As the Emperor’s health deteriorated, the power struggle for the throne, which had been progressing secretly, was about to come to the surface.

Despite telling her to keep an eye on the princes, recently, the movements of the princes were very troublesome.

“Why is the atmosphere so tense?”

“All princes except the Third Prince informed that they will attend Giben’s birthday party.”

“Birthday party? Ah, right. It’s around this time.”

“Yes, it’s quite unusual for all princes to attend an event, so it’s being talked about everywhere.”

“If all princes except the Third Prince are attending, does that mean even the Seventh Prince, Kachan, is attending?”

“Yes, His Highness, the Seventh Prince, will also attend.”

“…What’s going on?”

“…Perhaps their intention is not to capture Matopju like other princes? They might have different objectives.”
Now even the maids casually discuss the ‘throne’ struggle among the princes.

Just a few years ago, the atmosphere was hush-hush, but as soon as the emperor lay in bed, the situation became a discussion of which prince would ascend to the throne.

As the emperor’s health deteriorated, leaving him helpless, they shamelessly put forward their princes, using them as tools for political maneuvering. Now, even the princes openly express their ambitions without any hesitation.

Of course, in the Da Lambro Empire, there has always been a tradition of not designating a specific ‘crown prince.’ Instead, the princes compete to the end, and the last surviving ‘prince’ inherits the throne. It was natural for them to be obsessed with the throne.

If one is not born with a weak body like the Third Prince and is not from a powerful family, one will either die or be driven away when becoming the next emperor.

“It’s fortunate that Inera and Juge are on a trip….”

“That is indeed fortunate.”

“I thought Inera and Juge had quieted down, but now Kachan is causing trouble.”

“Don’t worry too much. Prince, who is smart, isn’t he?”

“He’s good at using his head, but he’s weak in controlling his emotions. I’m anxious because I don’t know what kind of trouble he might cause.”

“As long as he takes his medicine regularly, shouldn’t it be fine?”

Even with the maids’ words, Empress Vianez couldn’t hide her displeasure on her face. She seemed to be thinking hard about something, and soon she smiled as if a good idea had come to her.

“The Rianster family has been a meritorious family that has been with our royal family for a long time. Given that Giben became the Matopju this year, how about celebrating his birthday party at the palace in commemoration?”

“Really? Is it necessary to go that far? I’m worried that it might raise concerns about favoring specific families.”

“Anyway, the Rianster family is a neutral family, not belonging to the aristocratic faction or the imperial faction. What does it matter?”

“But Empress, your Majesty, I’m not sure if the outsiders will view it favorably.”

The Vianez family, Empress Vianez’s affiliated family, is a noble family that has been listed among the top three dukes along with the Rianster family, earning the highest prestige in the empire’s history. While the Rianster family is a family of ‘pure-blooded magic users,’ the Vianez family has historically produced empresses and commanders of the knights.

The Rianster family and the Vianez family, tied as the top three dukes, have been in a fierce competition as magical households and non-magical households. Especially after the death of the Grand Mage Yun and a short time later, when many prominent families competed for the acquisition of Matop, the Vianez family also competed with the Rianster family until the end.

However, after the Rianster family ultimately acquired the Grand Matop Horizon, the Vianez family’s status skyrocketed.
In the midst of all this, it was evident that relatives would make a fuss if the empress showed special attention to Giben in the imperial family.

“It’s an unprecedented event where all the princes attend. For safety reasons, wouldn’t it be better to hold it in the palace?”

The empress’s intention was firm.

“If an incident occurs from the outside, it would be difficult to handle. It’s unlikely to happen, but in case of unforeseen circumstances, holding the event in the palace is not a bad idea. As much as the princes are involved, it could turn into a sea of congratulations rather than a simple celebration.”

The maids couldn’t say anything more. What more could they say when the empress’s intention was so firm?

Moreover, there was no reason to stop her. While it was unconventional to use the palace as a party venue, it was not unheard of. If the pretext was the ‘safety of the princes,’ using the palace seemed reasonable.

When princes attend as a group, security measures need to be more thorough.

The empress ordered, “Convey my intentions to Duke Giben and get a definite answer.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“At this point, I can’t tell if it’s a party for the princes or my birthday party. At this point, it might be an inherent trait passed down from the Sindrome family.”