Chapter 105

Lehan had no choice but to leave the Ruby Palace because his chief attendant came looking for him. Until the very last moment, he kept turning back, unable to bring himself to leave her, forcing each step with difficulty. He truly did not want to go. He needed more time to beg for Edelis’s forgiveness, but he also could not leave untouched the matter of someone daring to attempt her murder. That was the only reason he left.

Thus, Lehan attended the emergency state council, and before the eyes of every noble present, matters progressed swiftly and decisively. How dare anyone make light of the Empire to the point of attempting to kill the Empress? They all shared in their outrage.

“……So, at present, large numbers of believers are gathered around the saintess’s corpse.”

“Post the list of her crimes on the wall, and strengthen security in case any of those fanatics cause trouble.”

“Yes, but how are we to calm the believers…?”

“Bind the priests and paladins who once served her and place them beside her. That will prove she wasn’t falsely accused alone.”

“Understood.”

“And send a warning to the temple. If the believers cause unrest, they’ll have no place left to worship the god they serve. Have the temple pacify them.”

It would be far more persuasive for the temple itself to speak than for the state to give orders. For the time being, the Imperial Knights were also ordered to prepare for the possibility of an invasion by the Holy Empire, while the Imperial Guard and city watch were to increase vigilance within the capital.

“Until the Holy Empire’s reply arrives, no one is to let down their guard.”

“Yes, understood.”

With the council concluded, Lehan was about to hurry back to Edelis when someone stepped in his path. He might have called it insolence, but the man was Edelis’s father, Marquis Brill—along with Duke Frache, the foremost figure of the pro-Emperor faction. When the marquis requested a private audience, Lehan, though worried for Edelis, invited him readily into his reception chamber.

The moment they sat down, before even accepting tea, Marquis Brill spoke.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress unharmed?”

“She is well. Fortunately, she has regained her composure and is resting in her palace.”

“I fear she may have been deeply shaken.”

“If you were to visit the Ruby Palace, Edelis would be delighted.”

Though his face was clouded with worry, the marquis could not hide a brief smile at the thought. He had always been soft when it came to his daughter. Lehan, who had braced himself for some grave political matter, relaxed slightly at realizing it was only a father’s concern. He shuddered to think what the marquis might do if he learned Edelis still had not forgiven him.

“But I’ve heard troubling rumors—that Your Majesty has been cold toward the Empress.”

“What? Who would say such nonsense!”

“Some claim that this whole debacle began because you freed the saintess, despite her earlier attempt to murder Her Majesty.”

“……”

“There are even whispers that the Empress was driven from your bedchamber…”

“Th–those rumors are spreading?”

“Yes. As you know, since Duke Frache retired from central politics, I have been the one holding the pro-Emperor nobles together.”

“That is true.”

“But some overly zealous nobles came to me, saying if the rumors were true, perhaps we should abandon the Emperor’s side and join the opposition.”

“……”

“I reassured them: if such a thing were true, it would not be a matter of switching sides but of outright rebellion. So they need not worry. But you see the danger.”

The marquis laughed loudly, but his eyes were sharp as daggers fixed on Lehan. Cold sweat trickled down Lehan’s back. It never even occurred to him to be offended that a subject was glaring at the Emperor.

At least I killed the saintess in time…

Had his memories not returned, things could have gone disastrously. If rebellion had broken out while his mind was clouded, he would have mercilessly crushed it—that much was certain. But if the rebel leader had been Edelis’s father, things would have been different.

If the marquis had risen up, believing his daughter despised and neglected, Lehan would have executed him. And Edelis, as the daughter of a traitor, would have faced dethronement or even forced suicide. And if his memories had then returned afterward? The very thought chilled him. He would have spent the rest of his life in guilt and self-loathing, clinging to her memory. If she had already died, he would have killed himself on the spot. And none of it would have brought her back.

“…Marquis.”

“Yes. Do you have something to say?”

His eyes said it plainly: Admit you mistreated my daughter, and you’ll regret it.

Even if the marquis rebelled, Lehan would not lose—he could crush him militarily. But in truth, whatever the outcome, Lehan could not win. He could not slay her father, nor suppress a rebellion without destroying Edelis’s life.

“I must convene another emergency council.”

“…What is this? You don’t mean to…”

To depose Edelis? To confirm the rumors? The marquis remembered how Edelis had cared for Lehan in their youth, how the gladiator had struggled to remain by her side, how he had clawed his way to the throne for her sake. He had even witnessed Lehan protecting her at trial. For that reason, he laughed off the rumors—if he hadn’t believed, he’d already be plotting revolt.

“Yes.”

The marquis nearly cursed as Lehan continued.

“I must abdicate the throne to Edelis.”

“…What?”

“The nobles can’t have gone far. We must summon them back at once. Marquis, please go ahead to the council chamber.”

As Lehan reached for the bell, the marquis lunged with surprising agility and snatched it from his hand.

“What are you saying?!”

“We must recall the nobles before they leave!”

“This is madness! There has never been a reigning Empress in this Empire. Do you think the nobility will accept it?”

“I don’t care. This is the only way my heart can rest.”

Only then could he be sure that if his mind faltered again, the palace guards would defend Edelis—even from him. And if she were Empress, her father would never rebel. Better to be hated and neglected than to risk being the cause of her death.

“Do you truly believe Her Majesty is prepared for such a role?”

“I can guide her. Now, return the bell. No, attend me!”

At Lehan’s shout, the chamberlain opened the door, but the marquis shouted louder.

“Stay out! Leave us!”

“…What?”

“Summon the nobles back at once!”

“No! Don’t summon them!”

“I obey His Majesty, not you, my lord.”

As the chamberlain moved to depart, the marquis grew frantic.

“Damn it! Your Majesty, retract this at once!”

“Recall the nobles!”

“Lehan! If you do not retract, I will take Edelis back to my domain!”

His ultimatum froze Lehan. Called by name, stripped of titles—he didn’t care.

“I mean it. I will take her away by any means.”

“…It is nothing. You may go,” Lehan told the chamberlain at last.

Because truly, if her father asked, Edelis would go without hesitation.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Why are you doing this, Your Majesty?!”

“If Edelis were Empress, these rumors would cease!”

Though the greater problem was that they weren’t rumors—they were true.

“The anti-Emperor faction already watches for an opening. Speak such nonsense, and you will hand them one.”

“Even if rebellion breaks out, I will crush it.”

“And who will govern then? The other nobles?”

“Then you’ll have a larger fief. How does Duke Brill sound?”

“That is not the point! And have you even asked Her Majesty if she wants this?!”

“…No.”

The marquis barely restrained himself from hurling every vulgar curse he knew. Were it anyone but the Emperor, he would have.

“Then at least ask her first. If she agrees, then summon the council. It won’t take long.”

“…Very well.”

As they walked toward the Ruby Palace together, the marquis’s heart sank. Could his daughter truly bear the weight of the throne? She had always loved learning, true, but an Empress? He only ever wanted her to live happily. Instead, she had been kidnapped, nearly killed, and now rumors of neglect swirled. Perhaps he had been wrong to marry her to Lehan. Perhaps he should have sent her away to another land when she refused.

“…What?”

“Why?”

“Did you just say something about sending her away?”

“Oh. I must have spoken my thoughts aloud. Forgive me.”

Lehan wanted to demand how that could be forgiven with mere words—but held his tongue. He still treated the marquis with courtesy, as Edelis’s father and as the man who had once spared him from a beggar’s life.

He resolved then: once the marquis departed, he would issue a prohibition against Edelis leaving the country.

At last they reached the Ruby Palace. Edelis’s face lit up when she saw her father.

“Father!”

“How many times have I told you to address me as ‘Marquis’ within the palace?”

“Even so!”

She smiled brightly and embraced him. Lehan silently congratulated himself for suggesting the visit. But then the marquis spoke.

“By the way, has His Majesty told you? He wishes to abdicate the throne to you.”

“…Father, forgive me, but may I speak with His Majesty alone?”

Lehan knew at once things had gone wrong. Edelis’s frosty gaze left no room for doubt.

“I’ll take my leave. Speak at your leisure. I’ll visit again later.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Relieved by her reaction, the marquis departed. Lehan longed to follow, but Edelis’s words bound him fast.

“Your Majesty. What did I just hear?”

“…I thought if you were Empress, then even if my memories faltered, you would never be cast aside.”

Edelis’s jaw dropped.

“I would never discard you. You would never be neglected.”

“No matter how you spin it—me, an Empress? I’ve said from the start, I want no duties even as Empress Consort.”

“You needn’t do anything as Empress either.”

“How could an Empress do nothing?!”

“You’ll hold the title, I’ll do the work as before.”

“That’s absurd!”

Could a ruler so negligent exist? If so, she would be the very model.

“No. I refuse. Absolutely not.”

“B–But what if my mind falters again…?”

“Then what? Will you cast me aside again? Say you prefer the saintess over me?”

“No! Never! Not once was she ever dearer to me than you! How could you compare?!”

“Then I won’t do it. I won’t be Empress. I’ve learned nothing for such a role. It’s nonsense.”

“There have been child emperors before, with regent empresses governing in their stead…”

But Edelis’s refusal was firm.

“I said no.”

“…All right.”

Lehan sighed. Edelis still hadn’t forgiven him. Rumors of her neglect swirled outside. Alone in his study, he slammed his forehead against the desk.

“Your Majesty, Captain Johannes Frache of the Imperial Guard is here.”

“…Send him in.”

With weary steps, Lehan greeted him. Frache’s eyes widened at his haggard appearance.

“What happened to you?”

“…I’ve remembered everything I did in those days.”

“Ah. You did go a bit far.”

“Edelis seems deeply wounded.”

“She would be.”

“What should I do…”

Even after racking his brain, no answers came. Both sighed heavily.

“And you? Are you all right?”

“Me?”

“The saintess, after what happened to her.”

“…Of course I’m not. But what can I do?”

“……”

Lehan bit his tongue. He knew how deeply Frache had once loved the saintess, only to be betrayed again and again. Unlike Lehan, who still had Edelis, Frache had been abandoned utterly. Yet Lehan could not grant him leave—believers and temples still had to be watched.

“I came for another reason.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“While clearing the crime scene, I found this among the evidence. A book once held by Elaine Ryned—it looks like the volume the Empress carried when she was abducted.”

He laid it on the desk. The once-red bloodstains had dried to dark brown on its cover. The title confirmed it was Edelis’s book.

“Ah. Yes. I’ll return it to her. Thank you.”

Lehan answered offhandedly, but Frache lingered.

“What is it?”

“Have you ever read it?”

“No?”

He had flipped through it many times, but every page had been blank. Why Edelis carried it everywhere, why she was kidnapped for it, why the saintess coveted it—he never understood.

“You should read it. Now.”

“Read it?”

As he opened it idly, his hand froze.

The once-blank pages were now filled with words—densely written lines of text.

“…What is this?”