“Of all things, there are articles praising the young duke.”

He had been pre-censoring articles to be published in the capital’s newspapers.

Certainly, there were no articles praising Akiya just a few days ago. Gradually, the number of such articles started increasing, and now it had spread uncontrollably.

Rodrigo Viscount observed Ilay, who was reading the newspaper, carefully. His eyes, devoid of any emotion, made the Viscount freeze.

The Emperor, who remained expressionless, was scarier than getting angry.

After reading the newspaper for a while, Ilay put it down with a frown.

“Gerald. Are you investigating Magnolia’s upper lord?”

“Yes. I’m conducting inquiries in all directions, but we haven’t yet identified her accurately. She’s quite elusive due to being wrapped in veils.”

Rodrigo Viscount received orders from Ilay when Duke Heidern’s popularity skyrocketed among the citizens of the Empire. Investigate Magnolia’s upper lord.

Magnolia, which had suddenly ventured into the hot spring development business. Ilay, who belonged to the upper class of the Empire, was curious about why Magnolia, a rising upper lord, took charge of this hot spring project.

Moreover, Rodrigo Viscount himself was also suspicious about this point.

Therefore, even before Ilay inquired, he had started investigating. However, identifying the upper lord of Magnolia was not an easy task.

There was no information available. Not the name, age, birthplace, or even the gender.

“It seems it will take some time to accurately identify her…”

At the moment Rodrigo Viscount was about to bow and ask for permission, a voice came from behind.

“How significant is this information that you’re taking so much time to investigate, Gerald?”

Rodrigo Viscount straightened his back as Ilay approached without knocking, his face showing a somewhat displeased expression.

“Welcome. Viscount Lelode.”

“Greetings to Your Majesty.”

Viscount Lelode, with his thick gray hair, approached the two of them. It was still the Emperor’s office, but he entered without knocking, as always. A slightly displeased expression appeared on Ilay’s face, as if to say, ‘When did this happen?’

“Come on in. Viscount Lelode.”

“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty.”

Count Lelode courteously greeted Ilay and sat down in front of him.

“Magnolia’s upper lord is Duke Belarus.”

After saying that, Viscount Lelode, with an elegant gesture, poured tea into the cup. Watching this, Ilay added casually,

“Duke Belarus seems to have lost interest in politics.”
“Do you believe the words of that cunning old man, Your Majesty?”

At Viscount Leorode’s question, Emperor Ilay’s eyebrows subtly narrowed. Dmitry, who once ruled the world alongside the late Emperor Philip III, was a wise ruler.

It troubled Ilay that Dmitry, driven merely by the death of his daughter, would abandon everything.

“Duke Belarus is hiding his claws. He’ll wait for the right moment and return to the capital at any time. And this hot spring project and Magnolia’s upper lord are stepping stones for him.”

Suddenly, Viscount Leorode’s eyes sparkled, as if he had found something delicious.

“It seems using the young Duke Heidern, who is almost like a child, serves the same purpose.”

“…”

“How easy do you think it is to handle a duke who has just recovered from illness?”

Ilay’s eyes, reminiscent of Akiya, sank deeply. Even before Viscount Leorode came, the contents of the newspaper he read kept circling in his mind.

The citizens of the Empire were praising Akiya as if he would save the world.

No matter how much Akiya had changed, it was not easy to change overnight like a different person. That meant there were people who trusted him.

“Indeed, is it the work of Duke Belarus?”

It seemed more reasonable to consider it Dmitry’s cunning work.

“What should we do with the viscount?”

Viscount Leorode was a key figure who helped Ilay ascend to the throne.

Being as experienced as Duke Belarus, there was probably no alternative for him to approach Ilay without any means.

“Your Majesty, you should let Duke Belarus know that the rope he holds is rotten.”

“For example?”

Viscount Leorode leaned forward, bringing his body closer to Ilay’s as he lifted himself from the chair. With a cruel smile, the viscount continued.

“If you show how incompetent the duke you’re planning to associate with is, wouldn’t that be fine?”

For a duke not yet thirty, the likely lacking aspect would be experience.

“The hot spring project won’t go as planned. After all, it’s this person who’s going to make it.”

Viscount Leorode seemed to be savoring a heated smile, as if envisioning the near future.

“Your Majesty, just close your eyes and pretend you don’t know, as you’ve done so far.”

Even with Viscount Leorode’s excessive remarks, Ilay remained tight-lipped. He anticipated what the viscount would say next.

“Everything is in accordance with the will of Empress Mama.”

‘Empress.’

The only blood relative of the current Emperor, Empress Hwang Tai-hoo.

Since it was the Empress who raised him to the throne, there was nothing Ilay could do as he wished, given what he heard was the Empress’s will.