IBTCETEC 12

~Chapter 12~

Was he harboring other intentions?

I have to drive in the wedge.

Chloe had called in the Madarin barony’s retainer, intending to argue that such a humble family’s woman was not fit to enter the imperial palace.

With a gesture from Chloe, an attendant led in a man who looked around nervously, clearly not knowing why he’d been summoned.

“I greet the sun of the empire.”

The man walked carefully to the end of the path and bowed deeply toward Conrad.

“You may rise.”

Conrad waved his hand nonchalantly, as if he already knew who the man was. The man straightened, but did not dare meet the emperor’s eyes as he gave his name.

“I am Shiren, a retainer of the Madarin barony.”

Shiren Adolph.

In truth, he was the second son of the Permang Empire’s Adolph viscount family.

When Regina’s mage corps was founded, he’d escaped the battle for the family title by joining the corps—a rather unusual man.

He was Regina’s aide and also in charge of Fredericks Empire’s intelligence.

“I have a question for you.”

Before Conrad could say anything, Chloe cut in.

Conrad’s slightly raised eyebrow showed his displeasure, but he didn’t bother to speak.

Chloe, unconcerned, continued:

“Are there any direct blood relatives left in the Madarin barony?”

“There are.”

“Raise your head.”

With permission, Shiren lifted his face.

His eyes shook as he looked up at the high imperial throne. Regina narrowed her eyes at him, and the nobles who had been watching them let out gasps of surprise. Her cool, graceful gaze was so striking it captivated everyone present.

“Is that woman sitting beside His Majesty really the young lady of the Madarin barony?”

Chloe, displeased by the favorable mood toward Regina, asked directly.

Shiren stared at Regina in a daze, as if he couldn’t process Chloe’s question.

“No, what in the world…”

His faint whisper scattered into the air, as if he still couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

The nobles sympathized with Shiren’s confusion. Who would have thought a mere baron’s daughter would end up at the emperor’s side?

“Answer at once. Is this woman Rena Madarin?”

Chloe’s pressing voice rang through the chamber, but Shiren still could only stare blankly at Regina.

Unable to bear the piercing silence any longer, Conrad moved first.

“For a family retainer, your gaze is quite insolent.”

Conrad rose from the lofty throne. With the emperor standing, everyone else had to rise as well—including Regina and the other nobles.

As Conrad slowly descended, the nobles bowed their heads. Even Chloe, though displeased, bent her knees lightly and waited for Conrad to pass.

But Conrad deliberately stopped in front of Shiren and spoke.

“Do you dislike having Rena by my side?”

“N-no, never!”

Shiren’s palms were damp with sweat under Conrad’s meaningful, knowing question.

“Then why is your answer so slow?”

Conrad pressed for an answer, not giving Shiren time to think, in case he blurted out something unnecessary and ruined everything.

There was another concern, too—perhaps Shiren had harbored some disloyal thought while the magic barrier was up.

Regina didn’t seem to suspect anything in that direction, but… You never know.

Feeling the pressure, Shiren couldn’t answer easily. He looked around with trembling eyes, but Conrad’s sharp gaze finally forced him to speak.

“I was only surprised that the young lady, who had been so unwell, suddenly disappeared and then reappeared in the imperial palace.”

“Is that so?”

As Chloe’s smile began to waver, Conrad came down from the throne.

The emperor drew closer, leaving Shiren feeling suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere.

“That almost sounds like you were waiting for Rena to disappear.”

His cold words split the chamber.

It was taboo for the direct line of a noble family to disappear—if no direct heirs remained, sometimes the retainers or branch family members would seize control.

By mentioning this, Conrad was clearly warning Shiren.

Hmm…

Regina felt she understood Conrad’s thinking—after the barrier was raised, he was worried the subordinates’ loyalty would fade over time.

But she didn’t like how Conrad was intimidating her own man. Regina stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, all my family’s people are loyal.”

Her quiet words caught everyone’s attention. There was a note of pity in the nobles’ eyes as they looked at her.

A noble lady, especially one who’d lost her guardians, had few ways to protect her family. The most common method was marriage.

But even then, she couldn’t choose her partner freely.

It was easy to imagine her as one of those pitiful women forced into marriage by their own vassals.

Some nobles thought of people they knew in such a plight, others recalled stories they’d heard.

“Are you sure you had no other intentions?”

But Conrad didn’t let Shiren off so easily. Finally, Shiren came to his senses and answered clearly:

“Of course not. Lady Madarin is the rightful head of the Madarin barony.”

“So you see, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

Turning toward Chloe, Conrad confirmed Regina’s identity.

Chloe, who had been kneeling for too long, almost stumbled as she straightened up, but managed to regain her composure in front of the nobles.

“If the retainer is certain, then it’s clear she’s a noble lady… But who knows where and what she’s been doing, if she even pushed aside her own retainers?”

Chloe clearly intended to tarnish Regina’s reputation. Conrad’s face turned expressionless, but Chloe went on undaunted.

“Are you insulting the person I’ve chosen?”

“Insulting? Oh, how could I? I only wish to be thorough, since she may soon become the empress. I just want to ensure there is not even the slightest doubt.”

Chloe’s stance was clear: she wouldn’t allow the marriage until all her suspicions were answered. Conrad’s brow furrowed.

But then, a smooth smile appeared on his lips as he wrapped up the meeting:

“It’s been proven that Lady Madarin is a noble. Are there any other opinions?”

He had succeeded in keeping Regina by his side for now; the rest could be dealt with by uncovering Chloe’s schemes.

Conrad’s steely gaze swept the room; no one dared raise an objection.

“None.”

The nobles answered in unison, and Conrad nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Then let’s conclude today’s meeting here.”

Conrad reached out to Regina, who walked over slowly and placed her slender white hand atop his sword hand before he began walking again.

As they passed, the nobles bowed, and Shiren awkwardly followed suit.

With a dazed, bewitched look, Shiren stared at Regina, and Conrad gripped her hand a little tighter.

Outside, Limutan caught up to them as if waiting.

“Your Majesty.”

“Summon the Madarin barony’s retainer to my office.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Limutan bowed lightly as Conrad led Regina toward the emperor’s office.

“Is that man from Permang?”

“Yes. Only Shiren and a few of Madarin’s retainers.”

Conrad smiled at Regina, who made no effort to hide that she had even sent spies and built a household with them.

She continued easily:

“Isn’t it the same in the Fredericks Empire? I’ve heard there are Fredericks spies among the nobles of Permang, too.”

“That’s true.”

Conrad accepted Regina’s attitude—since both empires did the same, there was no point assigning blame.

“Are they all mages?”

“Yes. Though I can’t say how many have survived.”

“They’ll be useful for the next monster wave.”

Determined to enlist her cooperation, Conrad looked at Regina, who could only give an awkward smile.