I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 289
293
Holding Octavia’s hand and embracing Roden with one arm, I wait for my brother to arrive.
Valoran, with a sly smile.
He opens his mouth with a sinister glint in his eyes.
“Are you that happy that your brother-in-law is coming?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t think you can leave, do you?”
The negotiations have already officially begun.
But fearing I might be caught on some trivial point, I said nothing.
“You cannot leave. Who would stand by and let their wife be taken away? Cast aside any foolish hopes.”
I remained silent.
At that moment, a grand trumpet sounded, and a white carriage entered the Grand Palace from afar.
-Creak.
Finally, the carriage stopped, and the door opened.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Brother Leo.
Seeing him, a wave of sorrow washes over me.
“Ugh…”
“Pulbia!”
– Hugs!
“I’m sorry, I was wrong. I was wrong.”
My brother, who came to pick me up, albeit late.
“You’re late, you’re late, aren’t you?”
“I’m sorry… ugh… I’m sorry.”
He held me tightly.
“Ahem, it’s been a while, Your Highness Prince Leo.”
– Hmph.
Just hearing his voice made my body stiffen.
“It’s okay, Pulbia, don’t be afraid. I’m here, aren’t I?”
As my brother whispered softly in my ear, that voice chased away my fear.
“Your Grace, it’s been a while.”
My brother released me and glared at Valoran.
So much so that the veins in his eyes bulged.
“Is this man my uncle?”
With a cute voice, Octavia asked, and my brother knelt down.
“Yes, I am your uncle Leon.”
“Huh? My grandfather’s name is also Leon?”
“Yes, I am the eldest son of your grandfather, Leon.”
As Octavia bit her finger and tilted her head, my brother smiled brightly.
“Octavia, you really resemble your mother, don’t you?”
“Hehe! I look like Mom?”
Seeing her innocent smile, my brother laughed brightly.
“Yes, you look very much like her. Do you like your mom?”
Nodding her head vigorously, Octavia replied excitedly.
“Yes! I like Mom the most, and second is Roden.”
“Roden?”
Now, when I look at the child nestled in my brother’s arms.
Valoran interrupted the conversation.
“Ahem… from now on, I will guide you.”
He spoke not with the kind expression he had for Octavia and me, but as if he were glaring at an enemy.
“Understood. Please guide us quickly.”
As we walked through the corridors of the Grand Palace under Valoran’s guidance.
“Pulvia, you’ve aged a lot since we last met. How much have you been worrying?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m fine.”
“I know without you saying a word. But don’t worry… your brother will take care of it.”
Eventually, Valoran stopped and looked at the two of us with cold eyes.
“Prince Leon, although you are siblings, Pulvia is my wife. I don’t know what the customs of your homeland are, but in the Grand Duchy, it would be wise to refrain from unnecessary suspicions…”
“Are you saying the customs of the United Kingdom are wrong? Grand Duke?”
“When grown men and women are together, the lower ranks can’t help but misunderstand.”
Seeing my brother’s face turn bright red, I urgently intervened.
“Brother, what are you doing? Huh?”
As I pleaded with a worried expression for him to please stop…
“Ugh…”
Please… please, okay?
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I shouldn’t provoke Valoran unnecessarily.
This is the land of the Empire.
“Phew… I understand, Grand Duke.”
My brother suppressed his anger.
“This is the room that His Highness the Prince will be using. Please rest and recover from your journey.”
With that, he said what he needed to and left the room.
“Pulvia. How hard has it been for you all this time?”
“I’m okay… Ah? Brother, this child is Roden.”
I gently took Roden’s hand, who was sleeping soundly under the blanket.
“Roden? You should greet your uncle, right? Hello.”
As I waved Roden’s hand to greet my brother, his eyes turned red.
“Tonight… I will settle things with Valoran. Just wait a little longer.”
Finally… am I going to escape this hell?
I let out a sigh of relief, feeling grateful.
“Hmm. I’ll trust you, oppa.”
“Uncle! Then can I not see Dad either?”
At the words of young Octavia, my brother showed a slightly surprised expression.
“What?”
“I hate Dad! He only hits Mom and me, I hate him!”
“Ugh… this won’t do. Where’s Alfred? Can you call Fulvia Alfred for me?”
“Oppa, but he just got here, can’t we take a little break…?”
“No? I don’t even want to breathe the same air as a b*stard who treats my sister like this. Disgusting b*stard.”
“Disgusting b*stard!”
Octavia raised her arms, excited.
I patted the girl’s head and said, “Octavia? You can’t say that.”
“Eww. I can’t say it?”
“Yeah, but he’s still your dad, right?”
I don’t want my child to be consumed by revenge.
I want my child to live harmoniously with family.
“Ugh… I understand.”
“Octavia really resembles you a lot, you know?”
“Right? I love that Octavia has black hair just like me.”
“Not just in looks, but also in her innocence. You were like that too, weren’t you?”
I forced a smile at my brother’s words.
Until a few years ago, I thought the world was a truly warm place.
A harmonious family.
So many people who loved me.
I thought I was the happiest person in the world.
But everything fell apart when Rohan died.
A mother who could do nothing while her child was dying.
That’s the very definition of me.
“I’ve received full authority from Father this time, to bring you back no matter the cost.”
My brother continued with a resolute gaze.
“If necessary, I’ll wage war, I’ll tear apart the empire to bring you home. So… don’t worry.”
At those words, a wave of relief washed over me, and tears of comfort flowed.
“Thank you… thank you, brother.”
“Mom… don’t cry. If you cry… I’ll be sad too, waah.”
***
The Duke’s office.
In that room, Leon, the Crown Prince, faced Alfred, the ambassador of the United Kingdom, and Valoran, the master of the foreign land.
“I heard you wanted to see me, Your Highness, Crown Prince Leon.”
“That’s right. Since we’re already in negotiations, I’ll get straight to the point. I’ll offer 100 tons of gold as an advance, and I’ll triple the monthly support payments. Please release Fulvia.”
One hundred tons of gold is an enormous sum.
“If you refuse, we’ll cut off all support to the Duchy and impose a coastal blockade.”
Debian had spent a similar amount on fertilizer research and setting up factories.
“100 tons… That girl must be really important to your country.”
“Shut up, she’s my sister. From the beginning, she’s a noble child too precious for someone like you to even look at.”
Valoran fell into thought.
One hundred tons…
A figure that could only come from the imperial treasury, making it unimaginable for the Duchy, and Valoran nodded in agreement.
“Fine, but… the children are off-limits.”
At Valoran’s words, Leon frowned.
“Why? Weren’t they just children you didn’t care about anyway?”
“If Octavia grows up and marries, she could forge a strong alliance, and Roden is the legitimate heir of this country. What nation sends its heir to a foreign land? That would be an insult to the Duchy.”
A perfectly conventional response.
Sending a minor heir to a foreign country…
Is only a move for leverage.
At that, Leon smirked.
“Even for 100 tons? Isn’t that money a sum your beggar of a nation could never touch in a lifetime?”
Leon’s words pricked Valoran’s nerves.
“There’s nothing good that comes from provoking my nerves, you know?”
—
“What are you even worth? Just a little plaything in a tiny nation? Honestly, if it weren’t for the Empire standing behind the Grand Duchy, I would have already sent every noble, including you, to the guillotine.”
In reality, there is no nation that can withstand the United Kingdom if it isn’t the Empire.
It is only natural that parts of the Empire cannot endure such a nation.
“Well, anyway, the children will refuse. If you want to take that girl at least, accept that proposal. And aside from this proposal, I will refuse anything else.”
With that, Valoran waved his hand dismissively, as if annoyed.
An obvious death threat.
“What kind of madman are you?”
As the furious Leon shouted, Valoran exuded a murderous intent.
“Do you wish to die?”
Valoran, who has reached the realm of a swordmaster beyond human limits.
The killing intent he radiates carries an oppressive weight that stifles breath.
“Cough! Shut up! Let the children go!”
“Your Highness, please calm down.”
Alfred, with veins bulging in his eyes, tries to soothe Leon.
He restrains Leon.
“I have no more proposals to make. And if you want war… I will grant it, so do as you wish.”
– Thud!
“You b*stard!”
Leon curses as he storms out of the office, glaring at the relaxed expression of Valoran.
***
With still time left until Roden’s birthday, this information was reported to the United Kingdom.
‘What should I do?’
War with the Grand Duchy is a choice that the United Kingdom cannot possibly make.
With the Empire backing the Grand Duchy, it won’t be easy; moreover, attacking the clearly allied Grand Duchy would send the wrong signals to the allied nations surrounding the Empire.
“What should I do? How?”
Nervously biting his nails, Leon thinks of a way to take Fulvia and the children away.
At that moment.
– aaah!
– You wretched girl?! How dare you incite my brother to threaten me!?
– aaah!
—
– Daddy! Stop!
– Crashing!
Something was breaking with a loud noise, and Leon left the room.