Chapter 29

"May I speak first?"

In response to Lionel's question, the Empress nodded with a relaxed expression, as if encouraging him to speak. At first glance, it seemed like she was treating him as a comfortable friend or even a lover, but her cold, golden eyes had never relaxed since she met Lionel. After organizing his thoughts in his head, Lionel spoke carefully. He clearly explained the current situation in Ehmont, the problems, the crisis the Baldur family was facing, and what he wanted to achieve by working with the Empress. He also carefully excluded any sensitive issues that could be used against him later. The Empress listened intently, asking questions when she had doubts. When the long story came to an end, she reviewed the content, showing a model student's demeanor. While the Empress was silent, thinking, Lionel drank the cold tea like water. He realized he was thirsty only after he finished speaking, having been unknowingly tense.

"Here, have this."

At that moment, the Empress pushed a plate of pastries toward him and said,

"It's the best in Ehmont."

"..."

"..."

"If you don't want it, that's fine."

"There's no need to go to such lengths, Your Majesty."

"What's so difficult about pushing a plate of pastries toward you?"

"..."

"I've always been like this."

It's just that she hadn't acted this way since he came here. Mrs. Giggs, who dared not sit with the Empress, always stood or worked, and the other maids felt uneasy thinking of Dean Poitiers as a shadow. The Empress shrugged and popped a pastry into her mouth, crunching it. After swallowing the pastry and sipping tea to cleanse her palate, she spoke in a calm tone,

"In any case, you want to pull the balance of power away from the Mage Corps, right?"

"Ultimately, that's the goal. I also want to change the current way of opposing the tower. In Ehmont, the Mage Corps monopolizes all information about the tower and does not share it."

"Then the tower becomes power."

That was what his mother had wanted.

'The tower is an opportunity! A golden opportunity to become a divine authority instead of an imperial one! If this power is used well, the emperor? No, the imperial family can become a god.'

"Monopolizing information and not sharing it. Even the necessary structures are manipulated according to their preferences. It wouldn't be strange if the Mage Corps had a hit list."

"Your Majesty, what do you want from me?"

Adele smiled at Lionel.

"Didn't you already tell me when you came for the interview?"

'In this place where there's nowhere to rely on, you're looking for a trustworthy power to team up with and to oppose someone who has already taken over the palace, to protect your power and honor, aren't you?'

"And you said, no matter who I choose, it won't be better than choosing you."

"Yes, that's what I said."

"Don't disappoint me. I chose you."

"I won't disappoint you."

Lionel answered without hesitation, and Adele smiled in satisfaction.

"Well, fortunately, our goals are the same. I'll start by using my status as a mage to build a foothold in Ehmont's political scene. And before that—"

The Empress, who had been smiling leisurely, suddenly turned ominous. Narrowing her eyes and tilting her head, she crossed her arms and called in Mrs. Giggs, who was waiting outside.

"Did you call me, Your Majesty?"

"Mrs. Giggs, bring the documents you brought last time."

Though the reference was vague, Mrs. Giggs nodded without asking twice. Lionel narrowed his eyes, looking back and forth between the Empress and Mrs. Giggs, as if she had been waiting for this.

"Are you planning to respond to the budget reallocation failure? I was going to mention that. The Baldur family will formally protest to His Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty."

"That's the best thing I've heard in days."

The Empress nodded in satisfaction. Yes, that's the way to go.

'But how can you properly avenge such a gentlemanly protest? They humiliated me in such a despicable way, so I have to at least do the same.'

She wanted to lash out with vulgar language, but Adele restrained herself for the sake of her dignity. She was currently a half-queen. With the budget reallocation failure, she couldn't use her authority for anything that required money.

"Good. Protest formally on behalf of the family. I have my own work to do."

Mrs. Giggs, who had gone out like the wind, returned in a flash and handed the documents to Adele. Adele read them with a very satisfied look and then passed them to Lionel. Lionel quickly scanned the paper she handed him.

"Do you understand what I'm going to do?"

Lionel, sensing the subtle tone, put the paper on the table and looked up.

"You're going to fight fire with fire."

The sharp answer from the advisor made the witch of Gotrope grin.

"Correct."

She didn't want to go this far, feeling like she was retaliating against the Ivory Palace after being slapped by the Imperial Palace. But if they were going to team up and turn the tables, there was no reason to distinguish between the two.

＊ ＊ ＊

While the Empress and her advisor were talking, a group of merchants with permission to enter appeared at the Empress's palace. The startled maids waved their hands at the person who seemed to be the leader of the caravan.

"Just a moment! We didn't call for a caravan!"

The Empress is in no state to call for a caravan right now. But the caravan leader, with a determined look, spoke forcefully.

"Yes, I know. The Empress only needs to choose what she wants. It's a kind of gift."

"…A gift?"

'Something tells me I shouldn't ask…'

A chill ran down the maid's back, but the caravan leader continued with a bright face.

"Yes! A gift."

"…Who sent it?"

"Lord Dean Poitiers sent it. He said the payment will be handled by the Ivory Palace."

"…"

The maids turned pale and looked at each other.

'You say it.'

'Why should I? You say it.'

Eventually, the maids passed the information to the Empress through Mrs. Giggs. After the budget reallocation failure, the Ivory Palace had sent a 'gift' to the Empress, complete with a card. Adele, receiving the card from Mrs. Giggs, read it without taking a breath.

"What does it say?"

Mrs. Giggs asked cautiously, and Lionel also watched the Empress. She dropped the beautifully decorated card on the table and rubbed her forehead. Her clenched jaw and fingertips suggested she was very angry.

"The price of a fine horse. It says to buy what she wants with the money that was supposed to be reallocated. To prepare for the upcoming national day? With the skilled craftsmen, she can get something satisfactory. She's so grateful she could cry."

In other words, buy what you want with the money that was not reallocated. And it was sent by the Ivory Palace. Mrs. Giggs frowned in anger, and Lionel leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. After a moment, Adele, calming herself, stood up and quickly gave orders.

"Mrs. Giggs, prepare the necessary documents for the order. You, go tell the merchants that I don't need anything and not to set foot in the Empress's palace."

The two, receiving their orders, nodded and quickly left the Empress's room. Adele then looked at Lionel.

"Can you handle the formal protest from the family?"

"Are you going to issue an eviction order right away?"

"Is there a better way?"

Adele, who had stood up, sat down again and asked. Lionel, with a serious face, replied,

"If you just evict them, it might create sympathy for Dean Poitiers. Rather—"

"Rather?"

Adele leaned in, her eyes sparkling with interest. As her beautiful face suddenly came close, he blushed and instinctively leaned back.

"Go on."

Under Adele's urging, Lionel spoke in a low voice, sharing his thoughts. When he finished, Adele looked extremely satisfied, her eyes narrowing as she tapped her chin.

"Isn't that a brilliant idea?"

"Is this really what you thought when you accepted the advisor position?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

Adele nodded, very pleased with Lionel's suggestion. She then asked him to do one more thing. It was a difficult request, and Lionel, after some thought, said he would propose it to Theseus and formally protest at the council meeting that day. Adele also turned to her desk and sat down. She opened the palace law book in a combative stance, found the relevant section, and reviewed it again. She didn't know where it would end or what the result would be, but who lives knowing that? Adele tapped the thick law book with her right hand and spoke to a long-ago Empress, whose face she didn't know, who had once fought with her husband.

"I'm going to have a fight too. Please cheer for me."

She would have to roll in the dirty mud, but it was better than submitting. ＊ ＊ ＊

Just as Dean was examining luxury items and considering what to buy, she received news that the merchants had been turned away from the Empress's palace.

"His Majesty is really too much. Canceling the reallocation. How disappointed the Empress must be. That's why I sent merchants with a necklace, telling her to buy what she wanted with the money that was supposed to be reallocated. What does she plan to do for the national day in a few months?"

Dean, examining a platinum necklace, tried it on and muttered. The caravan leader, holding a mirror in front of her, subtly looked at her face.

"I'm really in a bind. When the Empress gave me the reallocation budget and told me to buy what I wanted, I—"

"Your Highness, you have a beautiful heart as well as a beautiful face. It's only natural for His Majesty to show you such affection."

The caravan leader praised Dean, and the other merchants waiting nearby echoed the sentiment.

"Your Highness, we are moved by your beautiful heart."

"His Majesty's love for you grows deeper every day."

Praise always sounds good. Dean pointed to a pair of earrings recommended by the merchants. The caravan leader was delighted. The sound of gold coins falling seemed to ring in his ears. Though they had been turned away from the Empress's palace, they would now sell even more to the Ivory Palace.

"Your Highness, you are truly, truly beautiful. You are the flower of the palace."

"Don't say such things carelessly! I told you, I'm in a bind."

"Ah, yes, of course, Your Highness."

Dean, feeling like a queen among the merchants who treated her like a monarch, chose items with a sense of satisfaction. The accumulating jewels represented her status, and the money she spent represented her power. The gold and silver ingots originally allocated for the Empress's palace budget were now being used, but the final amount the merchant quoted was more than double. But what was there to worry about? The Ivory Palace had a budget. Though the money was originally intended for relief, it was just a nominal purpose. Without a detailed list, there was no need to record it, so Dean used the money without hesitation.