I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 271



Episode 275

As time passed, at last…

The day to completely remove the bandages had come.

“How does it look?”

At Sena’s voice, I opened my eyes,

“Ugh?”

The intense brightness made my eyes uncomfortable, but it felt bearable compared to last time.

“Sena? Theodora?”

A woman with beautiful gray hair and another with aquamarine locks.

They both looked at me.

“Can you see well?”

“Is there anywhere uncomfortable?”

“Yeah, I can see well, Theodora.”

Her appearance, after such a long time, was… how should I put it? Even more beautiful than before.

But it was hard to keep my eyes open for long, so I rubbed them.

“Alright, stop rubbing and show me your eyes.”

She wore glasses with various lenses and held my head steady.

“Don’t close your eyes.”

Yet, the light reflected in the lenses dazzled me.

“It’s too bright… it’s hard.”

“Your Majesty, could you help a little?”

“How can I assist?”

At her words, Sena gestured towards my face.

“Please hold the Duke’s chin so he can’t turn his head.”

Sena then forcibly lifted my eyelids.

“Okay, just a little longer, can you bear it?”

As Sena observed my eyes, she finally released my eyelids.

“There might be some brightness for a while, but it will get better with time.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

“Still, you need to rest for a while, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself for about a week, okay?”

A wry smile formed on her lips as she looked at Theodora.

“I suppose I can take a little break for the next two weeks.”

“Yes, take this opportunity to take care of yourself. I’ve already instructed that you be given some herbal medicine for your health. Make sure to take it properly.”

Herbal medicine… I really don’t want that.

The herbal medicine here contains bizarre ingredients.

Like mosquito proboscises or troll eyes.

“Herbal medicine is important, you know. It’s been a short time since your surgery. I recommend you draw the curtains in your room and use a lantern instead of a light bulb. The light bulb is just too bright and will feel even more dazzling.”

She said this as she took off her glasses.

“And, ahem… as His Highness the Grand Duke said, I will work for this empire.”

At Sena’s bright smile, I returned her grin.

“Thank you for that.”

At that moment, I felt Theodora’s grip tighten on my cheeks.

“Wait a moment… You? What do you mean by that?”

“Guge Maiya.”

I pressed my cheeks hard, muffling my words and freeing myself from Theodora’s grasp.

“Sister Sena is leaving to spread the gospel to the New World, and I was asked to stay for the empire.”

As I spoke, I was startled by a pinch at my waist.

“Ouch!”

“You need to talk to me later.”

Theodora said coldly.

To be honest, I expected this level of resistance.

But she would play a significant role in my plans moving forward.

I need to expand the department.

“Then I will take my leave now, Your Majesty.”

“Yes, you’ve worked hard.”

As Theodora said this, she shot me a sidelong glance.

Oh no…

I had a feeling she was going to say something.

“What was that earlier? You asked Sister Sena to stay for the empire?”

Is it just my imagination, or do her red eyes seem to shimmer with heat?

“Hmm, is that so? If it’s Sister Sena, she’s a talent you can trust from a reliable country, right? That’s why.”

As Theodora’s eyes, filled with jealousy, glimmer ominously, I rise from my seat, embrace her, and whisper in her ear.

“You’re the only one for me.”

But she gently pushes me away and says,

“Is that so? You’re not thinking of having a mistress in the Vatican, are you?”

“A mistress? What do you take me for?”

I have no such intentions.

I’m merely considering the establishment of a Ministry of Education and the organization of medical laws, so it makes sense for her to remain in the Empire.

“Then why are you holding onto someone who wants to leave?”

“Well, she’s quite a talented individual, and considering the establishment of the Ministry of Education, she’s needed.”

“The Ministry of Education?”

She brings up the expansion of schools that Theodora had mentioned to me not long ago.

“Why did you say you’d expand the schools last time? I’m thinking of creating and managing a department for schools operated by the Empire, not led by the Vatican. Of course, it will be a long-term project, not a short-term one.”

Such a project cannot be accomplished in a short time.

How vast is the Empire? Are we going to build all the schools and teach the students in a brief period?

“Hmmm… So, will you be hiring for that?”

“First of all, her abilities have been proven. We’ll get her help on that. I don’t really know much about the Sunday school system, so it will be beneficial.”

In reality, Theodora and I learned the basics through a private tutor.

Most nobles are in this field, and the Vatican opens Sunday schools to teach the poor.

However, families of farmers are not keen on sending their children to Sunday school.

Because it directly reduces the workforce.

I’m thinking of organizing this aspect to create a Ministry of Education and explore the possibility of compulsory education.

“Really? You don’t have any ulterior motives, do you?”

I truly have no ulterior motives, and I nodded.

“Really, no ulterior motives at all.”

Saying this, I embraced Theodora and whispered in her ear.

“When I couldn’t open my eyes… I must have troubled you a lot, right? Brace yourself.”

I lightly bit her ear and led her to the bed.

“Wait… It’s still daytime…”

***

After a month of accumulated revenge, I stretch beside Theodora, who is sleeping next to me.

“Ugh!”

I covered her, lying naked beside me, with a blanket.

Is it because it’s been a while? She seemed more sensitive than usual, and it felt good.

Well, I have my own pent-up feelings too.

I quickly wash up and head to the grand study.

“It’s dazzling.”

The light balls embedded in the palace ceiling made my eyes hurt a bit on the way, but I was curious about how things had unfolded during my absence.

I also took the opportunity to send letters to Mary and Sister Octavia.

As I entered the grand study…

“Your Highness?!”

Müller looked at me with a haggard face, his eyes glistening as if he might cry.

“Is your sight… fully recovered?”

“It is, but they told me I shouldn’t be working yet. I came to see what’s been happening in the meantime.”

Müller asked urgently.

“Then… when will you start working again?”

“Well, I heard I should take a break for two weeks?”

“Ugh… Does that mean I have to endure this overtime for another two weeks?”

Müller tugged at his disheveled hair in frustration.

Seeing him, I felt a pang of sorrow as I envisioned my own future.

But what can I do? I suppose it’s the sorrow of a person in power.

So, I head to my former office with Müller.

“Ah? Your Highness, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah, have you been well?”

The Golden Knights nodded at my words.

“We’ve been doing well.”

“I see.”

As I gestured toward the door, the Golden Knights knocked.

– Knock, knock.

– Who is it?

“His Grace the Duke has arrived.”

– Quickly, show him in.

It was the long-awaited voice of Alexander.

As the door opened, I saw Alexander, his eyes bloodshot from days without sleep.

“Oh! Your Grace the Duke! Have you finally returned?”

“Yes, I have, but… have you managed to get some rest?”

At my words, Alexander shook his head.

“I barely stopped by home to sleep not long ago. You truly are superhuman, Your Grace.”

I was taken aback by the way Alexander looked at me with such admiration.

“Me, superhuman? What do you mean?”

“I think I’ve misjudged you, Your Grace. I never imagined you would have such a heavy workload…”

He shook his head as he spoke.

“I truly understand now why you were on the brink of losing your sight. With such a murderous workload, preparing for war, and even readying to deal with the demon lords… it’s truly remarkable.”

Suddenly, I felt a sense of embarrassment from Alexander’s flattering words.

“Why are you saying such things all of a sudden?”

“It is indeed blasphemous for someone like me to meddle in the affairs of the Empire. I should take my leave and go to Olivia…”

I understood why he was saying this.

Realizing he was trying to escape under the pretense of being overwhelmed by work, I cut him off.

“Retirement is only permissible when the Empire allows it. And ‘someone like you’? But, Alexander, you are the pillar of the Empire, are you not? Please don’t say such things.”

At that, his expression hardened.

“My health has been declining recently…”

“I was on the brink of losing my sight, yet here I am.”

He looked at me with a wronged expression.

“Even so, I cannot afford to lose my sight, can I?”

“If your condition is that bad, I will personally inform Sister Sena and request that she perform surgery for you. Do not worry. I am still quite well, am I not?”

Where does he think he’s running off to when I haven’t even retired yet?

“Ahem… then we should discuss the handover of duties…”

I interrupted Alexander, who was trying to pass off his work to me.

“Oh, I’m still recovering, so I plan to return in about a week. For now, please provide a brief report.”

And thus, the report began.

There isn’t much that has changed compared to before.

As for the fertilizer, it seems that farmers are still reluctant to use it, leading to poor sales?

“First of all, we will purchase all the unsold fertilizer from the Grand Duchy.”

If we can buy fertilizer that can increase production in bulk, that wouldn’t be bad.

However, I hesitated to make the bulk purchase, considering the farmers rather than just my own territory, but upon hearing about the poor sales, I brought up the idea of a large buy, and Alexander’s eyes lit up.

“Oh? Really? I was quite worried about the interest payments this time, so this is a relief.”

Seeing Alexander’s brightened expression, I cautiously broached the subject.

“By the way… about the armed uprising of the aristocrats… how did you manage to smooth that over?”

I decided to find out how she had handled this matter.