Chapter 17

As Alexei and Eleonora exchanged heated glances and spoke, the nobles in the hall watched them closely. Though they couldn't hear the content of their conversation, it was clear from their serious expressions that Eleonora had been chosen as a candidate for Alexei's empress.

Prime Minister Sergei, who had heard the entire conversation from beginning to end, was troubled by the meaning of the talk about ham and pie.

" Sergei, what's wrong? "

Alexei called out to Sergei, who had a troubled look on his face.

" Your Majesty, it's nothing. "

If he asked what ham and pie referred to, it would nullify the purpose of Alexei's coded conversation. Sergei decided to ask about the true meaning of the conversation after the ball.

" Your Majesty, let's return to the grand hall. They are eagerly waiting for you there. "

At these words, Alexei gave a sardonic smile.

" Those who flatter the Demon Emperor are waiting for me? How boring. The true heroes are but a few. The rest are incompetent, lacking the ambition to join the anti-emperor faction. "

Before Alexei became emperor, the anti-emperor faction was overwhelmingly dominant. Indeed, the fact that Alexei, the eldest son and the most suitable by blood, was not made crown prince, and that his half-brother was made crown prince instead, or that Alexei became the leader of the Black Knights, suggests that the empire's nobles either actively or passively joined the anti-emperor faction, which was a reasonable trend.

However, there were also nobles who remained loyal to the emperor, and some who disapproved of the arrogant behavior of the anti-emperor faction. These nobles faced economic sanctions or were marginalized from central politics by the anti-emperor nobles, but they did not give in and worked hard to advance Alexei's ascension to the throne.

" Still, I should show my face to the loyalists. Let's go, Sergei. "

" Yes. Also, I think it would be wise to assign a guard to Lady Eleonora. There is a possibility that those who covet the empress's throne might harm her. "

Hearing that Eleonora, who had been with him just moments ago, might be attacked, Alexei was deeply shaken.

" Arrange it immediately. Make sure the guard does not alert her. Never do anything to frighten her. Also, investigate her and report back. She is not an ordinary woman. "

Seeing Alexei treat Eleonora specially, Sergei hoped that Alexei might be capable of loving someone.

Sergei was ordered by his father, the prime minister, to serve as Alexei's aide after Alexei was brought back from the Demon Forest. At the time, the prime minister had declared a neutral stance but appeared to have turned to the anti-emperor faction to make Alexei the next emperor. By telling the empress that he had assigned his son Sergei to monitor Alexei's actions, he made the anti-emperor faction complacent, paving the way for Alexei to become emperor.

At that time, Sergei was fifteen, and Alexei was nine.

Sergei vividly remembers the first time he met Alexei as if it were yesterday.

The beautiful prince with a dark, despairing gaze, rejecting everything. That was Alexei.

A child with no expression, neither laughing nor crying, whom he initially thought was apathetic, but soon realized he was wrong.

Far from being apathetic, Alexei relentlessly trained himself, studying academics, swordsmanship, and magic, continuing the rigorous training that even adults found difficult.

It was ten years after their first meeting that Sergei saw Alexei smile.

He showed a clear, refreshing smile when he killed the leader of the Black Knights.

From that radiant smile, Sergei knew that Alexei had learned swordsmanship solely for this day.

Since Alexei never spoke about what happened in the Demon Forest, Sergei had no way of knowing what had occurred, but he knew from his father that the Black Knight leader Alexei killed was the one who had saved him.

There was certainly deep resentment for killing the knight who had saved him. However, all the knights present at the scene, except the leader, were already dead, so no one knew what had happened.

As far as Sergei knew, Alexei had never loved anyone. He believed it was because Alexei did not know love.

" Your Majesty, Lady Eleonora is not just beautiful. I think her manners as a lady are also excellent. While a different family might be a better match, the House of Purpureus is not bad. It is a prestigious family since the founding of the kingdom. "

Sergei truly hoped that Eleonora could be the one to teach Alexei about love.