I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 194
194 – 198
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
“Sister, what will happen to Brother Lucius?”
I didn’t know the relevant laws in detail, so I gestured to Sabinella.
“Forging official documents by a high-ranking official is quite serious. Add to that the smuggling of platinum, and he could face 35 years in prison or even the death penalty if he’s unlucky.”
“Gasp! De… death penalty?”
Joy trembled in surprise.
When I used to take Joy to the Grand Duchy to study,
I would occasionally give her extra lessons on things she didn’t know, or teach her how to memorize things she had trouble with.
That’s why Lucius was someone Joy felt close to.
It might also be because she tended to see only the good in people.
“Yes, that’s why I came to see Your Majesty about it.”
Sabinella’s meaningful words.
“Yes, my chosen Saint. Speak freely.”
At my words, Sabinella carefully opened her mouth.
“I have one idea. Your Majesty has the privilege to release Lucius.”
At those words, Joy grabbed my arm.
“Sister? Can’t you do that? I… I don’t want to see anyone else die or suffer.”
As I thought about Joy’s words for a moment,
“Of course, there could be negative consequences. The hearts of the Imperial citizens, who are currently Your Majesty’s greatest supporters, could turn away. Since the evidence is clearly established, you will undoubtedly be accused of releasing a corrupt official.”
I frowned at her words.
The Imperial citizens are my staunch supporters.
The moment they withdraw their support, it will be difficult to suppress the neutral faction as firmly as I do now.
As I pondered, Sabinella continued.
“He has valuable information about the various plans the Grand Duke is currently working on, so if we can turn him to our side, we will surely be able to learn the truth behind his mysterious actions. Especially his plan to capture the demon worshippers that the Papacy mentioned.”
When Sabinella visited the previous Papacy,
She said she heard something from the Pope.
He had tried to accuse Debien, who was like a saint, of being a demon worshiper.
He must be trying to deal with the demon worshipers on his own.
But that’s too dangerous.
Unlike ordinary mages, they wield dangerous magic and know how to cast curses.
What if… he gets seriously hurt by a demon worshiper…
Just imagining it is terrifying.
That’s why I tried to find information about the demon worshiper he’s dealing with, but he hid it so well that I couldn’t get any relevant information.
“But Lucius might know something about it. Of course, I’m just giving you my opinion on this matter, and the choice is yours, Your Majesty. From a practical standpoint, it’s better not to use the pardon. The political fallout would be too great.”
At those words, Joy grabs my arm tightly.
“W… What?”
“For now, I’ll do as you say.”
“Yes. Then I’ll withdraw my opinion.”
I nod at his words.
Joy, who saw Sabinelly backing down, asks,
“Sister, are you really going to… leave Brother Lucius to die?”
I sigh at those words.
“You heard it too, right? Lucius already has evidence and has admitted his guilt. If we release someone like that with a pardon, there will be a huge backlash.”
Joy speaks with an anxious look in her eyes.
“But…”
It’s been a long time since we’ve talked like this as sisters. Instead, things like this happen, and it doesn’t feel good.
“I’ll take care of this.”
Joy reluctantly nods at my words.
“Ugh…”
***
“Hey! Lucius… What… What’s going on?”
As soon as Müller heard that Lucius had been arrested, he ran to the Ministry of Justice after work.
Of course, it would be difficult to have a meeting at this hour, but a mere prosecutor couldn’t refuse a request from a high-ranking official like Müller.
Furthermore, Müller was a figure handpicked by the Grand Duke himself and had achieved diplomatic success…
The prosecutor had no choice but to allow it.
“Hyung… You’re here?”
“You idiot! Do you know what a serious crime document forgery is?”
Lucius smiles awkwardly at Müller’s angry words.
“I knew… but I didn’t think I’d get caught.”
“Hey! You crazy bastard! Is that what you call an excuse?”
Müller doesn’t think Lucius is stupid enough for this.
There must have been some reason.
He swallows his anger at his crazy brother’s reckless actions and tries to remain calm.
“Tell me. Why did you do something like that?”
At my words, Lucius scratches his cheek as if embarrassed.
“I’ll be there when the trial happens anyway. So you’ll find out then. Just tell me and stop making me anxious.”
Lucius sighs at Müller’s words and explains the situation.
Müller listens quietly to Lucius’s explanation.
Lucius continues speaking as he looks at him.
But even after he’s finished speaking, Müller says nothing.
“That’s what happened.”
“So? You’re telling me you did something so foolish?”
“Yeah. Sorry… I didn’t know you’d be this angry, hyung.”
As Lucius spoke in a weak voice, Müller let out a sigh.
“So, have you gotten a lawyer?”
At Müller’s words, Lucius shook his head.
“Not yet… I haven’t.”
Müller nodded his head.
“Good. I’ll be your lawyer.”
From noble mtl dot com
In this place, there are no particular qualifications required to be a lawyer.
As long as one has no criminal record, anyone can be a lawyer.
However, Lucius made a surprised expression at Müller’s words.
“Really?”
At Lucius’ words, Müller nodded his head and said,
“Who do you think I am? I’m the one who was called a genius ever since I attended the academy. Something like this is a piece of cake for me.”
“No… That’s not what I meant… Hyung, have you ever defended someone before?”
“Yeah. I did it a few times as a part-time job in the past. Honestly, I quickly quit because I was only assigned really dirty work that made me want to curse.”
In reality, Müller has outstanding eloquence and a knack for captivating the hearts of jurors.
He often attended the speeches and debates of the famous Senator Pompey in Roman in the past, studying his eloquence, and…
He possesses outstanding eloquence.
No wonder even Debiane highly regarded his eloquence and knowledge.
Although he uses rough language, he is very good at using his strengths to kindly approach people who are poor and uneducated, just like Pompey, who Müller resembles and suits even better.
“First, apply for the jury system. If the defendant requests the jury system, the Ministry of Justice is obligated to accept.”
And… He began to give Lucius legal advice.
***
Once the Ministry of Foreign Affairs finished reviewing the documents.
“Lucius, take this…”
Habitually calling Lucius’ name, my body stiffens.
“Ha…”
Lucius is… probably at the Ministry of Justice right now.
With the emperor’s privilege that I have, I could preside over Lucius’ trial,
But that could only be applied very disadvantageously to Lucius.
Because he is someone close to me… I would have no choice but to give him the maximum penalty.
That’s why I transferred it to the Ministry of Justice.
Although he will fall into Sabinus’ hands, Sabinus will want to win him over.
That’s why he won’t torture him.
Rather than torture, he’ll make other offers. For example… like attaching himself to him using Theodora’s pardon as bait.
That’s not what I want, so I’ll warn him that if he writes a pardon for Theodora, I will apply political pressure.
All I want is for Lucius to receive a fair trial according to imperial law, without outside pressure from anyone.
I’m sorry… Lucius, this is the most I can do.
Meanwhile, I am bothered by the fact that I accused Lucius, who has been struggling in the Grand Duchy.
Of course, it can be said that it is the duty of a public official to handle it legally, but it does not mean that I have no feelings.
I think anyone will betray me, but I don’t feel comfortable if it actually happens.
And maybe because of stress, I feel like my left eye is getting blurry, so I put in eye drops and get up from my seat.
“Whew… I guess I’ll call it a day.”
Thinking so, I put a few cigars in my inside pocket from the cigar box and head to the honeymoon suite.
I should have a drink for the first time in a while today.
Because I want to get a little drunk.
I feel a little sorry for myself.
If I were to cover for him, I could have buried it well enough, but I, who should be more fair than anyone, cannot cover for him just because he is close to me.
That is the duty of the one who has all the power of the Empire.
Even though the people of the Empire do not like me, I like the people of the world.
-Creak.
“I’m out.”
As I open the honeymoon suite door and enter, Theodora says, lying in bed.
“Are you here?”
“Yeah.”
I reply roughly and open the liquor cabinet to take out the whiskey and a glass.
“What’s wrong with you?”
As I take out the alcohol, Theodora gets up from the bed and says.
“I’m just… not feeling well.”
Saying so, she sits on the sofa and pours herself a drink.
“Why… is it because of Lucius?”
-Flinch.
Theodora sits down next to me, saying so.
She pours some whiskey into a glass for me.
-Gulp!
I empty the glass to soothe my frustration and say after a while.
“Don’t even think about using your right to pardon Lucius. If you do, I won’t be able to keep the Imperial faction at bay.”
It’s difficult, but if he gets off easy, there’s a high chance that there will be even greater corruption in the Grand Duchy in the future.
I need to prevent that at all costs and warn the high-ranking officials.
That’s why I accused Lucius of embezzlement with a heavy heart this time.
It is to warn everyone that they cannot betray the Empire and its people, regardless of their position or their closeness to me.
However, if I use the Emperor’s right to pardon, there will be even greater corruption in the future.
Lucius must be tried.
At least in a court that will have no choice but to punish him more leniently than I would.
That’s the most I can do for Lucius.
However, as I give Theodora a stern warning not to use this politically, Theodora nods her head slightly.
“I understand. But… it doesn’t sit right with me to see you struggling like this.”
I pour myself a drink without saying anything to her words.
“Hey… aren’t you drinking too much?”
-Gulp… Gulp.
I can feel the hot alcohol burning my esophagus and stomach.
“I’m fine, just this much.”
Honestly, I’m suffocating.
The thought that I can’t do whatever I want when ruling the empire suffocates me.
To think that I had no choice but to accuse Lucius, who contributed to the empire all night for over a year.
As my self-loathing deepens, I get up from my seat…
“Where are you going?”
“To smoke a cigarette.”
As I say that, I open the window and go out to the balcony.
The cigar I brought in my arms.
I tear the end of the cigar with my mouth and light it.
“Whew… damn it.”
This is really hard…
Thinking and feeling are different things.
To be honest, Lucius’ betrayal is a huge shock to me too.
I didn’t trust him completely, but we’ve been together for a long time.
We’ve often worked together all night.
-Creak.
“Are you really okay?”
Theodora’s voice startled me without me knowing.
“Yeah… I’m fine. I’m used to being betrayed.”
Does my heart ache because I was betrayed? Or because I couldn’t save Lucius?
I don’t know what’s what.
“Tsk… Liar.”
As she says that, Theodora stands next to me and crosses her arms.
“It’ll be okay. I’m sure it’ll turn out the way you want it to.”
I listen to her words and exhale the cigarette smoke, lost in thought.
Does she know what I want and say such things?
No way. She doesn’t know anything about me.
Maybe she sees me as a monster, just as I see her as a monster.
Because we are completely different people.
I continue to smoke my cigar with that thought.