I Became the Master of the Empress - Chapter 313



317

As the sun slowly set.

“Ugh…”

I wonder if I’m getting older; my back hurts after sitting for too long.

With work consuming my days and being tormented by Terra at night, it might be strange if I weren’t in pain.

Suddenly, the vast garden of the palace came to mind.

“Shall I take a walk?”

The garden, beautifully adorned with green trees.

It’s truly beautiful every time I see it, perhaps because it’s the royal palace.

It possesses a grace far more elegant than the grand palace in Wynn.

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The neatly aligned trees, the scent of the lush grass, and the refreshing aroma of the earth.

They seem to gather beautifully, becoming a balm for my aches.

“I should walk more often.”

– Clatter… clatter.

The palace gates opened, and a splendid white carriage entered.

From the royal seal emblazoned on it, it seemed to belong to someone of the royal family, but who could it be?

Suddenly, the wheels of the carriage came to a halt.

– Swoosh…

Then the window of the carriage opened, revealing a familiar face.

“Brother-in-law?”

“Joy? Did you just come back from outside?”

At my words, Joy nodded slightly.

“Yes. Are you going for a walk, brother-in-law?”

I nodded gently.

“Yeah, my body feels stiff, so I thought I’d take a little stroll.”

Joy hesitated for a moment, then asked.

“Can I walk with you?”

Back when I was in power and my relationship with the royal family was strained, Joy was one of the few who supported me.

She never openly distanced herself like Terra did.

The thought of taking a walk with her after such a long time made me readily agree, and Joy beamed with a bright smile.

“Is that so?”

“Hehe, just a moment.”

As I say this, I walk through the garden with Joy, who has just stepped down from the carriage.

“Brother-in-law… I’m sorry about earlier.”

Is she referring to the fight with my mother-in-law?

“Huh? I don’t mind. It’s not like my sister-in-law said anything wrong, right?”

The fact that I am Balorang’s son will never change.

But perhaps she misunderstood my words, as she lowered her head dejectedly and spoke in a gloomy voice.

“It’s not that I dislike or hate you, brother-in-law. It’s just that Mom has this ridiculous excuse to hate Ruki oppa. I said it in a fit of anger. Really. You’re a precious part of our family, brother-in-law.”

“No, I really don’t mind.”

I truly don’t care. If someone were to call me the son of a traitor, I would nod and agree.

That’s an unchanging fact.

“Ugh… I’m sorry, brother-in-law. Even if you’re angry like this…”

I sighed at Joy, who continued to misunderstand.

“No, I really wasn’t upset. And what my sister-in-law said wasn’t wrong, right? I am indeed Balorang’s son.”

She looked at me in surprise.

“Even though I am Balorang’s son, I’m not a traitor. I don’t feel bad at all.”

Joy asked back, as if to confirm.

“Really?”

“Yeah. So you don’t have to apologize like that.”

Joy, awkwardly smiling, hesitated before nodding.

“Thank you. You’re really a strong person, brother-in-law.”

“Oh, come on, it’s nothing.”

And so, our steps began again.

After walking through the garden for a while, Joy hesitated before speaking.

“Brother-in-law… do you also oppose me marrying Ruki oppa?”

“No? I don’t particularly oppose it.”

I don’t oppose Joy marrying Ruki. I just want her to be happy.

“But Ruki oppa betrayed you, didn’t he?”

“That’s true, but since the court found him not guilty, I don’t intend to discriminate based on that.”

I respect the court’s verdict of not guilty under imperial law.

Whatever the case, he was acquitted.

Of course, it is problematic that the Minister of Justice did not appeal, but since it was a decision made by the Minister, I have no grounds to argue.

“I’m relieved to hear that. I was worried that my brother-in-law might dislike Rookie.”

I forced a smile at her words.

“He doesn’t dislike him. It’s just… it’s difficult to work together.”

Looking at Lucius, who forged my orders for personal gain, I was reminded of Zhuge Liang’s restraint with Ma Su.

Even though I didn’t come to power through normal means, that doesn’t mean I’ll overlook my own people.

On the contrary, I’ve tried to be fair.

“Hehe, that’s a relief. Then, brother-in-law… I have a favor to ask.”

“Yeah?”

A thought crossed my mind that something similar had happened not long ago.

When I was about to interrupt Joy’s words.

“Could you persuade our mother for us?”

Oh no.

***

-Click.

Tera, who was feeding Ian, looked at me with a bright expression, but I was feeling overwhelmed emotionally.

“You’re here? Why do you look like that? Is something wrong?”

“Tera… what should I do?”

As I made a face that was almost crying, Tera looked taken aback.

She carefully set Ian down on the sofa and hurried over to me.

“Is something wrong? Why does your face look like that?”

“Wahhh… Joy… Joy is…”

As I brought up Joy, Tera’s face stiffened.

“What about Joy? Is something wrong?”

There was. It was incredibly complicated…

“She asked me to persuade my mother-in-law.”

“Excuse me?”

—

Rather, Terra, who doesn’t understand my words.

I gave her a bit more explanation.

“What if I went to hit something and ended up bringing back a curse? What should I do?”

I really don’t know why I’m getting caught up in such bothersome matters.

“I just need you and Ian with me. Why do I have to face such trials?”

Just when the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Technology were somewhat wrapping up.

With potion price hikes, the Babylonian Empire, and other issues arising, I feel like my head is going to explode.

“Ugh… I want to quit my job.”

I walk weakly to the sofa and gently stroke Ian’s cheek, who is smiling brightly.

“Oh, my… cute Ian, didn’t you miss Daddy?”

“Kyah~?”

Honestly, I don’t understand why these things keep happening.

I just wish I could rest all day like Ian.

“I hope our Ian grows up quickly and retires Daddy… Daddy is really having a hard time living life. I want to travel and have fun too. But it’s always tough work brought by your mother, the knights who don’t follow my orders, and the intelligence department…”

I lament my situation, but Ian…

“Gyarrrk! Kyaaa!”

For some reason, he just looks at me and smiles brightly.

Yeah, everything is happy for you, right? It’s a good time, a good time. But will you really be able to smile like that when you become an adult?

Hehe… Looking at young Ian, a new retirement plan came to mind.

“What are you saying to your child?”

“Honestly, negotiating with politicians is easier than mediating family issues; that’s not my forte.”

Compared to the cold rationality of politics, family matters have too many considerations.

Gently hugging me from behind is Terra.

She rested her chin on my shoulder and said.

“Do you want to go on a trip?”

“Yeah, I want to go out and play. Honestly, I want to visit Nicaea and at least once go to the Eren Kingdom.”

Typically, heirs from noble families travel during their teenage years.

In contrast, I spent my teenage years locked up in a prison tower and living in a military academy to survive, so I haven’t traveled like others.

“Later… when things get less busy, should we go on a trip?”

Terra’s voice whispering in my ear felt enticing.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If this goes well, we should visit Nicaea, Eren, and Epirus too.”

“Hehe… That sounds good.”

Just the thought of traveling already lifted my spirits a bit.

Ian… Hurry up and grow up so this father can go on trips.

***

The next morning.

Once again, the royal family gathers for their meal.

Normally, there would be some light chatter led by Joy, but now, how should I put it?

It’s quiet.

So quiet, in fact, it feels heavy.

Is it because everyone is handling their utensils so well?

Even the usual clinking of cutlery is absent, amplifying the silence.

-Zap.

My mother-in-law gestures towards Joy.

Um… Mother-in-law? Can I not be neutral? Neutral countries aren’t supposed to be touched, right?

As I think this and turn my head…

-Zap.

Joy looks at me, then at my mother-in-law, signaling.

What… am I supposed to do? I’m going to be neutral.

Why is everyone looking at me like this?

As I start to feel a cold sweat trickle down my back, unsure of what to do.

-Clang!

“What are you two doing?”

Tera’s voice cuts through the air coldly.

“Um… Sister?”

“Tera?”

The atmosphere in the dining room turned icy, as if a cold north wind was blowing, making it feel frigid.

She first looks at my mother-in-law and speaks with firm resolve.

“Mother, you promised that if Lucius was elected to the council, you would allow him to marry, right? As a member of the royal family, don’t you think it’s too much to delay, knowing how important promises to the people are?”

“Um… that is…”

It certainly would be a serious problem if a ruler or the elder of that family were to break a promise.

The empire has a peculiar political structure that mixes feudalism and democracy.

Of course, I know why my mother-in-law is postponing things, but that doesn’t mean the ‘promise’ disappears.

If anything, if they had told them to break up from the start, it wouldn’t be such an issue.

In fact, rumors about Joy and Lucius getting married are already circulating in the empire, and the source of those rumors is my sister-in-law over there.

Thanks to that, it’s not a situation where one can outright refuse.

“And! Joy, what are you doing with my brother-in-law? Didn’t you compare him to Lucius yesterday and refer to him as Baloran’s son? Were you looking at the person I love in that way?”

Huh? How did she know that?

Joy looked at me, her eyes wide as if to say, “Did you tell her?”

Not me?! This is so unfair!

As I shook my hands in denial, protesting my innocence.

“Joy! How can you look at my husband like that?! I still use formal speech with my husband!”

Seeing Terra’s expression, completely different from usual, I felt a twinge of fear.

That… she looks like a total tyrant, doesn’t she?

Overwhelmed by her aura, Joy shrank back, trembling as she spoke.

“That is…”

Joy spoke as if feeling wronged.

“Mom didn’t keep her promise…”

—Thud!

“Can’t you just shut up?! He is a saint chosen by the gods, my husband, and unlike Baloran, he has made great contributions for this empire, for humanity! As the empire’s princess, you should show him respect, not insult him!”

Joy hung her head, her face pale.

“I… I was wrong! Sister.”

“After dinner, both of you need to talk to me.”

This is… the head of the Augustus family?

Her dignity is so different from our Lyon family’s.

I wondered if I would ever display such dignity to Mary and Agrippa, but it felt like that would be impossible for the two of them.