I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 278



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A few days passed since I promised my mother-in-law that I wouldn’t use any contraception magic.

“Now there’s really no problem at all.”

Sena smiled brightly and let go of my face.

“That’s a pity. I was hoping for a few more problems.”

At my words, Sena looked puzzled.

“Huh? Why?”

Isn’t that obvious?

“Because I don’t want to work.”

I don’t want to go back to the Duke’s office and work.

“What?!”

But she seemed shocked, as if she didn’t expect me to say such a thing.

“Why? Didn’t His Grace the Duke enjoy working?”

I forced a smile at Sena’s words.

“Who in the world likes working? You do it because you have to.”

I often say that I don’t want to work.

I did it because it was necessary, and I only worked out of a sense of moral responsibility, having the knowledge of a modern person.

“I didn’t know… I thought you were someone who really enjoyed working.”

“Haha… Everyone tends to misunderstand like that.”

Lucius said he thought I was a pervert who liked to work when he first saw me, right?

By the way…

“How long do you plan to stay at the Vatican?”

Sena will officially start working at the Grand Office.

In that case, according to the separation of church and state, she must leave the Vatican.

“I think I’ll be here until the end of this month.”

So, starting next month? If it’s next month, there isn’t much time left.

“Have you found a place to stay?”

She shook her head.

“I haven’t found one yet. But they said they’d give me a severance package, so I’m planning to stay at an inn for a few days while I look.”

I fell into thought.

Isn’t it a bit risky for a woman to stay at an inn alone?

The security here is poor compared to modern times.

Of course, when she was a nun, wearing her habit would likely keep her safe from serious criminals, but I worried that Sena, dressed in ordinary clothes, might be in danger.

“Isn’t it a bit dangerous to stay at an inn?”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. Surely, no one would try anything weird with a former nun, right?”

Sena, who seems to enjoy getting into strange situations.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was raising a strange flag.

What should I do? Should I have her stay in the palace?

It would be possible with my authority, but I had a feeling it would cause a lot of trouble with Theodora.

At that moment, someone crossed my mind.

Müller had been working at the Grand Office for over two years and had earned a fortune to buy a luxurious house within the city walls.

Plus, Müller has a carriage for commuting as my assistant.

“I’ll look for a safe place for you. Somewhere safer than an inn.”

Sena blushed at my words.

“Oh, you really don’t have to do that…”

What’s this? Why is she acting like that?

I felt puzzled seeing her redden for no reason.

I’ll have to mention it to Müller when I visit the Grand Office later.

***

A few days later, in the morning.

I am having breakfast with the royal family.

Is it because I’ve been spending hot nights with Theodora lately?

Before me is a spread of aphrodisiac foods—oysters, eel, and various energy-boosting dishes.

“Mother-in-law… this is a bit much…”

At my words, my mother-in-law smiled gently and said,

“Shut up and eat.”

“Yes…”

Do I really want to see my grandchildren that badly?

As I chuckled and drizzled orange sauce over the oysters, taking a bite…

“Mom, when am I getting married?”

When I was undergoing eye surgery, Lucius formally introduced himself to my mother-in-law.

He mentioned that he was dating my sister-in-law…

Fortunately, I heard that my mother-in-law gave her permission.

Well, my sister-in-law is of marrying age now.

She’s probably starting to bring up marriage since she’ll soon be at the age where people might call her an old maid if she doesn’t.

My mother-in-law shot me a cold glance and said,

“Marriage… isn’t allowed until your sister has a son.”

*Cough… cough…*

“What? Mom? That’s too late; how old do you think I am?”

“You’re still 21.”

“Most people I know got married at 20.”

Generally, nobles marry at 20.

They get engaged before reaching adulthood and marry at 20…

If they haven’t by then, it’s usually clear that there’s some reason behind it.

Personally, I think it’s too late, but politically, I understand the decision.

But… doesn’t this put me in a tight spot?

“Ugh… Joy, do you know what happens if your sister has no heir?”

“Hmm?”

“If your sister can’t have children, the next emperor could be your child.”

If a child does not come between Theodora and me, the right of succession will naturally pass to Joy’s offspring.

But the problem here is…

What if Joy marries Lucius?

While it may not be as extreme as the past’s views on social status, Joy’s child may find it difficult to become emperor.

Even if, somehow, they become the next emperor, it would still be problematic.

“I want to see you and Lucius get married too, but if the biological father of the next emperor is of common birth, things get very complicated.”

There’s already no support for maternal succession, and since Lucius is not of noble blood, it’s questionable whether succession is even possible.

For now, I am a grand duke, so my bloodline is noble.

And my support base is quite strong; in comparison, what about Lucius?

If there is no child between Theodora and me, Lucius’s life will be in danger.

Without Lucius, Joy could become a widow and remarry.

To put it bluntly, I might even kill Lucius, kidnap Joy, and run away to force a marriage…

If a child is born between Theodora and me, they would inherit a significant portion of the anti-emperor faction’s support base, politically backed by the next grand duke, and also inherit the foundation that Theodora has already established through her own abilities.

But Joy and Lucius’s child would have no support base, and Lucius does not have noble blood.

Then, after Theodora and I are gone, there would be tremendous chaos.

No, even if only Theodora dies, I would inevitably lose my influence within the central government.

Thus, to prevent chaos, if there is no child between Theodora and me, Joy would need to marry into a prestigious family, which is why my mother-in-law is pointing this out so clearly.

“No! How can that be? Your sister and brother-in-law are so young! Surely they can have an heir?”

At Joy’s words, my mother-in-law looked at me with a cold gaze.

“It seems that some lazy son-in-law doesn’t want to have children quickly, which makes me think your child might become the heir.”

“Brother-in-law?! What do you mean by that?”

Joy, who usually doesn’t raise her voice, shouted loudly and glared at me.

Sister-in-law… I didn’t know you had such a strong personality?

“W-well…”

I felt flustered, not expecting my mother-in-law to bring this up with such a grudge.

What should I do if my story comes up here?

As I felt a pang of anxiety inside.

“Joy, can’t you say anything to your brother-in-law?!”

Theodora stepped in to scold Joy.

“No! I’m angry that your brother-in-law doesn’t want to have children! If there are no children between them, I can’t even get married?!”

Theodora glares at me and replies.

“Well, I suppose it’s because of Yi. You know how much he has sacrificed and suffered for the Empire, right?! Hurry up and apologize to my husband.”

“Ugh!”

My usually gentle sister-in-law glares at Theodora with wide eyes.

“Joy! Can’t you just apologize to your sister and brother-in-law? Terah is the Emperor of the Empire!, and your manners towards your brother-in-law are just terrible, aren’t they?”

Under the combined pressure of Theodora and my mother-in-law, Joy doesn’t take her fierce gaze away… tears flow from her red eyes.

Now my mother-in-law is crying, and now Joy too?

I let out a hollow laugh inside, but what can I do?

Joy, shaking her shoulders and growing more agitated, sheds tears.

She shouted.

“Everyone just hates me!”

And then…

– Whoosh.

She ran out.

“Ah, I’m sorry, son-in-law. It’s my fault for spoiling her too much.”

The sharpness in my mother-in-law’s eyes feels intense, but that must just be my mood, right?

“That’s right, I think I spoiled the youngest too much as well.”

Theodora, looking at me, tightly grasped my hand.

Could you not hold it so tightly?

It’s a bit overwhelming.

***

After that heart-wrenching morning was over, I called for Müller.

“You look well, Your Grace.”

The disheveled Müller looked at me.

“You seem like you haven’t washed in days; are you okay?”

He nodded his head.

“I think I haven’t washed for about three days. Thanks to some people.”

“But there’s a shower in the Duke’s residence, right? Why not use that?”

Müller clutched his bangs with his hand and said.

“I just want to sleep well.”

His sincerity was palpable in his bloodshot eyes.

“Uh… right, the one you called this time is Sister Sena, right?”

Müller nodded.

“Yes, I heard she’s retiring soon and coming to the Grand Study.”

“She said she hasn’t decided where she’ll stay yet, so could you take care of that?”

At my words, Müller pointed at me with his finger.

“Me?”

“Yeah. You.”

Suddenly, Müller’s face turned red.

“Whoa. How can a man and a woman live together like that?”

“But it’s a bit risky to put her in a dangerous inn. I heard you bought a nice house recently?”

I trust that Müller, knowing she used to be a nun, wouldn’t do anything inappropriate.

Besides, his usual conduct is good.

Müller frowned at my words.

“I saved up my salary to buy it. Don’t think it’s strange, okay?”

Müller’s salary is quite high among civil servants.

And he wasn’t on the list of corrupt officials last time.

“I know, so I was wondering… could you just keep her until Sister Sena finds a place to stay?”

Müller sighed.

“Then please let me leave early. By the way, when does that civil service law go into effect?”

The civil service law that Theodora is currently drafting.

It’s a bill that fixes the working hours for civil servants and public employees, guaranteeing overtime pay and holidays if they work beyond those hours.

“Well? It’s still in its infancy, so it might take a while. But I’ll let you leave early if I can cut down on the overtime.”

Müller looked at me with a suspicious gaze.

“Are you planning to let me leave early and then have me bring work home for the next day?”

Seeing Müller’s doubtful expression, I smiled.

“Müller, working from home is voluntary, right? I’ll let you leave, but you still have to take responsibility for the tasks you’re assigned, don’t you think?”

“You devil…”

I think he just cursed at me, but I didn’t catch it clearly, so I asked again.

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“Nothing. At. All.”