Chapter 21

After confirming the safety of Princess Via, Ruitas returned to the Imperial Palace.

Watching his departure, Via sat down on the sofa again. Ebeck stood beside her, and Lord Rofman and his assistant Kay Arnel also took their seats.

With the news of Prince Alek's safety, everyone's expressions brightened for the moment.

Via decided to take this opportunity to ask Lord Rofman about the things she didn't understand.

"I heard that an order to detain Empress Myaarl was issued, but what kind of authority does the Empress have to issue such an order?"

She needed to know how the politics would unfold in the future.

"According to the Imperial Household Code, after the Emperor's death, power is temporarily transferred to the Empress until a successor is determined.

Therefore, the Empress's order to detain has the same power as the Emperor's, binding Empress Myaarl."

"Lord Sezon said that Empress Myaarl and Prince Romaris would be taken to Reiatow. Why specifically to the knights' encampment? Wouldn't the Red Jade Palace be more suitable for the Prince's dignity?"

It was Arnel, the assistant, who answered instead of Lord Rofman.

"Like this palace, it can be defended for a short time, but it's not a good strategy to be confined in the palace. It has no walls or moat.

If it comes to a full-scale battle, the palace would have to be abandoned."

"Indeed."

Via recalled the encampment in Antoire she had visited several times. It was more like a fortress than a mansion, and she remembered being quite surprised the first time she went there.

Lord Rofman added further explanation.

"There are four places in this palace that function as fortresses.

East Rofman, South Antoire, West Reiatow, and North, the palace guard knights' quarters.

These four fortresses are strategically placed along the walls to repel enemy attacks."

"Though they are all knights' encampments and lack aesthetic appeal, they are all impregnable fortresses."

Arnel added, and Lord Rofman nudged his shoulder, suggesting that the lack of appeal was unnecessary.

"But what do they plan to do after fleeing to Reiatow?"

Arnel continued.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes. Reiatow is the best place for a siege. However, a siege only works if you know reinforcements are coming.

Sezon's territory, Cherit, borders Midas, but if the Empress orders the city gates to be sealed, Cherit's forces will be stopped.

Moreover, the Prince will likely ascend the throne soon. If that happens, Sezon will be a rebel, and even the nobles close to Sezon won't support him."

Everyone fell silent.

Sezon's intentions were unclear. He was a man who aimed to usurp the throne. It was hard to believe he had no plan.

Suddenly, the door was knocked on violently.

Ebeck stood beside Via, and Rofman's knights changed their positions to protect her, facing the door.

"A messenger from Prince Alek has arrived."

The guards' response made the four of them sigh in relief.

The door opened, and a disheveled knight from Antoire entered. He bowed lightly to Lord Rofman and knelt before Via.

"I report that the knights of Reiatow have stormed the Treasury and occupied it."

The knight's voice, filled with bitterness, shattered the previous calm atmosphere.

"The Treasury!"

Lord Rofman approached the knight, almost grabbing his throat.

"Why did they storm the Treasury? It's supposed to be heavily guarded!"

"A squad broke into the locked quarters and stole the keys!

The guards outside were all killed, and the knights of Reiatow have barricaded themselves inside."

Ebeck and the other knights were speechless, their faces pale as they stood there.

"...So, we can't get the crown and scepter anymore, can we?"

Via tried to control her trembling breath and asked in a calm tone.

The Treasury houses the royal library and treasure vault.

Both contain important documents and treasures for the country, and it is a sturdy stone building designed to withstand fire.

"Is it built in such a way that we can't do anything from the outside if they barricade themselves in?"

She asked Lord Rofman, who nodded with a stern face.

"The outer walls are made of stone, and there is only one heavy iron door for entry and exit. There are windows for light, but they are barred to prevent entry from the outside.

The key to the treasure vault is held by Prince Alek, so there's no worry about the crown being stolen, but with the Treasury occupied, we can't do anything."

"But if they barricade themselves in, won't they run out of water and food?"

Via asked, thinking of a solution.

"Surrounding them and cutting off their supplies should make them surrender easily, right?"

"There's a well in the Treasury."

Lord Rofman answered with a bitter tone.

"The clerks light candles to read old documents, so a well was dug to ensure they could put out fires if necessary.

Of course, there's no food, but it's hard to imagine they didn't bring portable rations when they planned to occupy it."

"...So, we can't do anything until their supplies run out?"

The gravity of the situation made Via's voice tremble.

If this continues, the Prince won't be able to ascend the throne, and the empire will remain without an emperor.

"What about the Imperial Guard? Can't they act on the Empress's orders?

Perhaps they can...!"

She clung to this last hope, but Lord Rofman shook his head regretfully.

"Only the Emperor can command the Imperial Guard."

"Damn! They're determined to prevent the ascension...!"

Via bit her lip and hung her head, while Arnel punched the table in frustration.

Ebeck clenched his fists, his face tense and silent.

Via took a deep breath to calm herself.

The palace knights and Midas knights would likely follow the Empress's orders as the Emperor's regent.

With the combined forces of the Rofman and Antoire knights, it would be a considerable army, but it would still take time to subdue Reiatow, which is fortified.

Without the absolute ruler, the Emperor, the government cannot function, and the Imperial Guard, who should act in emergencies, cannot be mobilized.

If the unstable situation continues, there might be forces that support Lord Sezon.

The worst-case scenario could be a divided nation, with no end in sight.

What should I do, then?

Via had no power. She could only be protected. Unlike the Empress, who had the authority to support Prince Alek, she was just a concubine and would only be a burden.

She thought for a moment.

"Please inform the Prince."

Via raised her chin and turned to the messenger.

"I will go to Rofman or Antoire, as the Prince wishes.

If we need to take Reiatow, there won't be any extra forces to spare for the Crystal Palace's security.

Please bring back the Prince's thoughts."

The Crystal Palace was in a flurry of activity.

Via ordered the staff to prepare for her move.

"If the Prince gives instructions, only a few maids will follow me. The rest should follow the chief steward's orders.

Then, please prepare a meal for the knights.

We will have a simple meal here. Please prepare something we can eat quickly."

She gave orders to the maids and turned to Lord Rofman and the others.

"I can't offer much, but let's have a meal. We don't know when something might happen."

Ebeck, who was used to Via's decisiveness and action, sat down without hesitation, but the Rofman knights looked at each other hesitantly before taking their seats.

A simple meal was prepared, and Via smiled and encouraged everyone to eat as if it were a formal dinner.

She straightened her back, smiled softly, and reached for her glass.

Incidentally, what Via picked up was sparkling wine from Kiel. It had almost no alcohol content and was more like sparkling water.

"Still, to mention the Imperial Guard in that situation... Does the Princess know something about them?"

Arnel, who had decided to go as far as he could, took a cup of wine, raised it slightly, and took a slow sip.

Via smiled ambiguously, not knowing what Arnel was asking.

"I only know that they are a terrifying existence, and that they perform tasks that cannot be made public."

Arnel, who had asked lightly assuming the Princess knew nothing, was taken aback and fell silent.

Ebeck was even more surprised. Instead of laughing off the Princess's words, he saw the change in Lord Rofman's expression and called out, "The Imperial Guard is not the Emperor's personal guard?"

The Imperial Guard, dressed in black uniforms with gold trim, always by the Emperor's side, were both a prestigious and peculiar existence in Anchease.

They were not from any knightly order.

Their sword skills were unmatched, and no one doubted their competence. However, they avoided familiarity with others, and their true nature remained a mystery.

Some said they were hereditary, and Ebeck believed this.

"They are the ones who handle the dark side of the royal family."

After a moment, Lord Rofman, sitting across from Ebeck, explained in few words.

"But don't tell anyone. This is a secret that should be kept."

Even Arnel, a high-ranking officer, only learned this after joining the Rofman staff.

The Imperial Guard handled espionage, kidnapping, purges, and assassinations, and even those close to the center of power did not know their exact numbers.

It was rumored that they picked up children who were sold in the dark or abandoned, trained them, and only those who survived were allowed to bear the title.

"Who told the Princess about the Imperial Guard?"

Lord Rofman asked, probing.

Via hesitated for a moment.

She didn't know that the Imperial Guard's tasks were supposed to be kept secret. If she had known, she wouldn't have spoken so frankly.

She thought about how to cover it up but quickly realized it was impossible.

If she tried to hide it, she would lose Lord Rofman's trust. Worse, if the Prince was suspected of leaking information to her, his credibility could be damaged.

"I... I saw it when I was a child."

Via decided to reveal everything. She pretended to be calm, took a piece of rye bread from the plate, and tore it into small pieces to fit in her mouth.

"Before you entered the palace?"

Lord Rofman looked at Via with surprise.

It was unthinkable that the Imperial Guard would let someone live after revealing their true identity, even if they were a child.

"He killed someone right in front of me.

He tried to kill my three siblings as well, but my mother begged for our lives desperately. She promised to do anything if they spared the children.

That's why Empress Tsette went to the Emperor's chambers."

Lord Rofman and the others were speechless, hearing this unexpected revelation for the first time.

"Is this true?"

Arnel asked hesitantly.

Everyone thought Empress Tsette was a happy woman who was favored by the Emperor after entering the harem.

The idea that she was taken as a concubine by force, with her children's lives as leverage, was hard to believe.

"It's true."

Via smiled quietly.

"But I don't want the Prince to know. It's not a pleasant story, you see."

The others nodded, understanding that it was a matter of the previous Emperor's shame and should not be spoken of lightly.

"I had a lot of trouble with Emperor Paresis."

To avoid further questioning, Via subtly changed the topic.

"The child he intended to kill grew up to look just like his mother. The Emperor wanted to use the child as a replacement for the dead woman."

The meaning was clear, and Lord Rofman made a bitter face.

"Surely not..."

"I look like my mother. Given Emperor Paresis's obsession, it might have been inevitable."

"But, Your Highness, you didn't go to the Emperor, did you?"

Arnel asked, carefully phrasing his question.

"Fortunately, I was made Prince Alek's concubine."

Please continue your meal, she said to the Rofman knights, who had stopped eating. Ebeck immediately took a bite of meat, and the others resumed their meal.

By the way, I should mention this, Via said.

"In fact, I negotiated directly with Prince Alek to avoid becoming the Emperor's concubine. The Prince's infatuation was just a pretext."

Ebeck almost spat out his meat and coughed.

"Oh, Ebeck, are you okay?"

"Y-Yes, Gah... Gah..."

After a struggle, Ebeck managed to swallow the meat and looked at Via with teary eyes.

"You're joking. You two seem so close."

Ebeck's gaze pleaded for a denial, but

"Well, it would have been impossible for the Prince to notice me, locked away in the Crystal Palace."

Via dismissed it bluntly.

"It wouldn't have been a bad deal for the Prince.

After all, if I had become the Emperor's concubine and allied with Lord Sezon, it would have been troublesome for the Prince to ask for Celtis's guardianship."

Via continued with a smile, and then looked around.

"That's why the Prince made me his concubine.

So, if anyone asks about me, please tell them in a confidential tone that it was a political necessity, and not to worry."

The three knights finally understood the situation.

The Princess was not just enjoying a leisurely meal during this crisis.

She was thinking ahead to when Prince Alek would win the war and become Emperor, and was laying the groundwork.

"But if such rumors spread, Your Highness will..."

Ebeck frowned, knowing that the rumors would make Via a target of ridicule in the palace. He didn't want to see her in such a position.

Via sighed softly.

She had been helped by Ebeck many times. She felt a bond with him, and the thought of not seeing him anymore made her feel lonely.

So, she decided it was time to tell him.

"This is just between us, but..."

Via turned to Ebeck, addressing Lord Rofman and the others.

She had been thinking about what she could do for Prince Alek. And she already knew the answer.

Leaving the Prince's side as a concubine.

She thought there was still some time, but the Emperor's sudden death changed everything.

Prince Alek would become Emperor soon. And he wouldn't need a concubine by his side.

In fact, her presence would only be a hindrance.

She wanted to stay in this warm, comfortable place, but it was time to end the dream.

The moment of decision had truly arrived.

"I always intended to return to the common life. My mother wished for it too.

But she died too soon, and I couldn't leave Celtis behind, so I stayed in the palace."

That was all.

Her mother's only wish was for her to have a happy marriage.

"Celtis is fine now. He's happy and laughing since joining Antoire.

I could only protect him from being killed in the Crystal Palace, but now Prince Alek is there for him.

Celtis doesn't need me anymore."

Lord Rofman and the others listened silently to the conversation between the Princess and her guard.

The facts were shocking, but the Princess's words