And the three concubines whose verification as non-assassins was not yet complete.

‘At least Derek has left the palace, thankfully.’

Because I don’t have the luxury to worry about Derek too.

‘And Mereum who’s coming straight at me….’

Recalling Mereum, I felt my mouth go dry and downed the remaining tea in one gulp.

“I… am just glad that my daughter has become so healthy.”

After a moment, Duke Ahilo, who had been fiddling with his teacup, opened his mouth again.