I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 200
200 – 204
I listen calmly to Lucius’s story.
The advisory council meeting held at the Grand Duke’s office.
He hosts the meeting where they discuss the empire’s critical issues and plans.
“At that time, there was a matter concerning His Majesty the Emperor’s personal guard.”
I’m aware that each department has selected capable and trustworthy individuals to be appointed as the Grand Duke’s aides…
But how did our side’s information leak?
Is it the Emperor’s faction? Or those I have appointed?
From Sabinelli, whom I appointed, to Enrique, a high-ranking official in the Emperor’s faction.
I suspect who might have leaked the information to him.
Who could it be? Who is the traitor?
With these thoughts, I ask Lucius.
“So? What was his reaction?”
Lucius replies nonchalantly to my question.
“He said to leave it be.”
“What?”
Not understanding, I ask again.
“He said to leave me be as I train the army?”
What on earth… What is he thinking?
If I start forming an army in Roman, even if it’s weaker than his, I believe the significance is immense.
In other words, it’s the creation of my own force.
And he’s allowing this?
“Yes. In fact, the Grand Duke expressed concern that you might simply fill the numbers, considering bringing officers from the Order of the Golden Knights to Roman as training instructors.”
Lucius’s words make my head spin.
Not just leaving me to form an army, but also providing instructors?
Lucius’s incomprehensible words only add to my confusion.
After all, both Sabinelli and my grandfather thought he would oppose me recruiting an army and tried to hide it by any means.
In contrast, Lucius’s story is so illogical it’s hard to believe.
“Why? What is he planning? To be honest, Lucius, I find your words hard to trust.”
At my words, Lucius shrugs and says,
“I don’t know what the Grand Duke is thinking either, but we’ve roughly agreed to handle it this way. Let’s pretend not to see.”
-Tap… Tap…
I tap my fingers on the desk, lost in thought.
Is he disregarding me?
That’s not it.
He has a personality close to a perfectionist.
It’s hard to imagine him looking down on anyone.
Especially since he himself is an emperor.
Wouldn’t it be a great burden for him if I had even a small army to protect myself?
I can’t even begin to guess what he’s aiming for.
“And what else? What other issues were raised at the Grand Duke’s advisory council meeting?”
At my question, Lucius frowns.
“There were so many… As you know, the Grand Duke’s office is a higher authority over the Information Department and the Fifth Bureau. It deals with all fronts, coordinating with subordinate agencies and strategizing. So, we discuss each department’s issues and policy situations.”
“But how does he know our information? Has someone betrayed us?”
I ask Lucius to find the traitor who sold our information.
Lucius makes a troubled face.
“I’m not sure about the details, but the Information Department sends daily reports to His Highness the Grand Duke. I think it might be in there.”
The Information Department…
How are they taking our internal information?
“Could there be a traitor within the emperor’s faction…”
At my words, Lucius shakes his head.
“It could be a traitor, but they probably used eavesdropping magic.”
“Eavesdropping magic? What’s that?”
I ask, hearing the term for the first time, and Lucius looks a bit awkward.
“It’s a magic that allows you to listen in on conversations from afar by installing it on objects or in rooms. I believe it was developed upon the establishment of the Information Department, commissioned by the Magic Tower, but I don’t know the details.”
The Magic Tower is not an academy operated by the empire but a famous magical organization in the Kingdom of Sardinia.
From noble mtl dot come
They made magic through them?
How did they even come up with such magic?
Surprised, my mouth falls open, but then I regain my composure and say to Lucius.
“My goodness… Lucius, are you saying the Information Department created such magic?”
Surprised by the magic I’m hearing about for the first time, Lucius nods.
“Yes. I don’t know how His Highness came up with the idea, but I know he commissioned the Magic Tower to see if it was practical.”
So, they’ve been siphoning information like this?
“Is that magic installed in my office too?”
“I’m not quite sure… I’ve been in contact with the Mage Tower regarding the development of magic. But the intelligence department manages it, so I don’t really know where it’s actually deployed.”
“Is that so?”
At Lucius’s words, I smile deeply.
“First, Lucius, I’m going to the academy right away, so could you prepare the carriage for me?”
“Yes, I understand.”
***
“Oh… Has the Grand Duke arrived?”
The Pope greets me with a kind smile.
“I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience every time I visit the Papal States.”
My relationship with the Papal States is publicly known to be the worst, so my visits must remain undisclosed, and I receive much consideration from the Pope.
For example, the carriage…
“Not at all, isn’t all this for the sake of God and the imperial citizens? Please, don’t worry about it.”
At the Pope’s words, I nod and exchange a glance with Sena, who’s beside me.
“Come, please take a seat.”
I sit down at the Pope’s invitation and after exchanging a few pleasantries, I bring up the main topic.
“I’ve heard that a high-ranking demon worshipper is returning to Roman.”
“Hmm….”
The Pope frowns thoughtfully at my words.
“Your Grace, I don’t doubt your abilities, but wouldn’t it be better to deal with the demon worshippers now?”
The Pope’s words make sense, but I shake my head slightly.
“I fully understand Your Holiness’s concerns, but eliminating the demon worshippers without dealing with Locust has no significant meaning.”
“However… capturing a high-ranking demon won’t be easy.”
That’s true. In this vast continent, who knows where Locust is or who he is?
Therefore, the Pope has been suggesting a realistic compromise, proposing the arrest of the already exposed demon worshippers.
“What if… there was a way to capture Locust?”
At my words, the Pope and the Saintess’s expressions change remarkably.
“Do you have a method?”
“Really, Your Grace?”
I nod to them.
“But I can’t do it alone. The Papal States… especially Your Holiness’s active support is necessary.”
This task cannot be resolved by myself alone.
To eliminate the high demons, we need the clergy.
It’s truly not an easy task to physically remove a high demon without divine power.
“Oh… If it’s for the sake of protecting humanity, I will certainly support His Grace, the Archduke.”
“That’s right. The Archduke has protected the empire with deep contemplation thus far. We have nothing but trust in His Grace.”
At the words of the Pope and Sena, I slightly pale and speak.
“Since you say so, I will open up about my true intentions. If a high demon worshipper comes this time, I intend to make contact with them.”
Silence falls over the hall at my words.
“Ah… If you make contact… may I ask what you plan to do?”
The Pope asks with a trembling voice, to which I reply.
“Valoran has made deals with demon worshippers. I don’t know what they wanted… but that’s beside the point. I plan to pretend to deal with them, only to annihilate the Locusts by luring them into a trap called Roman.”
The expressions of the Pope and Sena harden.
“That will be difficult. They are not fools; they will surely impose restrictions on Your Grace. They might even propose a blood pact.”
As the Pope says this, Sena looks like she’s about to cry.
“That must not happen. A blood pact? It would be reckless for the Archduke to enter into such a sinister contract.”
A blood pact is a contract made between demons and humans.
A contract sealed with blood.
If one side breaches the contract, their blood dries up, leading to a painful death…
It’s a contract given by untrustworthy demons to humans to gain their trust.
No demon or human can survive if they break the pact.
“If something happens to His Grace, who currently leads the empire’s political situation, the state will fall into chaos again. It would be logical to eliminate the demon worshippers and pursue the Locusts instead.”
The Pope’s words are logical. That is, if I were to rule for a long term.
But I have no intention of ruling for the long term.
Nor do I intend to die and plunge the empire into chaos.
“Your Holiness, do you trust me?”
Seeing the Pope fumble with his words, unable to respond, I ask again.
“Your Holiness, do you trust me?”
“Uh…”
Unable to answer, the Pope is met with my gentle smile as I ask once more.
“Your Holiness, do you trust me?”
*Sigh*… I believe. But I worry that His Grace the Archduke might get hurt.”
To that, I chuckle and say,
“I’m not yet certain they’ve taken my bait. But if we can eliminate the Locust, we could maintain peace for centuries. So don’t worry about my well-being.”