Chapter 3

After Via left, the room was enveloped in an odd silence.

Her unconventional appearance as a princess had left everyone feeling deflated.

Aleks gradually felt laughter welling up from the depths of his stomach.

"What a woman."

She must be desperate to protect her only brother. Without any backing, and being a prince with a claim to the throne, he is indeed the most troublesome.

"Still, to have that appearance and that personality..."

"I never knew I had such an interesting sister-in-law."

"She could easily catch someone's eye by accident.

How about it? Will you take the bait?"

At Louis's playful words, Grook visibly frowned.

"That appearance is right up the Emperor's alley. I'd be in trouble if he got obsessed."

Aleks felt a sense of resignation.

"Are you worried about that here?"

I don't think there's a man who wouldn't be swayed by that appearance.

"Whether it's poison or medicine, I can't tell."

Amon said nothing.

He was usually a man of few words, but it seemed his mind was preoccupied with something else.

He was probably still concerned about the Antole Knights' horseback training.

"If we eliminate the options, the worst scenario would be if Princess Viatora becomes the Emperor's concubine and allies with Lord Sezon."

"Then, should we take the Emperor's love interest?"

Saying this half-jokingly, Louis joined in on the fun.

"You, the Emperor wouldn't openly oppose.

Besides, she's already been adopted as a foster daughter. It would be too scandalous to bring her into his harem."

Normally, it would be unthinkable for a prince to take the Emperor's desired woman as a concubine.

But in Viatora's case, the situation is different.

It would be too indiscreet to bring both mother and daughter into the harem, and now, Empress Maial is just pregnant.

"But even if I were to make a request, I doubt it would be easily granted.

That princess is a dead ringer for Empress Zitie. The Emperor seems quite attached to her."

Suddenly, Amon, who had been silent until then, spoke up.

"If you are to take Princess Viatora as a concubine, it would be best to speak with Empress Tora first."

"What, are you in favor of it?"

Aleks chuckled, but Amon shook his head.

"I'm not sure how much I can trust that princess.

However, I believe it would go more smoothly if Empress Tora were to mediate.

The Emperor holds her in high regard."

The Emperor, who had been infatuated with concubines, still respected Empress Tora, who had been on the throne for over twenty years and whose opinions he valued.

The Empress had built her power base over a long period.

She had a broad perspective on politics, both domestically and internationally, and a network of contacts.

Her strength lay in her ability to look beyond the immediate and plan for the long term.

Aleks, too, owed his three closest advisors to the Empress.

Gruk, his trusted right-hand man; Amon, the heir of a military family; and Louis, skilled in information gathering.

As the Empress had predicted, these three had become indispensable to Aleks.

"Empress Tora, huh?"

Aleks, who knew his mother only saw him as a useful pawn, propped his cheek on his hand, somewhat reluctant.

But Gruk added sternly,

"To be clear, if you want to take the princess as a concubine, the person you need to be most careful about is Empress Tora."

"I know that, but—"

"Your Highness."

Gruk interrupted Aleks.

"Empress Tora still harbors resentment towards Empress Zitie."

It felt as if a cold hand had caressed his neck. Aleks looked up, and Gruk continued.

"If the Emperor were to desire a princess who is a dead ringer for Empress Zitie, and if you, his son, also desired her, Empress Tora would be furious.

You should explain the situation to her first.

With Empress Maial's pregnancy, it's urgent to bring Prince Celdis into the fold, and the Emperor has already taken an interest in Princess Viatora.

Empress Tora would want to avoid further scandal and would likely prefer that you take her as a concubine."

Aleks let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

Gruk was right. Empress Tora must hate Empress Zitie.

If it were just a matter of the Emperor's infatuation, it wouldn't have damaged the Empress's dignity, but at the time, the Emperor's obsession with Empress Zitie had been a laughingstock.

"Damn, she always causes trouble."

Aleks felt like tearing his hair out. His father, despite being his father, had no self-restraint.

"Fine.

Louis, gather information on any changes in the nobles' movements due to Empress Maial's pregnancy.

I'll think more about Princess Viatora. The Emperor will be busy with the Tiaque trade delegation for the next three days, so it will be a while before he can act.

And Gruk, send a messenger to ensure Prince Celdis attends the reception tomorrow."

"Understood."

Celdis, whom Aleks had hardly ever thought about.

He had believed Celdis to be sickly and had made no effort to reach out, but from the way his sister acted, Celdis might have been pretending to be sickly.

The key to this matter was Celdis, who had a claim to the throne.

Aleks needed to determine if Celdis was worth supporting.

Celdis, who had claimed to be sickly and had not left the Purple Jade Palace, appeared at Aleks's summons without hesitation.

As expected, he had been hiding.

He doesn't look as much like Empress Zitie as his sister.

This was Aleks's first impression upon seeing his brother after a long time.

He had a handsome face, but lacked the allure of his sister.

At twelve, he seemed frail and younger than his peers.

"Do you know that your sister came to see me?"

Whispering softly so as not to be overheard, Celdis nodded.

"What do you think?"

"I told my sister that it would be fine to live in the city, but she refused, saying I wasn't capable enough."

"..."

Seeing this sister and brother, Aleks felt a sense of resignation. There was something off about the situation.

"Even if she has to become a concubine to either Father or me, I think it would be better if she were with me."

Celdis, looking at his brother for the first time, said firmly.

"Mother said it would be fine even if the man was fat, bald, and old, as long as he could be her husband, but I think it would be better for her to go to someone attractive.

Besides, I think you are more popular, so you wouldn't be too attached to her.

If she wants freedom, I think you would let her go."

Aleks found it amusing that Celdis was worried about this.

"Do you have no desire for the throne?"

At this, Celdis smiled for the first time.

"I have no capable or skilled advisors, and no backing.

If an incapable person becomes Emperor, the country will fall into chaos.

But as the second prince, I believe I can do something.

I want to work towards a country where my sister can live without hardship when she goes down to the city.

That is the only thing I can do for her."

"Brother."

Looking out the window of his study, Aleks muttered to himself.

He had never really thought about having a brother or sister.

His three half-sisters, who were younger, had married off to other countries without much interaction, and the youngest was still a child whom he had never met.

Recalling his conversation with Celdis, Aleks thought he wasn't stupid.

He understood his position and the situation of his sister.

It was unclear whether he knew about the premonitory dreams, but if he did, he was cautious enough not to mention them.

"Louis, what's wrong?"

Gruk, noticing Louis's unusual silence, spoke up.

"I'm not sure if I should tell you this, but—"

"What is it?"

"I have a five-year-old boy named Roland."

"That's a common name."

As he said this, Aleks remembered hearing it somewhere recently.

"Yesterday evening, he fell from a tree while climbing and broke his right leg, my sister said."

At this, Aleks finally understood what Louis was trying to say.

Gruk murmured, "Could it be?"

"Before she went to the evening party, my sister was wearing a crimson taffeta dress.

When I asked if she was wearing a necklace, she said she was wearing a jade necklace sent by her husband at noon."

"..."

Viatora had told him about the dream yesterday afternoon.

What had she said then?

A future that could be avoided, she had said...

"By the way, where is Amon?"

"He went off somewhere with a changed expression after hearing the story."

The other future Viatora had revealed.

A young knight of the Antole Knights would be pierced in the left eye by a spear during horseback training, she had said.

"Where are you going?"

As Aleks turned to leave, Gruk called out to him.

Aleks took a deep breath.

"I will take Princess Viatora, the fourth princess of Ancheze, as my concubine."