Chapter 74
Tug of War
“By His Majesty’s permission, the guard will be replaced for the time being, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Riyan remained at the duke’s residence in place of Serven.
“Was there a reason?”
“Yes, somewhat.”
As he answered, Riyan sharpened his senses toward Eselion.
According to Serven, he didn’t think he could handle them. The people guarding Prince Eselion also seemed to be holding back their true abilities.
The Empress appeared to trust the prince of Delarta, but that didn’t mean the duty of vigilance disappeared.
Since Serven admitted he was no match for them, Riyan stayed behind.
And Riyan was very excited.
‘Ah, if only they’d pick a fight first, I’d be so grateful.’
If that happened, he could happily draw his sword.
The clever Empress guessed the reason for Riyan’s silence from the mood alone.
“Sir Sigres must have been worried. But His Highness Eselion of Delarta is my guest, so I expect you to show proper courtesy.”
“Of course, Your Majesty the Empress. I have not the slightest intention of being discourteous.”
“Piii!”
Pipi, perched squarely on Lasilia’s shoulder, bristled.
He said that if the other side lacked manners, they should be taught immediately. Of course, Lasilia did not relay that.
“Then I’ll take a look around to check the security of the mansion. There should be imperial guards stationed nearby, so you need not worry.”
“I trust you. Do what you must.”
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
Bending his arm in a bow, Riyan rose and left the duke’s library.
It was the beginning of a long night.
“Was that man just now the Empire’s Shadow Knight?”
“Yes.”
Lasilia was still in the middle of handling the tasks entrusted by the steward.
At first, the work was nothing but troublesome, but as time went on, she began to see things clearly.
The income collected from the duchy was enormous. The expenses were immense as well, but they were nothing compared to the revenue.
Especially in the last four years, the wealth had greatly increased. It must have been from the time Cartahena Pielion became Empress.
Soon, the heir to the duchy needed to be decided. The young lord Ternaden had an imperial bounty on his head, making him an unfit successor.
For the time being, she would be tied up with the duchy’s affairs.
And there was one more matter Lasilia had to decide.
Whether to support Prince Eselion with the duchy’s fortune.
“It seems even in Delarta, his name is known.”
“Yes. I’ve heard he’s the finest knight in the Empire. And being the finest in the Empire is no different from being the finest on the continent.”
After a pause, Eselion said:
“He didn’t seem that way to me.”
“…I see. Is that from crossing swords with another Shadow Knight?”
“That man was a Shadow Knight as well?”
Eselion asked as if he truly didn’t know.
But that didn’t make sense. The fact that the imperial Shadow Knights were twins was widely known, and anyone could see that Serven and Riyan looked identical.
“Yes.”
“…In that case, I should worry about your safety, Lady Lasilia. Neither of them seemed sufficient to guard you.”
“If that’s how they appeared to you, that’s unfortunate. Within the Empire, no one doubts the standing of the Shadow Knights.”
She didn’t know much, but it seemed knights had their own ways of measuring skill.
To Lasilia, what was more surprising was that Prince Eselion was skilled enough to doubt Riyan’s strength.
“Do you like the Empire, Lady Lasilia?”
Eselion asked, after much hesitation.
“And being a demon’s consort… Are you truly all right with that? It must have been such a sudden thing, perhaps…”
At those words, Pipi, dozing off near her hand, snapped its eyes open.
“Pii! Piii!”
What kind of nonsense is that?
“Pipi, don’t be so rude.”
When Lasilia stroked its head, Pipi nuzzled her affectionately, but its small eyes glared daggers at Eselion.
“That bird… Is it a phoenix?”
“Yes. Its name is Menesculen, but it doesn’t like being called by name. …And to answer Your Highness’s question, I’m fine.”
“Piiiii.”
Pipi made an adorably pleased sound at her answer.
Eselion’s face darkened.
“Why… is that so? A demon’s consort. Surely that wasn’t something you wanted.”
“I didn’t choose to live as a prophet either. But since I believed I was a prophet, I accepted that life.”
“That’s… I see. I suppose the life of a prophet was harsher than I imagined.”
Eselion’s face twisted with pain.
Lasilia thought he was feeling guilty as a royal for how prophets were treated.
“You need not feel sorry for me, Your Highness. The way I was treated as a prophet wasn’t the fault of the Delarta royal family. It likely had to do with my birth.”
“If I become king, such things will never happen.”
Eselion clenched his fist tightly.
“As God’s representative, you will be guaranteed a status befitting one who speaks for Delarta’s deity. So…”
The rest of his words were swallowed. But it wasn’t hard to guess what he meant.
“That’s impossible, Your Highness.”
A crack appeared in Eselion’s expression.
“Do you think I won’t regain the throne?”
“No. It’s because I’ve already lost my power as a prophet. God no longer grants me visions.”
“Th-that…”
“Pii. Pii.”
Pipi flapped its wings as if to say Good riddance. Lasilia gently pressed its wing with a finger.
“My last dream as a prophet was of the late king’s death. I was supposed to prevent it, but I couldn’t. That was probably proof I’d lost my gift.”
“No, Lady Lasilia! You lost your life because of that prophecy! Please, stop blaming yourself!”
Eselion raised his voice desperately.
Lasilia nodded calmly to reassure him.
“My death came before the king’s, so perhaps it was impossible to protect him anyway. But that doesn’t mean I intend to ignore my final prophecy.”
Lasilia turned some of the account books she had been organizing toward Eselion.
“My name is Cartahena Pielion now, but it would be improper to treat the Pielion fortune carelessly. However, it seems there’s some inheritance already allocated to me, so I’ll give that to you. If it’s not enough, please give me time. I’ll consult with His Majesty on ways to support your restoration.”
As Empress, she couldn’t openly interfere in another nation’s royal succession.
Ricardo’s rebellion was Delarta’s matter, after all. If the Empire declared one side right or wrong, it could become a pretext for war.
So she couldn’t promise imperial aid lightly. Offering her personal wealth was a different matter.
“I’m not saying this for financial support! I…”
Eselion shouted, his neck flushed red.
“I…”
“Please speak, Your Highness.”
Lasilia waited calmly for his words to continue.
“I’m saying you don’t have to remain a consort you don’t want to be. Even though I’ve lost my throne, if it’s for you, Lady Lasilia—”
But Eselion’s anguished declaration was cut short.
“Piiiit! Piiiit!”
Of course, Pipi couldn’t stay still. And as if on cue, Riyan entered.
“Your Majesty the Empress! The security is perfectly in order!”
Riyan made a point of stomping his steps loudly. There was no way a knight like Eselion didn’t notice it was intentional.
“…How rude. I was having a private audience with Lady Lasilia.”
Riyan accepted the rebuke with composure.
“Ah, was that so? My apologies. I didn’t realize you were in the middle of a conversation.”
Nonsense. No knight could have hearing that dull.
“What kind of training do imperial knights receive? Do they not understand that interrupting a private audience is also an affront to the imperial household?”
“Ah yes, yes. My fault entirely. Please forgive me.”
His attitude clearly said he felt zero guilt.
Eselion’s face twisted in fury.
“I absolutely cannot tolerate this, Lady Lasilia. Are these men truly treating you as Empress? How can they be so disrespectful?”
Clink.
Without being touched, Eselion’s sword hilt gave a chilling ring.
Riyan’s eyes flashed, and Lasilia leapt from her seat.
“Your Highness Eselion. If you wish to honor me, there is no need for anger. And Sir Sigres, if you admit fault, show proper respect. His Highness is my guest.”
“That is… Yes, Your Majesty.”
Riyan lowered his head obediently and knelt on one knee.
To explain himself, he hadn’t meant to insult Lasilia. He was simply appalled by what the young prince of Delarta had said.
Not what you want, indeed.
It was true he’d appeared suddenly, but to harp on that was out of line.
And to whisper such things when Her Majesty wasn’t around to hear—what a despicable man.
Still, he was truly sorry to Lasilia.
“I apologize for my rudeness, Your Majesty the Empress. And to His Highness the prince of a foreign nation as well. Please judge me for failing to maintain proper decorum.”
To add, Riyan was the Empire’s foremost weapon, and no noble had ever dared treat him lightly. Nor had he ever been this compliant with any noble.
So this much should have sufficed for a token punishment and closure.
Clang!
But Eselion was different.
“I’ll forgive the slight against me. But your attitude toward Lady Lasilia cannot be overlooked.”
Eselion had already drawn his sword.
“Draw your blade. I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.”
Before Lasilia could intervene, Riyan snapped his head up.
“May I, Your Majesty?”
