Chapter 217
A little earlier on the same day
Empress Ravini was in front of the Emperor’s bedroom.
The bedroom door was tightly closed but Ravini’s face was bright.
Soon after, the black-haired maid came out and bowed her head politely before her.
"Come in, Empress. His Majesty is waiting."
The red corners of Ravini’s mouth went up quietly.
Not long ago, she was stopped at the door. But she was given permission to come inside today.
"Yes, thank you."
The lady-in-waiting, thanked by the Empress, bowed her head further without making eye contact.
The sight made Empress Ravini feel even better.
"Your Majesty."
Entering the bedroom, the Empress called Jovanes in a friendly voice.
"You’re here."
Looking as if he had just woken up, Jovanes was still in his pajamas and being attended by the maids, answered silently.
As a result for having been drinking alcohol for a while, the black shade under his eyes were clearly visible and so was his shabby face.
"I was worried to hear that you were not feeling well before. I’m glad you’re feeling better now."
The phrase ’not feeling well’ that Jovanes always used is only an excuse because he didn’t want to see the Empress’s face.
But she didn’t know it.
The Empress had been talking to Jovanes in a friendly tone, looking genuinely worried.
"Why are you here, Empress?" Jovanes asked in an irritating voice, fed up with Ravini.
"If you want to ask regarding Astana’s case..."
"I came here because of the Second Prince Perez."
Jovanes, who glanced at Ravini for a moment, leaned over to the wash water that his maid had brought.
As Ravini watched his reaction, she was convinced.
The Emperor already knew the affairs of Perez and Firentia Lombardy.
But it seemed like he was going to pretend not to know, so she had to play along.
"Have you not heard it yet? It is said that this morning, the Head of Lombardy appointed Firentia, who was currently engaged to the Second Prince, as the next official Head, Your Majesty."
"...That’s what happened."
Jovanes spoke slowly and splashed water on his face.
Ravini guessed it right.
As soon as the Emperor opened his eyes, he heard Rulhac’s decision.
At first, it was absurd. He was also angry because he was deceived.
But he pondered it, and it wasn’t too bad for Jovanes himself.
The relationship between Lombardy and the Imperial Family was inseparable.
That meant that the Emperor should share the absolute power that only he deserves.
Jovanes hated it unbearably.
However, until now, no Emperor has escaped this shackle. Even the terrifying previous Emperor and Jovanes himself.
He tried to get out of Lombardy’s hands, but he was only faced with greater retaliation.
"Are you all right, Your Majesty?"
Ravini approached Jovanes with a worried voice to see how he reacted.
The face behind the towel was smiling.
Firentia Lombardy was a young woman with no political experience. She would be much easier to handle than Rulhac Lombardy.
"It’s okay."
Jovanes replied, but Empress Ravini shook her head.
"You don’t look well, Your Majesty."
Oh, no.
Now, Jovanes was barely holding back the laughter that was threatening to come out.
This is a great opportunity to break Lombardy’s spirit.
But to do that, he still needed the Angenas.
If Angenas disappears right now, he wouldn’t know how much time it would take to create the centerpiece of the nobles that would weigh the Lombardys down.
"I was also enraged at the case of the Second Prince."
Jovanes looked at the Empress who continued to say so, through the mirror.
He still had nightmares every night because of Astana’s image, who was still coming at him with a dagger.
But if Lombardy pushed forward, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to Astana who did it.
It just so happens that Astana was rumored to be out of his mind at that time and that he was framed by someone.
’That doesn’t mean I can just let it go.’
It’s treason.
Someone had to pay for the crime.
"Haa... I feel uncomfortable these days, Your Majesty." Ravini said, sighing.
"Didn’t the First Prince get deeply injured? But the Second Prince didn’t let me, his mother, to see even Astana’s hair..."
Reading Jovanes’s heart, the Empress cried and brought up Astana’s side of the story.
"The poor First Prince must have been framed, Your Majesty."
"It’s just a suspicion."
"But what if it’s true, Your Majesty?"
Empress Ravini took out her handkerchief and damped her tears away.
"How many days has it been already since the First Prince was locked up? He even lost his right hand."
The Empress’s voice was desperate as if she was genuinely concerned for Astana.
"Of course, it is true that he committed an unforgivable sin against Your Majesty, but didn’t he greatly pay for such offense already?"
"Empress." said Jovanes, finally looking back at Ravini.
"Isn’t the real culprit out there?"
However, it wasn’t the words the Empress said that swayed him. Rather, there was something about the subtle tone that made the listener hear her out.
"As a father, I also feel sorry for Astana’s suffering, but it doesn’t change that fact that we have to find the culprit."
"The culprit..."
The Empress looked deep into Jovanes’s eyes and asked, confirming.
"If we find out who the real culprit is, will Astana be released from custody?"
"There’s no reason why he couldn’t be released."
"Is that so?"
Empress Ravini nodded her head. Then she took a few steps backward.
"I will wait for Your Majesty’s preparations to be completed. Would you like to have breakfast with me? We haven’t shared breakfast in a long while."
"...I’ll do that."
As soon as Jovanes gave his confirmation, the Empress left the bedroom in a hurry fearing that he would take back his words.
He wondered where she was going, but the Emperor did not ask. He laughed inwardly.
"The first Emperor to tame Lombardy."
It was a very pleasing achievement.
***
"Bellesac Lombardy’s case..." Perez looked at me as he muttered low.
"Why don’t we move to a different location and have a proper conversation, Deputy Head Lombardy?"
"Let’s do that." I nodded at Perez’s suggestion.
"This way, please." Perez said as he led me into the Knights building.
We arrived in a small office that Perez seemed to be temporarily using.
"Here we are."
I went inside first. Then I heard Perez talking behind me.
"Don’t even think about coming in."
"But, Your Highness..."
"Get far away from the door."
"Still..."
"It’s an order."
"...Yes, Your Highness."
Eventually, the Knights who lost to Perez stepped back and closed the door.
Only the two of us were left in the room.
Perez, who came closer, was just looking at me with a faint smile.
What’s wrong with him?
With the slightly awkward atmosphere filling the room, I spoke first.
"Your Highness, I’m here to fulfill my official duties, and the reason the knights weren’t with me is because—"
"Did you sleep well last night?"
When only the two of us were left, Perez’s tone became relaxed.
What’s with him all of a sudden?
I replied reflexively, slightly frowning.
"Of course, I slept well..."
A moment passed, my eyes widened as I’ve come to realized.
"Yesterday....you came to my room.....?"
"Yes."
"Well...then.....that’s....that’s...."
Wasn’t it a dream?!
I nearly stumbled as I stepped backward. But Perez just stepped forward as much.
"I didn’t tell you that I left because you were sleeping so well. I didn’t want to wake you up."
"I thought it was a dream!"
"For me, it was definitely a happy dream. Tia said she likes me—"
"Perez!" I looked back at the door and shouted urgently, but Perez only smiled at me with joy in his eyes.
What a dog! What do you mean it wasn’t a dream?
I felt my face reddening.
No, let’s stay calm. Calm down!
I took a deep breath and said, "I’m not here to talk about anything personal today. I want you to hand over Bellesac Lombardy."
I just want to do my business quickly and avoid this situation.
If Perez refuses, I have prepared a long list of reasons to convince him.
"Take him, Deputy Head." But Perez replied with a calm face.
"I have prepared in advance. A little while ago, he was packing before I came out."
"...It looks like you knew I was coming today."
"As long as you became the Deputy Head, I thought that you would take responsibility for all of the Lombardy family members."
"You know me very well."
Perez replied with a faint smile to my words. "Thank you for the compliment."
If you’re this handsome, then it’s a price worth paying for.
I glanced at Perez a little and said, "Then I’ll take him right away without wasting any time. Where’s Bellesac?"
"Upstairs."
It seemed to be the room where Perez came out a while ago.
"Please take the lead." I said so and tried to open the door.
"Before that."
Before I could fully open it, the door closed again at Perez’s gentle push.
"The string has been loosened, Deputy Head."
Perez reached out to me, speaking softly.
"Ah..."
As he said, the straps of the shawl were slightly loosened.
Then a red ruby necklace was revealed between the hems of the crooked shawl.
"This..."
At that moment, I made eye contact with Perez.
My heart was racing. It was because Perez was smiling.
The feeling of him fiddling with the ruby necklace on my collarbone tickled.
"From last night until today. What should I do if you keep giving me presents like this?..."
The red eyes looked at me as if they were burning me.
"Deputy Head Lombardy."
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